Chapter 175: A Lecture

　　After the incident of the Xingyang family, the atmosphere in Firecrow Empire became tense and strange. Yunxiao completely restrained his divine sense and pretended to be a young master on a journey as he entered the city along with common people. People were coming and going in the city, and it looked peaceful.

　　He saw an old man selling sweet potatoes, a young master toying with his pet bird, an old man and his granddaughter busking in the teahouse, and a lazy beggar. Everything seemed so peaceful and normal.

　　But, it was too normal.

　　Shangyang City was a gathering place of all the warriors in Firecrow Empire. However, Yunxiao could not found even a single warrior on the streets. All he saw were common people. Moreover, countless divine senses were sweeping back and forth over the city, watching everyone’s movements. The whole imperial city seemed to have entered a state of high tension; various powers reduced their activities to the minimum, but carried out intelligence work at full capacity.

　　Yunxiao sneered disdainfully. He had restrained his divine sense, and even though there was some people in the Firecrow Empire who could see through him, they were not among these people who were sent out to monitor the people. So, he swaggered directly toward the Alchemist Association like a rich young master who was going to ask for medicinal pills or mystic weapons.

　　The Firecrow’s Alchemist Association was a third-grade branch, and it was presided over by a sixth-tier Alchemy Grandmaster. Its strength was far beyond that of the branch in Tianshui. A third-tier alchemist was already a mighty figure in Tianshui’s Alchemist Association, but the same alchemist would be a nobody here.

　　There was not a warrior on the streets, and even the front door of the Alchemist Association was almost deserted, with one or two visitors coming and going occasionally. Puzzled, Yunxiao walked in, and was immediately shocked by how quiet it was. If he had not seen a beautiful and sexy girl writing something at the front desk, he would have thought he had entered a haunted mansion.

　　“This is…”

　　A quick glance at the great hall beside him made him understand what had happened. It was packed with people, but not a sound could be heard. Everyone was staring attentively at a glowing white array disc. A green sword embryo floated over the disc, which was being refined.

　　“Shh…” The beautiful girl hastily pulled Yunxiao to the side and whispered into his ear, “Master Bi Qianjin had just advanced to the third-tier, and he is giving a lecture. What can I do for you?”

　　It was the tradition of the Alchemist Association. Whenever an alchemist advanced to the next tier, he or she would give a lecture, telling everyone his or her insight of the alchemy and the experience of breaking through. When Luo Yunshang brought Yunxiao to find a master, they had run into one such lecture, which was given by Jia Rong.

　　Yunxiao felt the girl’s lips almost touching his ear, and her breath was sweet. He smiled and said, “Pretty girl, may I know your name?”

　　“Don’t be so rude!”

　　The girl scolded, but she did not look angry at all as she studied Yunxiao. In her line of work, a pair of sharp eyes was the most important asset. With just one glance, she judged him to be a young master from some lesser aristocratic family who was here to ask for medicinal pills or mystic weapons.

　　“Young Master, are you here to buy medicinal pills or mystic weapons? Please fill in a form here. Make sure you state clearly your requirements and the remuneration you are willing to pay. I will paste it up a moment later and see if anyone wants to take it.” The girl pulled out a form from the front desk and placed it in front of Yunxiao.

　　Yunxiao chuckled as he picked up a pen and began to write on the paper. Very quickly, he handed the paper to the girl.

　　She glanced at it, and then said in surprise, “The poisonous blood of a demon beast above the fourth-tier? The price will be negotiated face to face?” She studied Yunxiao once again. While frowning, she said dubiously, “So, you are here to look for materials. This is a rare thing, and only by luck can you find some. Moreover, it is very expensive. If you don’t put any price here, I fear it will be very difficult for you to get it.”

　　Yunxiao frowned as well. In a place like Firecrow Empire, demon beasts above the fourth-tier were rare, not to mention one with poisonous blood. It was indeed very difficult to find it. He actually wanted to see the president, because only the higher-ups of the association would know about such a rare material.

　　“Wait, this smell…”

　　Yunxiao sniffed, then looked doubtfully into the great hall. He sensed a faint fluctuation spreading out, and he immediately caught the frequency. Astounded, he said, “It is almost taking shape…What a pity!”

　　“What did you say?” The girl paused and followed Yunxiao’s gaze. The hall was still quiet, and everyone was watching nervously as Bi Qianjin refined the sword. There was nothing unusual.

　　“Ah, it’s nothing. Go further away later, lest the explosion there injures you. I’ll have a look inside.”

　　When he had finished, he turned and walked toward the hall. He rested his eyes on the little green sword in front while an amused smile brushed his lips.

　　The girl stared blankly at his back and was a little confused by what he said. ‘Could he be a madman? But, he doesn’t look like one,’ she thought to herself. After pasting Yunxiao’s form, she returned to the front desk and continued her work. As for what Yunxiao told her, she did not put it to heart.

　　“He had just advanced to the third-tier and now he is already forcing himself to refine a third-tier mystic weapon. The courage is laudable, but it’s a pity that the strength is lacking!”

　　Yunxiao folded his arms over his chest as he stood behind the crowd and said in a soft voice while shaking his head. His voice was not loud, but it was heard by many people. Stunned, they all turned back, but when they saw he was just a green boy, they gave him disgusted and angry looks. Then, they flicked their sleeves and turned back to continue watching.

　　“Boy, how do you know he lacks the strength? I can see his refinement is going well, and the sword is almost taking shape.” A playful voice rang out from his side. “Don’t utter nonsense when you don’t have the ability, or it will bring you trouble.”

　　Yunxiao turned around. At the back of the hall, an old man leaned against the wall lazily, watching the refinement at the front while picking his nose with a finger.

　　What he heard just now was sent into his ear by this old man with a voice transmission. After all, everyone was watching the refinement attentively, and talking loudly would only attract glares and angry stares, just like what happened to him just now.

　　When Yunxiao’s gaze fell on the old man, his pupils constricted, but they quickly returned to normal. Then, he sent a voice transmission over, “Why don’t we make a bet?”

　　“A bet?” The old man’s eyes lit up, as if his interest were aroused. He pulled his finger out of his nostril as he smiled and asked, “What’s the bet?” Meanwhile, he was slightly suspicious inside and thought, ‘This boy’s eyes seemed to be flickering when he first saw me. Is it because he can sense my strength? No, that’s impossible. I think too much.’

　　“If you lose, you will run errands for me for a year. If I lose, I will run errands for you for a year as well,” Yunxiao said calmly.

　　“Run errands for you for a year?” The old man’s body straightened up immediately. He frowned and sunk in thought, wordless. ‘Could he really have discovered my strength? But, how’s that possible?’ He waved his hand repeatedly and said with a voice transmission, “No, no. Although I don’t think I will lose, accidents do happen. My old bones will fall apart if I were to run errands for you for a year.”

　　There was a look of disdain in Yunxiao’s eyes as he sneered, “Are you scared? Well, tell me what you want to bet then. I will accept it no matter what it is.”

　　The old man looked at his confident face, then turned to look suspiciously at Bi Qianjin, who was refining at the front. The alchemist was pale and covered with sweat, but his movement was calm and did not look like he was going to have a problem. “Scared? Hah! Let’s bet then that the loser will run errands for the winner for a year! But…would your parents come to me if you lose the bet?” He saw that Yunxiao was only fifteen years old but already had the cultivation base of a Great Martial Master, which meant that he must not be the son of some common family, and was definitely supported by a decent sect.

　　Yunxiao grinned and his face lit up instantly, as if he had found a great bargain. “Even if my family comes to you, why should you be afraid? You are a seven-stars Martial Grandmaster!”

　　“You!”

　　The old man trembled, and his eyes went wide in horror. He had used a mystic art on himself, which prevented common people from sensing his cultivation base. Even those with extremely strong divine sense could at most sense his cultivation base of a Martial Master or a Great Martial Master. However, this fifteen-year-old boy managed to tell his strength of a seven-stars Martial Grandmaster at a glance!

　　“Who exactly are you, boy?” The old man could not bear it anymore and asked in a deep voice. Looking at Yunxiao’s cocksure face, he suddenly had a very bad feeling.

　　“Haha! Take it easy, old man! I’m not a bad guy.” Yunxiao was in a good mood. Just like that, he had found himself another seven-stars Martial Grandmaster. It was a great help to Yanwu, which was on the teeth of a storm now.

　　The old man said angrily, “Don’t celebrate too early! It is not certain yet who will win or lose!” Although he said those words, the confidence in his heart began to gradually melt under the smile on the corner of Yunxiao’s lips, especially when he saw Bi Qianjin’s face grow uglier and uglier. Finally…

　　Buzz! Buzz!

　　After Bi Qianjin sent another incantation seal into the small green sword, it suddenly became extremely violent and produced a buzzing noise, which made everyone’s head reel and ear ring. The old man’s face turned extremely unsightly in an instant. Even he, a layman of alchemy, could sense that the aura emanated from the sword was extremely unstable and violent.

　　Terrified, the faces of all the alchemists and apprentices fell. It was the prelude of an artifact explosion. Many of them had experienced it before, but they were all the explosions of common mystic weapons, so the damage was limited. But now it was a third-tier mystic weapon, and that too in such a confined space. If it were to explode, the consequences would be beyond imagination!

　　Some alchemists at the back of the hall turned their heads in shock, staring at Yunxiao, who was calm and with a smile on his face. Their heads were filled with questions, wondering how this young man knew it was going to explode, and how did he know it so early?

　　“Don’t panic, brother Qianjin! Continue the refinement. As long as it takes shape, you can suppress the violent power. I will give you a hand!”

　　A middle-aged man jumped out of the crowd. Soul power surged from him as he sent out a few incantation seals, stabilizing the little green sword in an instant. It spun constantly over the array disc, and the buzzing noise came under control as well.