With the assistance of Pill King Lü Feng and Pill King Bu, Jiang Chen's burden grew considerably lighter. He briefed both of them on portions of the lecture material in advance, effectively delegating some of the teaching duties.
Pill King Bu and Pill King Lü Feng were both first-rate Pill Kings in the Royal City of Liuli, and their comprehension was naturally exceptional. A few pointers from Jiang Chen were all it took for them to grasp everything thoroughly.
With their help, Jiang Chen found himself in a much more relaxed position.
However, he didn't dare let them teach too much. After all, the crowd had come to hear Pill King Zhen's lecture — not someone else's.
After briefing Pill King Lü Feng and Pill King Bu, word arrived from outside that the champion of the Pill Tower Competition had come to request an audience.
Lin Yanyu?
Jiang Chen slapped his forehead — he'd completely forgotten about that.
If there was anyone in the entire Royal City of Liuli who could make a proud young talent like Lin Yanyu submissive and obedient, it was Jiang Chen alone.
Because Jiang Chen held two identities, both of which commanded Lin Yanyu's absolute deference.
First, he was Lin Yanyu's life-saving benefactor. Back at the entrance of the Desolate Barbarian Valley, if Jiang Chen hadn't intervened on Lin Yanyu's behalf, the young man would have suffered terribly at the hands of the Six Wolves of Yan Mountain.
Second, there was the identity of Pill King Zhen. Lin Yanyu was filled with even greater reverence for Pill King Zhen — not because he was blindly worshipping the man, but because Pill King Zhen had defeated the vaunted Pill King Ji Lang, who happened to be Lin Yanyu's mortal enemy.
Pill King Bu was no stranger to Lin Yanyu. Seeing this young alchemy prodigy standing before Jiang Chen as meek as a lamb, Pill King Bu felt a flicker of surprise.
Before Pill King Bu had come under Jiang Chen's tutelage, he had represented the Asura Great Emperor's faction. He had personally approached Lin Yanyu twice to recruit him on the Asura Great Emperor's behalf.
Thus, Pill King Bu understood Lin Yanyu's temperament. The young man appeared soft and yielding, but in truth he was steel wrapped in silk — very few people could sway his convictions.
Despite Pill King Bu's repeated efforts to recruit Lin Yanyu for the Asura Great Emperor, the young man had always been outwardly courteous yet never made any substantive commitment, nor declared his intention to join the Asura Great Emperor's faction.
This seemingly unremarkable independent cultivator possessed a startling will of his own.
Meeting in such a setting was somewhat awkward.
When Lin Yanyu saw Pill King Bu, he too showed a brief flicker of surprise, but quickly said nothing about it and instead bowed respectfully to Jiang Chen. "Senior Zhen, this junior Lin Yanyu pays his respects."
Jiang Chen smiled wryly. "How did I suddenly become a 'senior'?"
Lin Yanyu wore a solemn expression. "Pill King Zhen is the foremost alchemist in the Royal City of Liuli. To address you as senior is only proper."
Both Pill King Lü Feng and Pill King Bu particularly loved hearing this.
They had submitted to Jiang Chen willingly and wholeheartedly. But if Lin Yanyu were to call Pill King Zhen an equal or address him as a brother, it would leave their own faces rather hard to place.
If a junior's standing ended up higher than theirs, how could they ever hold their heads up?
Fortunately, Lin Yanyu was perceptive enough not to address Jiang Chen as "Daoist Huang" as he had in the past — otherwise, the two old men really would have had nowhere to put their pride.
Jiang Chen recognized the issue as well and said nothing more about it, merely looking at Lin Yanyu with a trace of a smile. "Why didn't you enter the Pill Tower?"
Lin Yanyu hastened to answer. "Everyone applied for a half-month delay in entering the Pill Tower, and the organizers granted it. Everyone wants to hear your lecture, Senior."
Pill King Lü Feng let out an odd chuckle. "These youngsters are a cunning lot."
Jiang Chen wasn't surprised. He asked further, "What are your plans going forward?"
"Junior intends to remain by Senior's side and listen to your teachings," Lin Yanyu said devoutly.
A Pill King who could defeat Pill King Ji Lang was absolutely worthy of such reverence and devotion from Lin Yanyu.
But Pill King Lü Feng raised an eyebrow. "Boy, you want to come steal our Master away from us too?"
Pill King Bu fixed Lin Yanyu with an equally unkind stare.
Jiang Chen smiled serenely. "Don't bully the young man. Yanyu is someone I see great potential in."
Hearing this, Lin Yanyu's heart stirred. He hurried forward, dropped to his knees, and bowed. "Please, Senior, show your grace and accept this disciple into your school. This disciple will serve his Master with complete devotion."
Jiang Chen had actually been contemplating this all along — otherwise, he would never have summoned Lin Yanyu to the Royal City of Liuli.
However, accepting a disciple was no trivial matter. Jiang Chen paused thoughtfully. "You won't regret this?"
Lin Yanyu's expression turned grave. "This disciple will never regret it!"
Lin Yanyu was no fool. Pill King Zhen's alchemy prowess had been demonstrated beyond all doubt. Even Pill King Ji Lang's legend of invincibility had been shattered by this man — how many such powerhouses could there be in the Divine Abyss Continent?
Though Lin Yanyu carried the legacy of his family's traditions, that was all in the past.
No matter how deep his family's heritage, only a fraction of it had been passed down to him. And even if he inherited every last shred of that legacy, the chances of seeking revenge against Pill Fire City were essentially nil.
To seek vengeance, to restore the Lin family's former glory — there was only this single thread of hope: to kneel before this godlike alchemy master, beg for acceptance, and learn his arts.
Over the past two days, Lin Yanyu had turned this matter over in his mind again and again, arriving at precisely this conclusion.
Jiang Chen suddenly broke into a smile, looking at Pill King Bu and Pill King Lü Feng. "I'm inclined to take him as a disciple. What do you think?"
Since Jiang Chen had already given his approval, Pill King Bu and Pill King Lü Feng naturally could not object.
Besides, they had no reason to. With their Master's standing in the world of alchemy, he would inevitably need to gather a broad number of disciples.