C113 The True Purpose

As Lin Xuan finished speaking, a hush fell over the crowd once more.

Eyes turned to Lin Xuan, their shock deepening.

If Lin Xuan wasn't just boasting, then his strength truly ranked among the terrifying elite of the Strong List's top ten.

It was almost too much for anyone to believe.

Yet, Lin Xuan had never been one to overstate his abilities.

Each of his performances had been heart-stopping and beyond all expectations.

He demonstrated a level of strength that was equal to his confidence.

And it seemed he might even be holding back at times.

After all, Lin Xuan had emerged victorious in every single battle over the past month, never once tasting defeat.

Regardless of the opponent!

The stronger the adversary, the more formidable Lin Xuan appeared, seemingly without limits.

Contemplating this, the crowd's sense of awe only intensified.

Zhang Chen was particularly stunned.

He could hardly fathom that Lin Xuan, a mere beginner of just over a month, could wield such power.

He now regarded Wu Jie, the ninth-ranked contender on the Strong List, with indifference.

Lin Xuan's rate of progress was nothing short of astounding.

Such advancement was previously unheard of.

Had Zhang Chen not witnessed Lin Xuan's declaration with his own eyes, he would have found it unbelievable.

Yet, even as the reality unfolded before him, Zhang Chen was overwhelmed, struggling to regain his composure.

Lin Xuan, however, remained unfazed, offering a chuckle that showed his indifference.

He then produced his identity card.

Catching on, Zhang Chen did the same.

Lin Xuan transferred twenty thousand contribution points to Zhang Chen.

In exchange, Zhang Chen passed the Spirit Gathering Pill to Lin Xuan, his smile broadening.

Though the profit wasn't substantial, it was still a good haul.

More significantly, if Lin Xuan's prowess was as genuine as it seemed, Wu Mengna was unlikely to bother him again following Lin Xuan's bold statement.

He anticipated no further disruptions and the prospect of greater earnings in the future.

He was, understandably, quite pleased.

Accepting the Spirit Gathering Pill, Lin Xuan gave it a cursory glance before securing it within his storage ring. He then addressed Zhang Chen with a light smile:

"Mr. Zhang, I've taken an interest in the art of alchemy. Could I possibly purchase some introductory alchemy texts at the Pill Refining Hall?"

Indeed, that was precisely why Lin Xuan had stepped forward to purchase the Spirit Gathering Pill.

His motivation for acquiring the pill went beyond his disapproval of Wu Mengna's methods; the crux of it was his desire to obtain books on alchemy.

Zhang Chen, as a disciple of the Pill Refining Hall and the foremost alchemy prodigy within the sect, held a notable status there.

Winning Zhang Chen's support was key to smoothly and efficiently securing a variety of alchemy-related materials and literature to build a solid foundation.

Moreover, Lin Xuan sought to study the Pill Dao to compensate for his shortage of resources.

But possessing alchemy talent alone was insufficient; he needed a well-rounded foundation in other areas as well.

Upon hearing Lin Xuan's intentions, Zhang Chen's expression momentarily stiffened, then he inquired with gravity:

"Junior Brother Lin, are you serious?"

He nearly believed he had misheard.

Lin Xuan's martial arts prowess was already unparalleled in the Drifting Cloud Sect.

And now, he was expressing an interest in the Pill Dao, aspiring to delve into it?

This shift seemed almost too drastic—after all, these were two distinct paths.

Yet Lin Xuan remained unfazed, nodding affirmatively:

"Absolutely, it's the truth. Would that be convenient for you?"

With that confirmation, Zhang Chen realized he hadn't been mistaken.

Lin Xuan was indeed intent on exploring both avenues.

A complex look crossing his face, Zhang Chen said to Lin Xuan:

"It's no trouble at all. Follow me."

He couldn't fathom Lin Xuan's reasoning, nor was he certain whether Lin Xuan truly possessed alchemy talent or was merely acting on a whim.

Nonetheless, Lin Xuan's potential was boundless, and he had recently lent him assistance.

Lin Xuan had even risked making an enemy of Wu Jie, a top ten contender on the Strong List, on his behalf.

Refusing such a modest request was out of the question.

Subsequently, Zhang Chen escorted Lin Xuan away from the pill refining room through a nearby corridor.

The remaining disciples exchanged bewildered glances.

Their eyes lingered on the path Zhang Chen and Lin Xuan had taken, falling into a prolonged silence.

It wasn't until the pair had vanished from view that they snapped out of their reverie.

Exchanging glances, they could all see the boundless astonishment in each other's eyes.

Had they misheard?

Lin Xuan was actually expressing an interest in the Pill Dao?

His martial arts talent was already formidable.

And now, Lin Xuan was considering a foray into the Pill Dao?

Could it be that Lin Xuan possessed an exceptional gift for alchemy as well?

The disciples were thunderstruck at the thought, too overwhelmed to let their imaginations run any further.

Quickly, they all departed from the alchemy room.

They were eager to head to the Fighting Arena to gather more information about Lin Xuan.

Moreover, they were anxious to share the news of the day's events.

This was juicy gossip, and they were itching to spread the word.

Meanwhile, Lin Xuan followed Zhang Chen through a spacious corridor, arriving at an expansive hall.

This hall was significantly larger than the outer hall, its air rich with the scent of medicinal herbs and pill fragrances.

Bookshelves lined the walls, laden with volumes of thick tomes.

Disciples of the Pill Refining Hall were busy sorting herbs or engrossed in the texts.

Noticing Zhang Chen escort an unfamiliar disciple inside, they cast brief glances at Lin Xuan before returning to their tasks.

Technically, bringing other disciples into the inner hall was against the rules...

But Zhang Chen was no ordinary disciple; he was the protégé of the Pill Refining Hall's Master and the sect's premier alchemy prodigy.

With a likely future as the next Hall Master, no one dared to challenge his actions.

Besides, Zhang Chen's actions weren't entirely out of line.

The inner hall was a public space, after all, so they held their tongues.

Zhang Chen paid no mind to the others and turned to Lin Xuan.

"Junior Brother Lin, welcome to the inner sanctum of the Pill Refining Hall. Feel free to explore while I fetch the books you'll need."

"Thank you, Mr. Zhang," Lin Xuan replied with a nod.

With that, Zhang Chen disappeared down an adjacent corridor.

Lin Xuan watched him go before leisurely wandering through the inner hall.

Lin Xuan's gaze didn't linger on the array of herbs and elixirs; instead, he quietly focused on several disciples in the area.

Their attribute panels materialized before him.

"Just as I thought, they all possess a knack for alchemy," he mused with a smile dancing in his eyes.

His hunch had been correct: here in the inner sanctum of the Pill Hall, the disciples were inherently gifted in alchemy, and their talents were far from mediocre.

Lin Xuan had no intention of letting such an opportunity slip by.

They might not match Zhang Chen's prowess, but they were certainly better than nothing.

By copying and integrating their alchemy talents, he could enhance his own abilities.

Maybe he could even eclipse Zhang Chen's talent in time.

With a thought, Lin Xuan sprang into action.

"You've expended 10,000 energy points and successfully duplicated [Top Grade Alchemy Talent]."

"You've expended 3,000 energy points and successfully duplicated [High-Grade Alchemy Talent]."

In a mere moment, Lin Xuan had replicated all their alchemical gifts.

He then decided to assimilate them.

A faint warmth coursed through his body.

Lin Xuan gave a slight nod of approval.

While his alchemy talent hadn't jumped in grade, it had definitely seen improvement.

His visit here was proving to be quite fruitful.