"He even went so far as to humiliate us by using his tentacles to grope us, utterly vile."

Several alchemy workers, speaking as if it were the truth, exaggerated the characterization of Mr. Yan as a sleazy pill thief.

Zhou Xuan nodded and then asked the Eternal Life Sect Leader, "Can you see now?"

The Eternal Life Sect Leader had come to his senses and said, "Yes, I see it now. I once worked with Mr. Yan, hoping to use our camaraderie to prevent him from stealing the elixirs. But in the end, he betrayed me, attacking fiercely.

I hesitated to fight back because he was from the Heavenly Fire Clan, but it was Master Zhou who arrived and struck him down."

"Good, as long as you see it."

Zhou Xuan said to the Eternal Life Sect Leader, "It’s about time, open the furnace and release the elixirs; even if the Heavenly Dome is watching, I’m unafraid."

"Open the furnace, open it." The Eternal Life Sect Leader understood what Zhou Xuan intended—if a Heavenly Fire Clan member commits such a grave error, naturally they can’t be killed. But one who intends to steal a ’third-grade elixir,’ is that so untouchable? Surely not!

He called over several alchemy workers, who swiftly flung open the furnace door. Two large fish, accompanied by the Star Sky Scroll, surged out together, diving into Zhou Xuan’s Secret Realm.

Inside the furnace, a pill hovered like amber, flawless and incredibly pure.

The rich fragrance of the pill was so dense it seemed poised to condense into droplets, dripping within the Ancient Soul Returning Hall.

Just at this moment,

an eyeball flew into the hall.

Zhou Xuan’s Perception was exceptionally keen, and he immediately sensed the presence of the eye, snapping his fingers to summon Bone Teeth.

The Eternal Life Sect Leader quickly halted Zhou Xuan’s action: "Master Zhou, this eye isn’t just anyone, it’s the Sky Dome Gatekeeper—Zhong Guan."

"When the gatekeeper of the Heavenly Dome notices significant events in the human world, they will pluck out an eye and cast it down to observe if any major transformations occur,

Zhong Guan must have seen the high-grade elixir emerging from the furnace and used the divine eye to see what was happening."

"Oh, so it’s someone from the heavens."

Zhou Xuan dismissed the idea of summoning Bone Teeth and calmly watched the eye as it flew into the hall.

First, the eye looked at the elixir, then at Mr. Yan’s body, and finally landed in front of Zhou Xuan, bursting forth with a chilling inquiry: "Congratulations, Master Zhou, on the great success of the divine pill."

"However, a joyous event is just that; regarding the death of Mr. Yan, can Master Zhou provide an explanation?"

The Eternal Life Sect Leader felt understandably anxious upon hearing Zhong Guan’s question, already contemplating how to help Zhou Xuan concoct a story.

As he grappled with this internally, Zhou Xuan sneered and said, "Zhong Guan, I am Master Yujing. What is your status? Do you even have the right to question me?"

Zhong Guan’s pupil immediately contracted; he never expected Zhou Xuan to be so domineering.

"Summon Qing Yangyu to the mortal world; I have words for him."

Zhou Xuan, with his hands behind his back, spoke as if laden with icy coldness.

"Master Zhou..."

"Quickly go and find Qing Yangyu, for if Master Zhou’s important matters are delayed, you will not be able to bear the consequences."

The Eternal Life Sect Leader also gestured with a sword hand, scolding Zhong Guan.

Recently, Zhong Guan felt somewhat stifled; he was Zhong Guan, an official of the Bell Music Department of the Changsheng Palace. It was only because Mr. Yan was on leave that he got the chance to serve as a gatekeeper.

In his experience, although the status of a gatekeeper is not particularly high, suppressing some God-level beings and the Mortal Hall Disciples should be easy enough.

But during his tenure as a gatekeeper, he had been kicked by Li Changxun and utterly ignored by Zhou Xuan. Now even the Eternal Life Sect Leader condescended to him.

"I wasn’t bullied when I wasn’t the gatekeeper, yet now that I am, you still bully me. Is this position worthless for me?"

Zhong Guan was beginning to question himself, but he didn’t dare provoke Zhou Xuan—after all, Zhou Xuan had just killed Mr. Yan. How does that matter? At the very least, he remains the Divine Pill Master of Yujing, and a high-grade elixir had also been completed.

In the Heavenly Dome, producing a quality pill is an achievement, and achievement brings status.

"The death of one Mr. Yan might not be enough to topple Zhou Xuan after all."

Thinking this, Zhong Guan’s eye sheepishly returned to the Heavenly Dome.

"A Divine Pill Master, and judging by the commotion when he was making the pill, he’ll only rise further in the future. Offending him? That’d be most unwise."

He was quite used to submitting; one more submission didn’t face him.

"Sometimes acting impulsively and irrationally is the quickest way to lose one’s life."

...

After Zhong Guan returned to the Heavenly Dome, he went into the Changsheng Palace, carrying a lantern.

These days, Qing Yangyu was particularly joyous. He had withheld a hundred pills from Zhou Xuan’s stock.

Of these pills, he consumed ten per day. To say nothing else, their efficacy was indeed powerful.

"Ten pills a day make the Changsheng Palace feel like perpetual spring, with exotic flowers, scenes, and remarkable individuals, all in abundance."

"The vitality of the Changsheng Palace has returned."

"Good pills, fine pills, only Master Zhou’s pills are genuinely impressive, compared to his, pills from other alchemists ought to be thrown to that sick village."

Qing Yangyu, with his plump figure, wandered about the dilapidated Changsheng Palace haphazardly.

Zhong Guan knew, however, that Qing Yangyu wasn’t actually wandering. He was observing flowers—those surreal flowers born from the pills’ illusions.

He approached Qing Yangyu with utmost respect, kneeled, and said, "Palace Master, in the Mingjiang Prefecture’s sick village, two major events have occurred, one good, one bad."

"Oh, what are those two events?"

"Does the Palace Master wish to hear the good news or the bad news first?" Zhong Guan asked.

Qing Yangyu, now feasting his eyes on an array of rare flowers and scenes, was in high spirits and didn’t find Zhong Guan’s words tiresome. He picked at his fingers adorned with orchids, saying, "Let’s hear the good news first."

"Master Zhou Xuan has released a new pill."

"Is that so?" Qing Yangyu’s voice rose, filled with elation as he said,

"Master Zhou truly is a cornerstone talent of the Heavenly Dome. This young man has limitless potential, truly limitless potential."

"Palace Master... I haven’t mentioned what the pill looks like yet."

"Well, get on with it then," Qing Yangyu said, slightly irritated.

"It’s at least a third-grade pill, utterly free of impurities, supremely pure."

"..." Qing Yangyu.

First shocked, then burst into wild laughter. He felt as if he had struck it rich.

Zhou Xuan was a Dan Officer whom Qing Yangyu had recommended; although he had no direct superior-subordinate relationship with Zhou Xuan, he had already regarded Zhou Xuan as his own close Dan Officer.

An elixir worker of his own making another divine miracle—how could he not be exuberant?

"Hahaha... Hahahaha..."

Qing Yangyu laughed heartily.

"Palace Master, I must bring up the bad news now," Zhong Guan added.

"Go ahead, go ahead... hahaha... hahaha..." Qing Yangyu was so pleased he was beside himself.

"Mr. Yan is dead—apparently killed by Master Zhou," Zhong Guan said seriously.

"Hahaha... Haha... Hiccup..." Qing Yangyu’s laughter abruptly stopped, although the smile lingered on his face.

After pondering for a few seconds, he waved his hand and said, "Nonsense, Master Zhou is earnest and takes great care in his matters; why would he kill Mr. Yan?"

"But..."

"In my view, it was Mr. Yan, holding the high position of gatekeeper, who sought to extort pills from Master Zhou. During the extortion, a conflict ensued, and Master Zhou had no choice but to kill Mr. Yan in self-defense... Yes, that must be it."

Qing Yangyu nodded emphatically.

Zhong Guan was dumbfounded. He never expected—that Mr. Yan’s death hadn’t even been clearly pinned on someone, and yet Qing Yangyu, through mere conjecture, had already established the case!

Indeed, the Heavenly Dome was not a place bound by reason.

"Palace Master, Mr. Yan, after all, was one of our clan..."

"Clan? Such useless clan members, of what use are they to keep around?"

Qing Yangyu waved his hand, instructing Zhong Guan, "You are to relay to Master Zhou that his meritorious service and hard work will not go unacknowledged in the Heavenly Dome. As for the issue of Mr. Yan, I will take care of it; there’s no need for him to worry."

"Palace Master, I’m afraid I can’t go; Master Zhou specifically named you to come in person..." Zhong Guan replied with a miserable look.