Chapter 20 - Chen Biling

Translator: Zayn_

After Gao Jianli finished speaking, he walked off into the distance.

As Qin Zi looked at his back, an interesting smile gradually appeared on his face.

“It’s a sin to not lower your head when you’re weak. That’s true. But… who is the weaker one?”

Was the Gao family very strong?

Hehe…

In his heart, he had already reserved a spot to slap Gao Jianli in the face. It would be a waste if he didn’t slap him in the face.

In short…

His father was an invincible expert. What was he afraid of?

“Yo, Little Pauper, you’re getting bolder and bolder. You even dare to talk back to Gao Jianli.”

At this moment, a slightly arrogant young girl’s voice sounded.

Qin Zi turned his head to look.

He saw a charming young girl wearing a blue dress leisurely walking over.

This young girl was very beautiful. She was only sixteen or seventeen years old, but she had a natural sense of charm. She was a complete beauty.

“Little girl!”

Seeing this young girl, Qin Zi’s face darkened. He even gritted his teeth.

Last time, this little girl snatched away the handmaiden he had chosen. After he knocked her out, her father came to hunt him down again.

If it wasn’t for his father’s powerful strength, his life would have been lost in the hands of this little girl.

“Hmph, what are you talking about, you little pauper? My name is Chen Biling. Chen Biling!”

The young girl humphed and said.

“If you keep calling me ‘little pauper’, do you believe that I will make you faint again?” Qin Zi threatened fiercely.

“You…” Chen Biling’s pretty face instantly turned red. She looked around and stomped her feet in embarrassment. “You dare!!”

“You can try.”

Qin Zi shrugged and said.

Actually, it was not difficult to make a beautiful girl faint in a live performance. There was no issue with his physical strength, and there was no pressure in his heart.

“Uncle, look at him!”

In the end, Chen Biling looked coquettishly at the City Lord, Bai Chen, who was on the high platform.

Bai Chen frowned slightly and glanced at Qin Zi with a slight warning. Then, he said to Chen Biling, “Ling’er, come in if you’re here.”

“Okay.”

Seeing that her uncle did not speak up for her, Chen Biling understood the seriousness of the situation, so she stopped acting coquettishly.

She walked into the arena.

Soon, a young man gave up his pill furnace to her. It was obvious that he had come prepared. Perhaps he was a queuing master[1].

“Master, this is my niece. Her name is Chen Biling. Since young, her spiritual strength has been very high. She should be a good material for alchemy.”

On the high platform, Bai Chen tilted his head and said to Master Pang Qi.

Actually, the reason why Chen Biling came so late was because he had arranged it beforehand.

On one hand, it was to prevent her from not being able to snatch a pill furnace. After all, she was young, and her cultivation level was not very high.

On the other hand, he also hoped that she would show her face in front of Master Pang Qi. After all, the last one to appear would attract the most attention.

“Mm… there are indeed some extraordinary talents.”

Master Pang Qi’s gaze was deep as he scrutinized the blue-robed girl. Then, his brows gradually furrowed.

In the depths of his heart, there was even a hint of surprise and excitement, as if he had seen a rare treasure.

However, his frown completely concealed his true thoughts, making it impossible for others to know what he was thinking.

“Master, why are you frowning?”

Bai Chen asked worriedly.

“Mm, although her constitution’s extraordinary, there are still some flaws. Whether or not she can become an alchemist is hard to say.”

Master Pang Qi said calmly.

To buy something, one had to lower the price.

The lower the price, the lower the cost of buying it!

“Are the flaws serious?”

Bai Chen frowned and asked.

“It’s hard to say. Things like pill-refining talent are extremely mysterious. There are some things that can be seen, but it’s impossible to determine. It’s just like how it’s hard for an immortal to break an inch of jade… so, let’s just leave everything to fate.”

Master Pang Qi said vaguely.

“Mm.”

Bai Chen nodded thoughtfully.

At this time, Master Pang Qi slowly stood up and said to the crowd below, “Now, I’ll announce the rules of the competition.”

“I’ll take out a half-grade pill formula that I’ve developed myself. I’ll give it to you for free today. You can concoct pills according to the pill formula.”

“Refining pills can be divided into four steps: extraction, refinement, fusion, and spirit lock. Do your best. You don’t need to complete all of the steps.”

“For example, if someone only completes the extraction step, but the medicinal liquid extracted by them has no impurities, they will also receive high marks.”

“And even if someone refined a pill, if the fusion step went wrong, the medicinal properties went out of control or if the spirit lock was not controlled properly and the medicinal properties were lost, he will also receive low marks.”

“This is the pill formula.”

Master Pang Qi waved his right hand, and a ray of golden light flew out. It spread out in the air and turned into a golden article.

Hundreds of large golden words floated in the air. They actually did not dissipate for a long time, like clouds.

“Blood Circulation Pill!”

“The effect is to clear away congestion and dredge the meridians. It can treat many types of internal injuries, and it can also treat congenital blocked meridians. The materials required are black wolfberry, white ganoderma, red truffle, yellow earth fruit…”

Everyone felt dizzy as they looked at the pill formula.

This was because they realized that even the lowest grade-1 pills involved more than a dozen types of medicinal herbs.

Pill concoction seemed to only have four steps, but for each type of medicinal herb, it was divided into many small steps. Because the nature of each medicinal herb was different, the method of handling it was different.

In short, it was a headache.

This was also the reason why alchemists were rare and honorable.

“There are two sets of medicinal ingredients next to each pill furnace. You can just refine them according to the detailed process of the pill formula… Let’s begin now.”

Master Pang Qi said calmly.

Hua!

Almost instantly, everyone’s eyes revealed a serious look, as if they were brave warriors on an expedition, full of ambition!

Everyone who participated in the Alchemy Convention had lofty aspirations. They hoped that they could perform well in the convention and be valued by Master Pang Qi. From then on, they would soar to the sky…

“Not good!”

“Ah! This…”

“How could this be…”

In the next moment, many people’s expressions changed greatly. Their faces which were filled with confidence only expressed one emotion now: ’embarrassed’.

This was because they were shocked to discover… that they actually didn’t recognize the medicinal ingredients in the pill formula!!

In the medicine box beside the pill furnace, there were many medicinal ingredients placed chaotically, causing them to be dumbstruck.

“As expected.”

Master Pang Qi looked down from above and said with a smile, “It seems that many people don’t even have a solid basic knowledge of medicinal herbs.”

Many young people lowered their heads in shame.

Master Pang Qi’s smile slowly disappeared as he said in a dignified manner, “Could it be that, in your eyes, the Alchemy Convention that this old man is holding is so worthless? You came to try your luck without making any preparations?”

“I don’t care how outstanding you are in terms of cultivation, but pill concocting is not something that anyone can do just because they want to.”

“Putting aside whether you have the talent to concoct pills or not, just from your attitude toward pill concocting, you are not suitable to be an alchemist. Therefore… those who don’t know any medicinal herbs, please leave on your own accord.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire venue fell silent.

Many young people revealed unwilling expressions, but they did not dare to refute him. They could only lower their heads, clench their fists, and walk out of the competition zone.

Very quickly, about half of the 1,000 pill furnaces became vacant.

“Yo, Little… Zi, you haven’t left yet. Could it be that you’re pretending to know what you don’t know and are trying to fish in troubled waters?”

Chen Biling looked at Qin Zi and mocked.

She was prepared to call him “Little Pauper”, but when she remembered this person’s warning just now, she actually became a little afraid, so she changed her words at the last minute.

“The same goes for you.”

Qin Zi retorted.

“Humph! I’ve always wanted to be an alchemist since I was young. I’ve long been familiar with all kinds of herbs and medicinal theories!”

Chen Biling stuck out her small chest proudly.

“Moreover, I’ve received guidance from an alchemist before. My alchemy skills are not low. A poor kid like you wouldn’t understand.”

“Who doesn’t know how to brag?”

Qin Zi curled his lips in disdain.

Actually, he believed her in his heart, but for some reason, he couldn’t help but want to tease this little girl.

“You! You actually said that I’m bragging? Do you dare to compete? Whoever loses will admit their mistake in front of the other party!”

Chen Biling gritted her teeth and said.

“Why wouldn’t I dare!”

Qin Zi smiled disdainfully, then pressed his right hand on the eye of the furnace, and a raging flame rose from the furnace.

With a sweep of his left hand, several kinds of medicinal herbs with the same melting point flew out and began to melt, and their juices were extracted by the flame.

Men, just do as you say!!

Notes:

[1] Someone who queues up for other people for other (monetary) benefits