Heretic Apothecary Genius

Chapter 54: Ren Family Head Takes in a Disciple

“What exactly is this Ren Family Head cooking, why did he invite us here when he’s the one taking in disciples?”

“Who knows. Now the rumors out there are all over town, but this Li Yan is here. Could it be that the emperor wants to deal with the Ren family?”

“We’d better not interfere when these higher-ups fight, just respond carefully.”

“Laosi, be more cautious. Although the Fang family disseminated the clear message that they’re protecting you, these higher-ups’ battle… Sigh, just be careful.”

“Thank you, Chief Zhan. Some things, I cannot say. You will understand in a while.”

In private, some people who were acquainted amongst the top ten gangs quietly interacted. And at present, only Chang Laosi was cautiously, nervously seated there. Others all thought this behavior was due to the recent incident. The gang leader of War Horse Gang, Zhan Sihai even specially chatted with him.

And when Fang Yan saw him earlier, he’d greeted him and even stealthily told him not to fear, that he would shoulder it if anything happened to him.

He told him that the Fang Family Head had said it in front of His Majesty. Now the entire Jade Capital knew that the Fang family would support Chang Laosi in resisting the Ren family. Regardless of how bold Ren Jie was, he wouldn’t dare to act recklessly.

Chang Laosi cursed all 18 generations of the Fang family’s ancestors in his heart again. However, in order to work with Master’s plan, he still answered carefully, only being unwilling to say more. Fang Yan had thought he was feeling worried, so he did not give it much thought.

Only Chang Laosi himself knew what was going on, that’s why he was extremely nervous and expectant. Other than admiring what Ren Jie had said about the development of the gambling business, now, he was growing to have increasing admiration for Ren Jie’s actions and behavior. He knew that his Master was anything the simple man he had been said to be, he was truly modest and reserved. Not only modest and reserved but also bold…

“Everyone’s here. Don’t stand on ceremony, eat up, drink up.” Just then, Ren Jie finally walked out and headed directly to the center seat that was slightly raised. He very politely lifted his hand for everyone to eat and drink.

Not that the members of Jade Capital’s top ten gangs had never seen any prominent figures, but they’d never had the chance to be entitled to be invited by the family heads of the five big family clans. At present, they were naturally very awkward. Most importantly, they were feeling slightly perturbed, not knowing what Ren Jie had up his sleeves. As for Li Yan, Gao Peng, Fang Yan, and the others, they were all waiting to see what Ren Jie was going to do this time. So, no one had the mood to eat or drink.

Only Wen Zihao unreservedly lifted his wine glass and downed it in one gulp after hearing Ren Jie.

“One look and I can tell all of you aren’t hungry, but I’m really hungry.” Ren Jie was idle these days. After his Mighty Realm advanced, the condensation of his vigor rings had become much faster. While he spent the entire day watching Sun Rui cultivate like mad, the Jade Emperor Refinement Technique vigor rings in his body had reached close to four hundred, not far from 576 rings. Seeing that they weren’t eating, Ren Jie ignored them and ate as if no one else was present.

“Hmph!” Li Yan sneered coldly through his nose. Only, it affected his wound right after and gave him so much pain that his face contorted in agony.

Gao Peng sat quietly as if he’d never been in conflict with Ren Jie and had forgotten about being forced to his knees by him back then in the palace. He was extremely calm and elegant as he sat there.

Although all these people present had yet to reach the level of Inedia, missing one or two meals wouldn’t affect them. Only for Zhan Sihai and others, who were interacting with Ren Jie for the first time, found it incredible. What exactly was this Ren Family Head going to do, didn’t he say he was going to take in disciples?

Was the first thing getting everyone here to watch him eat?

Not eating when I let you eat, everyone wants to go through the motions and wait to watch me act, huh. Then all of you shall slowly watch me eat. Ren Jie didn’t care, he sat onto the center seat and unreservedly started eating and drinking. As for the rest, because of Ren Jie’s comment, neither eating or not eating was right. They could only sit awkwardly and watch Ren Jie eat and drink to his heart’s content, for a good hour.

“Alright, I’ve had my fill. Clear the tables.” With a wave of his hands, Ren Jie got the servants to clear the banquet.

“It was written very clearly on today’s invitation that I intend on taking in disciples. The reason for inviting everyone here is to notify all of you and have everyone bear witness. At the same time, it’s also to let you know that the Ren Family Head has such a disciple. I’ll need everyone to look out for him in the future. Of course, even if you know, you can choose to not give the due respect, equivalent to not giving me due respect. By then, don’t blame me.” Ren Jie had really dined and wined to satiety and went straight to the topic.

“Hmph, no one knows how many more days you can last as a family head. You still dare give out threats here, just wait on.” Li Yan cast Ren Jie a disdainful gaze, his expression like he was looking at a locust in late autumn.

“Let me see, what exactly are you trying to do?” Gao Peng watched Ren Jie calmly.

“The ignorant is fearless. The entire Ren family is about to be drawn into a storm and it’s all because of you, who act recklessly and blindly.” Fang Yan looked at Ren Jie like he was a joke. Especially when he saw that the emperor had actually sent Li Yan, who suffered a terrible beating at the court assembly, to attend the banquet, he felt very confident about this storm that he would kickstart, supported by the Fangs and silently, tacitly driven forward by other forces.

As for gang leaders of Jade Capital’s top ten gangs, they were in slight anticipation, not knowing what kind of person would acknowledge such a being as his master. Although the Ren family was truly powerful, Ren Jie was merely a dandy, good-for-nothing family head who was about to be retained.

“After talking for so long, I believe everyone is dying to know who my wonderful disciple is. Laosi, come out and greet everyone,” Ren Jie said, his gaze landing on Chang Laosi.

What?

Once they heard Ren Jie, everyone faltered.

Chang Laosi was one of the few countable powerful figures in Jade Capital. A presence who had high hopes of attaining the Yin Yang Realm. He held up Chang Le Gang alone.

Besides, such an incident had happened previously, how could this be?

Especially Fang Yan. He was so close to leaping to his feet when he heard him and abruptly looked at Chang Laosi. Impossible, this was absolutely impossible. Even if he was a true family head of one of the five big family clans, he wasn’t qualified to take in a disciple like Chang Laosi. Once Chang Laosi broke through to the Yin Yang Realm, he would be an existence that could speak equally to a family clan with his own capability. Even now, his status was exceptional, how could he accept this dandy, good-for-nothing as his Master?

“Yes.” What surprised everyone was that Chang Laosi responded respectfully, stood up and saluted the crowd with cupped fists. “Everyone, I greet all of you on orders from my master. Please look out for me in the future.”

“Chang Laosi, do you know what you are doing? You’re actually going to accept this rake as your master, do you really think they you’ll have the support of the Ren family this way? This playboy can barely fend for himself, the entire Ren family is about to be screwed too.” At present, the most incensed person was Fang Yan. Since the first talks with Chang Laosi, he had believed he already had him by his short hairs. And subsequently, all sorts of rumors targeted at Ren Jie and the Ren family that the Fang family had driven out had set Chang Laosi as an important link.

Not to mention that Fang Tianen had said some stuff in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Although he didn’t state it outrightly, everyone knew that Chang Laosi’s Chang Le Gang would belong to the Fang family in the future. Originally, he had planned on speaking to Chang Laosi these two days about the specifics, but he didn’t think…

Damn it, wasn’t this equivalent to humiliating the Fang family?

Now, this person who had his property seized by Ren Jie actually wanted to accept Ren Jie as his master.

Fang Yan used his divine sense and bellowed angrily at Chang Laosi.

“Of course I know. I, Chang Laosi, am willingly worshiping a master for the sake of learning skills. It’s the same whether he is the Ren Family Head or not, I shan’t bother the Fang family with this.” Chang Laosi used divine sense, and after replying to him, he immediately sealed off Fang Yan’s thundering voice and stepped out.

“Disciple Chang Laosi is willing to accept the Ren Family Head as my master. Master, please accept my three bows.” Chang Laosi walked out before everyone’s surprised gazes to stand in front of Ren Jie. His bows were extremely solemn, not the least bit pretentious, and he made three loud kowtows.

Zhan Sihai, Huang Yuan, Lei Shi, these gang leaders of Jade Capital’s top ten gangs were completely stunned.

They totally didn’t dare to believe that this was real. Amongst the top ten gangs in Jade Capital, based on individual capabilities, Chang Laosi could definitely rank in the top three. It was only because their gang’s foundation wasn’t as strong, otherwise, they would be even more accomplished in Jade Capital. And Chang Laosi wasn’t old. Once he broke through to the Yin Yang Realm and his lifespan was extended, the more he would have boundless prospects. With such a person, unless they had no other choice, even the five big family clans could only suppress or work with him, they wouldn’t fight him easily.

And at this realm, he was already extremely free. It was really even if he wanted to join the court and be general. If he wants to join the respective family clans, he could simply be a guest and cultivate well.

It was understandable if the person seated up there was Ren Tianxing, but… but it was Ren Jie?

What kind of joke was this, had Chang Laosi’s brain been kicked by demon beasts or filled with water? Why was he doing such a thing?

Most importantly, he was so sincere, so serious, he didn’t seem to be kidding at all. A powerhouse in the ninth level of Divine Power Realm, the gang leader of Chang Le Gang that he’d founded alone, after being undefeated in Jade Capital for more than twenty years, he actually wanted to accept a playboy in the Body Refinement Realm as his master. This was too inconceivable.

It was difficult for them to imagine why things were this way. It was impossible even if someone in the Yin Yang Realm wanted to take Chang Laosi in. They had some understanding of Chang Laosi’s temper and nature. He was actually really arrogant deep down because he was only a step away from the Yin Yang Realm and condensing his Yin spirit.

“Wh… what… crack, ouch…” Li Yan was shocked upon hearing this. When the range of his movement was a little too big, his bones that’d just been connected dislocated, giving him so much pain that he cried out.

Gao Peng’s expression was solemn. This was something he’d never expected, unexpectedly surprising once again!

“Chang Laosi, you’re seeking death… seeking death…” Fang Yan was no longer able to hold back and roared. Because he’d been the one contacting Chang Laosi, now that a problem suddenly appeared here, this matter would blow up.

Accepting a master, even if he were beaten to death, Fang Yan refused to believe Chang Laosi would really accept Ren Jie as his master. But now…

“Alright, from today onwards, you are my first disciple. As Master, I ought to gift you something. Your cultivation is close to the Yin Yang Realm, you need a weapon worthy of that.” As he spoke, Ren Jie brought out the Black Nether Sword and threw it towards Chang Laosi.

This?

Master didn’t say he was going to give him a weapon. Chang Laosi was also dazed. However, it was thrown over, so Chang Laosi caught it with a lift of his hand.

Once he caught it, Chang Laosi’s hand involuntarily trembled slightly.

In the next moment, he almost instinctively directed his dharmic powers and infused them into the Black Nether Sword. The sword immediately radiated an infinite power.

“Hum…” A sword cry rang towards the sky. The strong power of a superior-grade spiritual artifact burst out directly. Although the sword Qi had yet to become one with Chang Laosi’s body, it had already charged tens of meters into the sky, utterly shocking.

“Superior-grade… superior-grade spiritual artifact. This is a superior-grade spiritual artifact!” Thunderbolt Hall worked in weapon trading, so Lei Shi himself was a low-grade spiritual artifact creator. He was the first to cry out and jump to his feet.

Not only him, Zhan Sihai and the others also stood up in shock. They looked towards Chang Laosi in surprise. Damn it, this was a superior-grade spiritual artifact that even super powerhouses in the Yin Yang Realm would be tempted to fight for.

All of them were in disbelief. Even if it was the five big family clans, a superior-grade spiritual artifact couldn’t be casually gifted. This item was too precious, too valuable.

Were they acting? Otherwise, how could he gift such an item when he’d just accepted him as his master? Even if it was those Yin Yang Realm powerhouses taking in disciples, they couldn’t afford to gift superior-grade spiritual artifacts. In reality, whether they owned one or not was uncertain.

“F*ck… it must be fake… ah…” Li Yan also wanted to stand up, but he almost collapsed from pain after. Fortunately, a few servants supported him.

“Great fellow, a big gift!” Wen Zihao’s eyes were drowsy from the wine, but he didn’t forget to exclaim.

“Bam!” Fang Yan was so furious earlier that his hands gripped the table and pushed two holes through it, but he wasn’t as shocked as he was right now. He abruptly stood up, having totally forgotten about that. The table was directly flipped, but he completely disregarded it.

“Black Nether Sword… Black Nether Sword. This is my Fang family’s Black Nether Sword. This… this is impossible!” Black Nether Sword was a superior-grade spiritual artifact that had been damaged in refinement. It had more than a hundred years of history in the Fang family as only a chicken rib 1. How could it become a superior-grade spiritual artifact now?

This impact was even greater than the one earlier. It was a superior-grade spiritual artifact. With one superior-grade spiritual artifact, it was enough to let a person in the Divine Power Realm burst out with several times his original combat ability.

For someone like Chang Laosi, already at the ninth level of the Divine Power Realm, with the help of a superior-grade spiritual artifact, he could defeat almost everyone below the Yin Yang Realm.

“Look quickly, what is that?” Suddenly, someone cried out, pointing at the sword handle.

Footnotes:

Item of little value