Chapter 198: Ye Hang Makes His Move!

"You! You! The royal family has treated you well, and this is how you repay us?"

Nanfeng Ruoqing trembled with rage at these ingrates. She never imagined that the royal family's painstaking efforts would be outweighed by such meager temptations.

"Princess, they joined the alliance to strengthen the Qin state. Why must you be so harsh?" Wan Donghai said hypocritically.

"Hmph! Wan Donghai, don't be smug! My brother has long prepared for this; your schemes won't succeed! Su Yulin, are you still hiding behind the scenes at a time like this? Isn't it time you showed yourself?" Nanfeng Ruoqing glared coldly at Su Yulin.

But Su Yulin still sat with eyes closed, looking unconcerned, ignoring Nanfeng Ruoqing.

Wan Donghai turned to the guests and announced, "Since you have all agreed to join the alliance, now is the time to contribute to our Great Qin!"

Everyone's expression stiffened, sensing a bad omen, as if they had boarded a pirate ship.

But these people were shrewd; having agreed to join the alliance, they were not naive enough to expect benefits without giving something in return.

The price they paid was a break with the Nanfeng family!

"The Nanfeng family has long occupied the throne but lacks ambition! Now our Qin state is teetering on the brink of crisis. I believe we should choose a new wise ruler to lead our Qin on the path to strength!" Wan Donghai declared loudly.

As he finished, everyone's gaze turned to Su Yulin. The 'wise ruler' Wan Donghai spoke of could only be Su Yulin.

"I believe that Clan Leader Su, renowned for his wisdom and unmatched in martial prowess, can replace the Nanfeng family!" a loyalist of the Su family spoke up.

"The Nanfeng family should abdicate in favor of the worthy!"

"Clan Leader Su should inherit the throne!"

In an instant, the nobles spoke one after another, enraging Nanfeng Ruoqing until her delicate frame trembled, and Nanfeng Lou's face turned ashen. Compared to the opposition, the royal faction's momentum was clearly weaker.

Nanfeng Ruoqing recalled something and looked grimly at Ye Hang and his son. This father-son pair had been too quiet today, not uttering a single word so far!

Before coming, her brother had clearly instructed that Ye Hang would side with the royal family today. But so far, Ye Hang had made no move.

Even if Ye Hang remained inactive, given Ye Yuan's relationship with her, could he stand by and watch the royal family be overthrown?

Ye Yuan clearly noticed Nanfeng Ruoqing's gaze, smiled, stood up, and said loudly, "Isn't today the Pill Appreciation Assembly? Master Wan, why have you led everyone off topic?"

Ye Yuan's voice, infused with Yuan power, instantly drowned out all other sounds.

Seeing Ye Yuan speak, Su Yulin, Yang Hao, and the others frowned, thinking, 'Here it comes!'

Today, what they feared was not the uncle and nephew Nanfeng Lou, but Ye Hang and his son. Yet until now, the two had not said a word, which was highly unusual!

If Ye Hang had long abandoned the royal family, he should not have appeared here today. But he came and yet remained silent, not causing trouble, allowing the Pill Appreciation Assembly to proceed. This left them all puzzled.

Wan Donghai, feeling smug, was annoyed by Ye Yuan's discordant remark.

"Ye Yuan, are you jumping out now to play the clown? Everyone has already learned about the pills launched by our Drunken Star Pavilion, so the Pill Appreciation Assembly naturally concludes here." Wan Donghai said contemptuously.

Ye Yuan feigned sudden realization: "So it's just these few pills? I thought it was some grand event! These trash pills, Master Wan dares to show off? That's the height of shamelessness!"

"Heh, from your words, it seems the Fragrant Medicine Pavilion has better pills than these?" Wan Donghai sneered.

He didn't believe Ye Hang had any trump card; otherwise, why wait until now? If he had emerged from seclusion a few days later, the Fragrant Medicine Pavilion would have closed down on its own.

Ye Yuan smiled but said nothing. Then Ye Hang stepped forward and said, "This Pill Appreciation Assembly is a grand event rarely seen in Qin in a decade. Master Wan just showcased several new pills from the Drunken Star Pavilion, which broadened our horizons. Coincidentally, our Fragrant Medicine Pavilion has also developed some new pills recently. I'd like to take this opportunity to have everyone appraise them."

"Hahaha... I heard you were in seclusion for over a month. Were you developing new pills? I'm really curious to see what new pills Pavilion Master Ye has developed in that month! But since you've made such bold claims, don't make a fool of yourself later!" Wan Donghai said.

Ye Hang replied calmly, "That's not your concern."

After speaking, Ye Hang looked around and asked, "Is there any Yuan Qi realm martial artist present who happens to be stuck at a bottleneck and about to break through?"

At this question, the nobles exchanged bewildered glances.

What did this mean? Could it be that the new pill Ye Hang developed also allowed unconditional breakthrough by one realm?

But seeking those stuck at a bottleneck seemed pointless for such a pill, didn't it?

After all, breaking through in the Yuan Qi realm wasn't that difficult; one could force through bottlenecks with Yuan Qi Pills or Gathering Yuan Pills.

A middle-aged man spoke up: "Pavilion Master Ye, my son is stuck at the bottleneck of the sixth level of Yuan Qi. He tells me he's just a hair's breadth away but can't find the契机."

This clan leader was named Huang Hui, and his son was Huang Xuan.

Many present had brought their younger generations. Such occasions were greatly beneficial for the growth of the younger generation, so they naturally wouldn't miss the chance to teach them.

Huang Hui brought his son before Ye Hang, cupped his hands, and said, "Pavilion Master Ye, are you testing a pill? Does my son meet the requirements?"

Ye Hang glanced at Huang Xuan and smiled, "Not bad. Sixteen years old, peak of the sixth level of Yuan Qi. Clan Leader Huang, you have a worthy successor!"

"Haha, Pavilion Master Ye flatters me. Compared to your Ye Yuan, my son is far inferior!" Huang Hui laughed.

Huang Xuan was also a student of the Danwu Academy, and Huang Hui had heard from his son about Ye Yuan's performance at the academy.

Even if he hadn't, Ye Yuan's cultivation at the second level of Spiritual Liquid was enough to make Huang Xuan feel inferior!

Ye Hang smiled faintly and made no further comment. Ye Yuan's excellence needed no praise from others.

"Clan Leader Huang, are you not afraid that my pill might have side effects when you have your son test it?"

"I trust Pavilion Master Ye!" Huang Hui said simply.

"Good. In that case, let your son take this pill, and we'll observe its effects."

Ye Hang extended his hand, holding up a pill—it was the Explosive Yuan Pill!

Huang Hui took it, handed it to Huang Xuan, and said calmly, "Xuan'er, take it!"

"Yes, Father!" Huang Xuan didn't hesitate at all. He swallowed the Explosive Yuan Pill and began to circulate his energy to refine the medicinal power.

After dozens of breaths, a storm of Yuan power swept through the hall once more!