“Who?”
Fang Chen started and turned around to look.
Behind him, a tall woman in a crimson long skirt had somehow appeared without him noticing. Her hair was piled high in a cloud-like bun, with pearl hairpins embedded within. Her skin was white as snow, her face radiant as the moon, and her lips full and rosy. A faint, pleasant fragrance emanated from her, rich and sweet yet refreshingly pure.
So beautiful!
So fragrant!
This was Fang Chen’s first reaction upon seeing this woman.
Her scent was unlike ordinary fragrances, nor was it like the industrial perfumes Fang Chen had smelled in his past life. The fragrance upon this woman was like the aroma of Pills mixed with flowers and herbs, carrying a quality that entirely soothed and refreshed the spirit.
The newcomer made no attempt to conceal her identity. Seeing Fang Chen ask, she replied with an amused smile, “I am Hua Qirong, an Elder of the Danran Sect, and the Seal-Holder of Yunyun Peak.”
The masters of each peak in the Danran Sect were also called Seal-Holders. This was because each peak possessed a powerful Dharma seal that protected the peak, capable of both offense and defense. Therefore, the peak masters who controlled these seals were known as Seal-Holders.
Hearing this, Fang Chen’s heart trembled slightly.
This person… was actually Yunyun Peak’s Hua Qirong?
Now he understood why everyone said that Hua Qirong was a nation-toppling beauty!
Seeing her up close like this, she truly was breathtaking, enough to make his thoughts run wild…
“Why are you just standing there in a daze? It is your turn. Who are you? Which peak’s disciple are you?”
Seeing Fang Chen remain silent, Hua Qirong spoke with dissatisfaction.
Fang Chen finally realized his impoliteness and hurriedly bowed. “Greetings, Elder Hua! This Junior is Fang Chen, an outer sect disciple!”
“Outer sect disciple?”
Hearing this, Hua Qirong was slightly taken aback. Only then did she look at Fang Chen seriously, saying in surprise, “Judging by the state of your blood qi, you appear to be at least twenty years old, yet you are only at the ninth level of Qi Condensation? Your aptitude is far too poor! Have you been poisoned, or did your spiritual roots suffer some trauma?”
Hearing this, Fang Chen instantly felt his spirit suffer a massive blow. Wasn’t this Elder being a bit too impolite?
He replied sullenly, “Elder, I was born this way!”
“Oh! So that is how it is!”
Hua Qirong suddenly understood. Then, seeming to notice Fang Chen’s gloom, she thought of something. Her eyes brightened as she offered words of comfort: “But it is fine, you do not need to be sad. Your cultivation being like this might not solely be due to your aptitude, but also because you spend your usual cultivation time playing the zither!”
“Besides, you are not the worst among our Sect’s young disciples either!”
“I once heard there is someone in the outer sect who entered the Sect over ten years ago and is only at the third level of Qi Condensation now. That person’s talent is much worse than yours! In all my years at the Danran Sect, I have never seen a disciple with such poor talent, haha…”
By the end, Hua Qirong found it so amusing that she could not help but laugh out loud.
Meanwhile, Fang Chen’s spirit was subjected to immense devastation once more.
Aren’t you going a bit too far?
Is being an Elder that amazing?
Only after finishing her laughter did Hua Qirong notice that Fang Chen’s face had turned an ashen gray. She asked curiously, “Hm? Why are you not speaking? Are you feeling unwell?”
“It is nothing, Elder. I just feel a bit tired, that is all.”
Fang Chen forced out a smile that looked worse than crying. This chapter was taken from novelping.com without permission.
“Well then…”
Hua Qirong finally ended the idle chatter and inquired curiously, “Then what were you just laughing about?”
Fang Chen found a random excuse: “I passed through the Music Forest, so I felt very proud!”
“Oh! Then you do not need to be overly happy. The Music Forest should merely be a minor challenge for you.”
Hua Qirong smiled like a blooming flower, her eyes revealing joy and excitement. “The one who should be happy is me. I have finally met a fellow practitioner in the art of music!”
A fellow practitioner in the art of music?
Hmm?
Fang Chen felt that something was off…
Hua Qirong patted Fang Chen’s shoulder. “With your level, you will definitely be able to discuss the Dao with me for a long time. From now on, you must come to Yunyun Peak to find me often.”
“This Junior would not dare!”
Fang Chen immediately cupped his fists, while excitement surged in his heart…
It had to be said, although this Elder Hua was not very polite, using his [Guzheng] skill to become a fellow practitioner in the musical arts with her, and even receiving an invitation to discuss the Dao—did this not essentially mean he had latched onto her as a powerful backer?
This could be considered as achieving his goal for coming here!
“Do not be humble with me!”
Hua Qirong pried apart Fang Chen’s cupped hands and excitedly asked, “By the way, what is the name of that piece you just played?”
“Wronged Eyebrows!”
Fang Chen said.
“Wronged Eyebrows… Hm, a good name! Did you compose this piece yourself?”
“No, it was by a friend outside the sect!”
Fang Chen did not dare claim credit.
Hua Qirong felt slightly disappointed, then asked, “May I borrow the score to have a look?”
“No problem!”
Fang Chen moved quickly, directly taking out a blank jade slip. He inscribed the score from his mind into it and handed it to Hua Qirong.
The system might be a bastard, but it certainly did not skimp on the skills it granted. The score in Fang Chen’s mind was extremely clear right now, and copying it down was very fast.
Hua Qirong revealed a pleasantly surprised expression. This kid was quite capable!
She took the score, showing an expression of extreme satisfaction, and then said straightforwardly, “Then tell me, what Pill do you want?”
Fang Chen was overjoyed.
He had been wanting to find an opportunity to ask for Pills all along, but felt it would be impolite to bring it up abruptly. Now that Hua Qirong had initiated the offer, it could not be better.
Fang Chen did not hesitate. “Elder Hua, I want a Pill that can change my aptitude!”
“Change your aptitude?”
Hua Qirong stroked her smooth chin, thought for a moment, and said, “I have three kinds of such Pills, but each has an extremely low success rate. Are you sure you want this?”
Actually, calling the success rate extremely low was just Hua Qirong being modest.
These three Pills were all refined from extremely rare medicinal materials. Although defying the heavens to change his fate and becoming a genius on the level of Jiang Ningyi was impossible, a definitive improvement in aptitude was absolutely guaranteed!
Hua Qirong was confident that Fang Chen would definitely benefit after consuming them!
“I am sure!”
Fang Chen was overjoyed once more.
No matter how low the success rate, he had to try!
“Here, take this. This is the Void-Planting Pill, most suitable for Qi Condensation cultivators trying to change their aptitude!”
Hua Qirong took out a jade bottle from her Storage Ring and handed it to Fang Chen.
But Fang Chen did not take it. Instead, he stared blankly. “Void-Planting Pill? I… seem to have taken one!”
When Hua Qirong took out the Pill, a scene immediately flashed through his memory—the original owner taking a Void-Planting Pill, and it having absolutely no effect…
“Huh? You have actually taken it? Then you cannot take it again!”
Hua Qirong was puzzled. How could his aptitude still be so poor after taking it? That should not be the case.
She put away the jade bottle containing the Void-Planting Pill, flipped her hand, and took out another one. “What about this? Spirit Machine Medicinal Liquid. Although its medicinal power is fierce and unsuitable for Qi Condensation cultivators to consume, as long as you take it with other Pills that can protect your heart meridian, you will be able to withstand it!”
But Fang Chen stared blankly again, then opened his eyes wide, saying in astonishment, “I… I seem to have consumed that too!”
Hua Qirong: “?”
She immediately put away the jade bottle, preparing to take out another one.
But at this moment, Fang Chen said with a trembling voice, “Elder Hua, if the one you have left is the Ancient Tree Spirit Fruit Pill, there is no need to take it out… I think I have eaten that too!”
Hua Qirong was immediately shocked, her beautiful eyes widening as she instinctively said, “You took all three?? Then… then why is your aptitude still like this, how can you be so…?”
Before she could finish her sentence, she noticed Fang Chen’s face visibly turning gray at a rapid pace. Startled, she stopped herself in time and very unnaturally attempted to smooth things over: “Hm, uh, well, then, perhaps your luck is just too poor, haha.”
“Since that is the case, I have no other Pills. As for other, more powerful Pills, I have only heard of them in legends…”
As soon as her voice fell, Hua Qirong spread her hands.
And the last glimmer of light in Fang Chen’s eyes finally scattered…
At this moment, he felt completely despondent.
Could his aptitude get any worse than this?