Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 177: Chapter 177: The Boastful Li Zongrui

Qin Xuan took the list of formations and looked it over. Seeing the newly added auction items, he exclaimed in surprise, ”Ten special-grade Soul-Enhancing Pills, all from the same source! This is great stuff!”

What a pity, Qin Xuan thought. Each person can only take ten Soul-Enhancing Pills, and I’ve already had my share. Otherwise, I might have considered reserving this item for myself.

Li Zongrui, however, was extremely excited. If I could get my hands on these ten Soul-Enhancing Pills, my strength would surely increase rapidly!

Seeing Li Zongrui’s determination to acquire the Soul-Enhancing Pills, Qin Xuan decided to see it through. He pulled several tickets for the front-row premium seats from his robes and handed them to Li Zongrui. ”Brother Li, here are a few tickets for the premium seats. The location is quite good.”

Li Zongrui took the tickets, then glanced toward the private boxes on the second floor and chuckled. ”Brother Qin, could you help me get a Token for one of the boxes? Rest assured, I won’t ask for it for free.”

Qin Xuan shook his head. ”Brother Li, you know the Alchemy Dao Grand Competition is just around the corner, and the capital is teeming with experts. The auction’s private boxes were reserved long ago. Even these premium tickets I just gave you are being scalped at exorbitant prices, and they’re still impossible to find.”

Li Zongrui nodded. Although he couldn’t get a Token for a private box, he understood that obtaining these tickets was already quite difficult. As he was thanking Qin Xuan with a clasped-fist salute, he noticed a familiar figure walking out of the Rising Sun Pavilion.

”Ye Qingchen? What are you doing here?” The warm smile on Li Zongrui’s face instantly turned cold.

Actually, it’s not that strange, Li Zongrui mused. I know he’s been looking for information on the Thousand-Year Peony Heart Grass, so of course he’d show up at the Rising Sun Pavilion.

Ye Qingchen, however, was preoccupied with thoughts of the Fire Poison and didn’t notice Li Zongrui until his name was called. He responded with a neutral tone, ”Young Sect Master. What brings you here? Wasn’t Elder Wuji supposed to be overseeing your intensive cultivation? How do you have time to be out strolling around?”

Ye Qingchen’s words greatly annoyed Li Zongrui. The recent period under Elder Wuji’s guidance had been nothing short of inhuman torture. He was cultivating constantly, which showed just how much faith the Elder had in him. However, Elder Wuji also understood that a balance of work and rest was the fastest way to increase one’s strength, so he had specifically allowed Li Zongrui to come out for a break. He just never expected to run into Ye Qingchen.

To Li Zongrui’s ears, Ye Qingchen’s words sounded like pure mockery. He retorted sourly, ”Do I, the Young Sect Master, need to report my whereabouts to you? As for you, daring to enter the Rising Sun Pavilion when you’re penniless... you’re quite bold. Do you need this Young Sect Master to lend you some Spirit Stones?”

At last, Li Zongrui felt he had found a way to strike a nerve. Ye Qingchen comes from some small town; he doesn’t know anyone or anything in the capital. He’s been looking for the Thousand-Year Peony Heart Grass, but even if he finds a seller, he probably doesn’t have the Spirit Stones to buy it.

Li Zongrui schemed inwardly, If he borrows Spirit Stones from me, he’ll be forever beneath me.

However, to Li Zongrui’s surprise, Ye Qingchen simply shook his head and refused without a second thought.

Qin Xuan, who had been standing aside, noticed the friction between Li Zongrui and Ye Qingchen. Wanting to back up his friend, he chimed in with a sarcastic tone, ”You need a ticket to attend the auction. And as far as I know, they’re completely sold out. Brother Li, is this a friend of yours? You should give him a reminder. It would be a shame if he missed the auction because he couldn’t get a ticket!”

Li Zongrui shot Qin Xuan a grateful look before turning back to Ye Qingchen. ”Ye Qingchen, I just saw that the Thousand-Year Peony Heart Grass is on the auction list. Make sure you don’t miss it.”

Ye Qingchen gave a faint nod. ”Thank you for the reminder, Young Sect Master,” he said lightly. ”If there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading back.”

Ye Qingchen’s nonchalant attitude grated on Li Zongrui’s nerves. Recalling that Ye Qingchen had just walked out of the Rising Sun Pavilion, he speculated, He must have been inside trying to find someone to help him buy a ticket. But judging by his dejected expression, he obviously failed.

At this thought, Li Zongrui took out the tickets Qin Xuan had just given him. ”Ye Qingchen, the Thousand-Year Peony Heart Grass is what’s important,” he said. ”I happen to have a few premium tickets right here. All you have to do is beg me for it, and I’ll give you one. How about it?”

Li Zongrui was certain that Ye Qingchen wouldn’t give up on the Thousand-Year Peony Heart Grass so easily, meaning he had to be desperate for a ticket. Right now, forget a premium ticket, Li Zongrui thought, even if I offered him a standing-room-only ticket, he’d probably beg me frantically for it.

However, to Li Zongrui’s renewed disappointment, Ye Qingchen simply shook his head again. ”Thank you for the kind offer, Young Sect Master. But I will figure out a way to get a ticket myself.”

After saying this, Ye Qingchen left without looking back.

He already had the private box Token from Qin Yue. The treatment in a private box was countless times better than in the premium seats, so why would he care about a mere ticket?

Hearing Ye Qingchen say he would find his own way, Li Zongrui burst out laughing. He couldn’t resist turning to Qin Xuan and saying, ”Brother Qin, you have no idea. That guy is from some backwater town. Says he’ll find his own way? In a city like the capital, he probably can’t even tell east from west. What kind of brilliant plan could he possibly come up with?”

Qin Xuan laughed heartily alongside him.

Li Zongrui’s mood soared. He felt that he had finally gotten the upper hand over Ye Qingchen in some respect. He’s just suffering for the sake of his pride, Li Zongrui believed. He’s only refusing my offer to protect that laughable dignity of his. Once the auction starts, if he still hasn’t found a ticket, he’ll surely come begging to me in a panic. When that happens, I’ll make sure to give that detestable brat a hard time.

Li Zongrui was already picturing the scene of Ye Qingchen groveling for a ticket, and an involuntary smile spread across his face.

After leaving the Rising Sun Pavilion, Ye Qingchen returned directly to his residence.

He was anxious to understand the strange sensation the Fire Poison had given him. Besides, this Fire Poison is the essence of Qin Zhantian’s many years of cultivation, and it contains an incredible amount of energy. If I can refine it, the benefit to my own cultivation will be immeasurable! It might even help me break through to the Great Martial Master Realm in one go!