Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 195: Chapter 195: The First Pill King

Hearing the ridicule from the Heavenly Profound Sect, Pavilion Master Zhang and Ye Qingchen seemed indifferent. However, Deputy Pavilion Master Liu became somewhat angry and said to Xiong Bin, ”Xiong Bin, don’t forget, you once begged to join our Qingyun Sect but were refused by our old Sect Master due to your poor aptitude! And now you’re here disparaging the Qingyun Sect. Do you have no shame?”

Upon hearing Deputy Pavilion Master Liu’s words, Xiong Bin did not become angry. Although he had indeed failed to be chosen by the Qingyun Sect back then, he had let it go many years ago.

At this moment, Xiong Hai interjected, mocking, ”Old Liu, stop trying to confuse the issue. Just because you failed to properly teach one disciple doesn’t mean the Qingyun Sect is completely worthless. Why must you resort to such fallacious arguments?”

Deputy Pavilion Master Liu was at a loss for words, and Ye Qingchen knew it was time for him to say something.

Just now, Deputy Pavilion Master Liu tried to defend me without knowing the full story. It would be inexcusable for me to stand by and let them continue to ridicule him.

With this in mind, Ye Qingchen coldly said to Cheng Zhibin, ”I already told you at the auction: if you can’t understand something, that’s due to your own ignorance and inexperience. I don’t blame you; it simply means you haven’t seen much of the world. But if you keep harping on this, you’re nothing more than a clown in my eyes.”

Cheng Zhibin glared at Ye Qingchen furiously. But he couldn’t be sure whether there was something inside the jade or not. After all, it came from an ancient battlefield. If I adamantly claim it’s worthless now, won’t I be in an even more humiliating position when Ye Qingchen proves otherwise?

Thinking this, Cheng Zhibin changed his tone and said coldly to Ye Qingchen, ”Even if we set aside the matter of the jade stone, what about that day at the Rising Sun Pavilion? I had clearly healed the old master of the Qin Family, but you greedily rushed in to steal my credit. How do you explain that?”

Ye Qingchen did not respond directly, instead turning his head and bursting into loud laughter.

Cheng Zhibin’s face turned livid as he stared daggers at Ye Qingchen.

After a moment, Ye Qingchen stopped laughing and said disdainfully to Cheng Zhibin, ”You are a disciple of the Heavenly Profound Sect, so why is your intelligence so truly worrying? You claim I stole your credit, but why didn’t you dare utter a single word in front of Old Master Qin? Now you’re here barking madly. Do you really think you’re the only smart one here and that everyone in the Qin Family is a fool?”

Cheng Zhibin didn’t dare to retort. After all, the Qin Family exists outside the authority of the Northern Desolate Country. If I admit to what he said, I might bring a calamity down upon the Heavenly Profound Sect!

Neither side spoke, both just stared coldly at each other. The tense silence was broken by a sudden exclamation from the crowd.

”Look! That esteemed gentleman, could he be the royal family’s First Pill King?”

The six individuals in the standoff turned their heads toward the commotion. Indeed, they saw an elder dressed in stately robes being slowly escorted into the venue by several Royal Bodyguards.

”It’s Ge Hongyang!” Deputy Pavilion Master Liu frowned and sighed.

At this, Xiong Bin and Xiong Hai also furrowed their brows. Ge Hongyang was the royal family’s First Alchemist, whose skill was nothing short of magical. They hadn’t expected him to participate in this Alchemy Dao competition.

With Ge Hongyang’s appearance, their desire to argue vanished.

Xiong Bin and Xiong Hai exchanged glances before Xiong Bin turned to Pavilion Master Zhang and said coldly, ”Zhang Dingqiang! Since you’re so stubbornly deluded, let’s settle the score during the Alchemy Dao competition! Just try not to disgrace the title of the number one sect when the time comes!”

Pavilion Master Zhang merely scoffed, too disdainful to engage in a war of words with them, and simply chose to ignore their provocation.

Xiong Bin let out a cold snort and led Xiong Hai and Cheng Zhibin toward the registration area.

After the people from the Heavenly Profound Sect left, Ye Qingchen asked Pavilion Master Zhang, ”Pavilion Master Zhang, is this First Pill King of the royal family really that formidable?”

Pavilion Master Zhang nodded but did not elaborate.

Ye Qingchen then looked quizzically at Deputy Pavilion Master Liu, who simply shook his head, offering no explanation.

Ye Qingchen chuckled bitterly. It seems this First Pill King of the royal family is indeed extraordinary; otherwise, the two Pavilion Masters wouldn’t be so tight-lipped about him.

Ye Qingchen watched as Ge Hongyang elicited exclamations of surprise everywhere he went. I must observe this First Pill King closely once the Alchemy Dao competition begins!

Just as Ye Qingchen was musing to himself, another round of shouts erupted from the registration area.

”The First Pill King! The First Pill King has arrived!”

”I know that. Pill King Ge Hongyang just passed by. I even cheered a few times.”

”No, no, no! It’s Pill King Chen Zhuo!”

”What? Are you talking about Chen Zhuo, the one hailed as the First Pill King of the Loose Cultivators’ World?”

The crowd’s murmurs reached Ye Qingchen, causing him to frown.

One is the First Pill King of the royal family, and the other is the First Pill King among loose cultivators. It’s hard to say who is stronger! I also know that both Pavilion Master Zhang and Deputy Pavilion Master Liu are in the Pill King Realm, just like Xiong Bin and Xiong Hai. Since when did Pill Kings become so common? This Alchemy Dao competition has gathered so many of them. It’s just as Deputy Pavilion Master Liu said—this event is truly unprecedented!

However, seeing that Deputy Pavilion Master Liu had no intention of clarifying his doubts, Ye Qingchen decided not to ask.

Boisterous cries continued to ripple through the venue, though they were much fainter than the cheers for Pill King Ge and Pill King Chen. That must be another formidable Alchemy Master arriving. I don’t recognize any of them, but I’ll commit their faces to memory. I need to pay close attention to them once the competition begins.

After watching for a while, Deputy Pavilion Master Liu found it somewhat dull and said to Ye Qingchen, ”Qingchen, let’s go. I’ll show you around.”

Ye Qingchen naturally wouldn’t refuse. He was well aware that his limited exposure to the outside world made him seem easily amazed by everything. Broadening his horizons was the very reason he had come on this trip, so he couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity.

But just as Deputy Pavilion Master Liu was leading Ye Qingchen to bid farewell to Pavilion Master Zhang, a Royal Bodyguard trotted up to the three of them. Bowing respectfully to Pavilion Master Zhang, he said, ”Pill King Zhang, His Majesty the Emperor has heard of your presence and has sent for you!”

The guard then bowed to Deputy Pavilion Master Liu and repeated the message.

Pavilion Master Zhang and Deputy Pavilion Master Liu exchanged a look. Since it was the Emperor’s summons, they naturally had to go.

Deputy Pavilion Master Liu turned to Ye Qingchen and said, ”Qingchen, you come with us. Take this chance to see more of the world!”