Chapter 4105 — The Heaven Elder's Physician

The Zhongdao Alchemy Hall, one of the most supreme sect powers on Zhongdao, stood out as a top-tier existence in both status and influence—a fact evident from its geographical location alone.

Zhongding Mountain occupied the very heart of Zhongdao. It was not only the highest peak among the mountains of Zhongdao, but its uniquely favored position and environment had also nurtured a great many legendary masters.

According to records, the earliest cultivators of Yunjie Island settled and took root on Zhongding Mountain. Through thousands upon thousands of years of inheritance, generation after generation, the cultivation world of Yunjie Island had flourished into its present prosperity. Zhongding Mountain's exalted standing on Yunjie Island was beyond doubt.

To establish oneself on Zhongding Mountain meant not only seizing cultivation resources that all coveted, but more crucially, it represented an unparalleled transcendent status on Zhongdao.

Even those powerful sects able to gain a foothold on Zhongdao, the Snow Sword Sect included, had always regarded the core region of Zhongding Mountain as something beyond their reach.

Across all of Yunjie Island, no more than five transcendent powers had ever been able to take residence on Zhongding Mountain, and the Zhongdao Alchemy Hall was one of them.

Following Cai Zhongxuan through the great gates of the Zhongdao Alchemy Hall, Wei Zhao beheld a breathtaking fairyland within—simple and elegant, secluded and serene, as though a paradise apart from the world. Then he glanced back at the bustling scene outside, and a single gate divided two such sharply contrasting realms. Even Wei Zhao could not help clicking his tongue in admiration.

This sense of stillness amid clamor reminded Wei Zhao of a saying from the mortal world—that only true personages could live in a courtyard house in the core district of Yanjing. The wondrous sight before him was surely much the same.

The layout of the Zhongdao Alchemy Hall resembled a superbly structured, top-tier mountain estate. Apart from a few main gates, nearly every corner was linked by secluded, elegant pavilions and waterside terraces, each interlocking with the next in exquisite beauty.

They passed unimpeded through one great gate after another, yet no sign of guards appeared anywhere around them—the very opposite of the heavily guarded scene Wei Zhao had expected. Unable to hold back, he asked in a low voice, "Elder Cai, is the Zhongdao Alchemy Hall always like this? How is there not even a single guard?"

A place like an alchemy hall—whether finished pills or spiritual herb ingredients—held treasures enough to set any heart racing. However renowned the Zhongdao Alchemy Hall might be, where profit beckoned, there would always be those willing to risk everything. Such was human nature; it could not be stopped.

Cai Zhongxuan laughed at the question. "Young Hero Lin, there is much you do not know. You may not have seen a single guard along our way, but this place is loose on the outside and tight within—those guards are merely hidden in the shadows, kept from outsiders' eyes. The guard force of our Alchemy Hall ranks foremost even among all five great islands of the heavenly tier. The reason they did not come to question you is simply that this old man made special arrangements in advance."

"So that is how it is." Wei Zhao understood at last. If the guard force truly were as lax as it appeared on the surface, then in a Yunjie Island where the weak were prey to the strong, the Zhongdao Alchemy Hall could never have attained its transcendent standing today.

Moments later, Wei Zhao followed Cai Zhongxuan to a small estate deep in the core. Compared with the outside, the environment here was even finer, and the place was sparsely peopled—hardly even an ordinary Alchemy Hall disciple could be seen passing by.

Seeing Wei Zhao's curiosity, Cai Zhongxuan turned and explained, "This garden is a region reserved specifically for us few nominal disciples under our master's tutelage. Other ordinary Alchemy Hall disciples have no right to come and go here. Even a deputy hall master who wished to enter would first have to send word to us."

Wei Zhao nodded. The Zhongdao Alchemy Hall had been founded single-handedly by Zhang Lifeng, so it was hardly surprising that his nominal disciples enjoyed such privileges.

Just then, a heroic-looking man with a youthful face came toward them and said with a smile, "Junior Brother Cai, you have come. Is this the young friend Wei Zhao you spoke of?"

Wei Zhao turned to look at Cai Zhongxuan, who nodded with a smile. "Indeed. This is none other than young friend Wei Zhao. Young Hero Lin, this is Hou Guanqi—like me, a nominal disciple of our master. But do not be fooled by his youthful looks; he is our senior brother! In both talent and strength, he stands highest among us brothers, and he is the one our master values most!"

"This junior is Wei Zhao. I pay my respects to Senior Hou," Wei Zhao said hastily, making his salute.

The man looked so young that calling him "Elder Hou" felt odd, and he might not care for such a form of address anyway. Yet for now Wei Zhao could hardly call him senior brother outright, so "Senior" would have to do.

"Ha ha, young friend Wei Zhao, there is no need to be nervous. Hong Zhong and I are old acquaintances, and Junior Brother Cai has told me all about your affairs. I will do my utmost to help," Hou Guanqi said, his face wearing a warm smile as he patted Wei Zhao on the shoulder.

"Indeed. It was our senior brother who interceded to bring you here so smoothly this time. Otherwise, even this old man would not have casually brought a companion back—this is, after all, a vital ground of the Alchemy Hall. Apart from disciples of our own house, outsiders are normally never permitted to enter," Cai Zhongxuan explained.

"Thank you, Senior Hou," Wei Zhao said gratefully. Then, unable to contain the excitement in his heart, he asked eagerly, "Might I ask when this junior will be able to see Tianchan?"

Hou Guanqi and Cai Zhongxuan exchanged a smile. "Our young friend is truly a devoted soul. Rest assured, I promise you shall have your wish. But this matter must be kept discreet; we cannot go straight to Tianchan. We will have to take a roundabout approach."

"A roundabout approach?" Wei Zhao was briefly taken aback. He too knew that if he simply went to see Tianchan directly, it would easily draw the notice of the ill-intentioned—and given Tianchan's present sensitive status, that would do her no good at all.

"Indeed. I recently heard something that happens to serve our purpose," Hou Guanqi said with a nod. "Word has it that Tianchan has been visiting the Heaven Elder often of late—every few days she makes a trip. So if we put out word that we have engaged a physician to treat the Heaven Elder, no one will think much of it. But if the news reaches Tianchan, she will certainly go there."

"Exactly. Having Tianchan go of her own accord is better than us seeking her out. That way, Young Hero Lin, your meeting with her will be a chance encounter, and no one ill-intentioned will take notice," Cai Zhongxuan agreed.

"I leave everything to the arrangements of you two seniors. But forgive this junior's boldness in asking—who is this Heaven Elder?" Wei Zhao asked curiously. (To be continued) R752