Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 171: Chapter 171: Encountering Qin Yue Again

In the inner courtyard of the Rising Sun Pavilion, Qin Yue anxiously watched as several Alchemists treated her grandfather.

”I’m sorry, Miss Qin Yue,” one of them said. ”The Elder Master’s illness is too difficult. We are powerless to help...”

A moment later, the Alchemists all sighed and shook their heads. They bowed apologetically to Qin Yue before leaving the room.

”Still no good?” Qin Yue sighed. This was already the fifth group of Alchemists this month. Each was an expert from the capital, yet all of them were helpless against her grandfather’s injuries.

Due to her outstanding performance, Qin Yue was transferred by her family from Qingyun Town to the capital’s Rising Sun Pavilion, and her status rose accordingly. This should have been a joyous occasion, but her happiness had turned to anxiety when she suddenly heard that her grandfather, Qin Zhantian, had suffered a relapse of an old injury. She had since begun frantically searching for Alchemists to treat him.

Qin Zhantian practiced a Fire-Attribute Technique, but due to a concealed injury from his youth, Fire Poison had remained in his body. As his power grew, the Fire Poison became more severe, tormenting him to the point where he struggled just to get out of bed.

”Yue,” Qin Zhantian said, ”I know my own body. You don’t need to worry so much.” Even as he endured the torment of the Fire Poison, he didn’t want to see his granddaughter’s worried frown.

However, every time he spoke, it agitated the Fire Poison, causing him to let out an involuntary groan. This only made Qin Yue’s heart ache more.

”Grandfather, don’t worry. The great Alchemy Dao competition is about to begin. So many expert alchemists are gathering in the capital; I refuse to believe no one can cure you!”

Qin Yue walked to his bedside and wiped a fleck of blood from the corner of his mouth. ”You just rest, Grandfather. I’ll go out and find someone myself right now.”

After Qin Yue left, Qin Zhantian sighed as he watched his granddaughter’s retreating figure.

He knew his own condition all too well. If it were so easily cured, it wouldn’t have dragged on for this long...

...

「In front of the Rising Sun Pavilion.」

Ye Qingchen marveled at the majestic building before him. To occupy such a large plot of land in the capital, where every inch was precious, was a clear sign of the Qin Family’s exceptional power. Back in Qingyun Town, he had visited the local Rising Sun Pavilion and thought it quite lavish, but it paled in comparison to the one before him.

As Ye Qingchen prepared to enter the Rising Sun Pavilion, a familiar figure emerged from within. The person paused upon seeing him, then smiled and spoke.

”Ye Qingchen? What brings you here?”

It was none other than Qin Yue, on her way out to find an Alchemist. The reunion with an old friend briefly washed away some of her worries.

She seems more womanly than when she was back in Qingyun Town, he thought, yet that faint trace of sorrow on her face makes my heart ache for her.

Before he could answer, Qin Yue exclaimed in surprise, ”Ye Qingchen, why has your aura become so strong? What Realm are you in now?”

Ye Qingchen scratched his head. Seeing no reason to hide it from her, he replied, ”I was lucky enough to break through to the ninth layer of the Martial Master Realm a few days ago.”

He spoke modestly, not mentioning that he was already at the peak of the Martial Master Realm and could break through to the Great Martial Master Realm at any moment. Otherwise, Qin Yue would have been even more stunned.

Even so, Qin Yue’s small mouth was slightly agape, and she was speechless for a long time.

Back on Qingyun Mountain, he was just a minor Martial Artist, while I was already in the Martial Master Realm. Now, I’ve only just broken through to the Great Martial Master Realm, yet he’s already reached the ninth layer of the Martial Master Realm! That rate of progress is simply monstrous. Moreover, I know my own swift advancement to the Great Martial Master Realm is inseparable from my status in the Qin Family. The cultivation resources the family provides are far beyond anything Ye Qingchen could have accessed. And yet, he has still managed to catch up.

Though shocked, Qin Yue was also genuinely happy for him. She nodded and praised him, ”Not bad at all. At this rate, it won’t be long before you reach the Great Martial Master Realm and catch up to me.”

Ye Qingchen just smiled and shook his head, not wanting to dwell on the topic. Instead, he asked curiously, ”Miss Qin, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in Qingyun Town?”

Qin Yue smiled and explained, ”My family transferred me to the Rising Sun Pavilion here in the capital, so isn’t it perfectly normal for me to be here? But you—why are you here instead of cultivating diligently back at the Sect?”

”If I said I came to see you, would you believe it?” Ye Qingchen blurted out. The moment he’d heard ’Rising Sun Pavilion,’ the first person he thought of was Qin Yue. As for how much of that statement was true and how much was false, perhaps only he himself knew.

Thinking he was teasing her, Qin Yue replied with a playful rebuke, ”My, you’ve gotten slick since joining the Qingyun Sect. Now, tell me, what really brings you to the Rising Sun Pavilion? If there’s anything I can help with, just ask.”

Ye Qingchen didn’t beat around the bush. ”I came because I heard you’re going to auction a Thousand-Year Peony Heart Grass. I wanted to try my luck.”

Qin Yue nodded. ”You’re right, we do have a Thousand-Year Peony Heart Grass in the upcoming auction. But its value is quite high.” She was well aware of Ye Qingchen’s financial situation and wasn’t optimistic he could produce enough Spirit Stones to buy it.

Ye Qingchen gave a wry smile. He took ten Soul-Enhancing Pills he had refined from his storage ring and handed them to her. ”I have ten Soul-Enhancing Pills here. I came to exchange them for Spirit Stones so I can bid on the grass.”

”Oh, Soul-Enhancing Pills? These can certainly fetch a good number of Spirit Stones,” she said. ”Come with me, I’ll help you get them appraised.”

Qin Yue accepted the Soul-Enhancing Pills and led Ye Qingchen into the Rising Sun Pavilion to personally appraise the ten Spirit Pills.

To her surprise, all ten were top-grade Soul-Enhancing Pills. Not only that, but they all came from the same batch, meaning their effects would be significantly amplified. If all ten were auctioned together, they would certainly fetch an excellent price.

Handing the Spirit Pills back to Ye Qingchen, Qin Yue explained, ”If you were to sell these to the Rising Sun Pavilion directly, we would buy the lot at the market price of one thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. But since all ten are top-grade, you would be taking a huge loss. My advice is to put them in the auction. The price is sure to multiply several times over.”

Qin Yue’s advice was sincere, but Ye Qingchen furrowed his brow.