บท 10: Chapter 40- Gaining the Upperhand

Juanxiu and the rest of his party found themselves surrounded by the army of Master Feng, Liao Zhengshong, and Guo Yingjie. The air was thick with tension as they stood face to face with their enemies.

Juanxiu's heart was racing as he realized the gravity of their situation. He could feel the sweat on his palms as he tightly gripped the handle of his sword, ready for the impending battle.

The ground was crawling with millions of insects, their poisonous needles and bites a constant threat. Juanxiu's mind raced as he tried to come up with a plan to escape this deadly trap. He could hear the sound of his own heartbeat pounding in his ears as he braced himself for the fight of his life.

Master Feng stood tall on the podium, surveying Juanxiu and his team with a mixture of disdain and pity. "Did you truly believe that I was dull and unaware of your actions?" he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "You think that you can outsmart me? That you can overthrow me? You are nothing but a bunch of misguided, foolish children."

His words were sharp and biting, cutting through the air like a knife. The crowd murmured in agreement, their faces twisted into sneers of disgust and disdain.

Juanxiu and his team stood frozen, their hearts heavy with the weight of their defeat.

Despite the dire situation, Alchemist Zhou, Mao Wenlin, and Tian Bingwen remained calm.

They knew that they were not out of options yet. They couldn't help but hope that Du Hong and Li Jing were alright, and that Madam Zhang and the underground faction had not yet been captured.

Meanwhile, Du Hong and his team were surrounded by the guards and Zhang Wu, but they were not without hope.

Zhang Wu's eyes widen in shock as he realized the true strength of Du Hong's team. Standing before him is not just a weak and frail Alchemist Li, but a powerful and intimidating figure, brimming with energy. Thanks to the pill concocted by Juanxiu.

The same can be said for Grandmaster Zhang, who despite just waking up from a deep sleep, exudes an overwhelming presence. This is the true effect of the Thousand Years Decoction.

And to his surprise, among their ranks was a mysterious figure, unknown to him, but whose aura was unmistakably that of a powerful alchemist. It was the former head of the Poison Alchemist Faction, Ding Gen, a formidable opponent that Zhang Wu did not expect to see.

He knew then that he had underestimated Du Hong and his team, and that this would not be an easy battle.

With a step of his feet, the ground shook beneath them and the guards who were confident just a moment ago fell to their knees. Grandmaster Zhang's eyes blazed with fury as he glared at the guards, his voice booming like thunder. "You dared to lay your hands on my Alchemy Union? You dared to harm my family? I will not let this go unpunished!"

The guards trembled in fear, realizing the gravity of their mistake. But Grandmaster Zhang was not done yet. He turned his gaze towards Zhang Wu, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper.

"You call yourselves protectors of the Alchemist Union? And yet you would stoop so low as to lock up innocent alchemists? You are no better than a dog of Master Feng. Know this, any of you who dare stand in our way will meet their end."

With those words, the guards hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. They had never encountered such powerful alchemists before and were unsure of how to handle the situation. But Grandmaster Zhang was not one to be trifled with, and he made it clear that they were not to be underestimated.

The air was thick with tension as Grandmaster Zhang and his team advanced, the guards scrambling to get out of their way. Du Hong and Li Jing could not help but feel a sense of satisfaction seeing their oppressors finally facing the consequences of their actions.

Meanwhile on the grand ballroom, the tension was palpable as Master Feng felt the ground shake beneath his feet. Panic and confusion spread among his men as they looked to their leader for guidance.

Master Feng's eyes narrowed as he realized that something unexpected had occurred. He cast a glance towards the group of Alchemist Zhou, where he saw Alchemist Zhou give him a meaningful smile.

"It seems our reinforcement has arrived," Alchemist Zhou said, his voice laced with sarcasm and disdain. "You may have been an acting head of the Alchemist union, but now that the real head has awoken, it's time for you to step down."

As Alchemist Zhou spoke, he modulated his voice to ensure that everyone in the room could hear his words. The crowd murmured amongst themselves, some nodding in agreement with Zhou's words.

Master Feng's face twisted in anger as he realized that his plans were falling apart before his very eyes.

Master Feng's voice boomed throughout the grand ballroom, causing a hush to fall over the crowd. "You dare accuse me of being an imposter?" he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "You, who conspire with the heretics of the Blank Continent, have the audacity to speak of integrity? The Blank Continent, a land of chaos and destruction, a place where even the alchemists have lost their way. And yet you would align yourself with them?"

The crowd murmured in shock and confusion. The topic of the Blank Continent was not to be taken lightly, and the mere mention of it caused a stir among the audience. Some began to question the integrity of Alchemist Zhou and his team, their faces etched with suspicion.

The tension in the grand ballroom was palpable, and the crowd seemed unsure of who to believe. Master Feng's accusations were serious, and if proven true, it would mean the downfall of Alchemist Zhou and his team. But at the same time, there was something about Alchemist Zhou's words that rang true. The question now was, who would the crowd believe?

But before the situation could spiral out of control, Alchemist Mao Wenlin stepped forward. With a steady voice, he began to speak of the atrocities committed by Tian Xue in District 1.

"People of the Alchemist Union, hear me now. I come before you to speak of the atrocities committed by Tian Xue, the so-called 'Snake Whisperer Alchemist' of District 1. He used the innocent people of that district as tools for his own greed, poisoning the bodies of children and conducting gruesome experiments on innocent men and women. I stand here today as a witness to the corruption and tyranny of Tian Xue, and I implore you all to hear the truth of what has occurred."

The crowd was silent, shocked by the revelation of the atrocities committed in District 1. But before they could fully process the information, another voice spoke up.

"And who helped us, when no one else would?' Yi Gang, a member of the underground faction, stepped forward. 'Who stood by us and helped us reclaim our freedom? It was Alchemist Zhou and his team. They put their own lives on the line to free us from the grip of Tian Xue's corruption."

Shen Fengge, another member of the underground faction, joined Yi Gang in speaking. "We have been living in dire conditions for years, but it was only under the leadership of Alchemist Zhou and his team that we finally found hope. They are true alchemists, who use their skills for the betterment of all people, not just for their own gain."

Alchemist Tian Bingwen spoke next, his voice laced with anger and disgust. "The people of District 4 were subjected to forced labor, their minds controlled by toxic spores implanted by the so-called "Zombie Alchemist," Cui Bai. Countless lives were lost to exhaustion, and the masses were manipulated for the gain of a select few."

Madam Zhang Ai, the wife of Grandmaster Zhang, stepped forward, her regal and graceful presence commanding attention. "As someone who has always fought for the fair treatment of the masses, I can attest to the atrocities committed by Cui Bai. The suffering of the people in District 4 was beyond imaginable. But it was Alchemist Zhou and his team who brought an end to Cui Bai's tyranny."

Su Qiaolian, a member of the crowd, stepped forward, tears streaming down her face. "My father was one of the victims of Cui Bai's forced labor. We were helpless, but it was Alchemist Zhou and his team who brought us justice. Without them, we would still be living in fear and suffering."

The crowd listened in shock and horror as the true extent of the atrocities committed by Master Feng and his followers were revealed.

The once silent and fearful people began to speak out, their voices filled with outrage and determination for justice.

The atmosphere in the grand ballroom was electric as the people united behind Alchemist Zhou and his team, determined to end the corruption and tyranny once and for all.

The crowd began to murmur among themselves, their reactions ranging from shock to hope. As the truth of the situation became clear, a sense of unity and determination began to grow among the people.

They began to rally behind Alchemist Zhou and his team, standing against the corruption and tyranny of Master Feng and his followers.

"People of the Alchemist Union, we must stand together against those who would use our skills for their own gain," Alchemist Zhou spoke, his voice strong and steady. "We must not let the actions of a few corrupt individuals tarnish the reputation of our entire union. Together, we can create a better future for all."

The atmosphere in the grand ballroom was electric, as the people's outrage and determination to see justice done grew stronger with every passing moment.

Master Feng was dumbfounded as he listened to the revelations of Alchemist Zhou and his team. He couldn't believe that they were able to take down powerful figures such as Tian Xue and Cui Bai.

As he thought about it, he realized that the changes in District 1 and District 4 started to happen upon the return of Du Hong from his journey. He remembered that Du Hong had an unknown companion with him throughout his journey, and his mind couldn't help but wonder if this person had something to do with the changes. The realization suddenly hit him.

Master Feng's laughter echoed throughout the grand ballroom, sending shivers down the spines of those presents. "Kill that boy for me!" he shouted, pointing a shaking finger at Juanxiu.

The guards, who had been standing at the ready, began to move forward, their weapons drawn and their eyes locked on Juanxiu.

The grand ballroom was filled with chaos as the two powerful members of the poison faction lunged towards Juanxiu, their weapons unsheathed and filled with malice.

But before they could even get close to Juanxiu, they were stopped in their tracks by two familiar figures. It was Alchemist Ding Gen and Alchemist Li, both known for their powerful abilities in the world of alchemy.

The crowd gasped in shock as they recognized the two legendary figures, who were thought to have long passed away. Some of the older alchemists couldn't believe their eyes, murmuring amongst themselves in disbelief.

"Ding Gen? Is that really him?"

"I can't believe it! He's supposed to be dead!"

"He's back! And he's still as powerful as ever!"

With a swift movement, Ding Gen and Li eliminated the two attackers with ease, their abilities in full display for all to see. The crowd was in awe, watching as the two powerful alchemists stood tall and proud, ready to defend Juanxiu and the rest of the group.

Grandmaster Zhang stood tall and commanding as he stepped forward, his gaze scanning the crowd as he began to speak.

"I have a revelation to share with all of you, one that will shake the very foundations of our union. Master Feng, the so-called head of our organization, is not who he claims to be." The crowd murmured in confusion and shock, their eyes glued to the grandmaster as he continued. "He has been pulling the strings from behind the scenes, manipulating and exploiting our fellow alchemists for his own gain. His true allegiance lies not with us, but with the Blank Continent."

The crowd erupted in gasps and cries of disbelief, their minds reeling with the implications of the grandmaster's words. "But that's impossible!" cried one alchemist.

"Why would he do such a thing?" another shouted.