Gazing at the young alchemist who slowly emerged from the corner, everyone in the hall was stunned. The faces of the Grade 3 alchemists, who had been somewhat at a loss before, now displayed a hint of mockery. If even a Grade 3 alchemist couldn’t do anything, what could a Grade 2 alchemist possibly accomplish?
Nalan Su stared at the young man who walked out, then turned to exchange a glance with Nalan Yanran, both seeing a hint of surprise in each other’s eyes. Clearly, the actions of this young Grade 2 alchemist were beyond their expectations. They hadn’t asked him to leave earlier only because of Yaphira’s request. Honestly, they had no high hopes for this young alchemist. Although one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, he was, after all, only a Grade 2 alchemist. Such a level was still just the initial stage of alchemy. Could they really expect a beginner to drive out the poison that even the Pill King Gu He couldn’t handle?
“Young friend, you…”
Standing up, though Nalan Su didn’t think much of the young man’s abilities, he still spoke cautiously: “Do you have confidence in treating the old master?”
Stopping in the center of the hall, Xiao Yan glanced at Nalan Su and said indifferently: “Then may I ask, does Pill King Gu He have confidence in treating it?”
“Uh…” Hearing this, Nalan Su was taken aback and then awkwardly shook his head: “If Master Gu He could treat it, why would we go through such great lengths to seek medical help everywhere?”
“Since even the Pill King has no absolute confidence, isn’t it a bit…?” Xiao Yan’s hoarse voice carried a touch of mockery.
With his mouth slightly open, Nalan Su’s original intention was merely to probe the young man, but he didn’t expect him to be so sharp. Caught off guard, he didn’t know how to respond.
“Sir, you’ve misunderstood. Father wasn’t targeting you. It’s just that Grandfather’s condition is getting worse, and we don’t have much time left. We need to be careful, please don’t take offense,” Nalan Yanran, who had been sitting quietly, gently tugged at Nalan Su’s robe and smiled calmly at Xiao Yan.
“Wasn’t the time you wasted just now enough?” His gaze fixed on the beautiful woman, Xiao Yan’s voice remained as calm as an ancient well, not softening due to her beauty, but instead carrying a hint of coldness.
Hearing Xiao Yan’s words, the faces of the ten or so alchemists in the hall darkened. Xiao Yan’s words implied that they had been wasting the remaining time of the old master.
A white-haired elder, his face flushed, couldn’t help but scold: “Where did this cocky brat come from? How can you, a mere Grade 2 alchemist, speak to us like this?”
As the elder’s scolding came, the other alchemists nodded in indignation and glared at the young man.
Looking at the young man with a face as cold as ice, Nalan Yanran’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. If he truly had the skills, she wouldn’t mind his arrogance. But if he had no real ability and liked to brag, she despised such people.
“From your tone, it seems you have some confidence in your abilities…” Nalan Su regained his composure, staring at Xiao Yan and saying solemnly: “But you should know, no matter how talented you are, you are only a Grade 2 alchem—”
Nalan Su’s words were cut off as the temperature in the hall suddenly rose. The Grade 3 alchemists, who had been mocking, now gaped in disbelief at the two clusters of azure flames rising from the young man’s hands.
Beside the main seat, Nalan Yanran stared at the azure flames in shock, her hand covering her rosy lips, her eyes flashing with astonishment and joy.
“Do you recognize these?” Ignoring the silence, Xiao Yan looked down at the two clusters of agile azure flames, speaking indifferently.
“Flame Essence?”
Drawing in a breath of the slightly warm air, the Grade 3 alchemists, who dealt with flames daily, instantly recognized the nature of the azure flames. Their faces filled with shock, their eyes fixed on the rising flames.
“Young friend… this… is Flame Essence?” The shock in Nalan Su’s eyes gradually faded, replaced by barely concealed joy.
“Now, can you stop the meaningless chatter?” The ordinary-looking youth played with the azure flames, his tone indifferent.
Though Xiao Yan’s tone was as unyielding as before, the Grade 3 alchemists no longer dared to show disdain or mockery. An alchemist with Flame Essence had a limitless future in the alchemy world. Even Pill King Gu He had never possessed one, highlighting how rare and precious it was. To obtain Flame Essence, one needed both luck and substantial support. This meant that behind this seemingly young Grade 2 alchemist, there must be a very powerful mentor…
“Sir, on behalf of my father, I apologize for the earlier disrespect. Please, come this way,” Nalan Yanran stood up, bowed slightly, her manners impeccable.
Without answering, Xiao Yan glanced at the embarrassed Nalan Su, then turned to follow Nalan Yanran towards the side room.
Watching Xiao Yan head to the side room, Nalan Su smiled at the Grade 3 alchemists in the hall, waved to the steward, and hurriedly followed with Nalan Yanran.
As they approached the side room, a soft light illuminated the space. Xiao Yan pushed the door open, revealing a large bed in the center, where an old man with a gaunt face lay. Several maids were busily attending to him.
Hearing the door, they glanced over, then returned to carefully tending to the unconscious old man.
Approaching the bed, Xiao Yan scanned the old man’s face, noticing a faint grayish-black hue. There was a deathly aura around his sleeping face.
“As expected, it’s severe…”
Glancing at the old man’s face, Xiao Yan murmured, “Yes, the poison is so dangerous that even a Battle Emperor might hesitate. That he has survived this long is already a miracle.”
Behind them, Nalan Su sighed and shook his head, then carefully asked, “Young friend, do you see any hope of treatment?”
Nalan Yanran nodded slightly, her eyes fixed on the tall, expressionless youth beside her.
“I have no other methods. I can only try the method Pill King Gu He suggested, using Flame Essence to enter the old master’s body and slowly remove the poison,” Xiao Yan said calmly.
“That would be very dangerous, wouldn’t it?” Nalan Yanran hesitated, whispering.
“Less than fifty percent chance,” Xiao Yan said lazily, glancing at Nalan Yanran’s slightly changed face, “Judging by his condition, he probably won’t last more than two days. Do you want him to die in agony, or do you want to take a chance? It’s your decision. As for having absolute confidence, that’s a joke.”
Xiao Yan’s words, laced with sarcasm, made Nalan Yanran frown. No one had ever spoken to her like this before.
“Hurry up, I don’t have much time,” Xiao Yan said, brushing his sleeves, ignoring Nalan Yanran’s expression.
“Sigh, since that’s the case, we’ll rely on you. If you can cure the old master, you’ll be our eternal friend,” Nalan Su gritted his teeth, finally nodding firmly.
“Step back, don’t disturb me,” Xiao Yan waved, sitting beside the bed. Raising his right hand, the azure flames wrapped around it, instantly raising the room’s temperature.
Seeing Xiao Yan prepare to act, Nalan Su pulled Nalan Yanran back, waving the maids away. Supporting Nalan Jie, Xiao Yan glanced at the man who was once a close friend of his grandfather. Despite the years of poison, traces of his former defiant nature were still visible.
Placing his left hand on Nalan Jie’s shoulder, a surge of hidden strength shattered his clothes, revealing a bony, emaciated body.
Looking at the emaciated body, Xiao Yan shook his head, and Nalan Yanran’s eyes welled up, making the normally regal woman look vulnerable.
Extending his middle finger, a wisp of azure flame wrapped around his fingertip. Staring at it, Xiao Yan said calmly, “I’m starting. Using Flame Essence in the old master’s body is extremely dangerous. Be prepared for the worst…”
Hearing this, Nalan Yanran and Nalan Su’s faces changed, but they could only nod grimly.
His soul force slowly extended, enveloping the azure flame, suppressing its heat, and then gently touching Nalan Jie’s back. As his finger touched, the flame burrowed into Nalan Jie’s body, causing the previously unconscious man to tremble violently.
Eyes half-closed, Xiao Yan’s soul force controlled the azure flame, quickly moving through the major meridians, approaching the poisoned bones. With his soul force, he could see Nalan Jie’s internal condition, and the blackened bones caused his brows to furrow.
“Looks like driving out the poison in one go is impossible. Slow, steady heat it is…” Xiao Yan murmured, his soul force enveloping the azure flame, approaching the blackened bones. As he got closer, the flame’s temperature rose.
As the temperature increased, Nalan Jie’s face, previously numb, showed pain. His gaunt hands clenched, veins throbbing on his arms.
When the flame reached a certain temperature, it stopped increasing. Drawing in a breath of the slightly warm air, Xiao Yan hesitated, then controlled the flame to cover a blackened bone.
“Ahh…” Nalan Jie’s eyes shot open, a hoarse, pained scream escaping his mouth. A fierce aura, like a final surge of life, awakened.
“Grandfather!” Nalan Yanran and Nalan Su called out, alarmed.
“I’m purging the poison. If you can endure the pain, the poison can be removed. If not, there’s nothing more I can do,” Xiao Yan said, glancing at the sweat-drenched Nalan Jie.
Nalan Jie turned, looking at the young, expressionless face, surprised, then grinned, “Boy, you’re the one saving me?”
“I didn’t promise to save you. One mistake, and you might die.”
“Ha! My life was a bonus anyway. Boy, do what you need to. If I die, no one will blame you,” Nalan Jie laughed, his mouth twitching with pain.
“Grandfather, what are you saying?” Nalan Yanran, relieved to see him awake, chided.
“You insolent girl, you dare to show your face? Your recklessness three years ago in canceling the engagement with the Xiao family angered me, and I fell ill, allowing the poison to take hold!”
Nalan Jie’s furious voice was cut off by another dry wail, turning to the young man with a pained smile, “Boy, what’s going on?”
“Be quiet,” a cold voice, tinged with imperceptible anger, silenced the room. Nalan Yanran stuck out her tongue, then turned to Nalan Jie’s sullen face, feeling a bit amused. This was the first person to speak to the irascible old man like this in years.
The room fell silent.
“Never thought such a young man could possess Flame Essence, something even Master Gu He covets,” Nalan Su whispered to Nalan Yanran, stepping back.
“Yes, it’s impressive. He’s about my age, yet he has Flame Essence. I heard Elder Gu He say how terrifying it is. They went to the Tager Desert to find Flame Essence, but even with a large team, they returned empty-handed. That shows how formidable it is,” Nalan Yanran nodded, a rare admiration in her eyes. She was the best among her peers, and no one had ever surpassed her, but this young man named Yanxiao was the first to impress her, perhaps a mutual recognition of excellence.
“Do you think he’s impressive?” Nalan Su teased, glancing at his daughter.
“Father, stop it. You’re not being respectful,” Nalan Yanran rolled her eyes, shaking her head.
“Speaking of which, the three-year agreement with the Xiao family’s boy is less than half a month away, right?” Nalan Su’s smile faded, sighing.
Nalan Yanran was silent, then nodded, “Thirteen days left.”
“Three years, you’ve matured. Now you should know the shame and trouble your actions brought to the Xiao family and Xiao Yan, right?” Nalan Su looked at his daughter’s beautiful face.
Nalan Yanran was silent, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear, “I know I caused them trouble. But I also know I was right. The three-year agreement is coming. I’m waiting for him.”
“Xiao Yan left Wu Tan City a year ago. Before he left, that once-called waste of a boy had already regained his cultivation talent. I wonder how far he’s grown in a year,” Nalan Su sighed, looking at the silent Nalan Yanran.
“Perhaps you really were wrong… I said not to underestimate him. Before thirteen, his cultivation speed astounded many.”
Nalan Yanran pushed another strand of hair behind her ear, then spoke calmly, “I’ll honor the three-year agreement. If I win, the past is forgotten. If I lose, I’ll be his servant, as I promised.”
Nalan Yanran bit her lip, her eyes slightly hazy, recalling the cold words of the young man in the Xiao family’s hall three years ago.
“Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west. Don’t mock a young man’s poverty!”
“This contract isn’t for ending the engagement, but for me to expel you from the Xiao family!”
“From now on, Nalan Yanran, you have no connection with the Xiao family!”
Three years ago, the young man, branded as a waste, still stood defiant under the pressure of the colossal Yun Lan Sect, biting down on his humiliation, waiting for his metamorphosis.
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