This guy was far too arrogant

In the Pill Tower plaza, Jiang Yuan sat cross-legged on a set of steps, cultivating with his eyes closed.

Dou Qi circulated rapidly through his meridians. He had to admit that the cultivation speed granted by his Dou Di Bloodline was truly impressive. Even a brief meditation session here brought greater gains than months of grueling cultivation would for an ordinary person.

About an hour passed before Jiang Yuan suddenly opened his eyes, roused from his cultivation by a system notification ringing in his mind.

[Host detected to be cultivating. Due to your extraordinary comprehension, you have grasped the refining method for an Eighth-Tier Pill during cultivation. The pill is named the Azure Dragon Purple Flame Pill.]

[Effects: upon consumption, unlocks most of the body's latent potential and greatly increases cultivation speed. Particularly effective for those below the Dou Zun realm.]

[Consuming this pill will unlock most of the body's latent potential. Its effects are extremely powerful for those below the Dou Sheng realm.]

Reading the system panel, Jiang Yuan opened his eyes, a smile curling his lips as excitement stirred within him.

Not only was this Azure Dragon Purple Flame Pill an Eighth-Tier Pill, it could also unlock most of a person's latent potential and improve their cultivation speed. His own cultivation speed was already absurdly high thanks to his Dou Di Bloodline, but for anyone else, this would be an absolute treasure.

If he wanted to nurture the people around him in the future, this pill would be indispensable.

Moreover, the system notification had stated that he had grasped it through meditation. In other words, he had already mastered the entire refining method and could make it whenever he wished.

After stretching his body and loosening his joints, Jiang Yuan was about to head back and study the pill properly when a sharp command suddenly came from nearby.

"Hey, you over there. Come here."

The moment Jiang Yuan heard those words, his brows furrowed, and he looked toward the voice.

A young woman in a turquoise dress stood before him. She was quite pretty and had a fine figure, with an exquisitely crafted jade pendant hanging at her waist. One glance was enough to tell him she came from an distinguished background.

Several junior sisters followed behind her, all finely dressed. More importantly, she had arrived with quite a grand entourage. This was Feng Qing'er, who had just come from the Wind-Thunder Pavilion.

After arriving at the Pill Tower with her attendants, she had made a circuit of the plaza without seeing a single elder come out to welcome her. She was already displeased.

After all, she was the personal disciple of Thunder Venerable, the master of the Wind-Thunder Pavilion. She had come in person bearing gifts, only to find that no one was there to receive her. It made her feel humiliated.

Seeing a Pill Tower disciple sitting in the plaza cultivating, she had walked straight over, intending to have him announce her arrival.

Yet after glancing at her, Jiang Yuan paid her no attention whatsoever. He did not even stand up, merely withdrawing his gaze and remaining seated as though she had not been speaking to him.

At his reaction, Feng Qing'er immediately frowned, and her expression soured.

"Hey, I'm talking to you. Didn't you hear me? I'm Feng Qing'er, the personal disciple of Thunder Venerable, master of the Wind-Thunder Pavilion. I've come to visit your Pill Tower's Three Elders. Go announce my arrival at once and have the Three Elders come out to see me."

Even after Feng Qing'er finished speaking, Jiang Yuan showed no reaction. He did not so much as raise his eyelids.

Then he stood, dusted off his robes, and turned to head toward his quarters, never giving her another glance.

Seeing him ignore her so completely, Feng Qing'er's face darkened on the spot, and anger surged within her.

Ever since childhood, wherever Feng Qing'er went, people had pampered and revered her. Everyone in the Wind-Thunder Pavilion treated her courteously, and even elders from other factions showed her some respect.

Yet here at the Pill Tower, some ordinary disciple dared to ignore her like this. How could Feng Qing'er tolerate it?

She had never expected that, upon arriving at the Pill Tower, an ordinary disciple would dare to ignore her so brazenly. How could she possibly swallow that?

"What kind of attitude is that? I was just speaking to you. Didn't you hear me? Is this how the Pill Tower treats its guests?"

Jiang Yuan still ignored her and continued walking at an unhurried pace.

With his current strength, he had every right to look down on the younger generation. Besides, he truly could not be bothered with someone who acted so superior.

So what if she was the next master of the Wind-Thunder Pavilion? This was Pill Tower territory, not theirs. He had no obligation to show her any respect.

As Jiang Yuan continued to ignore her, Feng Qing'er's expression grew uglier, her lips pressed tightly together in anger.

The nearby Pill Tower disciples had also noticed the commotion, along with Feng Qing'er's haughty demeanor. They gathered around and spoke up on Jiang Yuan's behalf.

"Miss, are you here to visit our Pill Tower's elders? Why don't I go to the Elder Council and announce your arrival?"

"I'd like to go to the Elder Council, but everyone in your Pill Tower seems to be deaf. I've been calling for ages, and no one will acknowledge me. Is this how your Pill Tower treats its guests?"

The female disciple was left rather embarrassed by the retort. She opened her mouth but had no idea how to respond, so she could only retreat awkwardly to one side.

Seeing that Jiang Yuan had already walked several paces away, Feng Qing'er's anger flared even hotter. Unable to hold back, she shouted after him, "Stop right there! Didn't you hear me tell you to notify the Three Elders? I'm from the Wind-Thunder Pavilion, after all. I traveled all this way with gifts to pay a visit, and you're just going to leave me standing here?"

"Judging by your clothes, you're probably just an ordinary disciple, not anyone notable in the Pill Tower. Who are you putting on airs for? Believe me, one word from me to the Three Elders, and that attitude of yours will land you in more trouble than you can handle!"

Her words now carried an unmistakable threat.

The female disciples nearby looked displeased at Feng Qing'er's words. Whatever else he might be, Jiang Yuan belonged to the Pill Tower. Naturally, they felt uncomfortable seeing an outsider berate him to his face.

At last, Jiang Yuan stopped. He did not turn around, merely angling his face slightly as he uttered two words in an even voice: "So noisy."

The instant those words left his mouth, Feng Qing'er froze. She stared wide-eyed at his back, seemingly unable to process what he had just said.

But by the time she came to her senses, Jiang Yuan's palm was already sweeping toward her. The slap came so fast that she had no time to react.

Smack! The sound rang across the entire Pill Tower plaza, carrying far through the open space. Everyone nearby heard it clearly.

The slap sent Feng Qing'er stumbling backward several steps. She nearly lost her footing, and only her attendants rushing forward to catch her kept her from falling.

By the time she steadied herself, a vivid red handprint had appeared on one side of her face. Blood even trickled from the corner of her mouth.

Feng Qing'er clutched her cheek, utterly stunned by the sudden slap. For a long while, she could not get a single word out.

Her attendants were equally dumbfounded. They exchanged bewildered looks, none of them having imagined that Jiang Yuan would actually strike her.

The female Pill Tower disciples nearby were also stunned, staring at the scene with their mouths hanging open. They could scarcely believe their eyes. Jiang Yuan had actually hit Feng Qing'er?

And he had slapped her in front of all these people. How could he be so bold?

"You actually dared to hit me?" Feng Qing'er looked utterly bewildered. Had she not felt the pain in her cheek, she would never have believed someone had dared to strike her. This man was far too insolent.

"Do you know who I am? I'm the personal disciple of Thunder Venerable, master of the Wind-Thunder Pavilion! How dare you hit me?"

Clutching her cheek, Feng Qing'er glared at him in fury. She was a dignified Nine-Star Dou Emperor, yet she had barely arrived at the Pill Tower before an ordinary disciple slapped her in public. Wasn't this a slap in the face of the Wind-Thunder Pavilion itself?

Jiang Yuan paid no heed to her unreasonable demands, shooting back at once, "I just hit you. So what?"

His retort left Feng Qing'er speechless for a moment.

So what? Did this man truly not care who she was, or was he only pretending? Feng Qing'er gritted her teeth. The Dou Qi within her began surging uncontrollably, and the aura of a Nine-Star Dou Emperor started erupting around her. She was clearly enraged.

Yet Jiang Yuan remained where he stood without moving, barely even raising his eyelids. His utter indifference only sent Feng Qing'er's fury soaring higher!