Chapter 569: Cutting the Gordian Knot

Four hours later, inside the Pill Hall, every last disciple had gathered at its entrance. From the Chief Stewards at the top to the servant disciples at the bottom, not a single person was missing. There wasn’t even enough room to stand; the crowd spilled out into the plaza beyond.

A sea of people stretched as far as the eye could see.

Chen Che sat in the chief’s seat, silently flipping through the register in his hands.

“Everyone’s here. Really, everyone is here now. Not a single person is missing.”

The young Chief Steward wiped the sweat from his forehead.

He had never imagined that Chen Che would want to see not just the Official Disciples, but even the Outer Sect and servant disciples. It was an immense hassle to gather every single one of them.

It had taken four times longer than the one hour Chen Che had initially allotted to finally gather everyone.

Throughout the entire process, Chen Che had been flipping through the Hall’s register.

‘Including servant, Outer, and Official Disciples, as well as Stewards, Stewards, and Chief Stewards… there are more than thirty thousand people in total!’

Chen Che didn’t raise his head.

‘The foundation of a centuries-old Major Sect is truly profound. The number of people in this one Hall alone is comparable to all the disciples in Jinyun Valley.’

Of course.

‘The majority were still servant and Outer Disciples. For the most part, it took about twenty servant disciples to support a single Official Disciple.’

‘What’s more, each Hall was an independent entity. From recruiting disciples to appointing Stewards, the Chief had the final say on everything.’

“Yes, yes…”

The young Chief Steward, Wang Yinhu, nodded sheepishly. Just as he was wondering how to respond, Chen Che looked up. “Everyone, begin your Alchemy.”

“Uh, huh?”

Wang Yinhu, along with everyone else present, was utterly stunned.

Originally, everyone had assumed Chen Che gathered them to deliver a lecture, introduce himself as the new Chief, and maybe announce a few new policies. A new broom sweeps clean, after all; that was usually how these things went.

Even new Chief Stewards would gather their department members upon taking office.

But no one had ever imagined that the very first thing Chen Che would say to them was an order to perform Alchemy.

“Refine the Pill you’re most skilled at, starting with Tier One Low Grade!”

Chen Che closed the register.

“Yes!”

Some were stunned, but others had already reacted.

One of them cupped his fist in acknowledgment, sat down cross-legged, took out a Small Tripod and some Medicinal Herbs, and began the refining process.

Chen Che glanced at the first to respond. He was a middle-aged male Cultivator whose robes were rather disheveled, giving him a down-on-his-luck appearance. He looked completely out of place next to the several lavishly dressed Stewards beside him.

Seeing this man begin his Alchemy, the other Cultivators finally reacted. A vast wave of them immediately sat down cross-legged, and the sight of tens of thousands of people performing Alchemy at once was truly spectacular.

Chen Che’s eyes were half-closed, his fingers drumming lightly against his knee. His Divine Sense, however, precisely enveloped every single disciple present.

‘Truly awful…’

With just a glance, Chen Che couldn’t help but shake his head to himself.

From his perspective, the Alchemy skills of these disciples were far worse than those at Jinyun Valley. They were making numerous mistakes with even the most basic Alchemy Techniques.

However, when he remembered the teaching methods in this world, this situation made sense. All Inner Hall Disciples were only taught basic theory; for everything else, they were left to fumble through on their own, with no guidance.

If they couldn’t grasp the basics within a certain time, they were essentially abandoned. In a system like this, one needed either innate talent or powerful backing. Most people would simply languish for their entire lives.

“Anyone who failed to refine a Pill is demoted to Servant Disciple. Those who succeeded may stay.”

A moment later, Chen Che waved his hand dismissively.

!?”

Most of the servant disciples failed, but they were joined by a number of Outer Disciples and even a few Stewards. The demoted ones stared in utter disbelief.

At the same time, a chill went through the hearts of those who remained.

Only now did they finally understand Chen Che’s intentions. He was going to purge the entire Pill Hall!

“Continue. Next up, Tier One Middle Grade.”

Before anyone could even process what had happened, Chen Che spoke again.

Wang Yinhu instantly broke out in a cold sweat. Although he was a Chief Steward of the Pill Hall, his Alchemy skills were mediocre at best. The only reason he held his position was that he was the direct great-great-grandson of Duobao!

The other Chief Stewards felt their stomachs clench in fear.

For an ordinary disciple, reaching the rank of Steward was the absolute peak. To climb any higher to become a Steward, or a Chief Steward, you needed backing and connections. All of them had gotten their positions through their connections; they wouldn’t be able to withstand this kind of scrutiny from Chen Che!

The ordinary disciples had no such complex thoughts; they just obediently continued their Alchemy.

In no time at all, Chen Che spoke again:

“All who failed are demoted to Outer Disciples. Those who succeeded are promoted to Official Disciples. Now, continue! Tier One High Grade!”

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Just then, several streaks of Escape Light shot from the horizon and landed directly within the Pill Hall. As the light faded, the figures of Duobao, Chen Jiyuan, and Qiu Tianshui were revealed.

They had all been busy in their respective Halls.

They had received sudden reports from their subordinates that Chen Che had summoned every last disciple in the Pill Hall. No one could leave, and no one could enter. Unsure what Chen Che was up to, they had rushed over to see for themselves.

With his hands behind his back and a cold look in his eyes, Duobao scanned the disciples performing Alchemy. His gaze met Wang Yinhu’s for a fleeting moment, and he instantly understood what was going on.

“The Sect is preparing for war and the fighting at the front is intense. The Sect Leader brought you back to manage the Pill Hall, yet here you are, Chief Chen, playing ‘new broom sweeps clean’ games. This is all a bit childish, don’t you think?”

Frowning at Chen Che, Duobao glanced at the disciples below, then waved a hand and announced loudly:

“Everyone, disperse! Go back to your duties. I have important matters to discuss with Chief Chen. Don’t stand around getting in the way.”

WHOOSH—

The moment he spoke, Wang Yinhu, one of the Chief Stewards, along with several Stewards in the crowd, immediately stood up.

Many other Chief Stewards and Stewards also looked ready to rise.

The rest of the disciples in the hall were also stunned, unsure of what to do.

But Chen Che immediately glanced up and said:

“Take one step out that door, and you are no longer a member of the Pill Hall.”

Those who had stood up froze, caught between a rock and a hard place.

“Aren’t you being a bit too tyrannical, Chief Chen?” Duobao narrowed his eyes.

“The Sect Leader put me in charge of the Pill Hall. My first priority is naturally to purge the Hall of the incompetent who are merely filling ranks. And yet, there are some people who can’t even refine a proper Pill, yet they hold high positions…”

Chen Che remained seated, not moving an inch, as he gave Duobao a simple glance.

“Do you think the disciples below will stand for that?”

“Some disciples only know how to bury their heads in their Alchemy, while others are skilled in… other areas.” Qiu Tianshui waved his hand, deploying a Silent Barrier, and stepped forward with a smile, trying to mediate.

Several of the Chief Stewards present were their men as well.

It couldn’t be helped.

Who could blame them? The Pill Hall was the most profitable of all the major Halls. The daily consumption of Spirit Medicine Grass, the output of refined Pills… skimming a little here, siphoning off a little there—it all added up to a massive sum over time.

They had installed their own people not just in the Pill Hall, but also in the Talisman Hall and the Artifact Hall—any Hall that consumed a large amount of resources.

The Sect Leader didn’t concern himself with such matters.

Huang Shiwo was incapable of managing them.

When Duobao had tried to dismiss the disciples earlier, his real intention was to negotiate this very thing—to offer Chen Che a cut of the profits. He had no other choice. He hadn’t been able to kill Chen Che before he became a Chief, and now that he was one, it was even more impossible to act against him.

“Of course, I understand all that.”

Chen Che’s voice softened considerably. Just as the three thought he was about to relent, his tone turned icy. “However, within my Pill Hall, only one thing matters: skill in Alchemy. The capable will rise, the incompetent will fall, and the average will make way!”

At these words, the expressions of the three Chiefs changed drastically.

The three of them had come in person, yet they never expected Chen Che to show them not a shred of respect.

“Chief Chen…”

Duobao’s eyes narrowed.

But Chen Che gave him no chance to speak, instead waving a hand and declaring:

“Time’s up! All who failed are demoted to ordinary disciples. Next, we refine a Tier Two Elixir. Anyone who can refine a Tier Two Low Grade Pill is promoted to Steward. Middle Grade will make you a Steward, and High Grade will make you a Chief Steward!”

Among those just demoted was none other than Wang Yinhu, a member of Duobao’s own clan.

The latter’s face went white.

“Good!”

Duobao gritted his teeth and jabbed a finger heavily in Chen Che’s direction.

Chen Che paid him no mind. He slowly lifted a bowl of tea, blew away the curling steam, and said without raising his head:

“You can run your own Halls however you like. But in the Pill Hall, my word is law!”

“Hmph!”

No longer able to contain his fury, Duobao flicked his sleeve and stormed away.