Invincible Soul Emperor-Chapter 194: Silly Rich People

Setting aside Qin Xi’s resentment, after Ye Qingchen left the registration area, he encountered Pavilion Master Zhang and Vice Pavilion Master Liu.

Ye Qingchen hurried over, bowed to the two Pavilion Masters, and said, "I’ve finished registering. I’m sorry for keeping you both waiting."

Pavilion Master Zhang smiled and said, "Qingchen, you have exceptional talent. I feel like this Alchemy Dao Competition was tailor-made for you. There are still a few days before it officially begins, and there isn’t much more I can teach you in that time. I only hope that you maintain a calm mind during the contest. The results aren’t important, but you must accumulate experience. You need to build a solid foundation to soar when the time comes, understand?"

Ye Qingchen nodded. Although Pavilion Master Zhang was typically indifferent to others, he showed great care for Ye Qingchen. The profound affection in his words was unmistakable.

Vice Pavilion Master Liu also spoke with great earnestness. "Qingchen, your results, good or bad, are only temporary. You haven’t been an Alchemist for long, so achieving what you have today is already astonishing. If your ranking isn’t what you hope for, please don’t take it to heart. Given time, you will certainly become the Qingyun Sect’s number one Alchemist!"

Ye Qingchen pursed his lips. He knew Vice Pavilion Master Liu was trying to comfort him, but to do so before the competition had even begun... It was as if he had no confidence in him at all.

In truth, it wasn’t that Vice Pavilion Master Liu underestimated Ye Qingchen. The issue was simply that this year’s Alchemy Dao Competition had too many skilled contestants. As Ye Qingchen was only a Third-Rank Alchemist, standing out seemed like an impossible dream.

However, Ye Qingchen had made rapid progress recently, and Vice Pavilion Master Liu couldn’t bear the thought of his confidence being shattered.

Pavilion Master Zhang, on the other hand, didn’t seem concerned. After covering a few details, he fell silent. Only Vice Pavilion Master Liu kept rambling on, explaining the procedures and rules of previous Alchemy Dao Competitions to Ye Qingchen.

"Well, if it isn’t Old Liu from the Qingyun Sect? You’re here for the Alchemy Dao Competition too?"

Just as Vice Pavilion Master Liu was earnestly instructing Ye Qingchen, a jarring voice interjected, its tone dripping with mockery.

Vice Pavilion Master Liu snorted coldly and retorted, "And what if we are? If the Heavenly Profound Sect can participate, then we from the Qingyun Sect must naturally come to show you what’s what."

Upon hearing Vice Pavilion Master Liu’s response, the man burst into laughter and mocked, "Oh, Old Liu, Old Liu. You could be burned to ash, and that mouth of yours would still be just as stubborn. Decades have passed, and to think you’re still a Fifth-Rank Alchemist with no progress at all!"

Ye Qingchen finally got a good look at the newcomers, who wore the garments of the Heavenly Profound Sect. The two men in the lead were middle-aged and dressed in Daoist robes. The young man following them was someone Ye Qingchen recognized—Cheng Zhibin, the one who had tried to cause trouble for him at the auction.

The newcomers were indeed the two team leaders from the Heavenly Profound Sect for this Alchemy Dao Competition: the slightly stockier one was named Xiong Bin, and the leaner one was Xiong Hai. As the Heavenly Profound Sect’s seeded contestant, Cheng Zhibin naturally followed closely behind them.

Hearing the mockery, Vice Pavilion Master Liu felt a surge of rage. The brothers, Xiong Bin and Xiong Hai, were about the same age as him, and the three had often clashed in their youth. Now, because he was preoccupied with the Qingyun Sect’s alchemy affairs, his own practice had been neglected, leaving him stuck at the Fifth-Rank Alchemist Realm without a breakthrough.

In contrast, the brothers Xiong Bin and Xiong Hai had both successively broken through to the Sixth-Rank Alchemist Realm.

Although both Fifth-Rank and Sixth-Rank Alchemists were called Pill Kings, the single-rank difference meant their statuses were worlds apart.

Therefore, faced with the Xiong brothers’ taunts, Vice Pavilion Master Liu was clearly infuriated. He wanted to retort but was at a loss for words.

At this moment, Pavilion Master Zhang took the initiative to address them. "The Xiong brothers? Having been fortunate enough to break through to the Sixth-Rank Alchemist Realm, you should be studying humbly to reach even greater heights. Although Vice Pavilion Master Liu is currently only a Fifth-Rank Alchemist, that is merely because he has been too busy with sect affairs to get certified. If we were to truly compare, you two might be the ones at a disadvantage."

Vice Pavilion Master Liu quickly nodded at Pavilion Master Zhang. It was true he had been a Fifth-Rank Alchemist for many years, and he knew his skills still fell short compared to a Sixth-Rank Alchemist. But seeing Pavilion Master Zhang defend him so staunchly, he naturally couldn’t show weakness. He settled for glaring coldly at Xiong Bin and Xiong Hai.

Xiong Bin and Xiong Hai exchanged a glance but said nothing.

Although Pavilion Master Zhang Dingqiang was also a Sixth-Rank Alchemist, the gap in power between him and the two brothers within the same realm was immense.

Thus, the brothers didn’t dare talk back to Zhang Dingqiang.

It was Cheng Zhibin, however, who spotted Ye Qingchen from behind the Xiong brothers and spoke up first. "You brat, you still have the nerve to participate in the Alchemy Dao Competition?" he sneered. "With a temperament like yours, you’ll probably be eliminated in the first round! I suggest you quit now before you bring shame upon your sect and preserve what little face the Qingyun Sect has left!"

Hearing Cheng Zhibin, Xiong Bin’s interest was piqued. I was just wondering how to get at Zhang Dingqiang. Now that my disciple has some leverage against them, how can I not make good use of it?

Xiong Bin gave Xiong Hai a knowing look. Xiong Hai immediately caught on and said in a strange, mocking tone, "Zhibin, you know this person from the Qingyun Sect? Tell your Martial Uncle here, why do you say people from the Qingyun Sect are so weak-willed? If you’re just spouting nonsense, don’t blame your Master for punishing you, you hear?"

Although Xiong Hai’s tone seemed to defend the Qingyun Sect’s reputation, his insincere mockery did not escape the ears of Pavilion Master Zhang and Vice Pavilion Master Liu.

However, the two Pavilion Masters also wanted to know why their opponents had suddenly said such things upon seeing Ye Qingchen, so they didn’t speak rashly.

This gave Cheng Zhibin a boost of confidence. With a cold laugh, he said, "Martial Uncle, you must remember the auction at the Rising Sun Pavilion a few days ago. There was a worthless piece of jade valued at two thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. With just a little goading from me, this boy spent several thousand more to buy it! I truly don’t understand how a disciple from the top sect in the Northern Desolate Country could have such poor judgment!"

Hearing this, Xiong Bin also burst into laughter. "Don’t put it that way," he said to Cheng Zhibin. "The Qingyun Sect is wealthy and powerful. Perhaps it’s simply a case of a fool and his money are soon parted!"