Chapter 63: Accidentally Spoke the Truth

"This... it's actually a quasi-ultimate Calamity-Breaking Pill!" Wang Jinfu exclaimed in surprise.

"Oh? Let me have a look. Hmm? It really is! Although the Calamity-Breaking Pill is of the same grade as the Profound Clarity Pill and the Fierce Tiger Pill, it's harder to refine. To think that Worthy Nephew Wan could produce a quasi-ultimate one—truly remarkable." Sun Jianming picked up the pill and saw that it was indeed a quasi-ultimate Calamity-Breaking Pill.

Seeing the surprised expressions on Wang Jinfu and Sun Jianming's faces, Wan Yuan felt immensely proud.

"Your nephew was fortunate. I never expected to refine a quasi-ultimate pill today." Wan Yuan's words were humble, but the smile on his face was impossible to hide, and he had changed his self-reference from "junior" to "your nephew."

Wang Jinfu looked at Wan Yuan with deep meaning and sighed, "Worthy Nephew is too modest. Your alchemy skills are probably unmatched among the younger generation of the Qi Transformation stage in the Qin Kingdom. If it weren't for the fact that you are Brother Wan's son, I would have wanted to take you as my disciple!"

Wan Yuan felt a surge of excitement inside. Receiving recognition from the vice president of the Alchemist Guild was definitely a highly advantageous matter.

The Alchemist Guild had always been detached and beyond the jurisdiction of any power.

Because of this, every faction wanted to establish ties with them. If he could become Wang Jinfu's disciple, the Wan family would have found a powerful backer!

Wan Donghai was formidable, yes, but ultimately he was just a merchant, a rootless duckweed.

Although Drunken Star Tower had grown large, it faced too many constraints in the imperial city. If they could latch onto the big tree of the Alchemist Guild, destroying the Fragrant Medicine Pavilion would be simple!

Thinking of this, Wan Yuan hesitated no longer. He bowed to Wang Jinfu and said, "My father often speaks of the two Guild Presidents at home and holds great admiration for you. If he knew that I could become your disciple, he would be very pleased."

Wang Jinfu laughed heartily and said, "Unfortunately, I have already accepted Feng'er as my last direct disciple. Moreover, as a student of the academy, it would be inappropriate for you to take another master. However, taking you as an nominal disciple would be fine. Are you willing?"

The first sentence greatly disappointed Wan Yuan, but the latter brought him immense joy. Wang Jinfu's arrangement was indeed planning for him as if he were a true disciple!

A student of the Danwu Academy was equivalent to a member of the Youyun Sect, so taking another master would naturally be inappropriate. But a nominal disciple was no issue.

Wan Yuan bowed his head and paid homage: "Disciple Wan Yuan pays respects to Master!"

Wang Jinfu stroked his beard and smiled, accepting it calmly: "Good, good. For now, we are only master and disciple in name, so there's no need to be overly formal. Rise. Let's discuss this after the assessment is over. We shouldn't delay the others' evaluations."

Anyone could see that Wang Jinfu was very satisfied with this nominal disciple.

Feng Ruoqing, standing by, frowned.

It wasn't because she was dissatisfied with Wan Yuan taking a master—in fact, there were many such students at the Danwu Academy—but Wan Yuan's identity was too sensitive.

As a member of the royal family, Feng Ruoqing naturally had a different sensitivity to Wan Yuan's apprenticeship.

The Wan family had always been entangled with the Su family, monopolizing over half of the Qin Kingdom's pill and medicinal herb trade. The royal family was naturally uneasy about this, which was why they had tacitly allowed the rise of the Ye family.

And now, Wan Yuan becoming Wang Jinfu's disciple established a connection between the Wan family and the Alchemist Guild!

The Alchemist Guild's influence was even greater than that of the Youyun Sect, with branches spread across every corner of the continent. It could be said that wherever there were people, there was the Alchemist Guild.

The Wan family colluding with such a behemoth was something the royal family had to guard against!

"The alchemist assessment begins now. Participating students, enter the medicine warehouse." The examiner announced.

Just as Ye Yuan was about to move, Wan Yuan came over with a smile: "Ye Yuan, I advise you not to go in and embarrass yourself. My master is virtuous and respected, unwilling to stoop to your level. You should know your place. You've never been exposed to alchemy since childhood. If you mess up, you'll not only disgrace yourself but also Teacher Feng and the Danwu Academy."

"What? He doesn't know alchemy?" Wang Jinfu immediately bristled upon hearing this.

"Master, Ye Yuan and I grew up together. I've never known him to practice alchemy all these years. I don't know how he managed to sneak in, but I'm afraid he'll drag us all down, hence my advice." Wan Yuan explained with feigned compassion.

"Ye Yuan, are you testing my patience, old man?" Wang Jinfu said angrily.

Ye Yuan ignored Wang Jinfu and looked at Wan Yuan instead, smiling: "Watch my mouth."

"What?" Wan Yuan was taken aback, not understanding.

"I—diot—" Ye Yuan didn't make a sound but exaggeratedly mouthed the two words.

Although the crowd didn't hear the sound, even a fool could tell what Ye Yuan had said.

But this turned the tense atmosphere into something bizarre, and everyone struggled to suppress their laughter.

"Ye Yuan, I'm doing this for your own good. Don't be ungrateful!" Wan Yuan fumed.

"I'm truly shocked by your idiocy! In this imperial city, within the Danwu Academy, who doesn't know that you and I have never gotten along since childhood? And now you say you're doing this for my good? Do you think everyone is as stupid as you?" Ye Yuan said helplessly.

Wan Yuan hadn't expected Ye Yuan to openly tear off the mask. Being called out like this made him look shockingly idiotic.

"Ye Yuan, stop changing the subject! I'm asking whether you know alchemy. You're wasting the two Guild Presidents' precious time!" Wan Yuan, not completely blinded by rage, knew how to counterattack.

Ye Yuan shook his head and sighed: "Sorry, I just insulted the word 'idiot.'"

"Pfft!" This time, everyone couldn't hold back their laughter, especially Feng Zhirou, who was laughing so hard she was rocking back and forth, her movements quite exaggerated.

Wan Yuan's face turned purple with anger: "Ye Yuan, cut the crap!"

"Fine, you're even worse than an idiot, so I'll make it clear or you won't give up. You say we grew up together and you never knew I practiced alchemy? Does that mean you've been stalking me twenty-four hours a day? Following me when I eat, sleep, or use the toilet? Or did I need to report to you when I learned alchemy? You have a Grand Alchemist father, sure, but I have one too! Why should you be able to practice alchemy and not me? And you incited the two Guild Presidents to act as your thugs, trying to kill me—how insidious! Oh, sorry, I accidentally blurted out your true intention just now. My apologies!"

After saying this, Ye Yuan even made a show of bowing to Wan Yuan, provoking another round of laughter.

With Ye Yuan's words, Wan Yuan was now in a situation where he couldn't explain himself—guilty even if innocent.

Wan Yuan turned to look at Wang Jinfu and, sure enough, saw his gloomy expression. He quickly explained, "Master, don't listen to his nonsense. There's no such thing! He's trying to frame me now. How could I use you? Whether he knows alchemy or not will be clear once he enters the alchemy room!"

Wang Jinfu couldn't tell whether Ye Yuan was telling the truth or not, so he said, "Fine, let's give you a try!"