Xun'er's Questioning, the Final Deal

Hearing Hu Gan's question,

Lin Chen waved a hand, and Zi Yan immediately stopped what she was doing and retreated behind him, gazing at him pitifully. She looked just like an innocent girl bullied by a villain, angry but not daring to speak.

This was precisely what Lin Chen had demanded: Zi Yan would serve him tea and water and wait on him for three days, and he would refine pills for her once, free of charge.

For an ordinary person, securing the services of a fifth-grade alchemist this way would have been an exceptionally good bargain.

Ah, I'm just too kind. How can there be a fifth-grade alchemist as kind as me in this world...

To look after one poor little female dragon, I've actually broken the rules that have remained unchanged in alchemy for thousands of years...

Lin Chen sighed inwardly, feeling that his sacrifice was truly enormous. He would have to "work" this purple-haired little girl hard in the future, or all his effort would have been wasted.

Then he looked up at Hu Gan and said slowly, "Old man, it's a long story..."

"Then make it short."

Hu Gan raised an eyebrow and spoke stiffly, showing no deference whatsoever to Lin Chen's newfound status as a Dou Wang.

"Ahem."

Lin Chen cleared his throat, then recounted how he had accidentally picked up a Heavenly Flame while traveling, broken through to Dou Wang, become an honorary elder of the academy, and gone treasure hunting with Zi Yan.

After listening, Hu Gan's expression remained unchanged, but inwardly he breathed a sigh of relief. Even his tone softened considerably as he said quietly, "Good that you broke through. Good that you broke through."

"Now you needn't worry about your lifespan. With a Heavenly Flame tempering your Dou Qi and stabilizing your foundation, the great path ahead holds promise. You won't have to sit idly in the academy like me, with no hope of advancing."

"Ah, don't lose heart, old man. You're just getting old and frail, with your body unable to keep up with your ambitions. Once I become a sixth-grade alchemist, I'll give you a few powerful prescriptions. I guarantee you'll be as vigorous as a dragon and tiger, brimming with energy!"

"I've been sick of that girl Hu Jia for ages. When the time comes, have another child for me, so I can hold my little brother. Let Hu Jia wait on her little uncle, and everyone will be happy."

Lin Chen gestured at Hu Gan with a mischievous wink, his face full of teasing, making Hu Gan flush with fury.

"Get out!"

"Get out of here! So young and already up to no good—you actually want to feed me aphrodisiacs!"

"I'll beat you to death, you ungrateful brat!"

Hu Gan roared and slammed the table as he rose. His Peak Dou Emperor aura erupted, and a dense web of cracks instantly spread across the tabletop. It creaked and swayed, seemingly on the verge of collapse.

"Run, Zi Yan!"

"Protect me! Protect me!"

Seeing things take a bad turn, Lin Chen immediately called for his personal female dragon to retreat and dashed out of the study.

Zi Yan snorted at the sight and followed on her short little legs.

After leaving the study, they reached a broad avenue in the Outer Academy.

Lin Chen strode down the avenue in high spirits, smiling and waving whenever he encountered someone he knew.

"Ah, Junior Sister Xiao, how did you know I'd broken through to Dou Wang?"

"Really? You're only a Dou Shi? Ah, what a shame. Don't mention it. I'll treat you to tea another day!"

"Junior Brother Sun, long time no see! You've broken through to Da Dou Shi too? Oh, me? As luck would have it, my cultivation has also advanced just a tiny bit recently."

"I worked too hard at cultivating? Ah, it's all in the past, all in the past. It was merely a little wind and frost."

"If Great Elder Su Qian hadn't called on me some time ago, I might still be in the Outer Academy, studying alongside everyone!"

"There's nothing wrong with being a student in the Outer Academy, of course, but joining the Inner Academy as an elder opens up wider seas and skies!"

"What? You want to give me a gift? Ah, you mustn't, you mustn't. How could I possibly accept?"

Smiling, Lin Chen accepted the gift and patted a thin student on the shoulder, encouraging him. "Junior brother, I have high hopes for you. You're a sensible fellow. Once you reach the Inner Academy, mention my name, and I guarantee you'll be fine!"

Hearing this, the tall, thin student hurriedly bowed and scraped before Lin Chen, then hastily withdrew.

Watching from the side, Zi Yan felt that this fellow was utterly shameless. He could even accept gifts with such a grand, righteous air. She pursed her lips but said nothing more.

Just then, a beautiful figure approached from a short distance away.

Even from afar, she appeared elegant and noble, her figure slender and graceful, with an air that seemed to rise above the mundane world.

Lin Chen looked up, still smiling, and was about to say something to display his charm when his expression suddenly froze.

"Senior Brother Lin Chen, the three months are up. Have you made your decision?"

The newcomer wore a pale purple dress. Her features were lovely, and a poised smile rested on her face as she spoke with a slightly teasing tone.

A closer look, however, revealed a glint of cunning flashing through her eyes, along with a hint of amusement.

It was Xun'er, whom he had not seen in a long time.

"Ahaha, of course I've made my decision. With Junior Sister Xun'er coming to invite me personally, how could I refuse?"

Lin Chen laughed, a faint smile appearing on his face, while inwardly he thought, Counting the days, it really is time. I haven't finished fleecing the Gu Clan yet, and its representative has already come knocking.

This is tricky...

At this thought, Lin Chen's mind raced. Then he extended a hand invitingly and said, "Junior Sister Xun'er, this isn't the place to discuss such matters. You invited me to tea the last two times, so this time, let me treat you. Please come to my humble home, and we can discuss things in detail."

Xun'er gave a gentle smile at his words and said softly, "In that case, sorry for the trouble, senior brother."

Lin Chen nodded slightly, then turned to Zi Yan beside him and nudged her pert little bottom with his foot. "Did you hear that? Our guest wants tea. Hurry up and come with me. You're needed to brew it."

Zi Yan's eyes widened, and she followed Lin Chen in a huff.

There was nothing she could do. She could no longer beat Lin Chen in a fight, and she needed his help, so she had no choice but to submit temporarily to his "tyranny."

A short while later, in a secluded courtyard in Jia Nan Academy's Outer Academy.

Lin Chen and Xun'er sat facing each other, with two bamboo teacups on the table. Holding a purple clay teapot, Zi Yan poured clear, amber-colored tea into each cup.

"Junior Sister Xun'er, please."

A faint smile on his face, Lin Chen first took a sip of tea, then praised it. "The temperature is just right. My maid's skills truly are excellent."

"Maid?"

Xun'er glanced at the sweet, adorable Zi Yan beside them, curiosity entering her eyes, but she asked no further questions. She took a light sip and nodded faintly. "The tea is mellow and full-bodied. I hadn't expected you to prefer aged tea, senior brother."

Lin Chen chuckled. "Fresh tea is too tender. I'm afraid I'd finish it before I even tasted its flavor. Trying a few sips of aged tea first is the way to make things last."

"The same applies to life. I'm really quite sentimental, as I'm sure you know, Junior Sister Xun'er. Vice President Hu Gan's kindness toward me weighs as heavily as a mountain. He's always wanted me to take over his duties. Ah..."

As he spoke, Lin Chen suddenly sighed, his expression turning sorrowful. "My foster father is getting old. I truly can't bear to leave, lest I wish to care for him only to find he's no longer there, bringing about a human tragedy."

"So, senior brother, you wish to choose that Seventh-grade Alchemist Inheritance?"

Xun'er quietly listened to Lin Chen's lament, her delicate brows knitting as she asked in bewilderment.

"Exactly. Jia Nan Academy cannot lose Hu Gan, just as an alchemist cannot lose the flame used to refine pills. And now, as an academy elder, I bear responsibility for the safety of Jia Nan Academy's thousands of students, just like Vice President Hu Gan. At this moment of peril, I absolutely cannot leave!"

Lin Chen straightened his expression, his tone serious for once. Then he sighed and said, "As for that Seventh-grade Alchemist Inheritance, to tell you the truth, Junior Sister Xun'er, I also obtained a Seventh-grade Alchemist Inheritance during my recent travels."

"So I'd like you to exchange it for two other things."

"What things?"

Xun'er raised her eyebrows, curious about what Lin Chen wanted so much that he would even forgo a Seventh-grade Alchemist Inheritance.

"A Sect Breaking Pill, and an inheritance for an Earth Tier Sound Wave Dou Technique!"

A sharp gleam flashed through Lin Chen's eyes as he spoke, his expression unchanged.