by Translator: BornToBe; Author: Ordinary Magician (平凡魔术师); Licensed From: 17k
Suddenly, the lotus bloomed and the center of the flower shook slightly. Only now did people realize that there was a beautiful woman in the center.
The entire crowd cheered when she appeared. That was the Phoenix Cry Empire’s first princess. Long Chen found that she really was pretty good and worthy of praise.
Raising her hand, two lines of poetry appeared. The top one: the Heavens protect Phoenix Cry; the bottom one: let the Nation prosper, it’s People at peace. The entire crowd burst into cheers.
Long Chen smiled slightly. Being a nation’s princess was also pretty sorrowful. It was like having to live your whole life as a cricket in a jar.
That was a life of hidden fighting all day and night. But thinking about himself, he had also ended up in a life like that.
If you didn’t suppress others, then you would simply be trampled on. Being stepped on by those above you was something that just happened, but more importantly, they would crush you firmly to death.
Whether this had to do with enmity, right and wrong, etc., didn’t matter. Perhaps this struggle was just the most primitive of man’s nature.
As Long Chen was sighing over this, the second princess appeared. Due to his absent-mindedness, he ended up not catching a glimpse of her, something he regretted.
But the next one was Chu Yao’s lantern. He kept his eyes wide open, afraid to miss a single detail.
First, a few fireworks lit up the sky, accompanied by cheering.
Then immediately after, a huge dragon kite whistled through the air.
At the same time, beside the huge dragon was a colorful phoenix with gorgeous wings. Golden powder sprinkled from its wings, just as if a real phoenix had descended upon the earth.
“Wow, how beautiful!”
Along with the scattering powder, the dragon and phoenix shone, making it seem as if everyone had entered a world of legends.
They slowly fluttered down to the earth. From the dragon’s mouth came a large sphere of white light that burst open, sending streamers flying.
From those ribbons, a beautiful woman dressed in an ancient costume slowly appeared, shapely and leisurely, a beauty that made you never want to stop looking at her.
The entire crowd erupted in acclaim when the third princess appeared. Many of the young men had heard of the third princess’s beauty before. Hers was a beauty that could cause the downfall of an empire. Today, they finally got to see her in person, and for a moment, all that could be heard were fanatic screams.
Long Chen was also struck foolish for a moment upon seeing her. This was the first time Long Chen had seen her dressed up so beautifully.
Her eyes wandered over the crowd. Suddenly, her eyes brightened when she saw Long Chen, and she tossed a small ball which slowly flew out towards him.
Long Chen reached out his hand to catch it and found that the ball had a small tag on it.
The entire crown immediately went silent, all of them staring at Long Chen. The Empress Dowager was also startled, but she didn’t say anything.
But the person whose expression was most unsightly was definitely the Grand Xia’s Xia Changfeng. Although he tried to appear natural and at ease, his uncontrollable anger turned his face green.
The Empress Dowager had already decided to marry off Chu Yao to Xia Changfeng, but her display today of the dragon and phoenix had obvious significance. Moreover, that ball was thrown directly towards Long Chen.[1]
Normally, a ball didn’t have any special meaning, but that was not the same when added with the display of the lanterns. It was the exact same custom as in ancient times when maidens threw embroidered balls to pick their husband.
Despite doing his best to control himself, Xia Changfeng could not stop his body from trembling and his veins popping.
“Changfeng, endure it.” Wei Cang glanced at Xia Changfeng.
“Don’t worry grandmaster, Changfeng will restrain himself.” Xia Changfeng nodded, but his voice still trembled in a way that could not be concealed.
Xia Changfeng wished for Long Chen to die more than anything right now. Long Chen also felt everyone’s peculiar gazes on him.
Amongst the people present, grandmaster Yun Qi was the only one to smile slightly here. Everyone else had either complicated or jealous gazes.
Long Chen looked at Chu Yao and her beautiful, leisurely smile. She gestured towards the ball in his hand.
Long Chen realized that it was actually a firework, so he pulled its tag and threw it high into the sky.
A gorgeous light lit up the entire plaza. When the light rays faded, two phrases appeared in the sky.
The Dragon swims across the four oceans; the Phoenix flies throughout the nine lands.
Xia Changfeng was no longer able to control himself at all and ended up crushing the teacup in his hand.
“Long Chen, if I don’t crush you into a thousand pieces, then I won’t be Xia Changfeng! As for you Chu Yao, I’ll make you live a life worse than death, you slut!”
Chu Yao’s actions humiliated him even more than if she had viciously slapped him in the face.
The Empress Dowager’s expression was also extremely ugly. She had never expected Chu Yao to actually be so bold and express affection for a man in such a public manner.
Long Chen was also speechless as he looked at the distant Chu Yao. Her pretty face was completely red, but it was still filled with determination.
Tears slowly flowed out when she looked at Long Chen, causing him to feel pain for her. What was she despairing of now? Was this her way of expressing herself one final time before facing death?
Seeing Chu Yao’s smiling face covered in tears, Long Chen’s mind buzzed blankly. He suddenly stood and roared, “Seas of blood may block us, but we will never give up our path; Dragon and Phoenix will both live to old age!”
Long Chen’s angry roar rang out in every single person’s ears. His roar held an incredibly resolute determination, a willpower that would rather die than submit.
Chu Yao shook, her hands covering her mouth, her tears slowly flowing. She had not had such aspirations; she had just wanted to express her true feelings once before her doom so that Long Chen understood her heart.
But wasn’t Long Chen’s response just now just sinking himself into her own demise? She was both moved and regretful that she had harmed him.
“The third princess is tired. Come and help her off the stage.” The Empress Dowager was resisting her fury as best as she could.
Five bodyguards came, and just as they were inviting Chu Yao to leave with them, grandmaster Yun Qi spoke out. “Empress Dowager, this isn’t right. It’s a good thing for young people to have emotions. Come, Chu Yao, sit beside this old man.”
The Empress Dowager’s expression changed; who would have imagined grandmaster Yun Qi who never participated in worldly affairs would actually get involved in imperial matters?
Chu Yao rejoiced when she heard grandmaster Yun Qi’s words. Perhaps he couldn’t save her from her doom, but she did think that he was capable of protecting Long Chen.
Thinking of that, she bent down to kneel in front of him. But before she could, grandmaster Yun Qi reached out a hand, and a gentle force pulled her back up.
“Child, there’s no need for this etiquette.” He pulled Chu Yao over to his side to sit.
But the strange thing in other people’s eyes was that despite being at extreme odds with him, Wei Cang only looked on coldly without saying a single thing.
The Empress Dowager was extremely infuriated inside, but she didn’t want to offend Yun Qi over such a small matter. Without the support of the alchemist guild, then no matter how strong the royal family was, they would quickly collapse. Therefore, she could only restrain herself.
But as the Empress Dowager, her thinking and schemes were profound. Her expression didn’t change and she merely smiled, “Then, let the festivities continue.”
Shi Feng finally stood up beside Long Chen. Stretching, he laughed, “Looks like it’s finally tim
e for me to get on stage.”
In previous years, the battle between noble sons for the number one junior warrior would begin as soon as the princesses’ lanterns were lit.
“Please wait a moment, Empress Dowager. This old man came all the way over from the Grand Xia just to attend your lantern festival, and I brought a special event just for you,” said Wei Cang hurriedly.
“Oh? Grandmaster’s event will definitely be marvelous to see.” The Empress Dowager paused for a moment before smiling.
“This is my apprentice who is only seventeen this year. But she’s already a true and tested Pill Apprentice.” Wei Cang particularly emphasized ‘true and tested’.
Everyone naturally looked at Long Chen. Anyone who wasn’t an idiot would understand; he was making indirect accusations that Long Chen was a fake.
Most people had no idea just how Long Chen’s Pill Apprentice status had been obtained. There were many people who had doubts about his true strength. Long Chen had refined pills for others to see just once before, but that had happened internally within the guild, so the outside world still didn’t know anything about it. The majority of people felt that Long Chen had just managed to sneak his way in and didn’t necessarily have any true skills when it came to alchemy.
Due to his old status as a cripple having hung around him for too long and how quickly he had risen recently, many people had suspicions that he might have some sort of powerful support behind him, and that support was very likely grandmaster Yun Qi.
But no matter how amazing grandmaster Yun Qi was, how could he turn a cripple into a Pill Apprentice in just a short two months?
A ridiculing smile appeared on Long Chen’s face when he heard this.
Yun Qi also didn’t say anything. Wei Cang continued, “Today, let’s let my apprentice give a display of how an alchemist refines.”
The crowd cheered; alchemists were extremely revered, and most of the people present had never seen the process of refining pills personally.
They were filled with both great respect and curiosity towards this profession. Personally witnessing the process through which a pill was formed was definitely a great opportunity for them.
“But actually, this can be even more enjoyable. Baichi can represent my Grand Xia’s alchemist guild. I wonder if there is anyone from the same generation within the Phoenix Cry alchemist guild who would like to join her?” Wei Cang glanced at grandmaster Yun Qi.
“She’s your apprentice, but Long Chen isn’t my apprentice. So your little hidden challenge doesn’t mean anything,” said Yun Qi indifferently.
Long Chen’s heart shook; was the reason Yun Qi never took him in as an apprentice related to Wei Cang?
“It’s just playing around. It’ll also liven things up here, so it’s not useless.”
Wei Cang then produced a see-through bottle which actually held a thumb-sized flame that was constantly burning.
“This beast flame comes from a second rank Magical Beast, the Flame Leopard. Whoever wins will be awarded it.”
Xia Baichi also looked longingly towards that beast flame. She had actually wanted it for a long time, but Wei Cang had always refused to give it to her.
That beast flame also posed an extremely great temptation for Long Chen.
“So, kid, do you want to come up and play?”
Many people were shaking their heads inside at how obvious the provocation was. Wei Cang’s conduct didn’t suit his status as a grandmaster.
As they suspected, Long Chen was smiling at Wei Cang in contempt. But shockingly, he still spat out a single word.
“Fine.”
Fatty Yu and the others couldn’t help gasping. Brother Long, what are you doing?
In front of everyone’s strange gazes, Long Chen walked up to the stage and said to Xia Baichi, “You heard your master. So just how should I play with you?”
[1] The Long in Long Chen’s name means Dragon. The Chen means dust, often in reference to the dust of the mortal world.
Chapter 37 Pill Battle
“You heard your master. So just how should I play with you?”
Everyone was flabbergasted at his words. Fatty Yu, Shou Hou, and the others’ jaws all dropped to the ground. “Damn, brother Long really is brother Long. Just one sentence of his can choke the whole crowd.”
Xia Baichi’s face was ashen from rage, and her eyes glared daggers at him; if looks could kill, then Long Chen would already have been turned to pulp.
Grandmaster Yun Qi’s expression was odd, and he shook his head slightly. But he was relaxed inside; Long Chen was actually helping him relieve his own anger. Was this what it meant for evil people to attract retribution?
“This rascal!” Chu Yao’s face was completely red. This Long Chen was too crude! Seeing Xia Baichi trembling in anger, she wondered if she would even have the energy left to refine later.
“Kid, must you be so boorish? The old man only asked you up here for a small competition,” said Wei Cang angrily. He truly wanted to give this youngster a slap on the face.
“I’ll stop. Do I get that if I win?” Long Chen pointed to the bottle in Wei Cang’s hand, sounding a bit undetermined over whether he should participate.
“Hmph, naturally this old man’s words are true. I definitely won’t renege out of this,” snorted Wei Cang.
Xia Baichi finally calmed herself down enough. Gritting her teeth, she spat out, “You must be dreaming if you think you can beat me. If you lose, I want you to kneel down and kowtow to me three times. Then, you’ll crawl to me and lick my feet clean.”
Xia Baichi’s voice shocked everyone. From her angry words, they suspected that there was a great deal of enmity between the two of them.
They suddenly realized that Wei Cang’s arrival here was definitely not a coincidence. Apparently, it was to target Long Chen and grandmaster Yun Qi.
Xia Baichi’s terms were far too malicious. No person would accept such a thing.
Wei Cang had personally said that Xia Baichi was his apprentice, so her pill arts must definitely be shocking.
But Long Chen’s pill arts were something no one had ever seen before. Whether he could truly refine pills was still doubtful.
Even if he knew how to refine pills, just how long had he known grandmaster Yun Qi? How much could he have learned in two months? It was unlikely for him to have gained even a superficial understanding!
Chu Yao’s face was pale now with worry. Although she hadn’t known Long Chen for long, she could sense that Long Chen’s pride had seeped into his bones. Even in death, he wouldn’t accept such humiliation.
“Long Chen, since you aren’t my apprentice, you don’t need to jump into this trap,” Yun Qi warned him. He was very clear that Long Chen hadn’t gained his inheritance.
“I know it’s a trap… but… the bait is just too tempting.” Long Chen appeared unwilling to give up, his face knotted in contradiction.
Fatty Yu and the others almost vomited blood. Brother Long, if you know it’s a trap, then why are you accepting?
Everyone’s expressions were strange; was Long Chen actually stupid, or was he just acting stupid?
He hesitated for a moment, before saying, “I accept, but I have another condition.”
Seeing Long Chen’s acceptance, Xia Baichi sneered and ridicule flashed in Wei Cang’s eyes.
“Fine, what’s your condition?”
“If I win, I don’t want to get her as a bride. With her relations with you, I’d be afraid of getting a disease,” said Long Chen.
“Long Chen… I’ll kill you!” Xia Baichi’s rage was exploding. Her originally pretty features were completely twisted into an extremely frightful visage.
“Long Chen…” Wei Cang was clenching his fists tightly, the veins on his forehead bulging. Despite being calm all the way until now, he actually started to tremble in fury.
“Old fellow, you didn’t get a blood clot in your head, did you?” asked Long Chen worriedly.
Wei Cang was a monst
er who had lived for who knew how many years. His restraint exceeded Long Chen’s expectations, and he actually quickly suppressed his anger with a snort.
“This pill battle will be decided with the Blood Condensing Pill. The medicinal ingredients must be prepared on your own, and you can have at most three portions. We’ll start in fifteen minutes.”
After stating the rules, he returned to his seat. He had actually become a bit afraid of Long Chen. That bastard’s ability to anger people was definitely heaven-defying. He was actually afraid of losing his control and slaughtering him in his fury.
Xia Baichi’s medicinal ingredients had naturally already been prepared by Wei Cang. As for Long Chen, he could only rely on grandmaster Yun Qi. This time, Wei Cang was using Xia Baichi to disgrace Long Chen and also Yun Qi. Yun Qi would definitely not look on without lifting a finger.
“Grandmaster, can you please lend me the medicinal ingredients?” Long Chen spread his hands.
“Long Chen, you have to think about this carefully,” warned grandmaster Yun Qi solemnly.
“Grandmaster, I did this all for myself. Don’t worry, I am sure of myself,” said Long Chen.
“Then, fine.” Although he had some concerns, seeing how determined Long Chen was, he merely nodded. He had a Pill Apprentice go back to the guild to get the medicinal ingredients.
The Blood Condensing Pill was a second tier medicinal pill. It was a precious pill for Blood Condensation experts that allowed them to break through the minor levels and was very expensive.
The ingredients to refine it weren’t particularly rare. The most expensive main ingredient of it was the Blood Spirit Fruit.
The pill’s quality was mostly dependent on the purifying of the Blood Spirit Fruit. It had a great deal of impurities within and purifying it was difficult. If the flame’s temperature increased just slightly, then it would immediately burn to ash.
But if the flame wasn’t strong enough, then the impurities wouldn’t be separated out, which had a huge effect on the pill’s quality. It could be said that the Blood Condensing Pill was extremely difficult to refine, even amongst second tier pills.
