The Fifth Elder, witnessing this scene, trembled with rage, his chest heaving. He took a deep breath and roared, "Disciples of the Alchemy Hall, are you rebelling?"
The voice, laced with true energy, hurt the ears of the disciples inside, causing them to clutch their ears in pain.
"All disciples, obey my command. Seal your five senses and circulate your internal true energy for twelve minor cycles."
"Yes."
The Alchemy Hall disciples immediately sat on the ground, sealed their five senses, and entered a state of meditative cultivation.
The Third Elder lay on the couch, unable to move. He naturally heard the Fifth Elder's voice and looked towards Xiao Man. Although Xiao Man was a newcomer, she had clearly become the backbone of the Alchemy Hall. Under her leadership, the disciples were united, a rare display of solidarity.
However, the Fifth Elder was short-tempered and would resort to violence at the slightest disagreement. None of them could match the Fifth Elder's strength. Thinking of this, the Third Elder grew more anxious.
"Lan Xiao, take me out to see the Fifth Elder!"
"Elder, please rest assured. We will guard the Alchemy Hall and will not let them intrude to bully our disciples!" Xiao Man said resolutely.
The Third Elder choked, "I am going to explain to the Fifth Elder."
"Explain what? Explain that they were right to beat our disciples, or explain that our disciples are dogs that they can summon and dismiss at will? We are alchemists, noble alchemists, life-saving alchemists, not people whom anyone can arbitrarily bully!" Xiao Man said indignantly.
"I..." What could the Third Elder say? "I'm afraid the Fifth Elder will harm you in his rage!"
"Elder, don't worry. The entire Alchemy Hall is now filled with potent poison. Those outside who wish to break in must be prepared to forfeit their lives!"
"Yes, Master. The disciples of our Alchemy Hall are not to be bullied by just anyone. Our disciples must receive the respect they deserve. In the future, when we leave the Alchemy Hall, we can all hold our heads high and tell everyone that we are alchemists!"
Jin Xu chimed in. It was the first time he felt so uplifted. In the past, they were always bullied and ordered around. Now, they were fighting for the respect they deserved.
The Fifth Elder had been shouting for a long time, but no one emerged. The rage in his eyes threatened to engulf the Alchemy Hall and burn it to ashes.
"Jin Xu, get out here!"
Hearing this furious roar, Jin Xu flinched and quickly hid behind Xiao Man. "Junior brother, junior brother, he's calling me. What should I do?"
"Naturally, you should go out and face him!" Xiao Man said softly. "Since he has come, we naturally need to seek justice from him!"
"Seek justice from the Fifth Elder?" Jin Xu felt his brain cease to function. If he sought justice from the Fifth Elder, would the Fifth Elder beat him senseless?
"What if the Fifth Elder tries to kill me?"
"If he attacks you, can I stand by and do nothing? You are my beloved senior brother, he cannot bully you." Xiao Man gave Jin Xu a push. "Let's go, let's go out and meet him!"
"Junior brother, I dare not!"
"You dare not? Do you want the disciples of the Alchemy Hall to be bullied whenever they go out? Do you want to be a dog, ordered around by them at will? Or do you just want to lie on the ground and be trampled upon, with no desire to stand up?" Xiao Man reprimanded sternly. "As my senior brother, how can you be so spineless?"
"Who says I'm spineless? I am!" Jin Xu puffed out his chest. "Fine, if we're going, we're going. At worst, I'll die. In fourteen years, I'll be a hero again!"
"That's right, that's my good senior brother!" Xiao Man went out with Jin Xu to face the Fifth Elder.
When the Fifth Elder saw the door open and Jin Xu emerge, his expression became particularly twisted. His voice boomed like a bell, shaking people's minds!
"Jin Xu, why are you not kneeling down!"
Jin Xu trembled but ultimately stood tall, facing the Fifth Elder's wrath with his chest held high. "Fifth Elder, we disciples of the Alchemy Hall are noble alchemists, not dogs, and certainly not people you can arbitrarily bully!"
"Noble alchemists?" The Fifth Elder let out a loud, mocking laugh upon hearing this. "Jin Xu says they are noble alchemists. What do you all think?"
"Don't be ridiculous. What skills do you have to be called noble?"
"Since we have no skills, then why do you eat the pills we refine? Why do you seek us for treatment when you are injured? If we are not worthy, then don't come to us. Go find someone else!" Jin Xu's face turned red with anger at their mockery. These people had never taken them seriously!
"The Jin family does not nurture useless people. If you have no use, then there is no need to keep you." The Fifth Elder's expression turned cold. "I'll ask again, do you want to go and treat the injured disciples?"
"It's not impossible for us to go and treat the injured disciples. First, you must apologize to us. You have insulted and beaten us without reason, and you expect us to treat you without any resentment? Dream on!"
"So, you refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!" The Fifth Elder sneered. "Very well, since Third Brother is not here, I will teach you a good lesson on his behalf!"
Upon hearing this, Jin Xu immediately hid behind Xiao Man. "Junior brother, save me."
The Fifth Elder glanced at Jin Xu, who was hiding behind Xiao Man, his face filled with even more mockery. "Aren't you a noble alchemist? Don't you demand respect? Why are you hiding behind someone else, you coward?"
"Fifth Elder is not a coward. If you have the guts, go bully the First Elder. You only pick on the weak. If you dare to fight the First Elder, I will admit you are not a coward and that I am a wimp, a dog!" Jin Xu poked his head out from behind Xiao Man. "Do you dare? If not, you're a coward!"
"You're seeking death!"
The Fifth Elder was enraged, leaping into the air and attacking Jin Xu.
Seeing this, Xiao Man brought out her hand from behind her back. In her hand was a hidden crossbow she had "borrowed" from Elder Tie. All the bolts were coated with potent poison.
She pressed the mechanism, and several bolts whistled through the air, directly targeting the Fifth Elder's vital points. The Fifth Elder felt the power of the bolts, his movements pausing for a moment as he evaded the attack. He then resumed his assault on Xiao Man.
Xiao Man pushed Jin Xu back and met the Fifth Elder's palm with her own. Both of them retreated several steps. Jin Xu quickly helped Xiao Man to prevent her from falling.
The Fifth Elder hid his hand behind his back. His arm had already gone numb. He hadn't expected this newcomer to be so powerful. No wonder he dared to strike Jin Quan in front of everyone. It was a pity that in the Jin family, disrespecting one's master was a grave offense. Even the best talent would be useless!
"Fifth Elder, if I were you, I'd hurry and circulate my energy to expel the poison." Seeing the Fifth Elder charge again, Xiao Man warned him. "These bolts are coated with potent poison specifically designed to counter Golden Core cultivators. If the poison enters your Dantian through your meridians, your Golden Core will be ruined."