"Boy, you came to Qingxuanju just to make trouble, didn't you?"
Bai Zixuan's face darkened, his eyes narrowing dangerously."If you know what's good for you, you'll turn around and get lost. This isn't a place where you can act wild."
His voice dripped with arrogance.
Who was his teacher? Yan Qingxuan.
A sixth-rank alchemy master. A man so esteemed that even the King of Great Xia would tread carefully before him.
And this bronze nobody dared to stand here and make demands?
"Are you sure you want me to get lost?"
Jiang Chen's tone was calm, almost amused. "I hope… you won't regret that in a moment."
"Hah! You?"
Bai Zixuan barked out a laugh, full of contempt.Regret? Me?
He wasn't just Yan Qingxuan's disciple. He was also the son of Bai Jinshengtian, Lord of Lingyun City.
Who could possibly make him regret his words?
Jiang Chen ignored him. Instead, he turned to Meng Qingxue."Call into the courtyard. Say it three times—'The Qingshuang Spirit Fruit is misplaced.'"
Meng Qingxue blinked, startled. "What?"
"Just do it."
Though puzzled, she obeyed.
Her crisp voice rang out:"The Qingshuang Spirit Fruit is misplaced!""The Qingshuang Spirit Fruit is misplaced!""The Qingshuang Spirit Fruit is misplaced!"
Bai Zixuan's expression twisted. "You—!"
But before he could erupt, a loud bang shook the courtyard.
The sound of a furnace exploding.
Bai Zixuan froze.
As an alchemist, he knew that sound all too well.
The teacher… fried the furnace?
Before the shock settled, the doors to the inner courtyard burst open, and an old man with disheveled hair and a sooty face hurried out.
Yan Qingxuan.
The master of Qingxuanju himself.
"Girl Qingxue?!" Yan Qingxuan's eyes lit up with surprise as he saw Meng Qingxue. "You just called out—the Qingshuang Spirit Fruit was misplaced?!"
"Master Yan," Jiang Chen spoke up before Meng Qingxue could reply, his tone light, unhurried. "It was I who asked her to shout."
"You…?"
Yan Qingxuan turned, finally noticing Jiang Chen. His aged, murky eyes sharpened instantly.
"How did you know the Qingshuang Spirit Fruit was the problem?"
His voice trembled with excitement.
Meng Qingxue was stunned.
Bai Zixuan?
Completely petrified.
The sixth-rank alchemy master—the man who was untouchable in all of Great Xia—was looking at Jiang Chen with the respect of a student seeking guidance.
This couldn't be real.
Jiang Chen clasped his hands behind his back, speaking as though discussing something trivial:"If you're using earth spirit milk with the remnant Life Renewal Pill formula, Sky-Burning Grass is fine. But Qingshuang Spirit Fruit is far too cold—it disrupts the medicinal harmony."
He smiled faintly."If Master Yan truly wishes to refine the Life Renewal Pill, replace the Qingshuang Spirit Fruit with Evergreen Vine. The properties are similar, but Evergreen Vine's energy is smoother. It won't clash with the other components."
Yan Qingxuan blinked. Then again.
And suddenly—he laughed, a booming, unrestrained laugh of pure enlightenment."Marvelous! Marvelous! Why did I not think of that before?!"
He looked at Jiang Chen, eyes burning with fervor."Little friend… would you honor me by coming inside? I must speak with you in detail!"
Jiang Chen nodded casually."That's why I came, Master Yan."
Then he turned his gaze toward Bai Zixuan—sharp as a blade."But first… have this disciple of yours leave. He's an eyesore."
"What?!"
Bai Zixuan's blood ran cold.
Yan Qingxuan's expression shifted in an instant—storm clouds replacing his joy.
"You dare obstruct this little friend? Kneel and get out of my sight!"
The old man's roar cracked like thunder.
Puff!
Bai Zixuan's legs buckled, and he collapsed onto the ground, face drained of all color.