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Chapter 8 - 6: A Repentant Prodigal Son is Worth More Than Gold_1
Chapter 8 - 6: A Repentant Prodigal Son is Worth More Than Gold_1
Chapter 8: Chapter 6: A Repentant Prodigal Son is Worth More Than Gold_1
Yang Chen's words undoubtedly provoked laughter from the entire audience, with many people thinking that he was merely trying to attract attention. Yang Chen had done this sort of thing before, and in the end, every result proved that he was nothing more than a clown.
Yang Heng couldn't help but scoff from his seat, quickly saying with a stern tone: "Yang Chen, Second Master's lecture is no place for your wild antics. You are wasting our time and Second Master's time."
"Weren't you just wasting Second Master's time?" Yang Chen replied slowly.
"How can we be the same as you!" As soon as Yang Heng heard this, he scolded, "Everyone knows that you lost 300 Spirit Stones to the Wang Family, haven't you disgraced yourself enough?"
Yang Chen raised an eyebrow: "Oh? So you mean you also want to reveal who you lost your Spirit Stones to?"
Hearing this, Yang Heng's expression changed rapidly: "Yang Chen, don't slander me!"
"I haven't even mentioned how you lost your Spirit Stones yet, what are you so nervous about?" Yang Chen grinned.
Yang Heng glared with eyes wide open: "Yang Chen, good, you've got guts!"
Yang Chen twisted his neck; he wasn't afraid of Yang Heng's threats. He didn't take Yang Heng's words seriously at all. If Yang Heng really wanted to cause him trouble, he wouldn't mind exposing Yang Heng's 300 Spirit Stone loss. He was curious as to why Yang Heng, despite losing to him, could still be so cheerful.
At this moment, Second Master Yang spoke up with an emotionless face: "Yang Chen, although Yang Heng's words were somewhat excessive, if you truly intend to rely on blind luck, then don't bother trying."
It wasn't surprising that he looked down on Yang Chen, as Yang Chen's reputation was so notorious within the Yang Family that everyone knew about it.
Yang Chen respectfully bowed: "Second Master, when I observed your alchemy just now, I noticed that you added the materials first and then waited for about a minute before starting the fire. During this minute, you did a lot in the cauldron. I observed that you seemed to arrange the materials in specific positions inside the cauldron... "
"Yang Chen, what nonsense are you talking about, what does arrangement have to do with alchemy... "
"Shut up." Second Master Yang couldn't help but get angry at this point.
He looked at Yang Chen with astonishment, his beard trembling: "Yang Chen, continue talking, everyone else be quiet."
What a strange turn of events.
It wasn't surprising that he was so emotional, as Yang Chen's words finally provided him with the answer he wanted. Wasn't the whole point of his deliberate slowdown to give the people below a better understanding of the details of his alchemy?
Yang Chen continued humbly: "I have a very shallow understanding of alchemy, so I don't know the true intentions behind Second Master's method. However, I noticed that while Second Master was controlling the fire, he deliberately manipulated it to concentrate in the middle position, which tells me that the materials placed in the middle of the cauldron must be treated with high heat, while those on the side only require low heat. From this, it's clear that while adjusting and controlling the fire are two different steps, controlling the fire is actually part of the adjustment process as well."
"Good!"
Second Master Yang was overjoyed, laughing heartily: "Yang Chen, your words have deeply comforted me. Yes, adjusting and controlling the fire are two separate processes and steps, but who can truly comprehend that controlling the fire is also part of the adjustment process? I just don't know how much of my alchemy technique you've grasped by now."
"After thinking about it, I believe I've understood about 50%." Yang Chen scratched his head: "I think if Second Master does it one more time, I'll understand completely."
Of course, he was being insincere when he said this.
He understood the principles of Second Master Yang's shallow alchemy technique just from watching it once.
His starting point was too high; he had once been called the number one alchemy genius. He didn't care about the top alchemists of the countryside, let alone the ones in the entire North Mountain County. If he couldn't even learn Yang's alchemy technique, there was no point in mentioning his once-esteemed title of alchemy genius.
To be called a genius, not only should he be able to learn Second Master Yang's alchemy technique, but he should also be able to learn techniques that are millions of times more profound than Yang's.
Saying he understood 50% was merely to avoid causing too big a shock.
However, he still underestimated the remoteness of the Hundred Tribes of the Great Wilderness. Even though he only said he understood 50%, Second Master Yang still stared at him in surprise, as if he had seen a ghost.
"Is this true?" Second Master Yang asked, his face full of astonishment.
"Second Master, don't listen to him. He's just trying to attract attention!" Yang Heng, seeing Yang Chen seizing the limelight, was immediately unhappy.
How could this be?
How could Yang Chen win Second Master Yang's favor?
"If you think I'm lying, then why don't you try it yourself?" Yang Chen said expressionlessly.
Even a mudman has a temper, and this Yang Heng was playing with fire.
Upon hearing Yang Chen's words, Yang Heng immediately wilted, but to let him give up that easily was evidently not so simple. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Second Master, Yang Chen was humiliated by the Wang Family just a while ago, even losing our family's Purple Furnace. He even almost hung himself. How can we believe the words of such a good-for-nothing?"
One should not hit a person in the face or expose their short-comings.
Yang Heng exposed Yang Chen's short-comings, clearly intending to burn bridges.
This caused Second Master Yang's face to darken, clearly unhappy about Yang Heng's narrow-mindedness.
Yang Chen, however, remained composed and said: "Second Master, everything Yang Heng said is true. I, Yang Chen, have indeed been humiliated by the Wang Family and have been desperate to die. But I believe that in this world, as long as one acts with integrity and virtue, it is never too late to repent and change. How can one judge a hero by a momentary success or failure?""When I was feeling desperate, I suddenly realized my mistakes and even understood many philosophical concepts that I didn't understand before. My heart secretly vowed that I would never live like my past unfettered life. However, Yang Heng constantly pressured me and made things difficult. Tell me, if we judge heroes based on their temporary success or failure, who among us hasn't made mistakes? Should we judge our entire lives based on the mistakes we made at that time?"
Yang Chen did not bring up the matter of Yang Heng losing three hundred spirit stones.
Ultimately, he didn't want to pick on Yang Heng.
Moreover, exposing Yang Heng's flaws at this moment would inevitably cause Second Master Yang to look down on him.
With these words, he hit the nail on the head, which undoubtedly made Second Master Yang very delighted. He slapped the table suddenly, making a loud bang, and forcefully said: "Yang Chen, you're right, we should not judge a hero based on temporary success or failure. I know about some of your past deeds, but I can see that you've truly realized your mistakes. As a prodigal son returning, there's no reason why you can't have a bright future. Yang Heng, on the other hand, you, as a member of the Yang family, are constantly pushing others around. What kind of image does that project?"
"Back in the day, I wasn't the most outstanding alchemist in the Yang family, and there were many people better than me. But now? I am the banner of the Yang family's alchemy. Who in the Yang family dares to claim that they are better at alchemy than me? Yang Heng, you are indeed the number one alchemist of the Yang family. But with your current mindset, how can you achieve greatness? You should learn more from Yang Chen."
Second Master Yang's reprimand undoubtedly threw Yang Heng from heaven to hell.
He trembled, looking at Yang Chen with venomous eyes, and hatred grew in his heart.
Yang Chen did not care about Yang Heng's hatred and simply said, "I am grateful that Second Master understands me."
"Yang Chen, you're being too polite. Just now, I also held a grudge against you and made you stand while listening to my lecture. But after hearing your words, I feel ashamed. You can sit down and listen to the lecture with them. I'll refine another Detoxifying Pill for you. If you can comprehend it all, I'll grant you whatever you want!" Second Master Yang promised grandly.
This made Yang Chen very happy. All the young members of the Yang family wanted to win Second Master Yang's favor, and wasn't that what he came here for today?
He hurriedly and respectfully said, "Thank you, Second Master, I will not let you down!"
Many people nearby looked at Yang Chen with both envy and jealousy, wondering what kind of luck he had. Did getting humiliated by the Wang family somehow open up his mind?
Most importantly, Second Master Yang made it quite clear.
I'll refine another Detoxifying Pill for 'you'.
Yes, for Yang Chen alone, not for them!
The meaning was simple; Second Master Yang had not planned to refine a second Detoxifying Pill, but he made an exception for Yang Chen.
Welcome indeed to luck.
All of them were filled with jealous hatred, but they dared not speak up directly. At most, they could only glare at Yang Chen coldly.
Yang Chen had already guessed that he would become the target of everyone's wrath. He didn't mind and continued to observe Second Master Yang's Alchemy techniques carefully.
This time, Second Master Yang slowed down even more, so that Yang Chen could have a good chance to learn. After nearly half an hour, the alchemy process was completed. This time, with a joyful mood, Second Master Yang refined as many as three Detoxifying Pills.
Second Master Yang was overjoyed and attributed the reason for producing three Detoxifying Pills to Yang Chen. If it weren't for seeing such a promising disciple like Yang Chen, how could he have been so delighted when refining pills? If his heart was not filled with joy and was mixed with emotions, there would only be two pills at most.
Yes, the success of alchemy, to a large extent, is also related to the alchemist's mood.
Holding the three Detoxifying Pills in his hand, Second Master Yang asked, "Yang Chen, how much of this have you grasped?"
Yang Chen immediately stood up and respectfully said, "Fortunately, I think if nothing goes wrong, I should have grasped everything about Second Master's alchemy techniques and details."
"Oh? Good, tell me about it." Second Master Yang said anxiously.
Yang Chen recited Second Master Yang's alchemy steps and techniques in complete detail. He incorporated his own understanding, trying not to appear too astonishing but also to satisfy Second Master Yang.
Listening to Yang Chen's words, Second Master Yang became more and more delighted. His beard seemed to jump up with his excitement.
With clenched fists, he excitedly said, "Good, good, good! Yang Chen, from now on, my alchemy room will be your home. Others can only come when I give lectures, but you are different. You can come to the alchemy room whenever you want, and I'll teach you individually from now on."
He joked.
The Great Wilderness was a remote place. Although there were many tribes, their so-called geniuses were almost like trash compared to the talents from outside. He had been to a bustling city outside the Great Wilderness and knew that there were some geniuses in alchemy who could grasp the techniques just by watching others refine pills a few times.
He was shocked by their amazing skills and realized that the Hundred Tribes of the Great Wilderness were far behind others in comparison.
But What about Yang Chen?
He understood everything after just two observations, even further analyzing the principles behind Second Master Yang's alchemy techniques and so on. Such an alchemy genius was actually born in their Yang family.
What a pity that Yang Chen's talent had not been discovered due to his unfettered life.
If Yang Chen had realized the truth about life earlier, would his achievements be worse than Yang Heng's now?
Of course!
A prodigal son who turns back is worth more than gold; it's still not too late!