The grand imperial carriage of the Lu Clan was less of a vehicle and more of a walking palace.
Constructed from whole blocks of hundred-year spatial cedar wood, lined with plush velvet cushions, and pulled by four majestic Crimson Cloud Horses whose hooves burned with non-lethal spirit fire, it glided down the golden highway toward the Central Imperial Capital.
Inside the spacious, incense-perfumed carriage, the atmosphere was dense with a strange, sizzling tension.
Lu Chen recline comfortably on a silk couch, his long crimson hair spilling over a golden headrest. He held an ancient alchemy parchment in one hand, while his glowing purple eyes lazily shifted between the two women sitting across from him.
On his right sat Ye Qingxian, her silver hair glowing softly under the array-lit ceiling. She wore her usual lithe, dark blue combat silk, sitting upright with absolute poise, her hand resting on her ice sword sheath.
On his left sat Saintess Ji Xue, dressed in a pristine white dress provided by the Lu Clan, her raven hair tied loosely with a silver ribbon. She sat with her arms folded tightly across her chest, trying her absolute best to maintain her frozen, proud Saintess expression—though her ears were still slightly pink whenever she caught Lu Chen looking at her.
"Miss Ji Xue," Lu Chen murmured smoothly, breaking the silence as he set his parchment down. "You've been glaring out the window for thirty miles. Is the seat uncomfortable, or are you missing the cold rocks of your Supreme Frost Sect?"
Ji Xue’s shoulders twitched. She turned her head, her cold eyes flashing as she looked at him.
"I am merely contemplating my terrible luck," Ji Xue said stiffly, though her voice lacked its original bite. "To think that I, the lead Saintess of the Northern Peaks, am being paraded across the province as a 'guest' of a decadent young master."
"A guest who saved your four elders from wrestling each other naked in the dirt," Ye Qingxian added softly from the side, her voice crisp and completely devoid of emotion. "You should show the Young Master more gratitude, Miss Ji Xue."
Ji Xue’s face flushed bright red in an instant. "Y-You—! Shadow Guard Ye, whose side are you on?!"
"I am on the Young Master's side," Ye Qingxian replied without missing a beat, taking a teapot and smoothly pouring a cup of warm lotus tea for Lu Chen. "Always."
Lu Chen let out a low, irresistible laugh, taking the tea cup from Ye Qingxian’s hands. As he took it, his fingers brushed gently over Ye Qingxian’s smooth, gloved hand.
Ye Qingxian’s eyes twitched slightly, a subtle, rosy warmth creeping up her neck, though her cold persona stayed firm.
"See, Ji Xue?" Lu Chen smirked, leaning back as he took a sip. "Qingxian understands the beauty of peaceful diplomacy. If you learn to relax a bit, you might actually enjoy being near me."
"In your dreams, ruffian," Ji Xue huffed, turning her head away again—though her heart throbbed with a strange, fluttering heat that made her curse herself internally.
Why is his aura so captivating?! Ji Xue screamed inside her mind. He didn't even use a single drop of violence, yet he completely dismantled my entire sect's pride! And those purple eyes... ugh!
Lu Chen ignored her internal crisis, casually pulling a small, crystal alchemy vial out from his spatial ring.
Inside the vial rested a fine, shimmering amber dust that sparkled like tiny stars under the light.
"Young Master," Ye Qingxian leaned in slightly, her curiosity piqued. "Is that the new batch you refined last night?"
"Indeed," Lu Chen smiled angelicly, swirling the amber dust inside the vial. "Allow me to introduce our newest creation for the Grand Imperial Alchemy Conference: The Truth-Spilling Hiccup Powder."
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Ji Xue sneered slightly, unable to resist looking over. "Truth-Spilling Hiccup Powder? What kind of absurd name is that? Is it another one of your underhanded toxins?" New chapters come out on NovelPing first.
"A toxin?" Lu Chen shook his head in mock hurt, his purple eyes brimming with innocent virtue. "Miss Ji Xue, how can you slander my pure intentions? This is an educational potion! Once inhaled, it forces the subject to hiccup uncontrollably every three seconds. And with every single hiccup, their vocal cords vibrate in harmony with their subconscious mind, forcing them to loudly blurt out their absolute darkest, most embarrassing truths!"
Ji Xue blinked, her mind short-circuiting as she tried to visualize the concept. "Blurt out... their darkest truths?!"
"Precisely," Lu Chen smirked, his eyes gleaming with chaotic, menacing brilliance. "I heard that our main rival at the conference—Young Master Gu Feng of the Ancient Pill Clan—claims his new 'Supreme Cleansing Pill' can neutralize any potion in existence. I can't wait to see if his Divine Pill can stop him from telling ten thousand judges about his childhood bed-wetting habits!"
Ye Qingxian couldn't hold back a soft, breathless giggle that escaped her lips, quickly covering her mouth with her silk sleeve.
Even Ji Xue’s lips twitched violently as she tried—and failed—to maintain her stoic expression, a faint smile breaking through her cold face before she caught herself.
Two hours later, the carriage arrived at the Central Imperial Capital.
The city was a sprawling metropolis of towering golden pagodas, floating alchemy pavilions, and roaring crowds. Over fifty thousand cultivators, grand alchemists, and sect representatives had gathered in the Grand Plaza for the Annual Imperial Alchemy Conference.
At the center of the plaza stood a massive elevated stage surrounded by five hundred bronze cauldrons.
In the center of the VIP platform, sitting on a floating jade chair, was a young man clad in golden dragon robes. He possessed a proud, sharp face and an arrogant sneer.
This was Young Master Gu Feng—the top genius of the Ancient Pill Clan, a Mid Core Formation cultivator, and the possessor of the ancient Emerald Dragon Divine Flame.
Gu Feng was currently surrounded by dozens of kissing-up alchemy elders and admiring young noblewomen.
"Young Master Gu Feng is truly a once-in-a-century genius!"
"I heard his Supreme Cleansing Pill can purge a hundred lethal poisons in three seconds!"
"He even publicly declared that he will expose all fake merchant alchemists today!"
Gu Feng held up a glowing green pill, his voice amplified by a spiritual array to echo across the entire plaza.
"Listen well, cultivators of the Southern Domain!" Gu Feng boasted loudly, his dark eyes brimming with arrogance. "In recent days, rumors have spread about a certain young master of the Lu Imperial Merchant Clan using 'miraculous powders' to defeat grand elders and branch clan geniuses! What nonsense!"
The crowd quieted down, listening intently.
"Alchemy is a sacred, noble Dao!" Gu Feng scoffed, stepping forward. "Real alchemy creates divine pills to cure the world! Those who use cheap powders, laxatives, and tricks are nothing but third-rate clowns! Today, I, Gu Feng, challenge anyone in the realm! Bring forth your strongest potion, powder, or toxin! If my Supreme Cleansing Pill cannot neutralize it instantly, I will kneel, slap my own face, and call you Master!"
"OOHHH!"
The fifty-thousand-man crowd erupted into wild, excited roars!
"Did you hear that?! Gu Feng is directly challenging the Lu Clan!"
"Where is Young Master Lu Chen?! Will he dare accept the challenge?!"
Right on cue, a deep, clear, unbelievably handsome voice echoed gently across the plaza, carrying a relaxed, magnetic warmth that instantly silenced the fifty thousand spectators. Get faster updates on novelping . com.
"What a grand declaration, Young Master Gu Feng."
The crowds parted like the Red Sea.
Four Crimson Cloud Horses pulled the grand Lu Clan carriage to a stop right in front of the main stage.
The carved cedar doors opened smoothly.
Lu Chen stepped out first, his immaculate white and royal purple silk robes fluttering in the wind, his long crimson hair catching the sunlight, his glowing purple eyes radiating an effortless, terrifying calmness.
Stepping out right behind him were two breathtaking beauties: Ye Qingxian, cool and sharp with her silver hair and icy sword, and Saintess Ji Xue, raven-haired and majestic in her white robes!
The entire plaza went dead silent.
"MY GOD! Look at his shadow guards and companions!"
"Isn't that Saintess Ji Xue of the Supreme Frost Sect?! Why is she following Lu Chen like a soft concubine?!"
"Young Master Lu Chen’s aura is so handsome it's illegal!"
Up on the stage, Gu Feng’s face turned sour with intense jealousy as he saw Lu Chen surrounded by two top-tier beauties. He clutched his green pill tightly, pointing a finger down at Lu Chen.
"Lu Chen!" Gu Feng sneered coldly. "You finally dare to show your face! Did you bring your little trick powders to play with the true grandmasters today?!"
Lu Chen didn't get angry. He gave Gu Feng a warm, angelic, completely harmless smile as he casually floated up onto the alchemy stage, standing ten feet away from him.
[Ding!]
[Target Identified: Gu Feng (Arrogant Pill Genius)]
[Quest Triggered: Teach the Arrogant Alchemist True Humility!]
[Objective: Subdue Gu Feng in front of 50,000 spectators without using lethal violence or spilling a drop of blood!]
[Reward: 40,000 System Points, 1x Imperial Grade Alchemy Cauldron!]
Lu Chen smiled warmly, tossing the small crystal vial of Truth-Spilling Hiccup Powder lightly in his palm.
"Young Master Gu Feng," Lu Chen said smoothly, his deep voice carrying across the entire arena. "Since you are so confident in your Supreme Clea
nsing Pill... why don't we put your words to the test right now?”