Ch600 - Mufeng Arrives in Alchemy City

When the crowd heard Elder He’s words, they looked over at him.

“Third Junior Brother, you’re being a bit rash,” Alchemy Emperor said helplessly. “Young Friend Liu is a Dragon Clan alchemist.”

“Senior Brother, you don’t know the whole story. Today, Immortal Friend Liu took eight different tests at the Alchemist Association. In less than four hours, he went from being a nameless alchemist to having a ninth-level alchemist identity badge. His success rate for refining level-1 to level-8 medicinal pills was 100%. Even his success rate for level-9 medicinal pills was very high. Young Friend Liu is extremely skilled in the Art of Alchemy.” Elder He looked over at his Senior Brother and explained further.

Elder He had always been in charge of the Alchemist Association. It was rare to see someone as talented as Liu Xuan, so he couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for him. He didn’t want Liu Xuan to stay in the Dragon Clan and waste his talents.

“Oh? I didn’t know that.” Alchemy Emperor hadn’t expected that to be the case.

“Yes, my Nephew is going to participate in the ninth-level alchemy competition. Senior Li He said that without an identity badge, he couldn’t participate in the competition, so my Nephew took the examinations for all levels of alchemist from first to ninth level today. Now he has an identity badge and is a ninth-level alchemist.” Long Zhe shot a dissatisfied glance at Li He as he spoke.

“Dragon Crown Prince, don’t be angry. I was only following the rules.” Li He hurriedly apologized after hearing the dissatisfaction in Long Zhe’s words.

Long Zhe gave him a cold look but didn’t say anything else.

“Xuanxuan? What happened? Did someone bully you? Why didn’t you tell me when you got back?” Long Xingtian asked unhappily as he looked at his Grandson.

“Grandpa Long, don’t worry. It’s not a big deal. Since I’m an alchemist, I’ll have to take the identity badge examination sooner or later anyway. I might as well just take it all at once so that no one will suspect my alchemy skills.” Liu Xuan smiled as he said this nonchalantly.

“Suspect you? Who dares to suspect my Grandson’s alchemy skills? I’ll break their legs.” Long Xingtian snorted arrogantly at this.

For some reason, Li He felt a chill run down his spine. He had the feeling that Long Xingtian was speaking directly to him.

“No, no, no. Your Majesty, I personally witnessed Young Friend Liu’s alchemy. I think he’s incredible. I just don’t know if Your Majesty would be willing to allow Young Friend Liu to become a member of the Alchemy Master Association?” Elder He requested with a smile.

“Alchemy Master Association? Xuanxuan, are you interested?” The Dragon Emperor turned to ask Liu Xuan.

“Grandpa Long, I don’t have any plans to leave the Dragon Clan for the time being.” Liu Xuan smiled and indicated that he didn’t intend to leave the Dragon Clan. Even if he were to go to the Middle Heavenly Domain, his level-9 cultivation was still too low. Therefore, he had no intention of leaving the Dragon Clan. He planned to wait until his strength increased a bit more before considering leaving the Dragon Clan to go out and seek opportunities for training.

“Oh.” The Dragon Emperor nodded and looked over at Elder He. “He doesn’t want to.”

When he heard that, Qing Chen rolled his eyes.Can’t you be a bit more tactful?He thought.Why are you being so direct?.

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When Alchemy Emperor saw how enthusiastic his Junior Brother was acting, he immediately sensed that something was off. His Junior Brother was very particular about who he took as a disciple. Considering that he was only an eleventh level alchemist, it was very strange that he only had three disciples. Clearly, Liu Xuan must have some outstanding qualities.

“Third Junior Brother San, you’re being a bit unfair here. Young Friend Liu is going to participate in the ninth level alchemy competition. If he takes first place, then he’ll be my disciple. You’re clearly trying to steal my disciple.” Alchemy Emperor said, looking very displeased.

“Senior Brother, you already have plenty of disciples. Why don’t you let me have this one?” Elder He said with a smile.

“Third Junior Brother, you…”

“What are you two fighting over? Did my Grandson agree to be your disciple or something? What a pair of idiots.” Long Xingtian looked on with a look of contempt.

“Um…” Hearing those words, the gazes of both men turned to Liu Xuan.

Liu Xuan suddenly felt a huge pressure weighing down on him. Standing up, he respectfully clasped hands and bowed to the two Elders. “I am deeply grateful for the honor you two Elders have shown me. To be recognized by two such distinguished individuals is a blessing that I could never have hoped for in many lifetimes. However, when my Father left, he told me that I must stay by my Grandfathers’ side and take care of them. Therefore, I must apologize for any inconvenience I may cause.”

“Young Friend Liu, your filial piety is truly commendable. However, you can’t just abandon your alchemy studies for the sake of filial piety.”

“That’s right. Alchemists should always strive to follow the grand Dao of alchemy.” The Alchemy Emperor nodded in agreement.

“Imperial Grandson, without a famous Master to guide you in your alchemy studies, you’ll end up going down many dead ends. Your alchemy is already very good, so you should definitely find a famous Master to learn from.” Elder Qu Yang said.

“Senior Qu is right. Alchemists do indeed need a Master to guide them. My Father is my best and most benevolent Master. He taught me not only the Arts of alchemy, poisons, and medicine but also how to live and how to be a person. Everything I learned from him will be enough to guide me for the rest of my life. Therefore, I really don’t need any other Master. I’m very sorry, Senior Elders, for letting you down.” With that, Liu Xuan bowed his head again in apology.

“Oh, I see.” Elder He didn’t know what else to say.

“I’ve heard that the Second Prince of the Dragon Clan is a man of great learning and wisdom.

Now that I’ve heard Young Friend Liu’s words, I really want to meet this Second Prince.” Alchemy Emperor was now even more curious about Liu Xuan’s Father.

“My Son isn’t in the Upper Heavenly Domain right now. When he gets back, I’ll bring him to show you old bastards what he’s made of. He’s smart, filial, and talented. Just like his old man.” Long Xingtian was clearly proud of Liu Mufeng.

When Alchemy Emperor heard that, the corner of his mouth twitched.If he’s anything like you, then the Upper Heavenly Domain is in for a real treat.

Xiaoyue was lying in Liu Xuan’s arms, looking at his husband’s expressionless face, he rubbed his head against his arm. “What’s wrong? Missing Mufeng?”

“Yeah. It’s been over five hundred years. I wonder when my parents will be back.” Liu Xuan frowned as he thought about his parents.

“Don’t worry. They should be back soon.” Xiaoyue said softly.

“Mn.” Nodding, Liu Xuan reached out and rubbed the fiery red fox fur on his lover’s body.

**********

Liu Mufeng’s group arrived a bit late. They didn’t arrive in the Capital City until the day before the competition. However, Liu Mufeng had already looked into the situation of the competition beforehand. After arriving in Alchemy City, he had Uncle Bai and Xiaoxiao go find an inn while he took the others to the Alchemy Master Association to apply for an alchemist badge.

Because it was the day before the competition, there were fewer alchemists taking the test than there had been in the previous days. That made things easier for Liu Mufeng.

Elder He sat there in his chair, looking up at Liu Mufeng, who had just walked in for the fifth time. “You again?”

“Correct,” replied Liu Mufeng. “It’s still me. I want to take the test to get my fifth-level Alchemist badge. Here’s my test ticket.” With that, he handed over his test ticket.

Elder He looked at it and then reached out to take it from him. Then, he tossed a jade box over to Liu Mufeng.

Liu Mufeng caught the box and opened it to look at the medicinal plant inside.

“What level of alchemist are you?” Elder He asked.

Liu Mufeng looked up and responded, “Senior, I am a ninth-level alchemist.”

He didn’t say that he was a tenth-level alchemist because he wanted to compete in the ninth-level competition with his Son.

Elder He nodded. “So, you’re here to take the test to become a ninth-level alchemist?”

“Yes, Senior. This Junior wishes to participate in the Pill-Refining Competition tomorrow.” Liu Mufeng nodded in agreement.

Seeing how determined Liu Mufeng seemed, Elder He nodded. “Very well. You may begin.”

He had assumed that Liu Xuan was an isolated case. After all, he had spent so many years in the Dragon Domain that even though he was a ninth-level alchemist, he didn’t have a first-level identity badge. He never would have imagined that he would run into another person like that today. Clearly, this man was a ninth-level alchemist but didn’t have a first-level identity badge.

“Yes, Sir.” Liu Mufeng produced his own pill furnace and began to refine pills. A tenth-level alchemist refining a fifth-level medicinal pill was a simple matter. Liu Mufeng successfully completed the task and was given a fifth-level alchemist’s identity badge. With that, he walked out of the examination room, smiling.

“Third Elder Brother, another ninth-level alchemist without an identity badge.” Seeing Elder He, one of the other Martial Elders laughed. He had been an alchemist for his entire life and had recently heard that the Imperial Grandson of the Dragon Clan was a ninth-level alchemist without an identity badge. He never imagined that he would run into another such person.

“That’s right, another one.” Elder He nodded. He hadn’t expected it either.

“Master, Martial Uncle, do you think this cultivator looks a bit like the Imperial Grandson of the Dragon Clan?” Elder He’s apprentice, Zhang He asked.

“Huh?” Martial Elder’s eyebrows rose high.

Elder He frowned. “En, how could I have forgotten? Could it be that he’s…”

Soon, Liu Mufeng walked in with his sixth level alchemist test card.

After handing over the immortal plants, Elder He examined Liu Mufeng carefully and realized that he did indeed look very much like Liu Xuan. “What’s your name?”

“Jiang Xu.” Liu Mufeng replied with a smile. Before he met his Son and two Godfathers, he didn’t intend to reveal his true identity. He was afraid that doing so would cause unnecessary trouble.

“Oh, Jiang Xu.” Elder He nodded.I must be overthinking things,he thought.If Liu Xuan’s Father really wanted to come, he would have come with the Dragon Emperor and the others. Why would he come to the Capital City by himself?