Eternal Life Starts from Tai Chi

Chapter 317: Covenant of Alliance, Guidance

"Hall Master, I have successfully been promoted to Intermediate Pharmacist."

Yang Chan went to Gu An’s courtyard to deliver the news in person.

For anyone else, Yang Chan wouldn’t have needed to go personally, but Gu An was different. He had to make the trip himself.

"Mm, you’ve done well. You haven’t let me down."

"If there hadn’t been any trouble on the White Jade City trip, you probably could have been promoted to Intermediate Pharmacist even sooner. Still, this is excellent progress."

Gu An was very pleased to see Yang Chan.

Attitude was very important.

Especially when a person’s status changed, maintaining the same attitude as before was all the more gratifying.

"You should still be attempting to refine the Three Revolutions Nourishing Viscera Pill. A new batch of materials will arrive in a few days, and quite a bit has been sent back from the Silver State Secret Realm as well. You can exchange for a batch then and try your hand at refining them."

"If you succeed, it will be a great help to you."

"Many of the Cyan Yuan Sect’s Elders are stuck at the third and fourth stage of the Inner Refining of the Lungs and Spleens realm. They are in desperate need of an elixir like the Three Revolutions Nourishing Viscera Pill."

"Also, your current cultivation is a bit low. Since you don’t lack Cultivation Resources, you should dedicate a portion of them to your training."

"Your Martial Arts Cultivation is very important, especially at the stage of Inner Refining of the Lungs and Spleens. It’s a complete transformation. If you can break through, your Lifespan will increase by about sixty years. Naturally, that will give you more time to improve your Pharmacist Ability and refine more Advanced elixirs."

While reminding Yang Chan about the Superior Spirit Medicine, Gu An also gave him some pointers on his Martial Arts Cultivation.

He had seen geniuses who were too arrogant in their youth. They neglected their Martial Arts Cultivation and came to regret it in their old age, but by then, it was too late.

In Gu An’s eyes, Yang Chan’s talent for alchemy and being a Pharmacist was outstanding, but for long-term success, Martial Arts Cultivation was essential.

You don’t have to focus on Combat Power, but you must focus on Breaking Realm. Reaching the Inner Master realm, setting aside the physical enhancements, brings a fundamental change to your Lifespan. A long life allows you to accomplish many things.

"I understand. I won’t neglect my Martial Arts Cultivation."

"I’ve been training every single day."

Yang Chan smiled and nodded. ’My Lifespan is already incredibly long,’ he thought, ’longer even than a Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster’s. I wonder if a National Guardian Martial Saint lives for more than three hundred years. If not, even they can’t compare to me right now.’

Of course, Yang Chan knew Gu An meant well, so he simply smiled in response.

"As long as you understand what’s at stake."

"Use this time to raise your Cultivation. Things in the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty are about to get even more chaotic."

Gu An remarked with a sigh.

He knew many secrets, and the knowledge was giving him a headache.

"Are you talking about what’s happening in Jinyun City, in the border region of Lan State?"

"I heard the Jin Meng Empire has massed its forces at Jinyun City, looking ready to pounce!"

Yang Chan’s eyebrows rose. This was the perfect opportunity to steer the conversation toward that topic.

He could only get bits and pieces of news from Han Bingyu, but Gu An was a source of more extensive and accurate information.

Yang Chan had come hoping to learn more. It would be great if he could, but it wouldn’t be a huge problem if he couldn’t.

"They’re past the point of just looking. The war has already begun."

"The Court has mobilized a significant number of troops and has also ordered Qi State and Yu State to send reinforcements to join the fighting."

"Both sides are currently fighting at Jinyun City. There’s no clear winner yet, but the battle is brutal."

"If this continues, the Court is bound to start conscripting soldiers. The Major Sects will have to arrange for disciples to go to the front lines as support. This is part of the treaty between the Major Sects and the Imperial Family."

"The very status the Major Sects hold in their respective states is founded upon this treaty."

"Now that the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty is in peril, the Major Sects are obligated to act. The Cyan Yuan Sect is no exception."

Gu An glanced at Yang Chan before revealing more confidential information.

Now that Yang Chan had been promoted to Intermediate Pharmacist, his status in the Cyan Yuan Sect was higher. He was now qualified to know these secrets, which was why Gu An was telling him.

"The situation isn’t that dire just yet, but if things continue on this path, sending support will be inevitable."

"Initially, though, they’ll only send some Official Disciples and Elite Disciples, with maybe a few Pharmacist’s Assistants and one or two Basic Level Pharmacists at most."

"Under normal circumstances, this should happen within the next few months."

"Keep this information to yourself for now. Don’t spread it around."

When the Cyan Yuan Sect sent people, they naturally wouldn’t send their most promising disciples; after all, the Sect’s future legacy was at stake.

The borderlands were too dangerous. A single misstep could mean everyone’s death. Even if they were just defending from the rear, there would be no escape if the city fell.

Gu An shared some of the Cyan Yuan Sect’s plans, but he also reminded him that while Yang Chan was qualified to know, not everyone was.

"I understand. I won’t tell a soul."

Yang Chan said with a solemn expression.

Speaking of which, he felt a sense of relief. It was highly unlikely he’d be among those dispatched to Lan State Jinyun City, but accidents could always happen.

His promotion to Intermediate Pharmacist provided a very reasonable way to avoid it.

Given the current circumstances, no matter how bad things got, he would be far down the list of people to be sent. This was very important to Yang Chan.

’As long as I have enough time, my Cultivation can continue to soar. Then, there will be even fewer restrictions holding me back.’

’If things get truly out of hand, I can always become Yang the Runner. Safety first, after all.’

’Of course, that would be the worst-case scenario, a time when the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty itself was on the verge of collapse. By then, perhaps the Cyan Yuan Sect would have already fled with me, or at least found an escape route.’

’It’s just like when the previous Great Yu Imperial Dynasty fell. Not that many powerful Sects were caught in the fallout. Plenty of Minor Sects were wiped out, but the Overlord Level Sects that dominate the states today all existed back in the time of the Great Yu.’

’These powerful Sects have survived so long, they must have their own ways of avoiding disaster.’

"This is a rare period of relative peace. Use it. While improving your Pharmacist Ability, also raise your Martial Arts Cultivation. That way, even if the situation becomes dire, you’ll have the power to protect yourself."

"It’s always good to be prepared."

Gu An steered the conversation back, reminding Yang Chan once more.

"I know what’s important."

Yang Chan nodded seriously.

A good deal of time had passed by the time he left Gu An’s residence. They had discussed many things, and the conversation left Yang Chan with a burgeoning sense of urgency.

Anxiety was an easy thing to spark, and an easy thing to let grow.

After walking outside, Yang Chan took a deep breath and cleared his mind, needing to adjust his mood.

’Some problems exist. I’ll solve the ones I can solve first. As for the ones I can’t, I’ll just have to pretend they don’t exist until I’m capable enough to deal with them.’

’Otherwise, worrying about them day and night is useless.’

The best way for him to cope right now was to raise his Cultivation, refine more elixirs, and increase his daily income of Potential Points. As he focused on this, the anxiety in his mind instantly vanished.

When Yang Chan returned to Yuanqing Courtyard, more people came to congratulate him, just as he had expected.

Some people came just to drop off gifts. Others came hoping to chat for a bit, either to build a connection or to ask for his help with things like alchemy. There were quite a few requests of the latter type.

Yang Chan chatted with them for a while, of course. As for any alchemy requests, those would have to wait until he had more time.

For some common elixirs, especially ones he needed himself, he could simply perform an equal-value exchange after refining them. As for other elixirs, it would depend on whether they were helpful to him or if the offered benefits were worthwhile.

For materials he needed, like the Ghost Spirit Grass from before, he was certainly willing to help. They would get their elixirs, and he would get the materials he needed—a mutually beneficial arrangement.

But if it was a useless elixir and the compensation wasn’t valuable, then he’d have to decline.

Knowing the true state of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, he didn’t have time to waste on things that didn’t benefit him. Every choice he made had to be for his own sake.

Everything he did had to be advantageous to him, a choice that suited his needs.