270: Power of curse

Jiang Donghua's words were a heartfelt sigh of emotion.

Alchemy certainly required talent, but for Mu Chen to be able to combine pharmacology with cooking to such an extent, the effort he put in and the comprehension he displayed were absolutely extraordinary.

However, before he could finish his sentence, Lei Lie, who was beside him, eagerly interrupted. He clapped Jiang Donghua on the shoulder and boisterously shouted at Mu Chen.

"Old Mu! Don't underestimate my Brother Jiang! He praises you, but he himself is a bona fide Fourth-Grade Alchemist Master!"

Lei Lie's voice was loud and full of proud self-satisfaction.

"I saw it with my own eyes; he was already one last year when we were out training!"

"It's been a year now, and with Brother Jiang's monstrous talent, I reckon he's probably already touched the threshold of a Fifth-Grade Alchemist, right?"

Lei Lie's words were originally well-intentioned, hoping to elevate Jiang Donghua's status and let Mu Chen know that his praise carried significant weight.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, Mu Chen, who had been listening to Jiang Donghua's compliments with a gentle smile on his face, instantly had his smiling expression freeze.

His fingers, holding the tray, tightened slightly.

His eyes, which always carried a hint of fatigue and dullness, suddenly lifted, focusing on Jiang Donghua as if substantial, and deep within his pupils, an extremely complex emotion seemed to surge violently.

There was surprise, scrutiny, disbelief, and even a hint of extremely subtle, almost imperceptible sharpness and some deep-seated anticipation?

The weak aura around him solidified for a moment.

The atmosphere in the entire private room, due to Lei Lie's unintentional remark, suddenly became subtle and quiet.

Mu Chen didn't speak immediately. He just re-examined Jiang Donghua from head to toe with a new, extremely serious gaze, as if trying to see through him completely.

Jiang Donghua was extremely perceptive and naturally immediately caught the momentary drastic change and deep-seated complex emotions in Mu Chen's eyes.

That was not merely surprise at a Fourth-Grade Alchemist; it was more like the instinctive reaction of someone who had been traversing endless darkness and suddenly saw a glimmer of light, carrying incredulous scrutiny and a hint of hope that he dared not easily touch.

Jiang Donghua understood in his heart, but his face remained impassive. He simply met Mu Chen's sharp, probing gaze, shook his head gently, and said in a calm tone.

"Brother Lei is exaggerating. The threshold of a Fifth-Grade Alchemist is incredibly high; I am still far from that step."

His words were both humble and factual. The advancement of every grade for an Alchemist was extremely difficult, requiring qualitative leaps in Soul Power, flame control, and medicinal fusion.

But he then changed the subject, looking at Mu Chen with sincere eyes and a tone that carried convincing steadiness and confidence.

"However, if Senior Jiang doesn't mind, and can tell me in detail about the difficulties, with my current alchemy attainments, I might still have some confidence in attempting to resolve them."

He paused slightly, as if carefully choosing his words.

He didn't make a full promise, but his composure and certainty were more powerful than any boast.

Then, a slightly cunning smile appeared on his face, as if discussing a casual transaction.

"Of course, in exchange, I hope that when I come to Senior Jiang's Medicine Spirit Pavilion for meals in the future, Senior Jiang can make it convenient for me and not charge me for the fire energy. How about it?"

When Mu Chen heard Jiang Donghua's preceding words, the sharp light in his eyes gradually receded, transforming into deep contemplation and deliberation.

Upon hearing the almost shameless condition at the end, a genuine, somewhat helpless wry smile finally appeared on his pale face.

He nodded gently, his tone returning to its previous gentleness, but with added solemnity.

"Senior Jiang is joking. If it can truly be resolved, mere meals are not worth mentioning."

Lei Lie, watching the two of them converse in riddles, looking at Jiang Donghua for a moment, then at Mu Chen, only felt the atmosphere was somewhat profound and mysterious, and he couldn't interject at all, like an superfluous outsider.

He looked left and right, and finally could only scratch his head awkwardly, speaking in a muffled voice.

"Uh, Old Lei is a crude person, and I don't understand your roundabout talk. How about I leave first? You two can chat slowly?"

However, Mu Chen raised his hand and pressed it down slightly, stopping him.

Mu Chen's gaze remained on Jiang Donghua, having made a certain decision. He took a deep breath, and his voice, though still tinged with weakness, spoke with unusual clarity.

"This is not the place for a detailed discussion. Brother Lei need not leave; just wait here for a moment."

He turned to Jiang Donghua, made an inviting gesture, and his expression was solemn.

"Brother Jiang, if you don't mind, please come with me to the secret chamber for a chat. We can talk freely."

As Mu Chen led the way, Jiang Donghua followed closely, passing through several corridors. The deeper they went into the Medicine Spirit Pavilion, the richer and purer the medicinal fragrance in the air became, even carrying a hint of ancient and peculiar aura.

Along both sides of the path, and even in the special alcoves carved into the walls, the plants cultivated or displayed became increasingly rare and precious.

Jiang Donghua's gaze swept over them, and his heart couldn't help but ripple. He saw a Jade Marrow Ganoderma lucidum, entirely like green jade, with dew-like spiritual liquid condensed on its leaves.

A Scarlet Dragon Ginseng, winding like a dragon and emitting a scorching aura.

In an area enveloped by faint light, he saw a Star Spirit Flower, still in bud, with starlight shimmering on its petals... These exotic flowers and rare herbs were all top-grade auxiliary or main ingredients, extremely difficult to find even when refining fourth-grade or even fifth-grade pills!

Their value was immense, enough to make any Alchemist go mad.

Even Jiang Donghua, as a Fourth-Grade Alchemist, couldn't help but feel a pang of desire upon seeing these treasures.

Mu Chen, walking ahead, seemed to sense Jiang Donghua's gaze. Without turning his head, he explained softly, with a hint of imperceptible bitterness in his tone.

"Senior Jiang need not be surprised. These are not my personal possessions, but rather a medicinal garden specially arranged here by several Elders of the Inner Academy, especially the Great Elder, to facilitate the study of my injuries."

"They hope that with the rich vitality and medicinal power of this place, they can slow down the erosion of that thing within my body."

He paused, his voice becoming even deeper.

"To be honest, the Great Elder, Great Elder, has personally come to examine this root of disaster within me several times."

Jiang Donghua's heart stirred upon hearing this.

Even the Great Elder was helpless?

Mu Chen gave a bitter smile, filled with helplessness and a hint of despair.

"The Great Elder, after seeing it, could only shake his head and smile bitterly."

"He once said that this thing within my body is extremely bizarre and sinister, no longer an ordinary injury or strange poison, but more like a curse! It is rooted in the source of my bloodline and even entangled with my Soul Power."

"Curse?!"

Jiang Donghua's pupils suddenly contracted when he heard these four words!

In his mind, countless records of various bizarre curses he had read in ancient books flashed like lightning!

"There are too many types of curses."

Jiang Donghua's heart was instantly turbulent.

Every curse was extremely troublesome, and the methods to break them varied and were mostly long lost, or required extremely harsh conditions and pills.

Mu Chen's voice pulled him back to reality from his rapidly spinning thoughts, his voice carrying the pain of five years of torment.

"For something like this curse, the Great Elder said, perhaps only those legendary, extremely high-grade and rare pills might be able to completely eradicate it."

His tone became choked and despairing.

"I've been in this Inner Academy, struggling for a full five years!"

"I've exhausted every method I could think of, and I can only barely suppress this terrifying curse by relying on these medicinal herbs and medicated meals, preventing it from completely devouring me, watching my cultivation regress year after year, feeling my life force slowly drain away. This taste..."

He didn't continue, but the deep-seated despair and helplessness already permeated the air.

Finally, the two stopped before a wooden door that looked ordinary but subtly emanated energy fluctuations.

Mu Chen took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

"We're here, Senior Jiang, please come in. This is my secret chamber."