Chapter 2587: Poaching!

One was gentle and charming, full of vitality; the other was old and decrepit, shrouded in gloom.

Wen Jingxuan stood with Lin Lan, a clear line between them.

"Young lady, I am a second-grade celestial pharmacist and cannot bully you. Choose the celestial pill you are best at," Lin Lan said indifferently.

Wen Jingxuan sneered, "A mere second-grade celestial pharmacist, putting on airs before me? My first-grade celestial pills are far better than those of ordinary second-grade pharmacists! Soon, you will taste defeat!"

Lin Lan remained silent, noncommittal.

Wen Jingxuan snorted, "Fine, since you let me choose, I'll pick the most basic Foundation Establishment Celestial Pill!"

Lin Lan was taken aback, then chuckled, "Young lady, I advise you to choose something else. With the Foundation Establishment Celestial Pill, you have no chance of winning!"

In recent years, he had practiced the Foundation Establishment Celestial Pill the most.

His foundation was now very solid.

Though far inferior to Ye Yuan, he was much stronger than ordinary celestial pharmacists.

Yet the more he said this, the more Wen Jingxuan thought he was bluffing.

"Hmph, do you think a second-grade celestial pharmacist is necessarily better than a first-grade one? For the past ten years, my master hasn't taught me advanced celestial pills, only to build a solid foundation! And the Foundation Establishment Celestial Pill is my specialty! In high-grade pills, I may not match you, but in basic pills, you're far behind!" Wen Jingxuan sneered.

Her words left Lin Lan dumbfounded.

Seeing this, Wen Jingxuan thought she had intimidated him and said smugly, "What, scared?"

Lin Lan shook his head, "What a coincidence, my master taught me the same! Well, it seems that old man has some insight!"

Wen Jingxuan flew into a rage, "You're an old man yourself, yet you dare call my master an old man!"

Lin Lan said, "Compared to my master, your master is indeed an old man!"

"You!" Wen Jingxuan was choked speechless.

On the viewing platform, Ye Yuan couldn't help but smile, thinking that Lin Lan was now much more endearing.

As for Qin Shun, his face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

"Just wait! Soon, you'll be crying!"

With that, Wen Jingxuan focused her mind and began to refine the celestial herbs.

As soon as she started, Lin Lan was surprised.

This young lady's skill was not to be underestimated!

If he hadn't followed Ye Yuan, he really wouldn't be a match for her.

Wen Jingxuan's refinement was smooth and fluid, extremely skilled, showing true ability.

Her boasting was not unfounded.

Even Wu Chengchao exclaimed in admiration, "I never thought that in just ten years, this girl's foundation would be so solid! In time, she will become another third-grade celestial pharmacist! Perhaps she might even break through to fourth-grade!"

Qin Shun said smugly, "Jingxuan's foundation is far more solid than that of most second-grade pharmacists! Ridiculous, did that kid think sending a second-grade pharmacist would get him off the hook? Kid, did you think a protection token could be a get-out-of-jail-free card?"

Ye Yuan's gaze was fixed on Wen Jingxuan, completely ignoring Qin Shun.

Qin Shun had expected Ye Yuan to retort and had prepared a barrage of words.

But now, it was so awkward!

Ye Yuan actually thought quite highly of Wen Jingxuan.

This girl's basic skills were indeed solid.

Moreover, her refining process was pleasing to the eye, without any sense of stagnation.

Clearly, she had a precise understanding of the Dao of alchemy.

Good talent!

In the Thirty-Three Heavens, most believed that talent in alchemy was mainly about affinity.

But Ye Yuan never thought so.

Affinity was indeed important, but relying solely on it was biased.

Ye Yuan rarely thought of taking on disciples, but this time, he was indeed tempted.

If Qin Shun knew that Ye Yuan was thinking of poaching his disciple, he wondered what he would think.

A mere Minor Extreme Heaven realm cultivator, trying to steal a disciple from him, a third-grade celestial pharmacist!

Soon, Wen Jingxuan completed her Foundation Establishment Celestial Pill!

Tested by the Cloud Mountain Stone Mother, it turned out to be as high as grade seven superior!

The result immediately drew exclamations of amazement.

"Impressive! A grade seven superior Foundation Establishment Celestial Pill—most second-grade pharmacists can't achieve that, right?"

"Hey, reaching grade five for the Foundation Establishment Celestial Pill is easy, but reaching grade seven superior—even many third-grade pharmacists can't do it!"

"No need to compare; that old man is doomed!"

...

Wen Jingxuan was also pleasantly surprised.

Fueled by anger, she had exceeded herself today, reaching grade seven superior!

Normally, her highest was only grade seven medium.

And even that was unstable.

She looked smugly at Lin Lan and sneered, "Old man, what do you say? Convinced?"

Lin Lan nodded, "At such a young age with such skill, I am convinced!"

Wen Jingxuan was overjoyed, "So you admit defeat?"

But Lin Lan shook his head, "Before I followed my master, I was no match for you. But now, you are no match for me! You have good talent; it's a pity to follow that old man. How about following my master?"

Wen Jingxuan was stunned—this old man was trying to poach her?

Ye Yuan was also startled, then smiled wryly.

He hadn't expected Lin Lan to voice his thoughts.

This old man was interesting.

"Hah, keep boasting! If you can, refine an eighth-grade Foundation Establishment Celestial Pill for me to see!" Wen Jingxuan fumed.

Lin Lan nodded slightly, said nothing more, and began to refine.

As soon as he started, everyone's expression changed.

Lin Lan's refining technique was dreamlike, even more exquisite than Wen Jingxuan's.

The entire process was completed in one go!

Lin Lan had long mastered the Foundation Establishment Celestial Pill; it held no difficulty for him.

Moreover, unlike Wen Jingxuan, he was not inconsistent.

Over ninety percent of the Foundation Establishment Celestial Pills he refined were grade eight!

When Lin Lan's Foundation Establishment Celestial Pill landed on the Cloud Mountain Stone Mother, everyone was stunned.

Qin Shun shot to his feet, exclaiming, "G-grade eight superior! How is this possible?"

What did grade eight superior mean?

It meant that Lin Lan's mastery of the Foundation Establishment Celestial Pill surpassed even his own!

This was simply unbelievable!

Even the Sect Master's eyes flashed with surprise.

A grade eight superior Foundation Establishment Celestial Pill—he had never seen one before!

Wen Jingxuan looked utterly dejected, unable to believe what she was seeing.

She had lost!

Lost to a decrepit old man!

This old man looked rustic and should have been a rookie among second-grade pharmacists.

But she had lost!

And she could sense that Lin Lan's affinity was far inferior to hers.

Yet the quality of his Foundation Establishment Celestial Pill was far superior!

Grade seven superior and grade eight superior—seemingly only one grade apart.

But the gap between them was vast!

After all, even Qin Shun, a third-grade celestial pharmacist, could not refine a grade eight superior Foundation Establishment Celestial Pill!

Lin Lan looked at Wen Jingxuan and said calmly, "Little girl, your talent is truly remarkable. Following that old man is a waste of your potential. Why not follow my master instead? Your talent will be fully realized!"