Chapter 234: Rogue Play (1)

[A/N: We are just a few more golden tickets away from reaching another milestone!!]

In the square, all was silent, save for the residual spiritual energy of heaven and earth from the Elixir Tribulation still rippling slightly.

All eyes, as if drawn by invisible threads, were firmly fixed on the young man in green robes at the center of the field.

Expectation, envy, jealousy... various emotions intertwined as they waited for his response to that great honor.

Chen Chuan felt his scalp tingle, and the earth-shattering announcement of the Myriad Medicine Sacred Lord seemed to still be echoing in his ears.

Dao Companion?

Yao Xian?

His head buzzed as if ten thousand bees were flapping their wings at once.

This sudden stroke of romantic luck caught him even more off guard than the nine-fold Elixir Tribulation he had just endured.

Subconsciously, he snapped his head around, his gaze like two sharp swords piercing toward the figure on the VIP seats who was supposed to be his most reliable support.

Sensing his Disciple’s gaze, which was practically spitting fire, Mu Qing’s old face instantly turned bright red, and he turned his head away in an extremely unnatural manner.

He pretended to stroke his beard with one hand while his eyes drifted toward the sky, as if the clouds had suddenly become a supreme Alchemy Secret Manual worthy of his full attention.

He even shrunk his neck slightly, trying to hide himself in the shadows of his seat, adopting an ostrich-like posture that said, "This has nothing to do with me; I know nothing."

Chen Chuan: "..."

In an instant, he understood everything! He understood completely!

No wonder this old fellow had been so secretive and hesitant about that so-called promise before.

No wonder he insisted that Chen Chuan give his all, even at the risk of exposing the Pure Karma Sacred Fire, to take first place.

So this was the pit that had been dug, waiting for him to jump in.

But he was already married!

His wife, Ji Siyu, shared a deep affection with him; she was his Dao Companion and, moreover, the future hope of Taiyi Holy Land.

What was this supposed to be?

Win the competition and get a Saintess Dao Companion as a bonus?

If Si Yu ever found out about this, Chen Chuan couldn’t help but shudder.

He was caught in a dilemma!

A true dilemma!

Standing at the center of everyone’s attention, the Nine Revolutions Soul Condensing Pill in his hand, still warm, now felt incredibly hot to the touch.

He shifted his gaze with difficulty and looked at Yao Xian, who was not far away.

Yao Xian was also looking at him. In those eyes, clear as autumn water, the gravity from her earlier Alchemy had dissipated, replaced by a touch of unmistakable shyness and even clearer admiration.

After the debate at the Pill Discussion Banquet and the practical battle of the Pill Refining Assembly, Chen Chuan’s unfathomable understanding of the Dao of Alchemy and his ghost-like Alchemy techniques had completely won over this proud Saintess.

In her eyes, perhaps only an Alchemy monstrous talent like Chen Chuan was truly fit to walk alongside her on the path of Alchemy, even if his current cultivation was only the Half-Saint Realm, First Level.

The surrounding gazes, especially those of the Myriad Medicine Sacred Land Disciples, were filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred.

Yao Xian’s fairy-like temperament and peerless beauty made her the dream Dao Companion for countless young Cultivators.

To be favored by the Saintess, in their eyes, Chen Chuan had simply struck an incredible stroke of luck.

However, Chen Chuan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed the turmoil in his heart, took a step forward, and bowed to the Myriad Medicine Sacred Lord on the high platform. His voice rang out clearly across the square where a pin drop could be heard:

"The Sacred Lord’s kindness is profound, and this Junior is eternally grateful. However, I fear I must disappoint this beautiful intention."

He paused and, amidst the stunned gazes of the crowd, braced himself and continued, "Junior is already married. My wife is precisely the Successor of Taiyi Holy Land."

He specifically emphasized that she was the Successor of Taiyi Holy Land, then quickly added:

"Furthermore, before participating in the Pill Refining Assembly, Junior truly did not know that the champion reward included becoming Dao Companions with Fairy Yao Xian."

"Had I known earlier, Junior would have certainly explained the situation beforehand to avoid today’s misunderstanding."

"Boom!"

As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a ladle of cold water thrown into a boiling pot of oil; the entire square instantly erupted into a frenzy.

"What? He’s married? His wife is the Successor of Taiyi Holy Land?"

"Is this a joke! He actually dares to refuse Senior Sister Yao Xian!"

"What a bastard! How can a guy at the Half-Saint Realm, First Level look down on Senior Sister Yao Xian?"

"He clearly looks down on my Myriad Medicine Sacred Land. This is an insult, an outright insult!"

The Disciples of the Myriad Medicine Sacred Land were filled with righteous indignation, their faces flushed as they glared at Chen Chuan, their eyes looking as if they wanted to swallow him alive.

Yao Xian was not just the Saintess; she was the symbol and future of the Myriad Medicine Sacred Land.

Chen Chuan’s refusal, in their eyes, was not just a rejection of personal feelings, but a trampling of the dignity of the Myriad Medicine Sacred Land.

The blush on Yao Xian’s face instantly faded, leaving her somewhat pale.

She looked at Chen Chuan in disbelief, the admiration in her beautiful eyes quickly replaced by bewilderment and a hint of offended anger.

She never expected that this would be the result she waited for.

On the high platform, the Myriad Medicine Sacred Lord’s face darkened instantly, as if covered by a layer of frost.

His gaze was as sharp as a knife as he stared intently at Chen Chuan, his voice carrying an unquestionable authority:

"Chen Chuan, are you telling the truth? Do not fabricate such an excuse just to evade this! Is the Saintess of my Myriad Medicine Sacred Land not worthy of you, Chen Chuan?"

Feeling the mountain-like pressure, Chen Chuan bowed again, his tone sincere yet firm:

"The Sacred Lord’s judgment is clear; Junior speaks no lies. It is not that Fairy Yao Xian is not worthy of me, but rather that I already have a family, and it is I who am not worthy of a heavenly daughter like Fairy Yao Xian."

"My wife is indeed the Successor of Taiyi Holy Land, Ji Siyu."

"Nonsense!" an Elder of the Myriad Medicine Sacred Land couldn’t help but shout sternly. "The Successor of Taiyi Holy Land is mysterious and unfathomable, and the Taiyi Holy Lord protects her closely. How could she easily be allowed to have contact with the opposite sex, let alone marry! If you’re going to fabricate a lie, at least find a decent reason!"

"Exactly! He must be talking nonsense! With just him, how could he possibly marry the Successor of Taiyi Holy Land? Simply absurd!" The Disciples below chimed in one after another, not believing Chen Chuan’s words at all.

Yao Xian also shook her head gently, her gaze returning to its cold state.

She also felt that Chen Chuan’s excuse was too clumsy. Given the status of the Successor of Taiyi Holy Land, how could she easily marry down, and to a fellow Disciple whose cultivation was currently only at the Half-Saint level?

To her, this was simply a fantasy.

Seeing that everyone disbelieved him and that it was even leading to greater misunderstandings, Chen Chuan felt helpless.

He had no choice but to turn his gaze toward the culprit once more and say loudly, "Master! This matter requires you to clarify!"

Instantly, everyone’s gaze, including the Myriad Medicine Sacred Lord’s eyes which were nearly spitting fire, focused in unison on Mu Qing, who was trying to minimize his presence.

Mu Qing’s body stiffened; he knew he couldn’t hide anymore.

He coughed twice, slowly stood up, forced a smile that looked worse than crying onto his face, and cupped his hands toward the Myriad Medicine Sacred Lord:

"Well, Sacred Lord Yao, please calm your anger, calm down. What my Disciple said is indeed the truth. He and the Successor of the Holy Lord are indeed in a marital relationship."

He paused and, under the Myriad Medicine Sacred Lord’s increasingly ugly expression, braced himself to explain:

"I didn’t tell him beforehand that winning first place would allow him to become Dao Companions with my niece Yao Xian, mainly because I feared that if he knew, he wouldn’t be willing to come to this Pill Refining Assembly."

"You know how it is; young people have thin skin, and since he’s already married, he would inevitably have reservations."

"This old man just wanted him to come and bring some glory to our Taiyi Holy Land; there was absolutely no intention to deliberately insult the Myriad Medicine Sacred Land."

"Mu Qing!"

The Myriad Medicine Sacred Lord could no longer suppress his fury. He slammed his hand onto the armrest of his seat, causing the entire high platform to tremble.

His hair and beard bristled, and the terrifying aura of the Holy Lord level erupted, enveloping the entire field. "How bold of you to dare play with my Myriad Medicine Sacred Land like this. You let your Disciple come here to make a name for himself, yet you let the Saintess of my Holy Land suffer such public humiliation. What do you take my Myriad Medicine Sacred Land for?"

"Exactly! Sacred Lord Mu Qing, you’ve acted far too dishonorably in this matter." Ye Qingfeng immediately jumped out to fan the flames, looking righteous and stern. "This is clearly showing no regard for the Myriad Medicine Sacred Land."

"Indeed! An explanation must be given to the Myriad Medicine Sacred Land." Hai Yan and Wang Shishan also chimed in, kicking him while he was down.