"I... I actually lost..."

Xiong Yingjie’s head hung low as he muttered to himself, completely crestfallen.

Beside him, Xiong Li and Xiong He stared wide-eyed, their expressions complicated. They glanced from the Cyan Spirit Pill with its Pill Pattern to Xiong Yingjie, whose back was now stooped as if he had aged a dozen years in an instant. Their own spirits sank.

In their eyes, Xiong Yingjie was invincible, the greatest alchemy prodigy!

Ever since his promotion to First-Grade Middle Level Alchemist, Xiong Yingjie had accepted a trial from Master Yu Dan to travel the country and challenge alchemists below the Second Grade.

All along the way...

They had been unstoppable, victorious in every battle!

Many famous, veteran alchemists had fallen to Xiong Yingjie in Pill Fighting.

But they never imagined that the undefeated Xiong Yingjie would actually lose to a young man even younger than himself.

And they certainly never expected him to lose so miserably!

It was a total, crushing defeat.

"Xiong Yingjie, I declare Jiang Chen the winner of this Pill Fighting duel. Do you have any objections?" Cui Zheng said coolly, glancing at Xiong Yingjie.

Xiong Yingjie’s expression changed abruptly, a savage look flashing across his face. But after a moment, he took a deep breath and suppressed his fury. With a glint of extreme coldness in his eyes, he stared fixedly at Jiang Chen and said, "A bet’s a bet. I, Xiong Yingjie, admit defeat today. But don’t get cocky. After this failure, I believe I will soon break through to the First-Grade Advanced Alchemist level. When that time comes, I will find you again for a showdown!"

"I’ll be waiting."

Jiang Chen said with a faint smile.

"Let’s go!"

Xiong Yingjie snorted, waved for Xiong Li and Xiong He, and turned to leave.

But Jiang Chen took a step forward, blocking them. "Hold on..."

"What now?" Xiong Yingjie glared at Jiang Chen. "Are you trying to keep me here?"

"Since this was a Pill Fighting duel, we did set some rules beforehand. If you lost, you were to buy that Second-grade Medicine Cauldron and give it to me. On top of that, you were to apologize. Don’t tell me someone so important is also so forgetful?" Jiang Chen said unhurriedly, leaning against the doorframe.

"You..."

Xiong Yingjie’s face shifted between shades of green and white. He was about to speak, but Jiang Chen cut him off with a single sentence.

Jiang Chen spoke with a nonchalant expression, "Of course, if you insist on backing out of the deal, there’s not much I can do. However, I’m not very good at keeping secrets. It might not be long before the entire Saint Martial Dynasty knows that Master Yu Dan’s prized disciple welched on a bet and used his status to be a sore loser!"

Xiong Yingjie was fuming.

But Jiang Chen had hit him right where it hurt. The prized disciple of a mighty Third Grade Alchemist, losing to some unknown kid—that alone was a monumental disgrace!

If he lost a Pill Fighting duel and then welched on the bet...

Master Yu Dan would probably expel him from his tutelage!

At this thought...

Xiong Yingjie snorted and forced himself to say, "Don’t worry, I won’t go back on my word! It’s just a Second-grade Medicine Cauldron, isn’t it? Chairman Cui, here are ten million in gold notes. That should be enough to purchase it."

"Correct!"

Cui Zheng nodded and said magnanimously, "It is my great fortune to have witnessed such exquisite refinement techniques and Pill Condensation arts from you both. The cost for the two sets of Cyan Spirit Pill ingredients will be covered by the Yulan Mansion Alchemist Guild!"

"Thank you!"

Xiong Yingjie’s face was ashen. He turned to leave, only to be stopped by Jiang Chen once again.

Jiang Chen said coolly, "What about that apology you promised?"

"I..."

Xiong Yingjie’s face flushed crimson. But looking into Jiang Chen’s fearless eyes, he felt a wave of despair. Clenching his fists and lowering his head, he gritted out, "I’m sorry. I was blind and failed to recognize a great master. Please forgive me!"

"See? If you’d just been this polite from the start, none of this would have happened. Go on now," Jiang Chen said with a wave of his hand.

Xiong Yingjie shot Jiang Chen a venomous glare before leaving in disgrace with Xiong Li and the other man, their tails between their legs.

Outside the Alchemist Guild.

Xiong Yingjie’s face was grim, his eyes radiating an intense, cold light. He looked at his two men and seethed, "Xiong Li, you stay here and keep an eye on that little bastard. Report his every move to me. Xiong He, you take my Token to Blood Wolf Village and hire Blood Wolf to take action. I want that little bastard to know there are consequences for offending me!"

"Young Master, what about you?" Xiong He asked.

"Although I lost this Pill Fighting duel, I feel like I’m on the verge of breaking through to the First-Grade Advanced Alchemist level. I must return to the Imperial Capital immediately and go into seclusion. When I emerge, I expect the two of you to present me with that little bastard’s head!" Xiong Yingjie said coldly.

"Rest assured, Young Master. We two brothers will not disappoint you!"

Xiong Li and Xiong He immediately went their separate ways to carry out their tasks.

...

Inside the Alchemy Room.

Cui Zheng had already sent someone to fetch the Second-grade Medicine Cauldron. After hesitating for a long moment, he warned, "Jiang Chen, I can tell that Xiong Yingjie is a petty and vengeful person. You humiliated him so badly today; I’m afraid he won’t let this go. You must be extremely careful!"

"Thank you for the warning, Chairman Cui. I’ll be on my guard!"

Jiang Chen was sincerely grateful, but his fervent gaze was fixed on the Storage Ring in Cui Zheng’s hand. He swallowed hard and asked, "Chairman Cui, is that the Medicine Cauldron inside that Storage Ring?"

"Haha, you kid! You think I’d covet your Medicine Cauldron?" Cui Zheng laughed and handed the Storage Ring over to Jiang Chen. "I came across this Medicine Cauldron by chance. It’s a Second-grade Low-level Medicine Cauldron. Since I already have a Second-grade Mid-level Medicine Cauldron, this one was just sitting around. I never thought it would end up with a youngster like you!"

"It just means I was fated to have it!" Jiang Chen grinned.

The two chatted for a while longer about alchemy.

After all, Jiang Chen had inherited the legacy of a mighty Pill Emperor. He was able to get straight to the heart of Cui Zheng’s alchemy-related questions, hitting the nail on the head every time.

Cui Zheng nodded repeatedly, feeling that he had benefited immensely.

"So that’s how it is... Listening to your words has been more beneficial than ten years of my own bitter study! Master Jiang, please accept Cui Zheng’s bow!" Cui Zheng took two steps back and bowed respectfully to Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen gave a wry smile. "Chairman Cui, you flatter me. What I said was just my personal opinion!"

"No, what Master Jiang spoke of was the true essence of alchemy! After hearing your words, I believe that if I go into seclusion for half a year, I will be able to break through to the Second Grade Alchemist realm. Master Jiang, you have enlightened me beyond measure!" Cui Zheng said respectfully. Suddenly, his knees buckled, and he knelt heavily on the ground. "I beg you, Master Jiang, please accept Cui Zheng as your disciple!"

THUD. THUD. THUD.

His forehead met the floor again and again, the sound echoing through the Alchemy Room.

Jiang Chen was speechless. ’Damn it! Another one who wants to be my disciple. How come other guys get beautiful women as disciples, but I just get old men?’

Sighing, he rubbed his forehead and said with a serious expression, "Cui Zheng, are you truly certain you want to become my disciple?"

"This disciple, Cui Zheng, wishes to serve at Master’s side for the rest of my life!" Cui Zheng said hastily.

Jiang Chen hesitated for a moment before saying, "Seeing how sincere you are, I can give you a chance. This is the ’Three Passes of Alchemy.’ I will give you half a month. If you can comprehend the first volume within that time, I will accept you as a Named Disciple. If you cannot, then it proves we are not fated to be master and disciple."

Jiang Chen took out a copy of the "Three Passes of Alchemy"—the very Pill Dao Scripture he had obtained in the Celestial Demon Ancient Castle.

As if he had just received a priceless treasure, Cui Zheng carefully held it with both hands and said respectfully, "Rest assured, Master. This disciple will not let you down!"

"It’s too early to call me Master!"

Jiang Chen waved his hand and continued, "You only have half a month... During this time, prepare a top-quality Alchemy Room for me. I need to refine some pills!"

"Master, please follow me. The Alchemist Guild has a Venerable Alchemy Room. It was originally for my exclusive use, but I will give it to you, Master!"

Led by Cui Zheng, Jiang Chen entered the Venerable Alchemy Room.

Cui Zheng then eagerly rushed back to study the "Three Passes of Alchemy." Jiang Chen closed the door to the Alchemy Room, sat down cross-legged, and took the Medicine Cauldron out from his Storage Ring.

CLANG—

The Medicine Cauldron flew out and landed on the floor with a heavy sound.

It was a jet-black Medicine Cauldron.

It didn’t look like much.

No wonder it had sat in the Alchemist Guild for several years without anyone bidding on it.

Jiang Chen activated his True Flame, preparing to first refine the Medicine Cauldron for his use.

However...

The moment his True Flame touched the cauldron, it erupted with a brilliant black light and devoured his flame completely. Jiang Chen’s eyes widened in astonishment. "What the hell... where did my True Flame go?"

That ball of True Flame just now was powerful enough to melt a Yellow Tier High-level Profound Weapon!

’And this Great Tripod just swallowed it whole?’

"Little Black, what in the world is going on?" Jiang Chen quickly woke up the Black Emperor, who had been dozing on his shoulder.

The Black Emperor started, his eyes still drowsy with sleep as he looked toward the black Great Tripod.

"Huh? Is that...?"

The Black Emperor’s eyes shot wide open. He flapped his fleshy wings, circled the Medicine Cauldron once, and then suddenly burst out laughing. "Kid, you’ve struck gold! You’ve hit the jackpot!"