Cauldrons Exploding

Wearing his best smile Min Hong urged the group of excited boys;

"Sure. But first, let's go to the betting place, and leave this place. I'll be treating you all this time."

In front of countless gazes, the crowd watched Fatty Yu's group excitedly huddled around Min Hong as they left the arena whilst Long Feng simply walked behind them, covering their backs.

After claiming the rewards from the manager, Long Feng passed Min Hong a card containing 6,000,000 gold coins, before keeping the rest for himself.

The moment Min Hong held the gold card in his hand, his mood visibly improved by a large margin. Adding the 100,000 gold he had won from his stake with Mu Cheng, he now had a whooping 6,100,000 gold coins sitting within his personal coffers.

However, his mind was soon drawn back to Mu Cheng. he didn't care about the guy, after all, he did intend to kill him; however, it was his final words and the way he had died that worried Min Hong.

Min Hong had known that Mu Cheng was nothing more than a little dog, and most likely a pawn in the grand scheme of things; however, what he had failed to understand was the true scale of this grand scheme.

Originally, he had thought that all the bullying had been because of enmities amongst his parents' generation, but now that he had realized it wasn't a simple affair as he had thought; he instantly raised his guard, reminding himself to stay cautious at all times.

"It seems like it's very complicated…"

Min Hong muttered to himself; however, when he looked down to the millionaire gold card his fingers was currently caressing, his mind quickly went to the Jade Primal Dragon Body, and once he recalled the potential all his techniques had for him, a reassuring confidence bloomed within his heart.

Was it the confidence of being able to protect himself soon enough? Or was it the confidence that came with being rich? Or was it because he had survived a life and death situation multiple times now? Even he couldn't tell.

Leaving with the huge crowd, Min Hong and his group found a teahouse, and thus, invited his friends to eat whatever they wanted and return their money as well.

Whilst splitting the gold, Min Hong once again recalled the spirit of brotherhood the boys had shown him, and as such, to repay them, he made a promise that excited beyond belief:

Everyone's cultivation problems would be taken care of by him.

Fatty Yu and the boys couldn't help but go mad with joy.

If it had been someone else who made this promise, then they might not believe it. However, Min Hong was originally the same as them; now that he could easily dispatch Mu Cheng in such a swift manner, they were definitely inclined to believe him?

Min Hong however, reminded them to keep their mouths shut about the matter, and they all frantically nodded. Their cultivation was basically just as important as their life; if one included the solemnness with which Min Hong spoke, they instantly made the matter top secret.

After Fatty Yu and the others left, Min Hong stayed back to have a little chat with Long Feng.

Long Feng was a genius whose aptitude was the greatest amongst all the heirs. He was already at the 8 Star Skin Refining Stage and could enter into the ninth any moment from now, thus, entering the Blood Condensing stage before twenty would not be that difficult for him.

Upon sensing Long Feng's reactions during the last two situations, Min Hong knew he wasn't all brawns and no brains, and was thus, a person deserving of his trust. Hence, after asking about the former's current cultivation stage, Min Hong left and went directly to the alchemist association.

The Alchemist Association was also located at the center of the tribe, alongside the Town Hall, Tribe Library and Tribe Leader's Estate; all placed in a triangular formation, with the Town Hall being at the center.

Located south of the Town Hall and at the tip of the triangle, it was the most important place in the entire Desert Flame Tribe.

As a branch of the Alchemist Guild located at the Royal Capital, not even the heirs of the Tribe Leader's Estate would dare to be rude towards its members.

Several Alchemist Associations were said to be spread throughout the entire kingdom, and the guilds, the entire empire.

What Min Hong needed to get this time was an alchemist's official identification. Having that status would mean that it would be extremely easy and convenient for him to perfectly execute his future plans.

No matter where one went, alchemy was an extremely rare occupation.

With this identification, Min Hong's status would no longer be the same. Even the Desert Flame Tribe would have to think twice before messing with him or acting against his family's estate; after all, not only would he be an alchemist, but also the sole heir of a Grand Family.

Asides the fact that such status was even stronger and more valuable than that of the Tribe Leader, the most important thing to Min Hong was that he would eventually be able to use his status as an alchemist to obtain extremely favorable prices and get a preferential treatment when buying herbs in the future, saving him the maximum amount of money.

Furthermore, he would no longer be restricted to buying from the Desert Herb Market, but would also be able to transact directly with the guild to purchase herbs and other things that are not native to their tribe or in circulation within the town.

Despite taking up only a few tens of acres of ground, the Alchemist Association was a building that rose dozens of meters into the air, making it the most imposing structure in the desert flame tribe.

Entering its lobby, two female assistants received Min Hong, and upon hearing that he was her to take the examination to become an official alchemist, they couldn't help but reel in shock. After all, Min Hong was only ten, and though appeared to be fifteen, it still didn't change the fact that he had no cultivation.

Regardless, the two of assistants still brought him into the refining hall. Due to the time of the day, the refining hall only had a dozen or so men inside; they were currently urging on their Soul Flames, and appeared to be refining one thing or the other.

Min Hong had just stepped foot into the hall when an astonished old voice suddenly floated over from the side:

"Huh? Why are you here?" The old man asked.

Upon seeing who it was, Min Hong's gut couldn't help but boil over in restrained fury. Standing right there, in front of him, was the very old man who had treated his wounds.

This person obviously knew his injury wasn't fatal, but still manage to wring his family's finances dry; even conning his mother into selling some of her dowries, by claiming that he could possibly lose his memories.

However, Min Hong quickly restrained himself as he responded in the calmest of manners:

"I came here to take the alchemist exam." He flatly said.

"Alchemist exam?" The old man stared Min Hong from top to bottom, before sneering:

"Looks like your wounds haven't completely healed. You should go back and treat them further." He added.

Min Hong frowned slightly; this man didn't seem to like being handed a way out. However, since he wants to have his face slapped, then he wouldn't stand on too much ceremony then.

"I really am here to take the alchemist exam." He insisted; this time, a little less respectful.

Seeing Min Hong refuse to back down, the old man's expression sunk.

"I don't have time to waste little kid, hurry up and beat it; otherwise, I'll get the someone to throw you out!"

Seeing the man push his luck, Min Hong's fury finally surfaced. Throwing all respect and scholarly cordiality out the window, he glared at the old man before yelling:

"It seems herb impurities have waxed up your ears, so I'll repeat myself one more time: I am here to take the alchemist exam!"

By the end, Min Hong's bellow had already turned into a roar that reverberated through the entire building.

"What dares cause so much ruckus in here?" An old but clearly displeased voice suddenly boomed over from the distance.

Hearing this voice, everyone within the building paid rapt attention to whatever it was they were doing. Even the assistant who were now caught in the middle of it all, couldn't help but break out in cold sweat and that was also including the old man Min Hong just disrespected.

Seeing the naughty old man sweat buckets, Min Hong quickly put two and two together, and instantly, a vicious and naughty grin appeared on the corner of his mouth.

Min Hong knew who the arrival was, and it wasn't just him; there is basically no one within the entire Desert Flame Trobe who wouldn't recognize him or know who he was; after all, he was the alchemist association's chairman, Grandmaster Sun Yi.

"S-senior Sun Yi, this brat suddenly ran over to make trouble. I was just about to expel him." The old swindler hurriedly stuttered when he saw Grandmaster Sun Yi.

Rolling his eyes, Min Hong swiftly feigned an extremely grateful expression, as he declared:

"You are grandmaster Sun Yi? Ah, wonderful, Min Hong really thanks you for saving his life."

Originally Sun Yi's expression was displeased, but when he heard Min Hong's words, he couldn't help but become confused.

"Child, are you misrecognizing me as someone else?" He asked.

"Misrecognizing? No, certainly not." Min Hong convincingly shook his head before pointing at the old swindler.

"Through this grandmaster, my mom sold some of her dowries to buy a Bone Sealing Pill from you. Only through that pill was I able to recover from my wounds. This little one truly cannot thank you enough."

Hearing Min Hong recount this affair, the old swindler's expression immediately warped whilst that of Grandmaster Sun Yi turned cold. Looking at the old swindler, grandmaster Sun Yi queried:

"Shi Hao, what is this about?"

"Senior chairman, don't listen to his rubbish" Shi Hao hurriedly tried to downplay the situation.

But who was Min Hong? When had he ever not repaid a loss? As for those who were still owing him, including those who robbed him of his talents, it was only a matter of time before he spoon-fed them his wrath.

"Huh? Even refusing to take credit! Wow; to think that the members of our alchemist association are of such a noble character. They don't even put their names on the good deeds they do." Min Hong praised as the rest of the alchemists in the area praised Shi Hao, raising their chins proudly.

Min Hong's next words, however, suddenly froze them in their tracks:

"However, the matter of you selling my mother a defective grade Bone Sealing Pill is very well known within the tribe." Min Hong added with cold smile.

Hearing this, many of these alchemists momentarily lost control of their Soul Flame. Noticing their errors, the alchemists quickly tried to bring their flames under control, but, a slight distraction was all that was required.

A cacophony of exploding cauldrons shook the Alchemist Association Building. Dust and tiny debris showered down its structure from inside and outside. Scaring the passersby silly, and even causing some to lose control of their bowels.

Whilst the building still stood imposingly, it now seemed to have taken its first beating. Inside, however, things weren't so simple. Asides the thick plumes of black smoke that now pervaded the entire hall, almost everyone here had been smeared with different slurries of failed pills.

Furthermore, as the ashes of other pills and the smoke begin to merge with these slurries, the entire thing swiftly caked into a layer of disgusting cosmetics. 

As for Grandmaster Sun Yi, the moment the explosions occurred, a wave of pilled flames had rolled of him, incinerating everything thrown his way.

Min Hong on the other hand; asides the fact that he had planned everything, his overbearing Spirit Sense had long picked up the slightest changes in the cauldrons, allowing him to perfectly measure the intensity and the timing of his aura burst.

Asides both of them however, everyone else within the building underwent a major makeover.