Chapter 2562: A Blockhead!

"You don't hate me?"

"Hate? Hah, I should thank you! If not for your sharp rebuke, I would have spent my life in mediocrity!"

"Then what makes you think I would take you as my disciple?"

"Taking me is up to you; pledging myself is up to me! I only seek peace of mind!"

"You, a dignified Great Ultimate Heaven rank, can truly lower yourself to serve by my side?"

"I would be a beast of burden, without regret!"

"Very well. From today, you will stay in the National Teacher's Mansion as a menial servant. Remember, from now on, without my permission, you are not allowed to refine pills!"

"Yes!"

...

And so, Lin Lan became a lowly menial in the National Teacher's Mansion.

This event once again shook the entire imperial city!

A Great Ultimate Heaven rank willingly becoming a menial in the National Teacher's Mansion—it was impossible not to cause a stir.

In the National Teacher's Mansion, Lin Lan was forbidden to refine pills and could only spend his days in the herb warehouse sorting and extracting celestial herbs.

For a man who had once stood at the pinnacle of alchemy in Donglin Nation, this was immense torment and humiliation.

People thought Lin Lan would surely storm off in anger.

But they were all wrong!

Lin Lan actually persevered!

At first, everyone was wary of his former status and strength.

But gradually, the mansion's servants discovered that Lin Lan never talked back or fought back.

So they became unscrupulous.

Many servants even began to bully Lin Lan.

They dumped all the dirty and heavy work on him.

Lin Lan accepted everything!

"Brother, aren't we treating Lin Lan a bit too harshly? There's gossip outside saying that the National Teacher is narrow-minded and intolerant!" Tang Yu and Ye Yuan were observing Lin Lan from a hidden spot, and Tang Yu couldn't help but speak up.

Just now, a maidservant from the mansion had bullied Lin Lan, making him empty the chamber pots.

Lin Lan had done it without a word.

Ye Yuan glanced at Tang Yu and smiled, "And you? Do you think so too?"

Tang Yu gave an awkward smile and said, "How could I? Brother is clear in love and hate. When I insulted Brother so badly back then, Brother didn't do much to me, only gave a light punishment. How could he be narrow-minded? But tongues are sharp as swords!"

Ye Yuan smiled, "We martial artists, do we care about others' words? Come, let's go see him."

When Lin Lan saw Ye Yuan, he quickly bowed: "Greetings, Teacher Ye!"

Ye Yuan looked at Lin Lan and sighed, "Half a year, and you seem to have made no progress at all!"

Lin Lan was startled, "I am ashamed!"

Ye Yuan smiled, "You are unconvinced."

Lin Lan trembled, "Your disciple dares not!"

Ye Yuan laughed, "Do you think I made you a menial and forbade you from refining pills just to torment you? To test you?"

A look of confusion appeared in Lin Lan's eyes.

That look seemed to say: Isn't it?

Ye Yuan shook his head and sighed, "You have found your original intention, but unfortunately your comprehension is too poor! To be my disciple, you are indeed not qualified! Compared to my disciple in the lower realm, you are far inferior!"

Beside them, Tang Yu nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.

In all of Donglin Nation, besides Ye Yuan, Lin Lan was the foremost in alchemy!

Such a strong man wasn't even qualified to be his disciple?

And Ye Yuan even said that Lin Lan, a Great Ultimate Heaven rank and second-grade celestial alchemist, couldn't compare to his disciple from the lower realm!

This was too discouraging!

Now, Tang Yu was absolutely certain that Ye Yuan was deliberately suppressing Lin Lan!

In truth, by Ye Yuan's standards for taking disciples, Lin Lan was indeed far inferior to Yun Yi!

When Yun Yi was an apprentice in the Alchemy Tower, he quickly grasped Ye Yuan's intentions.

But half a year had passed, and Lin Lan was completely clueless.

His aptitude was too poor!

Ye Yuan didn't have high requirements for talent when taking disciples.

What he wanted was someone who revered the Dao of alchemy and could endure patience!

The first time he saw Lin Lan again, Ye Yuan was certain that this former National Teacher had regained his original intention for alchemy.

He was different now.

However, he was a blockhead.

For half a year, he had treated these chores as mere chores.

No achievement at all!

If Ye Yuan hadn't come to give some guidance, this fellow might have foolishly worked for a lifetime!

That's why Ye Yuan said his aptitude was too poor.

After all, a rough jade like Yun Yi wasn't something you encountered every day.

Lin Lan didn't take offense; he respectfully said, "Yes, your disciple is dull. Please, Teacher Ye, enlighten me!"

Ye Yuan didn't speak. Instead, he casually picked up a Dragon Bone Herb and began to extract it.

As his Dao fire rose, the Dragon Bone Herb quickly melted.

Lin Lan's pupils contracted, his face full of shock.

Soon, Ye Yuan finished extracting and looked at Lin Lan, saying, "Compared to before, how is my extraction of Dragon Bone Herb now?"

Lin Lan took a deep breath and said, "Teacher Ye's skill is countless times stronger than before!"

When the two first made their bet, Ye Yuan's extraction of Dragon Bone Herb had already been extraordinary.

But that earlier extraction was not on the same level as what he had just done!

One could imagine Lin Lan's shock!

After so many years, Ye Yuan was still putting effort into extracting Dragon Bone Herb!

Ye Yuan said calmly, "I spent eighteen years perfecting the extraction of Dragon Bone Herb. I spent eight years refining the Foundation Establishment Celestial Pill. I spent over half a year perfecting the Foundation Establishment Celestial Pill to the seventh grade. Then I spent a full year perfecting it to the ninth-grade great perfection. For over twenty basic celestial pills, I perfected them to ninth-grade great perfection in just four years. As for the Jasper Renewal Pill, I only took a few days to perfect it to the ninth grade. I know you never believed that was my first time refining the Jasper Renewal Pill, but it's the truth!"

"This... how is this possible?" These words left Lin Lan utterly astounded.

Indeed, he had never believed that it was Ye Yuan's first time.

But now, Ye Yuan had recounted his alchemy experience after ascending, and he realized it really was the first time!

And only now did he learn that Ye Yuan had perfected over twenty basic celestial pills to the ninth-grade great perfection!

In just four years!

This was simply too incredible!

This was a report card, and an extremely dazzling one at that!

In the entire True Yang Celestial Domain, there probably wasn't a second one!

At this moment, Lin Lan deeply understood how terrifying Ye Yuan was!

Ye Yuan said, "I'm telling you this not to show off, but to make you understand that with me, the basics are the most important! I, Ye Yuan, would not stoop to such petty revenge. If I didn't want to take you, you wouldn't have entered this door. Since you have entered, there are no shortcuts here, only hard work. I'll give you one year. If within a year you can refine a seventh-grade Foundation Establishment Celestial Pill, I will formally take you as my disciple. If not, you will leave on your own."