Out of fear of Grandmaster Zuo De, those Origin Grade Alchemists didn’t dare to talk to Yang Kai anymore. Zong Ao, on the other hand, didn’t care about it at all. He walked to Yang Kai and started chatting in a low voice.
Yang Kai, taking advantage of this, also inquired about Gu Bi Hu’s condition. Zong Ao had been staying in here all these days, paying complete attention to Gu Bi Hu’s injuries. So, he knew about her situation pretty well.
Yang Kai also got a lot of useful information.
“Who is that guy by the way? Why did he jump out first to accuse me before I said anything?” Yang Kai gestured at the hook-nosed man and asked.
Zong Ao answered in a low voice, “He is Zhan Yuan. He didn’t have an aptitude for Alchemy and also hadn’t received guidance from a good teacher. As such, he hadn’t achieved much in Alchemy. He was originally unknown, but later received Grandmaster Zuo De’s guidance by some chance and coincidence and was enlightened, becoming a Mid-Rank Origin Grade Alchemist at a very fast rate. For this reason, he had always regarded himself as a Grandmaster’s student. And due to this relationship, he naturally couldn’t stand your remark.”
“So that’s how it is.” Yang Kai understood everything immediately.
Apparently, Zhan Yuan not only respected Zuo Debut also regarded Zuo De as his Honored Teacher. Zuo De naturally held a very high position in his heart. Yang Kai might not have spoken ill of Zuo Debut when he said that Grandmaster was putting on airs, he could hardly take it.
“However, about Grandmaster Zuo De… well, it’s hard to say,” Zuo Do had something to say but he didn’t say everything.
Yang Kai, on the other hand, knew what he meant to say.
As Alchemists, Zuo De had walked farther in Alchemic Dao than Zong Ao. Zong Ao could not show any disrespect in any way. Disrespecting Zuo De was tantamount to disrespecting Alchemic Dao. Thus, there were some things Zong Ao couldn’t say.
“In any case, be careful! Kid, you might be a Second-Order Origin King Master now, you should never underestimate the power of an Origin King Grade Alchemist. Let’s say, if President Ai Ou had to choose between Grandmaster Zuo De and you, he would choose the former in eighty percent likelihood!”
“I understand!” Yang Kai smiled.
Just as the two were chatting in low voices, a cultivator donning a golden armor suddenly barged in and cupped his fists before reporting to Ai Ou with a serious look on his face, “President, Grandmaster Zuo De has arrived!”
“He is here!?” Ai Ou’s eyes lit up immediately. He waved his hand and shouted, “Invite him quickly!”
But just as he said this, he hurriedly said again, “No, this King will go and personally welcome him!”
He had been on edge while waiting for half a year, for the fear that Gu Bi Hu would not be able to hold on before Grandmaster arrived. And now, Grandmaster has finally arrived in Water Sky City. A heavy weight had been lifted off Ai Ou’s heart.
All that was left was to wait for Grandmaster to refine the Soul Source Restoration Pill. Gu Bi Hu could be rescued from the coma by then.
While speaking, he tidied up his clothes before rushing to the outside.
Naturally, the others in the hall didn’t dare to be inattentive, almost everyone in the hall was an Alchemist. When they heard that Zuo De was already here, they couldn’t hold themselves. They rushed after Ai Ou, one after another, hoping to catch a glance of the revered Grandmaster.
The hook-nosed man named Zhan Yuan gave Yang Kai a vicious glare as he passed by Yang Kai. There was a sinister smile hanging on his lips as if he was saying that since Grandmaster is here, you are so dead.
Yang Kai curled his lips, ignoring him altogether.
“Let’s go welcome him. If Grandmaster saw us standing here still, I’m afraid it would upset him again. It will be very troublesome.” Zong Ao shook his head and smiled wryly before rushing outside in neither fast nor slow manner.
Yang Kai gave it a thought before following him out.
Outside the hall, a dozen or so Origin Grade Alchemists stood behind Ai Ou in a file, looking up at the sky.
Somewhere in the sky, a streaking rainbow was shooting straight over at an astonishing speed; obviously, it was some kind of flight type artifact.
Not many people dared to use flight type artifacts in places like Water Sky City. And very few dared to use it in such a high-profile manner. But clearly, Grandmaster Zuo De was qualified for this. Furthermore, no one dared to object to this.
At first, Yang Kai thought that the other party was riding a Star Shuttle.
But on a closer look, he noticed that it wasn’t the case.
The streaking rainbow might be far away from the hall, but Yang Kai could see it clearly, owing to his high cultivation. It was a peculiar sedan chair lifted by eight people, four in the front and four in the back. Wind was being continuously created under their feet, carrying the sedan chair swiftly and leaving a trail of rainbow behind.
All eight carrying the sedan chair were young and beautiful with great figures.
The sedan chair itself was very luxuriously decorated. The seats were spacious and two figures were sitting on it, one young and one old. The old man’s hair and beard were all white and had his eyes closed, he happened to be resting and relaxing. The young figure was a girl who happened to be standing on the sedan chair and looking about as if she was curious about everything.
“This Moon Chaser Sedan Chair was specially built by Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce for Grandmaster. It’s 10% faster than the best Star Shuttle. Those girls were gifted to the Grandmaster by the Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce. It has already become Grandmaster’s symbol.” Zong Ao explained to Yang Kai in a low voice.
Yang Kai immediately chuckled. “Grandmaster Zong Ao is just a step away from becoming an Origin King Grade Alchemist. You will definitely enjoy the same treatment in the future.”
Zong Ao shook his head in disdain. “This old man only wants to pursue the Alchemic Dao to the end. I don’t care about these material objects.”
Yang Kai nodded lightly and no longer said anything.
After a short while, the Moon Chaser Sedan Chair arrived and landed steadily before the main hall. Ai Ou tidied up his clothes and just as he was about to speak, a figure shot out from the sedan chair.
That graceful and charming figure, accompanied by giggles that were as melodious as chimes of silver bells, rushed to Yang Kai’s side and hugged someone next to him, burying her head into that person’s arm before taking long and deep breaths greedily.
Everyone was shocked! They could not help but wonder who it was, so ignorant of etiquette and doing such a shameless thing in public. Everyone turned their gazes at that lithe and graceful figure.
After having taken a clear look at the scene before them, everyone showed a smile of understanding. Yang Kai, on the other hand, was dumbstruck.
Because he found that the graceful figure from the sedan chair was hugging none other than Xue Yue beside him!
Xue Yue looked extremely embarrassed at this moment. Obviously, she hadn’t expected such a thing to happen in public. She didn’t push, nor could she. For a moment, she was at a loss and froze in place.
Yang Kai, on the other hand, blew his top! Instinctively, he wanted to rush up and beat the other party to let her know that his woman could not be harassed.
But on second thought, he gave up this notion as the other party was a woman herself.
That figure rubbed her head on Xue Yue a few times like a cat before raising her head, revealing her face that was as beautiful that the moon would hide itself in the clouds and flowers would close in shame. She then greeted in a charming and melodious voice, “Brother Xue Yue, long time no see. Did you miss me?”
The corners of Xue Yue’s lips twitched a few times. She forced a smile and said, “So it’s Sister Zuo Ling. I was wondering who was being so bold. Well, Sister Zuo Ling, can you let me go first?”
“Hei hei!” The girl named Zuo Ling obediently let go of Xue Yue and backed away, standing before Xue Yue. She then narrowed her eyes and sized up Xue Yue from top to bottom before nodding and praising, “Brother Xue Yue, you have grown more handsome and manly from the last time we met. No wonder the girls in the Star Field are crazy about you.”
There was a hint of jealousy in her words, but she praised Xue Yue in an outspoken manner. Anyone with a bit of brains would understand what it was all about.
Presumably, the girl named Zuo Ling had been in love with Xue Yue for a long time.
It wasn’t that surprising. Xue Yue was the man of every girl’s dreams in the Star Field. She was a lady killer. Naturally, a little girl would fall in love with her.
And judging by Zuo Ling’s words, the two seemed to have known each other for a long time.
“Sister Zuo Ling is too polite!” Xue Yue forced a smile.
It would have been okay had Yang Kai was not here, but Yang Kai was standing by her side, watching the play. Feeling his gaze, Xue Yue felt jittery all over her body. She was extremely embarrassed.
“Ling’er, don’t be rude!” Right then, a majestic voice sounded from behind; Zuo De slowly got up from the sedan chair and shouted in a deep voice.
Zuo Ling stuck her tender tongue at Xue Yue before whispering, “I’ll come and find Brother Xue later. Grandpa is calling me.”
As she spoke, her lithe figure jumped to the sedan chair’s side in a flash like a nimble cat before she respectfully helped Zuo De get down.
Yang Kai looked at Xue Yue with a strange smile hanging on his lips.
Xue Yue became angry out of shame, shooting glares at Yang Kai.
“Welcome Grandmaster, thank you for taking the trouble of coming here!” Only now did President Ai Ou find the opportunity to speak. He cupped his fists and greeted him.
“Greetings, Grandmaster! Grandmaster must be tired from the long and tiresome journey!” All the Origin Grade Alchemist bowed and greeted respectfully.
“Haha, I’m too old for this. The road was indeed a little bumpy. Sorry for making you all wait!” Zuo Du cupped his fists perfunctorily in response.
Yang Kai sized up the nearby Grandmaster and found that he looked extremely ordinary, just like an ordinary old man. He was only in the Second-Order Origin Returning Realm, that’s all, but his every gesture carried a faint medicinal fragrance; obviously due to dealing with pills all year round.
Judging by his outer appearance, Grandmaster Zuo De looked rather approachable.
[Maybe something might have really happened to him for him to be delayed by half a year.] Yang Kai thought to himself. [Otherwise, he should not have dragged until now after having been invited by President Ai Ou.]
“Grandmaster must be tired from the journey. Do you want this King to arrange a place to take a break?” Ai Ou asked with concern.
“Mhmm, that sounds nice. This old man is indeed a little tired.” Zuo De nodded lightly. Much to Ai Ou’s surprise and dismay, he really agreed.
Ai Ou was stunned. He kept staring at Zuo De in a daze, thinking, [I was just being polite, why are you taking it seriously? Can’t you see the worry written on my face? Or have your eyes gone so old that you can’t notice?]
Other Origin Grade Alchemists also furrowed their brow slightly.
Everyone felt that Grandmaster Zuo De was wrong here.
[It’s okay to make us wait for half a year. You are an Origin King Grade Alchemist, you have all the right to put on airs like this. But now that you are already here, it’s right and proper to start refining and save the patient as soon as possible.]
[Moreover, a Starship was sent to pick you up. You even rode the Moon Chaser Sedan Chair. The journey might be long but you didn’t use a bit of your strength. How can you be tired?]
Ai Ou was starting to scowl.
“Haha, this old man was kidding, President Ai Ou. You don’t have to take it seriously!” All of a sudden, Zuo De broke into a big laugh as he spoke.
God knows if he was really joking or really had planned to take a rest but changed his words after noticing that Ai Ou looked unhappy.
Zue De might have a noble standing, but Ai Ou’s status wasn’t low either. Naturally, he couldn’t ignore Ai Ou’s feelings.
“Hehe, Grandmaster, if you are really tired, you can take a rest for a few days. I’m not in a hurry. In any case, I have already waited for so long, it won’t hurt to wait for a few days more.” Ai Ou’s reaction wasn’t slow either. He had no choice but to give the opposite party a chance to get out of this embarrassing situation. Furthermore, he had given an obvious message, [You have already kept this old man waiting for so long!]
“Saving the patient comes first!” Zuo De waved off and said decisively.
“Thank you very much, Grandmaster.” Ai You heaved a sigh of relief. His scowl eased down immediately.
“Zhan Yuan greets the Honored Teacher. Honoured Teacher is really kind and benevolent. You are putting people first even though you are tired from the journey. You are a model for everyone. You are really great. You have this left Zhan Yuan in admiration!” The hook-nosed man stepped out of the crowd and made his way to Zuo De, ass-kissing Zuo De.
Zuo De glanced at him, looking a bit confused. But soon, he burst into laughter. “So it’s you! Hmm, you are already a Mid-Rank Origin Grade Alchemist, you have made progress. Good job!”
Zhan Yuan was highly delighted upon receiving this compliment. He looked as if he had eaten an entire pot of honey. He immediately flattered Zuo De, “Had I not been lucky enough to receive guidance from the Honoured Teacher back then, this Zhan Yuan would not have achieved what he has today. Honoured Teacher, please receive this Zhan Yuan’s worship!”
As he spoke, he started kowtowing on the ground with an earnest look on his face, devoutly.
Zuo De nodded and praised, “You are quite good. This old man just gave you a few pointers because you looked depressed. Who would have thought that you will remember it till today? If you want, you can stay by this old man’s side from now on. This old man just happened to be lacking an assistant.”
“Absolutely! Absolutely! Thank you very much, Honoured Teacher. Disciple will follow the Honoured Teacher wherever you go!” Zhan Yuan beamed with joy. He kept thanking, again and again.
Although he was a Mid-Rank Origin Grade Alchemist, it was not shameful to act as Zuo De’s assistant. It was a once in a lifetime chance; others could not get it even after begging for it. Zhan Yuan could have never thought that he could get such an awesome job just by stepping forward and speaking a few words with Zuo De.
Furthermore, Zuo De had practically agreed to Zhan Yuan being his disciple with his words, which was more beneficial than anything.
He was just ranked in the middle among the Origin Grade Alchemists, but with the identity of Grandmaster Zuo De’s disciple, his status would be completely different in the future. Everyone below Origin King Grade Alchemist would have to be polite to him.
For a moment, Zhan Yuan was so happy that he was practically ready to dance in joy.
Some Origin Grade Alchemists glanced at Zhan Yuan with envy.
By following Zuo De, even if it was just an assistant, they felt that one would learn a lot of good stuff. And if by some fluke of luck, one’s comprehension reached an appropriate level, he might just become the next Zuo De!
Who would not be envious of such a good opportunity?
After beaming in joy for a while, Zhan Yuan suddenly approached Zuo De and whispered to him something, acting mysterious and all.
He had lowered his voice pretty much to nothing; it was almost impossible to discern what he was saying. Before Grandmaster Zuo De, no one dared to use their Divine Sense to eavesdrop, so no one really knew what he was talking about.
Immediately, everyone glanced at Yang Kai sympathetically, one after another!
Everyone knew that Yang Kai’s life would turn miserable from now on. He had offended an Origin King Grade Alchemist. No one in this world would refine pills for him. It was extremely difficult for an Origin King Realm master to advance even an inch in cultivation. Without the assistance of pills, he might only make a little progress. Perhaps he might remain stuck in the Second-Order Origin King Realm for his entire life.
[What a pity! Such an outstanding genius, who might have had a chance to become a Third-Order Origin King in the future, stand at the peak of the Star Field, will have his future cut-short.]
A look of regret appeared on the faces of many Alchemists.
Meanwhile, Zuo De narrowed his eyes, glancing in Yang Kai’s direction a few times before withdrawing his gaze, as if he didn’t care about him at all.
Zhan Yuan kept babbling as if he wasn’t finished. Ai Ou, on the other hand, looked unhappy at the sight of this, but he didn’t urge. Rather he kept waiting patiently.
As he had said before, he had been waiting for a long time, he wasn’t in a rush.
Not to mention, Zhan Yuan could barely be considered as Grandmaster Zuo De’s half disciple. He had gained a noble status in a flash. Ai Ou would have to be considerate to him a bit.
After a long time, Zhan Yuan finally stopped talking with a flattering smile hanging on his lips.
Zuo De nodded slightly, looking kind and amiable.
Ai Ou timely interrupted, “Grandmaster, please come in!”
“Mhmm.” Zuo De agreed. Supported by Zuo Ling, he made his way into the main hall, step by step. When he walked by Ai Ou’s side, he gestured to him. Ai Ou immediately understood, he promptly started walking shoulder to shoulder with Zuo De.
Others followed behind them in small scattered groups.
“President Ai Ou, this old man came to Water Sky City for two things, one to refined Soul Source Restoration Pill for Mrs. Gu, and as for the second, I would like to get your consent for one other thing.” Zuo De talked to Ai Ou while walking.
“Grandmaster, whatever you need, you just have to mention it. My Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce will never refuse you as long as we can do it.” Ai Ou replied earnestly.
“Hehe, don’t be so quick to agree because I’m afraid you won’t agree.” Zuo De calmly smiled.
Ai Ou proudly assured, “My Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce’s business is spread all over the world. Although I dare not say how rich I am. If we can’t even fulfil Grandmaster’s request, how can we have any qualifications to invite you.”
“If President Ai Ou says so, then this old man would not beat around the bush.” Zuo De paused and straightened out his thoughts. Only then did he continue, “This old man came this time to talk about my granddaughter’s marriage.”
He pointed at Zuo Ling, who was supporting him.
“Talk about marriage!?” Ai Ou’s heart skipped a beat. He was a little displeased. Intentionally or unintentionally, he glanced at Xue Yue before he forced a smile and replied, “Miss Zuo Ling is Grandmaster’s granddaughter. She is a girl of noble status and also extremely beautiful. I wonder which punk in my Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce got lucky to be fancied by Miss Zuo Ling?”
“President Ai Ou, please don’t play dumb.” Zuo De smiled and proudly said, “There aren’t many people in this world who are worthy for my Ling’er, and the Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce just happened to have one. Furthermore, Ling’er has known him since childhood and fell in love with him. When Ling’er heard that this old man was coming to Water Sky City, she brazenly followed this old man and forced this old man to propose marriage. If I didn’t agree, she said that she would burn this old man’s beard… sigh, I have really spoiled this girl.”
Zuo De looked distressed.
“Grandpa!” Zuo Ling flushed red all over. She fiercely tugged Zuo De’s arm, but her pretty eyes were furtively looking at Xue Yue’s reaction. She believed that even a fool would understand what Zuo De meant. She very much wanted to know Xue Yue’s reaction.
But in one glance, Zuo Ling’s heart immediately sank because she found that Xue Yue’s face had gone pale and appeared to be at a loss.
[Does Brother Xue Yue not like me?] Zuo Ling’s heart was filled with unease.
“Is Grandmaster talking about… Xue Yue?” Ai Ou couldn’t pretend to be a fool anymore. He was left with no choice but to continue.
“That’s right,” Zuo De smiled and continued, looking at Xue Yue with satisfaction. “Third Young Lord is extraordinarily talented; he is a dragon among men. He is young, handsome, and is also the successor of Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce. If President Ai Ou can agree to this marriage, hehe, this old man would also get a son who will tend to him and lay him to rest after his death. Perhaps I will remain in Water Sky City in the foreseeable future.”
His words gave a very important message, that if Xue Yue and Zuo Ling became husband and wife, the Zuo De will really become a member of the Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce in the future. He would live in Water Sky City and refine pills for Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce.
If Ai Ou was in any urgent need, he wouldn’t have to go all the way to invite him over.
This was a huge temptation for any great force or any cultivator for that matter. If Xue Yue was really a man, Ai Ou would not be mulling over it, he would have promptly agreed.
Compared to the happiness of his son, an Origin King Grade Alchemist was undoubtedly more important.
But Xue Yu was a girl!
This was simply impossible!
Even if Ai Ou agreed now, everything would be exposed on their first night. Zuo De would be completely offended then.
So, Ai Ou was in a pretty big dilemma. He felt powerless for the first time in his life.
“What’s wrong!? Does President Ai Ou have some concerns?”
Originally, Zuo De thought that if he personally proposed a marriage, Ai Ou would give him a face no matter what. Not to mention, Ai Ou was requesting Zuo De’s help. But when he proposed, Zuo De didn’t get the eager response that he had imagined. Rather, Ai Ou looked extremely embarrassed.
This made Zuo De very unhappy. His tone grew colder and colder.
“That’s not the case, that’s really not the case. Grandmaster misunderstood.” Ai Ou waved his hand quickly. He immediately realized that if he didn’t handle today’s matter properly, it would lead to a great deal of trouble.
But he couldn’t think of a proper excuse for a short while. He stood in a daze.
Zuo De let out a cold snort and said, “This old man is here to propose marriage, and the Soul Source Restoration Pill is this old man’s show of good faith. If President Ai Ou agrees to this marriage, this old man will refine ten bottles of Origin King Grade pills for the Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce every year!”
Everyone’s gasps could be heard in the hall, staring Zuo De in shock.
Ten bottles meant a hundred pills.
It would have been nothing if it was a normal pill. But it was a hundred Origin King Grade pills! Each pill was priceless. Even for an Alchemist such as Zuo De, it was easier said than done.
Everyone immediately understood that Zuo Ling held an extremely high position in Zuo De’s mind. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to offer such generous conditions.
Ai Ou’s heart started pounding. Deep in his heart, he was exhilarated but was extremely annoyed as well.
In the past, when Zuo De was asked to refine Origin King Grade pills, not only would Ai Ou have to provide a large number of ingredients as remuneration but would also have to depend on whether Zuo De was in a good mood or not. Even so, he got only twenty or so Origin King Grade pills from Zuo De.
And last year, he only got five pills!
And now, this old man was offering a hundred pills every year. Obviously, he could do it with ease. Ai Ou had no idea how Zuo De had been hiding all this.
This made him very annoyed. He felt that all the expensive gifts his Chamber of Commerce had offered to Zuo De had been fed to the dogs.
A hundred Origin King Grade pills a year left everyone in a complete shock.
No one could reject such a generous condition. Many Alchemists belonging to Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce furtively winked at Ai Ou, signalling him to agree quickly without hesitation.
They urged Ai Ou like this because of two reasons: On the one hand, they were considering the Chamber of Commerce, on the other hand, they were urging Ai Ou for their own sake.
As long as this marriage went through, Grandmaster Zuo De would definitely remain in Water Sky City. They would then have the chance to communicate with Grandmaster Zuo De and ask for advice.
But Ai Ou didn’t go along with their wishes.
“Does President Ai Ou think that this old man’s sincerity is lacking?” Zuo De immediately looked sullen. He had already given such generous conditions but he still didn’t get a positive response from Ai Ou. He was surprised by this but even more so he was angered. “Or does President Ai Ou feel like that this old man’s granddaughter isn’t worthy of Third Young Master?”
Ai Ou’s forehead couldn’t help but be drenched in a cold sweat. He hurriedly waved his hands and justified himself, “It’s not like that. Xue Yue would really be blessed to have someone like Ling’er as his wife. How could she not be worthy?”
“If that’s the case, then why is Sir President hesitating?” Zhang Yuan asked, gazing straight at Ai Ou. “Third Young Master is talented and Miss Ling’er is drop-dead gorgeous. The two are a perfect match. They are a match made in heaven!”
Ai Ou glanced calmly at Zhan Yuan. He could not wait to slap him to death.
[Why didn’t I find this guy so annoying before? Why is he looking so displeasing today?]
“Grandmaster Zhan is right…” Ai Ou might find Zhan Yuan repulsive but for the fear of offending Zuo De, he had no choice but to address Zhan Yuan as Grandmaster unlike before when he used to call him by his name directly. “But…”
“But what?” Zuo De’s voice turned extremely cold. There was a sense of aggression in his voice. Obviously, he was in a very bad mood.
“But…”
“Grandmaster, please forgive me! Actually, the problem lies in with Xue Yue.” Xue Yue, seeing his father in a predicament, took the initiative and stepped up, cupped her fists, and explained, “Xue Yue’s heart already belongs to someone. I have long agreed to stay with the other party together forever, never to part with each other. Please forgive me, Grandmaster!”
Zuo Ling shook, as if she was about to fall upon hearing this. Looking at Xue Yue, her pretty face turned pale and her eyes turned red; she was about to break into tears.
Xue Yue turned and looked straight at Zuo Ling before trying to explain herself, “Sister Ling’er, we have known each other since we were young. We might not have spent a lot of time with each other but I have always regarded you as my younger sister. I never had any other thoughts about you. I only liked you as a sister… please forgive Xue Yue, I can’t accept your feelings!”
Zuo Ling was already feeling extremely aggrieved. And now, she immediately broke into tears. The sight of her crying was like a pear flower in a storm. Everyone’s heart cried out for her!
Many people couldn’t beat the sight of her crying.
Zuo De’s face had turned so cold that one could shave off a layer of frost off from his face.
“I don’t care, I don’t care!” Zuo Ling suddenly grabbed Zuo De’s arm and started shaking and shouting, “I just want to be with Brother Xue Yue. Grandpa, you have to think of something. Grandpa, aren’t you omnipotent, quickly think of some way. If I can’t marry Brother Xue Yue, Ling’er… Ling’er will die!”
Everyone’s face immediately turned black.
Having seen Zuo Ling raising such a fuss, everyone immediately understood that it was because she was totally spoiled by Zuo De. Otherwise, how could a girl act so wildly in public?
Zuo De appeared distressed and helpless. He patted the back of Zuo Ling’s hand and consoled her, “Stop crying first. Isn’t Grandpa still discussing with President Ai Ou? If you cry again, Grandpa will leave immediately. I will never come to Water Sky City in the future, and you can forget meeting the Third Young Master for your entire life!”
This trick worked immediately; Zuo Ling immediately stopped crying, but this couldn’t stop her from sobbing and choking. Her delicate shoulders kept trembling. She looked at Xue Yue with a grieving look on her face.
Xue Yue was feeling completely helpless. She put Zuo Ling’s glance aside. She knew that her hesitation and indecision would invariably lead to trouble. It wasn’t the time to act soft!
Meanwhile, Ai Ou was also disheartened. With his shrewdness, how could he not notice what Zuo De meant to say? It might look like Zue De was comforting Zuo Lin, but he was actually threatening Ai Ou.
His intent was very obvious. If Ai Ou couldn’t satisfy his granddaughter, he will immediately leave Water Sky City and will never set foot here in his life!
In other words, the Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce would lose their only Origin king Grade Alchemist! Not only would it be a big blow to the actual interest of the entire Chamber of Commerce but also a big blow to their reputation.
If it really happened, would their Chamber of Commerce still be able to hire another Origin King Grade Alchemist or an Artifact Refiner in the future?
The answer was obviously no, unless they could train their very own Origin King Grade Alchemist and Artifact Refiner. But how could it be that easy? The birth of Origin King Grade Alchemist and Artifact Refiner was even harder than raising a cultivator to the Third-Order Origin King Realm.
Otherwise, peak-level Alchemists and Artifact Refiners would not be so rare in this world. And Ai Ou would not have to swallow all the insult and still accompany Zuo De with a smile even after having been embarrassed by Zuo De to this extent.
Suddenly, Ai Ou felt that this day was the most vexing day of his life.
“President Ai Ou.” Zuo De calmed his tone and said, “As you can see, this girl is hell-bent on having her own way, this old man really has no choice. And since the Third Young Master’s heart already belongs to someone, this old man cannot force him against his will and separate the lovers. Otherwise, if the word got out, everyone would point their fingers at this old man. How about this old man give the Third Young Master and you a few days to think about it and give this old man a reply? This old man will be staying in Water Sky City for a few days. When you have thought it over, you can come and find this old man.”
He was sure that Ai Ou was desperate to have him refine the Soul Source Restoration Pill. That’s why he said this.
Sure enough, Ai Ou appeared to be in a big predicament. He wanted to ask Zuo De to refine the Soul Source Restoration Pill first, but he couldn’t open his mouth to ask. Because he knew that even if he brazenly asked Zuo De, Zuo De would surely come up with an excuse to decline.
Like he was in a bad mood or Zuo Ling would interfere…
He felt that it was better to keep quiet than to ask for nothing.
His gaze fell on Xue Yue. He could not help but consider whether to agree to Zuo De’s request first and deal with the aftermath once Gu Bi Hu is cured.
But when all was said and done, Xue Yue was a girl. If he really agreed, he would end up offending Zue De completely.
Ai Ou was having a huge headache. Nothing had put him in such a difficult position. He was in charge of the Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce and had been leading it vigorously and effectively. The entire Chamber of Commerce had been growing steadily under his command, but up against Zuo De’s proposal, he was at a loss.
“I have long heard of Grandmaster Zuo De’s reputation and come to admire you. But after seeing what transpired today, tch tch…”
Just when Ai Ou was cursing in his heart, a voice suddenly echoed in the hall.
Ai Ou couldn’t help but be shocked. He immediately turned and looked for the source of the voice. And after he saw who just spoke, he stood in a daze, dumbstruck and frowning.
Because he discovered that the speaker was none other than Yang Kai!
[Yang Kai and Xue Yue have a good relationship. Obviously, he spoke up just now because Xue Yue had stepped forward. But he had gone a bit overboard. This would definitely offend Zuo De.]
[However, he’s not a member of the Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce. He doesn’t represent the Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce, so no matter how he offended Zuo De, it had nothing to do with the Chamber of Commerce.]
Having thought about it this way, Ai Ou suddenly realized that Yang Kai was the most appropriate person to talk about these things now. His eyes involuntarily lit up as he cast an emotional glance at Yang Kai.
Other people’s expressions immediately changed after hearing this. Yang Kai might not have finished his sentence, but the disdain in his words was pretty obvious to everyone.
[Isn’t he simply giving a tight slap right on his face by saying this in the face of an Origin King Grade Alchemist?] The expression in many Origin Grade Alchemist’s eyes changed when they looked at Yang Kai.
Zuo De still maintained some subtlety. He didn’t get angry immediately. Rather he narrowed his eyes when he looked at Yang Kai before asking calmly, “President Ai Ou, he is…”
“Reporting to Grandmaster, Yang Kai is my friend.” Before Ai Ou could reply, Xue Yue seized the initiative to answer.
“Is he a member of your Chamber of Commerce?” Zuo De started to furrow his brow.
“No! He happened to be passing by and came to visit me, that’s all,” Xue Yue explained.
Zuo De nodded his understanding and said with a smile hanging on his lips, “Your Excellency, this old man simply can’t ignore what you just said. Your Excellency seemed to be dissatisfied with this old man? Has this old man offended you before?”
From Zhan Yuan, Zuo De knew that Yang Kai had spoken ill of him behind his back. Actually, Yang Kai hadn’t badmouthed him but just had said that he was putting on airs a little. Zuo De had secretly put down Yang Kai’s name in his heart. He had secretly decided that he would not refine any Origin King Grade pill for Yang Kai in the future. But he couldn’t make trouble for Yang Kai just because of this. He could only give it up on that matter. But Yang Kai stood up and badmouthed him again. And naturally, he couldn’t laugh it off now.
[So what if you are a Second-Order Origin King cultivator? You will have no choice but to beg this old man when you are in a need!] Zuo De felt proud when he thought of this.
“Grandmaster must be joking, this is the first time this Yang has met Grandmaster, so how could you have offended me?” Yang Kai calmly said.
“In that case, why are you…”
“To be honest, what’s the problem?” Yang Kai smiled comfortably.
Zuo De’s face immediately sank. Just as he was about to say something, Yang Kai continued, “Alchemists are like doctors and healers. It’s a noble profession that attaches equal attention to both skill and humanity, both of which are indispensable. Mrs. Gu’s soul has been injured for a year already, her life has been hanging by a thread. But Grandmaster didn’t even immediately refine the Soul Source Restoration Pill to save the patient as soon as possible after arriving here! Instead, you are using her condition to force President Ai Ou and Third Young Master to marry your granddaughter. It’s rather apparent that Grandmaster is skilled but you are lacking humanity… is Grandmaster really worthy of the word ‘Grandmaster’? Don’t you find this word a little heavy to bear? Grandmaster is old, I hope you don’t get crushed by its weight.”
As soon as Yang Kai said this, not only did the expressions of many Origin grade Alchemists worsen but even the expression on President Ai Ou’s face grew even more complicated.
He had never even expected Yang Kai’s words to be so sharp and direct, they almost tore the skin off Zuo De’s face.
Yang Kai might have spoken what was going in Ai Ou’s mind but speaking so directly in front of Zuo De was equal to completely offending him. Even though it was the truth and everyone knew it, he should not have said it so directly.
There were some things that everyone could only keep in their hearts.
“You…” Zuo De’s face turned blue and red. He was unable to find a way to get out of this embarrassing situation. No one had dared to say this in front of him. Even an Origin King Realm cultivator would act respectfully in front of him. When had anyone made such sharp accusations?
When Yang Kai said so, he indeed felt something weighing down on his shoulders.
“Who are you? How dare you speak ill of Grandpa?” Zuo Ling immediately lashed out in anger. She promptly raised her hand as a Fire Dragon flew out from her palm, flying straight at Yang Kai.
She was already sad and heartbroken, so when she heard Yang Kai accuse Zuo De in such a blatant manner, she couldn’t take it anymore. She wanted to beat Yang Kai up to vent her anger.
Thus, she attacked without a moment of hesitation.
As Zuo De’s granddaughter, Zuo Ling had a good aptitude, and coupled with massive amounts of pills provided by Zuo De, she had reached the Second-Order Origin Returning Realm despite her young age.
Although she attacked casually, the attack itself was quite powerful. The surrounding temperature shot through the roof Just as the Fire Dragon shot through the air, bearing its jaws at Yang Kai.
“Ling’er, stop!” Zuo De was struck with panic. Zuo Ling was young and impulsive. He might not have a proper idea where Yang Kai’s limits lay, but he had heard from Zhan Yuan that Yang Kai was a Second-Order Origin King Master. Zuo Ling wasn’t his opponent, no matter what.
And in case Yang Kai got angry and hurt Zuo Ling, it would be a big loss.
However, he was a bit late. When he shouted, the Fire Dragon was already before Yang Kai.
Yang Kai’s expression remained the same, nonetheless. He remained still in his place. All he did was stretched his hand out, opened his palm and grabbed at the Fire Dragon at his own pace. Immediately, flames and sparks scattered around in the air as the surrounding temperature returned to normal.
Zuo Ling was dumbstruck. Obviously, she hadn’t expected her attack to be so easily dealt with by the opponent. She also came to realize that Yang Kai was far stronger than her.
Nevertheless, she wasn’t afraid. On the contrary, she nibbled her lips and screamed, “Grandpa, he is bullying me. Help me teach him a lesson!”
While speaking, she shook Zuo De’s arm to and fro constantly. Zuo De’s old body immediately shook left and right like a ship in a storm.
Zuo Ling always believed Zuo De to be omnipotent because all those Origin King Realm masters acted all respectful before him. So after she had suffered a little, she immediately counted on Zuo De to stand up for her.
But how could Zuo De do anything? He was respected by the Origin King Realm masters because of his Alchemy skills and not because of his cultivation. He was just a Third-Order Origin Returning Realm cultivator. If he tried to teach Yang Kai a lesson with his own cultivation, it would be tantamount to courting death!
Yang Kai could not help but sneer.
Anyhow, he was a Second-Order Origin King master now, he could teach Zuo Ling a lesson for attacking him. But if he really acted all serious because of the misdemeanours of a little girl, he felt that he would be making a fuss over a small issue. But who would have thought that Zuo Ling would shout at Ai Ou when she saw Zuo De not respond after so long, “Uncle Ai Ou, kill him! If you kill him, I’ll ask Grandpa to refine that whatever Source Pill!”
Yang Kai’s face immediately darkened just as he heard this.
A strange look also appeared on Ai Ou’s face. [Is it my turn to give in if anyone annoys this pampered girl?!]
It was understandable for a pampered girl like her to be a bit willful but it was really too much to take someone’s life just because she was pissed. Not to mention, she started it; Yang Kai wasn’t responsible for this. As long as anyone had a little brain, he would not agree with Zuo Ling. More importantly, one would be offending a Second-Order Origin King master.
“Uncle Ai Ou, didn’t you invite Grandpa to refine that pill? You are so powerful, he is definitely not your opponent. Just kill him already.” Zuo Ling, pointing at Yang Kai, exhorted Ai Ou in an arrogant and overbearing manner like she was ordering a subordinate.
“Er…” Ai Ou forced a smile and said, “Miss Ling, Uncle is not necessarily his opponent.”
“How is that possible? Aren’t you the President of the Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce, one of the most powerful people in the world? How could you not be his opponent? Oh, I get it, you don’t want that pill.”
“Ling’er, stop fooling around!” Zuo De couldn’t take it anymore and shouted.
Zuo Ling’s face crumpled when she noticed that her Grandpa was really, really angry. She no longer pestered endlessly. But when she saw Yang Kai’s expression, she became extremely irritated. She grit her teeth so hard that they were rattling. She looked as if she would rush and bite Yang Kai hard.
“Xue Yue, you made the right choice by not agreeing to this marriage,” Yang Kai said with a smile. “If you married someone like her, your life would be miserable.”
Xue Yue glared at Yang Kai but didn’t retort.
“Your Excellency, you have been provoking this old man time and time again. What on earth do you want?” Zuo De glared at Yang Kai gloomily. He looked displeased and angry.
“Hehe, again with that! I am just stating the truth.” Yang Kai gave an indifferent smile.
“Ling’er had indeed been pampered by this old man, but her nature is still good. So, you can’t make such a comment!”
“She is willing to take someone’s life at her will and you say her nature is good!? If I was a Saint King rather than a Second-Order Origin King, I’m afraid my corpse would be lying where I stand!” Yang Kai ceaselessly sneered.
“If you were a Saint King, you would not have been qualified to talk to this old man!”
“Unfortunately for you, I’m not!”
“That’s enough!” Zhan Yuan immediately stepped out; he couldn’t take the sight of Yang Kai giving tit for tat to Zuo De anymore, “Your Excellency, you are really being disrespectful to the Honored Teacher. Have you forgotten who refined the pills you have used to cultivate all these years? Every cultivator, who knows a little bit of gratitude, would not treat a highly respected Grandmaster Alchemist like you did!”
“When one drinks water, he must not forget where the water comes from!” Yang Kai nodded. “You want to say this, right? Sorry, but as I’ve told you before, I’m an Alchemist. All the pills I have taken were refined by me. As the adage goes, two of a trade seldom agree. So I don’t have to be grateful to any Alchemist.”
“Your Excellency is also an Alchemist?” Zuo De’s eyes glistened with a sharp gleam. He didn’t seem to believe it.
“That’s right!”
“Oh!?” A sneer appeared on Zuo De’s lips. “Dare I ask what level of Alchemist are you? Where is your Alchemist’s badge!?”
“I don’t have it. And as for what’s my level, I can’t say.”
The nearby Zhan Yuan sneered. “Honored Teacher, why take this guy seriously? His Martial Dao cultivation might be deep but he isn’t that old. Even if he is an Alchemist, he isn’t worth your notice. You are standing at the peak of the entire Star Field.”
Zuo De smiled proudly, looking at Yang Kai with a sliver of contempt.
“Peak!? Not necessarily!?” Yang Kai chuckled and said, “Although there aren’t many Origin King Grade Alchemists, I know one who is younger than Grandmaster. She will certainly go farther than Grandmaster in the future!”
Naturally, he was talking about Xia Ning Chang.
“Bullshit!” Zuo De shouted. He appeared to be angry. “This old man has already reached the peak of Low-Rank Origin King Grade and could break through to Mid-Rank Origin King Grade anytime. Who can surpass this old man in the entire Star Field!”
When the field he was proficient was mentioned, Zuo De became aggressive and didn’t show the slightest bit of sign of backing down.
“Grandmaster doesn’t believe it!?” Yang Kai looked at him with a smile.
“Bring that person here, this old man will compete with him and make him accept defeat!” Zuo De let out a cold snort.
“That person is billions of miles away, I can’t bring her on such short notice. However, if Grandmaster really wants to compete… How about this Yang competes with Grandmaster? This Yang believes that his Alchemy skills aren’t worse than hers. If you can defeat this Yang, this Yang will admit what you just said, but if you can’t even beat this Yang then, he he…”
Everyone on the stairs of the main hall looked at Yang Kai with a slack jaw as if they had seen something unbelievable.
Zong Ao’s jaw slackened so wide that one could stuff their fist in it.
Ai Ou’s expression changed as many thoughts flashed in his mind. Suddenly, he seemed to have realized Yang Kai’s intention as a sharp gleam flickered in his eyes involuntarily. He was filled with extreme gratitude.
[Anyhow, this Yang Kai is indeed a good guy and is worth making friends with.]
“What!? What did you just say?” Zuo De stared at Yang Kai in surprise. He suspected that there was something wrong with his ears.
“Grandmaster’s age is catching up with him.” Yang Kai heaved a sigh. “This one just said that Grandmaster might as well compete with this Yang in Alchemy.”
“You want to compete with this old man in Alchemy?” Zuo De broke into laughter before speaking disdainfully, “This old man really can’t see what’s making you so confident.”
“Grandmaster doesn’t need to worry about this. All Grandmaster needs to do is tell me whether you are going to do it or not!”
“Hmph, do you think this old man can’t guess what your intentions are? Do you think you can provoke this old man to do your bidding? If this old man does compete with you, do you want to compete with this old man in refining the Soul Source Restoration Pill!?” Zuo De sneered at Yang Kai.
“Well, Grandmaster is indeed wise, this Yang was indeed going to propose this,” Yang Kai said in surprise.
In a flash, everyone immediately realized what Yang Kai was doing.
If Zuo De really competed with Yang Kai in Alchemy out of anger, then Yang Kai had intended to set the goal of the competition to refine the Soul Source Restoration Pill.
And in order to win, Zuo De would go all out to make it successful.
This way, Gu Bi Hu’s crisis and President Ai Ou’s pressing matter would be resolved.
As for whether Yang Kai could refine it or not… who cared about him?
It wasn’t a shame to lose to an Origin King Grade Alchemist in Alchemy.
But if he lost to an Alchemist in a fight, then it would be really shameful!
“What a joke!? This old man won’t be fooled by your paltry tricks!” Zuo De let out a cold snort as he looked at Yang Kai with disdain. His expression gave the impression that he had seen through everything of Yang Kai.
“Grandmaster is treating me unjustly by saying that.” Yang Kai smiled slightly. “Let’s do it this way, how about this Yang up the stakes to make this competition fair?”
“What are the stakes!?” Zuo De asked in a cold tone.
“If I lose, I will be your bodyguard for a thousand years!” Yang Kai quickly added with an honest look on his face.
“What!?” Everyone was greatly shocked upon hearing this. They looked at Yang Kai as if they were looking at a fool. Even Zuo De seemed to be tempted.
He might be an Origin King Grade Alchemist and he might have many masters among his subordinates, but none of them was an Origin King Realm master!
All the Origin King Realm masters were proud and arrogant. They might act all polite when they asked him to refine pills but how could they let themselves be ordered and enslaved by him?
Not to mention, Yang Kai wasn’t an ordinary Origin King, he was a Second-Order Origin King!
There weren’t that many Second-Order Origin Kings in the entire Star Field!
[If I could have a Second-Order Origin King as a subordinate, then along with my identity as the Origin King Grade Alchemist, I would rule the entire Star Field!]
Zuo De was inevitably moved. Even though he felt that it was a set-up, he couldn’t help but agree out of confidence in his own Alchemy skills.
“Yang Kai!” Xue Yue screamed in surprise. She seemed to be about to persuade Yang Kai but Yang Kai raised his hand to stop her.
Then he turned to Zuo De and spoke indifferently, “This Yang has no talent, this one is only a Second-Order Origin King now. But this one happens to have a strong and robust body. It won’t be a problem to live for a couple of millennia. I should have more than enough time to be Grandmaster’s bodyguard for a thousand years, but I don’t know if Grandmaster dares to take this bet?”
The expression of Ai Ou and many Alchemists immediately changed. Everyone was shocked by Yang Kai’s shocking behaviour.
Zuo De’s expression also changed. He nodded and said, “You are indeed right. Your proposal sure is tempting but just being a bodyguard is far from enough, this old man wants you to be at my beck and call!”
Just as Zuo De said this, Ai Ou’s face blackened with rage. He looked clearly unhappy.
Every Origin King Realm master was a high and mighty figure. Even if they acted modestly before Zuo De, that was out of respect for him. When Yang Kai said that he would act as Zuo De’s bodyguard for a thousand years, it was already an extremely unbelievable and unbearable proposition from Ai Ou’s point of view. If it was him in place of Yang Kai, he couldn’t agree, no matter what.
But not only was Zuo De not satisfied with this, but he also wanted Yang Kai to be at his beck and call.
He wasn’t asking for a bodyguard but a servant!
A bodyguard was only responsible for Zuo De’s safety but a servant was different. The servant would need to complete all kinds of Zuo De’s orders, giving up his dignity completely.
It was an insult to the Origin King Realm masters! It was a blatant show of disrespect!
Ai Ou too was an Origin King Realm master, and a Second-Order Origin King at that, just like Yang Kai. He was deeply affected by this situation as if he himself was experiencing it, which inevitably made him furious.
Yang Kai, on the other hand, agreed without a moment of hesitation.
Zuo De hadn’t expected Yang Kai to agree so readily. He thought that Yang Kai would bargain with him back and forth. He proposed it to get as much benefit as possible. He even had several backup plans in his mind. For instance, how many times Yang Kai would have to follow his orders unconditionally.
But it never ever crossed his mind that he might not even get to use them. He was stunned for a moment. However, he soon opened his mouth and proposed again, “A thousand years aren’t enough: two thousand years!”
“Okay!” Yang Kai agreed again without thinking.
“Grandmaster Zuo De!” Ai Ou suddenly shouted in a deep and reverberating voice. “Aren’t you going a bit overboard with this proposal?”
He finally couldn’t hold the anger in his heart. Even when Zuo De arrived late to Water Sky City, Ai Ou had not taken it to his heart. Even when he threatened Ai Ou to agree to Xue Yue’s marriage, Ai Ou had still put up with it. But now, Zuo De was practically trying to take the lion’s share. He had directly increased a thousand years to two thousand years.
Who could bear the fetters for two millennia?
Ai Ou couldn’t put up with it anymore.
In any case, Yang Kai proposed to compete with Zuo De in Alchemy for Gu Bi Hu. Although Ai Ou had no idea why Yang Kai wanted to do this, he was still very grateful to him. Regardless of whether it could be done or not, he owed Yang Kai a favour, a very big favour.
Was there another Second-Order Origin King in the world who was willing to use his freedom to do someone’s bidding for two thousand years?
He was the only one in the world!
Therefore, Ai Ou stepped up without a moment of hesitation, changing his previous attitude and accusing Zuo De.
If he didn’t even have such courage and determination, then he didn’t deserve to be the President of the Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce.
Zuo De sneered. “He agreed to it himself, President Ai Ou. Why are you worried?”
Yang Kai looked at Ai Ou and gave him a calm smile. “President Ai Ou, please wait a moment. Although I agreed for two thousand years, whether Grandmaster could live for so long still remains unknown.”
He was indirectly cursing Zuo De’s early death. Zuo De was a Third-Order Origin Returning Realm cultivator, moreover, he had already lived for a long time. Otherwise, he won’t have been an Origin King Grade Alchemist. The next two thousand years were indeed a long way for him.
Zuo De couldn’t help but scowl. He let out a cold snort and retort, “Rest assured, this old man will try his best to survive for another two thousand years for today’s bet.”
“I hope so.” Yang Kai smiled.
Ai Ou sighed. Surprisingly, he raised his hand and patted Yang Kai. “Brother Yang, you and I are brothers from now on. This Ai has etched today’s events in his mind!”
“Hehe…” The corner of Yang Kai’s lips couldn’t help but twitch. Yang Kai’s current feeling was too hard to describe. He was feeling extremely conflicted; his emotions were in turmoil. He didn’t know whether he should laugh or cry.
He immediately diverted the topic and said, “Now that this Yang’s ante is set, what about Grandmaster’s?”
Zuo De’s expression immediately turned cold. He promptly asked, “What ante do you think is suitable for this old man?”
Yang Kai smiled. “Since this Yang has used his own personal freedom, Grandmaster should do the same for the sake of fairness!”
Zuo De furrowed his brow, but he didn’t agree right away.
“What’s wrong? Does Grandmaster dare not fulfil it? Does Grandmaster have no confidence in his Alchemy and thinks that he will lose to this Yang?” Yang Kai fanned the flames.
“Bullshit!” Zuo De immediately blew his top. “When it comes to Alchemy, this old man will not lose to anyone. But if you think you can make this old man agree using provocation, it’s useless!”
“Tsk tsk…” Yang Kai clucked his tongue, deliberately acting ambiguously. “Ah, Grandmaster can’t afford to lose, is that it!? Forget it then, there is no need to be so angry. I also don’t want you to bet your freedom for the little years you have. In that case… how about you refine a hundred Origin King Grade pills every year for the rest of Grandmaster’s life.”
“A hundred pills a year!?” Zuo De’s face reddened in anger. “Don’t you think you are trying to take the lion’s share!?”
Before Yang Kai could say anything, Zong Ao, who had been standing on the sidelines till now, sneered and said, “Grandmaster, how can you say this? Yang Kai has bet his two thousand years of freedom. He is a Second-Origin King master. Grandmaster, don’t you think you should come up with equal stakes? A hundred Origin King Grade pills a year is nothing for Grandmaster, but two thousand years of freedom is very significant for Yang Kai. Grandmaster, you can be considered to be a man of noble character and high prestige, yet you have been doing not this, not that. Are you trying to take advantage of your old age?”
Zong Ao had been watching the show from the sidelines for a long time. He already couldn’t take it long ago.
At first, he still respected Zuo De as an Alchemist even though he despised Zuo De’s character. But now it had become apparent to him that this old guy’s character was worse than he had thought. In contrast, Yang Kai’s charm was simply boundless.
The sliver of respect he had for Zuo De had vanished in a puff of smoke.
Zuo De wasn’t affected by Zong Ao’s words at all. He sneered and said, “In this old man’s opinion, his freedom is not worth a penny. But this old man has to refine a hundred Origin King Grade pills every year, that’s nerve-racking. God knows how many people would die for just one pill!”
“Hmm… you are right.” Much to everyone’s surprise, Yang Kai nodded in agreement. “Well then, I don’t want you to refine a hundred pills a year, how about eighty?”
“Fifty, not a pill more!” Zuo De waved his hand.
“Sevent…”
“Fifty-five!”
“Seventy!”
“Sixty!”
“Deal!”
Under everyone’s dumbstruck gazes, the two bickered and haggled back and forth before finally agreeing on sixty Origin King Grade pills a year!
Although it was less than half of what Yang Kai proposed, sixty Origin King Grade pills was also a huge fortune. In the entire Star Field, just an Origin King Grade pill was enough to make people fight and kill for it.
Only a Grandmaster like Zuo De could talk about a hundred or sixty of them so easily.
“Kid!” After the stakes were agreed, a grim look seemed to have appeared on Zuo De’s face. He looked at Yang Kai with a hideous smile. “Today, the gamble between you and I is decided in front of President Ai Ou and many Origin Grade Alchemists. If you dare not admit it after losing, then…”
“Rest assured, President Ai Ou has a big reputation in Star Field. He always acts impartially unlike someone who deceives the public with false reputation. I want to ask him to be the arbiter. If you or I don’t fulfil the stakes after losing, I ask President Ai Ou to kill him on the spot!” Yang Kai suggested with a smile hanging on his lips.
Zuo De’s face immediately darkened. A sliver of fear could be seen in the depths of his eyes.
He was a Third-Order Origin Returning Realm cultivator. If Ai Ou really decided to kill him, he would not see the light of the next day no matter what.
After giving it a second thought, he said in a grave voice, “It’s not that this old man suspects President Ai Ou’s character, it’s just that… Your Excellency is a Second-Order Origin King master, just like President Ai Ou. If you tried to escape, President Ai Ou might not be able to stop you.”
Ai Ou’s face grew cold. Just when he was about to say something, subtle energy fluctuations appeared in the void as a figure emerged out of nowhere.
A smile was hanging on that figure’s face that made everyone bask in warmth. His hair and beard was all white but his complexion was extremely ruddy, giving everyone the impression that he was a young man. And standing straight with the sheathed sword hanging on his back, his entire figure gave everyone the impression of a peerless blade with a hidden edge; it was exceptionally daunting.
The figure, carrying its hands behind the back, walked down the air step by step and said with a smile, “If Ai Ou can’t stop him, I will intercept him myself. Is that okay with you, Grandmaster Zuo De?”
The crowd only reacted after hearing this man’s voice. They immediately looked for the source. And when they saw his face, Ai Ou couldn’t help but be shocked. He hurriedly cupped his fists and bowed. “Martial Uncle Long, how come you are here?”
[Martial Uncle Long…]
Ai Ou’s address made everyone immediately realize the identity of this man.
The only Third-Order Origin King master of the Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce; one of the prominent figures standing at the peak of the Star Field, Long Tian Shang!
Just how Purple Star had Master Lunatic, the Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce had Long Tian Shang. These two were fearsome figures that could shake the entire universe.
However, Long Tian Shang’s fame was far greater than Master Lunatic because, when Long Tian Shang had just advanced to the Third-Order Origin King Realm a thousand years ago, he went to a Cultivation Star for some reason and slaughtered dozens of small and large sects there, creating rivers of blood and mountains of corpses in a radius of thousands of miles on that Cultivation Star. It was just like a hell on earth.
Long Tian Shang’s notoriety had spread far and wide after that battle! Everyone in the Star Field would turn pale whenever they talked about him.
No one had any idea what conflicts or grievances Long Tian Shang had with the sects he wiped out. The only thing that got around was that it was related to a woman.
Since then, Ling Tian Shang had gone into hiding and no one had seen him in the last thousand years, but everyone knew that he was guarding Water Moon Star and was in a retreat somewhere on it.
No one had ever thought that he would show up today.
No one dared to be inattentive to a Third-Order Origin King expert. Everyone cupped their fists and bowed to him. Even someone as arrogant as Zuo De was not exempted from the conventions.
Long Tian Shang chuckled and cupped his fists back to Zuo De before speaking in a calm manner, “Grandmaster still hasn’t changed even after all these years. This Tian Shang is very glad.”
“Elder Long is too kind.” Zuo De nodded.
“Martial Uncle Long, what made you come out today?” Ai Ou asked in surprise. Others might not have an idea about Long Tian Shang’s temper but he had a pretty good idea. In the entire Star Field, he was the only one who had the most contacts with Long Tian Shang.
Generally, even he would have a hard time meeting Long Tian Shang. More often than not he would have the door slammed on his face even when he went to greet him, leaving him no choice but to leave dejected. How could he have known that Long Tian Shang would show up today? Long Tian Shang’s appearance caught even him by surprise.
“I came to join in the fun.” Long Tian Shang chuckled. His temperament was quite extraordinary, giving everyone the feeling of showering in a spring breeze. Anyone who saw him would involuntarily develop a sense of intimacy. While speaking, he turned his head and looked at Yang Kai. “You must be Yang Kai. I can call you by your name, that’s not a problem, is it?”
“Not at all.” Yang Kai smiled and nodded his acknowledgement.
“Mhmm, you are very good. My Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce will be your ally from now on. You can come whenever you want, we are all family from now on,” Long Tian Shang said with a smile.
“Thank you very much, Senior. This junior will definitely treat this as half my home.” Yang Kai immediately made the most of it.
How could the nearby Xue Yue not know what Yang Kai meant? Her pretty eyes immediately flickered with shyness and happiness.
On the other hand, Zuo De’s face couldn’t help but turn ugly when he saw Long Tian Shan say so. Long Tian Shang might not have said much, but judging by these words alone, it was quite evident that he was pretty dissatisfied with Zuo De’s conduct. Otherwise, why would he be so close to Yang Kai?
[But… so what!? In theory, a Third-Order Origin King and I have the same status.] Thus, Zuo De didn’t care too much about it.
“That’s better.” Long Tian Shang nodded his acknowledgement. He seemed pretty satisfied with Yang Kai’s performance. He then chuckled and immediately switched the topic, “That being said, you have made a bet with Grandmaster Zuo De today. Since this King has come to join in the excitement, if you don’t admit it after you lose, this King won’t sit by. This King will truly kill you if you try to escape.”
He said it with a smile. There wasn’t the slightest bit of murderous intent in his tone, yet despite that, the listeners couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat.
With a Third-Order Origin King master presiding over this, who would dare to repudiate the bet? It was tantamount to courting death.
“Senior, don’t worry. This junior is an honest boy, I will never go back on my word.”
“I hope so,” Long Tian Shang then turned to Zuo De again. “Grandmaster, what about you? Do you still worry even after this Long is presiding over this?”
“It’s more than enough.” Zuo De nodded.
“Since that’s the case, you guys can start. It’s been a long time since I saw such an interesting thing. This Long also wants to watch a good show.” Long Tian Shang smiled before he vanished like a puff of smoke.
He disappeared just like that.
But everyone knew that he didn’t go far. Because his words had put too much pressure on others, he had taken the initiative to leave.
“Brother Yang, do you really want to do this?” Ai Ou gazed at Yang Kai with a serious look on his face. In his heart, he didn’t want Yang Kai to compete with Zuo De in Alchemy.
He was grateful for Yang Kai’s proposal but was also feeling helpless.
In his opinion, it was no different than a three-year-old child comparing strength against an adult, the former had no chance of winning.
On the other hand, Brother Yang sounded pretty jarring to Yang Kai.
But he couldn’t bluntly point it out, so he was left with no choice but to pretend to be indifferent. So he nodded and said, “Since Senior Long is already here, does this junior still have any chance to regret?”
“Hehe, no, you don’t.” Long Tiang Shang’s loud laughter immediately echoed from the void. His laughter seemed to be filled with schadenfreude, making Xue Yue grind her teeth in anger.
“Sigh!” Ai Ou heaved a heavy sigh. “Since that’s the case, you guys should begin. Ai Ou, Martial Uncle Long, and the Grandmasters, we all will be the witnesses!”
He knew that since things had reached this point, he was completely powerless to turn them back.
However, he also secretly made up his mind that if Yang Kai really lost, he would help Yang Kai escape even if it cost him his reputation.
In any case, Yang Kai had jumped into this muddy water because of Gu Bi Hu.
However, he still couldn’t figure out why Yang Kai did this.
“Haha, you are so dead now,” Zhan Yuan, who was standing by Zuo De’s side, started laughing like a villain. “Honored Teacher, you don’t need to hold back. You should let him know that you, Sir are the best Alchemist in the world.”
“Hmph, you didn’t have to say it.” Zuo De let out a cold snort. He squinted his eyes half and said, gazing at Yang Kai, “How do you want to compete with this old man? Don’t think that this old man is bullying you, the content of the competition will be up to you. No matter what kind of pill you decide, this old man will take it.”
He looked at Yang Kai in disdain, assuming the appearance that the victory was already within his grasp.
[How ridiculous! There is actually such an idiot who wants to compete with me in Alchemy!? I will let you know how to write the word ‘serve’ later.]
“This Yang had declared the content of the competition already, we will refine the Soul Source Restoration Pill!” Yang Kai smiled.
“Impossible!” Before Zuo De could speak anything, Ai Ou suddenly interrupted with a shout, looking at Yang Kai with a solemn look. “Brother Yang, choose another pill. Soul Source Restoration Pill is really…”
[It’s really a very high-level pill. It’s a Mid-Rank Origin King Grade Pill, and you need to be an Origin King Grade Alchemist to refine it. A High-Rank Origin Grade Alchemist is completely ill-equipped to refine it. He would only be wasting the herbs.]
[Yang Kai’s Martial Dao cultivation is very high despite his young age. He must have devoted all his time to the Martial Dao, so how could he have reached high-level in Alchemy? Even if he is an Alchemy prodigy, it’s still impossible to be an Origin King Grade Alchemist!]
[If he chose the Soul Source Restoration Pill for the competition, he has already lost before competing.]
Ai Ou was grateful to Yang Kai for considering Gu Bi Hu but he couldn’t let him jump into the fiery pit, no matter what. If he really let Yang Kai do so, then he would become someone else. Therefore, he rejected it and said, eagerly looking at Yang Kai, “How about you choose the Yuan Restoring Pill. Everyone has used this pill a lot and they can tell the difference between good and bad.”
Yuan Restoring Pill was a pill used by low-level cultivators to restore their Saint Qi. It was only a Low-Rank Saint Grade pill.
Ai Ou believed that Yang Kai should be able to refine it. And as long as he could refine it, he still had a chance. And if by some fluke of luck he refined it with Pill Veins, he just might win.
Zong Ao also nodded in agreement. He too felt that Yuan Restoring Pill was more appropriate. He knew that Yang Kai had some Alchemy skill and that Yang Kai had even refined a pill with Pill Clouds. It would certainly not be difficult for him to refine Yuan Restoring Pill with Pill Veins.
Since Zuo De let Yang Kai decide the content of the competition, then such an excellent chance could not be wasted in vain.
Zhan Yuan immediately stepped up and said, “Since someone wants to choose the Soul Source Restoration Pill, he must be pretty confident in refining it. This Zhan isn’t talented and hopes to have the chance to observe and emulate Your Excellency’s Alchemy Skill. Tch tch, it’s really rare to see someone refine an Origin King Grade pill. What does everyone think?”
Just as he said this, every Alchemist present here looked excited.
They too wanted to observe and emulate the refining of an Origin King Grade pill.
Between Yuan Restoring Pill and Soul Source Restoration Pill, they were more inclined toward the latter. So after hearing Zhan Yuan, they all agreed immediately.
Ai Ou flew into a rage. His majestic eyes focused on Zhan Yuan as the latter couldn’t help but shrink his neck. Perplexed, Zhan Yuan forced a smile and said, “I’m sorry, President Ai Ou but as an Alchemist, this Zhan only considered it as my own perspective. It was indeed my oversight. But most of us here want this. If Sir President likes, you can ask them.”
“No need, I choose the Soul Source Restoration Pill!” Yang Kai waved his hand.
“Have you thought it through?” Zuo Do asked in a cold voice.
“Grandmaster doesn’t look confident?” Yang Kai smiled.
“This old man is afraid that you won’t be able to smile in the future!” Zuo De coldly snorted and said, “Don’t think for a moment that I don’t know what you are doing. Forget it, this old man will refine a Soul Source Restoration Pill as per your wish.”
Even to this point, he still believed that Yang Kai was using his freedom in exchange for the chance to cure Gu Bi Hu. He thought that everything Yang Kai did was only for the Soul Source Restoration Pill.
It never ever crossed his mind that Yang Kai could refine the Origin King Grade pills.
“President Ai Ou, please take out the materials,” Zuo De said to Ai Ou.
Ai Ou furrowed his brow and said, “I only have one set for materials! I can provide the other ingredients but I only have one Seven Colored Elk’s Monster Core. I’m afraid you two can’t compete to refine the Soul Source Restoration Pill.”
“This old man doesn’t care.” Zuo De shook his head. “From the start, these ingredients were prepared for this old man. As for where he will get his ingredients, that’s his business. If he can’t even gather the materials, then it will be considered as his defeat!”
“Grandmaster, if that’s the case, wouldn’t you be winning without competing?” Ai Ou looked extremely dissatisfied.
“He’s going to get his lesson!” Zuo De remained unmoved. He even sneered and added, “Youngsters are always arrogant. They don’t know how high the heavens are and how deep the earth goes. Only after the hammer of experience hammered this into them do they become mature and stable. Let it be a lesson for him. Elder Long, what do you think?”
Zuo De looked towards the void and asked.
After a long silence, Long Tiang’s nonchalant voice echoed from the void, “Grandmaster is right. Ai Ou, give the ingredients you have prepared to Grandmaster.”
“Martial Uncle!” Ai Ou was quite shocked when he heard this. If so, then Yang Kai would have no hope of winning at all. The ingredients for the Soul Source Restoration Pill were incomplete. How was he going to complete then? Ai Ou knew how difficult it was to find that Seven Colored Elk’s Monster Core. Even after mobilizing the entire Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce, he could only find one with most of its energy depleted. There was absolutely no second one in the world.
“Since Yang Kai insists, he must have something to rely upon. Maybe he has another set of ingredients. You can hand over the ones you have prepared to Grandmaster Zuo De,” Long Tian Shang’s voice echoed from the void.
Ai Ou was taken aback when he heard this. He immediately turned to Yang Kai, looking at him with an inquiring look on his face.
Yang Kai pursed his lips into a smile as a glittering seven-coloured Monster Core appeared in his palm with a flip of his hand. Its seven-coloured glow was a lot brighter than Ai Ou’s Monster Core.
“He does have it!” Everyone exclaimed in surprise. Many alchemists were staring greedily at the Monster Core in Yang Kai’s hands.
If the two Monster Cores were put together, they were almost identical, except…
“Why do I think that this one is a bit different than the one taken out by President Ai Ou!?” Someone mumbled to himself, confused.
“It’s indeed a bit different. It looks the same but there are some subtle differences. Is this really a Seven-Coloured Elk’s Monster Core?”
“This is the Monster Core of a mutated Seven-Coloured Elk. It is not a primordial Monster per se but that Monster Beast also had a sliver of Seven-Coloured Elk’s bloodline,” Yang Kai explained with a smile.
It had been in his Space Ring for many years. It belonged to a mutated Seven-Coloured Elk that he had hunted on the prairie just outside the Emperor Garden when he went there back in the past. It had never come in handy. He had never thought that it would be used for competition today.
“So that’s how it is! What a shame!?” Zong Ao heaved a sigh.
“Why?” Ai Ou had already regarded Yang Kai as one of his own. When he heard Zong Ao say so, he couldn’t help but ask, nervous.
“Seven-Coloured Elk’s Monster Core is one of the main ingredients for refining the Soul Source Restoration Pill. Although the one in Yang Kai’s hand does meet the requirements, it does so barely, it’s impure. It would be much more difficult to refine. And even though most of the energy of the one gathered by the President is depleted, it’s the real deal. If that one is used, it would undoubtedly provide an edge,” explained Zong Ao.
He was a High-Rank Origin Grade Alchemist. He might not be able to refine the Soul Source Restoration Pill, but as the one who suggested this pill recipe, he naturally had done quite some research. Everything he said was definitive.
Ai Ou’s face couldn’t help but turn ugly when he heard him say so.
“Haha, you want to use a defective Monster Core to compete with this old man?” Zuo De broke into laughter. “Kid, this old man advises you to give it up before you embarrass yourself.”
“If the defective one isn’t enough, what if I add this?” Yang Kai smiled as another thing appeared in his hand. Just as it appeared, an odd fragrance permeated into the surroundings. Everyone who smelled it felt their head cleared up. Many of the negative emotions in their hearts were driven away.
“A matching heart!” Zong Ao’s eyes lit up. He immediately smacked his thigh and said, smiling, “That’s better! Now you both are on the same starting line.”
Ai Ou was pleasantly surprised. He knew full well that with the assistance of the matching heart, Yang Kai’s disadvantage would be wiped out instantly.
Zuo De’s expression couldn’t help but darken. He immediately insulted, “You hunted a mutated Seven-Coloured Elk, how surprising! Be that as it may, do you really think that you can defeat this old man with your Alchemy Skills? This old man will give you one last chance to throw in the towel and save yourself the embarrassment. You won’t get another chance!”
“This Yang also gives Grandmaster one last chance. Otherwise, this competition will leave a life-long stain on Grandmaster. It will damage your reputation,” Yang Kai retorted.
“Hmph, there is no point in talking with you. Since you have the ingredients, let’s start. This old man will make you accept defeat!”
Yang Kai turned to Ai Ou and said, cupping his fists, “May I request President Ai Ou to pick a suitable location.”
“The Alchemist Pavilion is not far from here. The Alchemist Pavilion has genuine Earth-Fire, as well as Origin King Grade Alchemy furnaces,” Ai Ou immediately led the way while speaking.
Everyone else closely followed him after. All the Origin Grade Alchemists had their blood pumping at the moment. Their faces were flushed all over. They were unable to hold their excitement. They immediately gathered around Grandmaster Zuo De, taking advantage of this opportunity to ask him some questions.
It wasn’t easy to meet an Origin King Grade Alchemist just because they saw him. Today was their lucky day and how could they not take advantage of this?
Despite Zuo De’s characters, his Alchemy Skill spoke for itself. Just a few pointers from him had helped Zhan Yuan advance to Mid-Rank Origin Grade Alchemist. There were many self-proclaimed genius Alchemists here who believed themselves to be much more talented than Zhan Yuan. If they could get a few advice from Zuo De, they would definitely make the most of it.
Perhaps Zuo De wanted to maintain his own image, he answered all the questions and problems raised by the Alchemists without withholding anything. He didn’t reject anyone.
Many people had benefited a lot from this and felt extremely grateful.
Only Zong Ao followed Yang Kai’s side, regardless of the hustle and bustle on that side.
The villainous Zhan Yuan kept glancing at Yang Kai from time to time with a schadenfreude smile hanging on his face.
“Honoured Teacher, your student encountered a problem a few days ago. I don’t know how to solve it. Can the Honored Teacher clear my doubt?” Zhan Yuan asked in a loud voice all of a sudden.
Many Alchemists perked their ears, wondering what exactly Zhan Yuan wanted to ask.
“Oh? What’s the problem? Let’s hear it.” Zuo De calmly asked.
“There is an ignorant boy who has just stumbled onto the Alchemic Way and wants to compete with your student in Alchemy, hoping to win. Your student is wondering whether I should compete with that guy or not. After all, your student doesn’t want to bully him. But if I don’t agree, he will think that your student’s skills aren’t that good. This really has put me in a jam.”
“What’s to think about it? An Alchemist’s honour cannot be desecrated. He must be taught a hard lesson. He must be taught that the Alchemic Way is not something a ‘nobody’ can dabble in.”
Zhan Yuan looked as if he was stuck with a sudden realization. He cupped his fists and said, “So that’s how it is. Thank you very much for your valuable lesson. Your student understands now.”
Xue Yue, who was walking by Yang Kai’s side, flew into a rage just as she heard this. She ground her teeth in anger so hard that they were creaking.
Yang Kai held a very high position in her heart, and even Ai Ou didn’t hold such a high position. And when Zuo De called Yang Kai a ‘nobody’, she immediately blew her top. If it not for Zuo De’s identity, Xue Yue would have immediately cut him down.
Some Origin Grade Alchemists furrowed their brow. They didn’t like Zuo De’s remark. It didn’t suit someone of Zuo De’s status to speak like this. But no matter how much they didn’t like it, all they could do was ignore it.
There were even some Origin Grade Alchemists who started laughing to flatter Zuo De.
Everyone was extremely fast. In just fifteen minutes, they had arrived before a palace that was surrounded by Spirit Array. Ai Ou immediately opened the way through the barriers with a wave of his hand before leading everyone inside.
“What an intense fire,” Yang Kai exclaimed in a low voice as a look of surprise appeared on his face. He could feel the pure and intense fire element floating in the air, it wasn’t any worse than the High Heaven Sect’s Earth Lung Fire Pond.
“This is my Water Sky City’s Alchemist Pavilion.” Ai Ou explained with a smile, “There is a top-class Earth-Fire Vein below the Alchemist Pavilion. All the Alchemists of my Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce refine their pills here.”
Yang Kai nodded his acknowledgement. He immediately knew why the Alchemists accompanying them didn’t look surprised at all. All of them were Alchemists of the Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce. Obviously, they came here often and were long used to it.
“Country boy,” Zhan Yuan didn’t give up the chance to mock Yang Kai at all. Yang Kai couldn’t help but snort upon hearing this.
“Sir President, what are you doing here?” As soon as the group walked into the Alchemist Pavilion, an old man wearing Alchemist’s robes came over and asked doubtfully.
Ai Ou bitterly smiled as he gave a brief rundown.
“What!? Someone actually wants to compete with Grandmaster Zuo De in Alchemy?” The old man cried out loud.
In a flash, countless doors in the Alchemist Pavilion flew open as dishevelled and shrivelled Alchemists rushed out of their respective Alchemy rooms, one after another. All of them looked like starving beggars.
Someone rushed out from the crowd and shouted in a high-pitched voice, “Where is the Grandmaster? Where is the Grandmaster?”
And just as they saw Zuo De, they huddled around and bowed in unison, greeting Zuo De.
Zuo De too put on an approachable appearance as he greeted in return.
Yang Kai was secretly shocked at the sight of this. He counted no fewer than seventy Alchemists, who had rushed out of the Alchemist Pavilion. Every Alchemist was of Saint King Grade level or above. Their level might not be that high but their numbers could not be underestimated.
Furthermore, this was just from the ground level of the Alchemist Pavilion, that’s all.
As he spread his Divine Sense, Yang Kai sensed that the Alchemist Pavilion still had eight underground levels!
So to say, this Alchemist Pavilion had nine levels. And different levels of Alchemists were refining pills on every level.
There might be four to five hundred Alchemists in the Alchemist Pavilion alone.
This was one of Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce’s heritage!
These four to five hundred Alchemists refined countless pills for the Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce every year.
In a flash, Zuo De’s surroundings were bustling with noise and excitement, forming a very sharp contrast to Yang Kai who was in the front.
And after they came to learn that Yang Kai was actually going to compete with Zuo De in Alchemy, those Alchemists, who were ignorant of the truth, glared at Yang Kai with gazes filled with righteous indignation as if Yang Kai had desecrated something.
Ai Ou waved his hand to avoid embarrassing Yang Kai, leading everyone down.
Just as Yang Kai had sensed, the Alchemist Pavilion was divided into nine levels. The lower the level was, the more intense the power of Earth Fire was, and the higher the level of Alchemists could refine pills in there.
Every time they went down a level, the number of Alchemists following behind them increased.
Over five hundred Alchemists were following Ai Ou by the time they reached the ninth level.
This was giving Ai Ou a pretty big headache. He wanted to send them back to refine their own pills but he just couldn’t open his mouth. He knew very well how high was Zuo De’s position in their hearts and how tempting the chance to see an Origin King Grade Alchemist refine the pill was.
These stubborn Alchemists might not obey his orders even if he tried to use force.
All he could do was leave it alone. He then whispered to Yang Kai, “Brother Yang, there is no pressure. I too hadn’t expected things to become so big. You can treat these guys as roadside pebbles.”
Yang Kai smiled. “President Ai Ou, don’t worry. These guys are nothing to me.”
“That’s better.” Ai Ou couldn’t help but heave a sigh of relief.
“Since we are here, let’s start,” Zuo De shouted aloud. He then turned to look at the hundreds of Alchemists and said with a smile, “Fellow Alchemists, I will be competing with this kid in Alchemy today. There might be a reason for it but it’s also true that this old man is bullying here. This old man is ashamed of this!”
Zuo De’s words gained the favour of the Alchemists who were unaware of the truth. Some of them immediately shouted aloud, “Since someone is so full of himself, Grandmaster doesn’t need to blame himself. It’s okay to teach him a lesson.”
“That’s right. Grandmaster is a noble character of high prestige. It’s really outrageous that someone would actually dare to compete with you in Alchemy.”
“How about Grandmaster take a break and let me compete on your behalf? I won’t let Grandmaster down!” Someone even volunteered for it.
These Alchemists, who came to join in the fun, were completely unaware of the truth. They didn’t even know what pill they were going to be refining. They just came here because of Zuo De’s fame. So naturally, they didn’t have a good impression of Yang Kai.
In their opinion, competing with Zuo De in Alchemy in itself was completely intolerable.
Most of the five hundred or so Alchemists glared at Yang Kai in anger and disdain. They could not wait to swallow him whole in one go.
Yang Kai smiled at the sight of this.
Zuo De smiled and said, “Everyone, this old man appreciates your kindness. However, this old man really has to personally make a move for this because this kid is competing with this old man to refine the Soul Source Restoration pill!”
“What!? Soul Source Restoration Pill!?”
“Isn’t that an Origin King Grade pill?”
“Grandmaster is actually going to refine a pill of this level? How lucky!”
“Is this guy also an Origin King Grade Alchemist? He doesn’t look like it.”
The crowd of Alchemist broke into a lively discussion. It immediately became quite noisy.
“Okay, okay, break it up, will you!” Ai Ou shouted aloud as his face turned ugly. “Grandmaster Zuo De and Yang Kai are about to start refining. All of you are Alchemists, don’t you know that one should not be disturbed during Alchemy? Please don’t make any more noise. Otherwise, don’t blame this Ai for not showing leniency!”
As soon as Ai Ou said this, the noisy hall immediately turned silent.
Zuo De smiled and said, “Everyone, just don’t make any noise. It’s not a problem if you want to observe and emulate.”
Many Alchemists beamed with joy and looked at Zuo De with gratitude as soon as Zuo De said this.
“President Ai Ou, please hand this old man the ingredients for refining the Soul Source Restoration Pill and also prepare a copy of the same for the kid,” Zuo De said aloud.
“But of course.” Ai Ou immediately nodded upon hearing this. He then took out many ingredients from his Space Ring, divided them into two, and gave them to Yang Kai and Zuo De.
The two sets of ingredients were basically the same. The only difference was that the one given to Zuo De had a Seven Colored Elk’s Monster Core.
After the ingredients were finalized, Ai Ou said, “This is the ninth level of the Alchemist Pavilion. The Earth Fire is the most intense here. Refining pills here can help Alchemist’s save a lot of time and energy. You can choose the best suitable location for you.”
Dragon head-like things could be seen here and there on the ninth level. The dragon heads weren’t that big but their jaws happened to be open and they could be controlled by a nearby Spirit Array. Once the Spirit Array was turned on, the power of Earth Fire could be drawn from the ground and out of the dragon head. It could also control the fire’s power, which was extremely convenient.
Obviously, Zuo De was familiar with this place. After hearing Ai Ou, he made his way straight to a dragon head and started making preparations.
Over five hundred Alchemists also rushed over and stood twenty feet away from him, forming a circle around him. Their eyes were completely glued on Zuo De.
Ai Ou came to Yang Kai’s side and asked in a low voice, “Brother Yang, do you want to use a room? Although this place is pretty wide, there are many people here. I’m afraid you will inevitably be disturbed.”
“No need.” Yang Kai shook his head and said, smiling, “If I took the room, these people will not be able to see how I refined the pill. I’m afraid they will suspect me of doing something.”
“Hmm, you have a point,” Ai Ou furrowed his brow tightly. “But can you really refine the Soul Source Restoration Pill?”
He didn’t believe it from the beginning to the end. But Yang Kai clearly looked calm and unperturbed, which naturally made him a little suspicious.
[Could he be an Origin King Grade Alchemist and had also made great progress in Martial Dao?] Just as this idea popped in Ai Ou’s mind, Ai Ou denied this notion because it was too unrealistic.
“President Ai Ou, just wait and watch.” Yang Kai pursed his lips into a smile.
Ai Ou said nothing more.
On the other side, Zhan Yuan’s voice suddenly came with a sense of schadenfreude, “Friend, Honoured Teacher asked me to ask you, do you want to borrow an Origin King Grade Alchemy furnace? You need to know that a good Alchemy furnace can also increase the success rate in Alchemy. Although you might be unable to start up the Origin King Grade Alchemy furnace with your ability, the Honoured Teacher is compassionate, it’s okay for you to use it.”
“This Yang appreciates Grandmaster’s kind intention. As for Origin King Grade Alchemy Furnace… hehe, I too have one!” Yang Kai said with a laugh and took out his Purple Origin Furnace from his Space Ring.
He brought this thing from the Emperor Garden as well. It was something that was tens of thousands of years old. At that time, a pill with Pill Clouds was lying in this Purple Origin Furnace.
When Yang Kai took out the Purple Origin Furnace, all the Alchemists gathered on Zuo De’s side could not help but cry in surprise.
But soon, everyone suppressed their cry of surprise as they looked at Yang Kai’s Purple Origin Furnace with a greedy and covetous gaze. They could not keep their eyes away from it.
All of them were Alchemists. Naturally, they could tell that the Purple Origin Furnace was extraordinary. Purple clouds were lingering around the furnace. And the moment the furnace was taken out, all the Alchemists on the ninth floor could smell the pill fragrance permeating in the air. In just one glance, they could tell that many top-class pills had been refined in this furnace.
“Is he really an Alchemist?” Zhan Yuan was also dumbstruck.
[If he is not an Alchemist, how did he come to own an Origin King Grade Alchemy furnace?] But soon, he concluded that Yang Kai might have gotten it accidentally as a war trophy. After all, Yang Kai was strong. He faced many crises and went through many adventures every year. As a Second-Order Origin King master, there might be all kinds of things lying in his Space Ring.
[Damn it! He is just a cultivator and actually has an Origin King Grade Alchemy furnace, while a promising and rising Alchemist like me is only using a Mid-Rank Origin Grade Alchemy furnace!?] Zhan Yuan ground his teeth in hatred. He believed that the Purple Origin Furnace in Yang Kai’s hand was like casting pearls before swine. He could not help but rush to snatch it from Yang Kai’s hand.
Having considered all of this, Zhan Yuan started making plans on how to take Yang Kai’s Purple Origin Furnace. [Would it be too much to add another bet at this moment?]
He was lost in various fancies and conjectures. He couldn’t help it.
“Your pill furnace is pretty good,” Zong Ao raised his brow. “Judging by its primitive aura, I’m afraid it’s quite old, am I right?”
From several hundred Alchemists, only Zong Ao was standing by Yang Kai’s side. He didn’t go to watch Zuo De.
“It’s indeed very old. I only got it by accident. But… Grandmaster Zong Ao, I hope you are not eying my Alchemy Furnace. I only have this one.” Yang Kai grinned meaningfully.
Zong Ao immediately pursed his lips upon hearing this.
Ai Ou broke into laughter and said, “Let it be. I remember that there is an ownerless Origin King Grade Alchemy furnace lying in Water Sky City’s Treasury. I will send it to Grandmaster Zong Ao tomorrow.”
Because of today’s incident, Ai Ou had become very friendly to Zong Ao because he firmly stood by Yang Kai’s side from the beginning to the end.
Zong Ao immediately smiled and cupped his fists as he thanked, “Thank you very much, President Ai Ou.”
“A hero deserves a good sword.”
Just as several people were talking, Zhan Yaun’s voice echoed from that side as he yelled, “Friend, Honoured Teacher said that there is too big of a gap between him and you. And since there is no time limit for this competition, as long as you refined the Soul Source Restoration Pill, the Honoured Teacher will admit defeat.”
“This junior thanks Grandmaster for his kind intentions. This junior will try his very best!” Yang Kai cupped his fists and thanked loudly.
Zhan Yuan responded with a sneer.
Ai Ou’s face turned serious as he shouted in a low voice, “Since both of you are ready, let the competition begin!”
Just as he said, a scorching heatwave suddenly spread from Zuo De’s side. Obviously, the Spirit Array was started up, drawing the power of Earth Fire.
“Yang Kai, don’t be nervous. It’s no big deal to lose,” Xue Yue said with concern.
There was one thing she didn’t say. If Yang Kai really lost, she would do anything to take Yang Kai out of Water Sky City even if she had to risk her life. In any case, she couldn’t let him be a slave for two millennia. She believed that her father would not ignore it.
“I’m not nervous.” Yang Kai nodded. “However… Can you stand a bit back? I can’t work if you keep standing here.”
“Hm, I’m sorry! I forgot!” Ai Ou and the others were rendered speechless. They hurriedly retreated.
In a flash, the ninth level of the Alchemist Pavilion was divided into two, one was centred around Zuo De. Over five hundred Alchemists of Saint King Grade or above had formed a large circle around Zuo De, staring their eyes out at Zuo De, lest they missed any details.
And the other was around Yang Kai. But compared to all the hub-bub around Zuo De, it looked extremely desolate here. There were only Ai Ou, Xue Yue, and Zong Ao around Yang Kai, that’s all. The trio looked extremely nervous, worrying about gains and losses.
Ai Ou and Xue Yue exchanged glances with each other from time to time as if they were exchanging something ulterior.
Suddenly, some unsuppressed exclaims rose from Zuo De’s side. Zuo De opened the Alchemy furnace in front of him before throwing the already prepared herbs skillfully into the pill furnace by Zuo De. With one hand, he was throwing the herbs inside, with the other, he was controlling the heat. His every action was extremely fluid, simple, and eye-catching, fascinating the five hundred or so Alchemists so much that they forgot Ai Ou’s previous warning for the moment.
“As expected of the Grandmaster. He actually put the Eternal Water Orchid and Blue Heart Fruit together. I can’t even think of doing it even in my dreams.”
“Strange, the Sea Grass and Red Flame Flower have opposite attributes. Putting them one after another will ruin their efficacy. Shouldn’t he refine one first before putting the other one?”
“What do you know? Grandmaster has his own reasons for doing this. Didn’t you notice that when Grandmaster placed the Sea Grass into the furnace, he activated the Spirit Array inside the pill furnace with his Saint Qi? I’m afraid the two herbs had already merged perfectly.”
“So that’s how it is! Grandmaster seems to be too fast, my eyes can’t keep up with him. I’m so ashamed!”
“Hehe, what’s there to be ashamed of before the Grandmaster!? You better keep watching! Today’s gain will surely be the blessing of my life.”
Zuo De was a veteran Origin King Grade Alchemist. Zuo De might have agreed to compete with Yang Kai in anger but once he entered the Alchemy zone, he became as calm as an ancient dried-up well. All the sound around him disappeared. All in his eyes was the heat, timing, pill furnace, and ingredients. Everything else was already thrown aside.
Just like this, Zuo De had the demeanour of an expert. And coupled with the fluent movements and the grasp of the timing of the fire, as well as his knowledge of Alchemy, he had instantly conquered all the Alchemists present, dazzling everyone. They all hoped to have these images and scenes last forever, never to end.
Even though it was very loud and noisy around him, these noises failed to enter Zuo De’s ears.
He had entered a state of selflessness. Just by this point alone, it was quite evident that he had not become Origin King Grade Alchemist by a fluke. He indeed had what it takes.
Even the nearby Yang Kai could not help but marvel at the sight of this scene.
Martial Dao was just the same as Alchemic Dao. Only when one put all their energy into it could they achieve something. A person who tried to pursue two things and aimed high could never go too far.
Yang Kai didn’t waste any more time, seeing that Zuo De had already started. He took a deep breath and adjusted his state of mind. In an instant, Yang Kai’s face turned serious as his pupils constricted.
It seemed that there was only the pill furnace and the herbs in his eyes, and nothing else.
Yang Kai had also entered the selflessness state in an instant.
The opponent was a veteran Origin King Grade Alchemist. Naturally, he couldn’t be half-assed about it.
Ai Ou’s immediately lit up at the sight of this. He asked Zong Ao in a low voice, pleasantly surprised, “Grandmaster Zong, I think the air around Brother Yang is not worse than Zuo De’s. He wouldn’t happen to really be an Alchemist?”
Zong Ao smiled and whispered back, “Yang Kai is an Alchemist. This old man can guarantee this. Well, this old man has seen him refine the pills with his own eyes, and not just once. He had also refined a pill with Pill Clouds!”
“What!?” Ai Ou was taken aback. “He is so good? Grandmaster Zong, you aren’t lying to me, are you?”
“How can this Zong do that? Are you kidding me?” Zong Ao’s eyes turned dull as if he was recalling something. “When that pill was being refined, this Zong had been watching from the sidelines and had gained a lot. But…”
“But what!?”
“But the level of that pill wasn’t that high. It gave birth to Pill Clouds by some fluke of chance and coincidence.” Zong Ao said, going straight to the point, “The pill he is going to be refining today is the Soul Source Restoration Pill. It’s an Origin King Grade pill. As for whether he can refine it or not, this Zong can’t say with certainty. But his Alchemy technique and talent in Alchemic Dao is absolutely second to none. President, look… uh…”
As Zong Ao was speaking, he saw Yang Kai throw the material given to Yang Kai by Ai Ou continuously into the Purple Origin Furnace.
Unlike Grandmaster Zuo De’s fluent and skilful movements, Yang Kai was throwing herbs in a rather fast manner. He had thrown all of them almost in one go and closed the Purple Origin Furnace’s lid right away, without any fancy movements.
Even people who didn’t understand Alchemy would find it disturbing.
Xue Yue immediately grew worried.
Ai Ou was jaw-slacked as well. He looked completely speechless but he still asked Zong Ao, just in case, “Grandmaster Zong… is there a point why Yang Kai is doing like this?”
“I don’t know either.” Zong Ao looked a little puzzled.
No Alchemist threw all the herbs into the pill furnace at once. Every pill needed its ingredients to be put in a specific order to refine. And then there was the timing to put it in. Whenever a herb was put into the pill furnace, the Alchemist had to expend his mind and energy to control the heat in the pill furnace and merge the medicinal liquid with appropriate methods.
This was a gradual process and the process had to be slow and meticulous.
Only by doing this, could the Alchemist refine a good pill.
“He would ruin the herbs by doing this.” Zong Ao was growing anxious. “Every herb responds to different temperatures differently. When he is going to draw the power of Earth Fire, he will be in a difficult situation.”
[Even though the power of Earth Fire can be controlled, it definitely isn’t as easy and flexible as the Saint Qi controlled by the cultivator himself. Didn’t you see Grandmaster Zuo De constantly control the Spirit Array, change the size of the Earth Fire? Because of this, herbs are needed to be put in, one by one. It isn’t a hotpot. How can you throw it all at once?]
“Did he give up because he knows he couldn’t beat Zuo De?” Ai Ou thought of a possibility.
Yang Kai proposed to compete with Zuo De to refine the Soul Source Restoration Pill in order to save Gu Bi Hu. As long as Zuo De agreed to this competition, Gu Bi Hu had hopes of waking up. Yang Kai’s victory or defeat was another matter.
“He isn’t this reckless! Just keep watching!” Xue Yue bit her thin lips gently, her pretty eyes glued at Yang Kai. Her palms had become all sweaty.
To everyone’s dismay, Yang Kai still didn’t turn on the Spirit Array to draw the power of Earth Fire after putting all the herbs. Instead, he closed his eyes and sat still in a cross-legged position, forming mysterious seals with his hands.
This wasn’t hidden from Zhan Yuan, who had been observing Yang Kai’s movements. He couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of this. “I thought that he still had an inch of skill, but it turns out that he doesn’t even know the most basic common sense of Alchemy. He actually threw all the herbs into the pill furnace, hahaha!”
When the Alchemists by his side heard this, they looked at Yang Kai and shook their heads. Someone immediately said, “What a waste of so many good herbs! It’s really hateful!”
In the eyes of Alchemists, every good herb must be put to good use.
Naturally, Yang Kai’s wastefulness drew their ire and dissatisfaction.
Alchemists, who were originally sympathizing with Yang Kai, were filled with resentment when this scene fell into their eyes.
But right then, a scorching heatwave surged from Yang Kai’s side. This scorching heatwave gave everyone a strange feeling. It seemed to be ever-changing, gentle yet violent. It was hard to see through it clearly.
This feeling gave the impression that flames of different temperatures were gathered at one place but they didn’t conflict nor did they merge with each other. It was very weird.
“Where is this scorching heat coming from?”
“That’s weird! He is neither drawing the Earth Fire nor is he circulating Saint Qi. Where is this power coming from?”
Many Alchemists looked at Yang Kai suspiciously. They were a little puzzled.
“Conflagrated Knowledge Sea!” Zhan Yuan was puzzled at first but suddenly, he seemed to have realized something. He couldn’t help but blurt in surprise, staring at Yang Kai with a fanatical and covetous gaze.
“What!? So it is the Conflagrated Knowledge Sea!?”
“He has a Conflagrated Knowledge Sea!?”
Each Alchemist’s mouth was agape; their mouth was open so wide that an egg could be stuffed into their mouths. They all fixed their gazes at Yang Kai, one after another. Every Alchemist looked extremely excited.
The Conflagrated Knowledge Sea provided the most unique advantage to Alchemists and Artifact Refiners. Alchemists and Artifact Refiners with Conflagrated Knowledge Sea could achieve twice the result with half the effort when refining pills or artifacts.
This was common sense that everyone agreed with.
But how many people in this world had Conflagrated Knowledge Sea? And how many of these people had the aptitude for Alchemy and Artifact Refining? In those five hundred or so Alchemists, none of them possessed a Conflagrated Knowledge Sea, including Zuo De.
But Yang Kai had it!
Even the extremely calm Zuo De, who had entered a complete selfless state, couldn’t help but raise his head and glanced at Yang Kai, looking at him with surprise.
But soon, he withdrew his gazes and stopped paying attention to Yang Kai.
Because he knew that one had to focus on Alchemy with undivided attention. Observing others would only mess with one’s mind. [So what if he has a Conflagrated Knowledge Sea? This old man has over a thousand years of experience in Alchemic Dao! Not many people have a Conflagrated Knowledge Sea in the entire Star Field, and none of those that have it is an Origin King Grade Alchemist.]
[And this old man is!] Zuo De was filled with disdain.
“Damn it!” Zhan Yuan ground his teeth and cursed. He looked pretty annoyed, thinking that an excellent Alchemist like him didn’t have Conflagrated Knowledge Sea, but Yang Kai had it.
And coupled with the Origin King Grade Alchemy furnace before, Zhan Yuan suddenly felt that the Heavens must be jealous of his talents, and they were too unjust!
[If an Origin Grade Alchemist like me had the Conflagrated Knowledge Sea, I would definitely be able to reach the height of Honoured Teacher in the future. No, no, no… I would definitely surpass the Honoured Teacher and have unprecedented success.]
Only now did Zhan Yuan understand why Yang Kai had acted so bizarrely before.
[He actually has the Conflagrated Knowledge Sea, and it seems that his control over the Conflagrated Knowledge Sea has reached a high degree of proficiency. With this advantage, he can throw all the herbs into the pill furnace without any major problems. As long as he could divide his own Conflagrated Knowledge Sea well, he can control the heat of the melting point of each herb!]
[Would this be difficult for a Second-Order Origin King master?] Zhan Yuan gave it a thought and realized that it would be a piece of cake for Yang Kai.
Sure enough, after Yang Kai stimulated his Conflagrated Knowledge Sea, Ai Ou seemed to have realized something. The worry on his face was immediately gone and a smile appeared on his face instead.
With the assistance of his Conflagrated Knowledge Sea, Yang Kai didn’t need to draw the power of Earth Fire.
He could feel that Yang Kai’s Divine Sense was divided into countless strands. The intensity of every strand was different. The divided Conflagrated Knowledge Sea poured into the pill furnace and wrapped the herbs he had put in before starting to refine them into medicinal liquid.
The medicinal liquid refined by Conflagrated Knowledge Sea was more pure and thorough than the one refined by Earth-Fire!
Ai Ou even felt that Yang Kai’s Divine Sense in the Purple Origin Furnace was constantly changing as all kinds of complex Spirit Arrays appeared and disappeared inside the pill furnace. The speed was insanely fast. And during this, Yang Kai’s hand seals were also constantly changing.
His movements weren’t that fast, and nor were they eye-catching but those hand seals were extremely mysterious as if they didn’t belong to this world.
Meanwhile, Zong Ao’s mind was completely immersed in Yang Kai’s world.
He was different from Ai Ou.
Ai Ou was a layman who was simply enjoying the show. He could only see the general picture but Zong Ao was an Origin Grade High-Rank Alchemist. He could spy upon the profundity of the Alchemic Way from the changes in Yang Kai’s Conflagrated Knowledge Sea, the rise and fall of the Spirit Arrays in the pill furnace, and Yang Kai’s various hand seals.
He was immersed in his thoughts. The glow in his eyes started to change. He seemed to be swimming in the endless ocean of the Alchemic Dao, ignoring everything else.
The more he pondered, the more he gained. Yang Kai’s mastery of timing and heat, or even the single change in Yang Kai’s hand seal, would often touch the doubts in his heart, prompting him to find answers.
On the ninth level of the Alchemist Pavilion, with the purple mist circling around the Purple Origin Furnace and its lid shut tight, no one could see the changes happening inside, nor could they hear a single sound.
As such, the five hundred or so Alchemists withdrew their gazes.
Since they couldn’t see anything on Yang Kai’s side, all they could do was turn their attention back to Zuo De.
There weren’t that many chances to observe and emulate an Origin King Grade Alchemy Grandmaster refine pills so closely. If they didn’t cherish this opportunity, they would regret it for life.
Furthermore, rumour had that Grandmaster Zuo De was quite a pretentious man. Usually, even if these Alchemists visited him in person, they might not even see a glance of Zuo De, but thanks to Yang Kai, they had the chance to observe and emulate his Alchemy skills.
As this thought crossed everyone’s mind, many people actually thanked Yang Kai in their hearts, though only slightly. At the same time, they sympathized with him as well.
Even if he had the Conflagrated Knowledge Sea, he couldn’t win against a veteran Origin King Grade Alchemist.
Time slowly went by as the entire ninth floor of the Alchemist Pavilion became shrouded in a heavy atmosphere.
At first, the Alchemists were often exclaiming and discussing a lot, admiring Zuo De’s amazing skills. But as time passed, everyone stopped talking. Everyone’s attention was completely focused on the Zuo De and the pill furnace before him.
Many Alchemists were absorbed in their enlightenment. Obviously, they had quite a bit of harvest but they didn’t have the time to understand it in depth. All they could do was suppress all of their ideas and thoughts for now and recall them later slowly.
Gradually, medicinal fragrance started to permeate into the surroundings, rising from Zuo De’s pill furnace.
The fragrance was light and refreshing. It seemed as if an invisible hand was caressing every Alchemist; they appeared to be enjoying it.
Zhan Yuan, watching the movements in Zuo De’s pill furnace, looked most excited. From time to time, he would glance at Yang Kai with a mocking smile on his lips, like the victory was already in their grasp.
He found that ever since Yang Kai brought out the Conflagrated Knowledge Sea, there was no other unusual movement thereafter, as if no pill was being refined on that side.
This made him even more proud.
He could not help but think how Yang Kai would become Zuo De’s servant once he lost. And as Zuo De’s disciple, his status would be naturally higher than a servant. If Yang Kai lived with them together, he could order Yang Kai to do things as he liked!
[Hmm, well, he is still a Second-Order Origin King. I still have to give him a little face otherwise he might become angry out of shame. I guess I can’t really beat him.]
[I guess I can only ask him to clean my room every day. Also, he seems to know the basics of Alchemy. I can also ask him to be my assistant.]
[It’s decided then!] Thinking of better days ahead, Zhan Yuan felt even happier than marrying a bewitching beauty. He couldn’t wait to dance around to show his excitement.
Just like that, two days had gone by in a flash.
At present, Zuo De cut an extremely sorry figure; his entire body was sweating buckets, which was then evaporated by the high temperature around him, making him look extremely dishevelled.
But no one scorned him.
Because Zuo De was an Origin Returning Realm cultivator. And he was getting older to boot. He had been refining the pill for two days straight; no one could bear this.
Zuo De might not be looking good but he was filled with excitement. His eyes were glowing.
Whereas on Yang Kai’s side, it had been calm and uneventful all the while. Nothing noticeable happened over these two days. Only the purple mist kept dancing around the Purple Origin Furnace.
At some point, Zuo De’s figure jolted as his hands suddenly formed some mysterious seals.
Everyone immediately cried in excitement.
“Grandmaster’s very own Pill Condensing Technique!”
“Is this the rumoured Red Lotus Divine Hands Method? It’s indeed true to its reputation! It isn’t worse than any ancient Pill Condensing Techniques. It might even be better.”
“I have devised this type of technique once, but compared to Grandmaster’s, it’s nothing!”
“This Pill Condensing Technique was created by Grandmaster himself. How can you compare yourself with Grandmaster?”
The crowd of Alchemists immediately became spirited. Everyone’s eyes were glued on Zuo De’s movements; they weren’t willing to miss any details. They would have hit it big if they could see through the mysteries of this set of Pill Condensing Technique.
Zuo De’s hands danced in the air like butterflies, slapping the pill furnace before him, again and again. Every time he smacked the pill furnace, a red lotus would appear, which would then crumble into pieces before flying into the pill furnace, creating a magic effect on the pill that was about to be formed in the pill furnace.
This was the very Red Lotus Divine Hands Method created by Zuo De!
Zuo De smacked eighty-one palms on the pill furnace, one after another, as eighty-one lotus seals made their way into the pill furnace.
After he hit the pill furnace for the last time, a reverberating crisp sound suddenly rang from the pill furnace. At the same time, the medicinal fragrance wafting out of the furnace suddenly grew richer.
“He has finished refining!” Someone exclaimed in surprise as a frantic look appeared in his eyes.
All the Alchemists present here were very familiar with this scene. Obviously, it was the sign of successful refinement of the pill. Furthermore, judging by the sound from the pill furnace and the medicinal fragrance lingering in the air, Grandmaster Zuo De’s Alchemy this time ended in absolute perfection!
[Grandmaster’s reputation is indeed well-deserved. He only took two days to refine a Mid-Rank Origin King Grade pill. Grandmaster Zuo De is second to none among all the Origin King Grade Alchemists in the entire Star Field!]
Suddenly, Zuo De turned serious and slapped the pill furnace hard before its lid flew up. At the same time, a light blue thing shot out of the pill furnace at an extremely fast speed.
But Zuo De was already prepared. He reached out and immediately froze that light blue mass in its place. Taking and throwing it into the already prepared jade bottle in his other hand with a flick of his hand.
CLANG…
The crisp sound from the bottle made everyone focus their straight at the source.
Zuo De stood and broke into laughter. Although he appeared to be in a mess, his face was extremely ruddy.
“Congratulations, Grandmaster! After refining such a perfect pill today, Grandmaster is just a step away from advancing to the Mid-Rank Origin King Grade.”
“That’s right! The Soul Source Restoration pill is a Mid-Rank Origin King Grade pill. I’m afraid even another Alchemist of the same level would not find it as easy to refine as Grandmaster. Grandmaster seems to have already reached the Mid-Rank Origin King Grade.”
“Grandmaster is indeed a role model for our generations. My skills are nothing before you!”
The crowd of Alchemists broke into a lively discussion. Some took the opportunity to flatter, some congratulated Zuo De sincerely, one after another. All kinds of comments could be heard coming from the crowd.
A smile appeared on Zuo De’s face as he cupped his fists and said, holding the jade bottle in his hand, “Thank you, everyone. This old man is just a step ahead in exploring the Alchemic Way, that’s all. Everyone here is an elite Alchemist. Your future achievements may not be worse than this old man’s.”
Apparently, Zuo De seemed to be in a good mood because everything went so smoothly. He was extremely friendly to everyone.
“Honoured Teacher, may this disciple have the honour to take a look at this pill?” Zhan Yuan, who was well versed in the ways of ass-kissing, naturally knew what to say at this moment.
“Take it!” Zuo De carelessly threw the jade bottle in his hand to Zhan Yuan. Zhan Yuan, pretending to be horrified, carefully took it and studied the Soul Source Restoration Pill through the bottle. He suddenly exclaimed in the next moment, “Honoured Teacher is indeed awesome. This pill is round and transparent, and its medicinal properties are quite concentrated to boot. I’m afraid it has reached High-Rank in quality alone. If it could go one step further, I’m afraid it would have given birth to Pill Veins.”
The expression on some of the Alchemists’ faces grew a bit unnatural, thinking that Zhan Yuan had gone a bit over with his ass-kissing.
[It’s already impressive that he was able to refine an Origin King Grade Pill. And now, you are even craving for Pill Veins.]
[In the entire Star Field, no one in tens of thousands of years seemed to have refined an Origin King Grade pill with Pill Veins.
Although such thoughts were circling in everyone’s mind, no one pointed it out.
One by one, everyone turned their gazes at the jade bottle in Zhan Yuan’s hand. How could Zhan Yuan not know what was going in everyone’s mind? After confirming with Zuo De, he passed the jade bottle to another Alchemist to study.
As the jade bottle went around the Alchemists’ hands, every Alchemist poured out their praises and marvels.
Zuo De felt extremely proud of his success. He seemed to have become a few hundred years younger.
“Grandpa, you are done but what about that guy?” Zuo Ling suddenly asked.
“Let’s just go and see.” Zuo De smiled.
Zhan Yuan smiled and said, rubbing his palms, “Teacher, you don’t understand, this disciple has kept an eye on that guy for the past two days. At first, your disciple thought that with his Conflagrated Knowledge Sea, his Alchemy skills must be superb. But unfortunately…”
“Unfortunately what!?”
“Unfortunately, he only has Conflagrated Knowledge Sea, and nothing else!” Zhan Yuan broke into laughter.
Zuo De reprimanded but a slight smile could be seen hanging on his lips, “You should not underestimate anyone. The Conflagrated Knowledge Sea provides an unimaginable edge to us Alchemists. He doesn’t seem to absolutely ignorant of this, perhaps he really is an Alchemist.”
“Teacher, you are right. However, even if he is an Alchemist, he is far behind you, Teacher,” said Zhan Yuan.
Zuo De proudly smiled and waved his hand, “As you can see, the youngsters these days…”
At this point, the crowd led by Zuo De arrived before Yang Kai.
“Congratulations, Grandmaster.” As the host, President Ai Ou might be standing on Yang Kai’s side but he couldn’t help but bow and congratulate Zuo De since Zuo De was here. And judging by everyone’s discussion, he knew that Zuo De had already finished refining the Soul Source Restoration pill.
His feelings were complicated.
On one hand, the successful refinement of the Soul Source Restoration pill made him very happy as Gu Bi Hu could be saved now.
But on the other hand, Yang Kai’s freedom for two thousand years was put at stake for this pill. If Yang Kai lost, he would no longer be able to rest easy.
So, Ai Ou didn’t know whether he should be happy or worried. Deep down, all he could do was pray for a miracle that Yang Kai could successfully refine the Soul Source Restoration Pill.
“I should be the one congratulating President Ai Ou.” Zuo De smiled as he stretched his hand out. Zhan Yuan hurriedly offered the jade bottle with both hands before Zuo De took it and gifted it to Ai Ou. “Since the Soul Source Restoration Pill is refined, Mrs. Gu will be all right now!”
Ai Ou forced a smile. “Thank you very much for your help, Grandmaster!”
“It’s my duty! After all, this old man is the Foreign Elder of the Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce, and Mrs. Gu is President Ai Ou’s wife. Since Mrs. Gu is in trouble, this old man can’t sit idly!” Zuo De replied, earnestly.
Ai Ou almost couldn’t help but curse his mother.
[This old bastard is saying this now! Where did your conscience go before? Weren’t you forcing this King to agree to Xue Yue’s marriage?]
[You are really shameless!]