Rise to God with Life Skill Professions-Chapter 301 - 291: The Bronze General’s Contempt

As soon as these words were spoken, the courtyard fell into a dead silence.

Zhou Yuanfeng stood as if struck by lightning, rooted to the spot, unable to recover his senses for a long while.

Qin An had always adhered strictly to his principles, especially detesting the debt of favors.

When he first arrived at Xunyang Prefecture, Zhou Yuanfeng had some complaints about him, but his attitude later changed. Not only was he incredibly kind to Qin An, but he also offered significant assistance in many affairs.

Now learning that there was an alchemical recipe that could solve Zhou Yuanfeng’s urgent problem, Qin An immediately decided to use it to repay this favor.

Since coming from Ding County, all the debts he owed had already been settled.

Even with countless stains of blood on his hands, Qin An’s actions had always been honest and open.

"Clap!"

Zhou Yuanfeng finally snapped back to reality and sprang up, accidentally knocking over a wine cup on the table.

With the crisp sound of the porcelain cup shattering on the ground, Zhou Yuanfeng’s lips turned pale and his voice quivered slightly.

"Mr. Qin, what you just said... is it true?"

Qin An nodded and said, "Of course it’s true. Since arriving at Xunyang Prefecture, have I ever spoken a false word?"

Zhou Yuanfeng tried to calm himself but could not; he stepped forward and grabbed Qin An’s arm urgently, "What kind of elixir is it? As long as it can heal my old injury, I will search for the herbs even if I have to reach the heavens above or the underground rivers!"

He had lingered in the Outer Elixir Realm for far too long. With his talent and potential, he might have already stepped into the Inner God Realm, becoming a Jin Mansion General.

But the indelible injury prevented him from stepping into the Inner God Realm in his lifetime, extinguishing that aspiration.

Over the years, when faced with the mockery and ridicule of his enemies, he always brushed it off with a smile.

Only he knew how much discontent was hidden behind that facade of indifference.

Qin An said indifferently, "This pill is called the Celestial Profound Pill, possessing the power of creation. It can reverse injuries and entirely counteract the indelible wounds on your body, but the ingredients are extremely rare."

"Mr. Zhou, fetch paper and pen, and I will list them one by one. Once you have gathered all the herbs, I will refine the pill for you."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuanfeng did not hesitate but immediately released his grip and hurried into the house.

In no time, Zhou Yuanfeng returned with a set of the Four Treasures of the Study, laying them out in front of Qin An, standing with his hands by his sides behind Qin An.

Qin An picked up the brush, dipped it in ink, and began to write on the paper.

The listed medicinal ingredients were indeed exceptionally rare; for a loose cultivator, it might take a lifetime to find even half of them.

But it was different for Zhou Yuanfeng.

Zhou Yuanfeng had been stagnating at the position of Silver Mansion General for many years.

He no longer had the potential for promotion, and the accolades he had accumulated amounted to a terrifying number.

For Zhou Yuanfeng, exchanging these herbs, though expensive, was still within his means.

Half an incense stick’s worth of time later,

Qin An put down the brush on the table.

Zhou Yuanfeng eagerly picked up the paper filled with small characters and began to read it carefully.

The more he read, the more excited his expression became.

"Great, excellent! Mr. Qin, please wait a moment, I will immediately go to the Confidential Library to exchange for the necessary herbs."

Though the ingredients listed were complex, he was very familiar with them.

To treat his old injury, he had previously sought out Mr. Sun and tried many methods.

Mr. Sun had also used many types of medicine on him.

Thus, when it came to identifying medicinal ingredients, Zhou Yuanfeng, having been a long-time patient, was quite adept, almost like a good healer.

Zhou Yuanfeng knew very well that all these ingredients were in the Confidential Library.

Qin An nodded slightly, "I will wait for you, Mr. Zhou, in the courtyard. Once you have found them, we can proceed together to the Alchemy Master Alliance."

Zhou Yuanfeng did not pause; after bidding farewell, he left the courtyard with the paper in hand.

Soon, only Qin An was left in the courtyard.

Qin An was in no hurry, picking up the spare wine cup to pour himself a drink, sipping it lightly.

Although he was not fond of drinking, he would indulge in a few sips on special occasions.

As Qin An poured his third cup of wine, the sound of footsteps resounded from outside the courtyard.

Qin An glanced back, frowning slightly.

At the gate of the courtyard, a Mountain Patrol Copper General in dark clothing approached with steady steps.

This person appeared to be quite young, probably only in their twenties, with very handsome features.

However, a scar ran across the center of their forehead, from the left eyebrow to the lower right jaw, ruining those handsome features terribly.

"Who are you? Why are you in my Mr. Zhou’s residence?" As soon as the Mountain Patrol Copper General stepped in, he frowned and questioned sternly.

Qin An raised an eyebrow slightly, playing with the wine cup, without saying a word.

Having heard the term Mr. Zhou, he knew this person belonged to the same faction as Zhou Yuanfeng.

But Qin An felt indifferent towards him.

The Mountain Patrol Copper General saw that Qin An did not answer, his brow furrowed even more, the scar on his forehead twisting with it.

But seeing that Qin An held a similar status, he did not waste words and sat next to Qin An.

They exchanged no words, both responding to the silence with silence.

After one incense stick’s worth of time,

Zhou Yuanfeng returned quickly with a bundle in hand.

Before he even entered the courtyard, he couldn’t wait to shout loudly.

"Mr. Qin, I’ve gathered all the ingredients; let’s set off quickly!"

He was too eager, too desperate to advance to the Inner God Realm; he could not wait any longer.

But just as his voice fell, it abruptly stopped.

Seeing the Mountain Patrol Copper General sitting beside Qin An, Zhou Yuanfeng paused, his face turning serious.

"Xu Qingfeng, why are you here?"

The Mountain Patrol Copper General named Xu Qingfeng smirked as Zhou Yuanfeng entered, slightly raising the corners of his mouth, "I’ve returned for rest and recovery, under orders from the master to deliver you a message. Now that you’re back, please come and listen."

There was not a hint of respect in his words, instead, there was an air of arrogance.

Qin An squinted his eyes, glancing back and forth between Zhou Yuanfeng and Xu Qingfeng.

"All Supreme True Elixirs..." he murmured once.

Being in the Supreme True Elixir Realm, Qin An could sense that Xu Qingfeng too had forged a Supreme True Elixir.

However, this arrogance before Zhou Yuanfeng suggested that the relationship between the two might not be good.

Zhou Yuanfeng waved his sleeve, "Whatever you have to say, say it quickly; then leave!"

Xu Qingfeng sneered: "Senior brother is already in such a state, why are you still putting on airs? When I advance to the Inner God Realm, let’s see if you dare speak like this then?"

"Insolence!" Zhou Yuanfeng’s eyes widened in anger: "Such audacity, I am still your senior brother! How dare you be so disrespectful!"

"Back then, when Master wanted to take me as a disciple, who was it that said I had an unrighteous heart and ruthless actions?" Xu Qingfeng retorted sharply: "And now you have the nerve to act like a senior brother?"

Zhou Yuanfeng came to Qin An’s side and heavily placed the package on the table: "On those occasions when you carried out missions, it was only for the purpose of slaying demons without regard to the lives of the common people, leading to especially severe casualties. How can such conduct be fit to enter the teacher’s door?"

"The lives of common people? Womanly kindness!" Xu Qingfeng slapped the table and stood up: "If I hadn’t been decisive, more people would have died. Now only a few ordinary people have died, but many more were saved. For me, this is instead a great merit."

"Nonsense! Utter nonsense of great merit!" Zhou Yuanfeng shouted: "Clearly, a clever plan could have saved more people, but you insisted on recklessness. You simply wanted to take the easy way out!"

The two confronted each other tit for tat, yielding nothing in their words.

There was even a faint sign of coming to blows.

Qin An stroked Cold Star, patiently waiting.

This was their sect’s quarrel, and he found it inappropriate to intervene.

Xu Qingfeng stood up and said: "Senior brother, debating with me this time serves no purpose. You know very well how you got injured in the first place, trying to protect those useless commoners. I won’t take your old path. When I step into the Inner God Realm, you’ll see that I was right. Now let’s talk business."

Zhou Yuanfeng clenched his fists, remaining silent.

Xu Qingfeng glanced at Qin An: "You! Leave immediately!"

His words carried a commanding tone.

Qin An raised his eyebrows slightly, drained his cup of fine wine, and got up to leave.

He didn’t want to involve himself in the matters of the Mountain Patrol Golden General’s sect.

But just as Qin An took two steps, Xu Qingfeng’s voice sounded behind him.

"Stop!"

Qin An paused, turned his head to glance at Xu Qingfeng, his tone cold as ice: "What is it?"

Xu Qingfeng looked Qin An up and down, suddenly muttering to himself: "Carrying a Straight Blade at your waist, with a cold temperament and a naturally unapproachable aura, could it be that you are Qin An?"

Qin An did not answer, but his expression tacitly confirmed it.

Xu Qingfeng’s eyes flashed with a gleam: "Since you are here, all the better. There is a message from the teacher concerning you."

Qin An asked: "What message?"

Xu Qingfeng took two steps forward, lifted his chin towards Qin An: "The teacher said, if you wish to enter the sect, he will graciously give you a chance. You need to kill a hundred Outer Elixir Realm demons and publicly sever ties with Jin Fengyu, only then can you become my junior brother."

Upon hearing this, Qin An hadn’t replied.

Zhou Yuanfeng’s expression suddenly changed, and he chastised: "Xu Qingfeng! Shut your foul mouth!"

He knew very well what kind of person Qin An was.

This man does not respond to coercion.

If you treat him well, he will return the favor.

But if you treat him poorly, his Straight Blade shows no mercy.

Qin An’s eyes turned cold, emanating a chilling aura: "Mr. Zhou, pick up your things, we’re leaving."

He did not wish to speak further, intending to leave.

But Xu Qingfeng’s figure flickered, blocking Qin An’s path from above, looking down: "Didn’t you hear what I said?"

"Smack!"

A dull sound rang out.

Xu Qingfeng hadn’t seen how Qin An moved, but his right cheek received a heavy slap.

His whole body was sent flying, crashing into the wall and breaking it to pieces.

The courtyard fell into silence.

Zhou Yuanfeng stared dumbfounded at Qin An, his grip on the package tightening slightly.

Qin An’s murderous aura surged like a tide: "If your teacher spoke to me like that, it would be normal, owing to his strength and status. But who are you, a mere Mountain Patrol Copper General, to speak to me like that?"

No sooner had he finished speaking, an angry roar erupted from the rubble in the corner.

"I will kill you!"

The piled stones all scattered, shooting towards Qin An.

Qin An remained calm, Cold Star flickering, splitting the stones in two.

But just as the stones flew up, a hand wrapped in terrifying golden True Essence targeted Qin An’s chest.

Zhou Yuanfeng urgently called out: "Watch out, Mr. Qin! He’s skilled in a peerless offensive gold-type Cultivation Technique, his hand-to-hand power is extremely frightening!"

Qin An neither dodged nor evaded, his left fist glowing with Five-Colored True Essence, striking towards Xu Qingfeng’s palm.

Seeing this, Xu Qingfeng’s mouth curled into a cold smile: "Competing in hand-to-hand skills with me, how laughable you are."

He had immersed himself in this hand-to-hand skill for many years, considering himself unmatched in combat.

Today he intended to give Qin An a taste of his power, assuming Qin An would bow his head.

Once Qin An joined, though a junior brother, he would have Qin An as his subordinate.

Yet unexpectedly, Qin An had slapped him at the very start.

Even though he had to abide by the Iron Laws of the Evil Extermination Bureau and couldn’t kill Qin An today, at least he intended to leave him incapable of standing.

But before the smile on Xu Qingfeng’s face even solidified, the terrifying Five-Colored True Essence enveloped Qin An’s fist.

Xu Qingfeng’s peripheral vision recognized the golden color in the Five-Colored True Essence, unusually familiar.

"Peerless in offense?" Qin An’s frigid voice pierced through the dust: "It is I who am peerless."

"Boom!"

A massive crashing sound resonated.

Xu Qingfeng felt excruciating pain from his right palm, the sound of bones shattering was starkly audible.

His body was once again sent flying, collapsing another wall.

Blood slowly trickled down from the corner of Xu Qingfeng’s mouth.

A chilling fear washed over Xu Qingfeng as he struggled to lift his head, seeing a shadow that blotted out the sun.

Through this shadow, he saw Qin An’s emotionless eyes.

Terror grew frantically within his heart.

"Clang!"

With the clear ring of a blade, Qin An drew Cold Star, the edge pressed three inches from Xu Qingfeng’s throat.

"Who are you to speak to me this way?" Qin An’s voice carried mockery: "Stray dogs on the street have more might than you."

The terrifying killing intent surged like a tide, combined with the humiliation in Qin An’s words.

In extreme humiliation and fear, Xu Qingfeng’s eyes rolled back, and he fainted.