Chapter 158: Alchemy Furnace Explosion

Since the battle on the Life and Death Stage, Chen Chuan’s name had swept through the entire Outer Sect like a storm.

At first, everyone waited uneasily for the Qingtian Alliance’s storm-like retaliation.

Zhao Hengjiang’s vengeful nature was well-known, not to mention that behind him stood the number one person in the Outer Sect, Zhao Ritian of the Great Power Realm, Ninth Level.

However, as the days passed, the expected retaliation did not arrive.

Zhao Hengjiang seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth, and his lackeys had also restrained themselves significantly, taking a detour whenever they saw Chen Chuan.

This unusual calm sparked all sorts of speculation among the Outer Sect Disciples.

"Hey, did you see that? Zhao Hengjiang chickened out! Chen Chuan’s battle was so impressive that even the Qingtian Alliance doesn’t dare to provoke him easily."

"Maybe not. I think it’s the calm before the storm."

"Zhao Hengjiang is nothing; the key is Zhao Ritian!"

"I heard that Zhao Ritian took the core members of the Qingtian Alliance on an advanced Sect mission and has been away for some time. Once they return, Chen Chuan will likely face a great disaster."

"A First Layer of the Half-Step Great Power Realm defeating a Third Layer; this Chen Chuan is definitely a hidden monstrous talent."

"Maybe he has a backer too, otherwise how could he be so fearless?"

"A backer? I think he just knows there’s no way to settle this peacefully, so he’s simply being arrogant to the end."

Rumors were rife, but Chen Chuan turned a deaf ear to them.

The outside world’s discussions were to him like a gentle breeze brushing past.

Zhao Ritian?

Great Power Realm, Ninth Level?

Perhaps in the eyes of others, he was an unattainable existence.

But for a cheater like him who possessed the System, he was merely a stumbling block on the road ahead, to be kicked aside.

He had absolute confidence in himself, a confidence that stemmed from the System.

During these relatively peaceful days, the person who interacted with Chen Chuan most frequently was actually Su Mengxi.

This recognized pride of the Outer Sect seemed to completely disregard the opinions of others; whenever she encountered an incomprehensible bottleneck in Alchemy, she would unhesitatingly come to seek Chen Chuan’s advice and discussion.

Chen Chuan’s insights into the Dao of Alchemy were often incisive and went straight to the core, benefiting Su Mengxi immensely.

Over time, the direction of the wind in the Outer Sect began to change again.

Rumors about an ambiguous relationship between Su Mengxi and Chen Chuan quietly emerged and spread rapidly.

"Did you hear? Senior Sister Su went to find Chen Chuan again!"

"Tsk tsk, Senior Sister Su is so proud, yet now she shows such favor to a new Disciple. Who would believe there’s nothing fishy going on?"

"That Chen Chuan is only at the First Layer of the Half-Step Great Power Realm; how could Senior Sister Su take an interest in him?"

"Hey, don’t forget, Senior Brother Li Feiyun has been pursuing Senior Sister Su for so long and hasn’t even gotten a few smiles, while this Chen Chuan has only been here for how long..."

At the mention of Li Feiyun, everyone’s expressions became varied.

Li Feiyun, the grandson of the Elder of the Pill Hall, possessed impressive talent in the Dao of Alchemy and a Cultivation at the Great Power Realm, Third Level; he was one of Su Mengxi’s most fanatical pursuers.

His pursuit of Su Mengxi was known to everyone in the Outer Sect.

Now, the goddess he had painstakingly pursued to no avail was getting so close to a rising madman who might even have a blood feud with the Qingtian Alliance—how could Li Feiyun endure this?

Whenever he heard the gossip about Su Mengxi and Chen Chuan, Li Feiyun felt a surge of wicked fire rush to his head, and his internal organs felt as if they were being gnawed by poisonous insects.

He wished he could drag Chen Chuan out immediately and use the most cruel pill fire to refine him into ashes.

But because of Su Mengxi, he didn’t dare to act openly.

He knew Su Mengxi’s character was soft on the outside but firm on the inside; if he made her loathe him because of this, all hope would be lost.

This jealousy and anger could only be suppressed deep in his heart, turning into an imperceptible gloom in the depths of his eyes.

On this day, Chen Chuan had just finished a round of Cultivation; his Qi and blood had settled, and the sharp light in his eyes was restrained.

There was a gentle knock on the courtyard gate.

Standing outside the door was indeed Su Mengxi.

Today, she wore a pale purple long dress that outlined her graceful figure. Her face was still exquisitely beautiful, but there was a lingering trace of gravity and nervousness between her brows.

"Junior Brother Chen, sorry to disturb you." Su Mengxi’s voice carried a hint of imperceptible unease.

"I... I am preparing to refine the ’Spirit Transformation Pill.’ This pill is crucial to whether I can successfully achieve a Breakthrough."

"There are a few key points I’m really unsure about. I wonder if Junior Brother could come to the Pill Hall to act as my Guardian and offer some guidance?"

Chen Chuan looked at the woman’s rare nervous appearance and understood.

The Spirit Transformation Pill was of a high grade and extremely difficult to refine; whether the pill was successfully formed indeed had a significant impact on her Cultivation Breakthrough.

He had a good impression of Su Mengxi; she was straightforward and valued relationships, making her a friend worth having.

"Senior Sister Su, you’re too polite. It’s just a small favor." Chen Chuan nodded readily. "Let’s go then."

Seeing Chen Chuan agree so readily, a flash of gratitude and joy appeared in Su Mengxi’s beautiful eyes, and she quickly led the way.

The two arrived at the Pill Hall side by side and found a vacant Alchemy room.

In the center of the room, a dark red Alchemy Furnace stood quietly, surrounded by the faint fragrance of Spirit Herbs.

Su Mengxi took a deep breath, calmed her somewhat disordered thoughts, and began her preparations.

She first carefully inspected the medicinal ingredients, then circulated her internal Spiritual Power to ignite the furnace fire.

Alchemy began. Su Mengxi was fully focused, skillfully throwing in one Spirit Herb after another.

Chen Chuan stood quietly to the side, his gaze sharp, watching the changes in the furnace fire and the Fusion of the medicinal liquids.

At first, everything went smoothly, and the medicinal liquids slowly merged under Su Mengxi’s precise control.

But as the Alchemy entered the most critical stage of forming the pill, Su Mengxi, preoccupied with her Breakthrough, became restless, and her control over the heat showed a slight deviation.

"The heat is a bit too strong; pull back thirty percent and keep your mind steady." Chen Chuan spoke up to remind her at the right time, his voice low and clear.

However, it was still a step too late.

Su Mengxi’s heart tightened; she tried to force a correction, but her Spiritual Power output became even more disordered.

"Not good!"

With a muffled boom, the Alchemy Furnace shook violently, and the furnace lid was blown open by violent energy.

A searing wave of air, mixed with shattered medicinal ingredients and metal fragments, suddenly exploded in all directions.

Su Mengxi, bearing the brunt of it, was violently thrown back. Her Qi and blood churned inside her, and with a sweet taste in her throat, she spat out a mouthful of blood.

She only felt a burning pain coming from her thigh, and her vision began to darken.

Just when she thought she was going to fall heavily to the ground, a strong and powerful arm caught her waist in time, holding her steadily.

A familiar masculine scent wafted over her, carrying a faint smell of sunlight.

Su Mengxi fell into a warm and solid embrace.

She raised her pale face, and what met her eyes was Chen Chuan’s handsome profile, inches away.

Having never had such close contact with the opposite sex, her heart instantly fell into a panic, like a deer racing. Her already churning Qi and blood went further out of control, and another mouthful of blood spilled from her lips.

"I... I’m fine..."

Su Mengxi struggled to stand up straight and escape this heart-fluttering embrace.

However, as soon as she exerted force, a piercing pain came from her thigh, and at the same time, she felt a wave of weakness. Her delicate body went soft, and she fell downward again.