Chapter 2601

"Return to the United States?!"

When Hong Changqing heard this, tears were about to burst out of his eyes.

The first thought that flashed through his mind was excitement.

After all, Ye Chen was willing to let him return to the United States, which meant he wouldn't take his life, nor would he imprison him.

So he asked excitedly, "Can I?"

Ye Chen looked at his excited appearance and couldn't help but laugh secretly.

In fact, he wasn't prepared to kill Hong Changqing. It was nothing more than playing some tricks with Shi Tianqi. Although it was despicable, it wasn't a capital offense.

Moreover, he had handed over the medicine cauldron, although reluctantly, it could be considered accepting the loss of the bet.

Besides, he had some personal friendship with his grandmother. If he recognized his grandmother in the future and chatted about her friend, only to find out he had been killed or imprisoned in a dog farm, it would be a bit hard to explain.

Moreover, he was currently in need of people. An old Daoist who had been in North America for so many years and had the title of "Master Hong" in the upper class, if he could be recruited, it would naturally be the best.

Therefore, his asking Hong Changqing whether he wanted to return to the United States was just a small test. He guessed that if Hong Changqing was truly a smart person, he would never seize the opportunity to return to the United States at this time.

Sure enough.

As soon as Hong Changqing said "Can I?", the next second, his heart suddenly felt aggrieved to the point of death.

He couldn't help but think to himself: "Damn, I came all the way to find Ye Chen, hoping to get a powerful elixir to improve my strength, or learn more powerful alchemy from Ye Chen, and then find a chance to refine some powerful pills myself. But who would have thought that I'd fail to steal the chicken and lose the rice instead? I didn't find the pill, didn't learn the alchemy, and instead lost the ancestral medicine cauldron. If I just leave like this, isn't it a bigger loss the more I think about it?"

However, he didn't dare to say that. He just stammered and couldn't say anything.

Ye Chen smiled at this time: "How about this, Master Hong, although you gave me the medicine cauldron voluntarily, I don't like to owe others favors. How about I arrange a private jet to send you back to the United States this afternoon? You can also tell my grandmother in advance that you have other plans when you go back, so you won't wait for them here."

Knowing that Ye Chen wasn't going to kill him, Hong Changqing suddenly didn't want to leave like this, so he could only say dejectedly, "Master Ye, to tell you the truth, I have been focusing on closed-door cultivation all these years and haven't had time to manage the Tai Zhen Sect. The Tai Zhen Sect is now lacking talent and has no future, so I... so I..."

Speaking of this, Hong Changqing didn't dare to say his intention to stay in Jin Ling for the time being.

Seeing him stammer for a long time without any result, Ye Chen asked with a smile, "Are you trying to say that going back is meaningless, so you intend to stay in Jin Ling for a while?"

When Hong Changqing heard this, he was overjoyed and subconsciously slapped his thigh: "Master Ye is right! That's exactly what I mean!"

After saying that, he looked at Ye Chen uneasily, waiting for Ye Chen's statement.

Ye Chen wasn't angry at this time, but smiled slightly and said, "Master Hong, listen to me, let's see if this is right."

Hong Changqing hurriedly said, "Master Ye, please speak!"

Ye Chen nodded and continued, "Look, your purpose in coming to Jin Ling is nothing more than to find out who refined the Rejuvenation Pill and the Blood-Dispersing Heart-Saving Pill. Now that you have successfully found me, hasn't your purpose in coming to Jin Ling been achieved? Since the purpose has been achieved, why stay here?"

Hearing Ye Chen's irrefutable words, Hong Changqing was so depressed that he shivered, his lips trembled, and his teeth couldn't help but collide in his mouth.

Hong Changqing naturally didn't want to leave at all, but he didn't know how to speak to Ye Chen at the moment.

After all, he was afraid that if he pushed his luck, Ye Chen would suddenly go back on his word. If he killed him then, wouldn't it be a huge loss?

Just at this time, Ye Chen suddenly changed the subject: "By the way, Master Hong, how long have you been at the eight-star martial artist realm?"

Hong Changqing said respectfully, "Master Ye... I have been at the eight-star martial artist realm for sixteen years..."

Ye Chen asked curiously, "How old are you this year?"

Hong Changqing said, "I am sixty-two this year!"

Ye Chen said, "You reached eight-star martial artist in your forties? It seems your cultivation speed is quite good!"

Hong Changqing laughed dryly, "To tell you the truth, although the Tai Zhen Sect's alchemy is superficial, fortunately, the sect has passed down a relatively complete martial arts mental method. Compared to most sects that don't even have a complete mental method, the potential is naturally greater."

"Moreover, in our superficial alchemy, there are also some highlights. Among our patriarchs, there was once a master of alchemy. I don't know what method he used, but he refined a batch of elixirs. These pills can strengthen the body and cure all diseases for ordinary people, and for martial arts practitioners, they can promote cultivation. Although the improvement is limited, it's better than nothing;"

"When this pill was passed to me, there were five left, but I claimed to the outside world that there were only three. Actually, I ate three myself. Another one was sold to a tycoon to save his life years ago, and it did have the effect of curing the disease, so it gave this life-extending pill some reputation. The last one was when your grandfather was seriously ill, I took it to him to eat, but maybe your grandfather was too ill, so it didn't have any effect."

Ye Chen nodded gently. Although he hadn't seen what his life-extending pill was like, he inferred that the efficacy was far worse than his Blood-Dispersing Heart-Saving Pill, and even less comparable to the Rejuvenation Pill.

Thus, he asked Hong Changqing, "Master Hong, are you willing to pledge allegiance to me from today? If you are willing, I naturally won't treat you badly."

When Hong Changqing heard this, he was overjoyed and said, "I am willing! I am ten thousand times willing!"

Having said that, he immediately knelt on the ground and said respectfully, "Master Ye, I, Hong Changqing, am willing to follow you and pledge allegiance to you for generations. If I betray you, may I be struck by lightning!"

At this time, Hong Changqing had realized that Ye Chen's strength was far greater than his own. Just this point alone was worth his following.

Moreover, Ye Chen had more powerful pills, the efficacy of which might be five or ten times that of his life-extending pill.

Not only that, Ye Chen was also the grandson of the An family, and his background was very strong.

Therefore, no matter how you look at it, Ye Chen was the strongest among the strong.

Hong Changqing couldn't help but think to himself: "If I really want to be a lackey, I have to be a lackey for a real big shot like Ye Chen. Following such a big figure, why worry about not being able to break through in cultivation?"

Seeing his pious attitude, Ye Chen nodded slightly and said indifferently, "Since you are willing, stay in Jin Ling and listen to my orders from now on."

Hong Changqing knelt on the ground, excited, and said, "Subordinate Hong Changqing, everything will follow Master Ye's lead!"

Ye Chen nodded and smiled, took out a Blood-Dispersing Heart-Saving Pill from his pocket, handed it to him, and said lightly, "Take this pill, go back to where you are staying, take it, and refine the medicinal power. I see you are already at the final stage of an eight-star martial artist. This pill will definitely help you step into the Great Perfection of the Bright Realm!"