Chapter Thirty-Four: The Alchemy Duel with Gu He

“What? You say I am not qualified to be your master?”

At that moment, Gu He finally could not remain seated. He could never have imagined that such words would come from a junior of the Cloud Mist Sect.

Across the entire Dou Qi Continent, his talent might not be considered top-tier, but within the Jia Ma Empire, no one could rival him. His identity as a sixth-grade alchemist made that abundantly clear.

“If I am unworthy to be your master, then tell me, who in the Jia Ma Empire is qualified for the position?” Gu He’s voice was cold. “If you cannot provide a satisfactory answer, I will show you the consequences of offending me.”

Lin An replied, “Leaving aside everyone else, even just Yao Chen is far superior to you.”

“You mean him?”

Gu He frowned, surprised by the answer.

“Fine, very well, I would like to see what makes him so much better than me!” Gu He’s anger turned to an icy laugh. “Why don’t we settle this with a wager?”

Lin An proposed, “How about we compete in alchemy? Let the quality and appearance of the pills decide the outcome.”

“If you lose, from then on you will be mine; but if Yao Chen loses, I will reveal to you the secret behind Old Master Nalan Jie’s newfound vitality.”

Gu He’s expression shifted. “Are you serious?”

This secret was enough to capture his full attention. If he could master such a technique, his future would be limitless. To a martial artist, the years of youth are the most precious—cultivation is at its peak, and breakthroughs require the least effort. Many are hindered by age from advancing further. Even Gu He himself would eventually face this problem. But if such a method existed, the empire would be full of top-tier experts.

“This is the imperial city of Jia Ma Empire, your domain, while I am but an unknown nobody. If I were to deceive you, you could take my life at any moment,” Lin An said.

Listening to Lin An’s words, Yao Chen could not help but silently remark to himself: you truly are an unknown nobody, but you are accompanied by a Dou Zong master in peak condition. If Gu He truly sought your life, he would not even reach you before being slain.

“Very well. Since this is a contest, and we are in Jia Ma Empire, let me choose the place for the alchemy duel,” Gu He declared.

“No problem,” Lin An nodded.

Gu He promptly left, while the elder who always accompanied him stayed behind. Gu He did not mind; there was little use for the elder to remain at his side. Soon, he would return disappointed.

“Lin An, you’re far too impulsive!” Nalan Su said, helpless.

Meanwhile, Xiao Xun’er, who had stood silently, flashed a glint of interest in her eyes at the mention of Yao Chen’s name.

That name… intriguing!

“Don’t worry, since I dared to accept the wager, I have confidence in Yao Chen’s abilities,” Lin An said indifferently.

“You mean… he’s also a sixth-grade alchemist?” Nalan Su questioned.

“He is not a sixth-grade alchemist; he is even more formidable than one,” Lin An replied.

With that, Lin An and the elder returned to their residence.

Nalan Yanran was left bewildered, unable to comprehend why her junior brother would dare to provoke Grandmaster Gu He so boldly.

“Junior brother, you are far too impulsive!” Nalan Yanran admonished.

“Don’t worry, senior sister. I never attempt anything without certainty,” Lin An replied with a smile.

“Young master, I believe you will ultimately triumph,” Xiao Xun’er said, smiling.

Nalan Yanran glanced at Xiao Xun’er, then began to strategize for Lin An, hoping to help him through this ordeal. She even considered returning to the Cloud Mist Sect overnight to request Master or Ancestor Yun Shan’s assistance, thinking this might help her junior brother overcome his difficulties.

Soon, Nalan Yanran left Lin An’s residence.

Lin An, of course, had no idea what Nalan Yanran was planning. Had he known, he would surely have stopped her.

Before long, news arrived: the alchemy duel would take place in three days. If Lin An required any materials for pill forging, assistance would be provided. After all, gathering the spiritual ingredients for a sixth-grade pill was no simple task.

Lin An nodded, indicating there was no problem.

Next, he assisted the elder who had always followed Gu He. Lin An, uninterested in wasting words, had Yun Shan kill him and help him reconstruct his fleshly body. As for what followed, Yun Shan would handle the explanations.

“How confident are you in refining a sixth-grade pill at your current level?” Lin An asked.

“If it were before, at my present realm, I wouldn’t be very confident. But in the Hall of Yama, even without cultivating soul techniques, daily nourishment by the Yin Qi has clearly boosted my strength,” Yao Chen answered without hesitation, revealing his confidence. “So, I am quite assured of refining a sixth-grade pill! As for a seventh-grade pill, it would still be difficult unless I break through to the Dou Emperor realm.”

“Since we’re competing, let’s crush him with overwhelming strength. For this contest, you will refine a seventh-grade pill, so that you can swiftly establish your prestige in Jia Ma Empire,” Lin An said.

He had considered this carefully. For the Hall of Yama to develop, it must rapidly consolidate its power and build its influence in the shortest time possible. A slow, step-by-step approach would take too long. Rather than that, it was best to directly recruit these esteemed individuals and bring them under his banner.

From the moment he serendipitously subdued Yun Shan, Lin An had been planning this. Gu He possessed great influence in Jia Ma Empire; ordinary means would not suffice to win his allegiance. Only by defeating him in his most proud field of alchemy could Lin An hope to make him willingly submit.

Lin An had no intention of letting such a useful person become just another soul point.

Yao Chen had not yet grasped the meaning behind Lin An’s words when suddenly, he felt Dou Qi surging violently within him. Before Yun Shan, Nalan Jie, Zhang Qingyuan, and the others, his cultivation level soared rapidly.

In the blink of an eye, he broke through to the Dou Emperor realm.

Moreover, the pure Yin Qi in the Hall of Yama poured frenziedly into Yao Chen’s body, and his soul power increased at a pace visible to the naked eye.

After a long while, Yao Chen opened his eyes, a brilliant gleam within, captivating and unsettling Zhang Qingyuan, the seasoned Dou Emperor, who nearly lost his composure and involuntarily stepped back.