Amidst the crowd’s anticipation, Jiang Tian returned with his clansmen.

"Is there any news?"

Jiang Han immediately pulled himself together, asking with a glimmer of hope.

He was in desperate need of an Alchemist to save the day, willing to pay any price as long as it could stabilize the Jiang Family’s situation.

Jiang Tian and the others all shook their heads.

"We’re sorry, Patriarch."

"We’ve let everyone down."

"Right now, there are simply no Alchemists to be found in Hanwu City."

The news sent a tremor through the crowd, and a heavy weight settled in everyone’s heart.

The Jiang Family was now in a position where they would either rise or fall as one.

If the Jiang Family’s source of income was severed, it wouldn’t be long before the entire clan disintegrated, perhaps even facing utter ruin and death.

Then, if the Ximen Family were to strike, the Jiang Family would collapse without a fight. It wasn’t even out of the question that their entire clan could be annihilated.

This was a terrifying crisis, the likes of which the Jiang Family had not seen in many years.

"Patriarch, what do we do?"

"Is there really nothing we can do?"

"That’s right, Patriarch! If we can’t find an Alchemist soon, our Elixir business will be finished. I’m afraid the end of the Jiang Family won’t be far off."

"Do we have to flee with our wives and children?"

One clansman voiced an even more terrifying reality.

"Forget it. Fleeing? The Jiang Family has made too many enemies. Neither the Bai Family nor the Ximen Family would ever let us escape."

Jiang Han’s expression was grim, his limbs feeling as heavy as lead, completely limp.

He managed a bitter smile. "It seems the heavens themselves wish to destroy the Jiang Family."

"Sigh... Clansmen, pull back. We’re moving to a fully defensive posture."

The Jiang Family now had no choice but to go on the defensive.

Only then could they hope to cling to life, surrounded by the predatory Bai and Ximen Families.

It was even possible that the City Lord’s Mansion of Hanwu City would kick the Jiang Family while they were down.

Jiang Chen took all of this in.

He saw that in this moment of crisis, his clansmen were more united than ever.

That much was true.

Especially after seeing the despair in the eyes of his clansmen and his own father, he could no longer remain seated.

He shot up from his chair.

HUFF!

Every clansman saw him get to his feet.

But at this moment, no one paid any attention to Jiang Chen.

In their eyes, Jiang Chen was nothing more than a good-for-nothing.

’Ask him for help?’

’Yeah, right. Not in this lifetime!’

No one held out any hope for him.

Some even thought Jiang Chen was preparing to leave.

Jiang Han said to his son, who was now on his feet, "Son, you should head back. Tell your mother I won’t be home tonight."

His heart was heavy; with the future of the Jiang Family weighing on him, he couldn’t bring himself to go home.

Jiang Chen sighed to himself.

Under the gazes of the crowd, he walked right to the center of the main hall.

He faced his father and gave a slight nod.

Then he spoke. "Father, leave the Jiang Family’s Alchemy to me."

He spoke these words calmly, almost casually.

’Alchemy? I *am* an Alchemist.’

’In fact, when it comes to Alchemy Skill, almost no one in Hanwu City can compare to me.’

’Ling Xuan, in my eyes, is just trash.’

’I didn’t want to reveal my identity as an Alchemist, but I have no choice. The Jiang Family needs me.’

’If I don’t step forward now, everyone’s morale will hit rock bottom.’

’Revealing my identity as an Alchemist will inevitably arouse suspicion and all sorts of speculation from the clan.’

’It’s a hassle, but they’re my own kin. It should be manageable.’

He had spoken without a moment’s hesitation.

What?

The moment Jiang Chen finished speaking, everyone stared at him, dumbfounded and not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

A clansman couldn’t help but speak up.

"Jiang Chen, stop fooling around and go home."

"This is no time for jokes. The Jiang Family can’t afford to be trifled with."

In their minds, Jiang Chen had always been a good-for-nothing.

He never did anything productive and only ever caused trouble.

Naturally, no one believed him.

Another clansman spoke up. "Jiang Chen, have you ever heard of a profession called Alchemist?"

"You clearly haven’t. Go read a book. You can talk once you know what an Alchemist actually is."

"Besides, you need to be an Alchemist to perform Alchemy, and you’re not an Alchemist."

No one believed Jiang Chen. They all just looked at him with exasperation.

They were convinced he was lying.

That he was just making a fool of them all.

No one paid his words any mind.

Jiang Han, too, was exasperated with his son.

"Look at the situation we’re in, and you’re still causing trouble."

Jiang Chen felt like he was about to suffer an aneurysm from the frustration.

’I’m an Alchemist, and no one believes me.’

’It seems the old Jiang Chen was a really untrustworthy person.’

’No wonder they all still think I’m that same good-for-nothing Jiang Chen.’

But Jiang Chen remained standing there.

His posture, erect and unwavering.

He raised his voice. "Father! Fellow clansmen!"

"I know you don’t believe me, but I really can perform Alchemy."

"Now that Ling Xuan has taken all our Elixirs, we will have nothing to sell tomorrow."

He continued to state the facts of the Jiang Family’s situation.

After capturing everyone’s attention,

he clasped his hands behind his back and said nonchalantly, "So, believe it or not, I’m telling you now: you can come to my residence tomorrow morning to pick up the Elixirs."

"Oh, right. Father, I need a list of the family’s Elixirs. What kind we need, roughly how many Pills per day... draw up a list for me."

Jiang Chen’s words left the clansmen stunned.

They didn’t believe him, yet he spoke with such methodical confidence that it felt bizarre.

It was almost as if he were telling the truth.

Jiang Han, too, suddenly sat bolt upright.

He was perplexed.

There were too many strange things about his son recently.

He couldn’t understand it, but he couldn’t press for details either.

But with the Elixir matter being so critical, he had to ask, "Son, are you certain?"

Jiang Chen nodded.

"Positive. Now hurry and get that list written for me."

Faced with Jiang Chen’s extraordinary behavior,

no one in the hall spoke. They all just stared at him strangely.

Jiang Chen, however, stood proudly in their midst, calm and unruffled.

In fact, he was just that confident.

Although Jiang Han was still suspicious, he figured there was no harm in just writing up a list if that’s what his son wanted.

He immediately had someone draw up a list of all the Elixirs the Jiang Family normally had for sale.

"Here, this is the list you wanted. Everything on it is what our Jiang Family usually sells."

"Take it."

He didn’t care whether his son could actually refine the Elixirs. ’Things are already this bad,’ he thought, ’even if he’s just playing around, I might as well let him.’

With that attitude, he decisively handed the list to Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen took the list and glanced over it.

He curled his lip.

"Just these Elixirs? A piece of cake."

While everyone was still stunned by this remark,

Jiang Chen crumpled the list into a ball, clutched it in his fist, and walked out of the main hall.

Reaching the entrance, he suddenly turned back. "Father, remember to send someone to pick up the Elixirs tomorrow morning."

Then, with a carefree air, he departed, leaving only his retreating figure for them to see.