Chapter 1688: Thrown into the Abyss of Divine Refinement

"Wha...what! The...the City Lord himself invited him out of seclusion?"

"Are you kidding me! He...what has he done to deserve this?"

"Even if he has broken through, isn't it too much to make him the Grand Elder? I won't accept it!"

...

Upon hearing Zuo Shujie's words, the elders were all shocked beyond words.

A young man who had just broken through to the Divine Lord realm was to become the Grand Elder of the Alchemy Tower—this was far too frivolous.

None of them understood why the City Lord valued Ye Yuan so highly.

Ruoxu was extremely unwilling at heart. Having Xuan Yu above him had already been hard to swallow.

Now, having Ye Yuan above him was even more unbearable.

He gritted his teeth and said, "City Lord, this...I won't accept it! A newly broken-through Divine Lord becoming the Grand Elder of our Tianying—this is far too ridiculous!"

Zuo Shujie glanced at him and said calmly, "The position of Grand Elder has always been held by the strongest. Otherwise, how could one command respect? Inviting Ye Yuan to be Grand Elder is naturally because his abilities are sufficient to command respect!"

Hearing this, everyone's expression changed, and they showed looks of disbelief.

Those present were all great masters of the Dao of Alchemy; they were not easy to fool.

Even if you could refine third-tier divine pills to perfection, it didn't mean you could do the same with fourth-tier divine pills.

Just like in martial cultivation, there was a huge chasm between the third and fourth tiers of alchemy.

This chasm required time to cross.

Fourth-tier divine pills required the integration of world force to form the pill.

And the techniques involved were not something one could master to perfection in just a day or two.

No one doubted that Ye Yuan, with his unparalleled talent in alchemy, would one day refine fourth-tier divine pills as skillfully as third-tier ones.

But at most, only a few decades had passed since Ye Yuan's breakthrough. How could he possibly have such profound alchemical strength?

Ruoxu's face was very grim, and he said in a deep voice, "Does the City Lord mean that Ye Yuan's alchemical strength has already surpassed mine? I, Ruoxu, refuse to accept this! I want to compete with him!"

Zuo Shujie smiled and said, "No need! Let me show you someone, and you'll understand. Zheng Qi!"

At that moment, a figure slowly walked into the hall—it was Zheng Qi, who had been absent for a long time!

Seeing Zheng Qi, everyone's expression changed.

"Half-step Divine Lord! Grand Elder Zheng...he...he has broken through?"

"His chronic ailments are all healed!"

"This...could this be Ye Yuan's doing? Impossible!"

...

When the elders saw Zheng Qi, they all changed color.

Not only were his injuries fully healed, but he had also broken through!

Zheng Qi slowly entered the hall, his previous dejection completely gone, replaced by an air of confidence.

He cupped his hands to Zuo Shujie and He Chong and said, "Greetings, City Lord and Supreme Elder!"

Zuo Shujie nodded slowly and said to everyone, "Ye Yuan has completely healed Zheng Qi's hidden injuries and even helped him advance further. As for Ye Yuan's strength, even Xuan Yu willingly concedes defeat and has voluntarily resigned. Do you...have any other objections?"

The elders looked at each other, stunned by the day's upheaval.

Before coming, they had mocked Ye Yuan for not daring to show his face.

But now, he had suddenly become the Grand Elder.

What shocked them even more was that Ye Yuan, who had only recently broken through, had already surpassed Xuan Yu in strength.

With such terrifying ability, he was more than qualified to be Grand Elder.

But...Ruoxu was now in an awkward position.

Seeing that no one spoke, Zuo Shujie said calmly, "In fact, Ye Yuan had already resigned from his elder position and was unwilling to come out again. Yesterday, I had a long talk with him, and he reluctantly agreed. From today onward, Ye Yuan is the Grand Elder of the Alchemy Tower, presiding over all its affairs. Xuan Yu is the Second Elder, Ruoxu the Third Elder, and so on."

After speaking, Zuo Shujie said to Ye Yuan, "Ye Yuan, I entrust the Alchemy Tower to you from now on. However, your main task is still cultivation, for you are the future of our Tianying!"

Ye Yuan smiled and said, "Rest assured, City Lord. I know what I'm doing."

Zuo Shujie was not just flattering Ye Yuan; he had truly exhausted his eloquence to persuade him.

For Ye Yuan, the main reason he returned to Tianying Imperial City was the five-hundred-year pact with Lier and the others.

Ye Yuan still had considerable affection for Tianying; at least, there were many ties binding him here.

Moreover, Ye Yuan understood that his earlier exceptional promotion to Alchemy Tower elder must have been Zuo Shujie's doing.

If not for that, his revenge against Qin Xiao might have been delayed indefinitely.

In the end, he owed Zuo Shujie a favor.

Therefore, he agreed to take on the role of Grand Elder.

Ye Yuan naturally knew that this Grand Elder position would not be easy, but he didn't mind.

Ruoxu could bully Xuan Yu, but trying to bully Ye Yuan was still a bit premature.

Moreover, in the face of absolute strength, any scheming was nothing but a pile of dirt!

In alchemy, Ye Yuan had such confidence.

Zuo Shujie said calmly, "I am naturally at ease with you. Alright, this matter is settled!"

With that, Zuo Shujie and He Chong left directly, leaving the crowd dumbfounded.

Ruoxu gave Ye Yuan a cold glare, snorted, and turned to leave.

"Stop! Did I say you could leave?" Ye Yuan said calmly.

Ruoxu whirled around, his eyes blazing with fury, and said coldly, "Ye Yuan, don't get too cocky!"

Ye Yuan looked at Ruoxu and said calmly, "Truly, a fish rots from the head down! No wonder back then, a disciple like Song Qiyang dared to disregard me, an elder. It turns out his master taught him well! Didn't you hear what the City Lord just said?"

Ruoxu was beside himself with rage and roared, "If I want to leave, can you stop me?"

With that, he moved and strode toward the hall's exit.

Just then, Leng Yu and Zheng Qi rose simultaneously, blocking Ruoxu from left and right.

The half-step Divine Lord aura emanating from the two finally made Ruoxu change color.

He suddenly realized that these two half-step Divine Lords were both staunch allies of Ye Yuan.

Ye Yuan said calmly, "Brother Leng, you are the Grand Elder of the Martial Tower. What is the punishment for a subordinate offending the Grand Elder's authority?"

Leng Yu grinned and said, "Except for the City Lord and the Supreme Elder, the Grand Elder's authority is supreme and inviolable. Any offender shall be thrown into the Abyss of Divine Refinement in the Martial Tower!"

The Abyss of Divine Refinement was another space within the Martial Tower, a place specifically for punishing offenders.

That Qin Xiao was now imprisoned in the Abyss of Divine Refinement.

Ruoxu's face changed, and he glared at Ye Yuan, saying, "Ye Yuan, you wouldn't dare!"

Ye Yuan laughed upon hearing this and said, "Why wouldn't I dare? Today is my first day as Grand Elder, and you try to intimidate me. If I let you walk out like this, how can I continue as Grand Elder? Brother Leng, Brother Zheng, seize him and throw him into the Abyss of Divine Refinement for three months as a lesson!"