Chapter 178: Chapter 178: Elder Song Steps Forward

Looking at Shen Haoran’s confident face, Shui Ruolan froze. It was only then that she remembered who she was looking at. ’This is Shen Haoran! He would never agree to a losing deal!’

"Are you really confident?" Shui Ruolan asked softly.

Shen Haoran shrugged. "Of course. I’m not an idiot, so I only agreed because I’m confident. It’s not a hundred-percent guarantee, though. Guan Zhi is a Fourth Grade Alchemist. Reaching that level at his age means his talent for Alchemy is rare. Besides, if he didn’t have some real skill, Ouyang Chen wouldn’t value him so highly and make him the Chen Alliance’s chief Alchemist!"

At this, Shen Haoran paused. A glint flashed in his eyes as he smiled. "But, I’m not afraid of him. Just you wait and see the look on his face!"

Looking at the confident, almost arrogant, Shen Haoran, Shui Ruolan could only manage a wry smile. The challenge had already been accepted. ’What else can be done?’

After that, the two actually began discussing which of the Chen Alliance’s alchemy channels were the most profitable. If Guan Zhi had been there, he would have likely died of anger. The competition hadn’t even started, yet they were already planning how to carve up the Chen Alliance’s resources!

Shen Haoran and Shui Ruolan continued their discussion late into the night. As Shui Ruolan left the Alchemy Room, she stared at the blueprint Shen Haoran had given her, her heart trembling with shock.

’This Shen Haoran is the one with a real mind for this! With just a bit of analysis, he identified and marked all of the Chen Alliance’s most lucrative alchemy channels. All of this will become the Yao Sect’s territory in the future! This one move is equivalent to draining the Chen Alliance of most of its capital!’

’But whether they could claim this giant prize all depended on if Shen Haoran could defeat Guan Zhi in the alchemy competition the day after tomorrow. If he won, the Yao Sect would soar to new heights. If he lost, it would fall into an abyss from which it could never recover!’

But would Shen Haoran win? Shui Ruolan didn’t know. All she knew was that Shen Haoran was a man who worked miracles!

...

Overnight, news of Shen Haoran’s upcoming alchemy competition against Guan Zhi spread throughout the entire Sect, causing a massive commotion among the disciples.

"This new disciple is so arrogant! He forced his way onto the Dragon and Tiger List with his Martial Cultivation, and now he thinks he can take down Guan Zhi in Alchemy?"

"Impossible. Guan Zhi is a Fourth Grade Alchemist; outside the Sect, he’d be treated like a Spirit Aspect master. The elixirs I’ve seen Shen Haoran make are mostly Second Grade, and his technique is crude. He’s definitely not Guan Zhi’s match!"

"Then why did he dare to accept a competition with Guan Zhi?"

"It must be because of Guan Zhi’s terms. Half of the Chen Alliance’s alchemy channels—that’s a huge prize. He must have been blinded by greed!"

"He’s just driven by greed. And to think I thought he was so noble!"

Gossip about Shen Haoran and Guan Zhi spread like wildfire within the Sect, but Shen Haoran himself acted as if nothing was amiss. Every morning, he went to the Pill Hall to discuss the Alchemy Dao with Elder Song, and every afternoon, he returned to light his furnace and practice Alchemy.

Although he possessed the Alchemy Dao from the Alchemy Inheritance, it was ultimately the insight of a great power from the Ancient Times. The Alchemy Dao also progressed with the era, and Elder Song’s knowledge gave Shen Haoran a great deal of inspiration. He always gained a lot from their discussions.

One day, as Shen Haoran and Elder Song were engrossed in their discussion, a commotion outside the Pill Hall interrupted them.

"Who’s so bold as to shout and cause a ruckus outside the Pill Hall?" Elder Song cursed. "Don’t they know this is my forbidden ground?"

"Xiaohu, go drive them away! Teach them a lesson!"

"ROAR!"

With a furious roar, the Cloud Flood Dragon Tiger was about to charge out, but Shen Haoran stopped it.

"Wait, wait, Elder Song! Those people are probably here for me!" Shen Haoran slapped his forehead. ’I was so engrossed in our discussion that I completely forgot about this!’

"Did you offend someone, Shen the kid?" Elder Song asked.

"No, I just agreed to an alchemy competition with someone," Shen Haoran said sheepishly. "And I was hoping you would act as the notary!"

"An alchemy competition?" Elder Song said in surprise. "With your Alchemy Skill, even I’m no match. Who’s so blind as to agree to compete with you!"

Hearing this, Shen Haoran gave a wry smile. ’I only have the theory,’ he thought. ’My current strength isn’t enough to back up all this knowledge!’

"Alright, I get it," Elder Song said, standing up. "Let’s go. I’ll accompany you and take a look." He then started walking outside.

Meanwhile, outside the Pill Hall, Guan Zhi stood at the entrance with several others, waiting for Shen Haoran to arrive. Beside him was a white-haired old man, an elder from the Golden Sun Hall whom Guan Zhi had brought to be the notary.

"Guan Zhi, is that kid you mentioned coming or not? I have other business to attend to!" the elder said impatiently.

"Sigh, I don’t know either, Elder Li," Guan Zhi said softly, glancing at the time. "Maybe that kid got scared and decided not to show up!"

However, just as the words left his mouth, a voice echoed from within the Pill Hall.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting!" Shen Haoran boomed with laughter as he strode out of the Pill Hall.

Everyone was stunned to see Shen Haoran emerge from the Pill Hall. Other than Sect Master Chen Yu, no one dared to enter that place. Yet, Shen Haoran had just walked right out. ’Could his relationship with Elder Song be that special?’ they wondered.

Guan Zhi’s expression changed when he saw Shen Haoran emerge. But when he noticed Shen Haoran was alone, he sneered, "Didn’t you say you could get Elder Song to be the notary? What happened? Did he turn you down?"

"In that case, allow me to be your notary!" Elder Li stepped forward and declared. Guan Zhi had, after all, promised him a Fifth Grade Elixir for his troubles.

"Shen Haoran, what do you say?" Guan Zhi asked.

In response, Shen Haoran simply smiled, gave Elder Li a dismissive glance, and gently shook his head.

Seeing Shen Haoran’s dismissal, Elder Li roared, "What? Do you think I’m not worthy?"

"Of course you are unworthy!" an aged voice echoed from the Pill Hall as Elder Song slowly walked out.

At the sight of Elder Song, the expressions on everyone before the Pill Hall changed drastically. Elder Song was notoriously reclusive; it was incredibly rare for Sect disciples to ever see him. They never imagined they would see him in the flesh today!

Guan Zhi and Elder Li were both startled and stared at Shen Haoran in disbelief. ’He actually managed to get Elder Song!’

"How could I possibly refuse a request from Shen the kid!" Elder Song said, looking at Shen Haoran playfully.

"Er..." Shen Haoran was speechless and could only offer a wry smile.

"I will act as the notary. Do you have any objections?" Elder Song asked, looking at Guan Zhi and Elder Li. A faint pressure from his Spiritual Thought descended upon the two.

Elder Song was a Sixth Grade Alchemist. The pressure from his Spiritual Thought was no weaker than that of a Spirit Emperor Powerhouse—it might have even been stronger. After all, Spiritual Thought was a power that attacked the soul directly!

Feeling the pressure from Elder Song, Guan Zhi hastily cupped his fists and replied respectfully, "Of course! We have complete faith in Elder Song’s integrity!"

"Very good. This is the subject of your competition, and it’s also a Pill Recipe I’ve treasured for a long time. Consider it your lucky day," Elder Song said nonchalantly, tossing a scroll into Guan Zhi’s hands.

Guan Zhi caught it, his face lighting up with ecstasy. ’A Pill Recipe treasured by Elder Song must be a priceless Supreme Treasure!’ he thought. He extended his Spiritual Thought into the scroll, but after a quick scan, his expression turned incredibly ugly. He looked at Elder Song. "Elder Song, are you sure this is the topic for our competition?"