Chapter 8: Zhuge's Unintentional Move

  "Great!" The young man with a excited face nodded at Ye Chen: "My name is Zhuge Wu Xin!"

  "Is that Zhuge Wu Xin?" Ye Chen's eyebrows furrowed in puzzlement as he asked, "You're the one who was nicknamed 'Dog Nose' by the outer sect disciples, aren't you?"

  At this, Zhuge's expression changed slightly, and he said somewhat discontentedly: "What do you mean by 'dog nose'! That is my keen sense of smell!"

  Zhuge Wu Xin, like Ye Chen and Shen Xian, was an outer sect disciple. His cultivation was not even as high as Shen Xian's. After seven years of cultivating in the outer sect, he was only a third-grade cultivator with a fragmented body. The sect originally wanted to get rid of him, but Zhuge Wu Xin had a peculiar skill - his sense of smell was extremely strong, and he had an intense perception of any medicinal herbs. As long as he was within a ten-meter radius, he could clearly tell whether there were any medicinal herbs, what grade they were, and how many years old they were, without even needing to look.

  Because, nearly half of the medicinal materials used by the alchemists of Lianyun Sect are provided by him, his contribution to Lianyun Sect is extremely high. It's even said that during the outer sect disciple selection six months later, the sect will exceptionally promote him to an inner sect disciple. At that time, the alchemists of Lianyun Sect will take him as their apprentice and teach him alchemy, making him the next alchemist of Lianyun Sect.

  Ye Chen's face lit up with excitement as he thought about this, knowing that the divine alchemy technique he inherited would require a large amount of precious medicinal materials in the future. The help from Zhuge Wu Xin before him was likely to be enormous.

  Ye Chen's face broke into a smile as he looked at Zhuge Wu Xin, but the smile on Ye Chen's face sent a chill down Zhuge Wu Xin's spine. This gaze... was just like that of a starving wolf who had suddenly spotted a sumptuous feast.

  Zhuge involuntarily took a step back and vigilantly said: "You... what are you going to do?"

  Ye Chen looked at Zhuge Wu Xin's expression and was taken aback, then awkwardly smiled: "Wu Xin brother, don't misunderstand, I was thinking if you have some precious medicinal materials left, I can buy them from you at a high price!"

  Zhuge's expression changed to somewhat embarrassed upon hearing Ye Chen's intention to buy at a high price, and he replied awkwardly: "My medicinal materials are all here... the higher-grade ones have already been handed over... otherwise, next time, I'll show you everything first, as long as your price is suitable, I'll secretly sell them to you!"

  Ye Chen smiled playfully: "Aren't you afraid of being discovered by the sect's people?"

  Zhuge's expression changed as soon as Ye Chen mentioned the sect, his face turned red with rage and he shouted: "Sect? Hmph! I've contributed so much to them, but they've never rewarded me with anything. Not even martial skills, which I had to exchange for myself using their discarded medicinal materials!"

  "Impossible! I heard that the sect has been quite good to you! The outer gate selection in half a year, isn't it going to exceptionally promote you as an inner gate disciple?"

  Looking at Zhuge's unintentionally angry appearance, Ye Chen asked in puzzlement.

  Shen Xiang also looked at Zhuge Wu Xin with a curious face, echoing Ye Chen's words and said: "That's right! I've also heard that you'll be promoted exceptionally in half a year!"

  Zhuge Wu Xin looked at Ye Chen and Shen Xian's puzzled expressions, took a deep breath, and directly sat down on the spot, not caring about the mud on the ground. Of course, most people would suspect him, his body was probably no cleaner than the ground.

  "You only know one side and not the other! They say they're promoting me, but it's just because I can help the sect collect better medicinal herbs. To be honest, I've become a dog nose, just with a slightly higher status!"

  Zhuge spoke listlessly and with a lack of energy as he complained to the two of them.

  Upon hearing this, Ye Chen's mind flashed with inspiration and a method that would kill two birds with one stone appeared in his mind: Zhuge Wu Xin obviously needed medicinal pellets to aid in his cultivation, so why not just use medicinal pellets to exchange with him? This way, he wouldn't have to worry about what to use to exchange with Zhuge Wu Xin anymore. Moreover, Ye Chen had already thought of a very simple recipe for refining medicine, and the required materials were also readily available everywhere.

  Beside him, Shen Xian looked at Ye Chen's furrowed brow and knew that he was thinking deeply. Like a little wife, she quietly leaned against Ye Chen, not saying a word to disturb him.

  Zhuge Wu Xin did not notice that he had already fallen into Ye Chen's plan, but instead sat on the ground, constantly complaining and scolding the unfairness of Lianyun Sect.

  Ye Chen thought of this, with a somewhat sinister smile, and said to Zhuge Wu Xin: "From now on, whatever medicinal materials you have, bring them to me first. If I need them, I'll exchange them for pills with you!"

  Upon hearing this, Zhuge Wu Xin quickly scrambled up and rushed to Ye Chen's side, excitedly grabbing his arms and asked anxiously: "You're really willing to exchange the elixir with me?"

  Zhuge's sudden and excited movement really startled Ye Chen.

  Ye Chen helplessly shrugged his shoulders and nodded in agreement with Zhuge Wu Xin's implicit consent.

  Zhuge Wu Xin looked at Ye Chen's nod, his face blooming with joy. He understood better than anyone what this meant - being able to exchange medicinal materials for refined elixirs was a rare opportunity!

  "Alright! It's settled then! As long as I get the medicine, I'll come find you first before handing it over!"

  Zhuge was worried that Ye Chen would change his mind, so he hastily spoke to Ye Chen with an extremely excited expression.

  Ye Chen smiled slightly, looking very calm on the surface, but in his heart he was overjoyed. "Free medicine is not to be wasted," he thought to himself. Then he said: "Alright! It's settled then, I'll take my leave first!" He pulled Shen Xiang along and turned to leave.

  Zhuge Wu Xin watched as Ye Chen walked away, a sly smile spreading across his face. He muttered to himself, "What great luck today! I didn't expect to run into something so good, and he thinks he's getting the better end of the deal! Haha!" As he laughed out loud, he glanced around cautiously, quickly gathering up the scattered herbs on the ground and putting them back in his cave. Making sure no one had seen him, he carefully made his escape.

  However, if Zhuge knew that Ye Chen had inherited the divine alchemy technique from God, refining a Dan medicine would be simply effortless, and he wouldn't know whether to scold Ye Chen or not, how treacherous!

  ————

  "Brother Chen, don't you know how precious the elixir is? How can you use it to exchange for herbs?! And where did you get so many elixirs from, anyway?!"

  Shen Xian looked at Ye Chen with a puzzled expression. If she hadn't understood Ye Chen so well and known that he wouldn't do anything without a reason, she would have already spoken out to stop this seemingly unfair transaction.

  Upon hearing this, Ye Chen gave a mysterious smile: "Xin Er, trust me, the one who will end up losing out is definitely him!"

  Shen Xiang looked at Ye Chen's mysterious appearance, and the puzzled expression on her face became even more serious: "Chen Ge, what's going on?"

  Ye Chen smiled at Shen Xiang: "Because I am an alchemist!"

  "Alchemist!"

  Shen Xiang's eyes widened, staring tightly at Ye Chen, her voice trembling as she said: "Chen Ge! How do you know alchemy?!"

  "Hehe! I also found two prescriptions on the back mountain by chance!"

  Ye Chen thought for a moment and still didn't tell Shen Xiang about his inheritance, after all, the word "god" was too shocking, too unbelievable for others.

  Listening to Ye Chen's explanation, Shen Xian suddenly realized and did not suspect Ye Chen's words, because as far as she knew, alchemists were too rare, and now the Lianyun Sect only had one alchemist, and the highest-grade elixir he could refine was only a third-grade elixir.

  "Alright! Don't think too much, let's go back quickly! I wasted a lot of time with Zhuge just now, and the party is probably about to disperse. Let's head back directly!"

  Ye Chen changed the subject again, advising Shen Xin to hurry back, otherwise it would make Shen Xin think about it and then he would have to spend a lot of effort explaining.

  "Alright then!"

  Shen Xiang smiled at Ye Chen and then parted ways with him, walking towards her own residence.

  ——————

  Got up early and saw the news on TV, Sichuan had an earthquake! 7.0 magnitude earthquake! A 7.0-magnitude earthquake occurred in Lushan County, Ya'an City, Sichuan Province at 8:02 on April 20, with a focal depth of 13 kilometers! Let's all pray for our friends who are there and hope that our compatriots there are safe and sound!!!

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