Chapter 210: Chapter 210: Completely Won Over
"This..."
Yang An was utterly astounded by what Ye Xuan said. He alternated between frowning, dawning realization, gritting his teeth, and deep concentration. Ye Xuan’s words echoed in his mind, and he felt a wave of profound enlightenment wash over him.
"Since I’ve started, I might as well give you the full picture. Aside from the errors in material selection, Zuoqiu’s refining techniques were also highly problematic."
Ye Xuan continued with casual confidence, "If I’m not mistaken, Zuoqiu had likely just become a Fourth Grade Artifact Refiner not long before he forged this Dragon Pattern Sword. Because of that, his techniques for engraving the profound patterns and melding the materials weren’t very polished. This resulted in some of the materials failing to fuse completely. The Tier Five Earth Core Armored Dragon Scale Armor, in particular, was simply beyond his ability to control back then. Its inclusion here is clumsy and incongruous."
"In short, while this Dragon Pattern Sword surpasses an ordinary Fourth Grade Profound Soldier, it would be considered a failure if appraised by a true Artifact Refining Master."
Yang An stared blankly at the Dragon Pattern Sword in Ye Xuan’s hand. At this moment, the work of Master Zuoqiu, whom he revered, seemed to have lost all its brilliance and been reduced to a mere failure.
What shocked Yang An most, however, was that Ye Xuan had pinpointed the time when the Dragon Pattern Sword was forged. According to the records, it had indeed been created not long after Zuoqiu became a Fourth Grade Artifact Refiner.
To determine the period it was forged in with just a glance... such mastery was something Yang An wouldn’t even dare to imagine.
"Impressive. Truly impressive."
After a long moment, he shook his head in amazement. "Master Ye Xuan, Hua Luoxuan told me your attainments in Alchemy were astonishing. I admit I had my doubts, but now I see it is truly so."
"Hahaha, Master Ye Xuan is truly formidable! Although I do not fully comprehend many of these details, the depth of your mastery leaves me in awe."
Zhao Jing laughed freely, his eyes shining. When he heard Yang An affirm Ye Xuan’s expertise, the smile on his face couldn’t have been brighter, and a hint of hidden anticipation filled his expression.
Seeing everyone’s shocked, wide-eyed expressions, Hua Luoxuan simply smiled, feeling utterly delighted. ’That’s Young Master Xuan for you.’
’This is the man I chose to follow. No matter where he is or who he faces, he always shines the brightest, overshadowing everyone.’
’Even though Yang An is a Fifth Grade Alchemist and the head of the court alchemists—far stronger than I am—he’s still no match for Young Master Xuan.’
"This is merely some basic knowledge in Artifact Refining, nothing worth mentioning," Ye Xuan said lightly.
He wasn’t boasting. In the process of forging a Profound Soldier, knowledge such as material selection was only considered preparatory work. The most critical part of forging a truly heaven-defying Profound Soldier was the refining process itself.
But hearing these words, Yang An and the others could only smile wryly, utterly speechless.
"Master Ye Xuan, it seems the Dragon Pattern Sword I’ve offered you is somewhat shabby, then," Zhao Jing said with a bitter smile.
"Your Majesty needn’t be so modest. Although this Dragon Pattern Sword is no rare treasure, it’s not bad. As long as I re-forge it, it should be quite serviceable."
Sheathing the sword, Ye Xuan set it down beside him.
’Of course,’ he thought, ’I can’t judge the Profound Soldiers of the Liuyun Kingdom by my own standards. In a small place like the Thirteen Nations Alliance, being able to forge a weapon like this already makes Zuoqiu a master rarely seen in centuries.’
"It can be re-forged?" Yang An was dumbfounded.
Ye Xuan simply smiled faintly without offering an explanation.
Next, Zhao Jing presented several more gifts: a few stalks of Tier Five Spirit Medicine, a piece of Tier Five Peak material, and a suit of silver-thread inner armor.
Ye Xuan didn’t feign refusal and accepted them all.
Ye Xuan looked at Zhao Jing and asked lightly, "Your Majesty’s gifts are quite valuable. Is there some difficulty you require my help with?"
The gifts Zhao Jing had presented this time were worth close to twenty million Profound Coins, all of them rare and precious treasures. Ye Xuan, shrewd as he was, knew perfectly well that Zhao Jing was asking for a favor.
"Heh, well..." Zhao Jing rubbed his hands together, looking a bit sheepish. "There is indeed one matter I was hoping Master Ye Xuan could help me with."
"Please, speak freely."
"It’s like this. I heard from Master Hua Luoxuan that you, Master Ye Xuan, were the one who developed the Spirit Suppressing Pill. This shows that your attainments in Alchemy have reached the pinnacle. To be perfectly honest, I use the Spirit Suppressing Pill to treat a hidden ailment I suffer from. This ailment has plagued me for many years, and the pain is excruciating whenever it flares up. So, I was hoping to ask you to diagnose me..."
Zhao Jing’s expression was filled with immense anticipation.
After the incident the other day, Zhao Jing, as the ruler of a kingdom, had naturally become interested in this mysterious youth and ordered an investigation into his background.
After all, the vice-head of the court alchemists, the vice-head of the Soul Master Tower, the general of the kingdom’s Golden Lion Corps, and the daughter of the Profound Spirit Academy’s head—any one of these individuals held immense influence in the kingdom. For so many powerful people to plead on behalf of a single youth, he had to have some extraordinary qualities.
However, the results of the investigation stunned Zhao Jing.
It turned out that Master Hua Luoxuan’s breakthrough from a Third Grade to a Fourth Grade Alchemist was inextricably linked to this young man. Moreover, the hand of this youth was also behind Elder Kuchen of the Soul Master Tower’s breakthrough from a Third Grade to a Fourth Grade Soul Refiner.
At first, Zhao Jing couldn’t believe it.
But the information that followed left Zhao Jing thrilled.
According to the investigation, Luo Zhan, the general of the Golden Lion Corps, had been forced to retire years ago due to an injury. At the time, the numerous Alchemists and Soul Refiners in the Royal City had all been helpless to treat him. Yet, Ye Xuan had been the one to cure his affliction, allowing him to return to the military.
Even more astonishing was the case of a City Guard commander from Blue Moon City. Last year, he had been injured during an expedition, causing his martial soul to shatter. He was pronounced as good as dead, but Ye Xuan used some mysterious technique to bring his martial soul back to life.
Although Hua Luoxuan had previously told Zhao Jing that Ye Xuan had developed the Spirit Suppressing Pill, Zhao Jing had harbored a sliver of doubt ever since seeing how young Ye Xuan was in the Iron Blood Guard’s prison.
Now, after reviewing all the information from the investigation, his heart suddenly swelled with a powerful confidence in Ye Xuan.
Having been tormented by his illness for years, his first thought was to ask Ye Xuan to treat him.
That was why he had arranged this meeting today.
And after witnessing Ye Xuan’s profound mastery of Artifact Refining just now, Zhao Jing’s confidence in him had inexplicably grown even stronger.
He had originally planned to wait a few days and gently probe Ye Xuan’s intentions. He never expected Ye Xuan to ask so openly, and, unable to restrain himself any longer, he confessed the truth.
After all, aside from the court alchemists and a select few like Chu Yunfei, almost no one knew that he was suffering from this chronic illness. The outside world was completely unaware.
Revealing this secret was, in itself, a difficult test for him.
In an instant, all eyes in the room turned to Ye Xuan.
"Since Your Majesty has put it that way, I will naturally not stand idly by," Ye Xuan said with a faint smile.
In truth, he had known Zhao Jing’s intentions all along. However, he already had a favorable impression of the king, and now that he had received these gifts, Ye Xuan certainly wasn’t going to refuse to help.
’Besides,’ he thought, ’according to my plans, I’ll eventually leave the Liuyun Kingdom for the heart of the continent. But my family will be staying here for the foreseeable future. Staying on good terms with Zhao Jing means he can help look after them.’
"Wonderful!" Overjoyed, Zhao Jing shot to his feet and crossed over to Ye Xuan in a few quick steps.
"Please be at ease, Your Majesty." Ye Xuan waved a hand. "If I’m not mistaken, you were injured by a powerful expert during a battle, which allowed a foreign power to invade your body."
Zhao Jing was astonished. "How did you know?"
"It’s quite simple. The Spirit Suppressing Pill is designed to suppress unusual Profound Power in the body, including things like the power of a martial soul. Generally, it’s only useful for experts whose cultivation has gone awry or those who have been invaded by a foreign power. You don’t look like someone who has suffered from cultivation deviation, which leaves only one possibility: invasion by a foreign power."
Realization dawned on Zhao Jing, and he sat down before Ye Xuan.
"I didn’t expect Your Majesty to be a Tier Five Martial Sect expert."
"How did you know that?" Zhao Jing’s eyes widened. This time, he was truly astonished.
As the ruler of a kingdom, Zhao Jing’s talent was actually astonishing. He was a Martial Sect-level expert, but he wore a treasure that concealed his Profound Qi, so very few people were aware of his true strength.
Ye Xuan smiled faintly. ’If I couldn’t even discern Zhao Jing’s cultivation level, then I, a former Soul Emperor, might as well go bang my head against a wall.’
He didn’t explain, however, and simply said, "Your Majesty, please release your Profound Qi defenses and allow me to conduct an examination."
The gazes of Chu Yunfei and the others sharpened.
’If he lets down his Profound Qi defenses, what if Ye Xuan attacks suddenly?’
’Although Zhao Jing is a Martial Sect expert, his body has been weakened by his chronic illness. Without the protection of his Profound Qi, a sudden attack from Ye Xuan during the examination would put the king in immediate peril.’
’At this close range, Chu Yunfei and the others wouldn’t even have time to intervene.’
Zhao Jing glanced at Ye Xuan, then gave a relaxed smile and released his Profound Qi defenses.
Ye Xuan’s Soul Sense instantly entered Zhao Jing’s body and began to probe inside.
For a moment, the very air seemed to freeze. Everyone watched Ye Xuan with bated breath.
At first, Ye Xuan’s expression was calm. After a moment, however, his brows furrowed, and his face took on a look of deep thought.
"Master Ye Xuan, how is it?" Zhao Jing asked.
"Your Majesty, I need to observe further," Ye Xuan said in a low voice. His pupils abruptly turned cyan, and two beams of matching light shot out, enveloping Zhao Jing.
A faint, oppressive aura suddenly emanated from him.
This sudden development stunned everyone present.
