Chapter Fifteen: If This Flower Is Consumed, Life May Not Be Spared

The middle-aged man in the black robe spoke a single sentence that made Yun Yanran’s gaze sharp enough to cut through steel.

“You—you how dare you speak to Miss Yanran like that!”

Li Zifeng hurriedly stepped forward, shouting angrily.

Yet the middle-aged man in the black robe didn’t even glance at him—perhaps fearing he might lose control and crush him on the spot.

Li Zifeng was a young master of the Li family, one of the six great clans of the imperial city. He had a modest talent in alchemy and, at twenty-two, had already stepped into the ranks of a second-grade alchemist.

Though he could not compare to Yun Yanran, at Yunhai Academy, his achievements at this age made him a rising star among young alchemists.

He was also one of Mu Ran’s four top disciples.

Now, he was studying alchemy under Mu Ran’s tutelage in the Alchemy Hall.

“Guards, escort him out immediately,” Li Zifeng ordered the two bodyguards behind him.

The two bodyguards, both at the Martial Realm, glanced at the man in black, exchanging nervous looks but still steeling themselves to act.

At that moment, Mu Ran stepped forward and stopped them with a sharp word.

“A Feng, take Miss Yun aside for now,” Mu Ran said.

Though Mu Ran disliked the man in black, he was very interested in the fifth-grade Alchemy Cauldron the man carried.

Although Mu Ran was a fourth-grade alchemist and had been one for nearly ten years, he had never successfully refined a high-level fourth-grade pill.

His inability to break into the upper echelon of fourth-grade alchemists had become a torment to him. If he could obtain that fifth-grade cauldron, it might be his chance.

“Yes, teacher,” Li Zifeng responded, leading Yun Yanran aside.

The middle-aged man in black gently placed Tang Shisan on the ground. Tang Shisan was barely breathing, his faint heartbeat the only evidence he was still alive.

Mu Ran’s mind moved, and a soul energy surged forth, entering Tang Shisan’s body.

After a few minutes, Mu Ran’s expression grew heavier.

“Master Mu Ran, how is my young master?” the man in black anxiously asked.

Mu Ran looked at Tang Shisan and shook his head with a sigh.

“He truly is a prodigy, but the injuries are too severe. There is no hope left.”

“If Master Yun were here, perhaps his life could be saved.”

“But even if he survives, he will be a cripple for life,” Mu Ran said.

The man in black trembled at Mu Ran’s words.

“Master Mu Ran, please save my young master’s life. Even if it’s just to buy him some time.”

With that, in full view of everyone, the man in black knelt before Mu Ran.

Mu Ran glanced at the fifth-grade Alchemy Cauldron in his hand. He truly wanted it but had no other choice.

“The journey from here to Yunmeng Marsh Valley can take as little as half a month. Here is a fourth-grade Heart-Protecting Pill. Whether he can survive that long depends entirely on his fate.”

“Once at Yunmeng Marsh Valley, Master Yun can surely save his life; he is a sixth-grade grandmaster,” Mu Ran explained.

He then handed a pill to the man in black.

The man’s palm trembled slightly, his face pale. He glanced back at his young master with eyes full of pain and regret.

“Thank you, Master Mu Ran. How much do I owe you for this pill?” he asked.

“I don’t want currency. Let’s trade for the fifth-grade Alchemy Cauldron in your hand. In addition, I will give you half a million lower-grade stones as compensation,” Mu Ran smiled.

The man in black looked up at Mu Ran, his respect instantly fading.

At this moment, Mu Ran was trying to take advantage of the situation?

“Don’t want to? Fine then,” Mu Ran chuckled, taking back the pill.

Sensing the cold menace in the man’s eyes, Mu Ran’s expression turned grave.

“Are you trying to steal medicine in my Alchemy Hall?” Mu Ran said sternly.

Suddenly, two presences at the King Realm radiated outwards. Moments later, two middle-aged King Realm warriors appeared.

The man in black clenched his fists.

“I agree to the trade,” he said.

Mu Ran’s heart leapt with joy as he stepped forward to take the fifth-grade Alchemy Cauldron.

At that moment, Yun Yanran could no longer hold back. She pushed Li Zifeng aside and stepped forward.

“I have a way to save him,” Yun Yanran declared.

All eyes turned to her instantly.

The man in black, seeing a lifeline, quickly withdrew the fifth-grade Alchemy Cauldron and pleaded, “Miss, I apologize for any offense earlier. Please, save my young master quickly.”

Yun Yanran sneered coldly.

“You should be grateful that I am interested in the fifth-grade Alchemy Cauldron in your hand. Otherwise, I wouldn’t care if he lived or died,” she said icily.

Mu Ran beside her frowned deeply.

“Miss Yun, this man’s meridians are shattered, his alchemical core destroyed, and his internal organs pierced by sword energy. Even your father wouldn’t guarantee saving him.”

“Moreover, even a fourth-grade Heart-Protecting Pill would be lucky to buy him a day,” Mu Ran suddenly said.

Upon hearing this, the man in black glared at Mu Ran, his eyes flashing with icy murderous intent, making Mu Ran swallow nervously.

He was desperate to get that fifth-grade Alchemy Cauldron and feared Yun Yanran would snatch it away, which led him to speak carelessly.

As long as he got the cauldron, he didn’t care if Tang Shisan lived or died.

“Of course, he might last half a month. Like I said, it depends on his fate,” Mu Ran hurriedly added.

Among the crowd, Chu Tianchen stifled a laugh.

Then, Yun Yanran took out a single snow-white petal from her storage ring, only the size of a thumbnail, yet all present could feel the energy within it rivaled that of a fourth-grade pill.

The petal emitted a fresh, intoxicating fragrance that instantly lifted spirits.

“What is this? A Level Seven Celestial Snow Lotus?” Mu Ran frowned.

Hearing the name, Chu Tianchen instinctively looked at the petal.

Thanks to the Dragon Emperor’s legacy, he immediately recognized it as a petal of the Level Seven Celestial Snow Lotus.

This lotus was the antidote to the alchemical poison that once afflicted Yun Changshan, Yun Yanran’s father. Chu Tianchen’s grandfather had traded his eighth-grade divine bow in the Great World to obtain it.

Because of this snow lotus, Yun Changshan was cured of the poison and smoothly ascended to sixth-grade alchemist grandmaster.

The Level Seven Celestial Snow Lotus was a holy antidote with miraculous effects on wounds.

No wonder Yun Yanran was so confident.

“This is the last petal of the Celestial Snow Lotus. Using it on him is truly a waste,” Yun Yanran said regretfully.

But she was even more interested in the fifth-grade Alchemy Cauldron.

To an alchemist, especially one like her on the rise, it was nothing short of a divine artifact.

The man in black gritted his teeth, suppressing his anger.

“Thank you, Miss. I shall repay this kindness handsomely,” he bowed deeply.

Yun Yanran handed over the snow lotus petal.

“If he swallows this petal, even a sixth-grade alchemist present might struggle to save him,” Mu Ran warned.

Just as the man in black was about to administer the petal to Tang Shisan, a voice rang out from within the crowd.

Everyone turned toward the sound to see Chu Tianchen slowly stepping forward.

The page ends here.