The Pharmacist training took only seven days from preparation to start, and the list of participants was quickly confirmed.

Among these Pharmacist’s Assistants, Yang Chan saw a few familiar faces—people he had met during the last Pharmacist training.

One he was particularly familiar with was Xu Gaocen’s Pharmacist’s Assistant, Shu Yu.

Shu Yu had mixed feelings upon seeing Yang Chan. The last time they met, he was just another Pharmacist Apprentice participating in the training alongside her. Now, he was an Intermediate Pharmacist and the deputy in charge of this very event. His status and position had undergone a monumental leap.

When she saw Yang Chan, she had to bow and address him as "Pharmacist Yang."

It wasn’t just Shu Yu who had mixed feelings; the other Pharmacist’s Assistants who had trained with Yang Chan last time felt the same way.

The last time, Yang Chan had participated because of his contribution to the Sect. In their eyes, he had just gotten lucky by happening to catch a spy within their ranks. As for his Pharmacist Ability, no one thought he was particularly outstanding.

But what happened next took everyone by surprise.

He was the first among the trainees to be promoted to Basic Level Pharmacist, participated in the Pharmacist Exchange Conference in White Jade City, and then, not long after returning to the Cyan Yuan Sect, became its youngest Intermediate Pharmacist.

In the short time that had passed, his status had risen day by day. He was now hailed as the Cyan Yuan Sect’s most promising Intermediate Pharmacist. Even Xu Gaocen, another Intermediate Pharmacist, couldn’t compare to him in terms of potential.

The only way that might change was if Xu Gaocen was promoted to Advanced Pharmacist.

"To pass the Pharmacist assessment, you need to master how to combine different medicinal ingredients. Different concoctions require different materials, and their proportions will vary. This requires..."

Yang Chan explained to the Pharmacist’s Assistants some of the skills required to become a Basic Level Pharmacist. It required a certain understanding of Medicinal Properties to be able to combine ingredients and successfully concoct a satisfactory medicine.

He was giving the opening lecture. Xu Gaocen had let him start, after which the remaining eight Basic Level Pharmacists would take over, with Xu Gaocen himself delivering the closing remarks.

The training would last for exactly ten days, after which this year’s Pharmacist training would be complete.

This kind of training wasn’t necessarily held every year. The interval was so short this time because of the appearance of numerous Secret Realms, which had led to a shortage of Pharmacists. Furthermore, there was the matter of the Merak Sacred Land. When the time came, a portion of the Sect’s Pharmacists would surely be taken to enter it.

Of course, the Cyan Yuan Sect couldn’t just be abandoned, and this was something the Merak Sacred Land wanted as well. If the Taiyin Heaven or another Secret Realm were to emerge next time, the Merak Sacred Land could use the Cyan Yuan Sect as a legitimate proxy to get involved.

Yang Chan spoke about some of his own insights and offered a few suggestions.

After he finished speaking, Yang Chan left the training area. Although his lecture was over, his duties as the event’s deputy were not yet complete.

He still had to arrange a few things to prevent any mishaps.

...

「Yuanqing Courtyard」

"Pharmacist Yang, the Saintess of the Merak Sacred Land has come to visit. The Sect Leader, the Elders, and others personally welcomed her. They’ve already headed to the Cyan Jade Hall where the Sect Leader resides."

Han Bingyu was reporting the latest news to Yang Chan.

She had learned about the matter with the Merak Sacred Land from Yang Chan, and she couldn’t help but feel a sense of urgency. After the Cyan Yuan Sect finalized their agreement with the Merak Sacred Land, a group of people would certainly be sent there. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Given the abilities Yang Chan had displayed, it was almost certain he would be able to go to the Merak Sacred Land, but her own status made it a difficult proposition for her.

She was currently dependent on Yang Chan, so she naturally knew what her situation would become if that happened.

Even though her Martial Arts Cultivation had reached the External Refining Copper Skin realm and she had been promoted to a Basic Level Pharmacist, the Cultivation Resources she could obtain in the future would surely dwindle.

This would be true for resources from both her family and Yang Chan. The thought made Han Bingyu anxious, but she didn’t let it show.

As a smart woman, she knew that making a scene was useless and would only get her abandoned. What mattered most was demonstrating her value.

Only a person of value would not be cast aside.

Therefore, during this period, she made sure to deliver any valuable information to Yang Chan at the first possible moment.

The arrival of the Merak Sacred Land’s Saintess at the Cyan Yuan Sect was a grand affair. This was not just for the benefit of the Cyan Yuan Sect; it was also a signal to the outside world, indicating where the Cyan Yuan Sect’s allegiance now lay.

"The Merak Sacred Land sent quite a few people this time, and their presence is very powerful. The news will likely spread quickly."

Seeing that Yang Chan’s expression remained unchanged, Han Bingyu continued.

To be so open about it was, in itself, a statement.

As a sect operating within the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, this action would naturally reach the ears of the Imperial Family immediately.

"They got here quickly."

Yang Chan said nonchalantly.

Based on his calculations, the people from the Merak Sacred Land must have set out for the Cyan Yuan Sect as soon as Taiyin Heaven closed.

Taking a few days to get here meant they weren’t in a rush; they were probably discussing the situation along the way.

Yang Chan didn’t know the specifics, but their arrival at the Cyan Yuan Sect now meant that it wouldn’t be long before Sect Leader Liu Xuan and the others would have to depart for the Merak Sacred Land.

Yang Chan had heard from Hall Master Gu An that Sect Leader Liu Xuan would very likely be going to the Merak Sacred Land, which was a perfectly normal development.

Having broken through to the Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster Realm in his Martial Arts Cultivation, he would naturally want to continue improving. Compared to the Cyan Yuan Sect, which lacked the legacy of a National Guardian Martial Saint, he was certain to find a complete lineage in the Merak Sacred Land.

At the very least, he could find methods for cultivating up to and breaking through to the National Guardian Martial Saint realm, as well as information on which elixirs could assist in the process.

Take the Earth Element Supreme Pill that the Old Emperor of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty had refined to break through to the National Guardian Martial Saint realm. The Cyan Yuan Sect would have found it nearly impossible to gather all the materials on its own, let alone perform the refining.

Refining such an elixir was impossible unless one’s Pharmacist Level reached the Top Level Pharmacist tier. For the sake of his own future, Liu Xuan would most likely choose not to stay behind.

As for the Cyan Yuan Sect, it would remain in Qing State, and with the Merak Sacred Land backing it, it would have a powerful patron.

They could simply choose a new Sect Leader and carry on as before.

"I’ve heard that the weakest among those who came to the Cyan Yuan Sect this time is an Inner Refining Six Viscera Master. There are also quite a few powerful Grandmasters who have reached the Inner Refining of the Five Viscera."

"The Merak Saintess, in particular, has an unfathomable Martial Arts Cultivation. They say she’s on the verge of breaking through to become a Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster at any moment."

Han Bingyu sighed with emotion as she mentioned this. According to the information she had gathered, none of these people were very old. The Merak Saintess, in particular, had not even reached the age of thirty, yet she possessed such profound cultivation. She was truly a peerless prodigy of the Merak Sacred Land.

"The Holy Lands have Grotto Heavens with abundant Spiritual Qi. Cultivating inside them is much faster than cultivating in the outside world. Even an ordinary person can extend their lifespan just by being in a Grotto Heaven, to say nothing of a Martial Arts Cultivator."

"Cultivating there yields twice the results with half the effort. Countless people are green with envy and wish to join a Holy Land, but their recruitment standards for disciples are incredibly strict, making it extremely difficult to get in."

Yang Chan mused on this, sighing with emotion.

For an ordinary person, Martial Arts Cultivation was a path where if you got one step ahead, you stayed ahead. The gap was incredibly difficult to close.