One must know.

Liu Yuanzhong’s status is extremely high. Even the master of Taotian Palace must be cautious upon meeting him. The reason she knows him is because she once saw him from afar with her father once.

But now.

Such an existence actually wants to take Ye Qingchen as a disciple!

However.

What shocked Lu Yanwu even more was that Ye Qingchen actually refused:

"Thank you for your kind offer, Elder Liu, but I still refuse!"

Hearing this, a look of regret grew in Liu Yuanzhong’s eyes, and he sighed inwardly. He thought that after the aptitude test, Ye Qingchen would change his mind. But unexpectedly, Ye Qingchen still refused him.

"Forget it, since you are unwilling, I will not force you," said Liu Yuanzhong calmly. "I heard before that you want materials of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Could it be that you are cultivating the original version of ’Heaven-Repairing Fragment’ from Taotian Palace?"

Seeing Ye Qingchen nod, Liu Yuanzhong continued:

"The Heavenly and Earthly Treasures of the five elements mostly grow in corresponding areas and are difficult to find. However, I happen to have a map here, which can help you find the essence of fire."

"I will be leaving Lintian City next. I originally wanted to take you with me, but you are still unwilling!"

Beside them, Liu Piaopiao snorted angrily, not even glancing at Ye Qingchen directly.

One must know.

Her grandfather has not shown such fondness for talent in many years, yet he has been repeatedly rejected in his attempts to take a disciple.

"Elder Liu cherishes talent!" Ye Qingchen sighed deeply, "But I have unavoidable reasons to refuse!"

One must know.

The reason he came to the Kunlun Realm was to find his father and sister. If he were to switch paths to the Alchemy Dao halfway, he might be able to see Ye Qing in the Snow Divine Palace.

But what about his father?

"I also have a Jade Pupil Scroll here, which records my insights on alchemy. You can study it in your free time. Don’t waste your alchemical talent!" Liu Yuanzhong did not insist further, "If you ever change your mind, you can come find me again!"

"Alright!"

Ye Qingchen glanced at the Jade Pupil Scroll and the map in his hands, and after a moment, he nodded slightly, "Consider this as me owing you a favor! If there’s anything you need in the future, feel free to let me know, and I won’t refuse!"

"My grandfather would want a favor from you, even a Celestial Immortal..." Liu Piaopiao scoffed at his words.

What kind of person was her grandfather?

How could he care about the favor of a young man? Especially when the other person isn’t even a Human Immortal, what right does he have? 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

However.

She did not expect Liu Yuanzhong to become serious, nodding slowly: "A favor? Ye Qingchen, I will remember what you said today. I hope you can keep your word in the future!"

After exchanging a few pleasantries.

Ye Qingchen bid farewell to Liu Yuanzhong and left the Longevity Pavilion with Lu Yanwu and Zhou Hai. He first glanced at the Jade Pupil Scroll, and as Liu Yuanzhong mentioned, it indeed recorded mostly his insights into alchemy.

The alchemical insights of a Pill Immortal, if he could fully integrate them, would at least save him three to four decades of hard work.

Additionally, there was a map for the essence of fire.

"It’s actually the essence of fire!"

Ye Qingchen showed a hint of joy.

The essence of fire is a type of Spiritual Treasure that forms naturally, often found in extremely high-temperature areas, such as deep within volcanoes or at the center of the Earth Lung Fire.

But generally, the essence of fire is hidden very secretly and extremely difficult to find. Without this map, even knowing where it is would still require months of hard searching.

...

"Grandfather, this young man has refused you twice in a row, yet you still gave him the Jade Pupil Scroll and the map!"

Watching Ye Qingchen leave, Liu Piaopiao couldn’t help but frown and say:

"Moreover, what is his favor worth? So many Celestial Immortals have asked for your help in the past, and you ignored them. Why are you so concerned about this young man and treating him so solemnly?"

She truly couldn’t understand.

Why her grandfather was so concerned about Ye Qingchen.

"You don’t understand!" Liu Yuanzhong slowly shook his head, "In my lifetime, I’ve met countless people, seen heroes who can shake an entire region, and seen invincible strongmen. But only this young man gives me a different feeling; he has a quality that others do not!"

"In the future, he will surely be extraordinary!"

"I don’t believe it!"

Liu Piaopiao snorted coldly, utterly unbelieving.

Liu Yuanzhong smiled faintly, not arguing.

...

While Ye Qingchen led Lu Yanwu and Zhou Hai to search for the essence of fire, news of the battle in Lintian City spread into the inner sect of Taotian Palace.

For a while.

The inner sect was abuzz.

One must know, most inner sect disciples are outstanding talents who fell just short in the grand selection. Only a few can step into the realm of Human Immortal and enter the seven peaks.

As such, they were already full of jealousy towards Ye Qingchen, who won first place in the grand selection but was eliminated in the aptitude test. Many wished they could skin him alive!

It was just that they had been suffering from a lack of news about Ye Qingchen.

But now, having gotten this news, many people first reacted with disbelief.

No matter what Li Yichao’s strength is, he is at least a Half-Step Human Immortal. For Ye Qingchen to withstand a punch from him unscathed and even strike him to his knees, such strength is beyond their imagination.

"Absolutely impossible! Although Li Yichao has just entered Half-Step Human Immortal, he is regarded as a good fighter within the inner sect. How can he be struck to the ground, unable to rise, with broken arm and leg bones by Ye Qingchen?"

Countless people discussed.

"There can’t be any mistake; Li Yichao was carried back by Lin Tianlai. Besides him, there were eight other Celestial Venerable Ninth Layer experts who were injured by a single finger of Ye Qingchen!"

Informed sources said.

Some skeptics even specially went to see Li Yichao, and all were shocked in their hearts.

Of course.

Even more shocking was a statement from Ye Qingchen:

"You can come at me! I’ll take it!"

These words.

Immediately made the already discontented inner sect disciples feel like a powder keg had been lit. Many were filled with righteous indignation to the extreme, eager to tear him apart!

Almost simultaneously, the following dialogue spread throughout the inner sect:

"Did this kid really say that? He’s utterly arrogant! Does he intend to fight our entire inner sect by himself?"

"Lawless! He only beat Li Yichao and dares to be so presumptuous? Does he really think our inner sect is empty? We have hundreds or even thousands of Half-Step Human Immortals, enough to overwhelm him!"

"If he doesn’t appear, that’s one thing. But if he dares to show himself, I’ll ensure he doesn’t leave the inner sect alive!"

While the inner sect was in turmoil, stirring up a craze for teaching Ye Qingchen a lesson, Ye Qingchen had already followed the map to the place of the fire essence—Xuanhu Mountain!