Chapter 228: A Lesson in Alchemy!

Ouyang Yu's expression shifted between gloom and uncertainty, but he did not immediately hand over the pill formula.

It wasn't that he thought Ye Yuan could truly find flaws in the formula—a fifteen-year-old alchemist, could he be that formidable?

It was just that a formula collectively researched by their Alchemy Hall was now being critiqued by a youngster—this was too embarrassing.

As the head of the Alchemy Hall, Ouyang Yu could not afford such disgrace.

He had no idea what had possessed Luo Qingfeng to agree to Ye Yuan's absurd request.

Of course, he couldn't understand Luo Qingfeng's thoughts; his understanding of Ye Yuan was far less thorough than Luo Qingfeng's.

Someone who could use techniques that channel heaven and earth's primal power at the Spirit Liquid Realm—no amount of focused training was too much!

The report from the Martial Hall had startled Luo Qingfeng, and then he looked into Ye Yuan's growth experience.

He discovered that Ye Yuan's transformation was a classic tale of reversal; if he said there was no master behind Ye Yuan, he wouldn't believe it even if beaten to death!

Yet this master had never shown himself.

During this time, Luo Qingfeng had investigated Ye Yuan from various angles but found no trace of that master.

What did this mean? It meant that master was beyond the comprehension of him, the sect master of Nethercloud Sect!

The unknown is the most terrifying, even for one as noble as a sect master!

With such a great figure lurking in the ten kingdoms of Nethercloud, how could Luo Qingfeng, as sect master, rest easy?

Ye Yuan's answer today had indirectly confirmed his speculation, yet Ye Yuan said his master was traveling far and wide. Although there was no evidence from any angle, Luo Qingfeng was still quite cautious about how to handle Ye Yuan.

Now Ye Yuan claimed he alone could challenge the entire Alchemy Hall—it sounded quite absurd, but if true, wouldn't it prove that Ye Yuan's master indeed existed?

If someone placed their disciple in your sect for training, and you killed that disciple, when that mysterious person returned, even the full strength of Nethercloud Sect might not be a match for that one person!

As a sect master, would Luo Qingfeng dare to gamble the entire sect?

"Hall Master Ouyang?" Luo Qingfeng urged again when Ouyang Yu did not move.

"Yes, Sect Master!"

Ouyang Yu frowned and produced a jade slip. Ye Yuan reached out to take it, swept it with his divine sense, and fell into thought.

"Well, Master Ye, have you noticed anything amiss? Please enlighten us."

Ouyang Yu's words were barbed, and anyone could tell he was truly angry. Unable to vent his anger at the sect master, he sought to regain face from Ye Yuan.

"Yes, Master Ye's master is probably an Alchemy Emperor, right? A distinguished disciple of an Alchemy Emperor, guiding us would be a piece of cake."

"I say, our Alchemy Hall might as well hire Master Ye as a guest elder. Oh, but Master Ye might not even fancy the position of elder!"

Alchemists were proud, and Ye Yuan's arrogance had thoroughly provoked them, so each spoke with sarcasm.

They couldn't believe that a mere alchemist boy could teach them anything.

Even if Ye Yuan's master were truly an Alchemy Emperor, could his disciple surpass all of them combined?

Of course, they couldn't imagine what level Ye Yuan's alchemy path had reached.

Not to mention all of them combined; even if all their ancestors were added together, they could hardly reach a tenth or a hundredth of Ye Yuan's level.

Ye Yuan ignored their taunts, finished scanning the True Ascension Pill formula, and let out a sigh.

"Don't just sigh, Master Ye. Tell us, what flaws does the True Ascension Pill formula have?" Ouyang Ming asked sarcastically.

"Heh, since you call me master, I'll give you a lesson in alchemy today. Hmm, I just joined the sect and have no gift, so I'll offer this lesson for free." Ye Yuan said with a smile.

"Ignorant and arrogant! You're getting carried away! You, teaching us?"

Ye Yuan ignored him and continued, "From this formula, it's clear you all have some skill, but your foundations are not solid enough."

As soon as Ye Yuan finished, a chorus of scolding erupted.

"Foundations? A kid of ten-something talking to us about foundations? Haha, hilarious."

"Kid, have you memorized the 'Compendium of Herbs' yet, and you dare talk to us about foundations?"

"Now I think Ye Yuan must be the one who stole the formula, otherwise he wouldn't be spouting nonsense. Even across the entire Southern Domain, no one would say our foundations are lacking, right?"

Ye Yuan waved his hand and said, "Everyone, don't get excited. I know you are all quasi-Pill Kings, some even senior quasi-Pill Kings, figures of importance across the Southern Domain. But compared to my master, you are far behind, and your foundations are too poor. Let's first talk about the main ingredients of the True Ascension Pill and make a comparison."

With that, Ye Yuan looked at Ouyang Yu and asked, "Hall Master Ouyang, your formula has three main ingredients: Xuanjia Beast inner core, Purple Night Grass, and Cloud Luo Fruit, correct?"

Ouyang Yu's face darkened, but he did not respond to Ye Yuan.

Ye Yuan didn't mind and continued with a smile, "Let me state the three main ingredients in my formula: Xuanjia Beast inner core, Purple Night Grass, and Azure Nether Orchid."

"Haha, he says to use Azure Nether Orchid! It's common knowledge that Azure Nether Orchid and Purple Night Grass cannot be used together. You don't even know that, and you talk about foundations! You've exposed yourself in one sentence! Sect Master, this kid is just a fraud here to mock us!" Ouyang Ming laughed loudly.

This time, Ouyang Ming had learned his lesson and did not say anything like 'sentenced to death'.

Luo Qingfeng looked at Ouyang Yu, who nodded slightly, confirming that Ouyang Ming was not wrong.

Ye Yuan rolled his eyes and spat out two words: "Idiot!"

"What did you say!" Ouyang Ming was furious.

"At your age, haven't you heard the saying 'Believing everything in books is worse than having no books'? You say these two herbs cannot be used together—that must be from that crappy 'General Treatise on Herbs,' right? Hmm, it probably says that mixing Purple Night Grass and Azure Nether Orchid produces toxins harmful to martial artists, correct?"

Everyone was petrified.

The 'General Treatise on Herbs,' treasured by Boundless Sect, was called a crappy book by Ye Yuan.

But Ye Yuan was right—that's what the book said.

"Hmph! Is it not?" Ouyang Ming said with a livid face.

"Like hell it is!" Ye Yuan cursed back. "Books by Alchemy Emperors are indeed valuable references, but you must know that Alchemy Emperors are only beginners on the path of alchemy! Are their conclusions always correct? To truly know, you must practice it yourselves. If you don't experiment, you'll only be led astray by others! Treating the 'General Treatise on Herbs' as a sacred text, you'll never surpass its authors!"