Ling Yun wasn't that curious to find out the person causing the commotion outside. He just used it as an excuse to get away from Mu Feixue. As he reached the door leading to outside, he saw the servants glancing nervously at each other.

  Upon seeing him they hurriedly bowed and went out of his sight. With a sigh he opened the door and stepped out. At the front of the entrance gate were two men arguing with the head of the servants.

  "Young master, I told you before that the mistress has gone into seclusion. Please I request you to not cause such communication outside the mansion."

  "Are you dead? Did I ever mention meeting Senior Master Mu even once?" The one speaking was young man dressed in purple robes that Ling Yun recognised as the Alchemist apprentice robe. He was twenty years old, slightly taller than him the same height as his master but the most striking feature about him was his bulging pot belly that made him appear older than this actual age.

  "I only have business with the new disciple. The word out there is that after all this time, Senior Master Mu has finally chosen one. So just go back inside and tell him that this young master has summoned him."

  The servant was sweating bullets, the mistress had ordered him to send back every visitor except her friend An Ning but he didn't have the courage to turn back this prominent cultivator. As soon as he saw Ling Yun, he gave out a sigh of relief.

  The young master followed his gaze and saw a young boy wearing similar robes as him and instantly put two and two together. He lost interest in the servant and directly called him out in a haughty voice.

  "At least you are not a coward who only knows to hide. Speak your name."

  This kind of arrogant behaviour really displeased Ling Yun, he wished he had just stayed inside the house. Mu Feixue sent him a sound transmission informing him of every detail.

  "His name is Jin Hao, a young master of the Jin family. They are a prominent clan that specialise in the cultivation of spritual plants and herbs. I used to do frequent business with them before.

  "His father, the head of the clan always tried to make his son my disciple but I always refused. But both father and son don't understand the word no, always requesting at every given opportunity. Master is honestly sick of them but you don't need to tangle with those fools. Just ignore them and come inside."

  Ling Yun ignored the provocative smirk and turned back without even saying anything. He wanted to go back to studying alchemy instead of wasting his time dealing with them.

  The sight of his back irked Jin Hao. He was furious when he heard that Alchemist Mu had taken another disciple and now he was being treated as if he was a speck of dirt.

  "I take back my words, you really are a coward. You don't deserve to be her disciple and will surely sully her name in the future. At least tell me what dirty tricks you used to study under her?"

  The last line struck a nerve. Dirty tricks? I am the one using dirty tricks on her?

  He turned to the servant and said, "How long it would take for you to take care of this squealing pig? Get rid of it as quickly as possible."

  All three were stunned at such blatant disrespect that it took them a while to formulate a response. The first one was Jin Hao who could only utter, "You... How dare you speak like this to me?"

  With an carefree expression as if he was explaining to children, Ling Yun said, "First you come to another person's house and cause a loud ruckus outside. And then instead of introducing yourself first, you rudely ask for the owners name clearly showing a lack of proper education and manners.

  "As the saying goes, a man without manners is no man at all. And looking at your size I can only think of a pig. Am I right?" He turned to his servant who instantly wanted to make himself disappear.

  The servant could feel the waves of anger coming from Jin Hao near him feared for his life. He saw the expectant look on Ling Yun's face as if he was genuinely waiting for his reply and cursed Ling Yun in his mind. Young master why are you tormenting this poor man. At least let me leave first...

  Jin Hao's face had turned into the colour of pig's intestines, he hated whenever someone commented on his figure. Fearing his wrath, there are only a few people who dare to insult him this openly.

  Just who does this boy thinks he is!

  "It looks like it's up to me to teach you how to behave in a society. My name is Ling Yun and may I please know the reason for young master Jin Hao's visit?"

  Ling Yun said all that with an amicable smile as if he hadn't just called Jin Hao a pig before. This infuriated Jin Hao even more.

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  "Ling Yun, I've never heard this name before. Tell me which great clan do you belong?" Trying to gain the upper hand, Jin Hao brought up the matter of status. He had already researched before that this young boy came from an unknown background.

  "I don't belong to any clan or family."

  "Ha! And you dare to behave this arrogantly in front of this young master? You don't have any status or pedigree.

  "My ultimate goal was to become her disciple. Imagine how furious I was when I heard that an unknown boy had stolen my opportunity. I worked hard for years to recently become an Alchemist apprentice and you, you just got the title because Senior Master Mu took pity on a poor village boy. You don't deserve to wear these robes."

  Ling Yun's eyebrows twitched at that. He didn't want to give in to provocation but Jin Hao had succeeded getting under his skin.

  "Who are you to question the decision made by my master? Spare me the cheap provocations and tell me what you really came here for."

  Jin Hao smirked, "You talked big but can you back it up. Let us have an alchemy duel to see who really deserves to be her disciple. If I win, leave this city and never show your face ever again. Do you dare accept my challenge?"

  Even though he was angry, Ling Yun still had his wits about him. An official alchemist apprentice is capable of refining various rank 1 pills. No matter how much he disdained Jin Hao, the robes he was wearing showed that he was the real deal. In contrast he had never made a pill in his entire life.

  Accepting the challenge would be the height of foolishness, still facing this fatty who was looking down on him, his pride refused to back down.

  "Brahma, I want you to be as honest as possible. Don't even think of vague answers and say the clear truth. Is there any chance I can win?"

  Inside his mind, she answered nonchalantly as if he had asked a stupid question.

  "Of course you will win. I didn't teach you for so long to lose to this piece of lard."

  With a smirk of his own, he answered, "Let me show you why my master never gave you a single look. You're on."

  Jin Hao's smile grew wider as he watched the fish bite the bait.

  ***

  They both were in the courtyard as the preparations were being made. Servants rushed back and forth inside the house to bring the ingredients. Mu Feixue had repeatedly tried to call him back using sound transmission but he ignored all of them.

  Ling Yun had been living bottling his emotions for far too long so it felt great to act so freely. With two sets of ingredients prepared, the duel was about to begin.

  Jin Hao had left the choice of pill to be refined to Ling Yun and Ling Yun had instantly chosen the fasting pill. Jin Hao was honestly surprised, he had expected Ling Yun to chose a slightly difficult one.

  Fasting pill was too common and easy to refine that it wasn't even asked during the test for becoming an alchemist apprentice.

  Maybe I overestimated him. I knew this trash doesn't deserve to be her disciple.

  "Are you actually serious? The fasting pill is too easy. Don't tell me you only how to make this pill?"

  It was just a cheap taunt but Jin Hao had accidentally touched the truth. After all who could believe that the disciple the respected alchemist Mu Feixue had chosen among countless geniuses could not even refine a fasting pill.

  "Basics are important." Ling Yun could only give such a bullshit reply.

  Both of them stood infront of their respective cauldrons and started refining. Jin Hao rushed quickly, he knew that in the end it would come to speed. The one who refined the pill first would be the winner.

  Although he had behaved arrogantly, his skills were genuine. He had gotten a golden opportunity so he didn't want to lose due to any silly mistakes. He proceeded carefully as possible without sacrificing his speed.

  After he had finished preparing all the ingredients he looked sideways to check the state of his opponent and what he saw shocked him. Ling Yun was so far behind him. Jin Hao paused for a moment to observe what was actually going on. Was Ling Yun using some sort of secret technique?

  Unlike the experienced Jin Hao, it was his second time trying to refine any pill. Ling Yun prepared every ingredient very carefully so it took too much time. It was not a fair match, pitting a novice against an experienced player.

  Jin Hao kept watching as the little wariness he had got replaced with ridicule against his opponent.

  I was so serious against this trash! How the hell did he got chosen is beyond me? Is Senior Master Mu getting blackmailed or is he some illegitimate son of a Nascent Soul True Monarch?

  He put all the ingredients inside the cauldron, closed the lid and began heating. His victory was all but confirmed so he started to openly mock Ling Yun.

  "Do you recognise the difference between us now you trash. Why don't you admit your loss and stop wasting ingredients any further? They are much more valuable than you."

  "Thank the Heavens I arrived otherwise you would've been a dirty stain in Senior Master Mu's legacy."

  Amidst the mocking laughter, Ling Yun was completed calm as he was tempering the ingredients. Chanting the Serene Ocean sutra, he could no longer hear the ridicule; his only focus on refining the pill. Other than Brahma, there was another reason he confidently took on the challenge.

  Ling Yun wasn't a fool, it had been only been two months since he started studying alchemy. This was just his second try ever. Any seasoned alchemist would call him delusional for believing he could succeed in his second try. He understood all of that but still-

  "Believe me you are much more talented than me when I was your age, no I can say with absolute certainty that your raw talent surpasses every alchemist I have ever known. I swear on my name that you will become a future grandmaster."

  Her words rang in his head encouraging him, guiding him on every step of the process. Even though he didn't trust her, he still put his belief on her who believed in himself.

  The image of her refining the pill played in the back of his mind as he traced her movements with perfection. With all ingredients completely prepared, he put all of them inside and closed the lid. This time he knew in his heart that refinement would succeed.

  "Hahaha! Look at him, he still thinks he can win." He looked up and saw Jin Hao laughing and pointing at him. His bodyguard also laughed with him. The servants looked at him with troubled expressions.

  Jin Hao had a considerable lead and now the refinement was in its final stages. So sure he was in his victory that Jin Hao split his attention to mock him during this important step.

  "This will be your last day in the Blue Moon city. Enjoy the scenery as much as you can."

  Ling Yun could only watch with a grim look on his face as his defeat seemed to be set in stone.