Chapter 4 - Front Gate

A killing intent flashed across Yunxiao’s face as his soft voice rang in Jia Rong’s ears, “You better not hold a grudge against me. Few people who were unkind to me still live in this world. I don’t want you to get your life back only to lose it later on.”

“By the way, your right hand will probably last only three more days. If you don’t find the things I want in three days, it will be completely dead. Unless you can find yourself a ninth-tier Alchemy Sovereign, you will never be able to craft again in your life.”

Yunxiao’s voice was soft, but it filled Jia Rong with fright, making him shiver violently. He mustered his courage and asked almost hysterically, “Three days? I haven’t even heard of most of these ingredients! And how do I know you’re not lying to me?”

With a faint smile, Yunxiao said, “You are a clever man, and I’m sure you’ll find a way. Concoct a potion with the leaves of White Crescent Bamboos and Grey World Ginseng, and consume it every morning, noon, and evening. It can alleviate the pain of your three acupoints and also allow your right hand to live for two more days…But, only two days. If you still can’t gather enough ingredients in five days, you don’t have to come to me. Good luck!”

Jia Rong pondered over the two herbs in his mind, and when he looked up, he found that Yunxiao had disappeared. His face darkened instantly, and he felt no pain at all even when his left fingers had pinched into his flesh.

‘He is but an ordinary lad, neither a warrior nor an alchemist. Yet, why have I felt a shivering fear before him!’ Jia Rong was immediately ashamed and indignant as he growled inwardly. ‘I’ll let you run wild for a few more days. When I get the solution, I will certainly tear you to pieces! Jialan Academy, Li Yunxiao!’

He made his way toward the snot-stained piece of paper, ashamed and resentful. Under the astonished glances of the others, he picked it up with a flushed face, then wrapped it in a cloth he pulled out from somewhere and put it in his bag of holding.

The surrounding crowd lowered their heads because they all felt the anger and murderous intent emanating from his body. Some were so frightened that they scattered about, not daring to look at him again.

…

Inside a luxurious office on the third floor of the Alchemists’ Tower…

“Here are the ten catties of Spirit Crane roots and White Phoenix Dragon Lotus that Prime Minister Lan Hong requested. They are very precious. Take them immediately to the Prime Minister’s estate and hand them over to him personally,” Liang Wenyu cautiously told Lu Yao.

“Spirit Crane roots? White Phoenix Dragon Lotus?” Lu Yao froze for a moment and murmured, “So these two things do exist?”

“What’s the matter? What are you muttering about?” Liang Wenyu asked, frowning.

Lu Yao hurriedly came back to her senses. “I beg your pardon, Lord Liang! I was distracted… Just now, a teenager gave me a list of materials and asked me to find them for him, but I didn’t know any of the things. I thought he was just messing around with me. Among them were Spirit Crane roots and White Phoenix Dragon Lotus.”

“A teenager?”

Liang Wenyu was lost in thought momentarily. “These two herbs are used to improve the strength of warriors…Where is the list now?”

“I gave it to Lord Jia Rong when he asked me to come up here, and he had returned it to the teenager,” Lu Yao replied carefully.

“Oh,” Liang Wenyu was slightly disappointed. “Do you remember what else was on the list?”

Lu Yao tried her best to recall. “Ink Feather Ghost Flower, Nether Fruit, Vacuum Nectar, Shiva Flower, Fairy Bud…”

As she read out the materials on the list one by one, Liang Wenyu’s expression changed from doubtful to surprised, then shocked, and finally, blank.

“There are a few more, but I can’t remember them,” Lu Yao’s beautiful eyebrows knitted together. After all, she only had a quick glance at the list, and it was amazing that she could remember so many of them.

Liang Wenyu came back to his senses, then hurriedly took out a piece of paper and wrote down all the materials. “Did the teenager leave his name or contact information?”

Lu Yao shook her head, her heart filled with shock. ‘Who is this teenager? Why did Lord Liang pay so much attention to him?’

“Lord Liang,” she asked cautiously, “I’ve been working in the Alchemists’ Association for more than three years, but why haven’t I ever heard of these things?”

Looking at the incomplete list, Liang Wenyu sighed, “There are several herbs in the list that I have never heard of…but when they are put together, they give me the impression that they will make a very powerful potion, which is of great benefit to warriors who want to improve their cultivation base!”

‘Even Lord Liang has never heard of them!’

Lu Yao covered her red lips with her hand in surprise, a look of disbelief in her eyes. “Lord Liang, is it possible that this list is full of nonsense?”

Liang Wenyu shook his head and said, “No…The combination of some of the herbs is so mysterious that I can’t figure out the relationship between them in a short time. If the teenager comes again next time, make sure you find a way to keep him and let me know as quickly as possible!”

“Yes, Lord Liang!” With shock and uneasiness, Lu Yao took the storage bag and left.

…

‘Those materials are relatively difficult for Jia Rong to find. I can’t count on him completely. I have to find another way,’ Yunxiao thought to himself as he walked down the street alone.

Looking at the storage ring in his hand, he sent a wisp of divine sense into it; the inside was full of all sorts of things.

“What’s all this jumble? Even an aphrodisiac? Oh, I remember now…I had secretly bought it last time but never got a chance to use it. ” He threw away a small bottle and took out a large black sword, slightly surprised by its weight. “This is the only useful thing…” He said to himself with a bitter smile, “It weighs thirty-two catties and seven taels…I can hardly lift it. How I miss my sword, Stars Slayer. I wonder where it is now? Well, I’ll use it before I open up all seven chakras.”

Yunxiao carried the heavy sword on his shoulder and started down the street toward Jialan Acadamy. “When I’ve condensed my Primordial Qi, I will craft a weapon for myself.”

By the time he arrived at the academy, he was already panting from exhaustion.

“Hmm? Monkey Chen, Fatty Han, are you greeting me at the gate?”

At the front gate of the academy, Chen Zhen and Han Bai, who were close to him, were pacing anxiously in circles. “Where have you been, Young Master Yun?” Chen Zhen cried out at the sight of Yunxiao. “We looked everywhere for you but couldn’t find you!”

“Skinny Chen, what are you trying to do?”

A loud shout rang out suddenly, and then Du Feng dashed out from behind Chen Zhen, staring at him with a grim smile as he said, “Don’t tell me that you want to oppose Boss Lan?”

Chen Zhen’s face flickered. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Stop intimidating me in the name of your master! I’m just conveying Teacher Luo’s message. Young Master Yun, next class…”

“Shut up!”

Du Feng cut the words off with a loud shout while throwing himself at Chen Zhen, his five fingers grabbing toward his throat like an eagle’s claw.

Chen Zhen’s face fell as he stepped back hastily. Du Feng was already an apprentice warrior who had opened four chakras, with a strength far stronger than his.

“Don’t you push us too far, Du Feng!”

Han Bai, who was watching from one side, could not stand it anymore. He strode forward and struck Du Feng’s eagle claw with a punch. Both of them were apprentice warriors who had opened four chakras, so they were equal in strength. As a result, their bodies jolted when their attacks collided and backed off at the same time!

“Don’t you dare attack again, Fatty Han!”

A man appeared beside Du Feng. With arms folded over his chest, he said proudly, “I, Luo Jie, have just opened five chakras last week, and I was worried that I don’t have anyone to practice with! Well Fatty Chen, I’ll use you as my target now and see how wide the gap between someone who has opened four and five chakras is!”

“Haha! The gap is that you can knock out all his teeth with just one punch!” Du Feng laughed and pointed at Chen and Han. “I’ll give you three minutes to get out of here!”

At the moment, many students had gathered around the gate, all wanting to watch how the scene would play out. They were all gesticulating and discussing among themselves.

The faces of Chen and Han turned livid with rage. Suddenly, from behind them came Qin Ruxue’s icy voice, “I’d like to see how you make us get out of here!”

She went on angrily, “I’m going to tell Yunxiao that he must attend Teacher Luo’s next class session. What can you do to me?”

Du Feng and Luo Jie’s faces flickered as they could not afford to offend the princess. Pointing at the few people, Du Feng snapped, “Skinny Chen, Fatty Han, and you piece of junk, count yourself lucky this time! Let’s go!”

He waved a hand and was about to leave with Luo Jie. Although Luo Jie was stronger than Du Feng, the Du Family was more powerful than the Luo Family. Therefore, he was still in a low position within the group of Lan Fei’s lackeys.

“I thought it was something big…Why do you have to make it so mysterious?” Yunxiao touched his nose. Even if Teacher Luo did not punish him, he had planned to practice in the gravity chamber himself. “Why, you want to leave just like that after kicking up the fuss?”

Du Feng stopped, his pupils slightly dilated. “What? You piece of sh*t have a problem?”

Yunxiao laid his hand on the hilt of the heavy sword and said, “I don’t have a problem, but I just want to see how big a gap there is between someone who has five chakras opened and someone who has none.”

Du Feng, Ruxue, and the others were stunned, and then Ruxue blurted out, “Yunxiao, you…”

“Haha! Interesting!” Du Feng interrupted Ruxue with a laugh. “Since you want to die, I don’t mind fulfilling your wish!”

As soon as he had finished speaking, he kicked into the ground and launched himself out, laughing and throwing a punch at Yunxiao’s head.

‘How dare this punk make such a big statement!’

Du Feng’s heart was full of scorn and sneer, especially when he thought of Yunxiao’s prestigious status—the eldest grandson of the Li Family, which was the strongest family in the State of Tianshui’s military! The thought of beating someone so special filled him with an abnormal pleasure, and when his fist was about to land on the target, he was even on the verge of orgasm.

“Watch out!”

Chen Zhen and the other two cried out. It was too late for them to save Yunxiao. Ruxue was so frightened that she covered her mouth with her hands and turned pale!

Yunxiao was just an ordinary man! How could he withstand a punch from an apprentice warrior who had opened four chakras?

Bam!

Everyone heard a dull thump as Du Feng’s body suddenly froze in front of Yunxiao; his fist had been thrown out and was pressing against Yunxiao’s temple. However, Yunxiao’s face was cool as ever, without the slightest hint of pain.

“This can’t be!”

Luo Jie’s pupils constricted as he discovered in an instant that Du Feng’s fist had not struck Yunxiao in the face, but was half a centimeter away!