Chapter 616 - 611: You Reap What You Sow

After speaking, Shen Haoran ignored Ji Wuqing, simply staring at her coldly as he waited for her reply.

In contrast to Shen Haoran’s breezy composure, Ji Wuqing was in utter turmoil. ’Shen Haoran is right,’ she thought. ’If this gets out, forget the Medicine Hall Headquarters—the Alchemists out in the world alone would never forgive me. After all, if I dare to attack a Seventh Grade Alchemist, what wouldn’t I do to those of lower grades? The Medicine Hall Headquarters would punish me severely, too. As a Vice Hall Master, I’m supposed to lead by example.’

’But to just hand that Martial Skill over to Shen Haoran? Wouldn’t that be the same as acknowledging his status and bowing my head to him? That is absolutely out of the question! Besides, the technique I just used to attack him was a long-lost Spiritual Thought Attack Martial Skill. I paid an enormous price to obtain it; how could I bear to just give it away?’

Seeing Ji Wuqing’s continued refusal to answer, Shen Haoran frowned. This stalemate was no solution, so he said coldly, "You have only ten breaths to consider!"

Hearing this, Ji Wuqing’s pupils contracted. Shen Haoran clearly had no intention of backing down, but she was completely powerless against him at this moment. The upper hand in this negotiation was his. She had no way to turn the tables.

Ten breaths passed in the blink of an eye, but Ji Wuqing remained motionless. Shen Haoran’s expression darkened. He turned to Feng Li and said, "Hall Master Feng, do you know where I might find the Hall Master of the Medicine Hall? It seems I must turn this place upside down today!"

"Stop! I’ll give it to you!" Hearing Shen Haoran’s words, Ji Wuqing quickly cried out to stop him. If the situation escalated, she would be utterly humiliated. She had no choice but to agree to his conditions.

With that, Ji Wuqing tossed a black Scroll toward Shen Haoran. He caught it, and a look of delight crossed his face as he felt the ancient aura emanating from it. He then stored the black Scroll away right in front of her, making the corner of Ji Wuqing’s eye twitch.

"Thank you for the kind gift, Vice Hall Master Ji. I’ll gladly accept!" Shen Haoran said as he put the dark Scroll away. He then slowly released his hand from the vital point on Ji Wuqing’s arm. He didn’t even check if the Scroll was real, trusting that Ji Wuqing wouldn’t dare try to fool him.

"Hmph. We’ll see if you can still be so carefree after the Pill Emperor’s Contention is over!" Ji Wuqing said as she slowly rose to her feet, her gaze fixed on Shen Haoran with cold malevolence.

In response to Ji Wuqing’s thinly veiled threat, Shen Haoran simply gave a dismissive wave. "Vice Hall Master Ji," he said, "people who threaten me tend to meet bad ends. So you had better pray that you’re the one who comes out of the Pill Emperor’s Contention unscathed!"

"Hmph!" Seeing that Shen Haoran was completely unfazed, Ji Wuqing could only give a cold snort and storm off with a flick of her sleeve. ’I really took a fall at Shen Haoran’s hands today,’ she thought. ’But one day, I’ll get my revenge.’

A cold smirk played on Shen Haoran’s lips as he watched Ji Wuqing’s retreating figure. Then, he turned his gaze upon Yin Xueyu. Feeling Shen Haoran’s eyes land on him, Yin Xueyu trembled and instinctively took a few steps back.

"You haven’t forgotten our bet, have you?" Shen Haoran asked nonchalantly as he strode slowly toward Yin Xueyu.

"Shen Haoran, be merciful when you can. You’re a Seventh Grade Alchemy Master; surely there’s no need to squabble with a child!" Elder Xue and Yin Chuan, who were standing nearby, said with a frown. The terms of the bet required Yin Xueyu to kneel and call Shen Haoran "Grandpa"—an unbearable humiliation for him.

"Hmph. ’Be merciful when you can’? You know that principle?" Shen Haoran’s eyes narrowed. "When you were all humiliating me earlier, did you ever imagine today would come? I only know one saying: you reap what you sow. Since you did this, you must bear the consequences! Kneel!" His last word was a furious roar, carrying the oppressive might of his powerful Spiritual Thought. The soundwave struck Yin Xueyu’s ears, forcing him to his knees right in front of Shen Haoran.

"Grand... Grandpa!" Kneeling before Shen Haoran, Yin Xueyu found the words spilling out against his will.

"Good grandson. Remember this in the future: some people are not to be provoked. Understand?" Shen Haoran said with a soft chuckle, casting a casual glance at the beet-red Yin Xueyu. Then, he turned and followed Feng Li out of the Medicine Hall, ignoring Yin Xueyu and the others completely.

"Hmph! So arrogant! Does he really think being a Seventh Grade Alchemist gives him the right to bully people?"

"A person like that is unworthy of the title of Master!" Chi Lian and Mu Tong snarled as they watched Shen Haoran depart. In their hearts, however, they were simply jealous and could only vent their envy with such crass remarks.

Yin Xueyu didn’t know why he had just blurted out "Grandpa." His face burned as if it had been slapped. ’This will be a humiliation I carry for the rest of my life. Shen Haoran, I will never forgive you! I will carve today’s shame into my heart, and one day, I will make you repay it a hundredfold!’ He swore he would make Shen Haoran pay with his own hands.

...

Meanwhile, Shen Haoran and Feng Li had already left the Medicine Hall and were heading toward his residence. As for the Alchemist Badge, someone from the Medicine Hall would deliver it to his home personally.

"Haoran, I never imagined you’d reached the realm of a Seventh Grade Alchemist!" Feng Li said excitedly. "With this, you’re sure to get a great rank in the Pill Emperor’s Contention. You might even make the top five!"

"Hall Master Feng, don’t forget what I’m aiming for. My goal is to win it all!" Shen Haoran clenched his fists, a fiery glint in his eyes. He was determined to take first place in this Pill Emperor’s Contention. Only the champion could obtain the Wood Spirit Cyan Profound, one of the five Heavenly and Earthly Spirits. Therefore, no matter the price, he had to have it.

Seeing the unshakeable determination in Shen Haoran’s eyes, Feng Li was momentarily stunned. In the past, he might have just laughed off such a bold claim. But after seeing Shen Haoran pass the Seventh Grade Alchemist assessment, Feng Li truly believed he had the power to win it all. ’Could it be,’ he wondered, ’that this is Burning Flame City’s chance to rise?’

"Who’s there?" Just as Feng Li was celebrating inwardly, Shen Haoran’s expression suddenly turned icy. His gaze shot behind them. After his breakthrough to a Seventh Grade Alchemist, his Spiritual Thought perception had grown far more acute. He had distinctly felt someone spying on them a moment ago. ’Are they sent by Ji Wuqing?’ he wondered.

"Brother Haoran, don’t attack! It’s me!" A moment later, a young, boyish voice called out. A boy in ragged clothes emerged from a dark alley. He was covered in wounds, with blood caked into scabs all over his body. He looked absolutely wretched.

"Er Mao!" Shen Haoran was stunned for a moment when he saw the boy who had come out of the alley, and then he cried out in surprise. It was none other than Er Mao, the boy who was always with Lady Ya...