Alchemy Master

Chapter 819, Punishment Hall

Translator: Silavin

Due to the quota restrictions, Feng Qianxue remained in the Imperial Dynasties’ territory.

Qin Yichen had been perpetually concerned about this matter.

Now, he had already produced the Compound Pill. Presumably, the upper echelons of Brilliant Sky Sacred Land had already taken notice of him.

In fact, if he were willing, he could enter the Inner Sect Pill Hall!

These past few days, no one from the Pill Hall had sought him out. Clearly, those major figures from the Pill Hall were still studying the Pill Formulas he had provided.

This morning, Qin Yichen came to Southern Brilliant Hall, intending to collect some medicinal herbs to refine Pills.

“Qin Yichen, you little rascal, you finally showed up!” At the entrance to Southern Brilliant Hall, he encountered Manager Dong, whose face was full of urgency. Grabbing Qin Yichen, he set off immediately. “Quick, come with me.”

“Several Elders have been looking for you for days now and I’ve been unable to find you…” Dong Yu looked at him with exasperation. “You, surely you didn’t secretly slip out of the Sacred Land?”

“Erm…” Qin Yichen scratched the back of his head, grinning sheepishly.

He had been residing in the room registered under Li Yuanba’s name, which naturally explained why Dong Yu could not locate him.

“Manager, is there some urgent matter?” Qin Yichen held considerable respect for Dong Yu. On the journey, he couldn’t help but enquire.

“It’s about Yi Buyan.” Dong Yu released a sigh.

Those few words were sufficient for Qin Yichen to comprehend the situation.

He had killed someone whom a Hall Master had taken a liking to.

Although Yi Buyan had not yet been formally accepted as Hall Master Xu’s Personal Disciple, the matter had already spread far and wide.

Everyone knew that becoming Master and Disciple was merely a matter of time.

However, Qin Yichen had killed Yi Buyan, which was tantamount to not placing Hall Master Xu in his regard at all.

If Hall Master Xu did nothing, where would his dignity remain!?

Establishing authority was inevitable.

If Qin Yichen’s speculation was correct, the reason he could still remain safe and sound was that the Inner Sect Pill Hall had blocked Hall Master Xu on his behalf.

Sure enough, Dong Yu led Qin Yichen not towards the Pill Hall, but toward the most majestic peak within the Sacred Land.

They did not ascend the peak itself, but instead arrived at a grand hall situated at its base.

It was the Punishment Hall.

As its name suggested, it governed matters of discipline within the Sacred Land.

The personnel of Punishment Hall held considerable status within the Sacred Land, directly subordinate to the Sacred Land Master.

However, these past few days, the people of Punishment Hall had found themselves in considerable difficulty.

At this moment, within Punishment Hall, two factions were engaged in heated dispute.

Led by Inner Sect Northern Brilliant Hall, they demanded that Punishment Hall apprehend and execute the culprit who had slain Yi Buyan.

Originally, Punishment Hall would have been willing to show Northern Brilliant Hall Master this courtesy, but they had encountered a major obstacle…

Southern Brilliant Hall!

This was a faction no one wished to offend.

The people of Punishment Hall were no exception.

They could afford to antagonise neither side, so the personnel of Punishment Hall simply refused to intervene, allowing both factions to argue amongst themselves. Whoever prevailed would be heeded.

When Qin Yichen followed Dong Yu to Punishment Hall, he could already detect the powder keg atmosphere permeating the interior.

“Elder, Qin Yichen has arrived.” Dong Yu brought Qin Yichen to the side of an elder from the Pill Hall.

“En.” The elderly man nodded slightly, indicating that both should stand behind him.

At this moment, within Punishment Hall, he was the sole Elder from the Pill Hall, while Northern Brilliant Hall’s contingent was similarly led by an Elder. Hall Master Xu had not appeared in person.

However, clearly, this Elder had received instructions from Hall Master Xu. Simultaneously, within Punishment Hall, the ceaselessly arguing crowd quietened down accordingly. Everyone’s gaze converged upon Qin Yichen.

Qin Yichen also noticed that beside the Northern Brilliant Hall Elder, Lin Pi was whispering something into his ear.

Subsequently, that Elder’s gaze fell upon Qin Yichen.

Instantly, Qin Yichen felt as though needles were piercing his bones, as if he were trapped in an icy cavern. Just as he was about to sink into it, the Elder before him released a light snort, shattering the invisible pressure directed at Qin Yichen.

“So young…”

After both factions, and even the people of Punishment Hall, had observed him thoroughly, they all displayed some astonishment.

Those who had actually seen Qin Yichen were not numerous.

Those here were all members of the Inner Sect, their status were exceedingly lofty. They had all already learned of Qin Yichen’s circumstances but had never seen his face.

With cultivation at the Early Stage Martial Emperor Realm, he had slain Yi Buyan, who was at Peak Stage Martial Emperor Realm. Moreover, rumour had it that he cultivated both Martial Arts and Spiritual Energy, making him a Heavenly Martial Artist rarely encountered in centuries!

Perhaps it was precisely because of this point that Hall Master Xu had never appeared in person. Otherwise, with a Hall Master’s capabilities, killing Qin Yichen would be like harvesting an ant. Even Southern Brilliant Hall could not truly protect him if the Hall Master personally took action.

Furthermore, over these past days, news about the Compound Pill had already spread throughout the Sacred Land. Everyone was initially astonished, then many people’s eyes filled with doubt.

The reason, naturally, was that Qin Yichen was too young.

How could such a young person, while cultivating both Martial Arts and Spiritual Energy, possibly find time to research and develop something as Heaven Defying as the Compound Pill?

While the Compound Pill had already spread widely, those who had actually seen it were few. Even that Northern Brilliant Hall Elders had never laid eyes upon one.

If this news had not emanated from the mouths of the Pill Hall’s four great Elders, probably not a single person would believe it.

Even so, the assembled crowd remained sceptical.

“Junior Brother Feng, the culprit has already appeared. Why have you not apprehended him?!”

The Northern Brilliant Hall Elder spoke up, addressing the Punishment Hall Elder in cold tones.

“Senior Brother Zhou…”

That Punishment Hall Elder’s face was full of bitterness. He hailed from Northern Brilliant Hall himself; it would be improper to defy Northern Brilliant Hall’s dignity.

“Qin… Qin Yichen, did you or did you not brutally murder Fellow Disciple Yi Buyan?!”

He called out in interrogation toward where Qin Yichen stood. However, upon seeing the foul expression on the Pill Hall Elder’s face, he involuntarily softened his tone somewhat, no longer quite so aggressive.

“I did!” With the Pill Hall Elder before him, Qin Yichen’s confidence was absolute. He directly admitted it, then proceeded to explain. “But, when Yi Buyan and I ascended the duelling platform, we signed a Death Waiver. This point can be confirmed by all the Senior and Juniors present that day. Life and death are determined by fate, where does the term ‘brutal murder’ come from?”

“*Hmph!* With just your capabilities, you could kill Yi Buyan?” The Northern Brilliant Hall elder released a cold snort, his gaze freezing as it fixed upon Dong Yu beside Qin Yichen.

Clearly, he suspected that Dong Yu had intervened to assist Qin Yichen at that time. Otherwise, no matter how inadequate Yi Buyan might have been, he could not possibly have been executed by an Early Stage Martial Emperor without any capacity for resistance.

This defied common logic.

With Yi Buyan’s Mutated Martial Soul, he already stood upon invincible ground.

Of course, what they did not know was that under that little gecko, Yi Buyan’s Mutated Martial Soul had directly dissipated, causing Yi Buyan to become completely flustered, unable even to flee for his life.

“How could I not kill Yi Buyan?” Qin Yichen met his gaze without submission, completely unintimidated despite the latter being a major figure of Northern Brilliant Hall.

“Well said!” The moment his words concluded, the Pill Hall Elder took over, mocking: “The people of your Northern Brilliant Hall truly regress with age. A worthless wretch who can’t even match an Alchemist, yet you make such a tremendous fuss over him? Aren’t you ashamed of yourselves!”