Chapter 120: Chapter 120: You, Will Never Pass

"Only I can succeed."

Ling Xuan assumed Jiang Chen was also here to apply to join the Alchemy Master Guild and undergo assessment.

He spoke with brimming confidence, full of disdain for Jiang Chen.

After all, he was a Second-Grade Alchemist who had already passed the Alchemy Master Guild’s test.

And Jiang Chen? He was nothing but trash.

Ling Xuan wouldn’t even deign to look a profligate young master like Jiang Chen in the eye.

It was a show of utter contempt.

"Is that so?"

Jiang Chen gave Ling Xuan a cryptic smile. ’How laughable,’ he thought.

This Ling Xuan was as self-righteous as ever.

But he offered no explanation.

Besides being a Second-Grade Alchemist, Ling Xuan also had the Cultivation of a Warrior Ninth Heaven, making him quite the expert.

Right now, he was brimming with arrogance, his posture lofty and superior.

He stared down at Jiang Chen.

"That’s right. I’m not some useless, rich brat like you."

"Do you have any idea? I’ve poured my entire life’s blood into my Alchemy Skill, and now I’ve finally become a Second-Grade Alchemist."

"And you? You’re just a piece of trash whose own fiancée found him so disgusting she broke off the engagement."

He insulted Jiang Chen with abandon, feeling he had the absolute upper hand.

Jiang Chen didn’t get angry. There was no need.

The moment he chose to strike, Ling Xuan would be thrown into absolute despair. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Ling Xuan noticed that Jiang Chen had gone quiet and was just staring at him with a strange expression.

He was a bit confused, but quickly sneered, "I can’t be bothered to speak with trash like you."

"But I’d advise you to head back early. The Lord Steward won’t even give you the time of day, so don’t ask for humiliation."

Jiang Chen stretched lazily.

Then, under Ling Xuan’s watchful gaze, he walked straight toward the Steward’s chair.

Seeing this, Ling Xuan flew into a rage.

"Kid, what do you think you’re doing? This is the Lord Steward’s office! Don’t go messing with other people’s things."

"What a country bumpkin. Do you think you can just touch the Lord Steward’s belongings whenever you please?"

His disdain for Jiang Chen deepened. ’This kid is not only talentless, but he also messes with other people’s things.’

He was even about to sit in the Lord Steward’s seat.

This made Ling Xuan’s eyes bulge with anger.

He barked, "Kid, get lost! When the Lord Steward arrives, you’re dead meat."

However, Jiang Chen paid Ling Xuan no mind.

Instead, he settled comfortably into the chair and reached out to pick up Ling Xuan’s application form.

He said lightly, "Alright, are you finished?"

"My turn to say a few words."

Ling Xuan was taken aback. ’This kid is remarkably calm.’

He was suspicious. ’He’s not even afraid the Lord Steward will show up and give him trouble?’

Especially since Jiang Chen was sitting in the Lord Steward’s seat. This convinced him that Jiang Chen was doomed this time. After all, he himself hadn’t dared to move a muscle while waiting here.

"Fine, speak. Kid, you’d better say your piece before the Lord Steward arrives. Because when he does, I can’t even imagine how he’ll deal with a waste of space like you."

To Jiang Chen, Ling Xuan was like a clown, single-handedly directing and starring in a ridiculous farce.

Even he, the Lord Steward, couldn’t bear to watch anymore.

Holding Ling Xuan’s application, he gestured him over. "Come take a look. Is this your application form?"

Ling Xuan was stunned for a long moment before rushing over to grab it. A glance confirmed it was indeed his application.

After looking it over, he sneered at Jiang Chen, "That’s right, it’s mine. See that, kid? I’m about to become a member of the Alchemy Master Guild."

"You... don’t you even have an application form?"

His loathing for Jiang Chen intensified.

’This guy is utterly nauseating.’

Suddenly, Jiang Chen broke into a benevolent smile.

"I have an announcement to make."

"Ling Xuan... your application to join the Alchemy Master Guild will never be approved."

What?

Ling Xuan froze once again.

He couldn’t process what was happening.

’What does Jiang Chen mean?’

’Saying I’ll never get my application approved?’

’Wait a minute.’

Ling Xuan looked at Jiang Chen and said contemptuously, "Who do you think you are, spouting all this nonsense?"

"Whatever you say, goes? You think you’re the Lord Steward?"

"What a joke."

He almost laughed out of sheer anger. ’This guy is actually pretending to be the Lord Steward? What a joke.’

Ling Xuan knew all about Jiang Chen—the trash of the Jiang Family, whose starting point was even lower than his own.

It was a miracle he even managed to walk into the Alchemy Master Guild. ’Lord Steward? Forget it. Not even in his next life.’

Seeing Ling Xuan’s disbelief, Jiang Chen said to him, "Give me the application form. I’ll show you something."

Ling Xuan stared blankly. He had to admit, Jiang Chen’s act was pretty convincing; he could probably fool someone.

But he absolutely did not believe Jiang Chen was the Lord Steward.

"Why should I give you my application form?"

Jiang Chen shook his head. ’This man is painfully slow on the uptake.’

’He still hasn’t figured out that I’m the Lord Steward.’

So, he stood up.

And walked toward the exit.

"Fine. You can keep waiting for the Lord Steward."

With that, he turned and left.

Ling Xuan was completely dumbfounded.

’This whole scene feels so bizarre.’

Clutching the application form, Ling Xuan was now at a total loss.

He’d been here for ages and hadn’t seen the Lord Steward at all—only Jiang Chen.

’And Jiang Chen actually claimed to be the Steward?’

"Impossible. How could he possibly be the Steward?"

"I’ll wait a bit longer."

Ling Xuan decided to wait a little more.

Some time passed, but the Lord Steward was still nowhere to be seen.

Just then, a young attendant walked in.

Ling Xuan hurried over and asked, "Young man, why haven’t I seen the Lord Steward?"

"When is he going to arrive?"

The attendant was clearly taken aback. He looked at Ling Xuan in surprise and frowned. "Didn’t the Lord Steward just leave a moment ago?"

"You’ve been waiting here for so long. I don’t believe you didn’t see the Lord Steward."

Ling Xuan was stunned once more.

Then, he suddenly asked, "Young man, is the Steward here named Jiang?"

The attendant nodded. "That’s right. He’s Steward Jiang."

What?

Ling Xuan’s vision went black.

’Steward Jiang... Jiang Chen?’

The attendant’s words struck him like a bolt from the blue.

"Jiang Chen... It’s him? How could it be him?"

He still couldn’t believe that Jiang Chen was actually Steward Jiang.

It was completely beyond his comprehension.

Even so, Ling Xuan remained skeptical and pressed, "Young man, in that case, is Steward Jiang’s full name Jiang Chen?"

’Maybe Steward Jiang just shares the same surname as Jiang Chen, and they’re not the same person.’

He clung to a sliver of hope.

The attendant’s expression soured. "While it’s true that Steward Jiang’s given name is indeed Jiang Chen, his name is not for you to utter so casually."

BOOM!

Ling Xuan felt his mind roar as his vision darkened, and he collapsed onto the floor.

"It was him... How could it be him?"

He instantly realized the situation had spiraled far beyond his expectations.

If Jiang Chen was the Steward in charge of the review, then his application to join the Alchemy Master Guild was almost certainly doomed.

At that moment, Ling Xuan felt like dying.

He already had a grudge with Jiang Chen, and now, to top it all off, he had just finished berating him.

He wouldn’t believe it himself if he managed to successfully join the Alchemy Master Guild now.

"What do I do?"

He clutched the application, his expression uglier than if he were crying. Without the Steward’s seal, the form couldn’t be sent to the President.

Feebly, Ling Xuan scrambled to his feet and stumbled outside.

Everything felt like a terrible nightmare.

Jiang Chen had suddenly become the Senior Steward in charge of his review. It was terrifying.