Chapter 185 Never Seen Such an Idiot

The moment he opened his mouth, there was a strong smell of gunpowder!

Ye Yuan's expression darkened slightly. This guy was clearly here to pick a fight, wasn't he?

He was already somewhat displeased with Yang Hao's arrogant attitude, and was only being polite for Jiang Yunhe's sake.

Otherwise, given Ye Yuan's personality, he wouldn't even bother with Yang Hao.

So-called geniuses, in Ye Yuan's eyes, weren't even worth as much as fools!

"So Senior Brother Yang knows he's a mediocrity. It seems he has some self-awareness after all. I was worried that Senior Brother Yang might get a big head from all the praise." Since the other party showed no respect, Ye Yuan naturally didn't need to be polite.

"Hmph! The so-called 'number one in a millennium' is nothing but hype from ignorant commoners! Those who have traversed the Nine Heavens Road are a dime a dozen in Nethercloud Sect. Only in the outer sect would they use this as a gimmick."

Faced with Ye Yuan's sarcasm, Yang Hao didn't fly into a rage but instead retorted tit for tat.

Ye Yuan shrugged and said, "I don't care about being the number one in a millennium. Only certain mediocrities would take such things to heart."

Ye Yuan kept calling him a mediocrity, which grated on Yang Hao's nerves. He had only meant to mock Ye Yuan, but Ye Yuan had seized the opportunity and latched onto it.

"Junior Brother Ye keeps calling me a mediocrity. I wonder if you dare to compete with this mediocrity? I'd like to see just what kind of genius the so-called number one in a millennium really is."

Yang Hao adopted a condescending posture, certain that Ye Yuan wouldn't dare accept the challenge.

He was at the eighth level of Liquid Essence and a senior alchemist, on a completely different level from Ye Yuan. If Ye Yuan dared to accept, he wouldn't be a genius but an outright fool!

Just as Ye Yuan was about to speak, Jiang Yunhe interjected, "Ye Yuan, mind your manners! Lord Yao Qian is an elder of the upper sect's Alchemy Hall. He and Yang Hao have come specifically to escort you and Long Tang into the sect."

Then he turned to Yao Qian and said, "Ye Yuan is young and impetuous. I hope Lord Yao Qian will not take offense."

Faced with Jiang Yunhe's rebuke, Ye Yuan said nothing. He knew Jiang Yunhe was reminding him that he would have to deal with these two on his way to Nethercloud Sect and shouldn't offend them.

Yao Qian showed no reaction and merely said indifferently, "Let the young people settle their own affairs. We old folks shouldn't meddle."

Yao Qian held a much higher position in Nethercloud Sect than he did. Since Yao Qian said so, Jiang Yunhe naturally couldn't say more, though he felt somewhat displeased.

He knew full well why Yao Qian was targeting Ye Yuan, but he hadn't expected it to be so blatant, giving Ye Yuan a show of force right from the start.

Yao Qian was an alchemist from the Ouyang family line and had a very good relationship with Ouyang Ming. When Jiang Yunhe saw that he was the one sent as the guide, he immediately sensed trouble.

Jiang Yunhe didn't believe that the sect sending Yao Qian was merely a coincidence.

Sure enough, the moment Ye Yuan entered, the atmosphere turned hostile!

He had originally hoped to smooth things over and ask Yao Qian to show some respect. But Yao Qian's casual remark shut down all his words.

This old and young pair were going too far. A cultivator at the eighth level of Liquid Essence actually provoking one at the second level—how shameless!

Although Jiang Yunhe was meeting Ye Yuan for the first time, he had heard much about his deeds and knew this kid was no pushover. He might actually accept the provocation.

Jiang Yunhe also knew Ye Yuan was extraordinary, but the gap between him and Yang Hao was enormous.

Even though Ye Yuan's advancement to the second level of Liquid Essence surprised him, he was no match for Yang Hao.

Jiang Yunhe shot Ye Yuan a look, but Ye Yuan ignored him completely.

"So, number one in a millennium? Do you dare to compete?" Yang Hao looked at Ye Yuan smugly, goading him with words.

Even a clay idol has some temper, let alone Ye Yuan. Though he didn't know the reason, these two were clearly targeting him.

If Ye Yuan could tolerate this, he wouldn't be Ye Yuan!

"If I don't even dare to accept a mediocrity's challenge, how can I claim to be the number one in a millennium? Name it, what are we competing in?"

Ye Yuan directly accepted the title of 'number one in a millennium' and took another jab at Yang Hao.

Jiang Yunhe sighed inwardly. This kid really couldn't resist provocation!

Yang Hao's mouth twitched. This was a classic case of giving an inch and taking a mile, wasn't it?

But when I trample you underfoot later, let's see if you still dare to be so cocky!

He glanced at the two-star badge on Ye Yuan's chest and sneered contemptuously, "Junior Brother Ye's cultivation is too low. If we compete in martial arts, I'd feel I won unfairly. Since Junior Brother Ye is also an alchemist, let's compete in alchemy. What do you think?"

Ye Yuan smiled, a very happy smile.

He had seen idiots, but never such an idiot.

Instead of using his overwhelming cultivation advantage, he chose alchemy. It seemed this guy was very confident in his alchemy skills!

But... challenging an Alchemy Emperor to an alchemy contest—Yang Hao really had some imagination.

Hu Yong had not spoken since entering the room and remained expressionless, but inwardly he was overjoyed.

This idiot actually challenged Ye Yuan to an alchemy contest. Wasn't he asking for a beating?

If it had been before Ye Yuan came to him, he wouldn't have had much confidence in Ye Yuan. But now, he couldn't wait to see the look on Yang Hao's face.

Although Hu Yong knew nothing about alchemy, he understood that the Condensing Crystal Pill was no ordinary second-grade pill. Even a senior alchemist would find it difficult to refine.

Yang Hao actually challenged Ye Yuan, who could refine the Condensing Crystal Pill, to an alchemy contest. Wasn't that asking for a beating?

For some reason, seeing Ye Yuan's smile made Yang Hao feel uneasy.

"What? Junior Brother Ye doesn't dare? If you don't dare, forget it. But after entering the sect, just stay out of my way."

"Oh? That's not a bad idea. How about this: whoever wins, the other will stay out of their way from then on. What do you say?"

"Heh, ignorance truly is bliss! Fine, I accept!" Yang Hao said with full confidence.

"Good. Name it, what are we competing in?" Ye Yuan asked.

"Flame control is the foundation of alchemy and an important measure of alchemical skill. How about we use what's available and compete in flame control? What do you think, Junior Brother Ye?"

As he spoke, Yang Hao pointed at the Bright Flame on the wall inside the room.

The Bright Flame was a type of earth fire, commonly used for lighting due to its brightness.

Alchemy apprentices, with insufficient soul power, didn't require high flame control. But at the alchemist level, alchemy truly began, and flame control became very demanding.

Seeing that Ye Yuan was only a junior alchemist, Yang Hao assumed he had just started learning flame control and would be weak in that area.

He intended to embarrass Ye Yuan.

What he didn't know was that Ye Yuan not only knew how to play with fire but also possessed the Nether檀 Sacred Flame inside him...