"Yes, that’s right. Don’t feel any pressure, just maintain a normal mindset."

"Just treat the Pharmacist Exchange Conference in four months as another mission off the mountain. As for the alchemy competition, what’s important is participating. It’s enough if you can learn something from it."

Gu An looked at Yang Chan’s expression and nodded with a smile.

The disciples sent to the Pharmacist Exchange Conference were required to compete in alchemy, and this also determined the medicinal resources the Pharmacist Alliance would distribute to the various Sects. This was considered an extra source of Cultivation Resources and wasn’t counted among the resources each Sect obtained through its own means.

For example, in Qing State, the Cyan Yuan Sect received offerings from various regions, which contributed to their batch of Cultivation Resources. This was considered the Cyan Yuan Sect’s own method.

The Pharmacist Alliance also controlled a batch of Cultivation Resources, and they would distribute a certain percentage based on the competition results of those who participated in the Pharmacist Exchange Conference.

Normally, this task would fall to the Intermediate Pharmacists from each Sect, because Advanced Pharmacists were essentially all members of the Pharmacist Alliance and typically did not participate.

All in all, it was a relatively fair system.

Originally, Yang Chan was not among those chosen by Yan Jinfeng. However, since Yang Chan could refine the First Revolution Nourishing Viscera Pill—something most Intermediate Pharmacists could not—he was naturally qualified for a spot at the Pharmacist Exchange Conference. Furthermore, it was a request from the Medicine Hall Master, Gu An. Even as one of the Cyan Yuan Sect’s only two Advanced Pharmacists, Yan Jinfeng had to give Gu An face.

"I understand. I will certainly do my best."

At this point, Yang Chan could only say as much. Although he didn’t want to leave the mountain, he now had to make the trip.

’Fortunately, my Cultivation has already reached the Inner Master realm, so I have a certain degree of security.’

’Most poisons are basically ineffective against me now.’

’Still, I need to focus on cultivating my Flood Dragon Demon Martial Seal, Wind-Stepping Technique, and Demon Suppressing Swordsmanship. Since I have to leave the mountain, I need to guarantee my safety.’

’I should also prepare some potent poisons. They can be very useful in a crisis.’

’I’ll need to prepare better Hidden Weapons, too. That way, I can avoid having to act personally and expose my true strength.’

’This trip to White Jade City shouldn’t be a problem as long as I don’t get involved in the affairs of the Imperial Court. If I keep a low profile, I should be able to get through this Pharmacist Exchange Conference without any issues.’

’Based on past Pharmacist Exchange Conferences, this trip should take a little over a month at most before I can return to the Cyan Yuan Sect. All in all, it’s not that much time.’

’Plus, the journey to White Jade City isn’t urgent, so I can take plenty of medicine along the way. Aside from a few items that are hard to carry, my Daily Potential Point Collection will only decrease by one at most. It should return to normal once I arrive in White Jade City.’

’Factoring in the travel time, I’ll probably lose a dozen or so Potential Points. But if I can get some useful information or some precious and suitable elixir formulas from the Pharmacist Exchange Conference, then this loss will be nothing. In fact, it could lead to long-term gains.’

Since Yang Chan had to leave the mountain, he could only look on the bright side. He would also take the opportunity to see White Jade City, the Capital City of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty.

In the year and more since he arrived in this world, he hadn’t actually seen much of it.

Even when he went to places like Taiyu City and Tan City, he rarely took in the sights. He always had missions to complete and had to be on guard against ambushes. Back then, he was in no mood to appreciate the scenery.

This trip to White Jade City could be a chance to relax and see a truly prosperous capital. After all, compared to the suffering and hardship in other places, the Capital City of White Jade City was said to be a place of peace, song, and dance. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

He had heard Zhao Yi mention White Jade City several times—something about listening to music in the pleasure quarters, unparalleled courtesans, and the finest wines on earth. Zhao Yi had mentioned it more than once, acting as if he had experienced it all.

But Yang Chan knew that Zhao Yi had never actually been to White Jade City. Everything he said was just hearsay from other senior brothers.

The Cyan Yuan Sect rarely assigned missions to White Jade City because it didn’t want to get involved in the capital’s affairs and risk bringing disaster upon itself.

The Sect Leader, Liu Xuan, was said to have some connection to the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty’s Imperial Family, but he was not involved in matters like the struggle for succession.

After returning from Gu An’s place, Yang Chan reflected on the pep talk he had just received. Gu An had clearly sensed he was feeling burdened, and Yang Chan hadn’t experienced that kind of sincere concern in a long time.

He had listened intently from beginning to end, which left Gu An with the impression that he was a teachable young man. The Hall Master was clearly very satisfied.

Most young people had their own ideas and few would listen so attentively; they usually just went through the motions.

After leaving Gu An’s courtyard, Yang Chan headed straight for the Medicine Hall Collection Pavilion. He was nearly finished with the books he had borrowed last time.

He planned to borrow more books on refining other elixirs, such as the Three Revolutions Nourishing Viscera Pill, Guiyuan Pill, Qi Replenishing Pill, and Cyan Spirit Pill. These were all elixirs that helped with the Inner Refining of the Lungs and Spleens, and in Yang Chan’s eyes, they represented a huge amount of Potential Points.

These were true elixirs. Once he succeeded in refining them, his Daily Potential Point Collection would surely skyrocket. If he had these elixirs, his Potential Points could still break three per day even while traveling to White Jade City.

For that reason, it was naturally worth Yang Chan’s time.

There were still about four months until he had to leave the mountain. He had plenty of time to prepare, to continue quietly raising his Cultivation and improving his Combat Power. These were all things he needed to focus on.

Besides, since he was required to participate in the Pharmacist Exchange Conference in four months, he was unlikely to receive any other missions off the mountain during this period.

After all, not long ago, many people had received missions that required them to leave the mountain. Although they weren’t dangerous, they still involved travel. If the destinations had few medicinal herbs, it would have a significant impact.

Yang Chan certainly didn’t want a mission like that, and now he had successfully avoided one.

The Medicine Hall Collection Pavilion was quite crowded. Many disciples were borrowing books related to being a Pharmacist, obviously preparing to become a Pharmacist’s Assistant. Yang Chan had once been one of them, striving toward that same goal.

To think, only about a year had passed. He didn’t linger and continued toward the second floor of the Library Pavilion. The books he needed to borrow were there, though there weren’t many. Still, some of them involved elixir refining.

’I want to go to the third floor even more, as only Intermediate Pharmacists are qualified to borrow the books there. Although I’m technically qualified now, I want to participate in the Pharmacist Exchange Conference low-key. Plus, I just told Gu An I was preparing to advance to Intermediate Pharmacist. If I suddenly advanced right after, it would look very bad.’

’A man has to be sincere. Since I said I was preparing to advance to Intermediate Pharmacist, then I should remain a Basic Level Pharmacist for now. Even though I can’t borrow more advanced books, this is also a good thing for me.’

’Being a seventeen-year-old Basic Level Pharmacist already proves my talent in alchemy. There’s no need to add anything else.’