Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Zhao Dengming said impatiently, “The lesson has already ended. Ask again whatever questions you have during the next lesson.” Upon saying that, he was prepared to leave the alchemy altar quickly.
Alas, who would have thought that Fang Lin would refuse to give up? He said in a loud voice once again, “Elder, are you unwilling to solve my conundrum? I thought that it’s the right thing for an elder to solve a disciple’s conundrum in this holy ground of the alchemy altar. Moreover, the alchemy altar lesson usually lasts for two hours. Elder Zhao, you’ve only lectured for an hour. It seems a little inappropriate to end the lesson in such a rush, isn’t it?”
Zhao Dengming’s expression turned bitter. Fang Lin’s remark put him in a dilemma. Now, he could not leave even if he wanted to because he would be easily identified as an irresponsible elder if he were to leave. This was a much more serious offense compared to making things difficult for a disciple.
Although he wanted to lose his temper, the crucial point was that Fang Lin’s request was rational, so he had no reason to.
“Stop talking nonsense! I suddenly thought of something that I need to attend to. However, nothing is more important than solving a conundrum for the junior generation. What is your question? Go ahead and tell us. I’ll solve the conundrum for you,” he said with a serious expression.
Fang Lin felt contempt swell in his heart. Zhao Dengming was rather shameless too. He was obviously attempting to escape cowardly earlier, yet he made his departure sound so righteous.
The group of junior alchemy disciples was confused. What was Fang Lin trying to do? Some of the junior alchemy disciples with sharper minds could tell that he was retaliating against Zhao Dengming’s demoralization earlier. Fang Lin was about to counter attack Zhao Dengming!
“Fang Lin is still an egotistical person after all. Even though he has the reputation of a genius, he’s incapable of holding back his temper. It’s utterly meaningless for him to do this.”
“It’s true that this is meaningless. Moreover, his actions will allow Zhao Dengming to have something on him easily. This isn’t a smart move.”
“Let’s see what Fang Lin is going to do. Perhaps, he has his own way of thinking.”
…
‘Fang Lin is truly too arrogant. Is he actually attempting to counter-attack Zhao Dengming? That’s seeking doom!’ Kang Lu laughed maniacally in his heart. Anticipation joined his expression that was originally filled with fury.
Zhao Dengming was also sneering secretly in his heart. ‘You’re nothing but a tiny junior alchemy disciple. How dare you pick a quarrel with me? Wait and see how I’m going to let you have a taste of punishment for seeking trouble.’
Fang Lin looked at Zhao Dengming. He cupped his hands before his chest for a moment and said, “I’d like to ask you, Elder Zhao, do you know about the Delusion Flower?”
Upon listening to his question, Zhao Dengming frowned ever so slightly and spoke with his lip curled downward, “The Delusion Flower is a poisonous plant. It’s capable of confusing a person’s state of mind such that it produces delusions in the mind of the intoxicated person. Of course, I know about this plant. Is this your question? What a joke!”
Although the numerous junior alchemy disciples below the stone platform had limited knowledge of the Delusion Flower, they were well aware that Fang Lin’s question was apparently too easy for Zhao Dengming.
Lu Xiaoqing was feeling anxious on Fang Lin’s behalf secretly. ‘Fang Lin, oh, Fang Lin, what are you trying to do there? Would you like to pause and think for a moment?’
“Elder Zhao, please stay calm. My question is related to the Delusion Flower. I’d like to ask you since the Delusion Flower is a poisonous plant that confuses a person’s state of mind such that the person hallucinates, what kind of elixir can it be refined into if it is used as a medicinal herb? What is the effect of the elixir then?” Fang Lin said as he shook his head with a wry smile.
Zhao Dengming grunted heavily. He admonished, “Preposterous! That’s preposterous! The Delusion Flower is a poisonous plant. It can’t possibly be used to refine into an elixir. Fang Lin, are you trying to taunt me?”
Meanwhile, Kang Lu also stood up immediately and pointed at Fang Lin with a furious look on his face. He shouted, “How dare you tease the elder on the holy ground of the alchemy altar, Fang Lin? How should you be punished?”
Many people shook their heads secretly upon listening to Kang Lu’s accusation. His intention to bully Fang Lin was too obvious.
Fang Lin refused to look at Kang Lu, but he said to Zhao Dengming on the stone platform, “So, do you really not know, Elder Zhao?”
Zhao Dengming frowned deeply. He said with an obnoxious expression on his face, “The Delusion Flower can’t be used to refine elixirs. How can I not know that despite being an alchemist?”
Who would have known that Fang Lin would shake his head and heave a sigh? When he looked toward Zhao Dengming once again, there was an obvious look of disdain on his face.
‘What kind of expression is that? How dare you look down upon me?’ Zhao Dengming also exploded but he reined his emotions in.
Kang Lu noticed Fang Lin’s fearlessness, so he sneered even more in his heart. He said once again, “Fang Lin, could it be that you don’t even respect the elder just because you’re self-conceited with the fact that you’re slightly better at herbology? It’s a serious crime not to respect the elder in this holy ground of the alchemy altar!”
“Senior Brother Disciple Kang, you just love labeling people, don’t you? Since when have I not respected the elder? May I offer a piece of advice to you, Senior Brother Disciple Kang? The statues of our four seniors are looking at you. Watch your words or you might be punished by the four seniors,” Fang Lin pursed his lips and said disapprovingly.
Kang Lu did not expect Fang Lin’s refute. He wanted to speak, but he remembered that he was in the alchemy altar. The four saint statues here possessed mysterious powers, so he dared not speak any more at once.
Fang Lin paused for a moment before he looked toward Zhao Dengming once again. “Elder Zhao, you can look it up in the ancient records. Even though the Delusion Flower confuses a person’s state of mind, it can be used to refine the Water Moon Pill. The Water Moon Pill’s effect is precisely to prevent a martial art cultivator from being affected by illusions so that the cultivator’s state of mind remains firm and steady.”
Zhao Dengming’s face alternated between being red with rage and ghastly pale with fear. His head was telling him that Fang Lin’s remark was preposterous, but his heart was alarmed and bewildered.
“Nonsense! You’re a worthless junior alchemy disciple, yet you are discussing the act of refining elixirs recklessly. That’s indecent!” Zhao Dengming rebuked sternly.
Fang Lin looked at Zhao Dengming strangely. “Elder Zhao, do you not dare look it up in the ancient records?”
Actually, Zhao Dengming did not have the courage to do so because he was afraid of embarrassing himself if Fang Lin’s statement was true.
Just as Zhao Dengming’s expression was transforming, Mu Yan suddenly arrived with a calm, cold expression.
Zhao Dengming was stunned for a moment when he noticed her presence. Soon afterward, his expression turned even more complicated. Elder Mu Yan took a glance at Zhao Dengming coldly before tossing a book in front of him.
“Please take a look, Elder Zhao, and check if Fang Lin’s statement is preposterous or not. You should know at one glance,” said Mu Yan indifferently.
Upon listening to her words, Zhao Dengming complained bitterly in his heart. ‘Mu Yan, you’re a villain. In just a glance, I can tell that you’re here to help Fang Lin to deal with me.’
Fang Lin cracked into a smile and bowed in salutation toward Elder Mu Yan.
Kang Lu had a slightly stiff look on his face as he stood below the stone platform. He did not expect Elder Mu Yan to make a sudden appearance. He was feeling rather anxious in his heart at this very moment. The group of junior alchemy disciples craned their necks as they awaited these people to put on a good show.
Zhao Dengming was stunned. Checking the book was both right and wrong. Cold sweat covered his forehead at once as he was at a loss of what to do.
Mu Yan chuckled coldly. “Too scared to check, huh, Elder Zhao? Then, I shall help to check on your behalf.” As soon as those words were spoken, she picked up the book and flipped to one of the pages rapidly.
“Elder Zhao, read this so that you don’t make a fool out of yourself when you’re lecturing the disciples,” said Mu Yan in a mocking tone. She did not show the slightest courtesy to Zhao Deming just because he was an elder too.
Zhao Deming took a glance at the contents in the book. His face turned ghastly pale at once and he was filled with shame and regret.
“I apologize for my mistake. Fang Lin is right. I’m ignorant and ill-informed. I’m too embarrassed to teach anymore!” Upon saying that, Zhao Dengming left in a hurry shamefully. He refused to stay there even for one more moment.
Zhao Dengming left in dejection while Kang Lu stood there with a confused look on his face. Soon afterward, he left the alchemy altar with a gloomy expression wordlessly. His supporters followed closely behind him and left upon realizing the situation.
Fang Lin cupped his hands together before his chest toward Elder Mu Yan before taking a seat with a grin.
Mu Yan stood where Zhao Dengming had earlier. She looked at the junior alchemy juniors below the stone platform with different expressions on their faces. Her gaze stopped for a moment when she met Fang Lin’s.
“The lesson today has ended. All of you must work hard and put more effort into studying when you’ve returned. I’ll be giving the lecture in the next alchemy altar lesson,” she said.
When the lesson ended, the numerous junior alchemy disciples adjourned. Many people were smiling kindly at Fang Lin. However, they dared not make friends with him due to his previous history with Kang Lu.
However, Fang Lin’s performance today left behind an exceedingly profound impression in the minds of all the junior alchemy disciples. He managed to shock them with his performance today more than on the previous occasion.
As a result, the junior alchemy disciples regarded Fang Lin as a genius despite their lack of bravery to befriend him.
“Fang Lin, how much herbology knowledge do you keep in that brain of yours? You and I are both junior alchemy disciples, yet why do I feel like you are completely different from the rest of us?” asked Lu Xiaoqing smilingly as she looked at Fang Lin.
Fang Lin sniggered and pinched the tip of her nose playfully. “It’s possible that I’m born to be an alchemist, I guess.”
Lu Xiaoqing pushed his hand away only to see Mu Yan standing nearby and looking at them. She immediately regained her composure.
“Pleasure to meet you, Elder Mu Yan.” Fang Lin and Lu Xiaoqing saluted Mu Yan.
“I’d like to talk to Fang Lin in private. You should return first,” Mu Yan said with a nod to Lu Xiaoqing who agreed before she stuck her tongue out at Fang Lin. Soon afterward, she left.
“Follow me.” Mu Yan turned around and walked away with Fang Lin following closely behind her. Both of them walked in a line and arrived at a small pavilion nearby the alchemy altar.
“May I inquire about the purpose of this meeting, Elder?” Fang Lin took the lead to ask. His tone was rather respectful. After all, he had a favorable impression of Elder Mu Yan, unlike Zhao Dengming. Even though Zhao Dengming was an elder too, he did not deserve his reputation by being so conniving.
Mu Yan turned around to look at Fang Lin. Her delicate brows furrowed ever so slightly as she spoke in a slightly sympathetic tone, “With your qualifications, you can actually be promoted to an official disciple by exception. What a waste.”
Fang Lin was well aware of Mu Yan’s intention. He spoke at once, “I’m still too young and I need some training.”
“After witnessing your performance in the alchemy altar twice, you deserve more than just the status of a plain junior alchemy disciple. It’s only due to the strict rules of the alchemy sect in addition to someone’s reluctance to see your growth that you have to suffer from such unjust treatment.” She heaved a sigh.
Fang Lin understood who the “someone” was in Mu Yan’s words. He did not comment and just nodded.
Mu Yan hesitated for a moment. Soon afterward, she procured a jade scroll. “These are my insights gained from cultivating alchemy. Take it and have a look.” She left after placing the jade scroll on the stone table in the pavilion.
Fang Lin smiled. He took the jade scroll and returned to Xu Shangao’s residence afterward.
As soon as he walked into the courtyard, he met a youth dressed in red robes in Xu Shangao’s courtyard. The youth had a stony face and with a bitter expression, he was engaged in a conversation with Xu Shangao.
Upon noticing Fang Lin’s presence, the red-robed youth turned around to take a glance before he continued with his conversation.
Xu Shangao had a helpless expression on his face as he shook his head repeatedly. The other youth seemed even more annoyed, appearing almost somber.