Chapter 632 - 626: Setting the Tempo!

"Brother Shen, I never expected you to have reached the level of a Seventh Grade Alchemist too!" Long Aotian said, looking at Shen Haoran with some surprise. The rumors circulating outside painted Shen Haoran as just an arrogant brat. Long Aotian had remained noncommittal about this, but in his experience, arrogant people either had the true strength to back up their pride, or they were complete morons. Long Aotian had guessed that Shen Haoran was probably just a Sixth Grade Alchemist. That, combined with his Vermilion Bird Bloodline, would have been enough capital for his arrogance. But he never expected Shen Haoran was actually a Seventh Grade Alchemist. If so, Shen Haoran’s standing in his eyes—or rather, in the eyes of the Cyan Dragon Race—would instantly rise by several levels!

"Sev... Seventh Grade Alchemist!" At Long Aotian’s words, everyone’s gaze snapped to Shen Haoran. Everyone present was an Alchemist; they all knew what being a Seventh Grade Alchemist meant and how incredibly difficult that level was to achieve. ’Could this guy really be a Seventh Grade Alchemist?’

"I just had a lucky breakthrough recently!" Shen Haoran replied with a light laugh. This wasn’t false modesty; he truly had made a lucky breakthrough just yesterday. Without Ji Wuqing’s help, Shen Haoran might still be a Sixth Grade High Level Alchemist.

Shen Haoran’s words were a clear admission that he had broken through to the Seventh Grade. Instantly, the expressions of the people in the audience became quite a spectacle. Some were envious, some were jealous, and others’ faces were dark and uncertain. Of them all, those who had just been mocking Shen Haoran looked the most wretched.

Those who had been trash-talking Shen Haoran all fell silent. They finally understood why he had been so dismissive of their taunts. He was already a Seventh Grade Alchemy Master; of course he possessed a certain magnanimity. Arguing with the likes of them would have been beneath him. Now, their hearts were filled with endless regret. ’I actually mocked a Seventh Grade Alchemist! This is someone on the same level as Long Aotian and the other three! If we had tried to get on his good side before, he might have been a huge help to us in the future.’

It wasn’t just the Alchemists from the branch halls; even Feng Miaoke and Tian Ruyi, who were standing to the side, were in disbelief. Feng Miaoke had assumed that Shen Haoran had only been able to put her in her place thanks to his pure Vermilion Bird Bloodline. After all, under the pressure of his bloodline, she couldn’t exert even an ounce of her strength. She had never, ever imagined that Shen Haoran was actually a Seventh Grade Alchemist.

Tian Ruyi, beside her, covered her mouth with her hand. ’I can’t believe I just implied to his face that he had no real strength and was just grandstanding,’ she thought. The power Shen Haoran was displaying now far surpassed her imagination. ’That was a real slap in the face, and he didn’t hold back one bit.’

Ji Wuqing, standing to the side, was also somewhat surprised. He had assumed that Shen Haoran, having just broken through to the Seventh Grade, would be unpracticed in his control over his Spiritual Thought. But that display just now... no more than four people present could have done the same. ’He broke through yesterday, and today he can already control his Spiritual Thought so masterfully. What a monster.’

The scene fell silent for a moment after Shen Haoran revealed his strength as a Seventh Grade Alchemist. This left Shen Haoran at a loss for words, so he just ignored everyone and started playing with Yan Jue.

"What do we do? Shen Haoran has broken through to the Seventh Grade. Hardly anyone here is a match for him!"

"Damn it, that guy is a Seventh Grade Alchemist! So why is he wearing a Fourth Grade Alchemist’s Badge? Is he doing it on purpose to embarrass us? What a twisted bastard!" A moment later, whispers once again broke out among the crowd.

Nearby, Long Aotian was also staring at Shen Haoran as if looking at some new curiosity, making Shen Haoran’s skin crawl.

"Hey, man, why are you staring at me like that? I’m not into men. Besides, you’re not even human!" Shen Haoran said, eyeing Long Aotian warily.

Shen Haoran’s words left Long Aotian momentarily speechless with embarrassment. Beside them, little Yan Jue giggled. ’Even though Shen Haoran is a Seventh Grade Alchemist, he doesn’t act like one at all,’ Long Aotian thought. ’The outside world calls him arrogant and overbearing, but he’s actually quite pleasant to be around. I really don’t understand how people came to that conclusion.’

"Ahem... I’m not into men either. I’m just curious. For a Seventh Grade Alchemist, you’re being a bit too low-key wearing a Fourth Grade Alchemist’s Badge!" Long Aotian said with a dry cough.

"It’s not like I want to. I only passed the Seventh Grade Alchemist assessment yesterday, but Ji Wuqing found an excuse to confiscate my Alchemist Badge. What could I do? I had no choice but to take out my old one!" Shen Haoran said with a helpless shrug.

In response to Shen Haoran’s innocent expression, Long Aotian and Yan Jue could only roll their eyes at him. It was hard to imagine that this Shen Haoran was the same arrogant, condescending brat from the rumors.

While Shen Haoran’s group was bantering, a commotion suddenly erupted on the other side, drawing their attention.

"Bai Shaohong! That’s right, there’s still Bai Shaohong from the White Tiger Race! Didn’t Shen Haoran accept his challenge earlier? Bai Shaohong is also a Seventh Grade Alchemist, and he reached that level a full year ago. There’s no way Shen Haoran is his opponent." A flicker of excitement appeared in the eyes of the crowd; they were dead set on seeing Shen Haoran suffer a defeat today.

As the crowd finished speaking, all eyes turned to Bai Shaohong, who stood off to the side. His expression instantly darkened, and he glared back at them with an icy look, as if he wanted to eat every last one of the instigators.

’These people just love to stir up trouble, no matter how big it gets,’ Bai Shaohong thought. Perhaps before Shen Haoran had revealed his strength, he would have gladly gone up and taught the brat a lesson. But now that Shen Haoran had shown he was a Seventh Grade Alchemist, Bai Shaohong had completely dismissed the idea.

’Seventh Grade Alchemists are different from those of other Levels. Breaking through earlier doesn’t automatically make one stronger. Someone could have reached the grade long ago, but if the quality of their Spiritual Thought is inferior, they still wouldn’t be able to defeat a newcomer who just broke through but possesses exceptionally pure Spiritual Thought. Moreover, the power unleashed in a duel between two Seventh Grade Alchemists would be unimaginable, and the cost to both participants would be immense. My goal is the title of Pill Emperor in this event. Getting injured in a meaningless duel here would be a catastrophic loss. But these idiots are just trying to stir up drama. Since they can’t do anything themselves, they’re trying to drag me down with them. If we weren’t in the Medicine Hall, I’d sew every single one of their mouths shut.’

Goaded on by the Alchemists who couldn’t stand Shen Haoran, the crowd’s gaze shifted between him and Bai Shaohong. One man appeared relaxed and composed, while the other’s face was dark and grim. The atmosphere instantly grew tense.