"No need for too many formalities."
Qin Lan smiled. Although he had never met Fang Qingyao, he had heard of her name.
After all, she was the senior sister of the Lingyun Sect.
With an eighth-layer cultivation in the Vein Condensation Realm and possessing two Spirit Veins in her body, Fang Qingyao's name was quite well-known throughout the entire Chu Kingdom.
Soon, the three of them walked together, and before long, they arrived outside the Drunken Ink Residence.
"Please wait here for a moment, Old Qin, I'll go and announce your arrival." Li Huayuan said.
Qin Lan nodded and stopped outside the courtyard of the Drunken Ink Residence.
Fang Qingyao, however, felt a shock in her heart.
Once upon a time, the Pavilion Master of the Anomaly Pavilion, a Third Grade Alchemy Master, had to be announced before meeting Ji Chen?
Such a thing was unthinkable in the past.
With Qin Lan's status and position, if he appeared within the Lingyun Sect, even the Sect Leader Ji Xiaotian wouldn't dare to show any disrespect.
"Young Sect Leader."
Quickly entering the Drunken Ink Residence and glancing around, they saw Ji Chen meditating under a tree in the courtyard.
Li Huayuan stepped forward, speaking softly and stating the purpose of their visit.
"Qin Lan?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Chen was stunned. "The Pavilion Master of the Anomaly Pavilion..."
If this were in the past, with his infamous reputation, the Young Sect Leader wouldn't have had a ghost of a chance to meet him.
Yet, somehow, their statuses had reversed, with Qin Lan coming to seek an audience, and he even needed an announcement afterward.
"Let him in." Ji Chen said, showing no intent to refuse the meeting.
Besides, he had some thoughts about the Alchemy Master Alliance recently, and since Qin Lan was the Pavilion Master of the Anomaly Pavilion and a Third Grade Alchemist, getting in touch couldn't be a bad thing.
Soon, led by Li Huayuan, Qin Lan also entered the courtyard.
He glanced around to take in his surroundings.
He saw that besides Ji Chen and Fang Qingyao, who had come with them, there was no one else in the courtyard.
Li Huayuan couldn't help but feel puzzled.
Where was that senior?
Could it be they were unwilling to meet him?
But if that were the case, why would Li Huayuan bring him to this courtyard?
Also, who was this young man?
He looked very young, probably no more than eighteen years old; could he be a disciple of some senior?
"Young Sect Leader, this is Master Qin Lan."
While he was puzzled, Li Huayuan began his introduction.
Young Sect Leader?
Upon hearing this title, Qin Lan was momentarily stunned.
Then he quickly reacted.
Could this young man be the infamous playboy, the Young Sect Leader Ji Chen of the Lingyun Sect?
Why was he here?
Qin Lan had heard many things about this playboy.
After all, Ji Chen often caused trouble in Yang City.
The latest incident seemed to involve a conflict with people from the Celestial Profound Sect, leaving him gravely injured and carried back.
"Ha ha, so this young friend is Ji Chen. I've long heard of your reputation."
At this thought, Qin Lan couldn't help but make a sarcastic remark, showing he never had a fond impression of such notorious playboys.
As a Pavilion Master in the Anomaly Pavilion, he often encountered many family and Sect figures seeking elixirs, many of whom were like Ji Chen.
This attitude from Qin Lan left Ji Chen momentarily stunned.
Yet he didn't engage in petty arguments.
After all, in Qin Lan's eyes, he was indeed a playboy.
"Old Qin..."
Li Huayuan, standing beside him, grew anxious and whispered something in Qin Lan's ear.
"What did you say?!"
Upon hearing Li Huayuan's words, Qin Lan's expression changed dramatically, he furrowed his brows and said, "Li, this joke isn't funny at all. You mean this Young Sect Leader is the senior you mentioned?"
How could that be possible?
Qin Lan felt as if he had heard an earth-shattering joke.
Wasn't he just a notorious playboy Young Sect Leader?
"I observe Old Qin's complexion, could it be you've contracted Pill Fire Poison?" Just then, Ji Chen suddenly spoke.
Upon these words, Qin Lan's face froze.
He quickly looked at Ji Chen with astonishment and asked, "How did you know?"
Aside from himself, no one else knew about this.
Not even Li Huayuan, whom he had known for years.
Pill Fire Poison is a mysterious ailment exclusive to alchemists.
Due to prolonged exposure to Pill Fire, the fire damages the sea of consciousness.
The sea of consciousness is one of the two primal origins of the human body. Any issue or damage is nearly irreversible.
For numerous years, any alchemist afflicted with Pill Fire Poison didn't live past three years.
Qin Lan contracted Pill Fire Poison over a year ago, and he could feel the cracks in his origin sea of consciousness, signaling his impending demise!
Unexpectedly, this young man could see his affliction of Pill Fire Poison at a glance!
How did he do it?
Qin Lan was shocked yet inexplicably excited at the prospect of hope. With a trembling voice, he asked, "Is it possible you... uh... Senior, since you could tell I've got Pill Fire Poison at a glance, do you perhaps have a way..."
"Old Qin, you've contracted Pill Fire Poison?"
Beside him, Li Huayuan's face also changed drastically.
Having been close friends for many years, he never expected Qin Lan to suffer from a condition dreaded by all alchemists.
"I do have a solution, but it may not save you right now." Ji Chen said calmly.
Li Huayuan immediately kneeled with one knee toward Ji Chen, "Young Sect Leader, Old Qin is my old friend; if you can help him, please, I..."
"Stand up first." Ji Chen, startled, quickly helped him up.
He then turned to Qin Lan and said, "I do know of an elixir that can cure Pill Fire Poison, but it's of a high grade, reaching the seventh level. Not to mention whether the ingredients can be found, even finding them, the elixir is beyond our ability to concoct."
Indeed, Pill Fire Poison had always been an incurable ailment for alchemists in both past and present lives.
However, during his previous life, Ji Chen stumbled upon a pill formula known as 'Celestial Cold Pill' in some ancient ruins.
This seventh-grade elixir specifically counters Pill Fire Poison.
In his past life, Ji Chen used this elixir to save an alchemist suffering from Pill Fire Poison.
Since then, Pill Fire Poison was no longer a terminal ailment.
But in the current world, the Celestial Cold Pill didn't exist.
"Is there really such an elixir?" Li Huayuan and Qin Lan were both surprised.
Finding it unbelievable.
As they knew, Pill Fire Poison was a wound to the sea of consciousness, an irreversible condition feared by all alchemists.
Throughout history, there was no mention of any elixir capable of treating it.