69: Chapter 69: Clearing the Name of Teachers!

The nine-colored pillar of light slowly dissipated, and the hole torn in the clouds above the Yao Emperor Platform by the Black Demon Lightning gradually closed. The pill rain stopped, but the rich, almost viscous medicinal fragrance in the air lingered for a long time. The White-haired Little Girl was still sitting on Xiao Yan's chest, her two little feet swinging in the air, the nine-colored bells on her ankles jingling with her movements. She seemed completely oblivious to the sensation she had caused, lowering her head to intently study the hole burned into Xiao Yan's robes by the Black Demon Lightning, her small hands tugging twice at the scorched fabric, frowning when she couldn't tear it off.

Xiao Yan pushed himself up from the rubble and sat up. The little girl slid from his chest onto his lap, looking up at him with her purple eyes full of curiosity. He reached out and gently patted the top of her head, then stood up through gritted teeth. Every bone in his body protested, and waves of dizziness from his overdrawn soul strength washed over him, but he still stood steadily, bending down to pick up the little girl and place her next to the myriad beast cauldron. He whispered, "Wait for me here," and then walked step by step toward the center of the Yao Emperor Platform.

Every gaze in the arena followed this figure in scorched robes and covered in wounds. He walked to the front of the nine-tiered high platform, stopped, and looked up at the white-haired, white-bearded elder on the platform. Yao Dan stood at the edge of the platform, looking down at him. His aged face showed little emotion, but something was slowly melting in those eyes that had witnessed all the vicissitudes of life.

"The champion of the Medicine Ceremony—" Yao Dan's voice was aged and calm, yet it spread clearly across the entire Yao Emperor Platform, "Xiao Yan."

After a brief silence, earth-shattering cheers erupted below the platform. The young disciples of the Medicine Clan jumped up from their seats, the Alchemists of the Pill Tower clapped vigorously, the disciples of the Flower Sect threw medicinal flowers in their hands into the air, and even the rogue cultivators who had been watching coldly couldn't help but nod in admiration. Forcing out a Grade 9 Profound Pill with four types of medium Heavenly Flames and a soul state of Heaven Realm Great Perfection—this achievement was not based on luck, but on solid alchemy skills. Old Man Shennong nodded slowly below the platform, while Yao Wanhuo gave a heavy snort, but still raised his hands and clapped three times after snorting. Standing in front of the high platform, there was neither smugness nor excitement on Xiao Yan's face, only a sense of relief and calm. He had waited for this moment for far too long.

"Xiao Yan," Yao Dan walked down from the high platform and personally handed a bronze token carved with the Medicine Emperor totem into his hand, "With this Medicine Emperor Token, you may make one request of the Medicine Clan. As long as it does not violate morality, the Medicine Clan will exert the power of the entire clan to fulfill it for you."

Xiao Yan took the token. The bronze token felt slightly heavy in his hand. The front showed the silhouette of the Medicine Emperor statue, and the back was engraved with four ancient seal characters—"Benevolent Heart, Saving the World." His thumb gently rubbed over the four characters, and then he raised his head, his gaze passing over Yao Dan to land on the elder in the crowd below who wore a faded, washed-out old robe.

"This junior has only one request—please, Medicine Clan, clear Yao Chen's name."

The area below the platform fell instantly silent. Yao Chen froze in place, and Xuan Yi's fingers gripping his arm suddenly tightened. Yao Wangui stood in the front row of the crowd, his face changing slightly, his lips twitching but making no sound.

"Yao Chen, a 137th-generation disciple of the Medicine Clan, was expelled from the Medicine Clan after being falsely accused of stealing secret clan texts. His parents suffered injustice because of this, and their names were left off the clan monument." Xiao Yan's voice was not loud, but every word was clear, as if he had polished these words in his heart countless times. "This junior asks for nothing else today, but only requests the Medicine Clan to reinvestigate the case of that year, restore Yao Chen's innocence, and re-engrave his parents' honorable names on the clan monument."

Yao Dan fell silent for a long time. He naturally knew about the events of that year—Yao Wangui's framing of Yao Chen was no secret among the high-level members of the Medicine Clan. However, Yao Wangui was an elder of the Medicine Clan who held great power, whereas Yao Chen back then was merely an abandoned genius. For the sake of the Medicine Clan's dignity, this matter had been suppressed for so many years. Now that Xiao Yan had brought it up in front of the world's Alchemists, it could no longer be avoided.

"Yao Wangui." Yao Dan did not turn back, only calling out calmly. Yao Wangui walked out from the crowd, his expression shifting unpredictably. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but when he saw Yao Dan's eyes, which were as calm as an ancient well, all his prepared excuses got stuck in his throat.

"Will you speak for yourself, or shall this old man speak for you?" Yao Dan's tone was still unhurried, but everyone present could hear that there was no longer any room for maneuver in his words.

Yao Wangui lowered his head and remained silent for a long time. Xiao Yan in front of the platform was watching him, the Alchemists below were watching him, the young disciples of the Medicine Clan were watching him, and Old Man Shennong was also watching him. Those gazes felt like countless needles piercing his back. He finally squeezed a few words from between his teeth: "The matter of that year... was a false accusation by this old man."

The entire arena erupted in an uproar. The young disciples of the Medicine Clan looked at one another, while some older elders silently averted their gazes. Yao Chen stood in the crowd, his aged face showing no expression, but Xuan Yi could feel his hands, tucked inside his sleeves, trembling violently.

Yao Dan did not spare Yao Wangui another glance. He simply turned around, took down a yellowed clan register from the high platform, flipped to a blank page, and slowly wrote down several characters with his brush—"Yao Chen, 137th-generation disciple, parents Yao Shan and Lin Zhi, name to be engraved on the clan monument." He then placed the brush back on the desk and held the clan register high, allowing all the guests in the arena to see the page with its fresh, wet ink.

"From this day forth, Yao Chen shall return to the Medicine Clan's register, and his parents' honorable names shall be re-engraved on the clan monument. Yao Wangui, for framing his fellow disciple, is stripped of his elder position effective today and confined for a hundred years."

Thunderous applause rang out below the platform. Yao Chen stood in the crowd, his aged face still expressionless, but Xuan Yi felt his hands, tucked inside his sleeves, finally slowly relax. Yao Chen did not go up to the platform to receive any reward, nor did he say anything to Yao Wangui. He simply turned around and bowed deeply from afar to Xiao Yan on the platform. Xiao Yan stepped aside to avoid accepting the bow. He walked down from the high platform, supported Yao Chen to stand straight, and looked into the elder's cloudy, reddened eyes, saying very softly, "Teacher, we are going home."

At some point, the White-haired Little Girl had run down from the side of the myriad beast cauldron. Barefoot, she pattered through the crowd, ran in front of Yao Chen, and looked up at him for a good while, then reached out her small hand to tug at the hem of his robe. Yao Chen looked down at her, and she tilted her head, asking, "Are you my father's master? Then what should I call you?" Looking at this adorable, doll-like little girl, the fine lines at the corners of Yao Chen's eyes finally smoothed out. He bent down to pick her up, his voice hoarse but carrying a hint of genuine affection, "Call me Grandpa."

A burst of laughter erupted below the platform. Applause, laughter, and cheers intertwined. Even the clouds torn open by the Black Demon Lightning above the Yao Emperor Platform completely dissipated at this moment, revealing a corner of the deep blue sky. Only Hun Feng sat in the VIP seats, having neither clapped nor smiled from beginning to end. He placed the teacup in his hand onto the low table, shifting his gaze from Xiao Yan to the White-haired Little Girl, and then from the White-haired Little Girl to Hun Xuzi. Hun Xuzi stood at the outer edge of the crowd, still wearing that calm and indifferent expression, as if the dead pill that had shattered in his cauldron earlier had absolutely nothing to do with him. However, Hun Feng noticed that his gaze had never left the White-haired Little Girl beside Xiao Yan. Leaning back in his chair, a faint smile played at the corner of Hun Feng's lips. The Medicine Ceremony was over, but the real show was just beginning.