Chapter 2536: Another Window!

Entering the council hall, waves of mockery flooded into Ye Yuan's ears.

Compared to the matter of Jun Tian, everyone was clearly more interested in this 'Heavenly Alchemist' with one point of affinity.

Everyone knew that Gu Mao's speculation was merely a theoretical possibility.

A newly ascended ant from the lower realm killing Jun Tian, a Small Extreme Heaven grand completion expert, was extremely unlikely.

Moreover, this ascender Ye Yuan had no connection whatsoever with Jun Tian.

The Ink Light Forest was vast; even if they did meet, it would be Ye Yuan who died, not Jun Tian.

"B-Big Brother, this is the Second Prince!" Tang Yu said cautiously, changing the subject.

He didn't think Ye Yuan could actually refine Dragon Bone Grass.

Ye Yuan naturally couldn't be bothered to respond, and said to the Second Prince with neither humility nor arrogance: "Greetings, Second Prince!"

The Second Prince nodded slightly and said: "So you are Ye Yuan? I heard there's a bet between you and Master Gu?"

Ye Yuan nodded: "Indeed!"

The Second Prince smiled: "It's been eighteen years already. I wonder how Brother Ye's refining skills are coming along?"

Ye Yuan said calmly: "So-so."

At these words, another burst of laughter erupted.

"What does 'so-so' look like with one point?"

"If you can't do it, just say so. Why put up a front?"

"Brother Gu, you'd better be careful! When a one-pointer gets serious, you might not be a match!"

...

The Second Prince couldn't help but smile at this. This ascender was somewhat interesting.

In his eyes, Ye Yuan was like a clown.

Clearly without strength, yet still pretending to be a big shot.

Everyone was mocking him, yet he seemed to revel in it, unbothered.

This kind of person was truly amusing.

"Hehe, since you've already reached 'so-so,' and this bet has been delayed for eighteen years, how about I act as a witness and let you complete the bet?" the Second Prince said with a smile.

Ye Yuan was sparing with words: "Fine."

Another round of laughter from the crowd.

Gu Mao laughed: "Kid, I've waited eighteen years for you. Every time I came looking for you, you were in seclusion! Hehe, today I'd like to see just how formidable a one-point Heavenly Alchemist really is!"

Ye Yuan glanced at him and said: "No wonder you're so cocky. It seems you've obtained a treasure that can suppress the fire poison on your body."

Gu Mao, who had been laughing heartily a moment ago, now changed expression.

Seen through again!

A few years ago, he had obtained a treasure called Ice Heart Jade, which, though unable to completely remove the fire poison, could temporarily suppress it.

So in recent years, his courage had grown again.

Seeing Gu Mao's laughter cut off abruptly, everyone present knew Ye Yuan had hit the mark.

They only then realized that Gu Mao was already afflicted with fire poison!

This surprised them greatly—it seemed this kid wasn't entirely useless after all.

Tang Yu was secretly shocked. No wonder Gu Mao was so cocky today—he had found a support!

Originally, the Tang family's biggest leverage was this, but now that Gu Mao had obtained a treasure, he was no longer afraid.

Gu Mao's face turned cold: "Hmph! So what if I have? Now that I'm no longer afraid of the fire poison, do you still think you can threaten me with that?"

Ye Yuan shook his head: "It's useless. Your treasure only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. The more you suppress it, the more violently it will erupt later—unless you never touch Dao Fire again."

Gu Mao snorted: "Stop scaremongering! You'd better think about how to get through today!"

Ye Yuan smiled faintly: "Let me give a demonstration."

Gu Mao was taken aback, not expecting Ye Yuan to be so straightforward. He snorted: "Putting on airs! Fine then, watch closely!"

The Dragon Bone Grass was already prepared. Gu Mao swept his sleeve, and Dao Fire ignited directly in his palm.

After a splendid refinement, a crystalline paste of Dragon Bone Grass appeared before everyone.

This performance naturally drew a round of admiration.

Even the Second Prince nodded slightly: "Master Gu's skill is becoming more refined! I'm afraid that aside from Master Lin, no one in the Eastern Lin Kingdom can match Master Gu."

The Master Lin the Second Prince referred to was the royal family's alchemist, the only second-grade Heavenly Alchemist in the Eastern Lin Kingdom.

These words were indeed high praise.

Gu Mao was overjoyed and said respectfully: "Your Highness flatters me! A mere trivial skill, not worth boasting about! However, aside from Master Lin, there is one person I dare not claim certain victory over. After all, one point is too terrifying!"

"Hahaha..."

Another burst of laughter.

The Second Prince said to Ye Yuan with a smile: "Brother Ye, Master Gu has given his demonstration. The rest is up to you! How about letting us see the fruits of your eighteen years of hard work?"

Ye Yuan nodded slightly, and likewise swept his sleeve, bringing the Dragon Bone Grass into his palm.

He slowly closed his eyes, carefully sensing the fluctuations from the Dragon Bone Grass.

A wisp of Dao Fire bloomed softly.

Seeing this, Gu Mao's pupils contracted.

"This kid's fire control has improved by a huge margin!" Gu Mao thought with alarm.

Originally, Ye Yuan's fire control had already reached the pinnacle, like performing an art.

But today, eighteen years later, Ye Yuan's fire control had ascended to yet another level!

If eighteen years ago it was the pinnacle, now it was returning to simplicity!

No flashy displays of skill, only unadorned regression!

The others, seeing this, were equally astonished.

They hadn't expected Ye Yuan to be a true practitioner!

However, the affinity fluctuations emanating from Ye Yuan quickly brought them back to reality.

"Hey, no matter how good the fire control, it's useless! Without affinity, the door to Heavenly Alchemy is forever closed!"

"Indeed, such weak affinity—I can barely sense any fluctuation!"

"Hehe, he's clearly refining Dragon Bone Grass, but I feel like we're in two different worlds!"

...

Just like eighteen years ago, Ye Yuan still showed no trace of affinity fluctuation.

A flicker of admiration appeared in the Second Prince's eyes—Ye Yuan's fire control had impressed him.

But soon, he shook his head inwardly, clearly feeling regret.

Such excellent fire control—what a waste!

Ye Yuan paid no heed to their mockery; he was completely immersed in his own world.

As the saying goes, when God closes a door, He opens a window.

For these eighteen years, Ye Yuan had done only one thing: open that window!

Eighteen years of refining day and night, repeating day after day, exploring year after year.

He had trained his instinct to the extreme!

Before him, there was still a mass of chaos.

But he possessed the keenest instinct for the Dao of Alchemy!

The Dragon Bone Grass before him melted bit by bit, turning into a paste.

The paste grew more and more crystalline!

The entire hall gradually fell into dead silence.

The earlier mockery had vanished, replaced by faces of utter shock!