Eternal Life Starts from Tai Chi

Chapter 384: A Choice in a Single Thought, Slot Arrangement

Yang Chan left Gu An’s residence, not quite expecting this outcome.

He was actually going to participate in Pharmacist training again.

Previously, he was a trainee. Now the roles were reversed. He was about to become an instructor, and one of the people in charge at that.

Xu Gaocen had even tasked him with tallying the slots for the training program. To think, it was over these very slots that his relationship with Xu Gaocen’s Pharmacist’s Assistant, Shu Yu, had deteriorated. Someone had even used Duhuo to try and run him out of the Cyan Yuan Sect.

Ultimately, his decisive counterattack had exposed a group of moles, a turn of events that left many sighing.

And now, he was the one tallying the slots for Pharmacist training.

He hadn’t competed for a spot back then, and he certainly didn’t need one now. He just had to watch others fight for them.

In comparison, however, this news didn’t concern Yang Chan too much. He could simply arrange for someone else to handle it. What truly occupied his thoughts was the matter of the Merak Sacred Land.

According to Gu An, discussions were still underway and hadn’t concluded, but the matter was likely already settled.

A group from the Cyan Yuan Sect was certain to be sent to the Merak Sacred Land, and for Yang Chan, this presented a choice.

The Merak Sacred Land was situated in a Cave Heaven Blessed Land, which naturally meant better cultivation conditions. There would be more methods for collecting rare Spirit Medicines, a more complete cultivation plan, and subsequent cultivation techniques. It might even hold information about the Profound Celestial Divine Monarch that the Black Dragon had mentioned, or a path to Realms more suitable for cultivation.

He might only have a chance to access such things within the Merak Sacred Land. But life in the Sacred Land would not necessarily be peaceful.

The larger the Sect, the more backstabbing and political intrigue there was bound to be. He had certainly experienced his fair share in the Cyan Yuan Sect, though he encountered it less as his status gradually rose.

He had run into it just recently on his trip to White Jade City.

’If I enter the Merak Sacred Land, I’ll have to rebuild all my personal connections from scratch. I might even be unwillingly dragged into the conflicts between various factions. These things are unavoidable.’

Yang Chan understood this clearly and was naturally weighing his options. ’I’m more inclined toward stability, not blindly plunging into the unknown. If I do that, I’ll likely end up as a pawn, my life and death no longer in my own hands.’

’Once my cultivation is high enough, I can get involved. I’ll at least have the power to protect myself. At that point, I can use the Merak Sacred Land to continue improving discreetly until my cultivation plateaus. Only then will I consider moving on to a place more suitable for cultivation.’

’I’m different from others. My lifespan is incredibly long, so I have plenty of time to improve slowly.’

Of course, these were just some of Yang Chan’s current thoughts. He planned to see how the situation developed before making any decisions. Acting rashly wasn’t wise.

When Yang Chan returned to Yuanqing Courtyard, Han Bingyu was still there. She was clearly waiting for him to return so she could ask about any news he had heard.

"Come with me to the study."

Yang Chan instructed upon seeing her.

Han Bingyu heard him and silently followed.

"The Sect is planning to hold a Pharmacist training for Pharmacist’s Assistants soon. Pharmacist Xu Gaocen is in charge, and I’m his deputy, responsible for tallying the number of participants."

"I’m giving the slot I control to you. As for the slots from the other Pharmacists, have someone tally them up. Just give me the final list when you’re done."

Yang Chan continued to delegate to Han Bingyu. The task seemed simple, but it was a good opportunity to expand her network. Since Yang Chan had entrusted her with intelligence gathering, it was only natural that he would give this task to her as well. It would be beneficial for her.

Her previous status didn’t allow her to interact with many people, but this task would let her meet more individuals, which in turn would allow her to better assist Yang Chan.

"Actually, you don’t have to give me the slot for this Pharmacist training. If you gave it to..."

Han Bingyu thought for a moment, but as she began to speak, Yang Chan cut her off.

"I said it’s yours, and it’s yours. Don’t overthink it."

"You receiving this slot will also make your status clearer to everyone else."

Yang Chan naturally understood what Han Bingyu was implying. Among his Pharmacist Apprentices, Gu Shitong was connected to Hall Master Gu An. Giving the slot directly to Gu Shitong would be a way to show his respect toward the Hall Master.

This would, of course, have its benefits for Yang Chan as well.

However, Yang Chan rejected the idea outright. With his current standing, there was no need to curry favor with Gu An so blatantly. It was enough to lean in his favor on more significant matters.

Furthermore, he valued Han Bingyu highly. Helping her expand her network would, in turn, be a great help to his own intelligence-gathering efforts.

She might even be able to uncover some hidden information.

Take the recent matter with Taiyin Heaven, for instance. If Han Bingyu’s network had been larger, he might have received more accurate information.

"I understand."

A grateful expression appeared on Han Bingyu’s face. She knew full well how much this arrangement would benefit her. At the same time, it was also a statement from Yang Chan to the outside world.

She could also use this opportunity to fill in the gaps in her knowledge as a Pharmacist.

Although Yang Chan taught her a great deal about being a Pharmacist, there were still some gaps in her understanding. The Pharmacist training would allow her to identify these weaknesses more clearly. Once she shored them up, she could advance to become a Basic Level Pharmacist.

Her Martial Arts Cultivation was also advancing rapidly. She could already feel a change in her skin and figured she would soon break through to the External Refining Copper Skin Realm.

If she could achieve both breakthroughs, her status would undergo another transformation, and she would naturally be able to do more for Yang Chan.

This arrangement from Yang Chan would elevate her status, which would in turn accelerate her own progress.

It also solidified her resolve to follow Yang Chan. Only by his side could she continue to advance.

’Even if my status were to change, the benefits wouldn’t compare to those of following Yang Chan, because I can see he has a limitless future.’

She could see it just from his skill in Alchemy.

’For Yang Chan, becoming an Advanced Pharmacist is just a matter of time. But for me, even reaching Intermediate Pharmacist is incredibly difficult. I have no idea how long it will take for my Martial Arts Cultivation to reach the External Refining Steel level, let alone External Iron Bone Refining.’

’Tempering every bone in my body will require immense cultivation resources and time. If I were on my own, these would be incredibly difficult to acquire.’

’Following Yang Chan, I’ve seen plenty of injured disciples in the Medicine Hall. I’ve also seen many who died outright while trying to obtain cultivation resources.’

’Even if I become an Elite Disciple and a Basic Level Pharmacist, acquiring those cultivation resources would still be extremely difficult.’

Han Bingyu had tried her hand at refining elixirs, but unfortunately, her talent was merely average. She had no idea how long it would take her to produce a decent one.

Not everyone could be like Yang Chan, who possessed an extremely high talent for Alchemy. Most people were ordinary. It was already an achievement to become a Basic Level Pharmacist; even fewer managed to become Intermediate Pharmacists. And those with a true talent for Alchemy were rarer still.