Shen Qinghong left with an air of elegance, but inwardly he was shaken to his core. Now that he'd had time to think over the duel in calm reflection, doubts kept piling up one after another.
Yet when it came to pinpointing exactly where those doubts lay, he couldn't articulate them.
All he knew was that the duel had been far too bizarre. Simultaneous pill completion was something that was practically impossible, yet it had happened right before everyone's eyes during this alchemy contest.
If someone said Jiang Chen had deliberately gone easy on him, Shen Qinghong would find that hard to believe.
But no matter how he looked at it, Shen Qinghong could be absolutely certain that Jiang Chen's alchemy talent was in no way inferior to his own—and might even surpass it.
The reason was simple: his own refinement of the Great Dream Thousand Autumns Pill had been somewhat of a shortcut. He had refined this pill before, whereas this was Jiang Chen's first attempt.
It was precisely because of all these considerations that Shen Qinghong chose not to waste words. He turned and departed cleanly with his entourage.
He knew that this was the best way to resolve matters—take the out and walk away gracefully.
Any further entanglement would likely only bring him more humiliation.
As for Jiang Chen's greed for money, the more Shen Qinghong thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed. By all appearances, there was no reason for Jiang Chen to care about money so desperately.
Could it be that all of it had been an act?
Shen Qinghong didn't dare follow that thought any further. When in doubt, the best strategy was to retreat.
And so, a clash between two peak geniuses ended in a bizarre draw.
As for the ten thousand Ling Shi, Shen Qinghong couldn't care less. That kind of loss was nothing more than plucking a single hair from his thigh.
It was Jun Mobai who looked on with meaningful interest—first at Shen Qinghong's retreating figure, then at the beamingly delighted Jiang Chen.
He suddenly laughed. "Junior Brother Jiang Chen, congratulations. From now on, in the Supreme Zone, no one will dare question your status and achievements."
Jiang Chen smiled casually. "Much appreciated. Thank you all for coming."
The implication was clear: he was not inviting anyone inside his cave dwelling.
Jun Mobai had originally intended to build a relationship with Jiang Chen, but hearing that tone, he understood that Jiang Chen had no intention of hosting anyone today.
With a free-spirited smile, he cupped his fists toward Jiang Chen. "Junior Brother Jiang Chen, the same offer stands—whenever you have time, my cave dwelling is always open. I'll be ready to receive you at any moment."
"I'll keep that in mind," Jiang Chen replied with a few pleasantries.
After Jun Mobai left, Ling Bi'er approached Jiang Chen with her snow-on-jade-tree elegance, her steps measured and graceful.
"Junior Brother Jiang Chen, may I ask you a question?"
Jiang Chen smiled. "What is it?"
"Purely out of curiosity—might I take a look at the remaining Great Dream Thousand Autumns Pills you have?" Ling Bi'er's tone was as cool and detached as a moon reflected in still water.
Jiang Chen's heart gave a slight jolt. A quiet sense of vigilance rose within him. Had Ling Bi'er spotted something? He had deliberately tucked away the remaining pills earlier to avoid drawing attention—specifically to prevent anyone from noticing that supreme-grade Great Dream Thousand Autumns Pill.
If anyone discovered it, the whole thing would fall apart. His pursuit of a draw would be declared a failure.
"Heh, I was lucky enough to produce one high-grade pill. The rest are just shoddy leftovers—hardly worth a senior sister's gaze," Jiang Chen said with a laugh, smoothly deflecting the topic.
Ling Bi'er gave a faint nod, her clear, perceptive eyes resting on him with quiet meaning, lingering for a moment longer than necessary.
"In that case, I'll take my leave."
She turned to Ling Hui'er and said, "Hui'er, let's go."
The youthful, buxom Ling Hui'er bounded over to Jiang Chen on her long, energetic legs like a fawn, her leopard-skin skirt adding a touch of untamed vitality.
"Jiang Chen! Even Senior Brother Shen couldn't beat you! Looks like my loss to you last time really wasn't unjust after all!"
"Heh, Sister Hui'er, your alchemy talent is quite impressive too. By the time you're my age, you might even surpass me," Jiang Chen said diplomatically.
Ling Hui'er giggled. "You make it sound like you're so much older than me. I'm seventeen this year, and my sister is twenty. Jiang Chen, how old are you?"
The girl was naturally innocent and spirited, with a doll-like face that made it nearly impossible to feel any resistance or irritation toward her.
Jiang Chen smiled. "I'd say I'm about twenty-one."
"What do you mean 'about'? Don't you even know how old you are?" Ling Hui'er pouted, sensing that he was being evasive.
Jiang Chen sighed wryly. Since arriving in this life, he genuinely hadn't given much thought to his own age. After a careful mental calculation, he figured he was probably exactly twenty-one.
Ling Bi'er's delicate brows furrowed slightly. Her own little sister was truly beyond her control—she had actually gone and revealed Ling Bi'er's age to a stranger!
"Hui'er, are you coming or not?"
Ling Hui'er caught her sister's irritation and stuck out her tongue. "Jiang Chen, remember—when you have time, teach me alchemy! I'll come find you next time."
Watching the sisters' retreating figures, Mu Gaoqi sighed. "As lofty as a cold moon, yet as warm as a blazing fire. Two sisters born from the same womb—how is it their personalities are so completely opposite? And yet each excels in her own way. Truly, they are the finest sisters our Danqian Palace has to offer."
Jiang Chen kicked Mu Gaoqi flying with a single foot. "Look at that pathetic look on your face."
Mu Gaoqi flipped over, landed on his feet, and patted off his behind with a sheepish grin. "Brother Chen, come on! I'm not trying to compete with you for anything. A fair lady is what every gentleman admires, right? But honestly, I get the feeling these sisters aren't going to escape your grasp anytime soon... Ahhh!"