Chapter 541, Secret Admiration

Translator: Silavin

 

“Do you despise me? I know my personality is not the best, and very few people can accept it…” Upon hearing Qin Yichen’s words, Shen Ling’s beautiful eyes suddenly opened wide, a mist of tears spreading within them, on the verge of weeping.

 

Even though she had a bold personality, if it were not for those several Elders in the Family threatening her with the Family’s prosperity, combined with Shen Fanwen’s indirect pressure, and the fact that Qin Yichen was the man she admired, Shen Ling would never have done such a thing even if it killed her.

 

And now, to actually be rejected by Qin Yichen, her feelings could be well imagined. If there were a hole in the ground, she would certainly dive into it without hesitation.

 

In fact, what made her most heartbroken was still because… Qin Yichen had rejected her.

 

After all, her feelings for Qin Yichen were genuine.

 

“*Ahem…* You’ve misunderstood, that… I’m not actually from any Hidden Family!” Qin Yichen coughed awkwardly twice, touching his nose bridge.

 

It was not because Shen Ling was not beautiful enough. Speaking of it, Shen Ling was indeed a rarely seen beauty, but this kind of situation was not what he wished to see.

 

What he disliked most was treating emotions as transactions!

 

“You’re not from a Hidden Family?” Originally heartbroken, Shen Ling’s expression on her pretty face clearly froze, then she became even more sorrowful.

 

She thought Qin Yichen was merely placating her.

 

Throughout the Imperial Dynasty’s various Regions, there were many powerful Hidden Families. They were even stronger than some First Tier Forces of the Imperial Dynasty, especially some ancient Hidden Families whose foundations were unfathomably deep.

 

Perhaps due to ancestral teachings, or perhaps due to some other reasons, these Hidden Family members did not venture forth into the world, nor did they compete for power and profit, but their strength was something no one could ignore.

 

There were even rumours that several First Tier Forces of the Imperial Dynasty had Hidden Family support behind them.

 

Among them, the Qian family was one such example.

 

It was said that when the Qian Family Patriarch was young, he encountered a woman from a Hidden Family who was travelling outside. The two fell in love at first sight, became Husband and Wife, had children, and subsequently received secret support from that Hidden Family.

 

Otherwise, with the Qian family’s foundation alone, how could they possibly compete equally with the Feng Family’s World Aplenty Hall?

 

One must know that in business, what matters was the quality of the product sold. If the Qian Family did not have any special skills, even if they possessed sufficient power in the Imperial City, they could not compete with the Feng Family for profit.

 

Since Qin Yichen’s appearance at Ten Corner Alchemy Manor, his various stunning performances did not seem like those of someone who came from a Low Tier kingdom as he claimed, but rather more like a disciple from a Hidden Family out for training.

 

After all, if it were not for those Hidden Families with terrifyingly deep foundations, how could anyone possibly achieve such accomplishments at this age?

 

This was why Shen Ling thought he was placating her.

 

“I know this seems desperate… but I have no other choice. If you can help our Shen Family, then even if I become a slave or servant, I would be willing…” Shen Ling’s voice at this moment actually showed a kind of weakness she had never displayed before.

 

Looking at Shen Ling’s tear-stained face that appeared pitiful and touching, Qin Yichen took a deep breath. It seemed this girl had no idea she had been used as a sacrifice by those Elders.

 

Seeing Shen Ling in such a state, Qin Yichen’s heart also softened somewhat, and originally he had intended to give Shen Fangu some guidance.

 

After pondering briefly, Qin Yichen paused and said, “I see that the Manor Master’s Spiritual Energy has already reached the Peak Spiritual Rupture Realm, just one step away from touching the realm of becoming an Earth Grade Alchemy Master. Perhaps I can help him breakthrough to become an Earth Grade Alchemy Master.”

 

Qin Yichen spoke slowly, but this simple sentence was like thunder in Shen Ling’s ears.

 

“Really?” Upon hearing this, Shen Ling’s beautiful eyes could not help but widen greatly. After a brief moment of astonishment, her cheeks also bloomed with a smile as beautiful and touching as a peony flower.

 

“With you like this, if I don’t agree, would I be able to leave this room?” Qin Yichen coughed lightly and said with a smile, “Please put your robes back on first, lest someone barges in.”

 

“You… you close your eyes first…” Only then did Shen Ling feel a chill, remembering that she was still standing naked before the man she admired. Immediately her pretty face became somewhat flushed, her voice like a tiny mosquito, barely audible.

 

“Didn’t I already see everything earlier?” Qin Yichen could not help but blurt out this straightforward remark, then immediately realised something was wrong and quickly stopped speaking. Looking at Shen Ling whose pretty face was almost as red as burning clouds, he could only laugh dryly and close his eyes.

 

As Qin Yichen’s eyes closed, the room filled with the heart-stirring rustle of dressing sounds. After a moment, a faint fragrance drifted over, and before Qin Yichen could react, he felt his lips gently covered by soft and burning lips.

 

“Thank you.” That soft sensation lasted only an instant before departing like lightning. Then, a whisper quietly sounded beside Qin Yichen’s ear, and amid the creaking sound of the door, a graceful figure disappeared into the moonlight carrying a trace of fragrance.

 

As the fragrance lingering at his nose gradually dissipated, Qin Yichen finally slowly opened his eyes. Looking at the half-closed door, he could not help but sigh softly. [Women… they are truly difficult to fathom.]

 

[Consider it repayment for the Manor Master’s kindness in giving me the Flaming Heart Fruit and Heaven Silkworm Spirit Cocoon.] Qin Yichen chuckled softly in his heart, shook his head, and closed the door properly.

 

*Phew…* Subsequently, Qin Yichen casually laid down a Spiritual Energy barrier, enveloping the room within it. Then, he exhaled a long breath of stale air and with a flip of his hand, took out the Shooting Star Spirit Crystals he had bid for at the North Dipper auction from his ring, placing them before him.

 

Looking at these Shooting Star Spirit Crystals scraps that appeared like ordinary stones, their appearance made even Qin Yichen want to shake his head.

 

If it were not because he knew there would be a Spirit Seed inside one of them, he definitely would not have purchased them.

 

As merely a Human Grade Alchemy Master, he did not yet have the ability to identify what was inside these Crystals.

 

Only Earth Grade Alchemy Masters who had opened their Divine Eyes could identify what was inside the Crystals.

 

What needed to be mentioned here was the difference between Earth Grade Alchemy Masters and Human Grade Alchemy Masters.

 

Human Grade Alchemy Masters, upon reaching the Spiritual Rupture Realm, break open their Divine Soul Bead, and their Spiritual Body exists within the Knowledge Sea. However, at this time, the Spiritual Body has no active consciousness and cannot provide any special abilities.

 

Earth Grade Alchemy Masters, on the other hand, could activate their Spiritual Body.

 

For example, some Earth Grade Alchemy Masters could activate the Divine Eyes of their Spiritual Body.

 

However, not every Earth Grade Alchemy Master could do this! Among a hundred Earth Grade Alchemy Masters, there might not even be one who opens their Divine Eyes.

 

Generally speaking, most would at most activate the Divine Hands of their Spiritual Body, which would be more helpful for Alchemy.