484: Lingdan Hall Branch

Gongsun Wangyue's provocation was ineffective against Jiang Ning.

But Jiang Ning wasn't afraid either.

Jiang Ning said with a smile, "Don't worry, I won't forget our bet. I'm still waiting for you to go around raising resources for my cultivation."

Gongsun Wangyue was stunned.

He gnashed his teeth.

Did Jiang Ning think he had already won?

Losing to Jiang Ning in the Newcomer Examination a few years ago was a source of pain for Gongsun Wangyue, not much less than it was for Pill Minister.

It was just that Pill Minister's background meant he carried a heavier psychological burden.

Gongsun Wangyue was different; he had the backing of the Gongsun Family.

To him, making a comeback against the odds was only a matter of time.

After all, in his eyes, Jiang Ning was just a commoner.

A commoner who was slightly better than Pill Minister.

Gongsun Wangyue glanced at Jiang Ning and sneered.

"When you lose, don't you regret it! Don't beg me to let you off. I'll make sure you can't perform Alchemy for the rest of your life."

Yun Qingqing and Jiang Ning exchanged a look, stifling their laughter.

If he didn't believe in Jiang Ning's strength, did he not even trust the Elixir Patrol teacher's judgment?

Yun Qingqing also didn't know where Gongsun Wangyue got his courage from.

Moreover, if Gongsun Wangyue had made progress in his Alchemy Technique these past few years, had Jiang Ning not made any progress at all?

But this was normal.

Gongsun Wangyue came from a prestigious family in the Imperial City.

From childhood to adulthood, he had always taken pride in the strength of the Gongsun Family.

In Gongsun Wangyue's subconscious, a Loose Cultivator simply could not win against the great Noble Families.

Furthermore, the Elders in his family were leaders in the Alchemy world. Under their guidance, he naturally believed his strength would improve faster than Jiang Ning's, who had to figure things out on his own.

The Elders and Disciples of the Spirit Pill Hall Branch Hall felt a faint sense of anticipation.

Although they hadn't seen Jiang Ning in previous years or witnessed him perform Alchemy,

the story of how Jiang Ning, an obscure Loose Cultivator, had suddenly shone brilliantly in the Newcomer Examination had been circulating within the Spirit Pill Hall for a long time.

Before this, many Disciples had wanted to meet this Genius Alchemist who could defeat Pill Minister, who was known at the time as the number one youth in Alchemy.

The Elder of the Spirit Pill Hall Branch Hall stroked his beard and said with a smile, "Since you two are competing at our White Tiger Continent Branch, I will certainly provide a good environment for both of you.

However, many Disciples and Elders will surely come to watch at that time. I hope you two won't mind."

Gongsun Wangyue laughed and said, "I don't mind anyway. We're all from the Spirit Pill Hall, and progressing together is good for the Hall.

I just don't know what Jiang Ning thinks about it."

Jiang Ning said to the Elder of the Spirit Pill Hall Branch Hall, "As you wish, Elder. However, my Alchemy Technique is clumsy; I don't know if it will be worthy of the Elders' attention when the time comes."

Jiang Ning's words were humble.

But Gongsun Wangyue took the opportunity to push further.

"An Alchemy Technique one figures out on their own is bound to be clumsy. I hope no Disciples are led astray by watching your Alchemy when the time comes."

Jiang Ning smiled and said nothing.

Yun Qingqing couldn't help but retort, "Back then, Jiang Ning used such 'clumsy' Alchemy Technique to beat your orthodox Alchemy Technique from the great Noble Families.

It seems your Gongsun Family's Alchemy Technique isn't all that great either."

Gongsun Wangyue was left speechless by the retort.

But since the other party was the little princess of the Yun Family, he couldn't target Yun Qingqing the way he did Jiang Ning.

He was still waiting to form a marriage alliance with Yun Qingqing.

After entering the city, a carriage from the Spirit Pill Hall Branch Hall was waiting for them.

It was still pulled by Fire Cloud Steeds.

The carriage was very spacious, enough to accommodate all of them.

Soon, they arrived at the Spirit Pill Hall Branch Hall.

After getting off the carriage, Jiang Ning and the group of Disciples from the Imperial City Spirit Pill Hall looked over the Branch Hall.

The Spirit Pill Hall here was much the same as the one in the Imperial City.

The entire building's exterior still looked like a cauldron.

However, Jiang Ning didn't sense the aura of a Spiritual Artifact from this building.

It was likely just a pure building.

The Elder had returned, bringing with him the Disciples and guards from the Spirit Pill Hall headquarters in the Imperial City.

The group received a very high level of courtesy from the Spirit Pill Hall branch.

Even the Branch Hall Master was waiting at the entrance.

The branch Elder smiled and introduced the group to the people from the Spirit Pill Hall branch: "This is Team Leader Song, who is leading this trip.

This is Young Master Gongsun Wangyue of the Gongsun Family.

And this is Princess Yun Qingqing of the Yun Family.

And this one, you all surely want to meet, he is Jiang Ning."

Originally, Gongsun Wangyue was waiting with a smug expression for everyone's compliments.

In the end, after waiting for a long time, the crowd only gave him a curious glance.

Even upon hearing Yun Qingqing's name, everyone only marveled that she was Hall Master Elixir Patrol's Disciple,

possessing both outstanding looks and great Alchemy skills.

But upon hearing Jiang Ning's name, everyone crowded around him immediately.

A group of Disciples greeted Jiang Ning.

"Senior Brother Jiang Ning, I've heard of your great name for a long time."

"Senior Brother Jiang Ning, how did you break through the ranks among all those geniuses back then?"

"Senior Brother Jiang Ning, look at me, I really admire you."

Jiang Ning cupped his hands and said with a smile, "It is my honor to meet you all. I hope to have the chance to exchange and discuss Alchemy Technique with everyone.

I also thank the Spirit Pill Hall branch for their hospitality."

Geniuses are usually arrogant, and some even have bad tempers.

But everyone hadn't expected Jiang Ning to be so humble.

Their liking for Jiang Ning grew even more in their hearts.

Gongsun Wangyue stood to the side and grumbled, "What's there to admire about a commoner?

They can even ignore the Gongsun Family and the Yun Family."

Yun Qingqing directly ignored Gongsun Wangyue's divisive words.

There were no great Noble Families like the Gongsun or Yun Families in the White Tiger Continent.

And the special nature of the White Tiger Army would not allow the children of the military to associate with the Spirit Pill Hall.

After all, once there was an involvement, there would be uncertain factors in the future.

This was the intention of Grand Marshal Zhenxi and the Emperor.

This meant that most of the Disciples in the White Tiger Continent's Spirit Pill Hall Branch Hall came from commoner backgrounds in the White Tiger Continent.

The Disciples here were more pure than those at the Spirit Pill Hall headquarters in the Imperial City.

The Spirit Pill Hall branch in the White Tiger Continent was not like the loose organizations of Alchemists in other continents.

One could say they were all core members of the Spirit Pill Hall.

Because of their backgrounds, it was decided that they would naturally like Jiang Ning more.

The Gongsun and Yun Families were certainly powerful to them, but in a sense, there was an inherent class conflict between Noble Families and commoners.

Moreover, they weren't imperial kin, dukes, or high ministers. They were from the Spirit Pill Hall and were its core members. If they achieved success in the future, they wouldn't necessarily be inferior to those Young Masters and Young Misses from the great Noble Families.

Yun Qingqing ignored Gongsun Wangyue, and he rubbed his nose awkwardly.

He gnashed his teeth and said, "Wait until I crush Jiang Ning right in front of them. Then they'll know that Noble Families have their own foundations.

To think one can shake the achievements of several generations of a noble family with just one generation's success...

It's simply like a mantis trying to stop a chariot."

On the other side, the Elder of the Spirit Pill Hall branch introduced the remaining Disciples and guards.

The Spirit Pill Hall Branch Hall Master had the same surname as Lin Xiner—Lin.

Hall Master Lin said with a smile, "The Imperial City headquarters is full of talent. Your visit to our White Tiger Continent Branch today brings us great honor.

Let's not talk at the entrance.

I've prepared a tea banquet on the second floor of the Spirit Pill Hall. We can talk while we chat."