Chapter 799, Admitting a Mistake

Translator: Silavin

 

After resting briefly in his room, Qin Yichen rose and made his way towards Southern Brilliant Hall, intent on earning Contribution Points. First, however, he needed to complete the task at hand.

 

As for Li Yuanba, he still has not returned even now. By Qin Yichen’s estimation, this brute would sooner move his entire bed into the Battle Hall than come back before getting his fill of fighting.

 

Upon arriving at Southern Brilliant Hall, the interior still bustled with numerous figures moving about. Qin Yichen’s gaze swept across the space, but he did not spot Ning Li and the others.

 

“Miss, I’m here to submit a task…” Walking up to the counter, Qin Yichen cleared his throat gently, addressing the young woman who was once again absorbed in her book.

 

“En…” Bai Ling responded absently, then reluctantly set down both her book and the medicinal herbs she’d been examining.

 

“You? You’re… Qin Yichen?” When she saw the figure standing before the counter, a flash of astonishment crossed Bai Ling’s beautiful eyes, quickly followed by indignant anger. “You dare come here!?”

 

“What did I do? I’m just submitting a task…” Qin Yichen scratched his head, genuinely unable to recall when he’d offended this young woman. Could she really still be holding a grudge over interrupting her that first time?

 

At that moment, numerous Alchemists nearby seemed to register the name ‘Qin Yichen.’ Immediately, gazes full of schadenfreude turned in his direction.

 

“Hmph, you reckless brat. When you interrupted Ning Li and the others during their Pill refinement before, this matter has already reached the attention of important figures from the Inner Sect…” Bai Ling snorted lightly, speaking with reproach. “Never mind submitting tasks. Quickly, Uncle Dong told me to bring you to see him!”

 

“Uncle Dong?” Qin Yichen paused slightly. If not for his intervention, Ning Li’s attempt would have absolutely ended in failure yet again. And now, instead of being thanked, he was being labelled as the one who caused the issue!?

 

“You don’t even know Uncle Dong? Don’t tell me you really are a newcomer who just entered the Sacred Land?” Seeing Qin Yichen’s somewhat bewildered expression, a trace of surprise flashed through Bai Ling’s eyes.

 

“Well, yeah. You’ve guessed correctly.” Qin Yichen gave a dry laugh and nodded.

 

“So you really are a newcomer. Well then, when we get there, mind your attitude. Uncle Dong might forgive you this once. After all, you’ve only just arrived and don’t understand the rules yet.”

 

Upon Qin Yichen’s confirmation, Bai Ling suddenly looked enlightened, and proceeded to offer him some instruction.

 

“…” The corner of Qin Yichen’s mouth twitched. Without offering further explanation, he simply handed over the Pills he had refined for the task he had accepted earlier.

 

“You finished refining them this quickly?” Bai Ling was momentarily stunned. She genuinely suspected that this guy might have asked someone else to refine them to complete the task. Otherwise, how could a Sixth Grade Pill possibly be completed so quickly?

 

“Just quickly come with me.” After giving Qin Yichen his task reward, Bai Ling rose from behind the counter and said.

 

Qin Yichen pondered briefly, then nodded and followed behind her, exiting through a doorway at the side of the great hall.

 

After walking for approximately ten minutes, Bai Ling’s footsteps halted before a pavilion.

 

“When we go in, mind your attitude. Apologise to Uncle Dong. Seeing as you’re a newcomer, he probably won’t make things difficult for you.” Bai Ling’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, but in the end, she still opened her mouth to remind him.

 

“En…” Qin Yichen nodded faintly, his expression utterly unconcerned.

 

Seeing him like this, Bai Ling couldn’t help but stamp her small foot in frustration, too exasperated to bother with him further.

 

After knocking on the door, Bai Ling gently pushed open the wooden door of the pavilion and walked inside.

 

“Eh?” The moment Qin Yichen entered, his expression condensed slightly. The instant he had stepped through the threshold, he had clearly sensed a subtle surge of Spiritual Energy sweep across his body. The formidable strength of that Spiritual Energy had already reached the Peak of the Earth Grade!

 

As the two entered the pavilion, they saw a middle-aged man standing before a massive Pill Furnace in the centre of the chamber, his brows tightly furrowed, his eyes fixed intently on the furnace. A considerable pile of ash had already accumulated to one side.

 

His hands moved with meaningful palm techniques, gently striking the Pill Furnace.

 

*Bang!* After a brief moment, accompanied by a soft sigh, a muffled sound rang out from within the Pill Furnace. The middle-aged man waved his palm, and a pile of ash flew out from the furnace, falling to the ground beside him.

 

“Uncle Dong, Qin Yichen is here.” Seeing him cease his movements, Bai Ling finally spoke up.

 

Hearing this, Dong Yu’s gaze swept over, then withdrew as he continued reaching for more materials from the side, preparing to continue refining. At the same time, his cool, indifferent voice rang out. “According to the rules, you know the punishment for disturbing others during Pill refining in the Southern Brilliant Hall, don’t you?”

 

“Uncle Dong, he’s a newcomer who just arrived…” Bai Ling’s pretty face changed slightly, and she hastily explained on Qin Yichen’s behalf.

 

“A newcomer?” Dong Yu’s brows furrowed, though his gaze did not turn back. After a pause, his voice sounded once more. “Considering you’re a newcomer, go back and face the wall for one month. For half a year, you’re forbidden from setting foot in Southern Brilliant Hall.”

 

Hearing these words, Qin Yichen could not help but shake his head slightly. As expected, regardless of location, even in a Sacred Land, Alchemists received exceptional treatment.

 

Merely disturbing someone during Alchemy, even as a first offence, warranted such punishment. If not for Bai Ling speaking up, who knew what the penalty might have been?

 

As Qin Yichen pondered this, he felt someone tug at his robe. Glancing sideways, he saw Bai Ling staring at him with wide, beautiful eyes, desperately making gestures.

 

In that instant, Qin Yichen suddenly felt a measure of goodwill towards this young woman. To plead for a complete stranger, this girl was not nearly as wilful and capricious as she had seemed before.

 

“Hurry up and apologise…” Facing Qin Yichen’s gaze, which carried a hint of amusement, Bai Ling suddenly felt her pretty face flush red. She quickly withdrew the delicate hand that had been clutching his robe, and a voice as faint as a mosquito’s whisper sounded near his ear.

 

“If there’s nothing else, you may leave.” Before the Pill Furnace, Dong Yu, who had already prepared the medicinal ingredients again, furrowed his brows. His somewhat displeased voice rang out.

 

“Let’s quickly leave!” Hearing this, Bai Ling mischievously stuck out her tongue and hurriedly urged Qin Yichen.

 

“This girl…” Dong Yu shook his head inwardly and prepared to toss the medicinal ingredients into the Pill Furnace to continue refining.

 

“The way you’re doing it, you’ll never fuse those properties together!” But just then, Qin Yichen suddenly spoke.

 

Hearing these words, Bai Ling’s feet froze mid-step. For a moment, she was at a complete loss, disappointment flashing through her eyes. [This guy! Aren’t you far too tactless!?]

 

Sure enough, the moment Qin Yichen’s words fell, an oppressive aura suddenly emanated from the centre of the pavilion, shrouding the entire structure.

 

Dong Yu, who had been about to begin refining, slowly turned around. However, his expression had completely lost its former composure. What remained was only extreme displeasure.