Xu Yuan was the only heir of the Xu Family, one of the four most influential families of Jin Yang City, of the Xia Empire.
The Xu Family was famous for its alchemy and medicinal herbs, and their pills were respected by both sects and nobles.
Almost every corner of Jin Yang City had people who used their pill, and because of this their name carried great influence, even known to the nearby cities.
Xu Yuan's parents had died when he was just a baby, leaving him in the care of family.
Despite being grown without his parents, it was nothing like he had a hard time.
Instead, he was spoiled till bones, always living in comfort, surrounded by servants and elders who gave him whatever he wanted.
And when it came to cultivation, Xu Yuan's talent was slightly above average. He was not weak, but neither can be called proper genius, but this was not the same for his alchemy skills.
Even though his family taught him many techniques, he could only refine first-tier pills at best.
Still, with the help of his clan's countless pills, rare herbs, and resources, he managed to cultivate well enough to stand side by side with many geniuses of his generation
...
{Two Days Later}
Two days passed quietly. Xu Yuan spoke with the Grand Elder about his academy experiences, and several elders came to visit him.
But in these two days, he couldn't interact with any disciple properly as if they were trying to avoid him, he couldn't understand how they could afford to avoid such a nice person as himself.
Despite all this, Yuan was careful, keeping his words measured so as not to arouse suspicion of his identity.
And even if they suspect it, it was an easy game for an intelligent person like him, he will just say. "I have grown mature."
That evening, Yuan settled into the west wing of the Xu residence, a quiet courtyard shaded by old pine trees.
The sound of cicadas filled the air, fireflies floated lazily above the koi pond, their glow reflecting off rippling water.
Yuan leaned back on the railing, letting the cool night air brush against his face.
He was feeling something amiss. It was too peaceful for the Xu family that had always been alive with footsteps, chatter, and the crackle sound of the flames in furnaces.
Even the warehouses looked deserted, and the alchemist halls felt like empty shells.
"Strange…" Yuan muttered, watching a firefly drift past. "It's strangely too quiet!"
"You've noticed," a soft voice suddenly interrupted him.
Yuan turned his head. A young woman stood beneath the moonlight, robes of pale green flowing gently around her figure. Her black hair tied back with a jade clasp.
She held a stack of scrolls close to her chest. Her features were delicate, her eyes clear as spring water, but her brow carried a quiet weight.
"Eldest Sister Ying'er," Yuan greeted, recognizing her. She was Elder Yuhong's personal disciple, one of the clan's alchemists.
She walked closer, bowing slightly before settling by the pond. Sitting on the stone by crossing one leg on another, she balanced the scrolls in her lap and studied him with calm eyes.
"Hmm… You've grown taller since before," she said softly.
Yuan's lips curved with a faint smile. "Then tell me what happened?"
Her fingers tightened on the scrolls. After taking a breath pause her lips parted.
"The world has changed a lot in your absence. Not long ago, the Li Clan unveiled a prodigy. A boy not even eighteen. To save his dying elder, he refined a 'Third-Tier Vitality Pill' on his own."
Yuan's eyes narrowed. "Third Tier Pill? At seventeen?"
"Yes!" Ying'er's voice dropped. "Since then, the tides of the market have changed rapidly, the merchants who once relied on us have already turned to the Li warehouses. They even call him a Heaven's Chosen Alchemist. Even our most loyal buyers seem to be wavering now."
Yuan leaned on the railing, gaze falling on the koi pond. Ripples spread slowly across its surface, distorting the moon's reflection.
Ying'er's eyes studied him carefully, as if searching for something in his reaction. "We are trying to handle it, but our methods barely work. Some suggestions say to wait till the Competition in Sacred Pill Hall. There may be a chance to get back in the market.
But…
Even if we try it's about at least a year for the competition and I don't think…
We have that much time. And the fact that we can't be sure if Li's genius will participate in the competition."
Her eyes slowly moved toward Koi pond. "To surpass him we need to go for at least a third-tier mid-grade Pill… but even his low-third tier… we are failing to refine…"
The Xu family had produced a lot of geniuses for over generations but now, the Li family which once used to hold equal footing in alchemy with them, have brought a genius who surpasses their generations of alchemists.
Even the patriarchs of both families are only 2nd Tier alchemists, which is also a reason for their families being one of big families. Now, a 3rd grade alchemist in near age seventeen, it was enough to shake the whole east region.
Yuan heard Ying'er but didn't answer. His lips parted once, but no words came out. He could not find words to utter in that situation.
He only sat there, silent, staring at the koi pond as though the answer to everything lay hidden in its ripples.
—
—
The next morning, a servant came hurriedly to summon Xu Yuan to the Inner Alchemy Hall.
The chamber was vast, its walls lined with shelves of herbs sealed in jade jars. The air was thick with medicinal aroma.
Several figures were already present. A female elder, Elder Yuhong, a second grade alchemist, face stern, her robe stained faintly with herb ash. Two other senior alchemists, both murmuring darkly about trade losses.
Also, some disciples in light pale robes, discussing in the hall corner.
Xu Wanshan sat silently on the high seat, posture steady, eyes unreadable. And beside him stood Ying'er, scroll in hand, eyes calm.
As Yuan stepped in, all eyes shifted toward him. He stood near an elder after bowing slightly.
"..…"
"Little Yuan," Grand Elder said in a heavy voice. "It is useless to hide it any longer. The Xu Family…"
"...is falling."
After a pause he continued. "Our warehouses are suffering loss after loss. The name that once stood as Jin Yang's backbone in alchemy… is now fading into dust."
Yuan kept his silence, actually he didn't care much about such trivial matters. He believed if he can't do anything it's better to stay out of it, Even if Xu Family falls he will just lose half of his incomes and reputation but he doesn't seem to mind it, he can just go back to the Academy and cultivate in peace with proper resources.
And as for the Xu Family, with having an alchemy background even if they suffered heavy losses, it is not that they fall to the state of becoming beggars.
Yuan's eye twitched remembering the very reason he came here, that bastard Bai Chen.
But even if in any case he becomes suspicious of Yuan, it was not easy to harm him as he had plenty of supporters and strings to pull.
'Haih~ I didn't expect to see Grand Elder in this emotional state. Moreover, I feel too bad to leave for the academy this soon.' he muttered inside
Then, Elder Ming's jaw tightened. "That Li's brat! He refines one miracle pill, and suddenly, the world thinks he surpasses generations of Xu alchemists! Absurd!"
"But reality doesn't care for fairness," another elder muttered bitterly. "Yesterday, even the Ge merchants signed with the Li Family. Twenty years of loyalty, gone overnight."
The silence grew heavy and suffocating. Only the faint hiss of the great furnace filled the air.
Finally, Xu Wanshan's gaze landed on Yuan, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Child… right now, we are barely standing. To recover losses, we may even need to sell our some warehouses. The Xu name is no longer what it once was. We thought… it would be better if you knew."
The question lingered in the air. Yuan opened his mouth to respond. "I… ah—!"
But before he could speak—
[Ding! New Mission]
[Turn Xu Clan's Fall into Rise]
[Mission Failure Penalty: Lose everything and become a beggar.]