Chapter 477, Teaching Qin Yichen Alchemy

Translator: Silavin

 

“Haaa…” Tian Liang sighed and began to tell Qin Yichen about some matters he should be careful of.

 

“If you pass the assessment and enter the Ten Corner Alchemy Manor, you must not get involved in the power struggles between the different factions, otherwise you are very likely to become cannon fodder for slaughter. Back when I was at the Ten Corner Alchemy Manor, I was always extremely cautious, which allowed me to survive until I became an Elder… However, in the end, I still couldn’t avoid it…”

 

Mentioning this matter, Tian Liang was quite emotional, but there was nothing he could do about it. The factional struggles within the Ten Corner Alchemy Manor were far too complex.

 

Once entangled with even one faction, one’s future could very likely be destroyed. Back then, he had managed with great difficulty to become an Elder, but after becoming an Elder, the power struggles became even more complicated. In the end, without a faction to back him, he was reduced to his current state.

 

If the Manor Master had not stepped in at that time, he would never have survived.

 

Speaking of the Ten Corner Alchemy Manor Master, this position was never filled by someone selected from this region. If it was, those factions within the Ten Corner Alchemy Manor would have lost control fighting for the position of Manor Master long ago. After all, within the Ten Corner Alchemy Manor, and this whole region, no one dared to challenge the status of the Manor Master, not even the Three Sects!

 

“Mmm, I’ll be careful.” Qin Yichen was also aware of these matters. However, although he said this, he secretly shook his head. Once he entered the Ten Corner Alchemy Manor, how could he possibly stay out of the various power struggles here?

 

Moreover, it seemed things were not going as smoothly as Tian Liang had thought.

 

“What sort of behaviour is this, even letting beggars in!” Just as they set foot on the stairs to the second floor, a voice like a duck’s quack came from the hall on the second floor.

 

Hearing this voice, many people below narrowed their eyes, as if recalling something, and looked up towards the second floor with mocking gazes.

 

In the centre of the second floor hall stood an old man about the same age as Tian Liang, with his hands behind his back. At this moment, he was looking at Tian Liang, the ridicule on his face completely undisguised.

 

Behind this person stood a young man of about twenty years of age who also seemed to know Tian Liang’s identity, as his lips curled with a trace of mockery.

 

“Duan Quan?” Upon seeing this old man, Tian Liang could not help but furrow his brow, his expression becoming somewhat gloomy.

 

Duan Quan was also an Elder and had never gotten along with Tian Liang. Conflicts between them were not uncommon.

 

With Tian Liang’s fall from grace, Duan Quan had added insult to injury. If not for the Manor Master’s intervention, Tian Liang might have been finished off by the Eastern Overcast Sect or played to death by him.

 

Hearing Elder Duan Quan’s shout, the gazes of many Alchemy Masters turned playful. The discord between Duan Quan and Tian Liang was no secret.

 

“Well, if it isn’t Elder Tian. Oh dear, I’m getting old and mistook Elder Tian for a beggar!” Duan Quan said with an odd tone, deliberately emphasising the words ‘Elder’ and making no attempt to conceal the mockery in his voice. “What wind has blown you in here today!?”

 

These few sentences made Tian Liang’s expression even more unpleasant.

 

Qin Yichen glanced at Duan Quan and the young man behind him, a cold glint flashing in the depths of his eyes.

 

Although Tian Liang had not told him the other’s identity, in his memory, he was extremely familiar with these two people.

 

Especially that young man. When Qin Yichen saw him, he almost could not suppress the agitation in his heart…

 

This young man of about twenty years of age was named Duan Zihai and was the most outstanding Alchemy Master among the younger generation of Duan Quan’s Family.

 

When Qin Yichen had entered the Ten Corner Alchemy Manor on Zhao Yaorou’s recommendation, the latter was already renowned within the Ten Corner Alchemy Manor.

 

Afterwards, because of Zhao Yaorou’s matter, that fellow had repeatedly sabotaged Qin Yichen, and there was even one time when Qin Yichen and Zhao Yaorou had nearly died at his hands.

 

[Duan Zihai, letting you die so easily in my previous life was truly a great regret…] Qin Yichen sighed inwardly.

 

“Duan Quan, what are you doing here?” Tian Liang took a deep breath, suppressing the irritation in his heart, and asked in a deep voice.

 

“Why am I here? Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” Duan Quan snorted with a laugh, casting a mocking gaze upon Qin Yichen.

 

“It seems you’re recommending this young man to the Manor? What a coincidence…” Duan Quan looked Qin Yichen up and down as he spoke with a smile.

 

Behind him, Duan Zihai’s eyes also flashed with ill intent.

 

“Elders, if it’s convenient, please let these two come over for their assessment.” As the atmosphere between the four became extremely strange, a light cough came from the hall. The one who spoke was the invigilator responsible for the assessment.

 

[This is bad!] Hearing these words, Tian Liang’s heart suddenly sank.

 

If it were a normal assessment, he would still have some confidence in Qin Yichen, but he never expected that this time they would coincidentally meet Duan Quan’s recommended candidate also coming for the assessment.

 

Given Duan Quan’s personality, if the two were assessed simultaneously, it probably would not proceed as normally as usual.

 

“Hahaha…” Seeing the unusual light in Tian Liang’s eyes, Duan Quan laughed loudly, glanced at both of them, and then led Duan Zihai toward the assessment area.

 

Tian Liang frowned slightly but also followed with a stiff countenance.

 

“You two, if you’re ready, let’s begin the assessment.”

 

When the four arrived together, the middle-aged invigilator in front of them pointed to several Pill Furnaces nearby and spoke to Qin Yichen and Duan Zihai.

 

“I think it’s better if they are assessed separately.” Tian Liang frowned slightly and spoke up.

 

It was evident that he was concerned Duan Quan would instruct his candidate to secretly sabotage Qin Yichen.

 

Hearing this, the middle-aged invigilator hesitated slightly, but did not say anything, after all, Tian Liang was, nominally at least, still an Elder of the Manor, and such a request was not unreasonable.

 

“No need to separate them, it’s a waste of time. Just assess them together.” However, Duan Quan clearly had no intention of letting them off so easily. There was a tone of irrefutable command in his words.

 

Under Duan Quan’s shout, the middle-aged invigilator hesitated for a moment, showing obvious partiality towards Elder Duan. After all, one was an Elder whose Knowledge Sea was damaged and was a waste. He would lose his title before long. Meanwhile, the other was an undisputed Peak Human Rank Alchemy Master. Anyone would know who to choose.

 

“You!” Seeing Duan Quan deliberately causing trouble, Tian Liang’s chest tightened, and he was about to say something when he was pulled back by an arm, stopping his words.

 

“Elder Tian, assessing separately would indeed be a waste of time. I think we should follow Elder Duan’s suggestion and be assessed together.” Qin Yichen said to Tian Liang with a slight smile.

 

“Hahaha, even a boy who hasn’t grown his beard knows better than you!” Duan Quan laughed out loud, then turned to Duan Zihai beside him and said. “Zihai, since that boy is so sensible, don’t be stingy later. Teach him how to ‘properly’ refine Pills!”