The Jiang Family’s reception hall.

The two sat facing each other.

"President Qin, may I ask why you were looking for me?"

Jiang Chen didn’t waste any time. He looked at the middle-aged man before him, with his thinning hair and white robes, and spoke directly.

He didn’t want to beat around the bush and got straight to the point.

Master Qin nodded.

"In that case, let’s get down to business."

"May I ask, Young Master Jiang, were you the one who provided the Foundation Strengthening Pill for the Treasure Elephant Pavilion auction?"

As he spoke, Master Qin’s eyes burned with intensity as he stared at Jiang Chen.

Although he had learned from the Treasure Elephant Pavilion that it was indeed Jiang Chen, he still needed to confirm it himself.

Just as he expected, he saw Jiang Chen nod and say, "That’s right. I’m the one who put it up for auction."

Murong Xiangming of the Treasure Elephant Pavilion had visited him personally to explain the situation.

Therefore, he knew that Master Qin had already learned a great deal from the Treasure Elephant Pavilion.

Master Qin was overjoyed.

Confirming that Jiang Chen was the source of the Foundation Strengthening Pill put his mind at ease.

However, he pressed on, "In that case, did you personally refine this Foundation Strengthening Pill, Young Master Jiang?"

That’s right. This was the most critical question.

He needed to determine who had refined the Foundation Strengthening Pill before deciding on his next move.

Jiang Chen glanced at Master Qin and chuckled. "President Qin, do you really think that with my abilities, I could refine a Purple Gold Quality Foundation Strengthening Pill?"

He smiled. Although he had, in fact, refined it, he certainly wasn’t going to admit to something like that for the time being.

Everything would be attributed to the mysterious master he had fabricated.

If he claimed to have refined it himself, it would undoubtedly bring him a great deal of trouble.

Master Qin was taken aback for a moment. He had already considered this question.

He knew of Jiang Chen’s prior reputation.

A hedonistic young master whose Martial Vein had even been dug out. And yet, in the end, the boy had turned up perfectly fine, his Cultivation unaffected.

It didn’t seem to match the rumors.

Everything was a little strange.

But he had no other clues to explain these oddities surrounding Jiang Chen.

But one thing was certain: he didn’t believe someone as young as Jiang Chen could refine a Purple Gold Quality Foundation Strengthening Pill. That was something even a Fourth-Grade Alchemist would find difficult to accomplish.

Looking at Jiang Chen, Master Qin shook his head. "Well, that’s something I’ll have to ask you, Young Master Jiang. Forgive me, but I can’t guess the answer."

Jiang Chen said nonchalantly, "If I said I refined it, no one in this world would believe me, would they?"

"Even you, President Qin, wouldn’t believe it."

"So, I’ll tell you the truth. The Foundation Strengthening Pill from the auction was refined by my master. I just stole it to sell for some spending money."

Hearing Jiang Chen’s answer, Master Qin was instantly stunned.

Then, he fell into deep thought.

He had sought out Jiang Chen, hoping that he was the one who could refine a Purple Gold Quality Foundation Strengthening Pill.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t him.

He was disappointed.

He was even a little annoyed. It wasn’t Jiang Chen, yet he had gone to such great lengths, personally coming to invite him twice.

A flash of anger crossed his eyes.

But then, he had another thought.

’His master... that’s right, he said it was his master. So that means he has a powerful master.’

Although he was now displeased with Jiang Chen, Master Qin realized that Jiang Chen did, after all, have a master.

At least a Fourth-Grade Alchemist.

This made him swallow his anger once more.

"So it was your master. I was just thinking, how could someone as young as you possibly refine a Purple Gold Quality Foundation Strengthening Pill of that caliber?"

At this moment, Master Qin had already begun to look down on Jiang Chen.

His tone was no longer as mild as before.

At the same time, he let the superior aura of his position as the President of the Alchemist Guild show through.

He tapped the table and asked, "Your master... may I meet him?"

"If you could make an introduction, Young Master Jiang, you will be handsomely rewarded."

His goal was to find the person who could refine the Foundation Strengthening Pill, not Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen was merely the man’s disciple; he didn’t give him a second thought.

Jiang Chen saw the series of changes in the other man’s expression. With his abilities, the man’s thoughts could not escape his notice.

He understood what Master Qin was thinking.

’He definitely just wants to latch onto my nonexistent master.’

’What a snob.’

But Jiang Chen had no intention of exposing him.

Instead, he explained, "My master is an old man who enjoys roaming the world."

"He also forbids me from revealing any information about him to outsiders. So, I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you, Master Qin. You definitely won’t be able to meet my master."

"Even I, his disciple, can’t just see him whenever I want."

"After all, my master’s Divine Techniques are vast. If he wants to see me, he can appear at any time. If he doesn’t want to see me, I don’t have the ability to find him."

He took the opportunity to boast a little about his master.

It was also a warning to Master Qin, lest the man try anything against him or the Jiang Family.

Hearing this, Master Qin was suddenly alarmed.

"I never imagined your master was such a mysterious expert. You are incredibly lucky to have a master like that."

Although he was slightly disappointed, Master Qin looked at Jiang Chen. He couldn’t find the master right now, but at least he could see the disciple.

An idea struck him.

He suddenly smiled. "No matter. I merely wished to pay my respects. It’s fine if your master is unwilling to meet."

"Actually, the reason I sought you out this time was to invite your master to serve as a Senior Steward in our Alchemist Guild."

Jiang Chen knew that a Senior Steward of the Alchemist Guild held considerable power.

He understood the man’s intentions.

He could only say apologetically, "That’s a shame. My master doesn’t have time to serve as a Senior Steward."

"President Qin, if there’s nothing else, please feel free to leave. I will pass on your message to my master when I see him."

Master Qin was secretly disappointed.

But he still said, "There’s no rush. Your master may not be able to serve as a Senior Steward, but you, his disciple, can."

"So, for now, you can take your master’s place as Senior Steward."

"What do you think, Young Master Jiang?"

Since he couldn’t recruit Jiang Chen’s master, he naturally thought of another way: recruiting Jiang Chen instead.

Although he looked down on Jiang Chen, he was, after all, the disciple of an expert.

As long as Jiang Chen was in the Alchemist Guild, there would always be a chance to meet his master.

Jiang Chen fell into thought.

To be blunt, a thousand years ago, he had been the President of the entire Alchemy Master Union.

He still held a great deal of fondness for the Alchemist Guild.

In any case, the Alchemist Guild was his life’s work. The positions of Steward and Elder were all divisions he had personally established.

Now, he was curious to see how the Alchemist Guild had changed over the past thousand years.

After pondering for a moment, Jiang Chen nodded. "In that case, I suppose I can temporarily take my master’s place as Senior Steward. When he appears, I’ll return the position to him."

He realized he was actually going to have to start over as a mere Steward.

A Steward in a small branch, at that.

Although the position of Steward was second only to Elder, it still came with considerable power.

Above the Elders was the Vice President, and then finally the President.

"Haha, good! Young people are so straightforward. In that case, come to our Alchemist Guild in three days to assume the post of Senior Steward."

Master Qin hadn’t expected Jiang Chen to agree so decisively and was overjoyed.

After all, Jiang Chen was the disciple of that powerful Alchemist and was quite arrogant. Master Qin had worried he would refuse, which would leave him with no way to contact that powerful master.

Master Qin’s ultimate goal was still Jiang Chen’s master, not Jiang Chen himself.

Seeing that Jiang Chen had agreed, the two arranged for him to take up his post at the Alchemist Guild in three days.

Master Qin also left Jiang Chen a letter of appointment before he departed.