At the summit of the Pill Tower, the atmosphere in the council hall was as heavy as iron.
Every core elder of the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Guild who was in the Imperial Capital sat around the enormous round Obsidian table. Any one of them was a fifth-grade alchemist whom local powers would be honored to host as a distinguished guest.
Usually, these men carried at least a measure of the pride befitting top alchemists.
But today, every face bore a weight it could barely conceal.
Their gazes, intentionally or otherwise, all converged on the seat of honor.
There, Guild President Fa Ma sat with his eyes closed, resting. His lean figure resembled an ancient well with no visible bottom, and betrayed not the slightest hint of his thoughts.
"President, I still believe this matter is unwise!"
At last, a sharp voice broke the oppressive silence.
The speaker was Liu Yuan, the vice president seated directly to Fa Ma's left. He was on close terms with Pill King Gu He and wielded immense influence within the guild, where he had formed a faction of his own.
He rose to his feet, his gaunt palm pressing against the Obsidian tabletop.
"To grant the so-called 'Chief Distinguished Guest' seat to some Mr. Yan of unknown origins, based solely on that boy Liu Ling's one-sided account, is already an extraordinary favor!"
His voice echoed through the vast council hall, full of undisguised doubt.
"But now, you intend to personally go outside the city to welcome him, and even raise the ceremonial honors above those given to Pill King Gu He! This is simply absurd! A farce!"
"If word gets out, what will Pill King think of us? What will all the hardworking alchemists in the world think of our guild? How can the