The Sword God of the Universe

Chapter 257: Chapter 257: Gao Zhao Hai’s Obstruction Chapter 257: Chapter 257: Gao Zhao Hai’s Obstruction Jiao Ming was somewhat impatient.

Had it not been for Jing Qingzhu presenting him with a generous gift every year, he would not even have taken the time to see Jing Qingzhu right now.

Although he was just a minor manager in the Alchemist Association, there were plenty of people who flattered him on a regular basis.

In his view, the fact that he was giving Jing Qingzhu some of his time was already a great favor.

“Hmm?” After Jiao Ming uttered his impatient words, he saw Jing Yan still boldly sitting there, and his gaze sharpened.

Jing Qingzhu had quickly stood up when he entered, but this young man named Jing Yan dared to remain seated.

Damn it!

Such behavior was disrespectful towards him, even contemptuous.

Naturally, Jing Qingzhu noticed the change in Jiao Ming’s expression, and she glanced at Jing Yan, signaling with her eyes for him to stand up.

Although Jing Yan claimed to know the Vice President of the Alchemist Association, even if he really knew them, what of it?

What sort of status did the Vice President have?

Would they intervene in such trivial matters?

Jing Qingzhu did not believe that Jing Yan could have the opportunity to meet the esteemed Vice President.

Her main hope now was to use Jing Yan’s claim of knowing the Vice President to get Jiao Ming to spend time talking with her, to tell her why the Jing Family Office’s auction qualification had suddenly been revoked.

Only by knowing the reason could she come up with a countermeasure.

However, if Jing Yan continued with this kind of attitude, she feared Jiao Ming would not be inclined to elaborate.

Her heart grew even more anxious, but it was inappropriate to speak out in front of Jiao Ming.

“Jing Qingzhu, is this boy your subordinate?”

“Heh, your subordinate sure has a big air about him.

I’m standing here, and he’s sitting down!

Very good, extremely good indeed!

It seems there’s nothing else we need to discuss.

Jing Qingzhu, you’d better leave the Alchemist Association soon.

I have other matters to attend to,” Jiao Ming sneered coldly, speaking in a disdainful tone.

Jing Yan, who appeared to be in his teens, shared the same surname as Jing Qingzhu, indicating he was likely from the same Jing Family.

Such a minor figure before him, putting on airs as if he were the boss—who was he trying to impress?

Suppressing his anger, Jiao Ming scoffed a few times, then turned to leave.

He couldn’t be bothered to teach this young man a lesson.

“Alchemist Jiao Ming, please don’t be angry.

Jing Yan is young and ignorant.

I beg you not to take it to heart,” Jing Qingzhu hastily apologized.

“Humph, the boy is ignorant, and you are too?

If he doesn’t know any better, can’t you teach him?

Ah?

Jing Qingzhu, what exactly are you thinking?” Jiao Ming directly rebuked Jing Qingzhu.

His demeanor was akin to that of an adult scolding a child.

Even though Jing Qingzhu was accustomed to it, she couldn’t help but feel her face flush with heat.

“Jiao Ming, is it?”

Jing Yan slowly stood up.

In fact, Jing Yan was prepared to stand up with Jing Qingzhu when Jiao Ming entered, but after hearing what Jing Qingzhu said upon entering, he changed his mind.

Now, seeing Jiao Ming’s attitude towards Jing Qingzhu, Jing Yan’s inward sneer grew even colder.

Jing Yan stood up, looking at Jiao Ming, and uttered those few words indifferently.

Jiao Ming’s gaze darkened, a flash of sharpness in his eyes, and before he could speak, Jing Qingzhu’s face turned slightly pale.

Jing Yan’s tone wasn’t very friendly, and although he had stood up, he had directly called out Jiao Ming’s name.

It’s done!

This would thoroughly offend Jiao Ming; any small connection they had with him was likely lost.

Jing Qingzhu sighed softly to herself and shook her head slightly.

She had spent a lot effort and time to establish a relationship with Jiao Ming, and now that connection might be severed.

Perhaps she shouldn’t have brought Jing Yan along in the first place!

That was what Jing Qingzhu thought, looking at Jing Yan but not blaming him, feeling only a sense of weariness.

“I really don’t know what you have to be so proud about!”

“You think I don’t respect you?

Hehe, Jiao Ming, what skills do you have that are worthy of my respect?

You’re just a Second-level Alchemist.

Before me, you really don’t have much to be proud of,” Jing Yan said with a smile.

Jing Qingzhu had already informed Jing Yan about this Jiao Ming on the way there, aware that Jiao Ming was a Second-level Alchemist.

“Huff…” Jiao Ming’s face instantly turned livid with fury as he exhaled angrily.

This young man actually dared to look down on him.

“Take a look, this is the elixir I refined with my own hands.

If you can refine an elixir like this, then that would truly be worthy of my respect,” Jing Yan said, tossing a jade bottle to Jiao Ming without waiting for an outburst.

Jiao Ming, out of reflex, caught the jade bottle.

Wait… What did this young man say?

An elixir he refined himself?

Could it be that this young man was an alchemist too?

Jiao Ming, who was about to roar out his words, forcefully swallowed them back.

If this kid was truly an alchemist, then he indeed could not be underestimated.

This kid, looking at his age, was probably in his late teens, close to twenty perhaps?

At such an age, if he were an alchemist, his talent in the Alchemy Dao would be extremely terrifying.

Hesitating, Jiao Ming glanced at Jing Yan several times.

He still found it hard to believe that Jing Yan could be an alchemist.

Jing Qingzhu, too, stared at Jing Yan in astonishment.

She didn’t know that Jing Yan was an alchemist.

Jing Qingzhu had always kept in touch with the Jing Family and knew that Jing Yan now possessed Innate Realm Cultivation, with formidable strength, having even killed Zhao Zhenyan of the Zhao Family.

However, even the Clan Leader Jing Chengye and the rest of the Jing Family were unaware of Jing Yan’s identity as an alchemist.

Jing Qingzhu was even less aware of Jing Yan’s actions in Lanqu County City under the supervision of the Chief Manager.

So, when Jing Yan claimed he had personally refined an elixir, Jing Qingzhu was also stunned, silently gazing at Jing Yan.

Previously, when Jing Yan mentioned knowing the Vice President of the Alchemist Association, could it be that it was this esteemed Vice President who taught Jing Yan Alchemy?

If that were the case, Jing Yan’s relationship with this Vice President would be anything but ordinary.

Still, even so, for Jing Yan to become an alchemist, couldn’t be that swift, right?

To successfully ascend to the ranks of alchemists, even with a famous master’s teachings, would require at least several years, wouldn’t it?

While Jing Qingzhu was lost in her wild thoughts, Jiao Ming had already opened the Jade Bottle and taken out a pill.

“Guiyuan Pill?” Jiao Ming looked at the elixir in his hand.

“Humph, a mere Guiyuan Pill, would I not be able to refine it?” Jiao Ming scoffed with a sneer.

A Guiyuan Pill was merely a First-level Elixir.

As a Second-level Alchemist, of course, he could refine it.

“Huh?” As he said this, his expression suddenly changed.

Because he realized that the Guiyuan Pill in his hand was not the third-class elixir he had subconsciously assumed, but rather a Second-class Elixir.

Although he was a Second-level Alchemist, he indeed could not refine a Second-class Elixir at all.

Jiao Ming’s eyes widened as he inspected the pill more closely.

Indeed, the Guiyuan Pill he was holding was a Second-class Elixir.

Then, he looked up at Jing Yan in amazement.

“Impossible!

Absolutely impossible!

Refining a Second-class Elixir would make you a Little Pill King.

This elixir definitely can’t be something you refined.” Jiao Ming said incredulously, shaking his head repeatedly.

“This elixir, I refined it.

Jiao Ming, before me, you indeed have no grounds for undue pride.

Moreover, I can tell you, I can not only refine Second-class First-level Elixirs, but I can also refine Second-class Second-level Elixirs.” Jing Yan said with a smile.

Jing Qingzhu, standing beside him, had long been frozen in place, staring at Jing Yan in a daze.

Since when did Jing Yan achieve such accomplishments in the Alchemy Dao?

It must be known that even among the Alchemist Association, those alchemists were generally older.

Even the First-level Alchemists were almost all over thirty years old.

“Alchemist Jiao Ming, I have a question.”

“The one responsible for this Green Jade Auction, arranging the list of attendees, was it Gao Zhao Hai?” Jing Yan abruptly asked.

Jiao Ming took a slight breath and his gaze towards Jing Yan softened considerably.

Although he still found it hard to believe that Jing Yan had refined the Second-class Elixir, if, by any chance, it was really refined by Jing Yan, then this person was no ordinary individual.

The Alchemist Association would indeed be very willing to recruit such a talented alchemist as Jing Yan into their ranks.

Once Jing Yan joined the Alchemist Association, his status would certainly be above his own.

“It’s not Gao Zhao Hai who’s in charge, but Fang Xu,” Jiao Ming said after a moment’s thought, still responding.

“Oh?” Jing Yan’s gaze shifted.

“However…

If you’re asking why Jing Qingzhu’s name was removed from the list, I heard that it was indeed Gao Zhao Hai who gave the order.

I had asked Fang Xu about this issue previously.” Jiao Ming paused before continuing.

He had been aware of the reason why Jing Qingzhu was invited this morning, but he hadn’t told her.

“So it really was Gao Zhao Hai.” Jing Yan chuckled coldly, “Gao Zhao Hai is indeed narrow-minded, using such despicable means because of a little conflict with me, hehe…”

Hearing Jing Yan’s words, Jiao Ming couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

Who was this kid, and where did he pop up from?

Gao Zhao Hai was one of the managers of the Alchemist Association, and here was Jing Yan speaking so disrespectfully of him, accusing Gao Zhao Hai of being narrow-minded and underhanded.

Huh?

What did he say?

He had a conflict with Gao Zhao Hai?

Jiao Ming’s body trembled slightly.

“Jiao Ming, I would like to meet Manager Fang Xu,” Jing Yan stated after a thought.

“I’m afraid that’s not possible.

Manager Fang Xu is in the midst of finalizing the list, he might not have time…” Jiao Ming began, shaking his head.

“Why don’t you show the Guiyuan Pill to Manager Fang Xu and say that I have a few other similar elixirs.

If possible, I will put up some Second-class Elixirs for auction at the event,” Jing Yan interrupted Jiao Ming, waving his hand as he spoke.

“This…

Alright!” Jiao Ming finally nodded.

Indeed, what Jing Yan had said was somewhat frightening.

Having a conflict with Gao Zhao Hai was not something just anyone could manage.

Ordinary people, even if they wanted to create some friction with Gao Zhao Hai, wouldn’t likely be able to.

Yet, judging by Jing Yan’s attitude, it seemed entirely possible; otherwise, why would Gao Zhao Hai suddenly instruct Fang Xu to remove Jing Qingzhu’s name from the list?