92: Chapter 92 Another protagonist?

Handsome, high talent, popular, helpful, and there's always someone jumping out to serve as a stepping stone for him...

Could he be another protagonist just like Ye Chen?

The corners of Yun Ming's mouth twitched.

This kind of person is the most troublesome. Getting involved with them means either being used as a stepping stone or getting dragged into all sorts of inexplicable events.

Just as he was thinking this, a sudden burst of cheers erupted from the crowd.

"Senior Brother Su is here!"

"Senior Brother Mubai!"

"Senior Brother Su, look over here!"

Yun Ming followed the crowd's gaze and saw a figure in white slowly walking through a path that the crowd had automatically cleared.

The man was about twenty-four or twenty-five, wearing a moon-white robe with a jade belt around his waist, his dark hair held up by a simple hairpin. His face was handsome and refined, his eyes gentle, and a faint smile played on his lips, making one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.

A jade-like figure on the road, a Young Master peerless in this world.

Wherever he walked, the crowd fell silent, their gazes following his figure as if watching a living painting.

Yun Ming's nostrils flared slightly.

A faint scent of Alchemy drifted to his nose. The fragrance was elegant and lingering; it was not perfume, but the scent of the Dao of Alchemy that had seeped into his bones from spending years with a Pill Furnace.

He was slightly startled.

This scent of Alchemy could only be detected by someone with accomplishments in the Dao of Alchemy.

When Su Mubai passed by him, his gaze swept over him lightly without stopping. The scent of Alchemy was close at hand, then gradually faded away.

Yun Ming understood.

This person had not smelled the scent of Alchemy on him.

For one, he really hadn't been doing much Alchemy this past month, so the scent had faded; and for another—the other party's accomplishments in the Dao of Alchemy were not yet enough to discern his true depth.

In the crowd, Su Mubai walked to the front of the hall and stood on a prayer mat beside the podium. He cupped his hands to the surroundings with elegant and composed movements, triggering another burst of cheers from the crowd.

"Senior Brother Su! Senior Brother Su!"

"Senior Brother Mubai!"

Su Mubai raised his hand slightly to press down, and the cheers gradually subsided. He smiled slightly and spoke:

"Fellow disciples, Mubai has come here today not, as rumored, to compete with that Deacon Yun."

The crowd was stunned.

"Quite the opposite." Su Mubai's tone was sincere. "After hearing the content of Deacon Yun's lecture, I deeply felt that there are many ideas worth learning from. For example, using green spirit fruit peel to enhance the scent of the Medicinal Pill, and using frost grass to adjust the taste of the Medicinal Pill—though these ideas differ from the traditional Dao of Alchemy, they are innovative and thought-provoking."

He paused, then continued: "However, the position of teaching deacon should indeed be held by the capable. I have come today to engage in a fair exchange with Deacon Yun, and if I am fortunate enough to learn a thing or two from him, it would be my good fortune."

Once these words were spoken, the crowd below immediately erupted.

"Senior Brother Su is too modest!"

"Senior Brother Su is the one most qualified to be the teaching deacon!"

"That Deacon Yun still hasn't shown his face; could he be afraid?"

"Exactly, Senior Brother Su has been here for so long, and there's not even a shadow of him!"

The sounds of questioning grew louder, and many people began looking around, wanting to see where that Deacon Yun, who was so late to appear, actually was.

Yun Ming stood in the crowd, listening to these discussions with an expressionless face.

Even Qin Zhi and the other two were waving and cheering for Su Mubai.

But suddenly seeing Yun Ming's poor expression, they whispered: "Senior, are you not feeling well?"

Yun Ming waved his hand, signaling that he was fine.

He was just preparing to step forward when he heard Su Mubai speak again:

"Since Deacon Yun has not yet arrived, I shall cast a brick to attract jade and share some of my insights on Alchemy with everyone. If there are any shortcomings, I hope Deacon Yun will not hesitate to offer his guidance when he arrives."

After finishing, he sat cross-legged and began his lecture.

Yun Ming's steps faltered, and he rolled his eyes.

This guy certainly knows how to handle things.

However, he was not in a hurry, so he simply stood where he was and listened patiently.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.

Su Mubai was talking about his insights on refining the second-tier Medicinal Pill, "yunling pill."

Although he himself had not yet successfully refined it, from the selection of medicinal herbs to the control of heat, and from the application of pill techniques to the timing of opening the Pill Furnace, he spoke eloquently and clearly.

Yun Ming listened for a while and had to admit that this person really had some skills.

His foundation was solid, his experience was rich, and he had insightful handling of some common problems. Among second-tier Alchemists, he could be considered outstanding.

But that was all.

He was still far from making him admit defeat.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Su Mubai's lecture neared its end. He finished the last point and was about to conclude when a clear voice suddenly rang out from the crowd:

"Wait a moment."

Under the shocked gazes of Qin Zhi and the other two, Yun Ming pushed through the crowd and walked forward unhurriedly.

Everyone's gaze fell upon him in unison. Someone recognized the deacon token at his waist and immediately exclaimed: "It's Deacon Yun! He is Deacon Yun!"

Su Mubai stood up, his gaze falling on him, and he cupped his hands slightly: "Deacon Yun."

Yun Ming also cupped his hands, his etiquette in place, but his smile was somewhat playful.

He walked to the front of the podium, looked at Su Mubai, and spoke in a calm tone:

"Senior Brother Su's lecture just now was brilliant; I have benefited greatly. However, there is one detail I wonder if Senior Brother Su could clarify for me?"

Su Mubai was slightly taken aback, then nodded: "Please, go ahead."

Yun Ming said: "Just now, Senior Brother Su mentioned the refining of the yunling pill and stated that after adding the baijie root, one needs to wait for three breaths before adding the frost dew flower. May I ask, Senior Brother Su, why wait for those three breaths?"

Su Mubai replied without hesitation: "The baijie root is dry in nature, and the frost dew flower is cold in nature; adding them simultaneously causes their medicinal properties to conflict. Waiting for three breaths allows the dryness of the baijie root to subside slightly before adding the frost dew flower, which allows the medicinal properties to neutralize and results in a higher success rate for pill formation."

Yun Ming nodded: "Senior Brother Su is correct. But has Senior Brother Su ever considered that the properties of the baijie root and the frost dew flower can change depending on how they are processed?"

Su Mubai frowned slightly.

Yun Ming continued: "If the baijie root is roasted over a gentle fire, its nature changes from dry to warm. If the frost dew flower is slightly scorched over a fierce fire, its nature changes from cold to cool. If both are processed before being added to the Pill Furnace, what would happen?"

Su Mubai pondered silently.

"Both properties then return to 'Water'," Yun Ming said. "Water and water complement each other, and should mutually benefit. But if one side is unprocessed, it is 'Earth' in nature; if the other is processed, it is 'Water' in nature. Earth overcomes Water—the medicinal effect decreases by ten percent, and the pill formation rate decreases by five percent."

As his voice fell, the scene was silent.

Immediately, an uproar arose.

"What is he talking about?"

"What water, earth, water nature; why can't I understand it?"

"It sounds like it makes a lot of sense..."

Su Mubai stood where he was, the smile on his face slightly stiffening.

He looked at Yun Ming, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes—there was surprise, realization, and a trace of barely perceptible defeat.

After a moment, he took a deep breath and bowed deeply to Yun Ming:

"I have been enlightened."

The scene was in an uproar again.

Su Mubai's followers immediately wouldn't have it.

"Senior Brother Su, don't be bluffed by him!"

"We've never even heard of what he's talking about; it must be nonsense!"

"Exactly, Senior Brother Su, how could you lose!"

Su Mubai raised his hand to stop everyone and shook his head: "Every word Deacon Yun said is reasonable. It was my oversight."

He looked at Yun Ming, his tone sincere: "Deacon Yun, it was presumptuous of Mubai today. If there is an opportunity, Mubai hopes to exchange ideas with Deacon Yun again."

Yun Ming looked at him and raised an eyebrow slightly.

This person isn't annoying at all.

Losing is losing; he didn't quibble, nor did he get angry out of shame. This demeanor is much better than those who flip out when they lose.