"How dare you, boy. Now die!"

The burly man on the right snorted, his palm suddenly rising. A cold glint pulsed from its center.

This was True Essence, condensed to its absolute limit.

In the man’s palm, it coalesced into a True Essence Ice Sword, which tore through the air like a cannonball, blasting straight toward Jiang Chen.

WHOOSH—

The True Essence Ice Sword was incredibly fast!

Like a streak of blue light, it shot across the space, kicking up a gale within the VIP room that sent tables and chairs flying.

The young girl turned pale with fright, covering her eyes with her hands and crying out, "Ah..."

Chairman Cui’s expression changed, and a hint of worry entered his gaze as he looked at Jiang Chen. ’What a powerful attack. This young man is in danger!’

Faced with such a powerful blow, the burly man on the left and the richly-dressed youth remained completely unfazed, as if victory was already in their grasp.

However, when a flash of golden sword light cut through the air, their expressions finally changed!

"A parlor trick. Break!"

Jiang Chen formed a Sword Finger and pointed.

A brilliant golden sword light condensed at his fingertip, like a golden Energy Ball, and shot out with ferocious speed.

BOOM—

The golden sword light collided with the blue Ice Sword.

Jiang Chen’s Sword Finger merely trembled for a moment before it shattered the blue Ice Sword with unstoppable force. The blue True Essence scattered into motes of light, but the golden sword light continued onward, shooting straight for the right-hand man’s palm with a SWISH.

"Decent Swordsmanship, but unfortunately, your power is too weak!" the burly man snorted.

A layer of blue True Essence enveloped his palm.

It was like a hand forged from metal.

With a disdainful look, he reached out to grab the golden sword light.

The moment the sword light hit his palm, the man’s expression changed drastically. His pupils contracted in horror. ’How is this possible?’

BOOM—

The golden sword light exploded, unleashing a terrifying wave of True Essence. Like a massive meteorite, the force slammed into him, blowing his hand to pieces and sending his entire body flying backward. He crashed heavily into the wall, spitting up blood, his face turning pale.

"How is this possible?"

"Xiong Li practices the Wild Bull’s Great Strength Technique, which is renowned for its power. How could he be defeated by this kid’s single Sword Finger?" the burly man to the youth’s right said, his expression changing.

"You damn little bastard, I’ll kill you..." The burly man, Xiong Li, staggered to his feet, his face grim. His eyes glinted with venomous hatred as he stared intently at Jiang Chen.

"Stop!"

The richly-dressed youth, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.

Xiong Li’s expression changed. He looked at the youth with fear and confusion in his eyes. "Young Master, why are you stopping me?"

The youth glanced at him and said flatly, "You’re no match for him."

"What?"

Xiong Li was stunned. Disbelief filled his eyes as he said, "I was just careless for a moment, that’s the only reason he hurt me. If I get serious, I can definitely beat that kid to death!"

"What? Are you questioning me?" the youth said.

"Second Brother, stand down now!" Xiong Hex’s expression changed as he spoke urgently.

Only then did Xiong Li come to his senses.

He knew just how terrifying the richly-dressed youth was and could only retreat resentfully, the venom and hatred in his eyes growing even stronger.

The richly-dressed youth slowly rose, looked at Jiang Chen, and said indifferently, "You. Kill yourself."

"What?"

Jiang Chen was completely taken aback.

’Kill myself?’

’Holy hell!’

’Who the hell do you think you are, telling me to kill myself the moment you open your mouth?’

Chairman Cui also frowned. "Sir, aren’t you going a bit too far?"

"You, shut your mouth!"

The richly-dressed youth shot Chairman Cui a glance and slowly rose. His eyes were icy, and he straightened his back, his posture as sharp as a sword. He pulled a token from his clothes and said lightly, "Chairman Cui, I assume you recognize this token?"

"Hm?"

Chairman Cui froze, his gaze falling upon the token.

The token was entirely cyan, marked with the insignia of a Bronze Tripod. More importantly, a large character for "Emperor" was branded above the Bronze Tripod.

This was a token from the Saint Martial Dynasty’s Alchemist Association, one that only experts at the Elder Level or above could possess!

And the Elders of the Alchemist Association were all Second Grade Alchemy Masters or higher!

’This youth actually has a Second Grade Alchemy Master or higher as his backer? No wonder he’s so arrogant.’

Chairman Cui said in a low voice, "May I ask which Elder from the Association is your master, sir?"

"My master is Yu Dan," the youth said coolly.

HISS!

Chairman Cui sucked in a breath of cold air, a look of utter shock in his eyes. He asked cautiously, "Are you referring to the Vice Chairman of the Imperial Capital Association, the esteemed Third Grade Alchemy Master, Lord Yu Dan?"

A Third Grade Alchemy Master!

Such a person was an existence at the very pinnacle of the Saint Martial Sword Sect’s Alchemy Master World.

A Third Grade Alchemy Master held a status comparable to an Overlord at the Union Palace Realm!

Even more...

A Third Grade Alchemy Master could call upon Union Palace Realm experts to act on his behalf at any time. It was no exaggeration to say that the power wielded by a single Third Grade Alchemy Master was comparable to that of an entire second-class Sect!

"That is my master," the youth nodded and said proudly.

Xiong Hex added in a gruff voice, "Our Young Master is Master Yu’s newly accepted disciple, Xiong Yingjie!"

"So it is Master Yu’s esteemed disciple! Forgive my disrespect, forgive my disrespect!" Chairman Cui said hurriedly.

Xiong Yingjie nodded, then looked at Jiang Chen. He tilted his chin up slightly, his expression aloof and filled with contempt. "Brat, the fact that I’m telling you to kill yourself is me showing you respect. If you dare to resist further, I have at least a hundred ways to make your life a living hell."

After a moment of hesitation, Chairman Cui also spoke up. "Sir, you should just apologize to Young Master Xiong! I’m sure Young Master Xiong isn’t a petty person. As long as you admit you were wrong and apologize, he will surely forgive you!"

The young girl also chimed in, "Young Master, please just apologize!"

Xiong Yingjie and his two men watched on with cold detachment.

The three of them said nothing, but in reality, they were waiting for Jiang Chen to submit, apologize, and then, after humiliating him further, they would strike him down!

"Apologize? So you’ll spare me? Hahaha..."

Jiang Chen laughed three times, a speechless expression on his face. He said lightly, "A Third Grade Alchemy Master? I won’t comment on Yu Dan’s talent in alchemy, but his eye for choosing disciples is certainly lacking."

"Hm?"

The young Xiong Yingjie’s face darkened.

He was an alchemy prodigy, famous throughout the Imperial Capital. He had shown a talent for alchemy since the age of ten and was taken in as a disciple by Master Yu Dan.

After ten years of practice, he had broken through to become a First-Grade Middle Level Alchemist two years ago.

Since then, he had traveled throughout the Saint Martial Dynasty, challenging long-famous Alchemy Masters in the hopes of breaking through to the First-Grade Advanced realm. A few days ago, he had made a mistake while trying to refine a First-grade Advanced Pill, which damaged his Medicine Cauldron. Left with no choice, he had come to the Yulan Mansion Alchemist Guild to find a new one.

He never expected Jiang Chen to interfere.

Being so proud and arrogant, how could he allow Jiang Chen to compete with him for the Medicine Cauldron? He had naturally acted despotically.

And now...

Jiang Chen was actually questioning his talent!

This made Xiong Yingjie sneer mockingly, "What right do you have? You dare question my master’s judgment?"

Xiong Li also said, "Our Young Master has practiced alchemy for ten years, and he’s not even twenty yet! He’s about to break through and become a First-Grade Advanced Alchemist, and you dare question his talent?"

"Courting death!"

Xiong Hex sneered.

Chairman Cui also frowned, thinking Jiang Chen was being far too arrogant.

But Jiang Chen was unconcerned. He shrugged, his eyes sweeping over Xiong Yingjie as he said nonchalantly, "Is taking ten years to be on the verge of becoming a First-Grade Advanced Alchemist supposed to be impressive? I’m not even seventeen yet, and I can already refine First-grade Advanced Pills. In my eyes, you’re just this..."

Jiang Chen held up his pinky finger.

"Hahaha..."

"You? Refine a First-grade Advanced Pill?"

"Pfft... Hahaha..."

The men laughed until they were bent over, as if they had just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world.

Xiong Yingjie looked even more disdainful as he said, "If you can refine a First-grade Advanced Pill, I won’t compete with you for this Medicine Cauldron today. In fact, I’ll even apologize to you! But if you lose, I have a Ten Thousand Snakes Heart Devouring Pill right here. You’ll swallow it, and from now on, you’ll be nothing but Xiong Yingjie’s dog. How about it?"

A cold glint flashed in Jiang Chen’s eyes. "Fine. I’ll take that bet."