Chapter 25: The Thousand-Year Prodigy Yu Zhangsheng (Please Continue Reading)

"Gongsun Dan Shi, why have you come to the Lian Dan Fang, sir?"

Seeing Gongsun Yang bringing an Outer Sect Disciple over, the Blue Robe Steward was greatly surprised and went out to welcome him.

A Third Rank Alchemist like Gongsun Yang had his own dedicated alchemy room in the Inner Hall and would normally never come to the Outer Hall.

Gongsun Yang narrowed his eyes and said lazily, "I just finished lecturing and didn't want to go too far, so I brought my disciple here to teach him alchemy."

"Oh?" The Blue Robe Steward looked in surprise at the Outer Sect Disciple behind him.

He knew Gongsun Yang had actually been selecting a Personal Transmitted Disciple to inherit his alchemy skill, but for years, the other party had yet to choose one.

There were some who caught his eye, but those disciples often couldn't stand his slow lecturing after a month or two, lost interest in the Three-Fire Refinement alchemy skill, and eventually transferred to other alchemists.

Was he finally going to choose one now?

A Personal Transmitted Disciple of a Third Rank Alchemist held a status in the sect not inferior to an Inner Sect Disciple! Seeing this, the Blue Robe Steward immediately recognized him, his mouth twitching as he almost blurted out, So it's you, brat!

Tang Xing showed a kindly and approachable smile and greeted him, "Greetings, Steward."

The two had known each other for several months; it was originally the Blue Robe Steward who introduced him into the sect and brought him to Gongsun Yang.

But the Blue Robe Steward never expected this brat wasn't easy to deal with; every time a newcomer was assigned to Gongsun Yang, he would kindly persuade them to drop the class, causing the steward to lose quite a bit of income! "Hmm, from now on follow Gongsun Dan Shi and refine pills well," the Blue Robe Steward said expressionlessly.

"Yes, thank you for your guidance, Steward," Tang Xing said with a smile.

The Blue Robe Steward sighed inwardly.

Just then, as Gongsun Yang stepped into the Lian Dan Fang, he suddenly stopped, furrowed his brow, and carefully sniffed the faint medicinal scent diffusing in the air.

"This is..."

His gaze fell to beneath the alchemy furnace, the ash, and he was startled in his heart.

Having cultivated the Three-Fire Refinement alchemy skill for nearly a hundred years, how could he not tell that this alchemy art came from the same lineage as his own, yet in the sect, apart from himself and his deceased Master, no one should have cultivated to such a degree! That ash and medicinal scent were undoubtedly Pill Formation, and the technique didn't look like someone who had just entered, but rather like someone who had studied for several years.

"Who used this Lian Dan Fang just now?"

Gongsun Yang immediately turned his head and asked urgently, his eyes blazing as if he had seen some rare treasure.

"Ah?" The Blue Robe Steward was stunned, not knowing why Gongsun Dan Shi would care about such a small matter; could there be a problem with the alchemy furnace?

So, he carefully and cautiously answered truthfully: "It was that Outer Disciple who once became your disciple, Yu Zhangsheng."

"He started refining yesterday for more than ten hours, and finally failed, seemingly wasting many spirit stones."

The Blue Robe Steward poked his head out, saw the alchemy furnace was intact, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Among alchemists there is a small bit of common knowledge: after refining pills, one cleans the alchemy furnace, partly to ensure the pills refined by later comers are not affected, and partly so no one knows what pills you refined.

But Yu Zhangsheng had only just come into contact with alchemy, and Gongsun Yang wouldn't mention this bit of common knowledge, so he overlooked it.

This allowed Gongsun Yang to see the clue.

"It's him!"

Gongsun Yang's impression of Yu Zhangsheng was still quite deep; after all, he was the most proper student in his class, only a pity he couldn't persist and left after one month.

But he never expected the other party left not because he found it difficult, but because he had already learned what was taught! But how was this possible, just one month, only one month! Gongsun Yang stood confused at the door of the Lian Dan Fang.

Behind him, the Blue Robe Steward and Tang Xing looked on strangely, but dared not speak to disturb him, in case Gongsun Dan Shi had an epiphany on the spot? With their clumsy alchemy skill, they naturally couldn't see so many details from the alchemy furnace and ash like Gongsun Yang.

"A genius, a hundred years, no, probably a thousand-year-rare alchemy prodigy!"

"Even that alchemy prodigy of the Zi Hong Gate cannot compare!"

Gongsun Yang murmured in shock in his heart.

He knew how difficult the Three-Fire Refinement alchemy skill he taught was; just the word "slow" had stumped many people! And now he met a disciple who could enter in one month! Even more outrageous was that the other party was an Outer Peak Disciple! "No, before other alchemists notice him, I must strike first; as long as I take him as my Personal Transmitted Disciple, other alchemists can't take him away even if they want to!"

"But there are so many Outer Peaks in the sect; who knows which one he's at; I can't possibly go searching peak by peak as a Third Rank Alchemist, or I'm afraid my bones would be scattered searching!"

"Right, he refined pills for the first time, so there will definitely be a second time; as long as I guard the Alchemy Hall, I'll naturally see him."

Gongsun Yang laughed heartily in his heart, proud of his own cleverness.

Then, Gongsun Yang recovered his calm and said to the Blue Robe Steward, "Next time you meet Yu Zhangsheng, bring him to see me; from now on he doesn't need to pay to attend lectures."

The Blue Robe Steward didn't quite understand, but agreed, pondering in his heart.

Could it be that Gongsun Dan Shi saw that Disciple fail at refining pills, study hard, and felt pity?

This was truly walking into dog shit luck.

Beside them, Tang Xing was getting a bit anxious and said softly, "Teacher, we should go in."

Gongsun Yang glanced at him, feeling rather bored.

In his eyes, the other party's talent was just average, though he did have great perseverance, could learn, and could be taught; only a pity he sometimes had too much on his mind.

He had originally chosen him from the existing disciples only because there was no one else available.

But now that there was a better candidate, he didn't want to teach the other party anymore.

However, accepting him first and then kicking him out would really damage his image. So Gongsun Yang said, "I'm tired today; I'll teach you alchemy another day."

After speaking, he put his hands behind his back and walked slowly toward the distance, leaving Tang Xing stunned in place.

"Did I do something wrong?" Tang Xing stared wide-eyed as Gongsun Yang left, momentarily at a loss.

But the Blue Robe Steward for some reason felt inexplicably happy in his heart and smiled at him, "I'm leaving first too; if you want to rent the Lian Dan Fang, come find me."

"But there's a fee."

This parting blow made Tang Xing's complexion turn dark green.

With Gongsun Dan Shi present, the Blue Robe Steward wouldn't dare charge a fee, but once Gongsun Dan Shi left, what was Tang Xing?

An Outer Sect Disciple who hadn't formally become Gongsun Dan Shi's Personal Transmitted Disciple—what did that count for? At most, he'd be polite for a moment! After both left, Tang Xing furrowed his brow, reviewed what had just happened in his mind, and finally settled on three words.

"Yu Zhangsheng?"

Tang Xing murmured somewhat perplexedly, "The change is because of him?"

(Chapter End)