The elixir workshop was one of the important branches of the Five Elements Academy.
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The elixir workshop could refine countless elixirs. To a martial artist, elixirs were also one of the most important necessities.
This was especially so for martial artists who went out for missions or training. They would purchase a large amount of elixirs every time they went out, just in case.
The elixir workshop was located on top of Elixir Peak. Without the permission of the elixir workshop, no one could enter Elixir Peak.
Elixir Peak was surrounded by a rich elixir smell, making people feel extremely comfortable.
Fang Chen and the other four arrived at Elixir Peak under the lead of the elder of the elixir workshop.
"Is this Elixir Peak?"
Fang Chen looked around Elixir Peak and thought to himself.
Fang Chen did not know much about elixirs. He was practically a newbie.
After the five of them arrived at Elixir Peak, the elder brought them to a manor. There were five rooms in the manor. Outside each room, there was a number from one to five.
"From today onwards, the five of you will stay in these five rooms. Choose your own room. After you choose, I'll bring you to the place where you do chores," the elder said in a deep voice.
The five of them looked at each other and then chose their own rooms. Fang Chen was the last to choose, so he was only left with room five.
After choosing their rooms, Fang Chen and the other four followed the elder to the square of Elixir Peak.
"This is an important place of Elixir Peak, the Elixir Workshop. Without permission, you are not allowed to enter the Elixir Workshop. Otherwise, you will be severely punished," the elder warned.
Fang Chen looked in the direction of the elder's finger. At the front of the square, there was a huge palace. This palace was the Elixir Workshop. From within the Elixir Workshop, countless elixir smells were emitted.
"You, your daily task is to clear all kinds of materials for the Elixir Peak's Elixir Workshop to refine elixirs.
"You, and you, your daily task is to help Elixir Peak purchase the rare materials needed."
The elder was assigning tasks to them. When it was Fang Chen's turn, the elder said directly, "Your task is to accompany and assist the Elixir Workshop."
To put it bluntly, Fang Chen's mission was to be an alchemy apprentice.
When the Alchemist was refining pills, Fang Chen would help out.
Although this mission seemed very tiring, it was something that many people dreamed of.
Being an Alchemy Apprentice was secondary. The main thing was to be able to come into close contact with an Alchemist. Moreover, being able to watch an Alchemist refine pills was definitely a very good job.
When the other four heard about Fang Chen's mission, their eyes flashed with envy.
After the five of them finished assigning their tasks, they each returned to their own rooms to rest. They would officially start helping out tomorrow.
After returning to the manor, one of the tall, thin men blocked Fang Chen's path and asked, "Brother, how should I address you?"
"Fang Chen," said Fang Chen.
"Yes, you're Fang Chen."
Hearing Fang Chen's name, the tall, thin man was clearly startled. But then a complicated smile appeared on his face.
"Fang Chen? The newcomer who defeated Hei Wu in the competition of formations?" asked another.
"So it's a newcomer. No wonder I didn't recognize him."
"Defeating Hei Wu can only mean that his talent in formations is exceptional. As for his true combat strength, I'm afraid it's not enough. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been assigned to the pill shop," said a slightly fat man coldly.
"You're Fang Chen, right? I'm called Hua Wenxu. Give me some face and let's exchange tasks. How about it?"
Hua Wenxu was an expert ranked ninety on the combat power rankings. He believed his strength was enough to crush Fang Chen, so he directly threatened him.
"This is a task assigned to me by the Elders. How can I exchange tasks just like that?" Fang Chen frowned slightly.
"So you're saying you won't give me any face?" Hua Wenxu's voice was heavy, his eyes filled with killing intent.
Fang Chen shook his head slightly and turned to enter the fifth room.
Hua Wenxu's eyes flickered with murderous intent as he watched Fang Chen's back.
"Brother Hua, this brat won't give you any face," whispered the slightly fat man.
"Hmph, he'll regret it."
Hua Wenxu icily said. With a wave of his sleeve, he turned and left.
The next day, Fang Chen's group of five officially began to help out in the pill shop.
As for the other four, Fang Chen didn't know what was going on. But he himself was very free.
That was because one of the alchemists refining pills today was an alchemy grandmaster. This alchemy grandmaster didn't like other people helping him out. Even alchemy apprentices were no exception.
So Fang Chen could only stand within the alchemy room and calmly watch.
Whoosh!
The alchemy room was filled with dense flames. This alchemy grandmaster was rapidly refining pills. It didn't take long for him to finish refining a pill.
"You, give this pill to Elder Wu," said the alchemy grandmaster as he looked at Fang Chen.
Fang Chen nodded, took the pill and quickly left the alchemy room.
When Fang Chen appeared on the square, Hua Wenxu and the other three hid in the dark and secretly followed Fang Chen.
"Brother Hua, are we really going to do this? If we're discovered, we'll definitely be punished," said a martialist softly.
"Brother Hua, we're fine with this."
"Cut the crap. Just follow me," Hua Wenxu scolded and secretly followed Fang Chen.
After a while, Fang Chen arrived at a garden. There was no one in the garden.
At that moment, Hua Wenxu and the other three appeared in front of Fang Chen and blocked Fang Chen's path.
"Brat, I've said that you'll regret it."
Hua Wenxu sneered and waved his hand. Immediately, the four of them attacked Fang Chen fiercely.
Caught off guard, Fang Chen was attacked by the four of them and was forced to retreat.
At that moment, Fang Chen recalled the pill in his hand. He was about to put the pill in his interspatial ring when he felt a cold light flash across his hand and the pill was cut in half.
"This …"
Seeing this, Fang Chen's face turned completely gloomy.
Hua Wenxu and the other three had purposely shattered the pill in his hand in order to punish him. Thinking of this, Fang Chen's heart burned with anger.
"Damn it."
Fang Chen took out the Hidden Star Sword and executed the Indestructible Fire Sword Technique. Wild black flames instantly filled the air. Then, streaks of flaming sword-light with majestic sword intent pierced towards the four of them.
Bang! Bang!
Bang! The four of them used all their strength to block Fang Chen's flaming sword-light.
Boom!
When the four of them joined forces, their combat power was comparable to a Level Five Spiritual Vortex Realm martial artist. With Fang Chen's current strength, it was already good enough that he was undefeated. There was no way he could defeat the four of them.
In the midst of the fierce battle, the four of them sensed someone approaching. Hua Wenxu shouted and the four of them instantly disappeared.
Fang Chen glanced at the pill in his hand and was about to chase after the four of them. However, he realized that the four of them had already disappeared.
At that moment, an alchemy apprentice appeared in the garden.
"Fang Chen, where's the pill that Elder Wu wanted? Why isn't it here yet?" The alchemy apprentice's face was filled with displeasure.
Because the pill had not been delivered in time, Elder Wu was already angry and had specially asked him to look for Fang Chen.
"Pill."
Fang Chen pondered for a moment and told him everything that had happened.
"What pill was destroyed?" The alchemy apprentice's face darkened and he cried out involuntarily.
"Originally, I was going to deliver the pill to Elder Wu. However, I met Hua Wenxu and the other three on the way. They joined forces to attack me and destroyed the pill," Fang Chen explained.
"Hmph, go and explain to Elder Wu yourself," the alchemy apprentice said angrily.
Then, the alchemy apprentice flung his sleeves and turned to leave.
Fang Chen followed the alchemy apprentice and arrived at Elder Wu's place.
This was the pill store. If he did not explain the matter clearly, Elder Wu would definitely blame him.
Fang Chen did not want to be wronged. Hence, he came to Elder Wu's place to explain.
In the hall, Elder Wu sat on the armchair with a gloomy face. After listening to Fang Chen's explanation, he said coldly, "Hmph, a mere servant dared to destroy my pill. Go and call the four of them here."
The alchemy apprentice turned and left.
Elder Wu stared at Fang Chen and said coldly, "If you lied to me, I will use the most severe method to punish you."
Fang Chen nodded. There was no trace of fear on his face.
After a while, Hua Wenxu and the other three arrived.
"Junior Hua Wenxu greets Elder Wu." Hua Wenxu cupped his hands and greeted Elder Wu after arriving at the hall.
Elder Wu was startled when he saw Hua Wenxu. Then he said, "You're Hua Wenxu?"
"Yes, I am."
"Aren't you old Daoist Qiu's disciple?" Elder Wu recognized Hua Wenxu. He had seen Hua Wenxu when he went to old Daoist Qiu's mountain to play chess with him.
But at that time, he did not know Hua Wenxu's name.
Now, seeing Hua Wenxu, Elder Wu's face revealed a trace of a smile.
Hua Wenxu was secretly delighted when he saw Elder Wu. It seemed that even the heavens were helping him.
Elder Wu's position in the pill store was very high. His words were very authoritative.
"He said that it was the four of you who destroyed the pill," asked Elder Wu.
"Elder Wu, we know the pill store's rules. How could we dare to destroy the pill?
To tell you the truth, I have some enmity with Fang Chen. He wanted to frame me, so he used this method, "whispered Hua Wenxu.
Elder Wu frowned slightly. He looked at Fang Chen and asked, "Do you have anything else to say?"
"Elder Wu, do you mean that I was the one who did it?" Fang Chen asked.
"Do you have any proof that Hua Wenxu did it?" asked Elder Wu.
Clearly, Elder Wu was siding with Hua Wenxu.
Hua Wenxu was old Daoist Qiu's disciple. Elder Wu's relationship with old Daoist Qiu was very close, so he would naturally protect Hua Wenxu.
So in Elder Wu's eyes, it was no longer important who had done this.
What was important was that a cultivator had to bear the consequences. And that cultivator just happened to be Fang Chen, who had no background at all.
"I have no proof," said Fang Chen.