First Hearing of Alchemy, the Ye Family of Alchemists

Under the crowd's expectant gazes, Jiang Taichu's figure slowly came into view.

"It's the little genius! The little genius is here!"

Jiang Taichu's arrival filled them with excitement.

"Little genius, I brought fifty Gold Soul Coins today. You have to sell me a bottle of Life Essence."

"Little genius, I've been waiting for you since yesterday, a whole day. For the sake of all the trouble I've gone to, let me buy a portion of Life Essence."

Everyone spoke up one after another.

Jiang Taichu went to his usual spot and set fifteen bottles of Life Essence in front of him.

"I'm selling fifteen bottles today, first come, first served."

"I won't welcome anyone who cuts in line or bids a higher price. Purchases will be made in order."

"After the fifteen bottles are sold, I'll sell them again at the same time next month."

"Also, I won't sell to anyone who's already bought one within a year. I want to give that chance to others who need it."

Jiang Taichu laid out his rules.

To save himself the heartburn, he had to set clear rules. That was his principle.

He was no longer dirt poor. With the Life Essence business, where in the vast world could he not go?

"That's wonderful! I was right to come early and wait in line for a whole day!"

"What a shame. I wanted to bid a higher price for the Life Essence, but the little genius has set his rules, so I can only wait until next time."

"He won't sell to customers who've already bought one for a year. The little genius has a truly benevolent heart. With one or two hundred chances a year, I'm sure I'll get one."

Once Jiang Taichu announced his rules, some were excited, while others were disappointed and upset...

The fifteen bottles of Life Essence soon sold out, and Jiang Taichu received seven hundred and fifty Gold Soul Coins.

After the sales, Jiang Taichu glanced at the crowd before him.

"Sales of Life Essence are over for today."

"I have another deal to propose. I'm in urgent need of heavenly treasures that can strengthen spiritual power. If anyone is willing to trade such treasures, come find me."

With that, Jiang Taichu intended to leave.

The next moment, Ye Qingxian appeared before Jiang Taichu with Ye Lingling.

Seeing Ye Lingling and then the beautiful young woman beside her, Jiang Taichu instantly guessed the woman's identity.

Ye Lingling's mother, the current head of the Nine Heart Begonia Ye Family.

"Little genius, I'd like to make a deal with you. Could we find somewhere to talk?"

Ye Qingxian's voice was neither loud nor soft, but Jiang Taichu could hear her clearly.

Jiang Taichu thought for a moment, then accepted Ye Qingxian's invitation.

Before long, the three of them appeared in a private room at a restaurant.

Ye Qingxian and Jiang Taichu sat facing each other, while Ye Lingling stood behind Ye Qingxian like an obedient maid.

"Lingling, pour me a cup of tea, and pour one for the little genius across from me while you're at it."

"All right, Mother."

Ye Lingling answered with a smile.

She picked up their cups, poured two cups of warm tea, and placed them back in front of the two.

"Big sister, whatever deal you have in mind, please go ahead."

Jiang Taichu spoke first.

"Let me introduce myself first. My name is Ye Qingxian, the current head of the Ye Family of Heaven Dou City, the inheritor of the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul, and a healing-type Soul Master at the Soul Saint level."

"You may not know me, but if you ask around Heaven Dou City, you'll naturally learn who I am."

Ye Qingxian spoke.

"I came to you this time because I want you to represent our Ye Family in a competition."

Ye Qingxian stated her purpose.

Jiang Taichu frowned slightly, somewhat puzzled.

"Family Head Ye, what sort of competition requires a mere Soul Master?"

Ye Qingxian gave her answer:

"To be precise, it's a competition three years from now, and your opponent then will be a high-level Soul Elder at the very least."

Jiang Taichu was startled and pointed at himself.

"Family Head Ye, I'm only a Soul Master right now. Three years from now, I still won't be a match for a high-level Soul Elder, will I?"

"You're giving me far too much credit. I'm just an ordinary Soul Master."

Ye Qingxian smiled and said, "As a Soul Master, you defeated a level twenty-two Power Attack System Soul Grandmaster in a single move."

"Your Martial Soul is anything but ordinary. At the very least, it's a top-tier Martial Soul. I think that even as a Soul Grandmaster, you'll be able to defy the odds and defeat a Soul Elder."

"Besides, I'm the one placing the bet here. You have nothing to lose, do you, little genius?"

After this conversation, Ye Qingxian increasingly felt that Jiang Taichu was no ordinary person.

Though young, his thinking was very mature.

"Also, I just heard you say you wanted to trade for heavenly treasures that can strengthen spiritual power, little genius."

At those words, Jiang Taichu immediately put down the teacup he had just picked up.

"Do you have one, Family Head Ye?"

His eyes were shining. A heavenly treasure that could strengthen spiritual power was absolutely what he needed most right now, without equal.

"Mm."

Ye Qingxian nodded, then continued:

"As it happens, I have a stalk of Spirit-Nourishing Grass. Taking it can refresh the mind and nourish the heart, and it has a considerable strengthening effect on spiritual power."

"If the Spirit-Nourishing Grass is refined into pills, the increase in spiritual power will be even more pronounced."

Jiang Taichu's breathing grew a little heavier. Clearly, he greatly desired the Spirit-Nourishing Grass Ye Qingxian had mentioned.

"Does your offer still stand, Family Head Ye?"

"I'm willing to represent the Ye Family in that competition."

Ye Qingxian smiled and nodded.

"Of course it still stands. If you're willing to represent my Ye Family, little genius, this Spirit-Nourishing Grass is yours."

"Three years from now, if you help our Ye Family win, little genius, we'll give you an additional reward."

Jiang Taichu agreed without reservation.

With this Spirit-Nourishing Grass, his spiritual power would surely break through to the Spirit Connection Realm in one stroke.

At that time, not only would Ah Yin's strength increase, but with the energy supplied by her Soul Ring, he could also rise by a level or two himself.

When he obtained his second Soul Ring, he would record another super Soul Beast bloodline and fuse with it.

Then, with two super bloodlines, let alone a high-level Soul Elder, he, Jiang Taichu, would not fear even a high-level Soul Ancestor!

He did not want to owe anyone a favor. Since Ye Qingxian had shown enough sincerity, he would do everything he could to help the Ye Family win.

"By the way, Family Head Ye, I just heard you say that refining the Spirit-Nourishing Grass into pills would make its effect on spiritual power more pronounced."

"I'd like to ask whether there's a Soul Master in Heaven Dou City who knows the art of alchemy. I'd like to have this Spirit-Nourishing Grass refined into pills."

Jiang Taichu recalled that Ye Qingxian had just mentioned refining pills, and his interest was immediately piqued.

Before Ye Qingxian could speak, Ye Lingling, standing behind her, spoke up first:

"You needn't look to the ends of the earth; the answer is right before your eyes."

"On this Douluo Continent, when it comes to alchemy, if my mother dares claim second place, no one dares claim first. She's a genuine grandmaster of alchemy, surpassing all others past and present."

Ye Lingling's face was full of pride.

"Ahem, little genius, Lingling is exaggerating."

"I only know a little. How could I be said to surpass all others past and present? It's all my daughter's wild talk, so please don't take it seriously."

Ye Qingxian spoke modestly.