Chapter 1612: This One Will Do

Ye Yuan paid no heed to Gu Han's contempt.

"Isn't Lord Gu Han hailed as the number one genius of Jiangyong Imperial City? How is it that you dare not accept a challenge from a mere three-star divine alchemist like me?" Ye Yuan said with a light laugh.

Gu Han said arrogantly, "Not just any random cat or dog can challenge me! Those I challenge are all top-tier young geniuses of Tianying Imperial City. What are you?"

This Gu Han was proud and aloof; his targets for challenges were not chosen at random but carefully selected after thorough inquiry.

Only, no one had told him that Tianying Imperial City also harbored a fearsome existence.

This existence was already on a different level from so-called geniuses like him.

As soon as Gu Han spoke, a strange atmosphere spread through the crowd.

Ye Yuan made a slight gesture, signaling everyone to stay calm.

The crowd immediately understood and quickly quieted down.

They had already realized that Ye Yuan intended to slap faces deliberately, so they refrained from revealing his identity.

These past days, everyone had been deeply压抑; their own geniuses had suffered crushing defeats, and now even the four-star divine alchemist Song Qiyang had failed.

More importantly, losing was one thing, but the losers had to bow three times to him and say those nauseating words.

Gu Han's actions had stirred a shared sense of outrage among the crowd.

Now that Ye Yuan had stepped forward to deal with Gu Han, how could they not be delighted? So they became very cooperative.

In their hearts, they all thought with schadenfreude that the expression on Gu Han's face would surely be spectacular in a while!

You're a genius?

You're undefeated across the land?

Heh!

Once you witness Elder Ye's methods, you'll realize your pride is nothing but a joke.

Ye Yuan was not annoyed; he chuckled and said, "Whether I'm qualified to challenge you, you can ask them. Tell me, do I have the qualifications to challenge him?"

Ye Yuan addressed the surrounding crowd, and they responded cooperatively.

"Ye Yuan is the youngest genius of our imperial city; of course he's qualified to challenge you!"

"If even Ye Yuan isn't qualified, then no one is!"

"You're afraid to accept the challenge—could it be you're scared of losing?"

...

Everyone chimed in, but none revealed Ye Yuan's identity as an elder.

If it weren't said aloud, Gu Han would never believe that Ye Yuan was actually a figure at the elder level.

In the corner tower, Ling Zikun chuckled, "Brother Ruoxu, has Tianying Imperial City run out of junior disciples to send? Even a four-star divine alchemist has been defeated, and now you bring a three-star divine alchemist—isn't that asking for humiliation?"

Ruoxu's expression turned extremely peculiar; he hadn't expected Ye Yuan to step forward at this moment.

He had thought Ye Yuan had no interest in such petty disputes among juniors, knowing that at Ye Yuan's level, this kind of contest was merely child's play.

But clearly, Ye Yuan's intervention now was most opportune.

"Ling Zikun, don't be too smug! This young man is no ordinary fellow!"

How could Ruoxu, a shrewd man, reveal Ye Yuan's identity?

He had had enough of Ling Zikun showing off in front of him every day.

Now that Ye Yuan had taken the initiative to slap faces, how could he not play along?

No matter how intense his conflicts with Ye Yuan were, they were internal matters. But now that outsiders were bullying them, how could he side with the enemy?

Sure enough, Ling Zikun looked unconcerned and chuckled, "Not ordinary? How extraordinary can he be? A three-star divine alchemist—no one can possibly be a match for Gu Han. You've seen his strength; how many chances do you think this unknown kid has?"

Ruoxu snorted coldly and said nothing more.

But in his heart, he was secretly delighted.

Even I was no match for Ye Yuan, and you, this lousy disciple of yours, want to beat him?

You're not even worthy to lick his boots!

…

Hearing everyone's words, combined with the looks they had given Ye Yuan earlier, Gu Han was now certain that Ye Yuan was indeed a rising star in the city.

But why, after all these days of asking around, had no one told him there was such a young powerhouse in the city?

Could it be that this fellow before him was actually the strongest among the younger generation?

But whatever!

Any young genius would only be fit to lick his boots!

"Fine, I'll give you this chance! Same rules as before: you lose, and you pay for his too!" Gu Han said arrogantly.

Ye Yuan smiled. "Deal, no problem."

Gu Han glanced at Ye Yuan and said indifferently, "Don't say I'm bullying you. Pick the pill yourself, whichever you're best at. I don't care."

Ye Yuan pointed at the Mingxin Fairy Cloud Pill and said with a smile, "This one will do."

Gu Han was taken aback. He had thought Ye Yuan would pick something simpler, but this kid actually dared to challenge the Mingxin Fairy Cloud Pill.

After a moment of distraction, Gu Han laughed scornfully. "Kid, do you even know how to refine pills? Are you blind? Just now, even your Senior Brother Song, a four-star pill god, almost failed. And you, a three-star pill god, dare to compete with me on the Mingxin Fairy Cloud Pill?"

Song Qiyang hadn't left yet. Being called out by Gu Han like that, his face flushed bright red with shame.

He wished he could rush onto the stage and skin that kid alive.

Ye Yuan smiled. "The Mingxin Fairy Cloud Pill is nothing special."

Gu Han knew he was arrogant, but he suddenly realized that this guy in front of him was even more arrogant than himself!

"Oh ho, quite the big talk! Then let's see if your skill matches your mouth!" Gu Han laughed mockingly.

As soon as he started, Ling Zikun's expression changed.

That rhythm of the Great Dao, that supremely skilled refining technique—they were on a completely different level from Gu Han's.

With Ye Yuan's current strength, refining the Mingxin Fairy Cloud Pill was far too easy. He only needed to use twenty or thirty percent of his ability to crush Gu Han.

But to Ling Zikun, it was a whole different story.

"This... this young man, is he your disciple? Brother Ruoxu, you've been hiding him well!" Ling Zikun's tone revealed shock and helplessness.

He hadn't expected Ruoxu to have saved his trump card for last.

After just a few dozen breaths, Ling Zikun knew that Gu Han had no chance of winning.

Not even a sliver!

Seeing the crestfallen look on Ling Zikun's face, Ruoxu smiled more happily than he had in the past month.

"Heh heh, I don't have that kind of good fortune, nor that kind of skill!" Ruoxu said with a laugh.

Ling Zikun asked in surprise, "Could it be... he's a disciple of those few?"

In the Tianying Imperial City, the strongest were naturally not Ruoxu and Zheng Qi.

The truly powerful beings were usually nowhere to be seen.

So Ling Zikun's first thought went to those few.

Ruoxu smiled without speaking, not answering Ling Zikun.

In less than half an hour, Ye Yuan finished.

When Gu Han completed his refining, he found Ye Yuan looking at him with a playful expression.

That look was exactly the same as the one he had given Song Qiyang earlier.