How Could He Be an Alchemist? A Poison Master?

A voice imbued with energy tore through the night sky, forcing Yan Yun to stop in his tracks and look back involuntarily.

Soon, a figure emerged from the shadows and landed steadily in the small courtyard.

Upon seeing who it was, Yan Yun's initial surprise shifted into a look of disdain.

"I wondered who it might be. Elder Liu, are you still out for a stroll this late at night?"

Liu Yuntian had long since grown accustomed to Yan Yun's attitude toward him. He bypassed the man entirely and walked straight to the edge of the crater, looking down at the injured Li Xingluo with a hint of worry.

Seeing Liu Yuntian arrive, Li Xingluo felt the murderous aura radiating from Yan Yun subside significantly. He slowly lowered the hand he had been hiding behind his back, his eyes filled with grit and resolve.

Liu Li jumped into the crater, helped Li Xingluo out, and shot a fierce glare at Yan Gui.

"If I hadn't come, you would have committed a grave mistake."

Li Xingluo met Liu Yuntian's concerned gaze. Realizing that Li Xingluo's life was not in danger, Liu Li helped him to the side to regulate his breathing, standing before him like a guardian.

Liu Li's attitude toward Li Xingluo piqued Yan Yun's interest. Compared to Yan Gui, when had this pampered young master ever shown such respect to an outsider?

Though Yan Yun thought this, his expression remained unchanged, still as haughty as ever.

"Eh, Elder Liu, I'm afraid that's a bit of an alarmist statement. Since when could a mere junior cause the Aus Auction House to commit a grave mistake? I'd like to hear your reasoning."

As he regulated his breathing, Li Xingluo heard Yan Yun's retort and thought to himself, Good grief. Liu Yuntian had clearly been speaking only of him, yet Yan Yun had escalated it to the entire Aus Auction House.

It had to be said that there was a reason such a man could sit in the position of an elder.

"Fine, then I shall tell you." Seeing Yan Yun's arrogant demeanor, Liu Yuntian suppressed the anger rising in his heart.

"He is an Alchemist, and a fifth-tier Alchemist at that."

Yan Yun's brows knit together so tightly they almost touched. He looked at Li Xingluo with utter disbelief, as if his own ears had failed him.

"Him? A fifth-tier Alchemist? What kind of joke are you playing?"

The more Yan Yun spoke, the more agitated he became, and he walked directly toward the recovering Li Xingluo.

Fearing that Yan Yun might harm Li Xingluo again, Liu Yuntian used a flash-step to block his path.

"What? Are you questioning me?"

"Questioning? Just look at his age. You haven't been deceived by him, have you?"

Liu Yuntian glanced back at Li Xingluo inadvertently. There was no disguise; the boy was barely in his teens.

A fifth-tier Alchemist was an existence capable of causing a sensation throughout the Chuyun Empire.

Liu Yuntian couldn't help but feel a moment of doubt, but it was brief. A firm conviction dispelled the uneasy speculation in his heart; he chose to trust the words of his granddaughter, Liu Ya.

"Do I look like I'm being deceived? If that weren't the case, why would I have arranged for him to stay at the Aus Auction House?"

Seeing the sincerity in Liu Yuntian's expression and the lack of evasion in his eyes, Yan Yun realized he didn't seem to be lying.

Yan Yun couldn't help but doubt himself. Could such a genius truly exist in this world? He stared at Li Xingluo past Liu Yuntian, hoping to find an answer.

Li Xingluo appeared calm, his expression unchanged by Yan Yun's murderous gaze, which only served to reinforce Yan Yun's belief in Liu Yuntian's words.

He had wanted to find a weakness in Li Xingluo, but he was disappointed. Still unwilling to give up, Yan Yun said, "Since he is a fifth-tier Alchemist, I wonder if he could personally refine a fifth-tier pill?"

Liu Yuntian had wanted to stop him, but upon second thought, he realized this might be for the best; it would dispel Yan Yun's doubts while verifying Liu Ya's claims.

Seeing Liu Yuntian hesitate, Li Xingluo guessed the situation seven or eight times out of ten.

After a short rest, Li Xingluo pushed away Liu Li, who was trying to support him.

"I can, but the medicinal herbs..."

"Rest assured, the Aus Auction House is the largest auction house in the empire, after all. Just name whatever herbs you need."

Yan Yun interjected immediately, as if afraid Li Xingluo might change his mind.

"Fine." Li Xingluo took a piece of paper from his storage ring and handed it over. "Prepare the herbs listed here."

Yan Yun snatched the list and scanned the ingredients.

"Good, I will go prepare them for you right now." Before leaving, Yan Yun didn't forget to cast one last glance at Li Xingluo.

Fearing that Yan Yun might sabotage the process, Liu Yuntian followed him out, instructing Liu Li to move Li Xingluo to new quarters.

The next day, Li Xingluo had recovered about eighty or ninety percent when Yan Yun and the others arrived.

Li Xingluo took the herbs and entered the room, while Xiao Yi Xian stood guard outside, forbidding anyone from disturbing him.

Time ticked by second by second, and the glow of the setting sun gradually faded away.

Yan Gui was extremely smug and remarked, "Could this fellow have jumped out the window and run away?"

Liu Li glared fiercely at Yan Gui, who awkwardly claimed he was merely worried, while Liu Li remained steadfast in his belief in Li Xingluo.

The last rays of the sun vanished, and the night officially took hold. Even Liu Yuntian began to harbor doubts.

In contrast to the tension and unease of Liu Yuntian and his grandson, Yan Yun and his grandson appeared quite smug, eager to get the answer immediately.

Just as both sides were harboring their own ulterior motives, the door creaked open, and everyone turned their eyes toward the entrance in unison.

Some were expectant, others incredulous, as Li Xingluo walked out slowly. Xiao Yi Xian was the first to show concern for him.

Seeing Li Xingluo drenched in sweat and looking somewhat haggard, she immediately asked after him, her eyes filled with care.

"I thought you had run away."

This was the first thing Yan Gui said upon seeing Li Xingluo emerge.

Seeing Li Xingluo come out, Liu Li felt much more at ease and retorted to Yan Gui, "Unlike you, who only knows how to hide when trouble arises."

Liu Li's words left Yan Gui red-faced, and just as he was about to snap back, he was scolded by Yan Yun and forced to swallow his words.

Yan Yun wore a forced, insincere smile, looking entirely unconvinced.

"It seems it's true, but is this medicinal pill really Grade Five?"

Seeing Yan Yun still questioning, Liu Yuntian responded bluntly, "Elder Yan, that's enough."

"What? Are people not allowed to speak?"

Li Xingluo immediately put a stop to their bickering, his gaze firm and devoid of any deception.

"Why not just try it and see?"

Li Xingluo opened the bottle stopper, and the medicinal fragrance that burst forth instantly permeated the air.

This thick, rich aroma told the skeptics clearly that they were wrong.

Yan Yun's face was a mask of astonishment; he could not believe that Li Xingluo had truly managed to refine a pill with such potent fragrance.

Liu Yuntian, meanwhile, looked relaxed, feeling a weight lift off his chest—he had finally placed his trust in the right person.

"May I ask what your current cultivation level is, Elder Liu?"

Li Xingluo's sudden question left everyone present confused.

Nevertheless, Liu Yuntian answered earnestly, "Six-star Dou King."

Li Xingluo nodded slightly upon hearing this and handed the refined pill to Liu Yuntian.

"It seems there are still those who do not believe, so I must ask you to test the pill, Elder Liu. Do you dare?"

Liu Yuntian looked at the fragrant pill in his palm, while Li Xingluo nodded at him with a smile.

Without a single reservation, Liu Yuntian chose a spot on the lawn in the courtyard, sat cross-legged, and swallowed the pill without hesitation.

Yan Yun watched him every second, practically itching to circle around Liu Yuntian to observe him.

Xiao Yi Xian tugged gently on Li Xingluo's sleeve, looking at him with a hint of worry.

Li Xingluo patted Xiao Yi Xian's hand lightly, giving her a reassuring smile to let her know she could trust him.