Volume Two: Travels in the Qi Kingdom Chapter 115: A Bustling Courtyard

The news spread like wildfire throughout the Qi Kingdom.

What did it mean to be a fifth-tier alchemist? To put it into perspective, when Wu Hong was still a fourth-tier practitioner, he had firmly held the position of the kingdom’s top alchemist for a century.

Now, with Wu Hong’s breakthrough to fifth-tier alchemist, his status underwent a qualitative leap. It was even possible that the Alchemy Pavilion’s headquarters would summon him back.

Having a fifth-tier alchemist as a backing was tantamount to gaining countless lifelines. Therefore, as soon as this news broke, the influential figures who had come to the imperial city of Qi Kingdom all hurried to the Alchemy Pavilion to offer their congratulations, eager to establish connections with Wu Hong.

Coincidentally, the imperial city was also hosting the grand competition, attracting countless people. For a time, the Alchemy Pavilion within the city bustled like a thriving marketplace, swarming with powerful cultivators beyond reckoning.

Even the Qi Emperor, upon hearing the news, was overjoyed and immediately decreed a nationwide celebration.

Though Wu Hong was not originally from Qi Kingdom, he had long resided there and had helped many of its people. His advancement was a great boon for the kingdom.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Heng immediately ended his cultivation state. His primary purpose for coming to the imperial city was to destroy the sinister Shadow Spirit Sect, responsible for countless evils.

Now that Wu Hong had advanced to a fifth-tier alchemist, many influential figures would surely gather around him. Meeting Wu Hong might present an opportunity to make powerful acquaintances, strengthening Zhang Heng’s hand against the Shadow Spirit Sect.

Moreover, mastering martial arts was quite simple for Zhang Heng now; he had essentially grasped the use of two martial techniques and only needed time to practice more.

Walking through the streets of the imperial city, the topics on everyone’s lips, aside from the grand competition, were about Wu Hong’s promotion to fifth-tier alchemist.

Alchemy was regarded as a sacred profession, and thus, alchemists were revered from the heart.

Returning once more to the Alchemy Pavilion, it was packed with a dense crowd. Even outside, circles upon circles of onlookers had gathered.

Those outside were mostly low-tier cultivators who believed they had no chance of befriending Wu Hong. When he was still a fourth-tier alchemist, he wouldn’t even acknowledge them. They were simply there to witness the presence of a fifth-tier alchemist.

Those who had squeezed inside the pavilion were individuals of some strength. After great effort, Zhang Heng also managed to push his way in.

Upon closer inspection, most were formidable experts from the Recess Realm, with even a dozen or so grandmasters from the Celestial Origin Realm.

There were dukes and nobles, sect elders, and powerful lone cultivators—every cultivator desired to associate with a fifth-tier alchemist.

After some searching, Zhang Heng found a pavilion attendant and hurried after her. Before he could speak, she said first: “Master Wu has just finished refining a fifth-tier pill. He is currently in a weak recovery phase and needs to rest. He cannot receive visitors at the moment. Please understand.”

Seeing the fierce competition inside the pavilion, Zhang Heng didn’t bother to argue and instead took out the alchemy furnace that Wu Hong had given him from his spatial ring.

“Miss, do you recognize this item?”

“I recognize it,” the attendant said, stunned. Wasn’t this Master Wu’s furnace? How could it be in the hands of a young man?

“Miss, I have a good relationship with Master Wu. Hearing of his promotion to fifth-tier, I came to offer my congratulations. Please, kindly lead me to see him,” Zhang Heng said with a slight bow.

The attendant hesitated momentarily but then gave a slight bow and pointed toward the back courtyard. “This way, sir.”

She knew how fond Wu Hong was of that furnace, and now that it was in the hands of this young man, their relationship must be significant.

Others saw the attendant leading away a young man and whispered among themselves in surprise. Since morning, very few had been granted entry by the attendants, and those had all been prominent figures.

“Who exactly is this young man? Why does Master Wu’s three-legged black gold furnace belong to him?”

“Could he be Master Wu’s illegitimate son?”

“That can’t be. Master Wu is over four hundred years old. Even if he had children, they wouldn’t be this young.”

Within the pavilion, among the many experts hoping to meet Wu Hong, everyone knew he was in the back courtyard, but none dared to force their way in. They waited politely, and even when they saw the attendant leading a low-level cultivator away, they merely whispered without objecting.

Zhang Heng understood this was not only out of respect for Wu Hong but also because the pavilion’s power was terrifyingly strong, enough to intimidate even these top experts.

After passing through a narrow garden path, they finally reached the back courtyard. Compared to the noisy front, this place was tranquil.

When Zhang Heng arrived, several people were already present.

First, he saw the siblings Qi Xuan and Qi Sisi. Then a middle-aged couple whose strength was formidable—they were both fifth-tier Celestial Origin Realm cultivators, though Zhang Heng did not know them.

He skipped over a few strangers he did not recognize.

Then he spotted a familiar figure—an unorthodox old man from the Celestial Origin Realm sixth tier, Ling Tian. The man wore a mischievous grin as he looked at Zhang Heng and beckoned him over with a wave.

Zhang Heng approached, puzzled. “Old man, what are you doing here?”

“Kid, if you can be here, why can’t I?” Ling Tian retorted.

“Old man, if you wanted to come to the imperial city of Qi, why didn’t you bring me directly inside instead of leaving me in the forest outside?” Zhang Heng was confused. Wasn’t this old man always meddlesome?

Hearing this, Ling Tian grew slightly angry. “Kid, I did it for your own good. If I hadn’t, how would you have had the chance to rescue the beauty?” He glanced toward Qi Sisi not far away.

“Oh, so you did it on purpose,” Zhang Heng finally understood.

The old man must have noticed Qi Sisi being chased and deliberately left Zhang Heng there so they would meet.

This unruly old man was quite a schemer.

“So, did you manage to win the beauty’s heart?” Ling Tian leaned close, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

Zhang Heng remained expressionless.

The old man frowned and stood up. “Kid, you haven’t settled this yet, have you?”

Zhang Heng still ignored him.

“A lost cause, wasting my kindness,” Ling Tian slammed his palm on the table in frustration and turned his head away.

Their unrestrained exchange was naturally overheard by Qi Sisi, who stood awkwardly to the side, not daring to approach.

Witnessing the verbal sparring left everyone present stunned.

Ling Tian was no ordinary man; he was the senior elder of the Spirit Feather Palace, a top-tier sixth-tier Celestial Origin Realm expert. In Qi Kingdom, such a figure was among the elite. Yet Zhang Heng showed him no respect. Even more puzzling, Ling Tian did not retaliate violently.

Just then, Wu Hong finally appeared.

Except for Zhang Heng and Ling Tian, everyone else wore bright smiles.

Wu Hong entered through the back gate, dressed in a new alchemist’s robe, his face flushed with pride and a victorious smile. His steps were confident and commanding as he approached the group.

Laughing heartily as he walked, “Hahaha! This old man just freshened up. Apologies for the poor reception earlier, please forgive me.”

Everyone returned his greeting with deep respect.

Suddenly, Wu Hong spotted Zhang Heng in the distance and exclaimed excitedly, “Zhang Heng, boy?”