Pill King? That's Fart!

Gu He was also an extraordinary man. His cultivation was merely at the Dou Wang level, yet he had reached the rank of Fifth Grade Alchemist. He was renowned throughout the Gama Empire and known as the Pill King.

Alchemists were divided into nine grades, corresponding exactly to the nine realms from Dou Zhe to Dou Sheng.

However, under normal circumstances, an alchemist's status was always one level higher than that of someone in the same realm. For instance, although Gu He was only a Fifth Grade Alchemist, that was enough for him to associate with Dou Emperors as an equal.

Medicine Emperor Han Feng was a Sixth Grade Alchemist, yet he could befriend Dou Zongs.

"Your Excellency injured the Sect Master of our Yun Lan Sect without cause. That is utterly outrageous. You must give us an explanation today." Gu He was furious. Seeing the woman he loved injured by another had made him want to kill someone.

Gu He was considered an extraordinary man precisely because of this. In terms of status, he was nearly comparable to Yun Yun, yet because he admired her, he had taken on the title of honorary elder of the Yun Lan Sect. His status had thus been inexplicably lowered by a notch beneath hers, and in the end, he still failed to win the beauty's heart.

Watching Gu He accuse him, Zhang Tian shook his head with a laugh. Gu He looked like a middle-aged man, and his cultivation was nothing remarkable. No wonder he could not win Yun Yun over.

Perhaps his status was lofty enough, but it could not bring Yun Yun the slightest sense of security. Yet he still foolishly dreamed of having the swan while being nothing more than a toad.

"May I ask what advice the 'Pill King' Gu He has for me?" Zhang Tian deliberately emphasized the words "Pill King."

Hearing that, Gu He lifted his chin, immensely proud.

There were several Dou Emperors in the Gama Empire, but he was the only Fifth Grade Alchemist. In a sense, he was even the most distinguished person in the entire Gama Empire. It was no wonder he was so arrogant.

"Although you have heard my name, injuring the Sect Master of my Yun Lan Sect cannot simply be let go." Gu He's expression improved slightly, but when he recalled the injuries of the woman he loved, he still spoke with a grim face.

He even wanted to show off before Yun Yun, to use the name of Pill King Gu He to settle this matter and make Yun Yun see him in a new light.

"There are nine grades of alchemists. You are merely Fifth Grade and have not even completed one percent of the path. What are you so proud of?" Zhang Tian's tone darkened as his Dou Qi gathered slightly, leaving Gu He instantly speechless.

A mere Dou Wang dared say he would not let things go? Gu He truly was too naive.

If he berated Gu He, Yun Yun might put on an act outwardly, but inwardly, she would certainly be overjoyed. Though she could not be said to detest him, Yun Yun still greatly disliked Gu He as a person.

"Are you going to make an enemy of a Fifth Grade Alchemist? I am the Pill King!" Gu He instinctively took several steps back, but then felt he had lost face and shouted harshly despite his inward fear.

Zhang Tian did not respond. He brought two fingers together, and the Phoenix Cry Sword tore through the air, its strike aiming to pierce Gu He's throat. With a single disagreement, he drew his sword to kill.

Although Yun Yun could not catch even the shadow of the Phoenix Cry Sword, she sensed something was wrong before Zhang Tian made his move. She hurriedly summoned a small seal to block in front of Gu He.

The small seal, which could withstand a Dou Emperor's attack, shattered in an instant. Gu He's hair was disheveled, and faint streaks of blood marked his face.

Feeling the coolness and stinging pain on his face, Gu He froze, his expression filled with disbelief.

However, after experiencing that brush with death, Gu He became much more obedient and stood silently to the side.

After all, for a distinguished alchemist, nothing was more important than the safety of his life.

When faced with someone who did not care about his vast network of connections, Gu He was truly nothing more than a Dou Wang.

"Sect Master Yun, I struck too heavily this time and injured you. To express my apologies, I will personally instruct Nalan Yanran until she reaches the Seven-Star Dou Shi level." Though Zhang Tian felt somewhat apologetic for injuring Yun Yun, he did not feel the slightest guilt.

Acknowledge mistakes, correct mistakes, never admit mistakes.

When he said one, it was one; when he said two, it was two. Like the kings and emperors of the mortal world, his word was absolute and his promises worth a thousand gold.

"Sect Master Yun, why not let me kill Gu He? In the future, I will give the Yun Lan Sect a Sixth Grade Alchemist." Zhang Tian looked coldly at Gu He. Yun Yun's gaze also turned toward him, making Gu He's scalp tingle.

"That is impossible, Second Elder. You must be joking. Gu He is also an honorary elder of my Yun Lan Sect. How could our Yun Lan Sect do such a thing?" Yun Yun refused almost without hesitation. She was not a particularly decisive woman; that was why she had constantly struggled in the Original Work. Rather than trust the future Sixth Grade Alchemist Zhang Tian described, she would rather preserve the current situation and develop slowly.

"Pill King? That title is worthless. An old acquaintance of mine is a close friend of Medicine Emperor Han Feng. Would you like me to find an opportunity someday for him to offer you a few pointers?" Rage burned fiercely in Gu He's heart, but in an instant, he deflated like a punctured balloon.

That was right—Medicine Emperor Han Feng. He had heard of that legendary figure as well. Compared to him, Gu He truly was separated by heaven and earth.

Young, handsome, and with alchemy far more profound than his own, Han Feng's cultivation was even incomparably higher than his.

Compared to Han Feng, who occupied an entire Maple City in the Black-Corner Region, he, an honorary elder of the Yun Lan Sect, was simply too shameful to be seen.

"Elder Gu He, you need not take it to heart... This man only joined the Yun Lan Sect in recent years, but his talent and strength are exceptionally formidable. He was able to suppress me immediately after breaking through to Dou Emperor." Yun Yun explained to Gu He, her expression equally unpleasant.

Seeing her pale face made Gu He's heart ache. He hastily took out a bottle of Fifth Rank Pills for Yun Yun to consume.

"I hope Elder Gu He will not clash with Elder Zhang Tian again. This man is immensely talented and has boundless prospects. If possible, I hope you can offer him an apology." After Yun Yun refined the pill, her complexion improved somewhat, but she still spoke to Gu He with deep concern.

Yun Yun sighed. She suddenly felt so tired. If she were a Dou Zun now, why would she need to consider so much?

Gu He's expression stiffened slightly, but he still forced a smile.

"I understand. We have known each other for so many years. Do you still not trust me?"

"Have Yanran seek out Zhang Tian for cultivation as soon as possible. The Yun Lan Sect truly needs to repair its relationship with him." Yun Yun had completely lowered her stance, placing Zhang Tian in her heart on the same level as the entire Yun Lan Sect.

As things stood, even if Yun Yun joined forces with everyone in the Yun Lan Sect to form the Cloud Mist Sun Covering Grand Formation, they might not be able to keep him.

Over the following days, the disciples of the Yun Lan Sect treated Zhang Tian with utmost respect, their eyes filled with admiration. Several disciples even took caring for his daily needs as sect missions.

Almost everyone who saw him along the way—whether disciple, steward, or elder—greeted him respectfully. Even First Elder Yun Leng held Zhang Tian in great esteem.

In terms of status, Zhang Tian was nearly comparable to Yun Yun, but in name, he had always remained the Second Elder. Perhaps Yun Yun truly did not want Zhang Tian's authority to expand any further.

With two Dou Emperors, the Yun Lan Sect's disciples became increasingly arrogant and overbearing in their conduct outside the sect. Zhang Tian's reputation also gradually spread throughout the Gama Empire. From Jia Xing Tian down to ordinary families, everyone knew of him.

Some revered him, while others feared and guarded against him.

Wu Tan City, Monster Mountain Range.

With Yao Lao's help, Xiao Yan slowly descended from the mountain range. Yao Lao used his Soul Power to scan the surroundings before shaking his head at him.

Only then did Xiao Yan finally relax.

After devouring and refining the Beast Flame of the fifth-tier magical beast, the Secluded Valley Spirit Snake, Yao Lao and Xiao Yan came to the Monster Mountain Range, hoping to find some third- or fourth-tier magical beasts as targets.

"Teacher, are we really going to make that big guy our target?" Xiao Yan let out a sigh of relief, but when he recalled that hulking figure from earlier, he still could not help drawing in a sharp breath.

"Of course." Yao Lao rapped Xiao Yan on the head.

"That fellow's Beast Flame is probably the closest to a Heavenly Flame. Though it is only at the very bottom of the rankings, it would still be of tremendous benefit to you."

Yao Lao could not resist the temptation and wanted to give it a try.

"That guy looks like he won't be easy to deal with... Teacher, what rank Magical Beast is it?" Xiao Yan was still deeply hesitant.

"The emperor among Magical Beasts—the sixth-rank Amethyst Winged Lion King." Yao Lao chuckled twice, his eyes flickering slightly. Clearly, he had no intention of giving up.

"A Dou Emperor-level Magical Beast... can Teacher handle it?" Xiao Yan said in utter disbelief. A sixth-rank Magical Beast was an utterly terrifying monster, comparable to human experts capable of destroying an entire city at will.

"Of course I can." Yao Lao grinned, brimming with confidence.

"It is merely at the Dou Emperor level."

"Teacher can unleash the power of a Dou Emperor? Then what do I need to do?" Hearing this, Xiao Yan grew excited as well. After devouring the Heavenly Flame of that fifth-rank Magical Beast, he had broken through to a Two-Star Dou Shi, and the Flame Mantra had evolved in rank as well.

"I cannot, but your other teacher can." Yao Lao stroked his beard, having already decided to drag Zhang Tian into this.

"Teacher can rival a sixth-rank Magical Beast?" Xiao Yan still had some doubts in his heart, but Yao Lao quickly dispelled them.

"This old man's Soul Power is stronger than yours, so I heard many things you could not. It is said that your teacher has already broken through to the Dou Emperor level."

"This old man has to admit that your teacher truly is extraordinary—one could even say he is unbelievably terrifying." Yao Lao sighed in amazement. Who broke through like that?

He had cultivated step by step, yet soared from a Five-Star Dou Ling to a Dou Emperor in a single year. Even the continent's most absurd tales would not dare write something like that.