Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 74: Chapter 74 A Day to Become a Prospective Alchemist

Four full hours had passed, but there was still no sign of activity from Alchemy Room Six, where Ye Qingchen was.

Wang Qiang and Hong Yan were still waiting. The old Taoist and his companions behind them, however, were growing impatient.

”In my opinion, this Ye Qingchen must have fallen asleep in there!” the old Taoist said. ”How could an ordinary Martial Artist possibly purify Spiritual Medicine for four straight hours without a break?”

A stout man beside him nodded in agreement. ”Exactly! I think this kid is just putting on an act. You’re definitely going to lose those one thousand Sect Points!”

Just then—

CREAK...

The door to Alchemy Room Six opened, and a weary Ye Qingchen stepped out.

Instantly, the eyes of Wang Qiang, Hong Yan, and the many disciples waiting to see Ye Qingchen make a fool of himself lit up.

”Look, Ye Qingchen’s out!”

”Look how exhausted he is. He must have failed!”

”Spiritual Medicine Purification may not be true Alchemy, but it’s still something only an Apprentice Alchemist can accomplish. It’s not that easy!”

The waiting disciples looked on with disdain, many of their gazes filled with mockery, eager for the spectacle.

The disciple in charge of missions saw Ye Qingchen approaching and sneered, ”Kid, I told you before, without experience or a proper foundation, you can’t succeed at Spiritual Medicine Purification no matter how many Sect Points you have. I gave you some well-meaning advice, but you wouldn’t listen to your elders. Now I bet you’ve used up all your Sect Points, right?”

As he spoke, he glanced at Ye Qingchen again and noticed an undeniable glimmer of excitement on the latter’s weary face.

Something’s not right... This kid looks a little too happy. Could he have actually succeeded in the purification?

While the disciple was lost in doubt, Ye Qingchen handed over his Identity Token and the room key. ”This is the key to Alchemy Room Six. The Formation inside only deducts points for the Spirit Grass taken; it can’t deduct for the time spent inside. I’ll have to trouble you, Senior Brother, to deduct the fee for the two extra hours I used.”

With skepticism in his heart, the mission disciple took the Alchemy Room key and Ye Qingchen’s Identity Token, then swiped the token through the point-deduction Formation slot.

BEEP.

A soft chime sounded as eight hundred Sect Points were deducted. The remaining balance displayed on the Identity Token made the disciple’s eyes widen into circles.

”Hiss... Thirteen thousand, three hundred and twenty-six Sect Points!”

To have gained so many points on a first attempt at Spiritual Medicine Purification was inconceivable!

How is this possible!

The mission disciple completely lost his composure. It was common knowledge that even a competent Apprentice Alchemist from the Qingyun Sect couldn’t earn so many Sect Points in a mere four hours. According to Ye Qingchen himself, he had never even touched Alchemy before. How could he possibly earn so many points on his very first try?

But the ironclad fact was right before his eyes, leaving him no choice but to believe.

In that instant, all of the mission disciple’s previous scorn for Ye Qingchen vanished, replaced by an expression of utmost respect. ”Senior Brother Ye Qingchen, my name is Ma Liu, and I’m honored to serve you! You stayed in Alchemy Room Six for an additional two hours and three minutes. I’ve waived the fee for the three minutes and deducted eight hundred Sect Points for the two hours. Please, take back your Identity Token!”

Ma Liu was all smiles, respectfully handing the Identity Token back with both hands. He forced what he hoped was his sweetest expression, his attitude now utterly deferential.

”What’s going on?”

Seeing Ma Liu’s drastic shift from arrogance to servility, the surrounding disciples who had been waiting to laugh at Ye Qingchen were completely stunned.

Wang Qiang and Hong Yan were equally puzzled.

Ye Qingchen smiled and walked toward Hong Yan. ”Senior Sister, thank you for your generous help just now. If you’ll give me your Identity Token, I’ll repay you the Sect Points with interest right now.”

”Repay me?” Hong Yan’s eyes lit up, and she immediately handed her Identity Token to Ye Qingchen.

Ye Qingchen placed his token next to hers and transferred two thousand Sect Points before handing it back.

”Hiss... Two thousand Sect Points! So many?”

When she saw her balance had increased by two thousand, Hong Yan’s beautiful eyes widened in shock, and she covered her red lips in disbelief.

Hong Yan had originally thought the thousand Sect Points she lent Ye Qingchen were gone for good, wondering when, if ever, he would repay her. She never expected that upon exiting the Alchemy Room, he would not only return the points in full but also add another thousand as interest!

”Senior Sister, you helped me when I needed it most. Even a thousand Sect Points of interest isn’t enough to express my gratitude,” Ye Qingchen said with a smile.

”Tsk tsk, such sweet talk. This Senior Sister has a soft spot for handsome and flirty little brothers like you! In that case, I gratefully accept these points!” Hong Yan’s laughter was as light as a flower trembling in the wind. As she took the Identity Token, she didn’t miss the chance to brush her hand against the back of his, a charmingly flirtatious gesture.

Witnessing this, the old Taoist’s chest heaved violently, his fists clenched so tightly they crackled. Hong Yan was the woman he had set his sights on, and now this upstart Ye Qingchen was flirting with her! He burned with rage, overcome with jealousy.

”He paid her back!”

”So quickly!”

”Borrow a thousand, repay two thousand! Is such a good deal even possible? If I had known, I would have lent Ye Qingchen my Sect Points!”

The disciples who had been waiting for Ye Qingchen’s downfall were all dumbfounded. Instead of getting to laugh at him, they found themselves profoundly shocked once again.

Wang Qiang chuckled and patted Ye Qingchen on the shoulder. ”It seems your time in the Alchemy Room was quite fruitful! I have to ask, was that really your first time trying alchemy?”

”Of course,” Ye Qingchen nodded with a smile. ”There’s no need to lie about something like this. A simple investigation into his past would reveal whether he had ever refined elixirs before.”

His actual first time! The corner of Wang Qiang’s mouth twitched.

He had also tried taking on Spiritual Medicine Purification missions before, since they were one of the fastest ways to earn Sect Points in the Qingyun Sect. But the harsh reality had beaten him down; after repeated, costly failures, he had cursed his luck. Realizing he had no Alchemic Talent, Wang Qiang had given up on that path completely, understanding firsthand just how difficult it was to become an Apprentice Alchemist.

And now, a task that was insurmountable for him had been accomplished by Ye Qingchen in a single day!

No! To be precise, it only took four hours!

Succeeding at Spiritual Medicine Purification on the first visit to an Alchemy Room meant that Ye Qingchen was now an Apprentice Alchemist! To become one in a single day, even in the talent-filled Qingyun Sect, was absolutely unprecedented.

Wang Qiang was certain that Ye Qingchen’s name was about to cause another sensation throughout the Qingyun Sect.

Just then, Hong Yan stepped forward and leaned close to Ye Qingchen’s ear, her red lips parting slightly. ”Little Brother Ye Qingchen,” she murmured, ”now that your business is finished, isn’t it time to fulfill your promise to your Senior Sister?”