Storm in the Sect Chapter 61: Why Not Let It End Here

The next day, at the hour of Chen.

The morning light was pleasant, but the Hall of Alchemy was already bustling with noise, entirely contrary to its usual tranquility.

Dozens of disciples from the Hall of Alchemy packed the central alchemy room so tightly that not even a drop of water could leak through. Stretching their necks, they whispered to one another with varied expressions.

"Have you heard? Elder Fu is going to personally test that newcomer named Chu Xing!"

"Which Chu Xing?" asked a disciple who had just emerged from secluded cultivation, looking blank.

Immediately, someone beside him lowered his voice and explained vividly, "Which one could it be?! The monster who walked out of the waste pill room alive yesterday and made Senior Brother Pei Linfeng suffer a huge loss in public!"

"Hiss... It's him? I heard he can't even conjure alchemy flames. What is Elder Fu testing him on?"

"Who knows? But Senior Brother Pei Linfeng spread the word early this morning, saying that the brat is wildly arrogant and dares to boast about being able to process a century-old ink-jade bone. Today is all about making him make a public fool of himself and completely ruining his reputation!"

Following the direction of his gaze, everyone saw Pei Linfeng standing beside an imposing-looking middle-aged man. The disheveled appearance from yesterday was entirely gone; instead, a gloating, cold sneer hung on his face as he relished the surrounding discussions.

He knew very well that these rumors had spread so quickly because he had "inadvertently" leaked them.

He wanted everyone to know that today, a reckless handyman was going to challenge the most impossible task in the Hall of Alchemy! He wanted to reduce Chu Xing to an absolute laughingstock under the gaze of everyone!

At that moment, a slight commotion stirred on the outer edges of the crowd.

"Look! He's here!"

Turning back, the crowd saw Chu Xing approaching at a leisurely pace. The moment he appeared, all the murmuring instantly ceased.

Dozens of gazes, mixed with curiosity, suspicion, and even contempt, fell squarely upon Chu Xing.

Chu Xing furrowed his brow slightly, understanding the situation immediately. It seemed someone was more than eager to roast him over an open fire.

Ignoring these gazes, he walked straight through the crowd toward the alchemy room.

Just as he reached the entrance of the alchemy room, a rigid and harsh voice echoed from inside.

"Elder Fu, this must not be allowed! It is simply too absurd!"

Chu Xing paused his steps. Inside the room, Fu Lingchuan and Mu Wanqing stood in the center. Opposite them, a middle-aged man clad in elder robes and wearing a stern expression was arguing passionately with a displeased look.

This person was none other than Chen Xuan, another Earth-grade premium alchemist of the Hall of Alchemy. Chen Xuan held immense prestige within the hall, known for his upright and rigid character, as well as his obsession with the alchemy dao. He utterly despised unorthodox paths and opportunistic behavior.

"Junior Brother Chen, my mind is already made up on this matter."

Fu Lingchuan's voice carried a trace of exhaustion.

"Elder Brother!"

Chen Xuan's voice suddenly spiked a notch. "When I heard about this last night, I thought it was just a rumor! You actually intend to let a Body Refining realm handyman who can't even condense alchemy flames handle that century-old ink-jade bone? This is nothing short of an insult to the alchemy dao!"

Fu Lingchuan furrowed his brows tightly and was about to speak.

Mu Wanqing, who had remained silent all along, suddenly stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Chen Xuan.

"Uncle-Master Chen, this matter... is not child's play. Junior Brother Chu possesses unique arts, perhaps... he truly might have a way. Without trying, how can one know the outcome?"

Chen Xuan was slightly startled. Looking at the junior he usually appreciated, his tone softened marginally: "Wanqing, you are being overly naive! The path of alchemy requires step-by-step diligence, leaving no room for luck! How precious is that ink-jade bone? How can it be used just to try things out?"

He turned back to Fu Lingchuan and said patiently, "Elder Brother, I know you have your own considerations, but you cannot clutch at straws in desperation! Purifying the ink-jade bone and separating the bone poison—how arduous is this task? Looking across the entire Hall of Alchemy, aside from the two of us, who would dare claim absolute certainty? Even I only have a five-tenths chance of success! You are letting him try? What is this if not squandering a heavenly treasure?"

His words instantly drew a chorus of agreement from all the alchemy disciples outside the door.

"Elder Chen is right! We cannot let an outsider ruin rare medicinal materials!"

"Precisely! What gives him the right? This is far too ridiculous!"

Right at this tense moment, a calm voice drifted from the entrance.

"Disciple Chu Xing pays his respects to Elder Fu and Elder Chen."

Chu Xing stepped inside and bowed respectfully to the two men.

Chen Xuan let out a cold snort, glanced at him sideways, and couldn't be bothered to respond at all.

Chu Xing's appearance handed Pei Linfeng the exact opportunity he wanted.

"Junior Brother Chu has arrived! All senior and junior brothers heard it, didn't you? This Junior Brother Chu is going to challenge the purification of the ink-jade bone, a task even Elder Chen only has a fifty-percent chance of succeeding at! This is a rare spectacle in our Hall of Alchemy in a hundred years!"

Fu Lingchuan's face darkened. He had intended to test the boy privately, never expecting the matter to become public knowledge.

Chu Xing's frown deepened. He looked toward Fu Lingchuan before he could even speak.

Pei Linfeng pressed the attack once more: "Junior Brother Chu, you must think carefully. This ink-jade bone is worth a thousand gold. If you don't have the skill, just back down now, offer an apology to Elder Chen and Elder Fu, and everyone will take it as a joke; no one will truly hold it against you."

He turned to the crowd, continuing to fan the flames: "But if you force your hand and end up destroying this treasure in the end... then it won't just be about becoming the laughingstock of our Profound Star Pavilion. According to the hall rules, destroying rare medicinal materials carries punishments ranging from the abolition of one's cultivation to expulsion from the sect!"

These sarcastic and biting words instantly forced Chu Xing to the edge of a cliff.

Accept the challenge, and his future would remain uncertain with massive risks.

Decline, and he would admit defeat in front of everyone, making it impossible for him to ever hold his head high in the Hall of Alchemy again.

Mu Wanqing's pretty face turned icy: "Pei Linfeng, shut your mouth! This matter was decided by Elder Fu, when is it your turn to point fingers here?"

"Senior Sister Mu speaks incorrectly. I am only acting for the benefit of the Hall of Alchemy, and also for Junior Brother Chu's own good, lest he takes a wrong step and plunges into eternal damnation."

Chen Xuan also wore a deeply furrowed brow. Although he opposed Fu Lingchuan's decision, he utterly despised Pei Linfeng's petty behavior, though propriety prevented him from lashing out.

Observing the chaotic scene before him, Fu Lingchuan's lingering hesitation was completely replaced by resolve.

"Chu Xing, public opinion is a fearsome thing. Do you still dare to give it a try?"

Everyone's gaze converged on Chu Xing.

Mu Wanqing looked at him, her lips parting as if to say something, but it ultimately dissolved into an almost inaudible sigh.

Looking at the beast bone on the platform, then at the clown-like Pei Linfeng, only a single thought crossed Chu Xing's mind.

"Yesterday's five hundred contribution points were still too few."

A heavy feeling also weighed in his heart.

Devouring was something he excelled at. But such delicate separation without damaging the origin... he had never tried it even once.

During the moment of his silence, seeing that he had yet to respond, Elder Chen assumed he had been frightened by Pei Linfeng's words and sighed inwardly.

He cupped his fists toward Fu Lingchuan, his tone sincere: "Elder Brother, look, this matter has already turned into a farce. Pressuring him further will only make things embarrassing for the child."

His gaze swept over Chu Xing, and although he still disagreed, he said, "This old man does not know what your intentions are, Elder Brother, but the path of alchemy is ultimately not child's play. Perhaps it is best to let the matter rest here."