Chapter 560 - 558: Still Wants to Become a Disciple

Mr. Qiu Shui, however, was still unconvinced. He refused to believe that Jiang Chen was truly better than him at everything.

His pride was on the line.

In the end, he couldn’t help but ask a very serious question.

"Can you refine a Silver Quality Third-Grade Elixir?"

This was the most critical question.

Because at his current level, he could only just barely manage to refine a Silver Quality Third-Grade Elixir.

This achievement was already unparalleled within the entire Alchemy Master Guild.

No other Alchemist in the Gambling City’s Alchemy Master Guild could match him.

’Jiang Chen just became a Third-Grade Alchemist a short while ago,’ he thought. ’It’s impossible for him to refine a Third-Grade Elixir of a higher quality.’

Jiang Chen silently took out a porcelain vial and handed it to Mr. Qiu Shui without a word.

Mr. Qiu Shui assumed Jiang Chen was too embarrassed to speak. He took the vial and chuckled. "It’s alright. Having a high success rate in alchemy is impressive, but refining high-quality elixirs requires long and arduous practice."

"Only with sufficient experience can one steadily improve and refine elixirs of an even higher quality..."

Then, he promptly shut his mouth.

The moment he opened the vial, an intensely brilliant golden light flared out.

It nearly blinded him.

It was a Gold Quality elixir, its golden radiance dazzling to behold.

Mr. Qiu Shui took a deep breath and poured the pill out onto his palm.

He was utterly stunned.

"A Third-Grade Hemostatic Pill, pure Gold Quality."

Pure Gold Quality meant that it had reached the very peak of the Gold Quality tier.

One more step, and it would be Purple Gold Quality.

Even for an old man like Mr. Qiu Shui, who had lived for four or five hundred years, this was the first time he had ever seen a Gold Quality Third-Grade Hemostatic Pill.

He was both shocked and thrilled.

He looked at Jiang Chen once more.

"Sir, could this have been refined by your master?"

"In that case, what is your master’s Alchemist Level?"

’To refine a Third-Grade Elixir of this quality, one would have to be a Fifth-Grade Alchemist at the very least.’

That’s what he concluded, so he assumed Jiang Chen must have an incredibly powerful master.

That would explain how Jiang Chen could possess such an extraordinary Alchemist Level and profound insight at such a young age.

Jiang Chen’s tone remained as calm as still water, as if he were stating the most ordinary fact. "I refined this pill."

BOOM!

Mr. Qiu Shui felt his mind reel.

He nearly fell out of his chair.

’He refined it. He refined it.’

He was dizzy, disoriented, his entire body numb with shock.

’Did he really have to crush a man’s spirit like that?’

Just moments ago, he had been looking down on Jiang Chen’s Alchemy Skill, even lecturing him like some wise old senior.

And as it turned out, Jiang Chen was an Alchemist who was countless times more incredible than him.

It was like taking ten million points of critical damage.

Mr. Qiu Shui wanted nothing more than to find a hole and crawl into it.

It was like someone with a hundred-dollar bill bragging about it in front of a billionaire.

The humiliation was just too much.

Mr. Qiu Shui felt like he could hardly bear to face Jiang Chen.

And yet, from start to finish, Jiang Chen remained utterly unconcerned.

That only made it more devastating, because in reality, *he* was the true master.

"This pill... you really refined it yourself?"

He had to ask one last time.

Jiang Chen gave a silent nod.

"I have no reason to lie to you."

Mr. Qiu Shui rose to his feet, utterly crestfallen.

A total defeat. A complete and utter rout.

He was no match for Jiang Chen in any capacity.

Even his proudest achievement, his Alchemy Skill, was completely overshadowed by Jiang Chen’s.

THUD!

Mr. Qiu Shui fell to his knees before Jiang Chen once again.

"I still wish to take you as my master."

At that moment, Xiao Jun and Mr. Jiao, who were standing nearby, gasped in shock.

They stared at the scene, aghast.

The President of the Gambling City’s Alchemy Master Guild was kneeling before Jiang Chen, begging to become his disciple.

If word of this got out, it would shock everyone to their core.

Of course, they had no idea this was the second time Mr. Qiu Shui had tried to become Jiang Chen’s disciple.

Jiang Chen, however, simply waved his hand in refusal.

"Haven’t I already told you that I’m not taking on any disciples?"

"Alright, get up. Let’s talk."

Filled with endless sorrow, Mr. Qiu Shui got to his feet.

He felt that in Jiang Chen’s presence, his own cultivation counted for nothing. His heart was filled with only humility and reverence.

This was a young man who truly deserved his reverence.

"Sir, your pill."

With a bitter smile, he handed the porcelain vial back to Jiang Chen, his hands trembling slightly.

Jiang Chen waved a hand. "You can keep it."

In the end, swallowing his pride, Mr. Qiu Shui actually accepted it. Indeed, such a pill was incredibly precious. For an Alchemist like him, in particular, it was possible to learn a great deal from a single pill of this quality.

"Then I won’t stand on ceremony, heh heh."

In front of Jiang Chen, Mr. Qiu Shui had completely lost the dignified air of an expert, acting more like a subordinate.

Jiang Chen stood up.

He said to Mr. Qiu Shui, "Tomorrow, the Alchemy Master Guild is holding an alchemy convention. We’ll go and observe."

"And while we’re there, we’ll take care of your problem."

Mr. Qiu Shui hastily nodded.

"Did you hear? The Alchemy Master Guild is holding a convention today. They’ve invited a lot of influential groups from around the Kingdom."

"It’s such a shame. I’d die happy if I could get an invitation."

"I even heard that Venerable Black Water will personally demonstrate his Alchemy Skill this time."

"Gods, Venerable Black Water? You mean *the* Venerable Black Water? The Third-Grade Alchemist who’s second only to President Qiu Shui?"

"That’s him."

The entire Gambling City was buzzing with excitement. From one end of the street to the other, everyone was talking about the Alchemy Master Guild’s convention.

Two figures walked side by side down the street.

It was Jiang Chen and Mr. Qiu Shui.

"It seems the Alchemy Master Guild is running just fine without you," Jiang Chen said calmly.

He didn’t even glance at Mr. Qiu Shui.

Mr. Qiu Shui immediately sneered. "Chang Mao and Wenzhu have been plotting this for a long time. With me gone, they’re the kings of the castle."

"They’ve already won over many people in the Alchemy Master Guild."

"That’s to be expected."

The two continued walking toward the Alchemy Master Guild, making small talk.

Mr. Qiu Shui’s eyes, however, burned with fury.

The mere mention of Chang Mao and Wenzhu made Mr. Qiu Shui gnash his teeth.

But then he suddenly chuckled. "Of course, in a way, I have them to thank."

"If they hadn’t been hunting me, I never would have met you, Sir."

"I wouldn’t be where I am today. I might have gone my entire life without breaking through to the Martial Emperor Cultivation level."

"It’s a blessing in disguise, heh heh."

"I guess I’m the lucky one."

Jiang Chen was left speechless.

Mr. Qiu Shui actually looked rather pleased with himself.

Shaking his head slightly, Jiang Chen didn’t refuse Mr. Qiu Shui’s vow to follow him.

A Martial Emperor Expert was someone he could use.

’If I want to build my own faction, powerful experts are essential.’

Soon, the two arrived before a massive white palace in the northeast corner of Gambling City.

Carved above the grand entrance were the words "Alchemy Master Guild."

"Sir, we’ve arrived."

Mr. Qiu Shui gazed at the Alchemy Master Guild, his expression complex.

’I’m back.’