"Gu, don't act tough; otherwise, as a newcomer, you won't be able to stay in the academy!"
"Spirit stones for sale? Sell them or not? One thousand spirit stones! If not, then ten thousand!"
The arrogant girl continued to yell at Gu Yao. Gu Yao was so shocked that he almost lost his composure. He pointed at Chi Changye, "From start to finish, it was Brother Ye who rejected you. If you have the ability, make Brother Ye agree."
He didn't even speak!
Chi Changye, displeased, gave Gu Yao a glance. Gu Yao quickly flashed a pleasing smile. This annoying girl was really too much. How many people were scheming against Chi Changye behind his back? Moreover, she was quite wealthy, casually throwing out a sum of ten thousand spirit stones. What was the origin of this wealth?
The girl then turned to Chi Changye, and a hint of shyness unexpectedly appeared on her face. Gu Yao felt like he was going blind. Just now, she was quite domineering. He heard her voice, slightly coquettish, "I can..."
"Get lost!" Chi Changye, however, had no patience to listen any further. He waved his sleeve, sending the male and female followers blocking their way flying. Then, he summoned his own sword, taking off into the air with Gu Yao.
"What are you afraid of? I can make you prosper, provide you with numerous cultivation resources..." The girl persistently shouted from behind until they flew far away, and her voice became inaudible.
Oh boy, Gu Yao couldn't help but chuckle, this girl was indeed too naive. Did she think Brother Ye's cultivation resources were restricted and couldn't escape from her?
Of course, he was aware that some followers had sworn blood oaths or were restrained by other means, and to regain freedom, they needed their original master to release the contract. However, the relationship between Chi Changye and Gu Yao was clearly that of two independent individuals.
Chi Changye, with a stern face, asked, "Find it amusing?"
Gu Yao quickly held back his laughter and waved his hand, "Not amusing at all, not even a bit. On a serious note, after dealing with the matters at Danfeng, let's quickly change Brother Ye's identity. It's better to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and reduce trouble for both of us."
It's amusing once or twice, but too many times can be troublesome and annoying.
"Sure, I've caused trouble for you, Little Yao."
"No, no," Gu Yao shook his head in denial.
The distance from the Library Pavilion to the Business Street was quite substantial. When Gu Yao and Chi Changye arrived, the two Danfeng alchemists waiting there were furious, veins popping on their foreheads. In contrast, Tian Fei Rong and Xiao Pangzi seemed quite relaxed, chatting with Tao Yue on the side. The others who came to support Danfeng were enraged, ready to curse them out. However, Danfeng deviated from the usual procedures, so there was no reason to curse them out.
As soon as Gu Yao and Chi Changye appeared, someone shouted, "They're here! They're here!" The conspicuous figure wasn't Gu Yao but Chi Changye, renowned for his battle with the Snake Gang. It was easy to identify him, and seeing the young man beside him confirmed that it was undoubtedly Gu Yao.
Tian Fei Rong put away his fan and waved vigorously, "Gu Yao, hurry, someone is challenging you. The stake is a shop. Make sure to win it back, so we won't have to set up stalls anymore."
This statement immediately sparked discussions among the onlookers. Just by looking at Gu Yao, one could tell he was quite young. Even if he started learning alchemy from birth, he couldn't compare to the people from Danfeng. So, this boast seemed a bit premature. Was this ignorance or fearless courage, or perhaps just youthful impetuosity?
"Senior Li, Senior Liu, these new students really think nothing of themselves. Senior Brother and Senior Sister must give them a profound lesson. Otherwise, they'll truly think Danfeng has no one?" A Danfeng student assisting them expressed indignation.
Liu Ling Ge, who had calmed down from her initial anger, sneered, "Of course, that's natural. Do they really think Danfeng has no one? Do they think anyone can enter Danfeng?"
Senior Brother Li was equally furious, "Exactly! Some people have gone crazy seeking fame, thinking they can step on our Danfeng's reputation? They are completely wrong!"
If Gu Yao heard these words, he would definitely protest; he never intended to surpass Danfeng. Everything was just a misunderstanding on Danfeng's part.
As Gu Yao and Chi Changye approached, they were perceived by Danfeng members as arrogant and disdainful. In reality, Gu Yao tried his best to appear friendly. He was open to exchanging knowledge and opinions, believing that progress comes through continuous learning.
"Are you an alchemist?" Liu Lingge asked bluntly, expressing disbelief and scorn.
"Yes, I can refine several types of elixirs. How would you like to compare?" Gu Yao responded, showing interest in the shop mentioned by Tian Feirong. Even if the opponent was more skilled, losing was acceptable, as it would reveal areas for improvement.
Liu Lingge suggested a public demonstration of refining a high-level elixir called "复灵丹," which caught the attention of the onlookers due to its advanced nature compared to the mid-level elixirs previously discussed.
As the challenge unfolded, some expressed admiration for Gu Yao's potential, while others doubted his ability to handle high-level elixirs at his current cultivation level. The situation became tense, with conflicting expectations and speculations about Gu Yao's skills.
Exposed, even his identity can't be concealed anymore. However, pushed to this point, if he doesn't take action, he wouldn't be a man. Recognizing defeat means he can't rely on selling elixirs to accumulate wealth.
"Fine, let it be the复灵丹. However, the spiritual materials for refining复灵丹 are not complete in my possession," Gu Yao slyly remarked. He had collected them in Ten-Fold City previously, but they were all used up. Besides, since the challenge was proposed by the other party, they should provide the materials.
Others were surprised by this lackluster challenge. It was evident that the challenging side should be fully prepared.
"The materials will be provided by our Star Moon Trading Company." Zhou Li stepped forward, and people brought out boxes containing spiritual herbs.
"Thanks for your assistance, Senior Zhou. I will try not to waste these spiritual herbs and cause unnecessary loss," Gu Yao expressed his gratitude.
"Haha, it doesn't matter if you spoil them. After all, it's not my money spent. Junior Gu, feel free to start," Zhou Li laughed heartily.
With the involvement of the Star Moon Trading Company, the challenge gained a bit more formality. Perhaps because Danfeng's people never expected Gu Yao to accept the challenge, they perceived him as seeking fame without substance, lacking true skills. Seeing the Danfeng representatives appearing, they assumed Gu Yao would automatically concede.
Gu Yao confidently walked up, appearing calm and composed. In the eyes of Danfeng's people, he was just putting on an act, unwilling to admit defeat.
Zhou Li, aware of some information, whispered to Chi Changye, "The复灵丹 is the only high-level elixir that Li Shurong is confident in refining. Junior Gu, do you have confidence?"
Their knowledge of Gu Yao only extended to refining mid-level superior elixirs.
Little Fatty looked at Gu Yao skeptically, increasingly convinced that Gu Yao was the one who had let him shoulder the blame. However, he still couldn't understand why Gu Yao wanted to hide his identity and refuse to make it public.
Chi Changye, with hands behind his back, replied, "Junior Yao will do his best."
This was clearly not a direct answer to Zhou Li's question. However, Zhou Li didn't dare to force Chi Changye for a response; this person's strength could easily surpass his. Yet, by the look on his face, Zhou Li believed that Gu Yao wouldn't lose. Zhou Li suddenly remembered something and lowered his voice, gossiping with a grin, "Heard you and Junior Yao were intercepted by a bold woman on the way here. She wanted to buy you from Junior Yao?"
Chi Changye was left speechless. Tian Feirong and Little Fatty were equally surprised, especially Tian Feirong, who dropped his fan on the ground. Who would dare to "buy" Chi Changye?!
Picking up the fan, Tian Feirong was too curious to focus on Gu Yao's challenge. He grabbed Zhou Li, his eyes shining, and asked in a low voice, "Who is that audacious woman? I truly admire Junior Yao for this."
Zhou Li burst into laughter, "That woman is quite famous in the outer courtyard. She's Shiyenyan from the Shichen Trading Company, the one who lacks nothing but spiritual stones. She has a liking for handsome men and once pursued Jiang Shixiong. However, after being dealt with by Jiang Shixiong, she didn't dare to mention it again. Hey, hey, you mustn't mention this to Jiang Shixiong; otherwise, I won't spare you."
This was Jiang Shixiong's dark history. If Jiang Shixiong knew Zhou Li had told others about it, he might not spare them.
Chi Changye exhaled a cold breath. Tian Feirong and Little Fatty also burst into laughter.
"Let's start refining the elixir. Can you guys be a bit more serious?" complained Tao Yue from the side.