Chapter 193: Newcomer Challenges the Holy Son (2)

Su Mengxi laughed inwardly. With your meager Alchemy skills, you dare to show off in front of a monster like Chen Chuan?

On the surface, she put on a “you don’t understand” expression and said softly:

“Senior Brother Gu, you are mistaken. Chen Chuan and I have similar Cultivation levels, so we can support each other and progress together. And…”

She looked up at Chen Chuan, her eyes full of admiring little stars: “Chen Chuan’s attainments in Alchemy are also very profound! Back in the Outer Sect, I was attracted by his superb Alchemy techniques, which is why I fell for him.”

“Oh? Junior Brother Chen also understands Alchemy?” Gu Chen acted as if he had heard something extremely hilarious, the disdain in his eyes almost overflowing.

As the acknowledged number one in Alchemy among the Inner Sect Disciples and the possessor of the Spiritual Flame “Ice Heart Cold Flame,” how could he take a nameless kid who had just broken through to the Spirit Transformation Realm seriously?

In his mind, Chen Chuan’s so-called Alchemy attainments probably weren’t even worthy of carrying his shoes.

Meanwhile, Chen Chuan was secretly using his Eye of Wisdom to carefully observe Gu Chen.

When he saw the Spiritual Flame inside Gu Chen’s body, Chen Chuan was very surprised.

Ice Heart Cold Flame!

This was a Spiritual Flame ranked quite high!

If he could obtain it, he would be able to gather five types of Spiritual Flames. At that time, the power of the new fused flame would surely undergo a qualitative leap.

A plan for a friendly spar while earning Origin Stones instantly formed in his mind.

Facing Gu Chen’s unconcealed contempt, Chen Chuan gave a faint smile.

His tone was calm yet carried an inexplicable confidence: “Senior Brother Gu, regarding Alchemy techniques, this junior doesn’t dare to claim supremacy, but I believe I am not inferior to anyone.”

“Not inferior to anyone?” Gu Chen froze for a moment, as if he had heard the most absurd joke in the world.

He then couldn’t help but burst into laughter: “Hahaha! Should I say you are commendably brave, or should I say you are too arrogant and ignorant?”

His laughter echoed through the Inner Sect area, filled with mockery.

This sudden laughter immediately attracted the attention of many nearby Inner Sect Disciples.

People who were originally watching from a distance now curiously gathered closer and pricked up their ears.

When they saw the newly-risen goddess Su Mengxi intimately holding a strange male Disciple’s arm while Holy Son Gu was confronting him, the spirit of gossip immediately began to burn fiercely in everyone’s hearts.

“Wow! A massive scene of jealousy?”

“Who is that guy? Never seen him before. A newcomer? Why would Su Mengxi be with him?”

“Looks like Holy Son Gu has hit a steel plate? No, wait, he’s run into an unobservant rock, hasn’t he?”

“What did that kid say? Not inferior to anyone in Alchemy? Saying that in front of Gu Chen? Is there something wrong with his head?”

The faint sounds of discussion from the surroundings made Gu Chen feel even more disgraced.

He stopped laughing and looked at Chen Chuan with sharp eyes: “What a ‘not inferior to anyone’! Since Junior Brother Chen is so confident, do you dare to make a bet with me?”

He pointed at Chen Chuan, raising his voice to ensure everyone around could hear:

“At the Pill Refining Assembly in three days, we’ll see whose rank is higher! If you lose, you must immediately leave Junior Sister Mengxi. You simply don’t deserve her.”

Upon hearing this, Su Mengxi’s heart tightened, and she looked at Chen Chuan with concern.

She was both afraid that Chen Chuan would impulsively agree and secretly hopeful, wanting to know if Chen Chuan would accept this wager for her sake.

However, Chen Chuan’s reaction exceeded everyone’s expectations.

He shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of unquestionable righteousness:

“Senior Brother Gu, I think you’ve mistaken one thing.”

“Senior Sister Su is a living person. She has her own choices and will; she is not an object to be traded.”

“I, Chen Chuan, will never use a woman’s belonging as a stake. That would be disrespectful to her.”

These words were powerful and resonant. Su Mengxi’s body shook, and her beautiful eyes were instantly covered by a layer of mist.

The look she gave Chen Chuan was filled with indescribable emotion and affection. That thick, inseparable tenderness almost drowned him.

She felt as if the softest part of her heart had been deeply touched, and she wanted nothing more than to throw herself into his arms right then.

Gu Chen was momentarily speechless after being rebuked by Chen Chuan’s righteous words. His face turned various shades of blue and white as he struggled to find the right words to retort.

The eyes of some nearby female Disciples also brightened instantly. They felt that although this new Junior Brother’s Cultivation wasn’t high, his character and values were quite upright.

“However…” Chen Chuan changed the subject, the corner of his mouth curling into a faint arc:

“If Senior Brother Gu truly wants to bet, it’s not impossible.”

“How about we bet two hundred thousand low-grade Origin Stones?”

“If my rank in the Pill Refining Assembly is higher than yours, you give me two hundred thousand low-grade Origin Stones. If I lose, I give you two hundred thousand. How about it?”

“This is more practical and fairer than betting a person.”

Two hundred thousand low-grade Origin Stones.

This was no small amount; it was enough for an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple to save for a long time.

Gu Chen narrowed his eyes and sneered in his heart. This kid really dared to open his mouth.

But in his view, this was simply giving him Origin Stones for free.

He happened to have his eye on a rare Spirit Herb recently and was a bit short on funds. These two hundred thousand Origin Stones came at just the right time.

“Fine! It’s a deal!”

Gu Chen immediately agreed, fearing Chen Chuan would back out.

He then looked at Su Mengxi, his tone carrying a bit of pity and sarcasm:

“Junior Sister Mengxi, it seems your judgment is only so-so, to actually take a fancy to such an arrogant, ignorant person who seeks his own humiliation.”

“In three days, at the Pill Refining Assembly, I will let you see with your own eyes what a massive gap exists between this person you chose and me in the Dao of Alchemy.”

After saying that, he gave a cold snort and swept away, leaving behind a back that looked elegant but was actually full of suppressed rage.

“I should go sign up now.”

Chen Chuan released his hand from Su Mengxi’s waist and returned to his normal tone.

Su Mengxi, however, still held his arm tightly, as if she hadn’t come out of the act yet—or rather, she didn’t want to come out at all.

She looked up with her pretty face, her eyes rippling with emotion as she said softly: “Mhm, I’ll go with you. I want to sign up too.”

The two then walked side by side toward the registration office under the complex gazes of a crowd of Inner Sect Disciples.

Behind them, the news of the shocking two-hundred-thousand-Origin-Stone bet between Chen Chuan and Holy Son Gu spread through the entire Inner Sect like it had wings.

“Extra! Extra! New Inner Sect Disciple Chen Chuan has publicly challenged Holy Son Gu’s Alchemy authority with a wager of two hundred thousand Origin Stones!”

A well-informed Disciple shouted in the crowd like a storyteller.

“What? Which Chen Chuan? Did a new Disciple break his brain while Cultivating?”

“Spirit Transformation Realm First Level challenging Holy Son Gu in Alchemy? This isn’t just being commendably brave; this is a classic case of being fearless through ignorance. He’s seeking his own death!”

“Hehe! I bet he won’t even make it into the top hundred.”

“Top hundred? Brother, you think too highly of him. I bet he’ll be eliminated in the first round, not even able to refine a pill dreg.”

“Tsk tsk, two hundred thousand Origin Stones! Where did this Chen Chuan come from? Or does he know he’ll lose and is intentionally giving Holy Son Gu money to try and curry favor?”

“Currying favor? By seeking humiliation like this? I think he’s gone crazy wanting to be famous!”

“Just wait three days for the Pill Refining Assembly to see how Chen Chuan gets crushed into dust by Holy Son Gu. This will be the most hilarious suicidal performance in the Inner Sect this year.”

“Hahaha, I can already imagine his tearful face after losing the Origin Stones that day.”

Almost all the Inner Sect Disciples viewed Chen Chuan as a clown who didn’t know the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth and was trying to reach the sky in a single step.

No one believed he had even the slightest chance of winning.

After all, Gu Chen’s Alchemy strength had been verified many times; his first-place finish in the previous Pill Refining Assembly was the best proof of his ability.

In everyone’s eyes, this wager was nothing more than a farce where Gu Chen would unilaterally crush him and Chen Chuan would proactively give away money.

The entire Inner Sect was immersed in a joyful atmosphere of waiting to watch a good show.