Zhao Tong noticed Li Qiuyun sticking close to Chen Ye, aware that his elder brother always admired Li Qiuyun, which made him even more displeased:
"Ha! You are a Spirit Plant Cultivator. What business could you possibly have at Danxia Peak? Moreover, you just rescued True Inheritor Bai from the Grotto Heaven. How could the sect have work for you now?"
Zhao Yushuang forced herself to steady her mind. She had promised her brother to look after these nephews, and she must not... must not be swayed by beauty.
With this thought, she coldly looked at Li Qiuyun: "Tong’er is not entirely wrong. If you have legitimate business, feel free to speak. If you deceive me, don’t blame me for being impolite!"
Li Qiuyun just felt baffled.
Was this old woman just bored? She didn’t look at Uncle Chen at all, just kept staring at her.
Could it be that she thought Li Qiuyun was easy to bully?
The heroic young girl’s gaze turned cold as well, staring back without a hint of concession.
Little did she know, Zhao Yushuang had unspeakable dilemmas.
Chen Ye got straight to the point, his gaze candid: "Chen is quite interested in the Alchemy Dao and has some modest skills. Thus, I came to Danxia Peak, hoping to seek an alchemy role from Guardian Zhao, with the intent to refine pills needed by the sect and simultaneously improve my own alchemical skills."
"An alchemical role?"
Zhao Yushuang found it amusing, frowning as she said,
"I hope Guardian Chen is aware! The sect’s alchemy position is of utmost importance, involving all major Peak Masters and True Inheritors in their cultivation. Modest skills are far from sufficient!"
Zhao Tong, however, was taken aback.
He had inquired about Chen Ye and knew that his expertise in spirit plants was extraordinary, indicating that Chen Ye had profound knowledge in the properties of medicinal herbs.
Additionally, Chen Ye was known for being calm and collected, not someone who speaks nonsense.
Seeing Chen Ye composed, he was even more certain of Chen Ye’s exceptional alchemical skills.
Observing his aunt’s sharp words, he worried she would be embarrassed and quickly transmitted a message:
"Aunt! Send this person away as soon as possible!"
Zhao Yushuang was dismissive: "This person has insulted you; how could your aunt forgive him? It’s ridiculous; alchemy is mentally exhausting. He holds Lisong Valley and, as I heard from the third brother, he took over the Wei Family’s Peach Garden. Why would he need the alchemical salary? I think he’s just here to deceive you, and seeing that I’m protecting you, he made up an excuse."
Zhao Tong was thinking the same thing.
Why would Chen Ye, who is doing so well, want to refine pills for the sect?
Something’s fishy, indeed! Could he be trying to infiltrate Danxia Peak and harm him?
Zhao Tong grew even more anxious, but his aunt was very protective of him, unaware that Chen Ye was likely adept in alchemy, making it difficult to refuse his aunt’s kindness.
He rolled his eyes and added: "Aunt! Think carefully! If he doesn’t know alchemy, why is he so persistent? I think he... he might have other motives, maybe even coveting you!"
"Non... nonsense!" Zhao Yushuang’s heart skipped a beat.
Chen Ye seemed oblivious to the secret conversation between the aunt and nephew, simply smiling calmly: "Modest skills is just a humble phrase. Guardian Zhao can test me and will see. Chen is willing to undergo Guardian Zhao’s assessment and start from the basics. However, I know little about the sect’s pills, so why not start with the Qi Nourishing Pill, from small to big."
"Assessment?"
Zhao Yushuang suppressed the strange emotions stirred by her nephew’s words, a touch of fierceness flashing in her beautiful eyes,
"Fine! This Guardian will test you! Bring a set of Qi Nourishing Pill materials!"
Zhao Tong felt as if he had lost a loved one, knowing he would likely be embarrassed by Chen Ye today.
How unfortunate!
Was he truly inviting a wolf into the house?
Soon, the pill furnace, ground fire, and medicinal herbs were all ready.
Zhao Yushuang silently transmitted an assurance to the anxious Zhao Tong: "Rest assured, Tong’er, this aunt will make sure he is humiliated in public! How can a Loose Cultivator talk about the Alchemy Dao?"
Zhao Tong forced a bitter smile, only hoping his prediction was wrong.
Chen Ye steadied his mind, first using his fingertips to carefully examine each medicinal herb.
To his surprise, Zhao Tong hadn’t tampered with them on purpose.
As he had long mastered the Qi Nourishing Pill, he could refine it with his eyes closed. Without further preparation, he started the alchemy process immediately.
Zhao Yushuang observed coldly, her eyes slightly narrowing.
This person’s movements were fluid and unhesitating, and his mastery over the herbs’ age, appearance, and properties was astonishing.
Could it be, he really had some skills?
Soon, the medicinal liquid in the pill furnace was boiling, the fragrance spreading, with not a hint of burning or stagnation,
The more Zhao Yushuang watched, the more shocked she became. This level of expert grasp on the fusion of medicinal properties, this steady and profound mindset, was clearly at the level of a Grandmaster!
By now, the stone in Zhao Tong’s heart had fallen. He smiled bitterly: "As expected... just as I expected!"
Zhao Yushuang’s delicate face turned slightly cold as she cast a glance at Zhao Tong: "Tong’er, you knew his alchemical skills were extraordinary?"
How could Zhao Tong dare admit it?
Admitting it would mean he had withheld information, wouldn’t it?
So he forced a dry smile and transmitted: "Nephew means, if he indeed knows alchemy, he would also know how exhausting it is, which would hinder cultivation. At his prime, he should be advancing. Why come to Danxia Peak to waste effort on alchemy? It must be for Aunt’s beauty..."
My aunt has always been indifferent to men, remaining single to this day, with her heart set only on the Alchemy Dao.
Even though she was hailed as the Alchemy Fairy in her youth, with countless suitors and being a daughter of the Zhao family, even pursued by True Inheritors, she coldly rejected them all.
Surely, explaining it this way would make my aunt think Chen Ye was after beauty, causing her displeasure.
Just as expected,
when he sent the message over, my aunt fell silent, likely already burning with anger.
"Buzz..."
The pill furnace hummed softly, its medicinal aroma restrained.
Open the furnace!
Ten round, plump, upper-grade Qi Nourishing Pills lay quietly at the bottom of the furnace, shrouded in spiritual qi!
"Wait, there’s also a top-grade Qi Nourishing Pill?"
Zhao Yushuang was stunned. She had immersed herself in the Alchemy Dao for decades, her lifelong dream to refine top-grade pills.
But now, the man in front of her had casually achieved it!
Her eyes heated up, and she stepped forward, picking up a Qi Nourishing Pill herself, her fingertip lightly probing with spiritual power, feeling the mysterious pill patterns, beyond words.
In the vast Lingyin Sect, although there were many talented individuals, they were either frivolous and impetuous, obsessed with cultivation to the exclusion of understanding people, or merely a pretty facade...
Yet a male cultivator with such demeanor, exceptional alchemy, and profound cultivation, Zhao Yushuang had never seen in her life!
His alchemy expertise even surpasses mine...
She felt her knuckles whiten a bit, and she forced herself to look away, calmly saying:
"Then it’s settled. I’ll report this to the sect, and as for the specific duties and responsibilities, I’ll inform you then."
"Yes, thank you, Guardian Zhao."
Chen Ye bowed and took his leave with Li Qiuyun.
Zhao Yushuang’s red lips parted slightly, almost speaking to retain him for a good discussion on the Alchemy Dao.
But seeing her heartbroken nephew, she finally sighed.
Zhao Tong watched as Chen Ye calmly walked past him, subconsciously standing tall, preparing for the coming taunts.
But surprisingly, Chen Ye not only didn’t mock him but instead bowed, saying, "Nephew Zhao, see you later!"
He must be pretending... He must be pretending!
He’s trying to trick me into lowering my guard after how much I bullied him back then; how could he just let it go?
Zhao Tong turned coldly, not caring about Chen Ye at all.
Chen Ye, seeing this, left with Li Qiuyun, feeling relieved.
"Tong’er! Guardian Chen is now a Foundation Establishment cultivator, being so polite to you; why are you lacking in manners?"
Zhao Yushuang expressed a slight displeasure.
Zhao Tong, seeing this, was about to tear up again: "Is Aunt going to speak for outsiders? Father’s spirit in the heavens..."
The alluring Taoist nun’s expression froze, her tone softening:
"No, it’s just that I don’t want others to laugh at us. You know how your aunt treats you..."
...
"Uncle Chen, that Zhao family’s aunt and nephew were really rude!"
As they followed Chen Ye out, Li Qiuyun grew more and more angry.
The older one kept staring at her, and the younger one was so impolite!
Chen Ye said in a firm voice, "Let it be, don’t bother with them. This Zhao Yushuang is quite remarkable, observing her age, she’s already a Fourth-Layer Foundation Establishment cultivator."
The girl rubbed her chin, agreeing wholeheartedly:
"Yes, my father mentioned Guardian Zhao before. At that time, my father was still a disciple of the Outer Sect, and Guardian Zhao was already a core disciple of the sect, supposed to contend for the True Inheritor position, but got distracted by alchemy. Otherwise, our sect could have had another late-period Foundation Establishment."
Speaking of which, the girl seemed vigilant, casually saying,
"Guardian Zhao is greatly favored by the Grand Elder, also the legitimate daughter of the Zhao family, always holding herself above others. She once said she would live with the pill furnace, rejecting countless suitors... Tsk, yet still, some chase after her, after all, getting close to Guardian Zhao means saving a hundred years of hardship!"
Chen Ye clicked his tongue, well now, both an alchemy master and the Zhao family’s legitimate daughter.
This is like another Bai Susu, a wealthy lady of the same caliber!
Recalling the various benefits Bai Susu gave him, Chen Ye couldn’t help but touch his chin.
This made Li Qiuyun even more unable to resist sneaking glances at Chen Ye.
Chen Ye noticed the girl’s strange look and instantly became furious:
"Stop! I’d rather starve than take the easy path!"
The girl quickly offered a laughing apology, feeling a bit wronged:
"Uncle Chen, I didn’t even say anything!"