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The white-haired elder released the Qi pressure and Xu Pingzhi regained his ability to move freely. The elder took the young nobleman’s arm and said, “Let me take you back to the manor and get you bandaged up.”

Nobleman Zhou followed the elder and muttered, “I want him dead.”

“Understood. I’ll make the necessary arrangements.” The elder shot him a gentle smile.

“No, I want to witness it with my own eyes.”

“As you wish.”

They took their men and left the county courts. Xu Pingzhi’s breath was laborious as if he had been drowning just minutes ago.

His clothes were soaked with sweat.

“I want to lodge a formal accusation before the Emperor!” Xu Pingzhi forced out the words.

“You won’t be granted an audience with the Emperor. The Imperial Palace is forbidden grounds. An official of the Armed Guards wouldn’t be allowed entrance.” Magistrate Zhu sighed. “Forget about it.”

“No, no…” Panic and despair gripped Xu Pingzhi.

Magistrate Zhu spent a moment thinking. “I think your best option is to find Cijiu. He’s the White Deer Academy’s candidate for imperial examinations. Perhaps he’ll know of a solution.”

Although the White Deer Academy had been losing ground in the courts, it did not mean its scholars were witless and powerless.

They were the disciples of a sage.

Their purpose was to enlighten and educate others.

It was why Xu Xinnian was able to escape banishment.

…

Constable Wang arrived at the tallest building in Jingzhao City—the Observatory. No guards manned the entrance but he saw no people milling about the area.

The Observatory was a curious place, filled with all sorts of wonder and surprise. The Principal Imperial Astronomer studied the stars and established the passage of time—he was a man who could speak to the heavens.

The Imperial Astronomers had alchemists who invented tools and materials that had seen widespread use throughout the empire. Among all the disciplines, the Imperial Astronomers were the most revered by the common folk.

Hence, none dared to approach their living quarters.

Constable Wang had to fight the urge to turn tails and ride back to the county courts.

With the fear of the unknown weighing on his heart, he tied his horse to the pillar at the entrance and walked up the steps.

The base of the Observatory was six meters high, taller than a single-storey house.

On the first floor, an anxious Constable Wang entered a room with columns of circular holes in the walls. The holes allowed sunlight to illuminate the room—dust motes floated in mid-air, shimmering in the light.

Constable Wang saw rows of medicine cabinets and a group of young people clad in white having a heated discussion.

A person was reading a scroll while another was sleeping sprawled across the table. Someone was cooking medicinal herbs.

Rumor had it that every member of the Imperial Astronomers was a medical expert and their services were free-of-charge. Constable Wang believed the rumors after witnessing the first floor of the Observatory.

“Who are you?” someone called out.

One of the white-robed disciples noticed Constable Wang’s presence and approached him.

The Observatory was not guarded but few dared to enter unless they were severely ill and wanted to try their luck.

Constable Wang swallowed his spit and stuttered awkwardly. “I… I’m the head constable in Changle County Courts.”

And?

The white-robed disciple said nothing.

The disciple had a piercing gaze that made Constable Wang uncomfortable. A part of him wanted to abandon Xu Qian and leave this place.

He made an effort and said, “I’m here for Lady Caiwei.”

“Sister Caiwei?” The white-robed disciple evaluated the constable and saw that he was empty-handed. ‘You wish to see Caiwei but you brought no food?’

“Why do you wish to see her?”

Constable Wang fished out the blue book and showed it to the white-robed disciple. “A friend of mine said to pass a message to her, ‘Xu Qian is in danger and requires assistance.’ And this book.”

The white-robed disciple flipped through the pages and tried to decipher the chicken scrawl.

Uninterested, the disciple closed the book. “Sister Caiwei is currently away. You can either wait here or come back later. Or I can help you pass on the book.”

“Thank you for your help.” Constable Wang took the offer, glad to leave the Observatory.

“What was that all about?” another white-robed disciple asked when he saw the retreating figure of the head constable.

“He’s a head constable looking for Sister Caiwei. Must be something urgent. Here, send this book to the seventh floor and let Brother Song have a look.”

…

Song Qing was a sixth-ranked sorcerer—the brightest in alchemy. He was the fourth disciple of the Principal Imperial Astronomer. To the public, every member of the Imperial Astronomers could claim to be a disciple of the Principal Imperial Astronomer.

However, the Principal Imperial Astronomer had only ever personally taught six disciples—they were known as the Six Apostles.

The other disciples were technically disciples of the Six Apostles. Chu Caiwei was the youngest of the apostles and had yet to take a disciple.

Song Qing had just recently returned to Jingzhao City and heard about the case of the missing tax silvers. He had taken up the research of the fake silver transmutation under the coaxing of his disciples.

The alchemists who had been slaving away day and night were incredibly grateful for Song Qing’s arrival.

“Another failure. Even Brother Song is having trouble.”

“Hush, Brother Song will succeed. The beginning of every alchemy process requires countless trials.”

“Once Brother Song discovers the technique, the Imperial Astronomers will have one more skill to add to our repertoire.”

After working 24 hours, Song Qing clasped his hands. “Everyone, silence! I need to think.”

...

Despite having no rest, the fire in Song Qing’s eyes glowed brightly—some might even say they were brighter. As a passionate alchemist, he was willing to take on the challenge.

The salt concentration was not the issue. After many rounds of trial, he concluded the flame had to be controlled to melt the salt but not boil it. As for the lightning… Song Qing sighed.

He had a vague idea about the problem but had no grasp of voltage. He could only repeat the process multiple times and control the strength of the lightning.

“The person who discovered the process of making fake silver from the common salt is a genius.” Song Qing longed to have an intellectual exchange with the inventor. He believed a personal breakthrough was imminent after a discussion with such an enlightened mind.

At that moment, a white-robed disciple appeared on the seventh floor where alchemists gathered.

The white robe was the standard uniform of the Imperial Astronomers. Their specialty was designated by the embroidery on their chest. An alchemist would have a kiln embroidered.

This disciple had a herb embroidered on his chest. He was a ninth-ranked sorcerer practicing medicine.

“A head constable came for Sister Caiwei and left a message, ‘Xu Qian is in danger and requires assistance.’ It sounded urgent so I came to send word. Maybe her friend needs help.”

Xu Qian… The name sounded familiar to Song Qing.

“What else did he say?”

The disciple handed over the blue book. “He left this book.”

...

Song Qing flipped to the first page and was nearly blinded by the illegible handwriting. “The man’s penmanship is atrocious.”

The book began with a preface.

‘To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy’s first law of Equivalent Exchange. — Edward Elric’