Chapter 8

“Thank you, Brother Lin Xuan.” 

Lin Yanran slid the bracelet onto her pale wrist, her face glowing with joy. 

Suddenly, a playful thought crossed her mind. She met Lin Xuan’s aloof gaze and grinned mischievously, “Is this bracelet Brother Lin Xuan’s token of love for me? That’s what all the stories say!” 

Lin Xuan looked at the playful girl before him and replied coolly, “Yanran, you should read fewer of those stories.” 

Then, as if trying to change the subject, he said, “It seems like something’s going on ahead. Let’s go check it out.” 

With a humph, Lin Yanran watched as Lin Xuan quickly walked away. A faint smile appeared on her delicate face. 

“Brother Lin Xuan didn’t deny it… which means…” 

She looked down at the purple bracelet on her wrist as if it were a rare treasure. Tenderly cradling it, she followed behind Lin Xuan with light steps. With every step she took, her hand unconsciously touched the bracelet, savoring the moment. 

—

Meanwhile, Lin Yan was making his way through the market. After becoming the disciple of a master who seemed to be among the continent’s strongest, he had obtained a cultivation manual of boundless potential. Today, he was out looking to buy herbs for medicinal baths, hoping to catch up to his peers after years of lagging behind. 

More importantly, his teacher was also an alchemist, making it crucial to gather materials for concocting the bath. Relying on his master’s extraordinary spiritual sense, Lin Yan had managed to spot some hidden treasures—and now, he had found a particularly rare one. 

In front of him lay a seemingly ordinary jade stone. But according to his master, this jade contained a legacy from a powerful cultivator—at least a top-tier Profound-grade inheritance! 

Just as Lin Yan was about to seal the deal, a young man in luxurious clothing interrupted. 

“Chu Yang! What do you mean by this?” Lin Yan gritted his teeth, suppressing his anger. “I already paid for that jade!” 

Chu Yang, son of the Chu family head—one of the three major families in Tai’an City—stood before him, sneering. The Lin and Chu families had long been rivals, and conflicts between their younger members were a common occurrence. 

“Oh? Just because you claim it’s yours?” Chu Yang scoffed. “I’ll pay 1,000 low-grade Yuanshi!” 

He adjusted his robe, revealing a silver badge engraved with a single star. 

“The badge of a first-grade alchemist!” 

“Chu Yang is already a certified first-grade alchemist? And at only 25 years old? His future is limitless!” 

The onlookers gasped, their expressions a mix of envy and awe. Becoming a first-grade alchemist at such a young age all but guaranteed future success. It was no wonder Chu Yang was so arrogant. 

Even the stall owner quickly changed his tone. “Young Master Chu, if you want this jade, you can have it for just 30 Yuanshi,” he said, smiling obsequiously. 

Although the price was lower than what Lin Yan offered, the stall owner dared not offend the Chu family heir. 

Lin Yan’s expression darkened. “I paid first. Have you no sense of honesty in your business?” 

He couldn’t afford to let this jade fall into Chu Yang’s hands. If the Chu family gained such a powerful inheritance, it would be disastrous for the Lin family. 

Chu Yang chuckled mockingly. “You? A mere second-stage Body Refining cultivator dares to lecture me on honesty? Do you even understand the worth of a first-grade alchemist?” 

He puffed out his chest, making sure everyone saw the badge on his chest. He wanted the world to know just how valuable he was. 

But just as Chu Yang reached out for the jade, a calm voice interrupted him. 

“A first-grade alchemist… is that supposed to be impressive?” 

Everyone turned toward the voice, curious about who dared provoke the young master of the Chu family. 

A path naturally opened as the crowd parted, revealing a handsome young man dressed in white, with an air of cold indifference. His presence was like that of a celestial being, detached from mortal concerns. 

Behind him was a stunning girl in a blue dress, whose beauty seemed unparalleled. On her wrist was a purple bracelet that shimmered softly in the light, adding to her charm. 

The boy in white was Lin Xuan. He hadn’t planned on intervening, but upon seeing Lin Yan embroiled in a conflict with Chu Yang, he couldn’t simply stand by. As one of the most promising members of the Lin family’s younger generation, Lin Xuan had a duty to protect his own. 

“Lin Xuan?” Chu Yang recognized him instantly, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. But then he reminded himself, I’m a first-grade alchemist now. What do I have to fear? 

With newfound confidence, Chu Yang shifted his gaze to Lin Yanran, his eyes flashing with admiration. Even in the grand Da Yan Empire, he had never seen a girl so breathtaking. 

Putting on what he thought was a charming smile, he said, “You must be the famed genius, Lin Yanran. I am Chu Yang, a certified first-grade alchemist, and the youngest one in Tai’an City’s history.” 

He subtly displayed his silver badge to impress her, but before Lin Yanran could respond, Lin Xuan’s cold gaze fell upon him. 

Without any warning, an invisible force surged from Lin Xuan. Everyone around him felt a chill pierce their hearts as if struck by a blade. Before they could react, Chu Yang was sent flying backward, landing heavily on the ground. 

Lin Xuan stood calmly, his voice cutting through the silence like a sword. 

“Trash.” 

The crowd was stunned. No one had seen Lin Xuan move, yet Chu Yang lay unconscious on the ground. The Chu family guards rushed to retrieve their young master, dragging him away in fear. They didn’t dare linger—if Lin Xuan decided to kill Chu Yang, the consequences for the Chu family would be catastrophic.