If taken separately, the Frostleaf Grass could indeed suppress the violent fire attribute of the Scarlet Flame Vine without compromising its medicinal properties.
It was even better than the Purple Ying Crystal!
But the problem was that the medicinal ingredients for refining the Blood Jade Pill also included Chicken Blood Sand and Exquisite Grass!
These two ingredients were like a hot-tempered one and a slow-tempered one, relying on the Purple Ying Crystal, the peacemaker, to reconcile them.
Now that the peacemaker, Purple Ying Crystal, was removed, the outcome was self-evident.
And this dim-witted fool not only added the Scarlet Flame Vine but also had the audacity to eye the Frostleaf Grass?!
This was akin to him not dying fast enough, not dying thoroughly enough!
If only the Scarlet Flame Vine was added, after the explosion, everyone's severed limbs and broken bodies could perhaps be patched up and pieced together.
But with the addition of the Frostleaf Grass now, there would truly be nothing left to salvage!
Such a fool, if he were in his previous era, probably wouldn't even pass the basic assessments.
Yet here, he had somehow become a fourth-tier alchemist?
At this moment, Ye Fan finally realized one thing.
The alchemy industry on this continent was utterly hopeless!
Thinking about how he had argued with such a fool before, Ye Fan suddenly felt amused.
He had truly been bored to death…
"Perhaps I remembered incorrectly." With this thought, Ye Fan casually replied to the Grand Elder, "But I suggest if this fellow is going to refine medicine, he should find a place far away from people."
Ye Fan had decided not to press the issue further.
The reason he offered a kind reminder was also because of the decent hospitality he had received from Cloud Flower Sect these past few days.
Although Cloud Flower Sect's intentions were impure, at least their outward conduct was impeccable.
They were all respectable people.
Since they gave him face, he would naturally return the favor.
Of course.
If the people of Cloud Flower Sect insisted on not listening, then so be it.
As the saying goes, good advice is hard to give to a damned soul; if they were determined to court disaster, it would be wrong for him to stop them.
"This…"
The Grand Elder was in a dilemma.
If Ye Fan were a disciple of Cloud Flower Sect, his words at this moment would imply that Ye Fan admitted fault.
Then, according to the rules, he would have to be confined to the Frost Ice Cave for contemplation.
But the problem was, Ye Fan was not a disciple…
Not only that, but he was about to become someone that Cloud Flower Sect would have to curry favor with…
Yet, if he did not punish Ye Fan, he could not give an explanation to Que XinYan.
As the Grand Elder, if he handled matters unfairly, how could he command respect in the future?
It seemed…
There wasn't no solution.
That was to tell the truth.
For instance, informing these disciples that Ye Fan possessed the key to enter that ancient ruin.
And that Ye Fan had mastered the technique for refining perfect-grade pills, and they might even have to fawn over and recruit him.
However, there was no secret that could be kept forever.
The Grand Elder could not guarantee that there were no spies from other forces among these disciples.
Although Cloud Flower Sect had conducted checks in this regard, they could not guarantee that not a single one remained.
After all, spies were difficult to eradicate.
As long as the other party was deeply entrenched and disguised well, they would not reveal any flaws.
There was an incident that happened in Cloud Flower Empire before.
A certain sect had infiltrated another sect with a spy.
That spy had hidden exceptionally well throughout, and later even entered the core circle, such as the elders.
As a result, precisely because the spy was too well disguised.
In the end.
He had actually endured to become the new sect leader…
…
Especially now, with Yun Hua Zhenren's situation being so precarious, Ye Fan's identity had become extremely sensitive.
If it were leaked, it would be an immeasurable loss for Cloud Flower Sect!
If all else failed, he would have to inconvenience Que XinYan for now…
At most, he would explain to him later and offer some compensation.
He believed that Que XinYan would understand his predicament then.
Before the Grand Elder could say anything, Que XinYan lost his temper first.
"Grand Elder, you can see!" Que XinYan gritted his teeth, "This junior disciple has now admitted it. According to the rules, should he not be sent into the Frost Ice Cave?!"
"No, before that, I want to have a competition with him!" Que XinYan said more and more agitatedly, "One that risks my alchemist qualification!"
The so-called risking alchemist qualification was somewhat similar to a duel to the death.
The difference was that the loser didn't have to die, but they would be forbidden from practicing alchemy for life.
Having chosen the profession of an alchemist, they naturally loved the craft dearly.
If their right to practice alchemy were revoked, it would truly be worse than death.
As for hiding and secretly practicing alchemy after losing?
Wishful thinking!
Those whose alchemist qualifications were revoked would have their information entered into a blacklist.
This list would be circulated throughout the continent, and almost all forces would receive it.
Unless that alchemist chose to go solo from then on, no force would dare to employ him.
Because if any force dared to take in such an "illegal resident," they would be met with the hostility of all alchemists!
To antagonize all alchemists for the sake of an "illegal resident" was clearly an unprofitable deal.
Upon hearing this, the Grand Elder frowned.
Que XinYan wasn't usually like this.
What had gotten into him today?
Just as he was about to reprimand him and send him away, Ye Fan spoke first.
"Oh, how shall we bet?" Ye Fan asked kindly.
"We bet on whether I can refine this Blood Jade Pill with Scarlet Flame Vine and Frostleaf Grass added!" Que XinYan said coldly, "Do you dare?!"
"XinYan, that's enough!" The Grand Elder finally couldn't stand it, "Now you immediately…"
"No rush." Ye Fan interrupted the Grand Elder, "I think this is a good idea too."
Originally, Ye Fan had not planned to argue with Que XinYan further, as he considered it a waste of time.
But now that Que XinYan was actively courting disaster, Ye Fan felt it would be impolite not to stop him.
And so, the bet began.
The location was chosen on a distant plaza.
After the Grand Elder consulted with Ye Fan, he instructed the other disciples to stand far away.
Although he was not sure if it would be as exaggerated as Ye Fan said, he still felt it was better to be cautious.
Que XinYan set up his alchemy furnace on the open plaza and lit the furnace fire.
Judging from his operational techniques, Ye Fan felt that this fellow had at least a tiny bit of talent.
At the very least, he wasn't completely unsuitable for the profession to such a terrible degree.
If he were in his era, someone like Que XinYan, if cultivated properly, might not necessarily fail to become a qualified apprentice.
Unfortunately, this fellow was too reckless…
He was eager to innovate and improve without even laying a solid foundation.
And he was doing it in such a self-destructive manner…
Such a personality was destined to not go far.
But it didn't matter to him.
He wasn't Que XinYan's father, so there was no need to worry about him.
Then Ye Fan shifted his gaze away.
For someone who was about to die, there was really no need to waste more thought on him.
From beginning to end, the Grand Elder's eyes never left Ye Fan's face.
He discovered that the way Ye Fan looked at Que XinYan just now had no emotional fluctuation.
It was no different from looking at a dead person!
The Grand Elder narrowed his eyes.
Thinking back on the previous events.
Although Ye Fan appeared not to care much, he had unconsciously taken control of the situation.
If Ye Fan were truly a very skilled alchemist, his current gaze at Que XinYan would mean that Que XinYan was likely in real danger.
And under such circumstances, Ye Fan still agreed to a gamble with Que XinYan…
At this moment.
The Grand Elder realized that Ye Fan was definitely not as harmless as he appeared on the surface!
Such people, while appearing non-threatening normally, could be utterly ruthless when they struck!
To win over such a person would likely be troublesome…
Just then, someone flew over.
It was the Second Elder of Cloud Flower Sect!