"Chen Zheng! How could it be him?"
"It must be fake, right?"
Many people showed surprise.
Although Chen Zheng had shed his reputation as a good-for-nothing, winning first place in the Autumn Hunt so suddenly was completely unexpected.
"What? You guys don't know about what happened at the Hunting Ground yesterday?"
"That Chen Zheng already has Acquired Ninth-Level cultivation!"
"Shi Tianhao, Peng Yu, Zhu Hai, and Sun Sheng gave up their exemption from the trials just to enter the Hunting Ground and kill Chen Zheng. But Chen Zheng was fine, and of the four of them, only Zhu Hai is left alive!"
"It's also thanks to a few of them dying; there were only sixteen spots originally, but now there are three more!"
"I was there at the time; the three Families' faces turned green!"
Some people who went to the Hunting Ground to watch the excitement yesterday, as well as some participants, eagerly explained the situation to others, their faces full of schadenfreude.
Although everyone feared the three Families, they had also suffered under them for a long time! Seeing the three Families fall on hard times naturally made them happy.
Upon hearing this, gasps of surprise rippled through the crowd.
"Speaking of which, there are twenty spots in total this time. Besides Tian Yilin, who was exempt, it seems none of the three Families made it in?"
"Heh! It's true! In previous years, they occupied at least half the list, but today they don't even have one!"
"Haha... No wonder no one from the three Families came to see the list today!"
"Young Marquis is awesome!"
"As expected of the Son of Marquis Chiye!"
Because of the announcement, the entire Yan City was as lively as a New Year's celebration. Some were happy, some were sad, and news about Chen Zheng quickly spread through the streets and alleys, becoming the center of everyone's discussion.
Some were curious how Chen Zheng transformed from a good-for-nothing to a Genius!
Others were happy that the three Families were humiliated!
This time, Chen Zheng had essentially stepped on the faces of the three Families, thoroughly venting his anger!
At this moment, Chen Zheng, in disguise, had arrived at the Qingge Auction House.
He Lan personally received him and led Chen Zheng into the VIP room.
Along the way, whether it was an illusion or not, Chen Zheng always felt that the Qingge Auction House was much quieter, and the faces of many staff members were filled with sorrow.
"It seems the absence of a Second-Rank Alchemist has truly dealt a heavy blow to the Qingge Auction House!"
Chen Zheng sighed inwardly, gaining an even deeper understanding of the importance of an Alchemist.
"Young Marquis, ever since Master Huo left, the entire city has been spreading rumors that our Qingge Auction House offended the Tian Family and will soon be destroyed! Many staff members have left, and even some who previously begged to cooperate with us have abandoned us."
"Many people also don't dare to put their items up for auction with us anymore... The auction originally scheduled for next week probably can't even be held."
He Lan's face was full of frustration, her voice mournful, looking as if she was about to cry.
Chen Zheng nodded at the sight.
"Don't worry, I can solve these problems!"
He came this time to discuss cooperation with the Qingge Auction House, or more precisely, with Ai Linna.
Upon receiving Chen Zheng's assurance, He Lan's worries immediately turned into joy.
Chen Zheng raised an eyebrow slightly.
Was she testing him?
Arriving at the VIP room, He Lan served Chen Zheng several plates of fruit and tea snacks before leaving.
Chen Zheng waited for less than a few minutes before the door was pushed open, and Ai Linna, wearing a red cheongsam that accentuated her fiery figure, walked in with her long, beautiful legs.
Her beautiful eyes looked a bit haggard and tired, but still possessed a captivating charm.
"My dear little brother! I thought you had forgotten about your big sister!"
Ai Linna plopped down next to Chen Zheng, looking at him with a mournful expression, as if Chen Zheng were a heartless man who had abandoned her after a fling.
Chen Zheng gave an awkward smile: "Miss Ai is joking. You said you would come find me yesterday, but you didn't! I was worried something might have happened on your end, so I rushed over to see you this morning, without even eating breakfast."
"Is that so? Let me smell!"
Ai Linna suddenly leaned closer to Chen Zheng, sniffing with her delicate nose.
A fragrant breeze assailed his nostrils, and Ai Linna's entire body was practically pressed against him. A soft sensation came from between their arms, making Chen Zheng feel as if he had been electrocuted.
Seeing Chen Zheng's embarrassed look, Ai Linna teased: "Haha, my dear little brother, is that all it takes? If you meet a girl you like in the future, won't you have to find a hole to bury yourself in?"
Chen Zheng cleared his throat and shook his head: "Miss Ai, please don't joke. I'm here to discuss cooperation with you. I've already roughly understood your current predicament."
"So what do you plan to do?" Ai Linna looked at Chen Zheng with fiery eyes.
Chen Zheng didn't answer but changed the subject: "Miss Ai, are you interested in coming to the Imperial City with me? What I mean is, moving this Qingge Auction House to the Imperial City as well!"
Ai Linna frowned: "Is this the condition of the Alchemist behind you?"
Chen Zheng's heart stirred.
This Ai Linna really thought there was a Great Master behind him... Chen Zheng shook his head: "This is not Master's condition, it's just my personal invitation."
Seeing Chen Zheng "admit" it, Ai Linna's heart grew even more fervent. She didn't respond to Chen Zheng's invitation but instead asked: "Then can you let me meet your Master?"
Chen Zheng pondered for a moment: "Then, Miss Ai, can you first tell me why you want to meet my Master?"
With the conversation at this point, Ai Linna no longer concealed it: "This concerns the survival of my Family, and only a Great Alchemist can save it!"
Chen Zheng frowned: "A Great Alchemist? What level must he be?"
Ai Linna was unusually serious, saying in a deep voice: "At least Fifth-Rank! Young Marquis, if you can help me, I will definitely not treat you unfairly."
"Fifth-Rank..."
Chen Zheng weighed it in his heart, finally saying: "Miss Ai, you saved my life and helped me so much, even offending the Tian Family. By all accounts, I should help you!"
Ai Linna didn't respond, waiting for Chen Zheng's "but."
Chen Zheng sighed: "But my Master has already left..."
Ai Linna couldn't help but frown, but she didn't doubt him.
Since Chen Zheng referred to that Great Alchemist as Master, then her previous guess was wrong!
Chen Zheng was almost killed not because the Great Alchemist behind him refused to act or feared trouble, but because he had already left at that time!
That explains it... "Then when will your Master return?" Ai Linna asked.
Chen Zheng continued to sigh: "In three years at the shortest, five years at the longest, he will definitely come back for me. Moreover, my Master is currently only a Peak Fourth-Rank Alchemist, but he also said that this trip out is to seek a Breakthrough opportunity, and when he returns, he will definitely Breakthrough to Fifth-Rank!"
Chen Zheng spoke with conviction.
He now had a complete Sixth-Rank Alchemist Legacy in his mind, and it was the kind that came with experience. If it weren't for his current strength not being able to keep up, he wouldn't have a problem calling himself a Sixth-Rank Alchemist.
And with the assistance of the Chaos Divine Sky Art and the chaos divine cauldron, as long as the Cultivation resources kept up...
In three to five years, once his strength increased, becoming a Fifth-Rank Alchemist didn't seem like a big problem, did it?