The West Ridge Celestial Bureau, this grand and solemn hall, finally began bustling.

Servants meticulously cleaned the hall’s white jade pillars and the marble below, ensuring the entire hall was spotless.

Around the large stone chair of the Director, smaller stone seats were arranged in rows below, each adorned with smoke-like patterns on the backrests and armrests.

Once the cleaning preparations were nearly complete, the white jade pillars inside the hall were activated, emitting cool white smoke that refreshed the atmosphere.

Qin Ruqing sarcastically called them “air conditioners,” although they weren’t made of ice blocks but rather a special temperature-controlling device—ice in such quantities wasn’t available in West Ridge.

As the hall cooled to a comfortable temperature, representatives from prestigious families preparing to participate in the assembly began arriving one after another.

Most were accompanied by a clan head and an elder, maintaining the dignity of the Celestial Bureau.

Each family sent at least two representatives, respecting the Director Fifth Lingyu rumored to have powerful connections—a figure of influence.

Several families had already quietly penned several reports against this Director, dissatisfied with his reforms.

Yet, when these reports were filed, there was no response at all, indicating a higher power stifled them.

Whether due to the Director’s formidable background or tacit approval from above, they couldn’t afford to offend this new Director.

When the Yang family head and their elder with the stern face arrived, they timed their entrance just right—not too early, not too late.

They took their seats amidst other clan heads who had already settled in.

Normally, the Yang family encountered a cold reception, but today was different.

As soon as they sat down, before their seats even warmed, two waves of people approached them.

The conversations mostly revolved around:

“Hey, your family has been quite active lately! The Vitality Pills and Accelerators are doing well.”

“Are you interested in cooperation? Our families have always been friendly, even when your family was struggling. So, how about sharing some of that Accelerator business with us?”

“And, subtly inquiring where the Vitality Pills and Accelerators came from. If you can partner with the Yang family, surely you can with us too. The state of decline in the Yang family must be evident; any family partnering with them can’t be doing well.”

The Yang family’s response strategy was for the clan head to play the good guy, while the Grand elder, naturally stern-faced, stayed silent or at most said, “I don’t know.”

After successfully brushing off these two waves of people, they finally settled comfortably into their seats.

Just then, two more individuals strode into the hall: Tang, the clan head, and Tang Biao, the second master of the Tang family.

The hall quieted briefly as everyone paid their respects to the only Silver-grade family in West Ridge, renowned for their alchemy.

Tang Biao, taking a prominent seat, couldn’t help but think about that mysterious, unnamed family.

How could they afford to stay at the Fifth Tavern

Inside the hall, there was an unmistakable air of protection.

Could it be true, as the Yang family claimed, that they had connections with the Celestial Bureau ?

But how could that be possible?

With the status of the Celestial families, why would they cooperate with a declining and seemingly useless family?

Exactly!

They were indeed declining and seemingly useless!

Tang Biao looked down upon the Yang family, once a Silver-grade family.

Since being pushed down by the Tang family, they had to stay low-key and not try to stand out.

Recently, the Yang family’s actions in West Ridge seemed like a challenge to the Tang family.

Amidst his thoughts, the clear and melodious sound of a bell, known as the “Immortal Sound,” signaled the opening of the Family Assembly.

As the bell chimed, representatives from the Celestial Bureau also arrived, and everyone stood solemnly.

Just before the third bell could finish, their esteemed chief finally arrived, dressed in a splendid blue robe with billowing sleeves that caught the breeze, exuding a cool aura.

Following behind was the scribe, a much more ordinary figure, appearing much older than the chief.

Unexpectedly, instead of a couple of stewards, following the scribe was a strikingly elegant young girl.

Given the solemnity of the occasion, the girl didn’t wear the traditional attire revealing the beauty of West Ridge women, but a gown woven with golden threads, displaying an elegance more akin to the outside realms than West Ridge.

Her hair was not in the usual bun of West Ridge women but in a high ponytail cascading down from her crown to her waist, swaying slightly as she walked.

Her face radiated a beauty that could rival the moon.

Could she be the new steward?

No, stewards at such assemblies must wear the robes of the Celestial Bureau, so who exactly was she, accompanying the Director?

Recalling the puzzling phrase from the previous announcement about an “officially cooperating family of the Celestial Bureau,” everyone speculated differently.

Only the two from the Yang family exchanged a glance.

Both the eldest of the Yang family and the Grans elder could see the shock in each other’s eyes.

Could it be… that Miss Qin mentioned earlier?

How could she be accompanying the Director?

Could the official cooperating family mentioned in the announcement be…

As the Fifth Lingyu took his seat at the head, he instinctively wanted to recline slightly, but a reminder from the scribe’s glance made him clear his throat and sit up straight.

He noticed the young girl being led to her pre-arranged seat, quite close to the front.

She sat down calmly, and he withdrew his gaze, acknowledging the start.

After the beginning, he remained silent, propping his chin on his hand, letting the scribe take charge.

After a few ceremonial words, the scribe got straight to the point.

“For years, the Cultivator of West Ridge have suffered from the Fire Poison.

To change West Ridge’s closed and weakened state, we need to open the Barrier Mountain and solve the Fire Poison affecting our monks.

The Director has dedicated his efforts day and night and finally found a way to counter the Fire Poison.”

Qin Ruqing, seated at the lower end, couldn’t help but shift slightly when she heard the words “dedicated his efforts day and night.”

She glanced up at the Director, who, instead of showing surprise, yawned and nodded in agreement.

Ha, it seemed this Director’s thick skin wasn’t any less impressive than hers.

A hushed silence fell over the room.

The Director had found a way to control the fire poison?

No wonder he had called it a matter crucial to the development of the Western Ridge.

If it was indeed related to fire poison, it would be of significant importance, worthy of convening a grand family meeting.

Someone asked, “How can we control the fire poison? We hope the scribe can clarify.”

The scribe replied, “With alchemical medicine. There’s a medicine that can suppress fire poison.” With a wave of his hand, attendants from the Bureau of Celestial Wonders appeared, distributing the medicine to the family heads present.

Each family received exactly one pill.

The elders examined the pills with solemn and puzzled expressions.

They looked, touched, and sniffed, but the art of alchemy had never thrived in the Western Ridge, leaving everyone unsure.

Some bold ones swallowed the pill right away.

After all, if it came from the Bureau of Celestial, it shouldn’t be deadly.

The scribe quietly observed their reactions, noting their surprise and wonder, before explaining the effects of the medicine.

“This pill should be taken in a sealed environment with minimal fire poison. For best results, it should be in a completely isolated space. Taken continuously for three days, it reduces fire poison in the body by seventy percent. To completely eliminate it, external intervention is needed, along with long-term and continuous use.”

To validate his words, those who had taken the pill already felt its effects.

One exclaimed, “The fire poison in my body seems to have really reduced!”

Seeing this, others followed suit, calmly observing the scribe and the magistrate, then eagerly taking the pill.

Qin Ruqing also followed suit and took one.

Having been in the Western Ridge for some time, she knew that the fire poison affecting the local monks was not innate but caused by external factors.

Though she hadn’t been affected herself, she still had a lingering discomfort in her body, which the pill could now alleviate.

The effectiveness of the detox pill was evident. Once everyone had taken it, no further explanation was needed.

Excited and relieved, the crowd looked fervently at the magistrate.

Today’s family meeting was clearly not just about announcing the existence of the detox pill.

Most Cultivator in the Western Ridge had fire poison, highlighting the immense demand for the detox pill.

To alleviate the situation across the entire Western Ridge, cooperation was essential.

Thinking back to the official cooperation with the families earlier, could it be that the core purpose of this family meeting was to recruit families to manage the detox pill?

With this thought, the family heads suddenly became alert, staring intently at the head of the table.

Seeing their expressions, Fifth Lingyu smirked inwardly.

They thought highly of themselves, but this time, they would ultimately be disappointed.

The scribe quickly outlined the next steps regarding the detox pill.

Upon hearing this, the family heads frowned.

Surprisingly, the detox pill would be sold at the Fifth Alchemy Square.

All Cultivators in need could purchase it there at a reasonable price, visibly demonstrating that the Celestial Bureau sought no profit.

It was indeed a public welfare project.

However, the family heads were perplexed.

They understood why they weren’t given control; after all, it involved the matter of detoxifying fire poison, affecting so many Cultivators in the Western Ridge.

The noble families of the Ridge weren’t entirely reassuring, and it seemed more reliable to have the neutral Celestial Bureau take charge of these matters to dispel public concerns.

However, what about the cooperative families you mentioned earlier?