Nine Astra Skies

Sensing Ye Chen's gaze, Li Xu looked back. Ye Chen looked just like any other average teenager but for some odd reason, he found the boy rather captivating like there was an air of uniqueness to him.

Unlike the other teenagers who looked up to him, Ye Chen did not seem to share the same sentiments.

"Who's that boy over there in the white robe?" Li Xu turned to ask Yun Yiyang who was seated next to him.

The people around were slightly taken aback. Behind every Ninth Level combatant stood one or two of their respective clan's finest disciples. They had brought their disciples, intending to showcase their talents to Li Xu, hoping that he would choose them. However, Li Xu only seemed to be interested in Ye Chen who was at the far end of the corner.

Yun Yiyang looked at Ye Chen curiously. What was it about him that caught Li Xu's eyes?

"Master Li, that's Ye Chen, the son of Ye Zhantian from the Ye Clan," Yun Yiyang courteously responded. Although he hated the Ye Clan to the core, he dared not make a scene before Li Xu.

"What's his cultivation base?" Li Xu suddenly realized his reason for noticing Ye Chen. As an Advanced Apothecary, Li Xu was particularly sensitive toward fire elemental Celestial Chi and he could feel the same energy coming from Ye Chen too.

"Beginner Sixth Level," Yun Yiyang replied. He was getting increasingly annoyed that Li Xu only seemed to be interested in the Ye Clan's member. He was surrounded by so many fine disciples from the Yun Clan yet Li Xu paid them no attention.

"Is the Ye Clan a practitioner of the fire elemental cultivation system?" Li Xu pressed on.

"Not at all. They're practitioners of the thunder elemental cultivation system." Yun Yiyang furrowed his brows. Just what exactly did Li Xu mean by that? Did he notice something?

"Oh," Li Xu replied indifferently.

Ye Chen's Astral Body heard every word that Li Xu and the rest had said. He was a little surprised that out of all people, Li Xu had noticed him. What did he mean by those questions?

Underneath Ye Chen's robe, Little Tanuki wriggled. Ye Chen quickly gave it a little pat and whispered, "Stay still, Little Tanuki."

"It's time," a couple of the Yun Clan members reminded.

Yun Yiyang briefly looked to the sky and stood to salute the people around him before continuing, "Today is the triennial Grand Martial Tournament of the Eighteen Houses of Lianyun. I'd like to thank the lords of various houses as well as the prestigious families from Donglin County for attending this event. Joining us today is Master Xuanyi's most senior disciple, Master Li whom we're extremely honored to have. As such, this year's tournament will be a little different from the previous years. Apart from the contenders of the Eighteen Houses of Lianyun, the other houses are invited to participate in the tournament. We have also included another test this time. Those who perform outstandingly and meet Master Li's requirement will be given a chance to enroll in Master Apothecary Xuanyi's school!"

Hearing Yun Yiyang's words, the crowd roared. They had heard about Master Xuanyi's search for a disciple but they would have never guessed that the search was a part of the tournament.

"Does that mean that those who aren't from the Eighteen Houses of Lianyun can participate too?"

"I wonder what's the other test?"

The people in the crowd spoke among themselves.

Noticing the positive reaction from the crowd, Li Xu smiled and stood up to weigh in, "It's my honor to attend this year's grand event and have the opportunity to meet the young talents of Donglin County. For that, I'm truly grateful. To those of you young lads out there who are keen to enroll in Master Xuanyi's school, you may showcase your talents in the arena. Also, I've prepared a gift as a good luck charm for today's event. Be it the tournament or the second test, the victor will stand a chance to receive an Earth Quintessence Pill specially made by Master Xuanyi himself. I trust that the floor will find the gift enticing enough?"

Li Xu's voice lacked that certain huskiness that Yun Yiyang had but he spoke just as effortlessly. The arena may be crowded but his voice was clearly heard.

An Earth Quintessence Pill? One that was specially made by Master Apothecary Xuanyi himself?!

The crowd broke into excitement. Certain types of medicinal pills allowed users to cultivate their Celestial Chi, including the most common pills such as the Chi-amassing Pill and Chi Deposition Pill. Then, some pills were targeted at helping one cultivate a specific elemental cultivation system like the Fire and Ice Quintessence Pills. As for the Earth Quintessence Pill, it was a product resulting from a Fire and Ice Quintessence Pill along with twenty-one other types of pills at a hundred each. All crushed together into powder, combined, and consolidated to remove the impurities. It was considered a Tier Six medicinal pill. Most Chi-amassing Pill and Chi Deposition Pill were only effective for combatants Sixth Level and below. On the other hand, the Earth Quintessence Pill was extremely beneficial to any combatant Tenth Level or so who sought to cultivate their techniques.

A regular Earth Quintessence Pill was the equivalent of thousands of Chi Deposition Pill. With Chi-amassing Pill, it would cost way more than thousands. Even if one were to be offered such a trade, most combatants would not necessarily agree to it. Even more so if it were an Earth Quintessence Pill made by Master Apothecary Xuanyi himself!

"Granduncle, is the Earth Quintessence Pill really that valuable? What's with all these people's reactions?" Ye Chen inquired. The Grand Supreme Way of Alchemy had touched on the topic of the refining process involving an Earth Quintessence Pill and from the sounds of it, it seemed rather tedious. That said, apart from the fact the material cost was slightly pricier than usual, the refining process seemed rather easy.

"If I had an Earth Quintessence Pill to pair with the Thunder Emperor Discourse, I'd probably be able to break through mid Ninth Level and achieve the peak within a month. No, make that half a month!" An emotional Ye Changxuan said. The Thunder Emperor Discourse would enhance the absorption rate of the medicinal pill. Meanwhile, the effects of the Earth Quintessence Pill alone were equally incredible too. If Ye Changxuan could reach peak Ninth Level, then the Ye Clan would have nothing to fear.

The Earth Quintessence Pill was truly wondrous. Ye Chen's eyes gleamed. In Li Xu's hand were two Earth Quintessence Pills. With a man of his social status speaking to a large crowd, Li Xu would never lie!

The crowd was not the only ones eyeing the pills. Even Yun Yiyang and Yun Yixuan had set their sights on it. These were two Earth Quintessence Pills they were talking about!

Yun Yiyang leaned in and whispered in Yun Yixuan's ears, "Send the word to our men that they are to earn the first spot in both competitions."

The Ninth Level combatants proceeded to relay the message to the rest of the youngsters, "Whatever it takes to get the top spot!"

Satisfied with the crowd's reaction, Li Xu sat down.

Ye Chen squinted his eyes. No matter what happened, those two Earth Quintessence Pills were his. One for granduncle and another for father. That way, their powers would increase tremendously.

"Just as it was in the past years, the tournament will begin with a challenge system. Those who happen to be within age eighteen and below who are Fifth Level and above are permitted to participate in the challenge. The last one to remain in each five separate arenas will then compete again for the role of the victor," Yun Yiyang announced.

Ye Changxuan pondered about the implications long and hard. Little Chen might be able to snag one of the Earth Quintessence Pills with his current strength. Doing so, however, may give away Little Chen's power level which meant putting the entire Yun Clan at greater danger.

"Little Chen, are you sure you want to get the Earth Quintessence Pill?" Ye Changxuan asked anxiously.

"Yeah," Ye Chen nodded.

"If you do that, I fear danger awaits us."

"Granduncle, if I don't do it, the Earth Quintessence Pill will fall into the hands of the Yun Clan as we sit idly. With so many people at the Grand Martial Tournament of the Eighteen Houses of Lianyun, I doubt anyone would cause a ruckus. Once we get our hands on the pill, we can return to the Ye Castle right away!" Ye Chen whispered.

That was one way to go at it. Once the tournament had passed, Yun Yiyang would have to remain behind to entertain Li Xu and the rest of the lords and elder chiefs. So long as Yun Yiyang did not pursue them, he could break through the guards' rank with Little Chen.

This was no doubt an opportune moment for the Ye Clan!

Ye Changxuan thought about it a little more before nodding. "Go get it."

The Grand Martial Tournament of the Eighteen Houses of Lianyun had begun. Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh. Five silhouettes leaped into the arena. Usually, those who present themselves first were the ones who thought highly of their skills and intend to conquer the stage single-handedly.

Yun Yifei stepped into the first arena. The second arena, Mo Teng of the Mo Clan. Then a couple of Donglin County youngsters among the audience in the third.