I'm a major player in a parallel universe

At this moment, a group of elders stood on either side of the room. On one side were those who supported Yang Haoxuan, while on the other stood a line of opponents. In the middle, the imposing figure of the Elder of Punishment, Yang Ba Tian, stood tall and spoke up, "Elders, what are your thoughts on this matter?"

Immediately, an elder with a long, white beard leapt to his feet, shouting, "I oppose this! This is completely against the Yang family's rules, and it's also too risky!"

He was Elder Bai, the leader of the faction opposed to Yang Ba Tian, who typically supported Yang Ba Xiong. His primary role was to assist Yang Ba Xiong in gaining more power.

"Yes, yes!" Several other elders behind him quickly chimed in, agreeing. These were clever individuals, and some had already speculated on a possible scenario—that Yang Haoxuan's dantian had recovered, and Yang Ba Tian was eager for him to reach the sixth level, pass the adult trial, and solidify his position within the family.

As for the deal, they suspected Yang Ba Tian might have invested a large sum upfront, giving his son ten Juqiqi Dan pills, with the plan to gradually collect the hundred required pills.

Their opposition to Yang Ba Tian stemmed from their reluctance to see Yang Haoxuan gain such a favorable opportunity.

Yang Ba Tian was in a difficult position, unable to speak freely. The elders who supported him didn't fully understand the situation and were unsure of how to respond. It was then that Yang Haoxuan spoke up. "Family rules? What does that have to do with anything? I'm making a trade with the Yang family that benefits us all. Does Elder Bai have some ulterior motive? Is he not interested in seeing the Yang family prosper?"

The room fell silent for a moment, and then the thought that ran through everyone's mind was clear: That was venomous.

No one expected the once incompetent Yang Haoxuan to suddenly turn so sharp, asking such a cunning question. To place such a heavy accusation on Elder Bai was a brilliant move.

Naturally, this enraged Elder Bai. His face went as pale as his white beard and hair, his body shaking with fury. He couldn't believe that someone of his standing in the Yang family—someone who had been respected for years—would be so insulted by a junior.

"You're talking nonsense!" Elder Bai spat, his anger boiling over. "I'm simply worried that someone might use personal interests to harm the entire family. Hmph! Ten Juqiqi Dan for a hundred? I've never encountered such a ridiculous deal in my life!"

"Yes, exactly!" Another elder behind him quickly stepped forward and added, "Yang Haoxuan, you claim to have a source for these pills. Could it possibly be your master? Ridiculous! A master who can teach earth-level martial arts would never be so petty as to give his disciple Juqiqi Dan."

Damn, these old foxes are sharp! Yang Haoxuan thought to himself. After a brief hesitation, he said, "After my master taught me the earth-level martial arts, he traveled the world. He left only a communication tool for me. As for the hundred pills, I will personally craft them myself!"

The room was instantly thrown into chaos.

"You can refine pills? What do you mean by that?" The others exclaimed in shock. Naturally, they understood that this meant Yang Haoxuan could craft pills, making him an alchemist. Even the usually stoic Elder Yao, who had been watching the scene unfold, couldn't hide the gleam in his eyes as he fixed his gaze firmly on Yang Haoxuan.

"Haoxuan, you…?" Yang Ba Tian was left speechless, his son suddenly becoming so mysterious.

"Father, please don't worry," Yang Haoxuan said, his expression serious. "I didn't intend for this to cause you such trouble. I never expected refining pills would be so complicated. Even with a large sum of money, I still can't get the pills, but I'm not messing around. The elder who saved me did indeed take me as his disciple. He saw potential in me to become both a martial artist and an alchemist!"

At this, Yang Ba Tian's expression changed, and his excitement was palpable. The implications of what his son had just said were clear—the master who had taught him the earth-level martial arts truly existed, and his son had the talent to be an alchemist.

The other elders were just as shocked.

To be an alchemist was a unique and prestigious position on the Martial Continent. Alchemists were considered elites, their skills highly valued across the land. After all, alchemists could refine all sorts of pills to improve one's cultivation, which in a world focused on strength, was an incredibly valuable asset. For instance, a person stuck at the peak of the tenth level could break through their bottleneck with the help of just a single pill.

And these pills only needed to be of first or second grade.

Alchemists themselves were ranked from first to ninth grade. When it came to higher-grade pills, such as those of the seventh, eighth, or even ninth grade, their influence on the continent was immense, capable of creating powerful individuals.

Such an extraordinary profession was extremely rare.

Becoming an alchemist wasn't just about hard work—it required exceptional talent. In a thousand people, only one might have the aptitude to meet the necessary requirements.

And even then, there were strict conditions to meet. In pill crafting, there were three main prerequisites: medicinal ingredients, a pill furnace, and soul perception.

Medicinal ingredients and a furnace were precious, but the most difficult requirement was soul perception.

What exactly was soul perception? It involved understanding and comprehending the nature of the pills, allowing one to create unique formulas. Additionally, the strength of one's soul perception was key to manipulating Divine Flame, the special flame required to refine pills. Without sufficient soul perception, one wouldn't be able to control this flame.

An alchemist was a person of extraordinary status. Elder Yao, though only a second-grade alchemist, was respected enough in the Yang family to disregard anyone else.

Now, hearing that Yang Haoxuan could refine pills had left everyone stunned, envious, and completely shocked.

From the way Yang Haoxuan had killed the Wolf King, it was clear he had mastered an earth-level martial art. And now, the claim that he could refine Juqiqi Dan? It seemed like he had achieved martial and alchemical dual cultivation already, and was making progress.

"This time… Yang Ba Tian has struck gold!" The elders gasped, their thoughts shifting. Yang Ba Tian's position as clan leader seemed even more secure now.

"I don't believe it!" Elder Bai, desperate and furious, shouted, "Perhaps this is just a lie to make Yang Haoxuan reach the sixth level of cultivation in a year, and then buy the hundred Juqiqi Dan to fill the gap!"

"Am I a fool?" Yang Ba Tian, unable to sit still any longer, snapped. "If that were the case, would I go outside to buy them?"

"Hmph! The family's resources shouldn't be used to fund your son's cultivation, and time is of the essence. You might take a year to gather a hundred pills, but you can't wait a month to gather ten Juqiqi Dan!" Elder Bai was now desperate, willing to go all in.

"Bang!" With a loud crash, a stone beneath Yang Ba Tian's feet shattered. His face was filled with fury as he roared, "Elder Bai! Do you think you're the Elder of Punishment or the clan leader? You dare slander me without any proof? I'll strip you of your title right now if you keep talking like this!"

Yang Ba Tian's outburst made everyone tremble. He was the clan leader, after all. Elder Bai, rendered speechless, could not respond.

The Elder of Punishment, who had been silent until now, glanced around, unsure of how to handle the situation. This matter couldn't be resolved by the family rules. There were family transactions and family rules, but this was an entirely different case.

"Elder Bai!" Yang Ba Tian continued, "You say this is a scheme to help Haoxuan pass the adult trial! Fine, let me make a deal with you. If I can't produce a hundred Juqiqi Dan by the thirty-first of December, I'll voluntarily leave the Yang family!"

What? Was Yang Haoxuan crazy? His father was already on the verge of winning the argument.

"Are you serious?" Elder Bai asked, his voice tinged with doubt.

"Absolutely. And I guarantee that all one hundred pills will be ones I personally refine!" Yang Haoxuan said, ignoring his father's anxious gaze. "Of course, I have one condition: if I succeed, you must leave the Yang family."

Heh! Elder Bai had been too arrogant, disregarding his father's position as clan leader. Now, Yang Haoxuan was going to teach him a lesson.

"Fine! It's a deal!" Elder Bai, unwilling to back down, said with a smirk. "But when you refine the pills, I'll have people keep an eye on you."

"Whatever," Yang Haoxuan shrugged, then turned to Elder Yao. "Can I take the pills now?"

Elder Yao nodded to the Elder of Punishment, who handed over a pill bottle. The elder's old face cracked into a strange smile. "There are twelve pills in here. The extra two are my gift to you."

"Thanks!" Yang Haoxuan took

the pills, and the crowd slowly dispersed. As he turned to leave, he whispered to Elder Yao, "By the way, if you ever want to make a second-grade Tiger-Leopard Pill, you should reduce the amount of dust wood by half, and add a bit of dragon tongue grass. It'll succeed."

"What did you say?" Elder Yao's smile instantly disappeared, and his eyes widened in shock.

Yang Haoxuan chuckled, then left with Yang Ba Tian. Before leaving the pharmacy, he had quietly studied the various herbs inside. He had spotted a failed pill formula, and his game interface immediately showed him the cause of the failure.

Once the two of them left, the elders dispersed.

Yang Haoxuan and Yang Ba Tian made their way to the main hall. Yang Haoxuan could tell his father had much to say, so he spoke at length about the "master" he had mentioned earlier, weaving a story to put his father's mind at ease.

There was no choice. The secret in his mind was something he had decided long ago would remain his alone.

...

Soon after, news of Yang Haoxuan's pill request spread through the family. The topic of him killing the Wolf King became a hot discussion. Many disciples were envious, shouting, Why him? Why does he get to have this?

The Juqiqi Dan, though somewhat wasteful for them, had remarkable effects, and they dreamed of owning even one. Yet Yang Haoxuan was asking for ten—no, twelve!

What did that mean? Anyone at the fifth level would definitely break through to the sixth, and the sixth might even reach the seventh level. They couldn't help but feel jealous, but when they learned that Yang Haoxuan intended to refine a hundred Juqiqi Dan himself, they felt slightly reassured.

The prestige of being an alchemist was enough to make these disciples admire and respect him, but they still felt Yang Haoxuan didn't yet deserve their reverence.

Naturally, they believed he was scheming for his own cultivation.

Getting twelve Juqiqi Dan made Yang Haoxuan feel particularly at ease. He was also grateful to his father, feeling closer to him with every passing day.

"I will get stronger! So I can protect those I love!" This thought became a new goal in his cultivation.

He instructed the maid to bring him meals once a week and then began refining the pills, practicing his inverted cultivation technique with the Juqiqi Dan in hand.