The Extreme Alchemist of the Mighty Cauldron

Chapter 1720: Chapter 1817: Severing the Master-Disciple Relationship

Fang Lin glanced at the woman with a cold and indifferent expression and said, “There are plenty of people more arrogant and overbearing than you. But for someone who has no real skills to speak of, behaving so presumptuously outside—when you encounter someone worse than you—you’re likely to not even know how you died.”

The woman said nothing but stared at Fang Lin with a venomous gaze, secretly resolving to contact her family members.

Fang Lin could not be bothered to care about what the woman might do and gestured for Liu Zhou to come over.

The latter returned the Detoxification Pill to Fang Lin and cautiously asked, “Are you perhaps Master Fang Lin?”

Fang Lin smiled. “It seems you have a decent eye.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhou, though he had already guessed it in his heart, was still taken aback. He immediately bowed deeply to Fang Lin. “This old man, Liu Zhou, pays his respects to Master Fang.”

By rights, Liu Zhou, with his Five Cauldrons status as a Master of Pill, did not need to bow this deeply to Fang Lin.

But Liu Zhou was self-aware. When standing next to Fang Lin, his title as a Master of Pill meant absolutely nothing.

What’s more, Fang Lin’s identity now extended far beyond that of a mere Master of Pill—he was also someone from the Sky Swallowing Palace. This alone was enough to make Liu Zhou revere him in awe.

The four disciples, learning that this plainly dressed young man before them was, incredibly, the renowned Master Fang Lin, were stunned. They stared at Fang Lin in disbelief, their faces full of astonishment.

Especially the woman whom Fang Lin had punched earlier; she gazed at him in a daze, her mind completely blank.

Fang Lin? He’s actually that Master Fang Lin? How could this be possible?

The woman could not believe it. The nobody she had taken him for turned out to have such a terrifying identity. The disparity struck her like a thunderbolt.

Who was Fang Lin? The youngest Master of Pill in the history of the Pill Alliance, now under the patronage of the Sky Swallowing Palace. He was a renowned figure across the Nine Countries, Seven Seas, and three sects.

If she had known earlier that this was Fang Lin, no matter how arrogant or domineering she might be, she would never have dared to act so recklessly before him.

But alas, it was too late now. The woman, though willful, was not utterly foolish. Her family might be strong locally, but in the grand scheme of the Nine Countries, they were insignificant. Forget about the Sky Swallowing Palace—even if Fang Lin didn’t have their support, his status as a Master of Pill alone was not something her family could afford to provoke.

What’s more, the truly daunting aspect of Fang Lin now was his affiliation with the Sky Swallowing Palace. In the present world, was there any force or powerful individual bold enough to challenge the Sky Swallowing Palace? That would be courting death.

If the Sky Swallowing Palace was a towering mountain, the family behind this woman was no more than a mere rock. There was no comparison.

Fang Lin calmly accepted Liu Zhou’s deep bow. He believed he deserved this gesture and felt no discomfort about it, even though Liu Zhou was much older than him.

“I didn’t know you were Master Fang Lin earlier and may have offended you in some way. I beg for Master Fang’s forgiveness.” Liu Zhou said solemnly, lowering his stance further while secretly observing Fang Lin’s reaction.

In Liu Zhou’s impression, Fang Lin was not known to be a gentle or easygoing person. Everything Fang Lin had done over the years, along with the rumors surrounding him, painted a clear picture for the world.

From causing chaos in Xuan City to flipping over the Pill Alliance Inspection Hall with the Dragon Family Demon, defying the Four Heaven Kings, and even killing Elder Tiangang—all proved that Fang Lin was a formidable and unyielding figure.

“I don’t particularly care, but your disciple has left me a bit displeased.” Fang Lin said with a detached tone.

Liu Zhou’s heart tightened immediately. He looked at the woman, who was still sitting on the ground and had not risen, and began weighing the situation in his mind.

“Master Liu, there are a few things I’d like to say—would you be willing to hear them?” Fang Lin patted Liu Zhou on the shoulder, speaking with a hint of amusement.

Liu Zhou hastily replied, “Please speak freely, Master Fang. This old man is all ears.”

Fang Lin gestured toward the woman. “When it comes to taking disciples, in my view, the first consideration should always be character and integrity, followed by talent and aptitude. Among the disciples you’ve taken, the others are barely passable, but this ‘star pupil’ of yours? She’s truly opened my eyes. Acting so presumptuously and lawlessly, relying arrogantly on her family’s influence—does she ever think about how such behavior might harm both herself and others? Master Liu, you must tread carefully.”

Liu Zhou’s face flushed with shame at Fang Lin’s words. He didn’t know how to respond and could only nod repeatedly, feeling an increasing annoyance toward the woman.

In truth, he never wanted to take her as a disciple in the first place. It was purely due to her family’s standing that he turned a blind eye to her flaws, thinking he could restrain her and prevent trouble.

Now, Liu Zhou realized how naïve he had been. Taking her as his disciple could very well end up dragging him into disaster.

Case in point, she had just crossed paths with Fang Lin. Fortunately, the situation hadn’t escalated further; otherwise, Liu Zhou couldn’t guarantee he would still have his life intact.

“Rest assured, Master Fang. From this moment on, this person is no longer my disciple,” Liu Zhou declared decisively, immediately severing the teacher-disciple relationship with the woman.

The woman’s face was full of confusion and dismay upon hearing this.

Fang Lin gave a slight nod and said nothing more. Though he disliked the woman, the consequences of being punched by him and abandoned by Liu Zhou as a disciple were punishment enough. There was no further need to press her.

The woman silently got up, glanced at Fang Lin and Liu Zhou, and left without saying a word.

Liu Zhou frowned slightly, but Fang Lin remained indifferent.

“Master, are we just going to let Junior Sister walk away like this?” One of the four male disciples asked tentatively.

Liu Zhou waved his hand, looking somewhat troubled.

“Master Liu, are you still affiliated with the Pill Alliance?” Fang Lin suddenly asked.

Liu Zhou sighed and shook his head. “I left the Pill Alliance a long time ago. Now I’m just a solitary wanderer.”

“Did the Pill Alliance not try to contact you?” Fang Lin asked.

A complicated expression crossed Liu Zhou’s face. “The East Pole Heaven King personally came to see me, but I refused to return to the Pill Alliance.”

Fang Lin smiled faintly at this. “I have to say, Master Liu, I admire you. To refuse the East Pole Heaven King himself—it takes some courage.”

Liu Zhou looked awkward. In truth, when the East Pole Heaven King approached him, he had already been tempted to accept. However, he had left the Pill Alliance in anger back then and vowed never to return. Returning now would be a blow to his pride, so he stubbornly refused despite his inner hesitation.

“Perhaps the Pill Alliance today is no longer the same as it once was,” Fang Lin murmured to himself.

ps: First update complete. Onwards to the next chapter—don’t forget to vote!