Chapter 59: Mysterious Pill King? Identity Confirmed

The scene unfolding before them was like a storm, delivering a tremendous shock to everyone present.

Du Wanqing, Luoyang’s foremost Alchemy Master, had specifically left Wanqing Manor and come to the Liu Family estate in person—and it was all for Zhao Peng!

What’s more, the moment he arrived, he announced his intention to take Zhao Peng as his Direct Disciple.

One had to understand that being a Direct Disciple was extraordinarily significant. In all of Luoyang City, only Wei Yanran, one of the Four Great Beauties, held such a title.

And Wei Yanran’s talent for Alchemy was considered the best among Luoyang’s younger generation.

A woman of both talent and beauty, Wei Yanran was naturally qualified to be Du Wanqing’s Direct Disciple.

But Zhao Peng? What had he ever done to deserve this?

"Elder Du, are you sure you haven’t found the wrong person?" Faced with this sudden windfall, Zhao Peng wasn’t dizzy with happiness. Instead, he was filled with apprehension.

"Is there a second person here named Zhao Peng?"

"Uh... I don’t think so."

"Then it’s you!"

"But... my talent for Alchemy is terrible."

Zhao Peng knew that for someone like Du Wanqing to accept a Direct Disciple, the requirements for talent must be incredibly high. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have only taken on Wei Yanran after all these years.

"No matter, no matter. Diligence can make up for a lack of talent," Du Wanqing said with a kind expression and a beaming smile.

"But..."

"Are you unwilling? Do you look down on me?" Du Wanqing cut Zhao Peng off.

"I wouldn’t dare."

"It’s good that you don’t dare. Then it’s settled. You are my Direct Disciple," Du Wanqing said sternly, his tone leaving no room for refusal.

Listening to this absurd conversation, the surroundings had long fallen silent as a tomb.

Du Wanqing’s posture made it seem like he was practically begging Zhao Peng to become his Direct Disciple.

Meanwhile, Wei Yanran, standing beside him, was dressed in white that outshone the snow. Her demeanor was as cold as ice, her face calm, as if this was all perfectly normal.

Just what was it about Zhao Peng that made Du Wanqing value him so highly?

’It’s him. It must be him!’

Fang Li’s face had turned deathly pale. While everyone was fixated on Zhao Peng in their shock, subconsciously ignoring Ning Jiang, she was the only one whose attention was focused entirely on him.

’Perhaps in the blink of an eye, the person you looked down upon will become someone you can never hope to reach.’

’To me, nothing is impossible. Today, I will make you remember one phrase.’

’Never bully a young man for being poor!’

These words from Ning Jiang, which she had previously dismissed, now descended upon her mind like a titanic storm, raging relentlessly!

She finally understood why Ning Jiang had been so confident.

Because Ning Jiang was the mastermind behind it all!

Fang Li’s body trembled. Her lips parted. At this moment, she wanted to scream, to tell everyone that Zhao Peng becoming Du Wanqing’s Direct Disciple was not the truly shocking part.

The truly terrifying one was the mastermind behind it all.

It was Ning Jiang, who had remained hidden in the background!

It was this person who had set everything in motion. He was like a master puppeteer manipulating the strings of fate, making Du Wanqing come here to accept Zhao Peng as a Direct Disciple.

Everything was under his control.

Everything was just a game of chess.

’Who on earth is he?’

Deep terror filled Fang Li’s eyes. Once she understood that Ning Jiang was the one playing this game of chess, her heart was filled with nothing but boundless fear.

Even Luoyang City’s foremost Alchemy Master, Du Wanqing, was just a pawn being manipulated.

In that case, what did she amount to in front of Ning Jiang?

Suddenly, Ning Jiang’s gaze fell upon her.

She felt as if she’d been struck by lightning, her body trembling violently.

What kind of gaze was that?

His dark eyes were gentle, like a clear, azure sky that brought tranquility and warmth.

But deep within them hid a terrifying sharpness. It was like a dark prairie where a cold wind stirred waves of grass, and in that darkness lay a will that, once unleashed, would destroy everything.

She lowered her head, not daring to look again.

"The twists of fate are truly unpredictable. From this moment on, Zhao Peng’s status has far surpassed Liu’s. Who would still dare to break him and Fang Ying up? Between the Fang Family and the Liu Family, who would have the guts?" someone exclaimed.

"Hm? What’s going on here?"

Besides being Luoyang’s foremost Alchemy Master, Du Wanqing’s own Cultivation was that of an Innate Peak expert. His hearing was sharp, and he immediately overheard the comment.

The person who spoke wore a respectful expression and didn’t dare to hide anything, quickly recounting what had just happened.

After listening, Du Wanqing’s expression darkened. His gaze, sharp as a blade, turned to Fang Lin. "My disciple is with Fang Ying. Do you have a problem with that?"

Fang Lin’s short, stout body shuddered, and cold sweat beaded on his back. "I wouldn’t dare."

Du Wanqing was a Top Level figure in Luoyang City. If Fang Lin were to displease him, someone would turn him into a corpse the very next day without Du Wanqing even having to give a signal.

His heart was already filled with regret. If he had known this would happen, why would he have ever tried to break up Fang Ying and Zhao Peng?

"Liu Hao, your son wants to fight my disciple for a woman?"

Du Wanqing’s gaze shifted. His face showed neither pleasure nor anger, yet Liu Hao felt immense pressure.

"Master Du, you exaggerate. Since your esteemed disciple and Fang Ying are in love, my son will naturally back down gracefully." Liu Hao had no choice but to yield.

Even though he was from a Second-tier family, if Du Wanqing became enraged, even the Liu Family couldn’t protect him.

He had to bow his head and retreat even when facing Liu Zhengdong, let alone the far more terrifying Du Wanqing.

"Very good." Du Wanqing nodded, his pleasant expression returning. "Alright, Zhao Peng, this matter is settled. You and Fang Ying, come with me to Wanqing Manor."

Zhao Peng still felt like he was in a daze, not understanding Du Wanqing’s true intentions.

He glanced at Ning Jiang, faintly understanding that all of this was definitely related to him.

"Zhao Peng, don’t ask too many questions. I said I would help you, and now I have. Go on," Ning Jiang said casually, waving his hand.

"Zhao Peng, you know him? Are you close?"

Just then, a voice rang out. It was crisp and pleasant, its only flaw being the icy tone it carried.

The speaker was Wei Yanran. Her delicate brows furrowed, her beautiful eyes filled with dissatisfaction toward Ning Jiang. "From now on, I am your senior sister. As your senior sister, I have to say this: you should associate with him less in the future. This person is arrogant and conceited, not a good friend. He who touches pitch shall be defiled. I don’t want you to be led astray by him."

She hadn’t forgotten the words Ning Jiang had spoken during the Treasure Auction.

"You really know how to hold a grudge. ’Petty’ describes you perfectly."

Ning Jiang wasn’t angry either. He replied coolly, "Wei Yanran, I’ve said it before: your vision is too narrow. One day, you will realize just what kind of existence stands before you. At that time, you will understand the reverence you ought to show me."

"Arrogant," Wei Yanran said, her expression turning cold.

"Ning Jiang is my friend. If you’re going to belittle him like this, then I won’t accept the discipleship," Zhao Peng said at that moment, gritting his teeth.

The status of being Du Wanqing’s Direct Disciple was indeed very tempting. In all of Luoyang City, countless people would probably fight to the death for such a title.

But he was not an ungrateful person. He hadn’t forgotten that the one who brought him to the Liu Family estate was Ning Jiang!

It was Ning Jiang who had extended a helping hand when he was in his most difficult time.

"You!" Wei Yanran was about to fly into a rage.

"Yanran, be quiet," Du Wanqing barked from the side, his gaze displeased.

Wei Yanran’s pretty face changed. At that moment, she also remembered the instructions from that mysterious Pill King.

She wasn’t one to be blinded by anger. She immediately calmed down and said no more.

"Apologize to this young master," Du Wanqing said, seeing that Zhao Peng’s expression was still somewhat unhappy.

Wei Yanran didn’t dare disobey her master. She said reluctantly, "I’m sorry."

"Too quiet," Ning Jiang said with a faint smile.

Wei Yanran gritted her teeth and raised her voice. "I’m sorry!"

"Alright, Zhao Peng, don’t hold it against her. She’s just a little girl. Besides, she’ll be your senior sister from now on, so don’t make things too awkward."

Ning Jiang chuckled. In truth, he couldn’t care less whether Wei Yanran apologized or not. He just thought it was fun to make this Iceberg Beauty suffer a little defeat.

Hearing Ning Jiang’s words, Wei Yanran’s beautiful eyes widened, filled with fury.

In just a few words, Ning Jiang had dismissed her as a "little girl," infuriating her to no end.

"Ning Jiang, thank you," Zhao Peng said solemnly.

He knew that everything today was thanks to Ning Jiang’s Energy. Even Du Wanqing’s actions must be related to Ning Jiang.

But since Ning Jiang didn’t bring it up, he wouldn’t press for details.

A friendship is a meeting of hearts. Why was it necessary to know all of your friend’s secrets?

Ning Jiang wouldn’t harm him. As long as he remembered that, it was enough.

"Let’s go."

With that, Du Wanqing took Zhao Peng and Fang Ying and turned to leave.

Before she left, Wei Yanran shot Ning Jiang a harsh glare and muttered, "Don’t be too proud of my apology just now. I only did it out of respect for the mysterious Elder Pill King. Forget it, what’s the point of telling you this? With your ability, you’ll never come into contact with such a great figure in your entire life."

After speaking, she snorted coldly and departed like a proud swan.

"The mysterious Pill King? I’ll never be able to meet him?" Ning Jiang shook his head, his expression serene.

How could Wei Yanran possibly know that the mysterious Pill King, who seemed so distant and unreachable, was in fact right in front of her?

He was the one who had moved the chess piece that was Du Wanqing.

But Ning Jiang couldn’t be bothered to explain any of this.

One day, the truth would come to light. Wei Yanran would eventually find out just what kind of existence he was.

"You seem to have figured something out. You’re quite smart. But some things are best kept buried in your heart forever," Ning Jiang said coldly, walking up to Fang Li.

Fang Li’s body trembled, and she nodded lightly.

Without another word, Ning Jiang turned and left.

Liu Zhengdong took Liu Mi and hurried after him.

Watching Ning Jiang’s departing figure, endless regret washed over Fang Li.

Her father only regretted misjudging Zhao Peng. How could he know that the person they had truly missed out on was actually Ning Jiang?

He walked out of the Liu Family estate, putting fifty zhang of distance between himself and the gate.

Ning Jiang suddenly thought of something. He turned and threw a punch, sending a ball of Postnatal Gang Qi blasting out.

THUMP.

The guard at the gate was sent flying backward, spitting blood. This was the same man who had taken three hundred Primordial Stones from Zhao Peng earlier.

"A Postnatal Realm Cultivation, yet his Gang Qi can leave his body and travel fifty zhang! And from the looks of it, fifty zhang isn’t even his limit!" Liu Zhengdong was deeply shocked.

The strength of Ning Jiang’s Postnatal Gang Qi defied all common sense.

「The next day.」

News that Ning Jiang had stormed the Liu Family estate and caused a huge scene was spread by the many members of the younger generation who had been present.

And during that banquet, a rumor that had been endlessly debated and whose authenticity was uncertain was finally confirmed.

The identity of the White-haired Ghost Ning Jiang was real!

The one who confirmed it: Gu Zheng.

As soon as this news spread, the younger generation of Luoyang was thrown into an uproar!