Chapter 99: Eighteen-Year-Old Master!
"Indeed, the alchemy skills of this senior are absolutely terrifying. As they say, there are heavens beyond heavens, and people beyond people! The Tianbai Empire is just a corner of this world, and the realms we haven't explored are still vast"
With excitement, Yun Danqing looked at Yuan Qiansheng and asked again, "Qiansheng, tell me quickly, how did you come to know that senior?"
Yuan Qiansheng swallowed hard before responding, "President Yun, that person is not just any senior..."
"Insolence! You must not harbor any disrespect towards seniors!" Yun Danqing's eyebrows furrowed in displeasure. His temperament has always been peculiar, and his profound obsession with alchemy has reached a dangerous level.
"Uh, y-yes," Yuan Qiansheng dared not talk back. However, if Yun Danqing knew of Ling Feng's age, he would probably be as incredulous as him.
A seventeen or eighteen-year-old senior?
Yun Danqing's face lit up with profound admiration, his mouth overflowing with words of praise. "Qiansheng, you probably don't know yet. According to the records in this ancient text, the Malevolent Elemental Pill is a fifth-tier top-grade medicinal pill. However, to purge the malevolent cold qi within your body, it still requires a lengthy process. But that master, he ingeniously utilized a special alchemical method, not only enhancing the potency of the medicine but also condensing the pill into this form. Do you know how difficult that is?"
Bewildered, Yuan Qiansheng didn't understand a word. He hastily said, "President, please explain."
"Based on what I know, there was once a seventh-grade alchemist who attempted to refine this Malevolent Elemental Pill as well. However, he only managed to produce a powdered form of the pill, whereas the master who refined your pill successfully created a pill. Do you grasp the extent of that master's skill now?"
"This..." Yuan Qiansheng was utterly stunned, casting an incredulous gaze at Yun Danqing. He nervously gulped and stammered, "President, is he truly as remarkable as you claim?"
"He might even surpass what I described!" Yun Danqing locked eyes with Yuan Qiansheng, enunciating each word deliberately. "In my experience, if it weren't for the senior's slight deficiency in fire-controlling technique, this pill should have taken on a flawless spherical shape with evenly distributed pores on its surface, rather than the pockmarked appearance it now bears."
In an instant, Yuan Qiansheng shivered all over.
Elder Li was the one tasked with controlling the fire.
Despite being a fifth-grade alchemist, Elder Li turned out to be the weakest link...
Could Ling Feng's alchemy technique truly be this formidable?
Upon this realization, Yuan Qiansheng was utterly stunned as the image of Ling Feng in his mind grew increasingly radiant and sublime.
Who is that kid?
"Hey, hey!" Yun Danqing noticed Yuan Qiansheng's state of shock and waved her hand in front of his eyes. "Qiansheng, you haven't told me yet who that master really is. Can you introduce me to him?"
Yun Danqing's excitement was palpable as he couldn't resist rubbing his hands together. "If that master is willing to offer some guidance, perhaps my alchemy skills could ascend to new heights!"
"Um..." Yuan Qiansheng shook his head with a wry smile. "I only know his name, Ling Feng, and that Elder Wen brought him here as a young man. Beyond that, I'm clueless."
"Y-Young man?" Yun Danqing's jaw nearly dropped. "Are you sure he's a young man?"
"He can't be older than twenty," Yuan Qiansheng affirmed.
"Truly, talent emerges from youth!" Yun Danqing looked utterly dismayed, as if struck by a profound realization.
Upon reflection, it's quite astonishing to have devoted a lifetime to the study of alchemy, only to find oneself defeated by a mere teenager. It would be strange not to feel disheartened by such a turn of events.
"I'll visit Elder Wen another day to meet this... this talented young man!"
After speaking, Yun Danqing appeared to have aged a decade, clearly affected by the news.
“Well then, President, I'll take my leave.”
Yuan Qiansheng made a fist-and-palm salute towards Yun Danqing. At that moment, he also felt the effects of the Malevolent Elemental Pill starting to take effect, warming his entire body, a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long while.
...
As Ling Feng returned to his residence, the dusk had settled in.
"Hey, Ling Feng, that last pill you refined must have been a failure, right? There's no need to keep pretending now, especially when there's no one else around." Wen Tingguang leaned in close to Ling Feng and chuckled.
"To heal and save lives, how could I possibly deceive others for the sake of my own reputation? If I say it's genuine, then it's genuine. There's absolutely no issue with that pill," Ling Feng replied calmly, his voice unwavering.
"You, you're really... watertight!" After pondering for a while, Wen Tingguang finally found an adjective to describe Ling Feng.
"It should be impeccable!" This time, it was rare for Qiao Qiao to be so impressed by Ling Feng, using unusually commendatory words to describe him.
"You're too kind, Miss Qiao Qiao," Ling Feng shook his head with a smile, then added, "I must also thank Miss Yue and Senior Wen once again. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had the chance to obtain this True Art of Xuanyuan."
"No need for us to exchange thanks, right, my brother?" Wen Tingguang burst into laughter. Qiao Qiao couldn't help but roll her eyes at his habitual 'young at heart' demeanor.
"It's getting late, and Mr. Ling's body hasn't fully recovered yet. It's best for him to rest early." Yue Yunlan smiled at Ling Feng and prepared to leave.
"Miss Yue," Ling Feng called out to Yue Yunlan, smiling, "My body is fully recovered, and I've already spent quite some time at Cangqiong Sect. Tomorrow morning, I plan to return to Wenxian Sect."
"Leaving tomorrow?" A sense of inexplicable disappointment crossed Yue Yunlan's heart, but she quickly nodded. "I understand. I will convey this to my father and mother."
Respectfully, Ling Feng bowed to Yue Yunlan. "Thank you, Miss Yue, for your understanding."
Yue Yunlan bit her lower lip, casting a deep gaze at Ling Feng. "Tomorrow, I'll come to see you off."
With that, she took Qiao Qiao's hand and turned, departing from the serene imperial garden.
Observing Yue Yunlan's receding silhouette, Ling Feng couldn't help but smile subtly, acknowledging inwardly: Miss Yue is quite an admirable young woman.
"Hehe, young man, it seems our Young Lady has taken a liking to you!" Wen Tingguang turned back to Ling Feng with a playful grin, his eyebrows wiggling suggestively.
"Senior, you must be joking," Ling Feng replied, shaking his head. He hadn't entertained thoughts of romantic involvement for the time being, regardless of any potential feelings Yue Yunlan might harbor for him.
Getting stronger continuously!
His sole objective at this moment was to reclaim what was rightfully his from the Yan family in the Eastern Capital and uncover the truth about his lineage.
"Well, well, I'll refrain from prattling on," said Wen Tingguang, giving Ling Feng's shoulder a pat. "Tomorrow, I'll see you off."
"Thank you, Senior Wen!" Ling Feng expressed heartfelt gratitude. With Wen Tingguang's escort, not only would safety be assured, but he could also swiftly return to the Wenxian Sect. Otherwise, relying solely on his Clear Spirit Wings, it would take him until next month to fly there.
"Ah, it seems you still only see me as a grumpy old man," sighed Wen Tingguang, shaking his head as he turned away with a tinge of sadness. "Oh well, I guess I'll never hear you call me 'Brother Wen' in this lifetime."
Though Ling Feng knew he was putting on an act, he couldn't help but smile wryly. He called out to Wen Tingguang's retreating figure, "Brother Wen!"
"Haha, that's more like it!"
Wen Tingguang immediately conjured a bottle of fine wine from his spatial ring, chuckling, "Come on, let's have a good drink, just the two of us!"
As a last disciple of the Duanmu Qingshan, Ling Feng’s liquor tolerance naturally had improved. With a smile, Ling Feng nodded. "Alright, today we drink until we drop!"
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