Chapter 177: Chapter 177: Shui Ruolan’s Anger

Upon hearing this, Shen Haoran’s brow furrowed. ’So that’s Guan Zhi’s real motive for coming here today,’ he realized. ’His target isn’t me, but the Yao Sect’s alchemy channels.’

However, Guan Zhi had only heard that Shen Haoran was a Second Grade Alchemist. He had no idea that Shen Haoran possessed the heritage of the Alchemy Dao. After more than half a month of dedicated research, his Alchemy Skill had advanced by leaps and bounds. Coupled with his monstrously powerful Spiritual Thought, he would have no problem refining even a Fourth Grade Elixir.

"Fine. As you wish!" Shen Haoran agreed.

Seeing Shen Haoran agree, the smile on Guan Zhi’s face grew even wider.

"Since it’s a competition, we’ll naturally need a judge. What’s to stop you from backing out when you lose?" Guan Zhi said casually.

"Hmph. I’m not a member of your Chen Alliance. I don’t resort to such underhanded tactics!" Shen Haoran snorted coldly.

At this, Guan Zhi’s face darkened. "You’re in no position to judge the Chen Alliance!" he said coldly. "A competition must have a judge!"

"Fine, have it your way. But the judge can’t be from either of our factions," Shen Haoran said, unfazed.

"Then who do you want to choose?" Guan Zhi asked.

"Elder Song of the Pill Hall, of course! He’s the Sect’s chief Alchemist and the highest authority when it comes to Alchemy. Besides, Elder Song is an upright man who detests cheating and fraud. He’s the perfect choice!" Shen Haoran said with a smile.

However, Guan Zhi’s expression changed upon hearing this. "Elder Song is indeed the best choice," he said coldly, "but he’s not someone just anyone can invite!"

"Just because you can’t invite him doesn’t mean I can’t. We’ll meet at the Pill Hall in two days. Elder Song will be there to act as our judge," Shen Haoran said with a dismissive glance at Guan Zhi.

"Fine. But if you can’t get Elder Song, then someone from my Chen Alliance will be the judge!" Guan Zhi said with a sinister grin.

"Whatever you say," Shen Haoran replied with a dismissive wave.

"Heh heh, I look forward to taking over your Yao Sect’s alchemy channels!" Guan Zhi said with a wicked laugh.

"And I look forward to taking half of the Chen Alliance’s sales profits," Shen Haoran said coolly, his gaze turning cold.

With that, Guan Zhi wasted no more time and left the Yao Sect. He had to go back and find a suitable judge. ’As for Shen Haoran getting Elder Song to agree... pigs might fly. Everyone knows Elder Song is the most eccentric person in the Sect. Not even Sect Master Chen Yu is confident he could persuade the man, let alone a mere new disciple like him!’

After Guan Zhi left, Shen Haoran led Xuan Yi and the other Yao Sect members back into the courtyard.

After taking Xuan Yi to a room for treatment, he was quickly wrapped up in bandages like a mummy. Xuan Yi clenched his jaw the entire time, not even making a sound while his bones were being set. Seeing the young man’s resolute expression, Shen Haoran was suddenly reminded of his own time training with Elder Yan in the Profound Spirit Mountain Range. ’This kid,’ he thought, ’he’s a lot like I was.’

BANG! Just as everyone was finishing bandaging Xuan Yi, the door was violently thrown open with a loud crash.

"What’s going on? I heard someone came to cause trouble at the Yao Sect!" a gruff voice boomed as Zi Mo barged in from outside, his considerable bulk jiggling with every step.

Zi Mo rushed into the room, and when he saw Xuan Yi’s pale face and his body wrapped up like a mummy, rage surged within him.

"Who did this? Damn it, I’m gonna go cripple them!" Zi Mo roared.

"Brother Zi, I’m fine. The person who did this is at least ten times worse off than I am now!" Xuan Yi said with a grin, though a jolt of pain made him suck in a sharp breath.

Zi Mo glanced at Shen Haoran, who was standing to the side, and immediately understood. He walked over to Shen Haoran and lowered his head. "I’m sorry. I failed to protect the Yao Sect."

Hearing this, Shen Haoran clapped Zi Mo on the shoulder. "It’s all right. This isn’t your fault." When the incident occurred, both Zi Mo and Long Mo had been in closed-door cultivation, so they couldn’t have helped. Fortunately, the losses weren’t too great.

"Who was it? I’ll make sure to remember them!" Zi Mo said bitterly.

"Guan Zhi," Long Zhen said from the side.

"Guan Zhi? That so-called Alchemist from the Chen Alliance?" Zi Mo was stunned. ’Why would a guy like that come and cause trouble for the Yao Sect?’

"It’s because the elixirs we’re refining have been cutting into their business. They just wanted to give the Yao Sect a warning, but Brother Shen taught them a harsh lesson!" Long Zhen said angrily.

"Fatty, you’re out just in time. Go find Ruolan and bring her back. I have something to discuss with her," Shen Haoran ordered, not giving Zi Mo a chance to react.

"Oh!" Zi Mo grunted in acknowledgment. After saying a few words of concern to Xuan Yi, he went out to find Shui Ruolan.

...

That evening, Shen Haoran was in the Alchemy Room studying the Pill Recipe for the Rejuvenation Bone Pill, preparing to refine a large batch for the Yao Sect’s members. Just then, with a tremendous BANG, the Alchemy Room’s door was violently blasted open!

"Shen Haoran!" a sharp cry rang out.

Shui Ruolan stood in the doorway, glaring furiously at Shen Haoran.

Shen Haoran stared blankly at Shui Ruolan, momentarily unable to process the scene.

"Shen Haoran, how could you be so reckless? You’re not fit to be a leader! Even if you are the Sect Leader of the Yao Sect, you can’t just make decisions for us on your own. What you did this time... I’m just so disappointed in you!" Shui Ruolan said furiously.

Blindsided by Shui Ruolan’s verbal assault, Shen Haoran was completely bewildered. ’What in the world is she talking about?’

"Did you or did you not agree to an alchemy competition with Guan Zhi and wager all of the Yao Sect’s alchemy resource channels?!" Shui Ruolan demanded!

With that, Shen Haoran finally understood why she was so angry.

"Yes, I did. What’s wrong?" Shen Haoran shrugged, his expression nonchalant.

"What’s wrong? Do you realize that alchemy is the Yao Sect’s only source of income right now? If you lose all our alchemy channels, the sect will be on the verge of collapse! Is that a decision a leader should make?" Seeing Shen Haoran’s unconcerned expression, Shui Ruolan’s anger flared. Over the past half a month, she had come to see herself as a core member of the Yao Sect. The sect had grown rapidly under her management, and now a single bad decision from Shen Haoran was about to destroy everything. How could she not be furious?

"Ahem... Ruolan, the competition hasn’t even happened yet. How can you be so sure I’ll lose?" Shen Haoran said, touching his forehead as if he had a headache.

"Guan Zhi is a Fourth Grade Alchemist! If he’s in good form and has a bit of luck, he can even refine a Fifth Grade Elixir! You’re only a Third Grade Alchemist—the gap between you is huge! And Alchemy is completely different from Martial Cultivation. You might have astonishing combat prowess that lets you challenge those above your level, but Alchemy is all about Grade suppression. There’s no such thing as challenging a higher Grade!" Shui Ruolan retorted.

Looking at the agitated Shui Ruolan, Shen Haoran just smiled lightly. "He’s only a Fourth Grade Alchemist. Don’t worry. The reason I had you come here was so you could take a look and see which of the Chen Alliance’s alchemy channels are the most profitable. That way, you can prepare to take them over and make them the Yao Sect’s territory!"