Chapter 737 657: The Winner Stands, Are You Telling Me What to Do?

After that, he watched as Yang Chan found the time to improve his Alchemy Ability, getting a step ahead of Yuwen Ze by successfully refining the Nourishing Vein and Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill. This progress was so rapid that it put a great deal of pressure on him.

After all, as someone in the Spirit Medicine Tower, he naturally wanted to be promoted to Top Level Pharmacist and become the tower's true Steward.

Now, with a formidable opponent like Yang Chan, he was naturally anxious, but there was nothing he could do.

He was one of Pill Pavilion Master Bai Keyi's people and maintained a neutral position. He wouldn't deliberately target anyone from the Merak Saint Son or Merak Saintess's factions. If he got involved in their conflict, Pill Pavilion Master Bai Keyi would likely abandon him.

No matter how transcendent the Pill Pavilion Master's status was, he wouldn't take the initiative to get involved in the struggle for the next Saint Master's position. No matter who won, it would only spell trouble for him.

Even if the person he supported became the Saint Master of the Merak Sacred Land, there wouldn't be many benefits for him. On the other hand, if his chosen candidate lost, he would find it difficult to maintain his current transcendent status and might even lose his position as Pill Pavilion Master over it.

The status of a Top Level Pharmacist was transcendent, but it was still a notch below that of the Merak Saint Master.

Pavilion Master Bai Keyi of the Pill Pavilion was well aware of this, and as Bai Keyi's man, Qiu Feizhang, the Steward of the Spirit Medicine Tower, was too. That was why he hadn't targeted Yuwen Ze when he joined the Spirit Medicine Tower, and why he wasn't targeting Yang Chan now.

He just watched.

He could compete for the position of the Spirit Medicine Tower's true Steward, but his only option was to get promoted to Top Level Pharmacist before the other two. He couldn't resort to other means. Otherwise, the ones he would have to face would no longer be Yang Chan and Yuwen Ze, but the powerful figures backing them.

As Qiu Feizhang watched, he felt a sense of anticipation.

Otherwise, at the current rate, he might never obtain the position of the Spirit Medicine Tower's true Steward.

Yuwen Ze's arrival had previously put him under great pressure. Fortunately, after Yuwen Ze's confidence was shattered, the growth of his Alchemy Ability slowed down. At his current rate of progress, this so-called Genius Pharmacist no longer posed a threat to him.

And now, it was Yang Chan's turn. He wanted to see how Yang Chan would handle it.

'If Yang Chan ends up like Yuwen Ze, it would actually be a good thing for me.'

No one likes having someone around who poses a major threat to their interests, and Qiu Feizhang was no exception.

"I'm aware of your Pill Battle challenge, Pharmacist Lu. However, I have tasks to handle for the Spirit Medicine Tower. I can give you my answer later."

Despite being called out by name, Yang Chan remained calm and didn't agree to the challenge right away.

Although he had already gathered a great deal of information on Lu Feng, he felt it was better to wait and be cautious.

After all, Liu Xuan had just told him not to rush into an agreement. They were going to send more detailed intelligence for him to analyze first.

Thus, agreeing immediately was out of character for him, both in terms of his actual personality and the steady persona he needed to project.

There was no need to look like a reckless hothead.

"As far as I know, your duties at the Spirit Medicine Tower aren't that demanding, Pharmacist Yang. Why not just accept the Pill Battle now?"

"Or could it be that you aren't very confident in your Alchemy Ability, Pharmacist Yang? Are you scared of the challenge?"

A sharp glint flashed in Lu Feng's eyes as he spoke, his tone growing more aggressive.

His purpose for coming here was to force Yang Chan to accept this Pill Battle, so he wouldn't be polite. Naturally, he'd say whatever it took to get the job done.

As long as he achieved his goal.

"You're being quite aggressive, Pharmacist Lu. Are you trying to tell me what to do?"

"And what business is it of yours how things are run at the Spirit Medicine Tower? Or are you dissatisfied with the Pavilion Master and believe his arrangements are flawed?"

Yang Chan didn't answer the question, retorting with one of his own.

'Why should I care about the answer Lu Feng wants? Why should I play by his rules and give him one?'

Yang Chan looked young, but he was skilled at handling people. Having been through the school of hard knocks and the trials of the internet, his understanding of social dynamics was especially profound.

"Don't you dare slander me, Pharmacist Yang! I have the utmost respect for the Pavilion Master and have no dissatisfaction whatsoever!"

Lu Feng's expression changed slightly at his words, and he hurriedly replied.

If he were branded as someone dissatisfied with the Pill Pavilion Master, his life within the Pill Pavilion would become impossible.

Within the Pill Pavilion, the Pavilion Masters held the real power, and among them, the True Pavilion Master, Bai Keyi, had the highest status.

If he fell into the trap Yang Chan had just set, he could forget about having an easy time in the Pill Pavilion.

A Third Level Alchemist and a Top Level Pharmacist might seem to be only one level apart, but everyone in the Pill Pavilion knew the difference in their status was night and day.

Take Lu Feng, for example. If he were a Top Level Pharmacist, the Quasi-Saint Son wouldn't have the authority to order him to challenge Yang Chan to a Pill Battle. Any discerning person could see that this whole affair was a deliberate setup.

Even if he won, his reputation wouldn't be good. He might be labeled as someone who couldn't stand to see a Genius Pharmacist succeed, or saddled with ugly words like "jealous of his betters," which could follow him for the rest of his life.

But Lu Feng had no other choice. He had to make his move.

When so many interests were entangled, his status as a mere Third Level Alchemist was not enough.

"I came here to have a Pill Battle with you, Pharmacist Yang. If you don't think you're up to it, you can just concede defeat!"

Lu Feng's reaction was swift. He didn't get bogged down by Yang Chan's question and immediately returned to the main topic.

He was here for a Pill Battle with Yang Chan, not a battle of wits.

"I've already said it, and I will repeat myself. I am aware of your Pill Battle challenge, Pharmacist Lu. However, I have tasks for the Spirit Medicine Tower to handle. I can only give Pharmacist Lu a reply later!"

Yang Chan simply recited his original answer, not a single word changed.

His expression was also placid, showing no change whatsoever.

"Why won't you answer me right now, Pharmacist Yang?"

This wasn't the answer Lu Feng wanted. His tone grew heavier, as this wasn't going as he had expected.

Logically, a young and impetuous Genius Pharmacist like Yang Chan should be the easiest to provoke. A little goading was all it should have taken to get what he wanted.

Now, things were a little different.

He was slippery as an eel.

"Does Pharmacist Lu believe we are just sitting idle here at the Spirit Medicine Tower?"

"There's a long line in front of the Spirit Medicine Tower, full of Pharmacists from the Pill Pavilion, all of whom are in a hurry!"

"Or are you suggesting, Pharmacist Lu, that your business is more important than that of everyone else waiting in line?"

Yang Chan once again shifted the topic back to the Spirit Medicine Tower, but this time, instead of invoking Pavilion Master Bai Keyi, he brought up the Pharmacists waiting in line.

These Pharmacists had to personally queue up to receive Spirit Medicine from the tower. Lu Feng's behavior was just like someone trying to cut in line.

By pointing this out directly, Yang Chan was drawing their ire toward Lu Feng.

'This man wants to destroy my confidence and affect my Alchemy. No method of dealing with him is too extreme.'

'If we weren't in the Pill Pavilion where I can't act rashly, I'd just use a bit of Poison and solve this problem at its source.'

'Sometimes, when a problem is hard to solve, you just solve the person causing it. That settles things for good.'

"Don't slander me, Pharmacist Yang! I have no such intention. I simply want to have a Pill Battle with you to see if your Alchemy Ability truly lives up to its reputation!"

Lu Feng's brow furrowed. He noticed that because of Yang Chan's words, some unfriendly glares were now fixed on him, some of which belonged to other Third Level Alchemists.

Trying to pull rank in the Pill Pavilion was unthinkable, unless you were a Top Level Pharmacist.

"Let's not even discuss whether I'm slandering you. With the way you're behaving right now, Pharmacist Lu, do I even need to?"

"So many Pharmacists are watching. I'm sure they've all seen your behavior, Pharmacist Lu. They know what you're doing, and they'll naturally form their own opinions!"

Yang Chan waved his hand dismissively, his gaze sweeping over the other Pharmacists.

Business at the Spirit Medicine Tower was always brisk. Every day, Pharmacists came to collect or exchange Spirit Medicine, so the staff were never idle.

Thank goodness for the regular shifts; otherwise, they'd have no time to rest.

But in the eyes of outsiders, the Spirit Medicine Tower was essentially always open, meaning it was never not busy—it was incredibly hectic!