Strongest Scammer: Scamming The World, One Death At A Time

The path up the Alchemy Peak was cleanly paved but surprisingly steep. Han Yu’s robe fluttered behind him as he made his way upward, occasionally catching a glimpse of the sprawling sect behind him whenever he paused for breath.

The early morning mist had already faded from the lower valleys, leaving behind crisp air infused with the faint scent of spirit herbs and the ever-present warmth of medicinal fires.

It was Han Yu’s first time climbing this high on the Alchemy Peak. He was only about a quarter of the way up the mountain, and yet he could already tell that the atmosphere was different.

Everything was quieter. Sharper. More refined.

This wasn’t the public square, where sect errands were conducted or mission boards put up. Nor was it like the Herb Pavilion he’d visited before for ingredients. The outer court of the Alchemy Peak had an air of stern diligence.

Neat rows of buildings spread out across the terrace, each marked by wooden signs in calligraphic script—pill refining halls, storage rooms, test chambers, and lecture pavilions. Disciples came and went quickly, their steps focused and efficient, their robes lightly stained with ash and herb powder. Many of them wore the emblem of the Alchemy Peak on their sleeves—a flame curling around a pill cauldron.

While most disciples of the sect wore the plain uniform robes depending on the ranks, if one had joined a specific peak they could get new robes with the emblem of that peak added to it.

And in the rare case one managed to join more than a single peak, they could either choose to wear the robes of either peak or even get custom robes with both emblems added to it. Looking at the robes, Han Yu couldn’t help but imagine himself wearing them though.

’I’ll certainly look dashing.’ He thought to himself.

Just like the main sect, the peak itself was structured hierarchically: outer court at the base, inner court in the middle, the core levels above that, and the top of the peak reserved only for the highest echelon—elders, peak masters, and select legacy disciples with express permission.

That last part was practically sacred ground. It was said that even the wind flowed quieter up there.

Han Yu made his way to the designated orientation hall—an elegant two-story building made of dark lacquered wood and jade-tiled roofing. A large alchemical cauldron sat in front of the entrance, its surface engraved with arrays that glowed faintly with heat retention and purification runes.