Battle Through the Heavens: The Rise Begins at Canaan Academy

As Nalan Jie's health gradually recovered, the Nalan Family threw a grand banquet, both to celebrate and to intimidate any petty schemers.

At the Mittel Family headquarters, upon a broad avenue paved with bluestone, Qin Chen, dressed in green, walked side by side with Ya Fei.

Although Qin Chen had been in the imperial capital for over a month, his travels had been limited to the Mittel Family and the imperial palace. Having a beautiful woman... no, a guide familiar with the area tagging along was not bad either.

Ya Fei wore a tight crimson qipao. The delicate white fur trim at her collar swayed slightly with her steps, perfectly outlining her exquisite figure. Her almond-shaped eyes brimmed with charm and liveliness, always stealing men's souls without them noticing.

Before the vermilion gates stood an extravagantly luxurious carriage bearing the Mittel Family insignia. Qin Chen stopped to examine it, an odd expression appearing on his face.

Come to think of it, Qin Chen had been in this world for nearly twenty years, yet he had never ridden in a carriage.

"Mr. Qin, what's wrong? Are you dissatisfied with something?" Ya Fei's willow brows knit as she saw Qin Chen staring blankly at the carriage.

"Nothing." Qin Chen waved his hand and chuckled. "I just suddenly wondered whether horses formed from Dou Qi could outrun these fine steeds, hahaha..."

Laughing heartily, Qin Chen climbed into the carriage.

"Dou... Dou Qi horses?" Ya Fei was first stunned, and a trace of confusion flashed through her charming phoenix eyes.

She knew about Dou Qi wings and had heard of all sorts of objects condensed from Dou Qi, but she had never heard such a novel idea as "Dou Qi horses."

Wasn't that just taking off one's pants to fart—completely unnecessary?

Still, if such a thing really existed, the horses formed from Dou Qi should probably be faster. After all, no matter how fine a horse was, there would always come a time when it collapsed from exhaustion.

"Mr. Qin's ideas... really are different from ordinary people's..." Perhaps amused that she had actually thought so deeply about it, Ya Fei covered her mouth and smiled before lifting her slender leg and stepping into the carriage as well.

Nalan Yanran: Yan Xiao, Are You All Right?

Before the Nalan Family residence in the southern part of the imperial capital.

A magnificent golden carriage slowly came to a halt. The moment she stepped down, Ya Fei wanted to link her arm through Qin Chen's.

Yet Qin Chen unexpectedly leaned away at just the right moment, leaving her attempt empty.

"What's wrong?" Ya Fei parted her red lips, her tone carrying a hint of grievance.

This was the first time in her life that she had taken the initiative to show affection, only to be rejected by a man.

"Oh, nothing..."

As he spoke, Qin Chen slowly lifted his sleeve and pointed to the little Heaven-Devouring Python coiled around his arm. "Sorry, Ya Fei. This little fellow is too possessive. She doesn't like other women getting close to me."

That woman Medusa really never stopped stirring up trouble. She had already started making little moves in the carriage. Who knew what had gotten into her.

"This is... a seven-colored little snake?" Ya Fei raised a hand to cover her lips, her beautiful eyes widening.

She had not expected Qin Chen to keep a snake.

Though the little fellow was quite pretty, were alchemists all so strange in temperament and habits?

Ya Fei did not possess Yao Lao's breadth of experience, so naturally she could not recognize the ancient magical beast, the Seven-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python. She simply assumed it was one of Qin Chen's peculiar hobbies.

With her plan foiled, Ya Fei did not force the matter. She led Qin Chen into the residence, walking beside him.

The moment they entered the spacious hall, countless gazes immediately converged on them.

Qin Chen's appearance was ordinary. Tossed into a crowd, he would not have attracted much attention.

But Ya Fei beside him was different. She was a prominent figure in the imperial capital, with countless admirers.

Now, seeing the woman they admired walking shoulder to shoulder with a man, chatting and laughing—and that man being merely a lowly first-tier alchemist—made their teeth itch with anger.

Especially Mu Zhan of the Mu Family. He had once arrogantly declared that whoever dared touch his woman would be sent straight to hell!

"Who's that kid? Why have I never seen him before?"

"No idea. Don't you like Ya Fei? Why not go up and beat him up, then you'll know?"

"Hmph! Don't try to set me up! I'm telling you, there's no need for me to act. We'll naturally learn that kid's true colors soon enough."

"Oh, you mean that brute from the Mu Family? That makes sense. Judging by the time, he should be here soon."

Though everyone was whispering among themselves, this was still the Nalan Family residence. They retained at least some sense and, before confirming Qin Chen's identity, no one rushed forward to be the first fool to stand out.

Qin Chen ignored them and followed Ya Fei straight toward a reserved table.

As one of the three great families of the imperial capital, the Mittel Family had its own designated seats.

Not seeing Xiao Yan immediately took more than half the fun out of this banquet.

The banquet hosted by the Nalan Family was exceptionally grand. Nearly every major and minor force in Holy City had been invited.

Qin Chen's public identity was that of an alchemist from the Mittel branch. Through Ya Fei's introductions, he also met quite a few people.

There was Xiao Yan's fiancée, Nalan Yanran; the imperial family's little princess, Yao Yue; and that fart... no, the disciple of Pill King Gu He, Liu Ling.

However, these people had long been accustomed to arrogance. Combined with Yan Xiao's recent dazzling performance at the Alchemist Guild, they had no intention of taking Qin Chen seriously. After exchanging a few perfunctory words, they left.

Qin Chen did not care much about it. He had only come to have some casual fun, and as long as no one spoiled his mood, that was enough.

Halfway through the banquet, just as Qin Chen thought Xiao Yan would not come, the fellow still appeared.

Oddly enough, Xiao Yan seemed unaware that the Nalan Family was hosting a banquet. If Qin Chen had not called out to him through voice transmission, the kid would really have left.

Once Xiao Yan came over and took a seat beside him, Qin Chen grinned. "How is it? Did you get the item?"

Xiao Yan did not stand on ceremony at all. He directly picked up the wine cup before him and drained it in one gulp, then slowly said, "Not yet. The Nalan Family will only give me the Seven-Illusion Green Spirit Saliva after all the Brand Poison in the old man's body has been removed."

Qin Chen nodded.

Xiao Yan taking a seat once again stirred up a wave of murmurs. The gazes directed at the three of them were filled with disbelief.

After all, Yan Xiao had recently become an incredibly popular figure, hailed as one of the biggest dark horses of the Alchemist Grand Meeting.

"Who exactly is that guy? Even Yan Xiao is so polite to him."

"Good thing we didn't rashly go up to him..."

As time passed, a burst of urgent hoofbeats suddenly rang out from the avenue before the Nalan Family residence.

A tall horse with blood-red fur galloped tyrannically down the street, startling pedestrians on both sides into hastily dodging away.

On its back sat a young man dressed in green. He lacked the pampered, delicate air of an ordinary young master; instead, he carried the savage ferocity of a wild beast.

It was Mu Zhan of the Mu Family. For some unknown reason, he had arrived late.

"Hahaha... Keep a good eye on my fine horse!" Mu Zhan leaped down from the saddle in one great stride, casually tossed his whip and a plaque to two guards, then barged through the gates with loud laughter.

He was merely a Dou Master. He could not fly like a Dou King expert, nor could he condense objects from Dou Qi, so he could not form "Dou Qi horses" and could only ride a horse to the banquet.

The first thing Mu Zhan did upon entering the hall was not head to the Mu Family's seats. Instead, his sword-sharp eyes swept back and forth, as though searching for something.

Moments later, Mu Zhan's neck abruptly stiffened, and killing intent overflowed from his scarred face.

"Crack, crack..."

His fists clenched tightly as violent wood-attributed Dou Qi surged forth, dyeing Mu Zhan's entire body green from head to toe. The top of his head in particular was practically emerald green.

Inside the hall, Qin Chen had long finished eating and drinking, and was chatting with Mittel Tengshan.

Honestly, compared with Qin Chen's cooking, the dishes on the table fell short by far, whether in culinary skill or ingredients.

This old man Mittel Tengshan truly had impressive experience. Ya Fei was still a little too green compared to him. As expected of someone who had carried the entire family on his shoulders as a Dou Spirit after Hai Bodong disappeared.

Other than his own strength and his god's-eye perspective, Qin Chen was not necessarily superior to him in other aspects.

Yet although Mittel Tengshan beside him appeared to be chatting and laughing freely, inwardly he wanted to cry without tears.

Shouldn't you be chatting with Ya Fei? Why do you keep pestering an old man like me?

Qin Chen could only grumble inwardly, There's a snake!

As for Ya Fei beside them, with nothing else to do, she was chatting and laughing with Xiao Yan.

Before long, Mittel Tengshan was summoned away by a member of the Nalan Family, who said the patriarchs of the other two families had invited him over.

Qin Chen had no idea what those old men wanted, so he could only turn and chat with the two people nearby instead.

"Hmm?"

At that moment, Qin Chen raised a brow. He suddenly sensed an intense wave of killing intent. However, its owner was so weak that he could crush him with a single finger.

It was a violent strand of wood-attributed Dou Qi. If he was not mistaken, that lawless Mu Zhan had arrived.

In a corner of the hall, the imperial family's little princess spotted Mu Zhan the instant he entered. Seeing the green glow on his face, her doll-like little face was full of gloating delight. "Hehe, the show's about to begin..."

"Mu Zhan? What's wrong with this guy?" Liu Ling was slightly stunned as he watched the clearly unusual Mu Zhan.

Then, once he followed Mu Zhan's gaze, he instantly understood everything.

During the recent alchemist test, Yan Xiao had not only stolen all the limelight that should have belonged to him, but had also gotten very close to Nalan Yanran.

He had even heard that many people were secretly mocking him, saying that Pill King Gu He's disciple was undeserving of his reputation.

Rather than improving himself, he would rather tear others down. Right now, he desperately wanted someone to blunt Yan Xiao's arrogance.

It would also be a good chance to probe the depths of that other unfamiliar man. That fellow's attitude toward him had been far too indifferent, and Liu Ling wanted to see whether he was merely putting on an act.

The noble youths who noticed the situation also began to reveal looks of anticipation.

"The show's starting!"

"Quick, give me the wine! I'm going to savor this with a giggle, hahaha..."

At the entrance, seeing Ya Fei chatting happily with two men, veins bulged across Mu Zhan's forehead, and the murderous aura in his eyes nearly became tangible.

Bang!

Mu Zhan's broad foot stomped violently upon the ground, shattering the hard stone floor in an instant and sending fragments flying everywhere.

Whoosh!

A faint whistle of tearing air sounded. Mu Zhan transformed into a green streak of light and shot like lightning toward the trio at Ya Fei's table. With withered yellow Dou Qi wrapped around his arms, his fists slammed straight toward Qin Chen's...

Xiao Yan's back of the head!

"Fuck!!!"

Xiao Yan's previously relaxed expression changed drastically. Fortunately, he reacted swiftly. Bone-white Dou Qi surged from within him, and he swung his fist toward the figure behind him.

With a thunderous boom, fierce energy gusts erupted from the point where their fists collided. In an instant, chairs toppled and tables overturned throughout the hall, leaving everything in utter disarray.