Chapter 1100: Winning People Over

The alchemist selection had ended, and Xie Yun finally stood up.

Standing up with him were Yue Zhen and the others, while Ye Chen and his group remained standing on the alchemy cloud platform.

Among them, some had only passed the first round, some had passed the second, others had reached the second round and refined a six-vein dan, and still others had reached the second round but failed to refine a six-vein dan.

Apart from the alchemists like Ye Chen who had refined six-vein dan, the other alchemists mostly looked at Xie Yun with hopeful eyes.

The Youdu alchemist selection valued qualifications, talent, and potential above all. Even those who hadn't refined a dan pill could still be selected, as many were young alchemists who couldn't yet be compared to their elders. Their potential wasn't insignificant; they just lacked the opportunity to be nurtured.

Xie Yun had already waved his hand to produce the huang bang, hanging it at the highest point of the Wangtian Ge. Shockingly, it listed nearly a thousand names.

"So many?" The cultivator spectators were immediately stunned.

"Last year there were only under a hundred, and this year it's ten times that!"

"Only about twenty or thirty refined six-vein dan, but nearly a thousand were selected. What is the Zhuque family up to?"

"I... I actually got selected?" An alchemist stared at the huang bang in disbelief.

"I got selected too."

"Thank you, Ninth Prince." The selected alchemists were overjoyed, having thought they would be eliminated. They never expected Xie Yun to give them such a surprise, promising unlimited futures ahead.

"Quality over quantity— isn't Ninth Prince selecting too many?" On the high platform, Yue Shan glanced at Xie Yun.

"What do you mean by that, Elder Yue Shan?" Xie Yun replied lightly. "What is quality over quantity? They are all talents."

"Talents?" Yue Shan smiled faintly. "A group of alchemists who can't even refine a six-vein ling dan—are they talents?"

"They just need an opportunity." Xie Yun said gravely.

"A bunch of wastes, not deserving of an opportunity."

"You—"

"This matter is settled." Yue Shan cut Xie Yun off directly, waving his divine brush through the air and erasing over eight hundred names from the huang bang.

"This..." The alchemists who had been rejoicing just moments ago now felt as if they had been cast from heaven into hell.

"Why treat us like this?"

"We only need an opportunity." Many alchemists clenched their fists in their sleeves, grinding their teeth in anger, but they dared not speak out. It was simply because Yue Shan's forces were too powerful—they couldn't afford to provoke them.

"Noisy!" Seeing the resentment below, Yue Shan shouted coldly.

"Oh dear, not even allowed to speak now." Ye Chen spoke up, smirking. "What's with the sour face?"

"Ye Chen, are you courting death?" Yue Zhen roared.

"Don't scare me—I'm faint-hearted." Ye Chen casually stretched his neck. "By the way, I'm planning to go to your Ling Dan Ge."

"What did you say?"

"I said, I don't want to go to your Ling Dan Ge."

"How dare you!" Yue Hai shouted coldly. "This isn't something you can decide on a whim. You're disrespecting Ling Dan Ge and Youdu. Seize him at once and take him to the enforcement hall."

"The alchemist selection is fair, just, and open. Participating alchemists do so voluntarily and have the right to choose their own path—that's always been the rule." Ye Chen chuckled leisurely. "Elder Yue Hai, your harsh words and arbitrary orders are the real insult to Youdu's laws!"

"You—" Yue Hai's face turned iron-blue from Ye Chen's retort.

"I'm off—heading home." Ye Chen flicked his robe and leaped down from the alchemy cloud platform, adding as he left, "To all you fellow daoists who didn't get selected, today's on me—drink as much as you want."

As soon as Ye Chen spoke, a few alchemists still fuming with resentment followed him out.

Drinks! Drinks!

More and more alchemists joined them, and in large numbers.

The unselected alchemists had been holding back their frustration and were eager to drown their sorrows in alcohol. With Ye Chen footing the bill, how could they refuse?

Each of them had their own reasons: venting over drinks was one, but more importantly, Ye Chen was an exceptional alchemist with unparalleled skill. Such a rare talent was worth befriending.

Meanwhile, Ye Chen wore a full smile on his face.

Without a doubt, he had played his strategy well, staging a show with Xie Yun.

Earlier, Xie Yun's selection of nearly a thousand alchemists had been at his suggestion, all to win over hearts. Everyone could see Xie Yun fighting for their chances, even if it was in vain. What mattered was that the alchemists were truly grateful to him.

In contrast, Yue Shan's repeated calls of "wastes" had left the unselected alchemists feeling deeply unhappy and resentful.

All of this was part of Ye Chen's plan. He had anticipated that Yue Zhen and his group would oppose Xie Yun, and sure enough, the alchemists ended up grateful to Xie Yun but furious with Yue Zhen and the others.

The act that Ye Chen and Xie Yun performed had been a success.

Ye Chen still had high hopes for the unselected alchemists.

As a Dan Sheng, his vision far surpassed that of Yue Zhen and his group. He could clearly see that among those alchemists were geniuses with extraordinary talent. With proper nurturing, they could become a formidable force.

He carried the Wan Dan Bao Dian, the supreme treasure of Dan Cheng, containing the alchemical insights of Dan Zu, Dan Wang, and countless predecessors. It was perfect for cultivating alchemists.

Watching the tide of alchemists leave with Ye Chen, the spectators sighed in admiration. Ye Chen was likely the first—and probably the only one—to openly challenge Youdu's Ling Dan Ge.

"Get out! All of you, get out!"

Yue Shan and the others scolded them, their faces dark with anger.

Little did they know, they had already been outmaneuvered by Ye Chen. High and mighty as they were, they hadn't realized they had lost the people's support.

A bunch of fools!

Xie Yun glanced at Yue Shan and the others, then turned and left, a cold smile on his lips.

Meanwhile, Mu Wanqing and Nian Wei followed suit and left.

The alchemist selection came to a complete end with their departure.

Yue Shan and the others also dispersed, their faces still grim.

The cultivator spectators headed out of Wangtian Ge, each sighing in wonder. Today, they had witnessed what a true alchemical genius looked like.

The spectators weren't fools; they knew Ye Chen's potential was immense. Given enough time, he could surpass even Ku Yue. Such an alchemist had boundless prospects! Anyone with a shred of sense would choose to befriend him.

So, as soon as they left Wangtian Ge, most people headed in one direction: toward the place where Ye Chen was treating the unselected alchemists to drinks—the Xuan Yu Lou.

Xuan Yu Lou was the largest tavern in Youdu's second heaven. Just from the name, it was clear it was connected to Xie Yun, being the Ninth Prince of the Zhuque family's only remaining business in Youdu's second heaven.

No getting drunk, no going home!

When the spectator cultivators entered Xuan Yu Lou, the atmosphere inside was lively. A group of frustrated alchemists were already drinking heartily—after all, it was free, so no one held back.

Drink as much as you want—it's on me!

Ye Chen was generous, his voice booming, not just for the unselected alchemists but for the new arrivals too.

As the host of this grand tavern, he was the center of attention. His identity intrigued people, his talent amazed them, and his generosity warmed their hearts.

While the tavern buzzed with feasting, Yue Shan and the others had returned to Ling Dan Ge.

There, an elderly man with gray hair sat cross-legged on a cloud, surrounded by nine strands of divine energy, each infused with flames. Anyone who understood the profound secrets would be shocked, for this gray-haired elder possessed nine kinds of flames, each extraordinary.

This man was no ordinary figure—he was Youdu's only seventh-tier alchemist, known as Ku Yue Zhenren.

"Half an hour to refine a six-vein dan?" Upon hearing Yue Shan and the others' report, Ku Yue Zhenren suddenly opened his eyes, his deep gaze flashing with unprecedented brilliance. Refining a six-vein dan in half an hour, especially with a flawed dan formula, was talent that surpassed even his younger self.

"Absolutely true." Yue Shan hurried forward and presented the dan pill Ye Chen had refined.

"Do you know his background?" Ku Yue took it, narrowing his eyes at the six-vein dan. With his expertise, he could see its exceptional quality, especially the faint golden halo around it, which made his eyes gleam. From the dan alone, he could tell Ye Chen's flames were remarkable.

"His name is Ye Chen," Yue Shan answered respectfully. "As for his origins, we're still investigating."

"Investigate thoroughly."

"Master, that young man is very close to Ruo Tian Xuan Yu," Yue Hai added. "And he openly challenged Ling Dan Ge's authority. It seems the Zhuque family has high hopes for him and wants to elevate him."

"Then cripple him." Ku Yue said casually, slowly closing his eyes. "And I want his true fire."

"We understand." A glint flashed in Yue Shan and the others' eyes. With Ku Yue explicitly wanting Ye Chen's true fire, this was a prime chance to curry favor—they wouldn't miss it.

"Damn it." Unlike the others, Yue Zhen's expression was sour. He had been the first to notice Ye Chen's extraordinary flames, but now Yue Shan and his group had their sights on it, which wasn't good news for him.

"Half an hour to refine a six-vein dan?" In the ninth heaven, Ruo Tian Zhuque looked at Xie Yun and Nian Wei below, his expression full of disbelief.

"Ling'er wouldn't lie to you, ancestor." Nian Wei smiled charmingly.

"What's his background?"

"Quite significant." Xie Yun also smiled.

"Oh?" Ruo Tian Zhuque raised an eyebrow, amused as she looked at Xie Yun. "How significant?"

"I'll keep it a suspense for now." Xie Yun laughed. "This time, I've come to ask for a favor, ancestor."

"What is it?"

"Loan me some money." Xie Yun coughed lightly.

"That's fresh." Ruo Tian Zhuque was amused, eyeing her favorite grandson with interest. "I'd love to know what my Xuan Yu wants money for."

"Of course, for a big move."