Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Overturning Heaven and Earth, a Normal Performance

「The Eastern Palace.」

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, today is the third day of the Pharmacist Exchange Conference. Should we deploy our men now?"

A shadowy figure appeared before Crown Prince Yang Qian and asked.

Yang Qian had orchestrated an earth-shattering event to take place during the Pharmacist Exchange Conference, but he had yet to decide on the day to make his move, for he still had reservations.

He knew Emperor Yang Yu was on guard against him and had surely amassed numerous forces—powers that had never been deployed before. A previous Crown Prince had rebelled in the past, setting a precedent.

The old Emperor... the older one gets, the more one fears death.

These reservations made him hesitate.

"Wait a little longer," Crown Prince Yang Qian said, looking at the man before speaking slowly. "My cultivation is still just shy of a breakthrough. The Concentration Pills have been refined and will be delivered shortly. We will make our move after I break through to the Grandmaster Realm."

To overturn the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty required extensive preparation. If he could break through to the Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster Realm, his chances of success would be much higher.

His cultivation was now just a step away; he was only slightly lacking in his Spirit.

"The Pharmacist Exchange Conference is still in progress. The Pharmacists from the various regions are still competing in alchemy. There’s still some time before the two Top Level Pharmacists have to make their move."

"Refining the Earth Element Supreme Pill will take some time. We must wait for the perfect moment to strike if we are to seize the empire."

Crown Prince Yang Qian said calmly.

Ever since he had learned that Emperor Yang Yu intended to refine the Earth Element Supreme Pill within the Imperial Palace, Crown Prince Yang Qian knew his time was running out.

He could not afford to gamble on what would happen if Emperor Yang Yu consumed the Earth Element Supreme Pill. Even if the breakthrough failed, with the Emperor’s Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster cultivation and the pill’s protective properties, it was impossible that he would die from grievous injuries.

Instead, if Emperor Yang Yu took the Earth Element Supreme Pill and his cultivation broke through to the National Guardian Martial Saint Realm, his lifespan would increase dramatically. Then, Yang Qian would never have another chance to ascend the throne.

Even as a Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster, he could never hope to outlive a National Guardian Martial Saint. Furthermore, within the Martial Saint Realm, every minor realm advancement also increased one’s lifespan—a truly despairing fact.

If he wanted the throne, he had to seize the window of opportunity created by the Emperor tasking the Pharmacist Alliance with refining the Earth Element Supreme Pill. By staging his coup during this process, he could become the new Venerable Supreme of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty.

"As you command, Your Highness."

The black-clad figure replied, kneeling on one knee.

The Crown Prince’s plot involved multiple factions, all waiting for him to give the word and set the date.

An undertaking of this scale had far-reaching consequences, where one wrong move could bring down the entire operation. No one else dared to make the call; they were all waiting for the Crown Prince to make the final decision and personally lead his prepared forces to launch the coup.

After responding, the black-clad figure vanished from the Eastern Palace to relay the Crown Prince’s orders.

Everyone was waiting for the appointed time.

’There is no such thing as a permanent Crown Prince. Imperial Father, you have been on the throne for far too long. It is time for you to yield your position to me.’

Yang Qian’s gaze turned toward Taihe Hall, where the Emperor resided. At this time, the Emperor was likely handling state affairs, reviewing official documents. These documents, however, had already been condensed. Emperor Yang Yu wouldn’t handle most of them, choosing instead to spend his time on his cultivation.

The older a man gets, the more he wants to live. Thus, he naturally placed great importance on his Martial Arts Cultivation, hoping another advancement would allow him to be emperor for even longer.

With that thought, Yang Qian closed his eyes to meditate, allowing his Essence, Qi, and Spirit to reach their optimal state. According to the schedule, the Concentration Pills he desired would be delivered soon. Once they arrived, he would complete the final step for his breakthrough—bolstering his Spirit—and ascend to the Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster Realm.

This was also the final measure Yang Qian had prepared for his own safety. If his bid for the throne failed, possessing the cultivation of a Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster would still give him a chance to escape White Jade City.

As long as he was alive, there would still be a chance.

...

These past few days, the Pharmacist Alliance had been bustling with activity, drawing the eyes of many in White Jade City.

This was because many famous Pharmacists had first made their name in White Jade City before rising rapidly through the ranks. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

A Pharmacist who made a name for themselves at the Pharmacist Exchange Conference was almost guaranteed to become a future Advanced Pharmacist, and perhaps even a Top Level Pharmacist.

In particular, the outstanding Pharmacist who managed to take first place in the alchemy competition would quickly become an Advanced Pharmacist and later an Honorary Elder of the Pharmacist Alliance.

Besides the winner’s own skill, the first-place Pharmacist would also receive a special reward from the Pharmacist Alliance. This prize helped them advance to the rank of Advanced Pharmacist more quickly and served as a valuable part of their foundation.

With such a prize on the line, many people naturally vied for it, and even more factions sought to build connections with the competitors.

While Top Level Pharmacists like Lu Qianfan and Xu Chuan were difficult to befriend, Advanced Pharmacists were somewhat more approachable. This was especially true for those who hadn’t yet become Advanced Pharmacists but showed immense potential; they were the ones the various powers in White Jade City were truly eager to connect with.

Therefore, even though these people couldn’t enter the Pharmacist Alliance, they would wait outside. This allowed them to learn of the situation inside more quickly and inform their respective masters, allowing them to make preparations.

Yang Chan knew all this from what Xu Gaocen had told him.

White Jade City was different from Qing State. Its people, to a greater or lesser extent, looked down on those from other states and even carried themselves with an air of superiority. This attitude was especially evident among the nobles and high-ranking officials of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty.

They wouldn’t bow their heads even before a power like the Cyan Yuan Sect, the overlord of Qing State, let alone other forces from the region. However, when it came to people with real ability, these powers within White Jade City didn’t dare to offend them. After all, they weren’t idiots.

Yang Chan merely glanced at these people, paying them little mind. He had no desire to form connections with any of them. All he wanted was for the Pharmacist Exchange Conference to end as soon as possible so he could return to the Cyan Yuan Sect. He wanted to live peacefully on the mountain as a Pharmacist, refining elixirs like the Guiyuan Pill and Qi Replenishing Pill, which were helpful for the Inner Refining of the Lungs and Spleens. By doing so, he could solidify his position within the Cyan Yuan Sect and avoid ever having to descend the mountain.

His goal was simple: to keep a low profile within the Cyan Yuan Sect, quietly level up his cultivation until he was invincible, and live a long, carefree life in this world. It was as simple as that.

Yang Chan and the others entered the Pharmacist Alliance, then proceeded to the courtyard where they had refined elixirs the previous day. There were fewer people today. Those who had failed the refining process twice were already in the viewing stands, able to act only as spectators.

This was also Yang Chan’s goal for the day. He planned to become one of those spectators tomorrow, blending in perfectly.

He knew the elixir to be refined today: the Cyan Spirit Pill. He had tried to refine it once before at the Cyan Yuan Sect and failed. Afterward, he hadn’t wasted any more time on it, instead focusing his energy on raising his cultivation, increasing his combat power, and improving his life-preserving skills.

’If I just perform normally today, I’ll fail the refining attempt, which is perfectly in line with my current abilities,’ he thought.