The Patriarch of the Chen Family sat at the head of the grand council chamber, his fingers tightly clenched into fists. His sharp, aged eyes flickered with irritation as he listened to the elders around him. The heavy atmosphere in the room mirrored his mood, thick with frustration and lingering tension.
"Patriarch, it is utterly shocking that the boy can cultivate! And even more so that he survived that deadly poison!" one of the elders exclaimed, shaking his head in disbelief.
The other elders nodded in agreement, murmuring among themselves.
The Patriarch let out a long, weary sigh, rubbing his temples. "Ying'er refuses to tell me the truth… He must have his reasons. After all, we treated him poorly for years. We have no right to expect anything from him now." His voice was heavy with regret.
Despite his guilt, a hint of relief crept into his expression. "But whatever the case, it is a blessing from the heavens that he survived. I've decided—I will personally register him in one of the best academies."
A murmur of approval swept through the room, though curiosity remained in the elders' eyes.
One of the senior elders chuckled, stroking his long beard. "From a frail Yin Constitution to a Celestial Lotus Constitution… it's nothing short of a miracle."
Another elder joined in with a laugh. "A miracle indeed!"
But just as the joyous mood filled the chamber, the Patriarch's expression darkened. He lifted a hand, cutting through their celebration.
"A miracle, yes… but we must not forget one thing." His voice turned cold. "Someone tried to kill Ying'er. We must find out who attempted to poison him. Justice must be served."
His fingers drummed against the wooden table as he spoke, his tone laced with authority. "I have already dispatched guards to investigate. Whoever did this… will pay."
The elders exchanged glances, nodding solemnly.
Just then, the grand doors of the hall swung open with a creak, interrupting the discussion.
A figure in alchemist robes stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Master."
The Patriarch's brow arched at the visitor. "Ah, Huo Ye… what brings you here? Are we out of herbs again?" He rubbed his temples as if already preparing for another headache.
Huo Ye cleared his throat and shook his head. "No, Master. I come on behalf of the Third Young Master."
A sudden silence fell over the hall. The elders' eyes widened in curiosity.
The Patriarch leaned forward, interest piqued. "Oh? And what does Ying'er want now?"
Huo Ye pulled out a neatly folded parchment from his Hanfu sleeve and handed it over. The Patriarch unfurled it, his gaze scanning the request—then suddenly, his eyebrows twitched violently.
"STAR FROST GRASS?!" His voice boomed through the chamber, nearly making the elders jump out of their seats. His grip on the parchment tightened as if he were about to crush it.
"That's an extremely rare herb! Even the Alchemy Hall in Pill City doesn't have it!" He slammed the paper onto the table, shaking his head.
The elders looked at each other, whispering in astonishment. "Where in the world did the Young Master even hear of such an herb?"
Huo Ye, unbothered by the Patriarch's outburst, calmly replied, "Master, the Third Young Master said it's available at the Alchemy Hall."
The room fell into stunned silence.
The Patriarch's jaw nearly dropped. "What did you just say?" His eyes twitched again, as if questioning reality itself.
One of the elders coughed awkwardly. "Patriarch… if the Young Master says it's there, should we not at least confirm it?"
The Patriarch pinched the bridge of his nose. "This boy…! First, he miraculously survives poison. Now, he suddenly knows the location of rare herbs? What next? Is he going to start refining Saint-grade pills overnight?!"
Another elder chimed in hesitantly. "Perhaps he… has some connections to the Alchemy Hall?"
The Patriarch exhaled sharply before finally slamming his palm against the table. "Fine! If he says it's there, then someone better go and find out!"
He turned to Huo Ye, his expression serious but still laced with disbelief. "Send a messenger to the Alchemy Hall in Pill City immediately! And if they do have it… then I will personally see to it that Ying'er gets what he needs."
Huo Ye bowed. "Understood, Master." He swiftly turned and left the chamber.
As the doors closed behind him, the Patriarch leaned back in his chair, still fuming. "…What is that boy planning?"
The elders exchanged glances before one of them hesitantly spoke. "Perhaps… the heavens have truly blessed Young Master Chen Ying."
The Patriarch scoffed. "Or maybe… the heavens are just playing tricks on me."
The chamber fell into silence once more, each elder lost in thought.
The grand hall of the Chen Family was filled with dignified elders and alchemists, their expressions a mix of curiosity and astonishment. At the center of the hall stood an ornate table, upon which several finely wrapped herb packages lay, exuding a faint medicinal aroma. The room was silent, save for the hushed murmurs of the Alchemy Hall messengers, their gazes fixated on the entrance.
Then, he arrived.
Chen Ying stepped into the hall with an elegant, unhurried gait, his pristine white Hanfu embroidered with golden cloud patterns flowing gracefully behind him. His long, jet-black hair was tied loosely with a jade clasp, a few strands falling naturally over his forehead, adding to his ethereal charm. His face, refined and serene, held an otherworldly detachment, yet his deep eyes flickered with unfathomable wisdom.
As he moved, the room seemed to quiet on its own, the gathered elders and alchemists unable to look away. His aura, though restrained, carried a presence that demanded respect. Even the Patriarch, who had long seen countless geniuses, found himself momentarily speechless.
The old man finally cleared his throat. "Ying'er... Here are the herbs you requested."
Chen Ying's gaze drifted to the table. He approached with measured steps, his sleeves fluttering as he extended a slender hand to unwrap the parcels. Inside, the glimmering medicinal herbs sat in pristine condition, their rare energies pulsing faintly. A subtle smile curved his lips as he ran his fingers across the herbs.
Then, with graceful composure, he turned to the Patriarch and bowed slightly.
"Thank you, Patriarch. However... I have another request."
The Patriarch blinked. "Another request?" His brows furrowed in puzzlement. "Ying'er… is the herb not to your liking? If it's not, I can have them exchanged immediately." He stroked his long beard, deep in thought.
Chen Ying, still calm, shook his head slightly. "No, the herbs are perfect. But... I require the Alchemist Hall to refine the Nine Revolution Purification Pill as well."
A sudden shift occurred in the hall.
The Alchemy Hall members exchanged glances, whispering hurriedly among themselves. The Nine Revolution Purification Pill was no ordinary pill—it required not only rare materials but an immensely powerful alchemic flame. For a mere youth to make such a demand…
Chen Ying continued, his voice carrying a quiet certainty.
"I have heard that one of the best alchemists possesses the Void Ember Fire, a legendary flame derived from a fallen starlight."
The Alchemy Hall disciples froze. Their murmurs turned frantic.
"How does he know about the Void Ember Fire?"
"Even Master Jing never disclosed its origin!"
"Could this boy be… someone beyond what we understand?"
Chen Ying remained composed, but within his Qing Chen sense, his thoughts surged.
"The Voidstar Ember… It came from a celestial starlight that fell five hundred years ago. I once desired its essence, but in my previous life, I instead obtained the Starlight Cosmic Flame, ranked second to the Voidstar. At that time, Jing Yi had already secured the Void Ember as his personal flame. But now… my body was destroyed, my alchemic fire lost. To cultivate this Celestial Constitution, I require the perfect flame for refinement… and his fire is the key."
Just then, the grand doors creaked open again, and a tall figure stepped inside.
The hall fell into silence.
Draped in a flowing dark blue robe embroidered with alchemic runes, Jing Yi, the Grand Alchemist of Pill City, strode forward with a confident smirk. His piercing gaze immediately settled on Chen Ying, his amusement evident.
"Did this child… just ask for my flame to refine his pill?" His voice carried an air of intrigue. Then, he suddenly chuckled. "And not only that, but he even knows its origin? Hah! Young Master Chen, you are truly impressive. No wonder you didn't ask your family's alchemists to refine the pill."
The members of the Alchemy Hall stiffened, clearly displeased. To them, this was a confidential matter. Yet, their Master was treating it as a joke!
Chen Ying lowered his head slightly in respect, his expression unreadable.
Jing Yi, however, continued to observe him with growing curiosity.
"Nobody not even the highest elders of Pill City—knows the true origins of my flame… Yet this child does."
His eyes narrowed, a flicker of suspicion flashing through them.
"Even with his former crippled state, this boy is not ordinary... His knowledge surpasses his age. This is no coincidence."
A slow exhale left him as he studied Chen Ying further.
"And those rare materials... he knew exactly where to find them, even when many in the Alchemy Hall do not. What is he planning?"
The atmosphere in the hall grew thick with tension.
Jing Yi finally sighed deeply, rubbing his forehead as if processing an unexpected headache.
Chen Ying lifted his gaze slightly, his eyes glimmering with an unreadable light.