Chapter 734: Disciple Requests Battle

"Oh? Three matches? How will they be conducted?" He Shuming asked with interest.

"Pick whatever you like! We'll match soldier for soldier, general for general! You compete with me, then pick two from these trashy Alchemy Sects to compete with my disciples." Ye Yuan said nonchalantly.

But while he was indifferent, others were not so calm.

An Alchemy Emperor leading two Alchemy Kings challenging an Alchemy Saint leading two Alchemy Sects?

Was this kid out of his mind?

More importantly, Ye Yuan had actually handed the initiative to He Shuming, letting him choose the events.

If He Shuming then picked something he excelled at, wouldn't that be like sticking his head out for the chop?

"Haha, Ye Yuan, I know you have some skill! But if you look down on the heroes of the world like this, you'll suffer a great loss! Or perhaps you're trying to make me worry about my reputation and let you off today?" He Shuming laughed loudly.

Ye Yuan smiled slightly. "You're overthinking it! How about this: since it's a contest, let's add some stakes, shall we?"

He Shuming was slightly startled, thinking, Is this kid serious?

"What stakes?"

"If I lose, the Fragrant Medicine Pavilion is yours! If you lose, give me one hundred thousand contribution points! This deal is a sure win for you. What do you say, dare to compete?" Ye Yuan said directly.

Qian'er was anxious upon hearing this and quickly said, "No! This contest itself is unfair. Ye Yuan, you're being too reckless!"

He Shuming laughed heartily. "Haha, Ye Yuan, it seems even your own people don't have faith in you!"

Ye Yuan ignored Qian'er entirely and said to He Shuming, "No matter, I'm the one in charge here!"

"Fine! Since you've put it that way, if I still refuse, I'd be laughed at by the heroes of the world! But since we're competing, we can't have each insisting on their own version. We need someone to preside over it, don't we?" He Shuming said.

"How about I preside?"

A steady, powerful voice suddenly rang out from the crowd. Everyone turned to look and saw a middle-aged man in luxurious attire stepping forward.

He had a servant by his side, whom Ye Yuan recognized—it was the City Guard Commander, Luo Fang!

For someone to have Luo Fang as a follower, his identity was all but revealed.

"City Lord! You... why are you here?" He Shuming asked in surprise.

This man was none other than the City Lord of Gufeng City, Ying Tianya!

Ye Yuan had heard Jun Tianyu mention him before. Even Jun Tianyu, who was usually arrogant, had a high opinion of Ying Tianya.

If there was anyone in Gufeng City that Jun Tianyu feared, it was only Ying Tianya!

Ying Tianya walked slowly out of the crowd, exuding the unique aura of a superior, and said with a faint smile, "I heard that a Master Ye had appeared in the city and opened a new pill shop on Gufeng Street. On a whim, I came to have a look, only to find Alchemy Saint He here crossing swords with Master Ye. I wonder if I am qualified to serve as the presiding judge?"

He Shuming quickly replied, "If the City Lord has such an interest, it is my great honor!"

Ying Tianya nodded, then looked at Ye Yuan and said, "Does Master Ye have any objections?"

Ye Yuan smiled and said, "No objections."

Ying Tianya chuckled. "Very well, then let me witness the elegance of the two top masters of Gufeng City! What would you two like to compete in?"

The observant noticed that Ying Tianya had placed Ye Yuan on equal footing with He Shuming, which surprised them greatly.

Was Ye Yuan, merely a small Alchemy Emperor, worthy of such regard from the City Lord?

Ye Yuan shrugged at this and said, "I don't mind; it's up to him."

This attitude of Ye Yuan deeply wounded He Shuming's pride.

Shouldn't it be him, in this situation, who appeared indifferent?

This kid really knew how to steal the spotlight!

"Competing in alchemy with a mere Alchemy Emperor would surely have everyone saying I'm bullying you. How about this: we compete in flame control?" He Shuming said coldly.

"Shameless! I heard Alchemy Saint He's strongest skill is flame control. Isn't that bullying?"

"It is indeed a bit shameless, but who told that Ye Yuan to act so cocky? He's only at the Alchemy Emperor level, yet he puts on airs like an Alchemy Emperor, acting indifferent about everything. Naturally, the other party would pick what they're best at."

"Actually, given Alchemy Saint He's level, even if he didn't choose flame control, Ye Yuan wouldn't stand a chance, right? Ye Yuan has overplayed his hand. If he loses, the entire Fragrant Medicine Pavilion will be lost."

He Shuming had a great reputation in Gufeng City, and everyone knew his strongest skill was flame control.

Now he had chosen his own specialty, which was indeed somewhat contemptible.

...

The Fragrant Medicine Pavilion made some simple preparations. Since flame control didn't require anything too complex, everything was ready quickly.

During this time, Qian'er kept muttering, clearly very dissatisfied with Ye Yuan's decision.

Although she knew Ye Yuan had some skill, this was too risky.

At the Alchemy Saint level, who was an amateur?

And even if Ye Yuan's methods were extraordinary, what about his two disciples?

Ren Dong and Xiao Ruyan were up against Alchemy Sect masters!

Were his disciples also as extraordinary as him?

Ren Dong and Xiao Ruyan shuffled over to Ye Yuan and whispered, "Master, we... we..."

Ye Yuan patted Ren Dong on the shoulder with a smile and said, "It's fine. Treat it like a game. Just show the level you usually practice at. Even if we really lose, we can always start over. With your master's abilities, what is a mere Fragrant Medicine Pavilion? Besides, if the disciples I, Ye Yuan, have taught can't even match a few nobodies, that would be truly embarrassing!"

In this life and the previous, Ye Yuan had only taken these two disciples. Over the past few years, he had taught them with all his might, never holding anything back.

He had seen their progress and had full confidence in them.

His words, though not entirely dispelling their worries, put them much more at ease.

Yes, what was a mere Fragrant Medicine Pavilion to Ye Yuan?

The two exchanged glances and silently encouraged themselves.

Everything was ready. Su Qide stepped forward first, looked at Ren Dong and Xiao Ruyan with contempt, and said, "Two little brats, don't blame me for bullying you! Blame your unreliable master for being ignorant and making his disciples come out to embarrass themselves!"

Ren Dong immediately retorted, "You old fool! My master could crush you with one finger! We'll see who's embarrassed later!"

Then he turned to Ye Yuan and said, "Master, your disciple requests battle!"

Ye Yuan smiled and said, "Go ahead!"

As he spoke, Ye Yuan raised his palm, and a small lotus appeared—a clone of Huo'er.

Now that Huo'er and Ye Yuan were of one mind, Ye Yuan could lend his primordial flame to anyone without backlash if he wished.

"Take it and teach that old bastard a lesson!"