Heaven-Class Private Room

"There was a mistake, of course there was a mistake!" Master Mo had already calmed down. His aged eyes stared coldly at Li Jun. "Your mistake was that, as an apprentice alchemist, you possessed none of the basic qualities an alchemist should have. You must understand that on the path of alchemy, true knowledge comes from practice. You never tested it with your own hands, so how could you bite down and insist that he was putting on an act?"

"Th-this..." Li Jun had not expected Master Mo to rebuke him so harshly, and he stood there stunned for a moment.

The apprentices nearby immediately began chattering all at once. "It couldn't have been a scam. We all saw it with our own eyes." "That old senior's injuries really did improve quickly. There's no way it was faked..."

In truth, Master Mo had rushed out in such a blaze of urgency because a prescription using Yang-Origin Stone and Blood-Staunching Herb to treat Coldheart Python venom was precisely the formula his teacher had spent half a lifetime painstakingly researching, yet had never managed to grasp the key to!

Though Master Mo was old now, he had once been young, and he had once had a teacher who instructed him. Master Mo clearly remembered that this prescription contained no other complicated ingredients. Its essence lay in the ratio between the Yang-Origin Stone and Blood-Staunching Herb; even the slightest deviation in that ratio would lead to failure.

Yet despite researching it for many years, his teacher had never found the correct ratio.

Before his teacher passed away, he had specifically instructed Master Mo to carry on his final wish and determine the proper proportions for this prescription.

Master Mo had always regarded his teacher's dying wish as an imperial decree. Unfortunately, though he was already past seventy, his teacher's final wish still had not been fulfilled.

Thus, the moment he heard that someone in the front hall had used Yang-Origin Stone and Blood-Staunching Herb to cure a Coldheart Python bite, Master Mo had hurried there at top speed—only to miss the other party by a hair.

Thinking of this, Master Mo could not hide his profound disappointment. He asked the others present, "Did that young man mention his name or background?"

At that, one apprentice recalled something and hurriedly said, "Yes, I heard him say that his name was Su Chen."

"Su Chen?" Master Mo softly repeated the name. Then he immediately summoned one of his subordinates and ordered, "Search throughout all of Clear River City for this young man named Su Chen. The sooner, the better!"

Naturally, Master Mo did not believe that a mere youth could accomplish what even his own teacher had failed to do. He only believed that there must be an expert behind Su Chen, and that expert was the person Master Mo wanted to find.

After giving his orders, Master Mo was about to return to the rear hall when the corner of his eye caught the anxious Li Jun standing nearby. Master Mo's gaze immediately turned cold. He looked calmly at Li Jun and said frostily, "As an intermediate apprentice alchemist, you casually slandered another alchemist without any evidence. In this old man's opinion, the title of intermediate apprentice alchemist does not suit you. You should return to being an alchemy apprentice and temper yourself properly for a while longer."

"What?" Li Jun felt as though he had been struck by lightning. No matter what, he had never expected Master Mo to strip him of his intermediate apprentice alchemist title over such a trivial matter!

One had to know that alchemist titles were certified by the Alchemy Guild. As the president of the Alchemy Guild, Master Mo had the authority to revoke an alchemist's title.

However, Master Mo rarely did such things. Li Jun was instantly left wanting to cry without tears. Without his title as an intermediate apprentice alchemist, how could he continue throwing his weight around at Five Treasures Hall?

If Five Treasures Hall learned of this, they would certainly dismiss him without the slightest hesitation!

Not to mention that Li Jun had always acted arrogantly and domineeringly by relying on his intermediate apprentice alchemist title, offending who knew how many people. Now that he had been reduced to an alchemy apprentice, those old enemies would likely be impatient to come settle their accounts with him.

In the blink of an eye, Li Jun had lost everything, all because he had spoken ill of that young man behind his back.

As for Su Chen, not long after leaving Five Treasures Hall, he unexpectedly discovered that the old man and young girl from earlier had not gone far. They stood beside a carriage, watching him from afar.

Soon after, a delicate-looking maid appeared before Su Chen. With her head lowered, she respectfully said, "Young master, to thank you for saving her life, my young lady has prepared a banquet at Drunken Immortal Residence at noon today. She hopes you will honor us with your presence."

Su Chen frowned. Just as he was about to politely decline, the maid added, "Young master, my young lady heard that you were seeking to purchase an Ice-Snow Cold Cicada at Five Treasures Hall earlier. Ice-Snow Cold Cicadas are difficult to find on the market, but my young lady happens to know where one may be obtained..."

Su Chen's eyes flickered slightly, and he finally nodded. "All right."

The Century Sunlight Herb was medicinal material for treating his aunt's illness, while the Ice-Snow Cold Cicada was an indispensable ingredient for Su Chen's future cultivation.

Since the other party knew news of an Ice-Snow Cold Cicada, there was no reason for Su Chen not to attend the banquet.

Seeing Su Chen agree, the maid finally smiled with pursed lips. "Then, in half an hour, my young lady will await you in the Heaven-Class Private Room at Drunken Immortal Residence."

Drunken Immortal Residence.

It was the most luxurious restaurant in Clear River City, packed with guests year-round, where even securing a table was difficult.

Naturally, its prices were not low. Only people of high status could afford to dine there. The Heaven-Class Private Rooms were even more extravagant; having a single meal in one was an absolute symbol of status in Clear River City.

When Su Chen arrived early at Drunken Immortal Residence at the appointed time, he intended to head straight for the Heaven-Class Private Room on the third floor.

However, just as he reached the first floor, the door to a Human-Class Private Room happened to open. Jiang Tingyi stood in the doorway with an ugly expression on her face. "Su Chen? Why are you here?"

"Didn't I tell you to go back on your own? You actually secretly followed me here. Have you no shame?" Anger surged within Jiang Tingyi. She had come to Drunken Immortal Residence for Young Master Ye Xuan's welcoming banquet, yet Su Chen had unexpectedly followed her here in secret!

If Su Chen truly wanted to come, couldn't he have simply told her? Why pretend to have no interest at the time, only to secretly follow her afterward?

A person like this truly made her sick to her stomach!

Just as Jiang Tingyi glared furiously and was about to say more, another person emerged from the Human-Class Private Room. It was Wang Bingyan, whom they had encountered earlier at Cloud-Brocade Tower.

Wang Bingyan gave Su Chen a surprised look, then immediately smiled maliciously. "Oh my, I was wondering who it was. So it's Tingyi's cousin. Tingyi, you brought your cousin to the banquet? Why didn't you tell us? Hurry and bring your cousin in so everyone can get acquainted!"

Jiang Tingyi's expression was grim, and she nearly bit through her lips. This Su Chen truly was shamelessly clingy. He had actually followed her all the way to Drunken Immortal Residence—and, of all things, Wang Bingyan had caught him at it!

"There was a mistake, of course there was a mistake!" Master Mo had already calmed down. His aged eyes stared coldly at Li Jun. "Your mistake was that, as an apprentice alchemist, you possessed none of the basic qualities an alchemist should have. You must understand that on the path of alchemy, true knowledge comes from practice. You never tested it with your own hands, so how could you bite down and insist that he was putting on an act?"

"Th-this..." Li Jun had not expected Master Mo to rebuke him so harshly, and he stood there stunned for a moment.

The apprentices nearby immediately began chattering all at once. "It couldn't have been a scam. We all saw it with our own eyes." "That old senior's injuries really did improve quickly. There's no way it was faked..."

In truth, Master Mo had rushed out in such a blaze of urgency because a prescription using Yang-Origin Stone and Blood-Staunching Herb to treat Coldheart Python venom was precisely the formula his teacher had spent half a lifetime painstakingly researching, yet had never managed to grasp the key to!

Though Master Mo was old now, he had once been young, and he had once had a teacher who instructed him. Master Mo clearly remembered that this prescription contained no other complicated ingredients. Its essence lay in the ratio between the Yang-Origin Stone and Blood-Staunching Herb; even the slightest deviation in that ratio would lead to failure.

Yet despite researching it for many years, his teacher had never found the correct ratio.

Before his teacher passed away, he had specifically instructed Master Mo to carry on his final wish and determine the proper proportions for this prescription.

Master Mo had always regarded his teacher's dying wish as an imperial decree. Unfortunately, though he was already past seventy, his teacher's final wish still had not been fulfilled.

Thus, the moment he heard that someone in the front hall had used Yang-Origin Stone and Blood-Staunching Herb to cure a Coldheart Python bite, Master Mo had hurried there at top speed—only to miss the other party by a hair.

Thinking of this, Master Mo could not hide his profound disappointment. He asked the others present, "Did that young man mention his name or background?"

At that, one apprentice recalled something and hurriedly said, "Yes, I heard him say that his name was Su Chen."

"Su Chen?" Master Mo softly repeated the name. Then he immediately summoned one of his subordinates and ordered, "Search throughout all of Clear River City for this young man named Su Chen. The sooner, the better!"

Naturally, Master Mo did not believe that a mere youth could accomplish what even his own teacher had failed to do. He only believed that there must be an expert behind Su Chen, and that expert was the person Master Mo wanted to find.

After giving his orders, Master Mo was about to return to the rear hall when the corner of his eye caught the anxious Li Jun standing nearby. Master Mo's gaze immediately turned cold. He looked calmly at Li Jun and said frostily, "As an intermediate apprentice alchemist, you casually slandered another alchemist without any evidence. In this old man's opinion, the title of intermediate apprentice alchemist does not suit you. You should return to being an alchemy apprentice and temper yourself properly for a while longer."

"What?" Li Jun felt as though he had been struck by lightning. No matter what, he had never expected Master Mo to strip him of his intermediate apprentice alchemist title over such a trivial matter!

One had to know that alchemist titles were certified by the Alchemy Guild. As the president of the Alchemy Guild, Master Mo had the authority to revoke an alchemist's title.

If Five Treasures Hall learned of this, they would certainly dismiss him without the slightest hesitation!

Not to mention that Li Jun had always acted arrogantly and domineeringly by relying on his intermediate apprentice alchemist title, offending who knew how many people. Now that he had been reduced to an alchemy apprentice, those old enemies would likely be impatient to come settle their accounts with him.

In the blink of an eye, Li Jun had lost everything, all because he had spoken ill of that young man behind his back.

As for Su Chen, not long after leaving Five Treasures Hall, he unexpectedly discovered that the old man and young girl from earlier had not gone far. They stood beside a carriage, watching him from afar.

Soon after, a delicate-looking maid appeared before Su Chen. With her head lowered, she respectfully said, "Young master, to thank you for saving her life, my young lady has prepared a banquet at Drunken Immortal Residence at noon today. She hopes you will honor us with your presence."

Su Chen frowned. Just as he was about to politely decline, the maid added, "Young master, my young lady heard that you were seeking to purchase an Ice-Snow Cold Cicada at Five Treasures Hall earlier. Ice-Snow Cold Cicadas are difficult to find on the market, but my young lady happens to know where one may be obtained..."

Su Chen's eyes flickered slightly, and he finally nodded. "All right."

The Century Sunlight Herb was medicinal material for treating his aunt's illness, while the Ice-Snow Cold Cicada was an indispensable ingredient for Su Chen's future cultivation.

Since the other party knew news of an Ice-Snow Cold Cicada, there was no reason for Su Chen not to attend the banquet.

Seeing Su Chen agree, the maid finally smiled with pursed lips. "Then, in half an hour, my young lady will await you in the Heaven-Class Private Room at Drunken Immortal Residence."

Drunken Immortal Residence.

It was the most luxurious restaurant in Clear River City, packed with guests year-round, where even securing a table was difficult.

Naturally, its prices were not low. Only people of high status could afford to dine there. The Heaven-Class Private Rooms were even more extravagant; having a single meal in one was an absolute symbol of status in Clear River City.

When Su Chen arrived early at Drunken Immortal Residence at the appointed time, he intended to head straight for the Heaven-Class Private Room on the third floor.

However, just as he reached the first floor, the door to a Human-Class Private Room happened to open. Jiang Tingyi stood in the doorway with an ugly expression on her face. "Su Chen? Why are you here?"

"Didn't I tell you to go back on your own? You actually secretly followed me here. Have you no shame?" Anger surged within Jiang Tingyi. She had come to Drunken Immortal Residence for Young Master Ye Xuan's welcoming banquet, yet Su Chen had unexpectedly followed her here in secret!

If Su Chen truly wanted to come, couldn't he have simply told her? Why pretend to have no interest at the time, only to secretly follow her afterward?

A person like this truly made her sick to her stomach!

Just as Jiang Tingyi glared furiously and was about to say more, another person emerged from the Human-Class Private Room. It was Wang Bingyan, whom they had encountered earlier at Cloud-Brocade Tower.

Wang Bingyan gave Su Chen a surprised look, then immediately smiled maliciously. "Oh my, I was wondering who it was. So it's Tingyi's cousin. Tingyi, you brought your cousin to the banquet? Why didn't you tell us? Hurry and bring your cousin in so everyone can get acquainted!"

Jiang Tingyi's expression was grim, and she nearly bit through her lips. This Su Chen truly was shamelessly clingy. He had actually followed her all the way to Drunken Immortal Residence—and, of all things, Wang Bingyan had caught him at it!