JSCMU-Chapter 138: Changes in the Marketplace

Zhao Wuji swept the area with his spiritual sense and surprisingly detected several experts at Fusion Stage. Moreover, none of them were attempting to hide. On the contrary, they were openly using their spiritual sense to scan the marketplace, seemingly searching for someone.

When Zhao Wuji’s spiritual sense brushed over those mysterious experts, they immediately sensed his presence as well.

Zhao Wuji’s expression tightened, he almost turned and fled.

If so many experts joined forces, they could easily keep him here.

Fortunately, none of the hidden experts showed any intent to make a move. Their spiritual sense merely swept past him, and only then did Zhao Wuji allow himself to slightly relax.

Still, he grew more cautious inside.

Next time, he’d better not leave Tianxing Sect so lightly.

As for this time, since he’s already here, he still had to meet Chen Changrong. He couldn’t leave without teaching that man a lesson.

Zhao Wuji hid his appearance and arrived at Baicao Pavilion. He directly said to the shop assistant, “Where is Chen Changrong? Have him come out and meet me!”

The shop assistant immediately gave a distressed expression. “Too many people wish to meet our Pavilion Master. Senior… please wait in line.”

Zhao Wuji nearly laughed from anger.

Wait in line?

He is a dignified Sect Master, and he had to wait in line?

These people must not know his identity!

Zhao Wuji was about to explode.

But the shop assistant already pointed in a direction. “Over there. Guests may wait freely.”

Zhao Wuji narrowed his eyes. He actually did see several people queuing up over there.

Zhao Wuji let out a cold chuckle and sent out a wave of spiritual pressure.

Immediately, the people in line all turned to look at him, their expressions filled with danger.

Zhao Wuji was alarmed.

His spiritual pressure had no effect.

The people in line were all Fusion cultivators!

Are all these Fusion Stage experts all queuing to meet Chen Changrong?

Zhao Wuji cupped his hands and calmly said, “It’s a misunderstanding.”

He could only be thankful that he disguised his appearance this time.

“Hmph. You also want to see Chen Changrong?” a rugged-looking middle-aged man asked in a booming voice.

Zhao Wuji nodded. “Indeed.”

“Then queue up properly,” the man said. “Chen Changrong isn’t so easy to see these days!”

Zhao Wuji obediently joined the queue and then asked, “Did something happen recently in the marketplace? Why are there so many experts?”

Several people in line gave Zhao Wuji strange looks.

“You don’t know?” someone asked.

Zhao Wuji shook his head.

He really wasn’t sure.

Since he had nothing to do while waiting, the man with the booming voice raised his eyebrows and said, “Then you must’ve at least heard about the alchemy genius, right?”

Zhao Wuji nodded. “I’ve heard some things.”

There were rumors that a peerless alchemy genius had appeared in the marketplace, one who broke through both first and second alchemist ranks within just a few days, and every pill she refined was of perfect quality.

Zhao Wuji then asked in confusion, “The recent changes in the marketplace was because of that genius?”

No matter how talented she was, she was only a second-rank alchemist. Why would so many experts be mobilized?

The man replied calmly, “Of course. Do you know who’s currently inside meeting with Chen Changrong?”

“Who?” Zhao Wuji couldn’t help himself asking.

“A seventh-rank alchemist from the super sect, Yiqi Sect,” the man said bluntly.

A seventh-rank alchemist!

And it’s a seventh-rank alchemist from Yiqi Sect! Even within a super sect, such a person would be of immense importance.

Zhao Wuji’s face slightly changed.

If not for his father being in Qingxiao Pavilion, based purely on his current status as the sect master of a mid-tier sect, he likely wouldn’t even be comparable to that person.

“There’s more,” the man continued. “First in line is an elder from the top-tier sect Lieyan Sect. Beside him is the stationed alchemist, Ming Heng.”

The old man at the front cast Zhao Wuji an expressionless glance, but Ming Heng actually gave him a smile and a nod.

Zhao Wuji’s heart skipped a beat again.

Even envoys from top-tier sects had to wait in line?

“I and the lady ahead of me both come from different top-tier sects: Luohua Sect and Guangling Sect,” the man added casually. Then he looked toward Zhao Wuji.

Zhao Wuji’s lips trembled slightly.

He always took pride in his identity. Even without his father’s status, at least his position as Sect Master was earned through hard work.

But in front of these envoys from top-tier and super sects, his own identity didn’t really measure up.

Unable to hold back, Zhao Wuji asked, “All of this is related to that genius?”

The man nodded. “You seriously didn’t know?”

Zhao Wuji revealed a confused expression.

“Then it’s probably because the level of the sect you’re from is too low, and you have no access to such top-secret information.” The man gave Zhao Wuji a pitying glance before continuing in a low voice, “It’s fine to tell you some inside information, since you don’t really have any ability to compete anyway.”

Zhao Wuji: “…”

This… this is very humiliating!

But he could only obediently listen.

He couldn’t very well shout, “My dad is in Qingxiao Pavilion,” could he?

The man lowered his voice and put on an air of mystique. “That peerless genius can not only refine perfect-quality pills every time, but she also modifies the pill recipes. The first time she took the exam, she refined Biling Pills. The Biling Pill recipe contains four herbs plus Marrow-Cleansing Solution. However, when she refined it, she only used Biling Grass and Marrow-Cleansing Solution. The other three ingredients were completely omitted.”

Zhao Wuji nodded repeatedly as he listened.

“During the second-rank assessment, she again modified the recipe and still produced perfect-quality pills. These two refinements were both recorded using a recording stone by Ming Heng. Not long after, they spread to the hands of various bigshots. Quite a few alchemists became very interested in this peculiar refining method and started trying it out using her new pill recipes. And guess what happened?”

Although the man’s voice was rough, he was surprisingly good at telling stories. Even Zhao Wuji couldn’t resist perking up his ears.

“As a result! That seventh-rank alchemist from the super sect Yiqi Sect actually succeeded in his experiment. He used that genius’s modified Biling Pill recipe and successfully refined a batch of Biling Pills! Although it only succeeded once by coincidence, the pill furnace couldn’t operate on its own, and the quality didn’t reach perfection, it still succeeded!” The man couldn’t help showing an expression of amazement. “This proves that the genius’s modified pill recipes are completely feasible! Don’t underestimate them just because they’re only Grade One and Grade Two pills. If the recipes can be thoroughly studied, it could greatly reduce herb consumption. With less required herbs, more pills can be produced. By then the cultivation speed of low-level cultivators could increase tremendously!”

“That seventh-rank alchemist even personally came here because of this, wanting to meet that genius alchemist. He even publicly announced he’d take her as his disciple and pass down his legacy. That shows how seriously he takes her.”

Zhao Wuji also clicked his tongue in admiration. “With such an offer, isn’t that genius tempted?”

“No one knows. Right now, the only person who might know her whereabouts is Pavilion Master Chen Changrong. We’ve all been pestering him here for quite some time, but he won’t talk.” The man said.

Zhao Wuji finally understood.

All these people came for that alchemy genius.

Not to mention anything else, even after listening, he himself felt the urge to snatch her.

Not only did this person have limitless potential, but just those improved Grade One and Two pill recipes were already incredibly valuable.

Having her would mean greatly shortening the time it takes for Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment disciples to grow.

These new disciples might very well become the foundation of a sect.

From that perspective, this person truly was extremely important!

But Zhao Wuji had enough self-awareness to know he couldn’t snatch her from a seventh-rank alchemist, so he could only treat it as a good story to listen to.