The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace-Chapter 446 - 564: The Higher Echelons of Wangyuelou

Chapter 564: The Higher Echelons of Wangyuelou

The Tianyuan World consisted of thousands of continents, yet Wangyuelou employed fewer than a hundred brewers. This meant that each master brewer was responsible for producing the spiritual liquors required by the branches across ten continents. The skill levels among brewers varied widely, and the differences between continents were even more pronounced.

Some continents were abundant, teeming with spiritual energy, rich in resources, and brimming with opportunities for growth. Others were barren and desolate, offering almost nothing. Unsurprisingly, everyone desired to be assigned to a prosperous continent—not only would it be more lucrative, but it would also facilitate one’s own cultivation. No one wanted to be sent to a poor, desolate land where growth and opportunity were scarce.

Take, for example, Cangzhou, Fang Chu’s homeland. Not only was it barren, but it was remote, so much so that Wangyuelou had never even considered establishing a branch there. To regulate such disparities and maintain fairness, Wangyuelou instituted a brewmaster assessment every fifty years, designed to evaluate the comprehensive skill and capability of every brewer. Simply put, it was a merit-based system: the competent thrived, while the less capable were relegated to less desirable assignments.

The highest-performing brewers could remain on rich, prosperous continents, while those with lower rankings would be sent to develop their craft in less fertile lands, honing their skills and improving their future potential. This system had long been recognized and accepted within Wangyuelou, becoming a tradition that had endured for generations.

Outside the grand palace, beams of divine light occasionally streaked across the sky, traveling from distant points toward the palace. Most of these arrivals were pairs—typically a regional manager accompanied by a master brewer. Manager Qiu led Fang Chu to meet several friends and acquaintances he had cultivated good relationships over the years. He also advised Fang Chu to spend some time chatting with the other managers. "You never know," he said, "next time you might be assigned together. Being familiar with each other will make future collaborations more efficient and harmonious."

With some time remaining before the assessment officially began, many of the attendees, unoccupied, brought out spiritual liquors to sip as they conversed. The conversation quickly turned to recent events in the wider world.

"Did you all hear about what happened between the Seven Kings City and the Cangqiong Commerce Association?" someone asked.

"Of course! The news was huge—who hasn’t heard?" another replied.

"It’s a shame the Imperial Realm masters didn’t get involved. Otherwise, it could have escalated into an all-out war," someone commented. Clearly, many at Wangyuelou enjoyed observing the turmoil from the sidelines. Being long overshadowed by the Cangqiong Commerce Association, they naturally wanted to see that power structure shaken.

"It’s actually better this way. If a full-scale war had broken out, many other factions could have been affected," another remarked. The reasoning was sound: the two factions were immensely powerful and deeply entrenched. Their web of relationships with other powers across the Tianyuan World was intricate and highly delicate.

For example, one of the Seven Kings, King Canglu, had a longstanding enmity with the Yuyuan Imperial Court. If a war erupted between Seven Kings City and the Cangqiong Commerce Association, it was impossible to predict whether the Yuyuan Court would intervene. And should they act, their enemies would hardly remain idle. Any confrontation between these two behemoths could easily trigger cascading conflicts across the world, with no faction entirely safe from unintended consequences.

Fang Chu leaned slightly forward and asked, "How severe were the losses on both sides?" Being both enemies of his family, he naturally wanted to know.

"They were significant," one of the managers replied. "For the foreseeable future, both sides will likely lay low, focusing on recuperation and consolidation."

Upon hearing this, Fang Chu could not help but smile inwardly. The news delighted him. Months of conflict would weaken both powers—exactly the sort of outcome that could be exploited for his own ends.

About an hour later, the crowd in front of the palace had swelled considerably.

"Dong..." The deep, resonant chime of a ceremonial bell suddenly rang out, echoing across the mountains and drawing the attention of everyone present.

Manager Qiu whispered to Fang Chu, "It’s time. Let’s enter the palace. The assessment will officially begin shortly."

One by one, the regional managers and brewers filed into the palace. Inside, the hall was equally grand and imposing, with decor that was both intricate and subtly mystical, showcasing the profound heritage of Wangyuelou. The high platform at the front of the hall was occupied by several formidable figures, each exuding a terrifying aura despite their seemingly friendly and approachable appearances. Each of these individuals possessed strength and authority that could intimidate even the most accomplished brewers.

Below the platform were individual stone tables, each laid out with ingredients and brewing tools necessary for the upcoming assessment. These would allow the brewers to demonstrate their skills directly and under observation.

Manager Qiu introduced the examiners. "At the front, there are three key figures. On the left, the elderly gentleman with white hair and a vibrant spirit is Li Lao, the current Chief Brewer of Wangyuelou. The lady on the right, dressed in gray ceremonial robes, is Qian Lao, the Chief Manager overseeing all operations. And the person in the center is Yan Jiang, the head of Wangyuelou." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Fang Chu’s eyes widened slightly. He had not expected the organization’s very leaders to preside over a brewing assessment in person.

"There are also several others," Qiu continued, "powerful figures with close ties to Wangyuelou. Together, these eleven individuals will act as the assessment committee."

Fang Chu nodded to himself. The level of oversight emphasized just how serious this assessment was.

Curious, he asked, "What exactly does the assessment involve?"

Though he knew it was brewing-related, he was unfamiliar with the specifics.

Qiu explained, "The goal of the assessment is to select brewers with exceptional technical ability, so they can be assigned better resources. The evaluation focuses on fundamental brewing skills. The head of Wangyuelou and Chief Brewer Li Lao each select a signature spiritual liquor. Every participant must brew these liquors on-site. Scores from both liquors are combined to determine the final ranking."

Qiu added, "Some veteran brewers have been with Wangyuelou for centuries. They are intimately familiar with all signature liquors and can brew them flawlessly. You, on the other hand, have only been a brewer for a few years. You are among those with the least experience in producing our signature liquors. But don’t let that intimidate you—just perform to the best of your ability."

He continued, "Given your talent and skill, there’s no reason you can’t achieve a high score. If you succeed, you could even be transferred to a more prosperous continent than Qingzhou."

Though Qiu had seen many talented brewers over the years, he still held full confidence in Fang Chu’s abilities and potential.

Fang Chu remained calm. "Understood," he said. He felt no pressure. His confidence stemmed from genuine ability. While he might not excel in battles of brute force, when it came to alchemy, array techniques, brewing, or manipulating mystical beasts and constructs, Fang Chu had never yet met an equal.