Nine Astra Skies

"The people from the Three Major Sects shouldn't be returning soon, but word is there are a few fighters from the Nanman Kingdom who had recently arrived in the capital city. For the next few days, it's better to move the Master Apothecary away from Central Lake Island," Great Emperor Mingwu said while looking at Master Apothecary Xuanyi.

"Hm." Master Apothecary Xuanyi nodded, but his thoughts wandered. He thought about Lei Yi and the others and he sighed. He would have no choice but to settle these matters himself.

Upon obtaining the medicinal pills, Great Emperor Mingwu awarded a pill each to the Earthly Venerable Rank fighters under his service. Master Apothecary Xuanyi did the same, distributing some to the seven Earthly Venerable Rank fighters under him. Each of them consumed one pill, absorbing the medical potency within. As for Li Xu, he only took half a pill as he was a mid-Ninth Level fighter. If he were to consume too much, he would not be able to absorb the medical potency of the pills.

One would have to meditate for at least two hours after consuming a Human Tier medicinal pill to absorb its properties within one's dantian. The medicinal properties would slowly be assimilated over the next few months, strengthening the user's cultivation base. Therefore, the effects were not immediate, but its effect on one's cultivation base was certainly noticeable shortly after consumption.

Ye Chen and Little Tanuki had each consumed one pill before closing their eyes, and started their meditation.

Little Wingsy was puzzled at why sister Tanuki and brother Ye Chen needed to meditate right after consuming the medicinal pill. Right after Little Wingsy had "gulped" down a Purple-gold Divine Pill, the pill was digested before it could reach its stomach. If not for the fact that Little Wingsy could feel the pill had a better effect on his injury compared to the Purple-gold Divine Fish, he would have assumed that the pills were useless and would have given them to Ye Chen.

Gulp, gulp, gulp. Just like eating sweet jelly beans, Little Wingsy swallowed another ten pills in one go and licked his lips. Little Wingsy was getting addicted. These Purple-gold Divine Pills were not like any other medicinal pills. They were not bitter and unbearable, and contained a hint of the delicious aroma of the Purple-gold Divine Fish. Gulp, gulp. Within moments, he had swallowed another ten pills.

"Delicious!" Little Wingsy's mouth was bulging as he stuffed himself with the pills. When he looked into the Heaven-Earth Pouch and saw that he had eaten a good portion of the Purple-Gold Divine pills, he immediately stopped himself. He would finish all of it if he did not stop, and these pills were extremely valuable. Little Wingsy felt like such a glutton. He decided he was just going to eat two more pills, and then he would stop!

Gulp, gulp.

Hmm, just two more…

Hmm, delicious!

Within half a day, he had eaten another dozen Purple-gold Divine Pills.

If it was any other ordinary practitioner or Earthly Venerable Rank fighters that had consumed the Purple-gold Divine Pills in a similar manner, they would have imploded and met certain death by the time they took two pills. A Heavenly Venerable Rank fighter would at most be able to stomach about five such pills. Little Wingsy, however, was a mythical serpent who could digest these heavenly treasures efficiently. With its physical durability, there was very little to worry about even if it were to consume several hundred pills in one go.

Shortly after, Ye Chen had finished absorbing the properties of the medicinal pills, thus fortifying his cultivation base. For any ordinary Earthly Venerable Rank fighter, it would take more than half a year to unleash its full potential. However for Ye Chen, he only needed several days to fully fortify his cultivation base.

Ye Chen opened his eyes and saw how Little Wingsy was consuming the medicinal pills. Anxiously, he thought that these Purple-gold Divine Pills were not like ordinary Chi-amassing Pills. They were extremely potent. Would it not be dangerous for Little Wingsy to consume so much? Ye Chen blamed himself for being reckless and giving so many pills to Little Wingsy.

"Little Wingsy, stop eating them!" Ye Chen quickly halted Little Wingsy.

As Ye Chen called out to Little Wingsy, it managed to swallow another two Purple-gold Divine Pills.

Ye Chen hurriedly grabbed Little Wingsy's wrist and inspected him using Celestial Chi.

"Brother Ye Chen, these are too delicious. I couldn't stop myself from eating them. You should reprimand me for it," Little Wingsy said with a look of guilt upon its face. He felt guilty as these Purple-gold Divine Pills were very valuable and he had eaten many of them in such a short time. Little Wingsy just could not control his appetite.

Hmm, strange. Ye Chen was amused and eyed Little Wingsy. Little Wingsy had absorbed all of the medicinal properties, and its durability had far exceeded Ye Chen's expectations.

"It's fine, you may just eat them." Ye Chen smiled since there were no abnormalities with Little Wingsy's body, it would not hurt to let him eat some more. "But there aren't many pills so you'd better ration them properly before they run out," Ye Chen said as he grabbed another handful and handed them to Little Wingsy.

There were a total of three hundred and forty Purple-gold Divine Pills and nearly a hundred were given to Little Wingsy. A portion had to be reserved for the clan. Ye Chen thought a hundred should be plenty enough for himself and Little Tanuki.

Great Emperor Mingwu and Master Apothecary Xuanyi had also finished absorbing the pill's medicinal properties. Upon seeing how Little Wingsy had gulped down more than dozens of the pills, they were astounded. These were Purple-gold Divine Pills, how could he have eaten this much in one go? It was absolutely distressful for them. Each Purple-gold Divine Pills was worth at least a hundred thousand Chi Deposition Pill. How much money had Little Wingsy just swallowed? An ordinary person would not be able to handle more than several pills before imploding. Could it be that Little Wingsy's strong resilient body was a product of consuming the pills?

It was as if Little Wingsy was a monster as it was still fine even after consuming such large volumes of Purple-gold Divine Pills. Great Emperor Mingwu and Master Apothecary Xuanyi could only muster a bitter smile between them.

After another day's retreat, Master Apothecary Xuanyi had one of his Earthly Venerable Rank fighters summon Lei Yi and the other registered apprentices.

In the alchemy room, Master Apothecary Xuanyi and Great Emperor Mingwu sat upon the top seat. Ye Chen, Little Wingsy, and Li Xu stood on the side while Lei Yi and the others knelt on the floor.

Master Apothecary Xuanyi remarked to the crowd and looked at Lei Yi. A grim look came upon his face as he asked, "Lei Yi, how long have you practiced alchemy under me?"

"Twenty years," Lei Yi nervously answered, his gaze never leaving the floor. Master Apothecary Xuanyi knew about their liaison with the Three Major Sects. Lei Yi and the others were observing yesterday's battle from afar and did not know how the event was resolved. He only knew that the Three Major Sects had retreated. Could it be that Master Apothecary Xuanyi wanted to settle the score now?

"Hao Feng, Yan Cheng, what about the two of you?"

"Eleven years."

"Twelve years," the two replied with their heads held down.

"For these past ten, twenty years, I've mentored you in the arts of alchemy. Each month, I've given you Fire Quintessence Pills, Earth Quintessence Pills, and other medicinal pills so that you may practice alchemy here without worries. Had I ever mistreated you?" Master Apothecary Xuanyi's face was grave. To be betrayed by his dearest apprentices was one of the most painful things that had occurred in his life. Master Apothecary Xuanyi had treated all of them as one of his own and had been extremely compassionate whenever they had made minor mistakes.

"Master, we had made a mistake."

"Master, please forgive us." Hao Feng and Yan Cheng sobbed hysterically, the other apprentices following suit.

Master Apothecary Xuanyi had been benevolent with them. He had been a wise mentor, at times even a loving father toward them. However, a loving father had many rotten sons!

"As I was refining the Purple-gold Divine Pills, I had intended to hand out some of the pills of my share to you but who would've thought that you were plotting behind your own master's back, conspiring with the Three Major Sects to steal the pills? I can tolerate your other faults but I'll no longer be merciful to this act of betrayal and mockery!" Master Apothecary Xuanyi grimly rebuked them.

"The way I see it, for this act of betrayal and mockery, I wouldn't be satisfied until I've sentenced them to death," Great Emperor Mingwu said. Even he could not stomach the sight of these traitors.

"Master, please have mercy!"

"Master, I beg that you spare my life!"

"For all the years I have given to you, Master, please show mercy." They pleaded.

Upon hearing Great Emperor Mingwu's words, Lei Yi and the others had turned as pale as snow. They began to kowtow with all their might and pleaded. Dong dong dong. In a short moment, their foreheads started bleeding.

Master Apothecary Xuanyi gripped the arms of his chair tightly, silently looking at his apprentices. He did not have the heart to condemn them to such punishment. After a while, he let out a long sigh and weakly waved them away. "Leave, your apprenticeship ends here."

"Master…"

"Master… We'll repent for our crimes. Please take us back…" Many apprentices bellowed and cried out.

Lei Yi kept his head down, sneering from the corner of his lips, knowing that Master Apothecary would not have the heart to sentence them to death. Along with Hao Feng and Yen Cheng, they continued to kowtow a couple more times and shortly after, began to take their leave, one after another. A group of apprentices lifted their heads and looked at Master Apothecary Xuanyi with remorse.

Master Apothecary Xuanyi's eyes were filled with sadness. "Go, I will not be taking any more apprentices. You are on your own now."

The entire ploy was orchestrated mainly by Lei Yi and the other two. Most of the other apprentices were forced into it. In fact, some apprentices were not even a part of it. They were very fond of Master Apothecary Xuanyi and had respected him deeply. Seeing that Master Apothecary Xuanyi had made up his mind, tears poured down each of their cheeks. There was nothing that they could do.

"Master, please take care of yourself." One of the apprentices sobbed uncontrollably and bowed heavily.

"Master, please take care."

The apprentices left one by one, each of them continued bowing after leaving Xuan Pavilion.

"Master, many of them were not necessarily involved with this," Li Xu briefly informed Master Apothecary Xuanyi.

"Let it be, I'm not deserving of becoming a mentor. I had been so obsessed with the way of alchemy. I taught them all I knew of alchemy but I failed to teach them to have integrity. Based on their capabilities, even after leaving my halls, they would still have bright futures ahead of them. Let them go." Master Apothecary Xuanyi shook his head and thought longingly of his own master who had long passed. In the past, he had been expelled too and he never had a chance to return to pay respects to his master. Now, his apprentices would share the same fate as his. After all these years, taking in all these apprentices, Master Apothecary Xuanyi would not be repaid with kindness, knowing that he did not have much time left. He cannot help but feel tired at all this.

Li Xu lowered his head. He knew that deep down, Master Apothecary Xuanyi was suffering.

Great Emperor Mingwu did not agree with how Master Apothecary Xuanyi had handled this. If he was in Master Apothecary Xuanyi's shoes, he would have had all these traitorous apprentices killed, not leaving even a single one to live. For people like Lei Yi, one would be a fool to expect him to feel any hint of appreciation for his master's teachings! If one were to expel them from the halls today, they would return another day like rabid hounds to bite the hands that had once fed them.

Ye Chen glanced around. The three main conspirators had left and more than half of the remaining apprentices continued to weep and knelt outside Xuan Pavilion before finally taking their leave.

At the end of the day, Master Apothecary Xuanyi had been a good master to his apprentices.