C27 Extremely Good Talent in Alchemy?

"Wait a moment, young man. Would you hear me out?" The old man, who had remained quiet until now, suddenly called out just as Ling Yunfan had taken a few steps away.

At his words, everyone from the Inner Sect Disciple of the Dragon Hidden Sect to Ye Tianwen, who was reluctantly preparing to board the ship, turned in surprise.

"Please, go ahead, Senior," Ling Yunfan said, pausing and turning back to address the elder.

"Young man, are you interested in taking part in the Dragon Hidden Sect's Inner Sect Disciple Assessment and, if successful, strengthening your martial arts as a true Inner Sect Disciple?" The old man asked, his tone cloaked in mystery as he saw Ling Yunfan's inquiring look.

After a moment of contemplation, Ling Yunfan slowly responded, "Which young aspirant wouldn't want to become an Inner Sect Disciple of the Dragon Hidden Sect? Your question seems somewhat redundant, Senior. Let's cut to the chase, shall we?"

"Hahahaha, I like your spirit, young man. Here's the deal: if you can spare a moment for my crystal ball to make contact with you, I'll use my authority as an elder to grant you access to the Inner Sect Disciple Assessment. What do you say?" The elder's face broke into a rare smile upon hearing Ling Yunfan's straightforward words.

Ling Yunfan's eyes sparkled with excitement at the prospect of still being able to become an Inner Sect Disciple of the Dragon Hidden Sect, and even Ye Tianwen and the others couldn't contain their joyous grins.

"However, Elder Yun, isn't this somewhat improper? It was Elder Bai Mubing who forbade Ling Yunfan from participating in the assessment," Lianhuo interjected, his face paling as he attempted to intervene.

"Step aside! I am here on orders from a higher authority, and Elder Bai Mubing certainly doesn't have the power to countermand those orders," the old man snapped back at Lianhuo, his face showing a flash of anger.

Without further ado, he stepped up to Ling Yunfan, pulled a fist-sized, pure white crystal from his Universe Bag, and offered it, saying, "Just hold this crystal firmly, and all will be well."

Upon hearing the old man's words, Ling Yunfan, although puzzled by the man's actions, didn't dwell on it. His desire to take part in the Dragon Hidden Sect's Inner Sect Disciple Assessment spurred him to immediately grasp the crystal in his hand.

The seemingly ordinary crystal, once firmly held, burst into a blinding blue radiance.

"Hahaha... Fantastic! I've completed my mission at last!" exclaimed the previously stoic old man, bursting into raucous laughter.

As the light faded, the old man, still chuckling wildly, quickly clasped Ling Yunfan, who was merely at Essence Gathering Level One.

"Elder, what is the meaning of this?" Ling Yunfan, feeling as though he was trapped, began to struggle and asked, clearly confused.

The old man released his grip and, still brimming with excitement, explained, "Young man, congratulations. Regardless of whether you pass the assessment, you're now eligible to become an Inner Sect Disciple of our Dragon Hidden Sect at any time."

"Ah, why is that?" Ling Yunfan asked, a mix of astonishment and thrill in his voice.

"That crystal is used to test for an Alchemist's talent. Elder Tian Xuanqing, the most esteemed of the Dragon Hidden Sect's four great elders, had a vision of someone with unparalleled alchemy potential—like you. He sent me to verify if such a person truly existed, and now that you've been confirmed, it's only right that we treat you well!" The old man patiently indulged Ling Yunfan's flurry of questions, not the least bit annoyed.

"What?! He's the one the Great Elder dreamt of? I've made a grave mistake," Lianhuo muttered to himself, frozen in place as if turned to stone upon overhearing the old man's revelation.

"And there's no need for formalities; you don't have to call me 'old senior.' My name is Yun Yangqing, but you can simply call me Elder Yun," the old man said to Ling Yunfan with a warm smile.

"Uh, sure," Ling Yunfan replied, still adjusting to Elder Yun's unexpected friendliness.

With Elder Yun's assistance, Ling Yunfan managed to sidestep the difficulties imposed by Lianhuo under Bai Mubing's orders. Reunited with his close friend, he boarded the flying ship and set off toward the Dragon Hidden Sect.

As they stepped onto the ship, the uninformed passengers barely gave them a second glance, while those in the know watched Ling Yunfan with eyes green with envy.

No sooner had they settled into their seats than the colossal ship soared into the sky at breakneck speed.

Ling Yunfan, seated aboard the vessel, watched the rapidly changing landscape with a thrill in his heart. He had just embarked on the first step of his plan to avenge himself against Lee Xueer and, at the same time, had reached a pivotal milestone on his martial arts journey.

"Senior Brother Fong Ruo, that kid is favored by the Great Elder. How are we going to explain this to Elder Bai Mubing?" Lianhuo, visibly anxious, questioned the man before him in one of the rooms on the Purple Roc Spirit Ship.

"Junior brother, there's no need to rush. We'll simply tell the truth when the time comes. After all, we don't have the authority to interfere with the Great Elder's protege. So, even if she's looking for someone to blame, she won't find a reason with us," Fong Ruo responded, his demeanor far more composed than Lianhuo's.

"You're right, Senior Brother," Lianhuo conceded, his nerves settling after Fong Ruo's reassuring words.

In the midst of casual conversation, the slender Fong Ruo emerged and announced, "We'll reach the Dragon Hidden Sect by tomorrow morning. You'll need to dive straight into the assessments, so make sure you're well-prepared."

With that, he departed, lingering no longer than necessary.

"Shaotian, let's get out the food we prepared yesterday. We've got some time to kill, so we might as well enjoy it," Ling Yunfan suggested, turning away from the view to address the daydreaming Pann Shaotian.

"Oh, sure." After hearing Ling Yunfan's words, Pann Shaotian responded and then pulled out four sets of bowls and chopsticks from his Universe Bag, along with some fragrant dishes and two jars of Original Liquid Wine, placing them on the table around which the four of them were gathered.

The sight of the wine and dishes made Ling Yunfan and Ye Tianwen's eyes light up with hunger, their gazes fixed on the feast before them like a pair of ravenous wolves.

Ling Yunfan took the lead, pouring a generous bowl of Original Liquid Wine for each person before they all began to dig into the food on the table.

As Ling Yunfan and his companions enjoyed their meal, the other passengers on the boat also retrieved food from their Universe Bags and started eating. Naturally, there were a few who did nothing but watch with a look of irritation as Ling Yunfan's group savored the most delicious meal in their midst.

"Why didn't anyone invite me to join in on the wine? Tsk tsk, Original Liquid Wine, it's my absolute favorite!" Elder Yun's voice suddenly rang out from behind just as Ling Yunfan and the others had begun to sip their wine.

When they turned around, they noticed an extra person had joined them at the table—none other than the enigmatic Elder Yun himself.

Elder Yun was already seated with a bowl full of Original Liquid Wine and was eagerly picking up pieces of meat with his chopsticks.

Ling Yunfan and the others exchanged knowing glances and chose to remain silent, welcoming the unexpected company.