"Holy! Did I hear that right? This brat wants to compare alchemy with Master Zhu?!"
The hall erupted into murmurs of disbelief.
A nobody without even an alchemist badge, openly challenging a second-rank senior alchemist?
Has he completely lost it?
Even Tang Sheng, standing by Jiang Chen's side, was stunned. He knew Jiang Chen was talented—he'd even seen him refine a first-grade pill.
But Zhu Mingyuan wasn't some back-alley alchemist. He was a second-rank senior, with more than a decade of experience, arrogant enough to act like he owned Baodan Pavilion itself.
Can Jiang Chen really defeat him?
"You… want to compete in alchemy with me?"
Zhu Mingyuan blinked, then burst into mocking laughter as though he'd heard the funniest joke of his life.
He was a genuine second-rank senior alchemist. In Lingyun City, aside from the few legendary third-rank alchemists, almost no one could stand on equal ground with him.
And this brat—this unbadged upstart—dared to challenge him?
"You heard me right," Jiang Chen said lazily, the corners of his mouth curling. "I want to compare alchemy with you. What's the matter? You're a dignified second-rank alchemist… don't tell me you're afraid?"
"Afraid?!" Zhu Mingyuan's face twisted. "Hah! What a joke. Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish. But if you lose… you'll become my pill slave, and for the rest of your life, you'll work under my command!"
"Fine," Jiang Chen replied without hesitation. "Now tell me—how do you want to compete?"
"You don't even have an alchemist's badge," Zhu Mingyuan sneered. "It'd be bullying you if I used second-grade pills. So we'll keep it simple—ten sets of materials for first-grade Body Tempering Pills. Whoever has the higher success rate wins."
"Brother Tang Sheng," Jiang Chen said, ignoring Zhu Mingyuan completely, "prepare a pill furnace and twenty sets of Body Tempering Pill ingredients."
He wasn't worried in the slightest.
With his hundredfold system success bonus, his failure rate was practically zero. Competing with Zhu Mingyuan? That was practically handing him a win on a silver platter.
"Good."
Tang Sheng nodded quickly, fetching the requested furnace and ingredients.
"Zhu Mingyuan, you go first," Jiang Chen said casually, as though giving a junior permission.
"As you wish!"
Zhu Mingyuan snorted coldly, rolling up his sleeves as he approached the pill furnace.
Warm the furnace. Add the herbs. Condense the pill.
His movements were steady and practiced—years of experience on full display.
In less than a quarter of an hour, his first pill was complete.
One by one, he refined the rest.
When the tenth batch was done, seven finished Body Tempering Pills sat in the tray before him.
"Seventy percent success rate!" someone in the crowd gasped.
As expected of a senior second-rank alchemist. Even with first-grade pills, his efficiency and control were impeccable.
Zhu Mingyuan wiped his hands and looked up with a triumphant, condescending smirk."Boy, it's your turn."
Jiang Chen glanced at the tray of seven pills… and let out a soft, almost disappointed chuckle.
"A second-rank senior alchemist…" he said slowly, lips curling into a mocking grin.
"…and you can only manage seventy percent on a first-grade pill? That's it?