Free Web NovelChapter 576: Chapter 396: Becoming the One and Only! (Double Chapter)
Core District, Zhao Mansion.
"Hu Tomb did not agree." A member of the Zhao Family reported.
"Not unexpected..." Clan elder Zhao Butong leaned on his cane, squinting his eyes and said calmly.
"Just a small test, but did Hu Tomb not give an inch?"
"Hu Tomb has listed Jing Zhuo’s name as a candidate for the Marshal position." The Zhao Family member immediately responded.
"Fine, let’s see if Jing Zhuo proves himself or not," another clan elder, Zhao Xinlei, said with his eyes closed.
"I heard he’s been in seclusion lately, is there a chance for a breakthrough?" Zhao Butong suddenly asked.
The Patriarch of the Zhao Family nodded, "Before Jing Zhuo went into seclusion, I asked him, there’s about a thirty percent chance he can open that final Celestial Martial Vein."
"Thirty percent, that’s not insignificant..." Zhao Butong nodded.
"Alas, if Jingtian were still alive, there wouldn’t be so many issues..." Zhao Lie suddenly scoffed.
It was unclear if he was dissatisfied with the late Commander of the Nineteenth Army, Zhao Jingtian, who had died on his own accord, or with the Military Department’s attitude towards the Zhao Family.
In fact, the Zhao Family had not been doing well in recent years; the family’s strength, prestige, and influence had all been on a decline.
Even if they didn’t want to admit it, various signs showed that the family was going downhill.
In such a situation, the death of such an important member as Zhao Jingtian was undoubtedly worsening the trouble, causing much distress.
"Go check on Jingtian’s situation; if there’s anything needed, the family will fully support it." Zhao Butong stood up and said, then left the room with his cane, not wishing to linger.
The rest of the clan elders also left in succession.
"Boqi, as things stand now, better to do something wrong than do nothing at all. As the current Patriarch, you should understand the present situation and make your own judgment. We didn’t make you Patriarch to achieve nothing..."
Zhao Xinlei paused before leaving, and suddenly said without turning around.
Behind him, Zhao Boqi’s expression changed slightly after hearing this, ultimately bowing in acknowledgment, not daring to argue.
He was well aware of the Zhao Family’s current predicament, but knowing was one thing, overcoming it was another...
Zhao Boqi’s mind was in turmoil, and it was unclear what he was thinking.
A few days later, news about the competition for the Marshal position had not spread within the military.
This was because the Military Department had not made this matter public; with the intense battle against the Demon Race, they did not want the soldiers distracted by this news.
Only those at the General level and above had caught wind of it.
In fact, even those selected, including Song Changming and Yang Zhen, did not know who exactly was on that candidate list.
Not knowing their opponents, they could only speculate in the dark.
However, Yang Zhen had managed to guess some of the candidates.
As a matter of fact, as long as one understood the various military contingents well enough and had good information, everyone had some idea of the candidates who were destined to be chosen, believing them qualified for the Marshal position.
One could say in the military, being strong in power doesn’t necessarily mean high prestige, but those with high prestige are certainly strong!
Song Changming was less concerned with this matter than Yang Zhen; he continued his daily cultivation and defended the frontline.
Occasionally patrolling the area, he would take the initiative to attack, eliminating several small-scale demon swarms, collecting demon blood for sacrificial refining.
When he had free time, he would also explore other pursuits, keeping his life fulfilled, and quickly putting these matters behind him.
This day.
In the Third District, the talisman array was activated by A Da, transforming into a layer of transparent light membrane, isolating the inside from the outside.
No matter how much noise was made in the courtyard, it couldn’t be heard outside.
In the courtyard stood a person-high triangular copper cauldron, resembling a flattened round gourd.
If someone knowledgeable was present, they would recognize it as a medicine cauldron, the most crucial tool for alchemy.
At this moment, the fire was lit at the bottom of the cauldron, the temperature rolling, with all the heat sealed within the cauldron, not leaking a bit.
Song Changming was on the side, utilizing the alchemy skills he had learned.
On his panel, the green-grade alchemy master’s trait was emitting a faint glow.
Beside him, Su Qingqing watched the flame changes in the medicine cauldron with curiosity.
She couldn’t imagine that in the years of her absence, the young master not only learned Talisman Tao but also mastered the art of alchemy!
She felt that there was truly nothing in the world that could stump her young master.
This was what it meant to be a versatile talent, just like her young master!
Thus, they waited for another three hours, from morning until afternoon, when the fire finally went out.
"Open the cauldron!" After another night, the next day, Song Changming finally instructed.
Beside him, A Er hurriedly stretched his ape arms and lifted the cauldron lid.
By this time, there was no residual heat left inside the cauldron, only a cool medicinal fragrance diffusing, quickly filling the entire courtyard, refreshing and invigorating.
"So fragrant..." Su Qingqing’s delicate nose twitched, her eyes shining.
It seemed likely that this batch of elixir was a success.
Song Changming raised his hand, enveloped by Gang Qi, the formed elixir pills lined up and flew out of the cauldron one by one.
Each was smaller than a quail egg, smooth on the surface, and yellow-brown in color.
Seeing the pills appear confirmed that these two days of alchemy had indeed been successful, and the good medicinal ingredients for a whole batch had not gone to waste.
"Failed nine times, it was about time to succeed once..." Song Changming shook his head, smiling as he said.
This was not Song Changming’s first time performing alchemy; over the past few years, he had tried nine times, all ending in failure.
Until these past two days, on a whim, he tried again, and due to learning from his nine previous failings, this time, he finally succeeded in producing his first batch of elixir.
From now on, if anyone asked, he could also say he was a legitimate alchemist.
Even though it was just at the lowest level one alchemist standard...
"Twenty-nine in total, young master." A Er said after collecting and counting the elixir pills.
