Chapter 574 - 574: Old and Disrespectful, Arrogant and Overbearing

In the villa's reception hall, there were three other people besides Zhao Yuan's group.

The aura emanating from the three of them made it clear they were also Cultivators.

Ying Ji couldn't help but frown. She whispered, "Don't tell me these three are also here for the Thousand-Day Wine."

"Highly likely." Zhao Yuan's observations were far more detailed than Ying Ji's. "There's residue from medicinal herbs under their fingernails, and they carry a faint herbal fragrance. It's obvious they work with medicinal ingredients on a regular basis."

Hao Li leaned in. "Little Brother Zhao, are you saying the three of them are Pill Masters?"

Zhao Yuan nodded. "It's extremely likely!"

Ying Ji put it all together. "It seems this Fellow Daoist selling the Thousand-Day Wine is quite cunning. He invited us, but he also invited another group at the same time. He's trying to get us to fight it out so he can swoop in and take the prize for himself, maximizing his own profit!"

Zhao Yuan and the other two agreed with her assessment.

At the same time, the three Pill Masters were also sizing up Zhao Yuan's group. Their previously relaxed expressions instantly turned dark and grim.

Seated in the center was an Elder Alchemist. With his white hair and youthful complexion, he was so well-preserved it was impossible to guess his true age. The other two Pill Masters, much younger and likely his apprentices, stood at his side.

The Elder Alchemist jutted his chin toward the apprentice on his left. "Shang Qu, go ask those youngsters what they're here for."

"Yes, Master." Shang Qu responded respectfully. He turned and walked over to Zhao Yuan's group, but his demeanor instantly shifted. He adopted a swaggering, arrogant posture, tilting his head back. "What are you lot here for?" he demanded. "If it's for the Thousand-Day Wine, you can forget it. Scram!"

He'd been spoiled into this behavior.

In today's Cultivation Realm, Pill Masters were a rare and highly sought-after profession. Their master, in particular, was quite renowned in the Alchemy Dao, which meant they were subject to even more fawning and flattery. They often threw their master's name around, riding on his coattails to intimidate others.

Over time, it became a habit. They spoke to everyone with the same condescending, arrogant tone—everyone, that is, except their master, their seniors in the Alchemy Dao, and the true powerhouses of the Cultivation Realm.

Unfortunately for him, Shang Qu had picked the wrong people to act high and mighty with this time.

But Ying Ji was not one to be trifled with. She immediately shot back, "Fatty Hao, do you hear a dog barking?"

Hao Li's reaction was swift, playing the perfect straight man. "I hear it. Sounds awful, doesn't it? What's with people these days? They don't even leash their dogs, just let them run around barking at everyone. Aren't they worried someone will snatch it up and turn it into dog meat hotpot?"

Shang Qu's face instantly darkened. "Are you daring to insult me?" he roared.

Ying Ji shot him a sidelong glance. "Were we insulting you? We were talking about some ill-mannered dog barking at people. Are you suggesting you're that dog?"

Hao Li gave him a thumbs-up. "First time I've ever seen someone so eager to identify as a dog. You're really something else, buddy!"

Shang Qu nearly exploded with rage. Ever since becoming a Pill Master, he was fawned over and flattered wherever he went. When had he ever been humiliated like this?

He was about to fly into a rage, but the Elder Alchemist spoke up, his voice cold. "Don't you find it rude, making such veiled insults? Apologize to my apprentice, then get out of this villa. Do that, and I can overlook your insolence. Otherwise, I don't mind teaching you a lesson on your parents' behalf!"

Ying Ji scoffed. "No wonder the apprentice is so arrogant; the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. You seem to be in fine health for your age, sir, not yet blind or deaf, so how can you spout such blatant lies? Your apprentice was clearly the one who was rude first! If you want people to be polite to you, you have to be polite yourselves."

"Quite the sharp-tongued little girl, daring to lecture me." The Elder Alchemist's eyebrow twitched, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes.

His two apprentices flew into a rage. One of them roared, "Do you have any idea who our master is? He is the Great Alchemist Bai Yuting, known by the title of 'Hundred Herbs King'! How dare you be so disrespectful to him! Get on your knees and beg for forgiveness, now!"

Shang Qu, who had been stewing in anger this whole time, lunged forward to teach Ying Ji a lesson.

But he never made it to her.

The Bone Woman took a single stride, blocking his path to Ying Ji. With a flick of her wrist, she drew her wakizashi, its tip aimed straight at Shang Qu's heart. At the same time, Ying Ji's Ghost Spirit materialized behind him, its icy claws resting on his neck. If he dared take another step, they would rip out his carotid artery.

Faced with this, Shang Qu's face went white with terror. How could he possibly dare to move?

"Mere Wangliang, daring to act so presumptuously before me!" Bai Yuting's eyes widened, shooting out two piercing glints of light. His aura exploded outwards as a surging wave of Qi erupted from his body. It formed into two invisible blades that shot toward the Bone Woman and Ying Ji's Ghost Spirit with lightning speed.

After all, Ying Ji and her companions had not yet reached the Qi Listening Realm, so their perception of Qi was hazy. By the time they sensed the attack, the Qi Blades were already upon the Bone Woman and the Ghost Spirit. With no way to help, they could only scream, "Get out of the way!"

At the critical moment, Zhao Yuan acted. A torrential stream of Qi erupted from his body and, with a BOOM, collided with the incoming Qi Blades, instantly shattering them.

"Hm?" A flicker of astonishment crossed Bai Yuting's face. "You're a Cultivator of the Qi Listening Realm?" he exclaimed.

At his words, both of his apprentices were stunned.

"What? A Cultivator in the Qi Listening Realm?"

"Master, you must be mistaken! Look how young he is! How could he possibly be a Cultivator in the Qi Listening Realm?"

Zhao Yuan stared at Bai Yuting, his voice cold. "Out of respect for your age, we might call you an esteemed elder, but that doesn't give you the right to be disrespectful! Your subordinates are arrogant and tyrannical, yet not only do you fail to restrain them, you indulge them and even personally step in to back them up. What, do you really think we're easy targets?"

Bai Yuting's face went pale, then flushed with anger. He was used to being haughty; otherwise, his two apprentices would never have developed such arrogant and domineering personalities. He just never imagined that a young man would one day stand there and lecture him to his face.

"A young man should know humility. Don't think you can be arrogant just because you've reached the Qi Listening Realm. I can still cripple you!" Bai Yuting snarled, glaring at Zhao Yuan through gritted teeth.

Zhao Yuan wasn't intimidated. He glared right back, enunciating each word. "I am perfectly humble toward esteemed elders of high moral standing. But for a corrupt old scoundrel, I wouldn't mind giving him a slap across the face. You want to cripple me? Fine. Come on, make your move! We'll see who cripples whom in the end!"

"Such audacity!" Bai Yuting was thoroughly enraged. His aura surged, and he stared at Zhao Yuan like a tiger stalking its prey, waiting for the slightest opening to launch a thunderbolt assault.