Upon hearing Lin Xuan’s words, Ning Xue and Lu Jiu’s eyes widened. Then they laughed. "Don’t joke around. How could you possibly be a Fourth-Rank Alchemy Master?"
"Yeah, just tell us who you actually invited." They simply didn’t believe Lin Xuan could be a Fourth-Rank Alchemy Master.
Lin Xuan said helplessly, "It really is me!"
"Yes, it’s really the Hall Master!" Zi Su confirmed from the side, and Zhang Shaochu and the others all chimed in their agreement.
Seeing the serious looks on their faces, Ning Xue and Lu Jiu were completely stunned.
"What’s going on? Can it be that Lin Xuan is really a Fourth-Rank Alchemy Master?"
"Holy crap, this is unbelievable!"
"You kid, you’re something else! How many more secrets do you have?"
"Are you a monster?"
"How could you possibly have time to practice the Alchemy Dao while also cultivating a quasi-Saint Body and comprehending Sword Intent?"
Ning Xue and Lu Jiu were utterly shocked. They had never seen such an all-around genius before.
"Haha, it’s not a big deal. I don’t think Alchemy is that hard," Lin Xuan said with a smile. The group left, chatting and laughing as they went.
「This news also reached the Star Alliance.」
When Shen Tang heard that Lin Xuan and the others had obtained their elixirs, she was dumbfounded. "How is that possible? Are you sure?"
The disciple replied, "I’m certain. I was nearby and saw the elixirs in their hands with my own eyes."
Shen Tang’s expression immediately turned ugly. Damn it, could Steward Zhang have caved to the pressure and given them the elixirs?
She sent Zhao Yue to investigate.
"Don’t worry, I’ll go ask him," Zhao Yue said.
With that, he headed to the Pill Pavilion.
Arriving at the Pill Pavilion, he found Steward Zhang and asked, "What’s going on? You gave Lin Xuan and his people their elixirs?"
"Weren’t we supposed to hold them back?"
"For at least half a month!"
"And you have the nerve to ask me about this!" Steward Zhang shot Zhao Yue a fierce glare. "Look at my face! Lin Xuan was the one who hit me."
"What? He dared to hit you?" Zhao Yue’s expression changed. "And you just let him leave?"
"You’re a steward of the Sacred Institute! Him hitting you is a violation of the rules! It’s a challenge to the institute’s authority! You could have suppressed him on the spot!"
"I wouldn’t dare! That Lin Xuan is a Fourth-Rank Alchemy Master. How could I possibly offend him?"
"What? He’s a Fourth-Rank Alchemy Master?" Zhao Yue shrieked.
Steward Zhang replied irritably, "Of course! If he weren’t a Fourth-Rank Alchemy Master, why would I have given him the elixirs?"
"How could he possibly be a Fourth-Rank Alchemy Master?" Zhao Yue shook his head frantically, refusing to believe it. "Are you sure?"
"He showed me his Fourth-Rank Alchemist Badge, and I’m certain it was authentic."
"I was completely tricked by you and your Star Alliance! You only told me that kid’s Martial Dao was formidable and that he was an amateur in the Alchemy Dao."
"And what was the result?"
"He’s a Fourth-Rank Alchemy Master!"
"And he’s not even twenty years old!"
"I’ve offended someone like that. How do you expect me to handle the fallout?"
"From now on, don’t bother me with any of the Star Alliance’s business."
Steward Zhang’s face was cold as he ordered Zhao Yue to leave.
Zhao Yue walked out of the Pill Pavilion, his mind a complete blank. Even now, he couldn’t believe that Lin Xuan was actually a Fourth-Rank Alchemy Master.
He returned to the Star Alliance in a daze.
As soon as he was back, Shen Tang rushed over. "How did it go? Did you find out what happened?"
"Did Lin Xuan’s group really get their elixirs?"
"What is Steward Zhang playing at?"
"We gave him so many Spirit Stones, and he didn’t even do the job."
To suppress Lin Xuan this time, they had given Steward Zhang 300,000 Spirit Stones.
Zhao Yue took a deep breath and relayed the information he had gotten from Steward Zhang.
Shen Tang was stunned. She screamed, "What? What did you say?"
"You’re saying Lin Xuan is an Alchemy Master? And a Fourth-Rank Alchemy Master at that?!"
"Impossible! That’s absolutely impossible!"
She shook her head frantically. How could that kid be so monstrously talented? His physique is a quasi-Saint Body, he has comprehended Sword Intent, and now he’s also a Fourth-Rank Alchemy Master! How is this possible?!
"Were you tricked by that Steward Zhang?"
Zhao Yue also furrowed his brow. "Steward Zhang wouldn’t have a reason to lie to me," he said. "He said he saw Lin Xuan present the Fourth-Rank Alchemist Badge. With his experience, he would be able to tell at a glance if the badge was genuine. So, Lin Xuan should be a Fourth-Rank Alchemy Master."
"Are you saying Steward Zhang only saw the badge?" Shen Tang suddenly leaped up. "I know what happened!"
"That badge definitely isn’t Lin Xuan’s; he must have borrowed it!"
"Lin Xuan knew that only a Fourth-Rank Alchemy Master could demand to receive their elixirs immediately."
"With the Supreme Palace’s current strength, they couldn’t possibly have a Fourth-Rank Alchemy Master backing them."
"He must have found a Fourth-Rank Alchemy Master somewhere and paid a hefty price just to borrow their Alchemist Badge."
"He was impersonating a Fourth-Rank Alchemy Master!"
"And that’s how he got the elixirs from Steward Zhang."
"Yes, that has to be it."
"Is that it?" The realization dawned on Zhao Yue. So the badge was real, but Lin Xuan’s identity was fake. The badge doesn’t belong to him. That explains everything. That scared me to death. It makes sense, how could Lin Xuan possibly be a Fourth-Rank Alchemy Master?
Shen Tang urged him, "Quickly, go find Steward Zhang and explain the situation to him."
"It’s too late. Steward Zhang has already given them the elixirs. Besides, he might not believe me," Zhao Yue replied. "I have a better idea."
"I’m going to expose Lin Xuan’s fake identity as a Fourth-Rank Alchemy Master."
"Expose him? How are you going to do that?" Shen Tang asked.
Zhao Yue explained, "I will challenge him to an alchemy competition. We’ll refine elixirs in public, and his fake identity as an Alchemy Master will be completely exposed. When that happens, Steward Zhang will know he was deceived. With his temper, he will surely retaliate. Did you know? Steward Zhang took two slaps from Lin Xuan. There’s no way he’ll let that slide."
Shen Tang grew excited. "Yes! Expose his identity as an Alchemy Master! Let’s see if that kid still dares to be so arrogant!"
Soon, Zhao Yue wrote a challenge letter and had it delivered to Lin Xuan at the Supreme Palace.
Lin Xuan took the letter, glanced at it, and narrowed his eyes.
Beside him, Zi Su commented, "A challenge letter? Someone still dares to challenge you? Who’s so reckless?"
Zhang Shaochu also chimed in, "Could it be someone from the Star Alliance again? Hmph, those people really are a persistent nuisance. Are they sending a Fourth-Rank Grandmaster this time?"
Previously, Lin Xuan had defeated Wang Li with nothing but a leaf, shocking everyone. Since then, very few had dared to challenge him. Unexpectedly, the Star Alliance was now stepping forward again.
Lin Xuan, however, said, "You’re half right. It is a challenge from the Star Alliance. But this time, it’s not a Fourth-Rank Grandmaster. It’s a Fourth-Rank Alchemy Master. Someone wants to challenge me to an alchemy competition."
"An alchemy competition?" Zi Su asked, amazed.
Zhang Shaochu looked at the challenge letter and exclaimed, "It’s a challenge from Zhao Yue! I’ve heard of him. He’s a Fourth-Rank Alchemy Master who can refine mid-grade Fourth-Rank elixirs. He’s very skilled."
"Hall Master, you shouldn’t accept the challenge."
"Yes," Zi Su and the others agreed, their faces full of worry.
Although Lin Xuan is a Fourth-Rank Alchemy Master, he must only be at the initial stage. He’s probably not a match for Zhao Yue.
Lin Xuan, however, just smiled. "Don’t worry. A mere Zhao Yue is no threat to me. Because I can refine high-grade Fourth-Rank elixirs."
Lin Xuan’s alchemy skills were top-notch among all Fourth-Rank Alchemy Masters. If not for his insufficient Soul Power, he would have likely already been able to refine Fifth-Rank elixirs. Therefore, he accepted the challenge without hesitation.
「Meanwhile」
After sending the challenge letter, Zhao Yue also spread the news of it far and wide. He was afraid Lin Xuan wouldn’t dare to accept, so he planned to use the pressure of public opinion to force his hand. If Lin Xuan refused, it would prove he wasn’t a Fourth-Rank Alchemy Master at all. At that point, Steward Zhang would realize he’d been deceived and would surely retaliate.
So, regardless of whether Lin Xuan accepted the challenge or not, his defeat was certain.