The Hunt for Qin Ran

Yan Yi noticed that something seemed off at the Chief Alchemy Hall these days.

In fact, it wasn't just these recent days; ever since he returned to his position after being severely injured, he sensed that the Chief Alchemy Hall had subtly changed. To be more precise, it changed when Qin Ran took over as the elder of the Chief Alchemy Hall.

However, when Yan Yi looked at the young man sitting in the main seat of the Chief Alchemy Hall with a delicate appearance, it was hard to believe that he could be responsible for these things. That harmless face lacked any aggression or lethality.

As he observed, Yan Yi suddenly noticed the young man tidying up his position and standing up. Quickly averting his gaze, he saw the young man approaching his table, saying, "The Chief Alchemy Hall is currently short-staffed. I plan to recruit some people from the outer sect. Spread the word; on the first day of September, the Chief Alchemy Hall will conduct selection for disciple and laborer positions at the Questioning Dao Square. We'll select... hmm, seven individuals for now, three disciples, and four laborers."

Upon hearing this, Yan Yi's mind shook. He discreetly glanced at Ke Yue across from him, and sure enough, the lovely girl had a serious expression.

This was where the Chief Alchemy Hall was going astray.

Originally, the Chief Alchemy Hall had ample manpower, with many medicine servants and laborers. However, over the past two months, the manpower at the Chief Alchemy Hall gradually became insufficient.

It wasn't that the Chief Alchemy Hall's tasks increased; rather, the number of people in the Chief Alchemy Hall decreased.

The Chief Alchemy Hall's personnel, Jian Yuanjie's subordinates, were disappearing one by one!

"Yes, Elder!" Yan Yi withdrew his gaze, hastily responding, "Is there any specific requirement, Elder?"

"Since they are coming to work at the Chief Alchemy Hall, the primary requirement is to have a certain understanding of alchemy," Qin Ran said.

"At that time, I will assess some knowledge related to alchemy and select based on merit. Furthermore, those with a desire and talent for alchemy can be given priority. As it will involve keeping records, it's preferable for them to be literate and adept at arithmetic."

Yan Yi noted down Qin Ran's requirements and asked, "Any other requirements, Elder?"

"Just these; convey it as soon as possible and give them some time to prepare," Qin Ran replied.

After giving his instructions, he walked straight out of the Chief Alchemy Hall.

... Another day of leaving early.

Qin Ran had a delicate appearance and a reserved temperament. When he stood there, he was just a harmless boy next door, giving off no oppressive feeling. However, as soon as he left the Chief Alchemy Hall, in the blink of an eye, the entire atmosphere changed. It became gloomy and cold, as if the light had dimmed by a few degrees and the temperature had dropped by a dozen degrees.

Thus, Yan Yi realized that a person's authority and demeanor had nothing to do with their appearance and demeanor.

Even though he had already clung to Qin Ran's thighs, Yan Yi, who had been excluded and oppressed for a long time, still didn't dare to make any movements. As soon as Qin Ran left, he immediately lowered his head, focusing on his work, pretending not to see or hear anything happening in the hall.

And because Qin Ran had just mentioned recruiting three more stewards, the atmosphere in the Chief Alchemy Hall was now even more terrifying than before.

Thinking for his own life, Yan Yi swiftly completed the tasks Qin Ran assigned, hastily clutching the recruitment order and fleeing from the Chief Alchemy Hall.

However, unlike Qin Ran, he was legitimately engaged in propaganda, not considered leaving early.

Once Yan Yi left, with no outsiders present, the Chief Alchemy Hall became not only cold but also filled with a murderous intent.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and gathered in the hall.

Ke Yue brought a chair to the center of the crowd, with Shi Yuan standing behind her chair. She surveyed the room, her face dark, and spoke in a deep voice.

"You all heard it; he is declaring war on us! Issuing us an ultimatum!

"Two months ago, Fei Yan was brutally killed by him. At that time, I said he wouldn't spare us. Indeed, over these two months, he has secretly killed numerous disciples. Cunning, deceitful, and ruthless, it's outrageous!

"Just now, he mentioned recruiting three more stewards... we are also on his assassination list! We are like locusts on the same branch!

"He won't spare us until he wipes us out!

"At this point, we must unite; we must resist."

"How do we resist?!" a man with a beard interjected, "He is a Peak Master, with profound cultivation, formidable strength, and cruel methods. What do we have to resist him?"

As soon as he spoke, many others echoed his sentiment. After all, Qin Ran was a Peak Master, a Nascent Soul cultivator, an existence they couldn't contend with.

Ke Yue raised her hand to silence their clamor and continued, "No matter how formidable he is, he is just one person. We have many people; it's our choice to fight or flee."

"If we choose to resist, to kill him..." she suddenly took out a long box from her storage bag, saying coldly, "there is a way."

"Do you have a trump card?" Shi Yuan frowned; how did he not know?

Ke Yue gave him a sidelong glance and replied, "This isn't my trump card; it's Elder Jian's trump card."

As she spoke, she opened the box.

The people inside the hall looked in and found two items—a sword covered in runes and a small jade bottle.

She first lifted the jade bottle, saying, "This is the Immortal Slaying Pill! Consume it, and you'll possess the ability to slay immortals and extinguish gods."

"Then, what's the cost?" someone asked.

"It will burn all the cultivation and potential of the cultivator... using it will turn you into an ordinary mortal," Ke Yue said with a cold face.

"And the sword?" Shi Yuan inquired.

"This rune-covered sword is a one-time-use spiritual treasure, fully activated, comparable to a middle-grade spiritual treasure," Ke Yue answered.

With a stern face, she surveyed the crowd, saying loudly, "Either be silently killed one by one by him; or tonight, disperse and flee under the cover of darkness; or, we slay him, Nascent Soul or not."

The people in the hall fell silent for a while. Finally, someone spoke up, "How about we escape tonight?"

"He won't be able to catch up with all of us," someone whispered from within the crowd... the slower ones serving as shields.

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell silent once again.

"How many Immortal Slaying Pills do you have?" Shi Yuan inquired after a while.

"One," came the response.

"Who will take it?" Shi Yuan asked again, "Who will take the pill, and who will wield the magical treasures?"

"Of course, it should be the one with the highest cultivation level," someone stated.

Who among them had the highest cultivation level?

Shi Yuan held the highest cultivation, having reached the Foundation Establishment stage several decades ago. Following closely was Ke Yue, who recently entered the Foundation Establishment stage.

"Just relying on me might not be enough to defeat him," Shi Yuan said without any change in expression.

"He's just an alchemist after all. It's well-known that alchemists have extremely low combat power. With the boost from the Immortal Slaying Pill, you might have a chance," Ke Yue suggested.

A burly man with a beard stepped out of the crowd and approached Ke Yue, saying, "We can set a trap."

Ke Yue looked at him and asked, "How do we set the trap?"

The big man spoke loudly:

"First, with so many pills in the Chief Alchemy Hall, we can find an opportunity to feed him some—poison or healing pills, anything works;

"Second, we can set up a trap outside the sect, using formations and mechanisms;

"Lastly, we arrange for people to lead him to the trap, with the one who took the Immortal Slaying Pill in the lead, others as support, and surround and kill him."

"Very good!" Ke Yue approved of his plan and asked, "What's your name?"

"You Shi!" the bearded man with a mustache replied.

"Pills as support. After all, he's still an alchemist. The main focus should be on formations, mechanisms, and magical tools..." Ke Yue suggested.

"I'll provide the formation disk!" someone took out a formation disk.

"I'll offer magical tools..."

"...I'll summon a spirit beast..."

7017k