Simply watching Ye Xuan perform alchemy once had been an epiphany, allowing them to grasp many concepts they had never been able to understand before.

And Ye Xuan’s explanation just now had solved many problems that had long plagued them. The saying, "Gaining ten years of knowledge from a single conversation," was the perfect description.

If they could continue to follow Ye Xuan, their futures would surely be ten, even a hundred times brighter than they were now.

Patriarch Luo Min was surrounded by the crowd, completely stunned.

In the past, he had to coax and pamper these Alchemists, offering them excellent benefits just to get them to stay.

It was safe to say that at least half of the family’s income was spent on supporting these Alchemists.

Since when had these proud Alchemists ever been so eager to sign contracts with his Luo family?

Only after Luo Min granted their requests did the large group of Alchemists gradually settle down.

Ye Xuan finally waved his hand and spoke. "Though you are the Luo family’s Alchemists, I need to know your capabilities. However, there’s no need to announce your grades. Just release your Profound Sense and extend it toward me. I will ascertain your abilities myself."

Even Alchemists of the same grade could refine different types of Pills. All Ye Xuan needed to know was the strength of their Profound Sense.

"Alright! Let’s show Young Master Ye our strength."

In an instant, waves of Profound Sense appeared before Ye Xuan like a vast ocean. Each one was unique—some were tempestuous, others gentle; some were arrogant, others reserved.

Ye Xuan activated his Divine Spirit Gaze, and his own Profound Sense, at the Peak of Fifth Grade, merged with the senses everyone had released.

After a moment, he had a crystal-clear understanding of everyone’s Profound Sense.

He had to admit, the Luo family had a respectable foundation. Just as Patriarch Luo Min had said, Luo Xiang had reached the level of a top-level Fifth Grade Alchemist. In addition, there were nearly ten Fourth Grade Alchemists, over thirty at the Third Grade, and more than a hundred at the Second Grade.

This level of strength was slightly greater than that of the entire Alchemist Association in the Liuyun Kingdom. In a place like the Sky Empire, however, it only qualified as a third-rate power.

"Young Master Ye, how is our strength? Are we worthy of your consideration?"

The numerous Alchemists in the room watched Ye Xuan nervously, afraid that if he were the least bit dissatisfied, he would turn and leave in a huff.

"So-so. Barely passable," Ye Xuan said with a nod.

Everyone let out a long sigh of relief and slumped into their seats, their faces overflowing with joy.

"So-so" and "barely passable"—neither of these was a compliment. If anyone else had said such things to them, they would have been chewed out and torn to shreds. But hearing it from Ye Xuan, they all felt as if a great weight had been lifted from their shoulders.

’At least in Young Master Ye’s eyes, we’re "passable."’

"Patriarch Luo Min," Ye Xuan said suddenly, "I recall that the Luo family divides its alchemy labor, correct? I wonder, who exactly is responsible for your core products, the Tengguang Pill and the Obstacle Clearing Pill? Please introduce me."

Luo Min didn’t know why Ye Xuan was asking, but he quickly explained, "The Tengguang Pill and Obstacle Clearing Pill are the Luo family’s most essential Pills. The person primarily in charge is Luo Xiang. In addition, five Fourth Grade Alchemy Masters are also involved."

Luo Min pointed out the five individuals.

The five who were named immediately stood up in excitement, holding their heads high and puffing out their chests like an honor guard on inspection.

"Mm." Ye Xuan nodded, his gaze suddenly landing on three people in the crowd below. "And you three masters, what are your responsibilities in the workshop?"

Everyone turned to look and saw three rather unremarkable Alchemists. They seemed to be Third Grade Alchemists who had been with the workshop for some time.

One of them was quite familiar to everyone. He was a good-natured fellow who had worked in the workshop for five or six years and was now in his sixties. Everyone called him Elder Qi.

The other two had likely joined the year before last, but both had rather withdrawn personalities, so for a moment, no one could even recall their names.

Elder Qi stepped forward first and said excitedly, "Young Master Ye, this old man is Qi San, a Third Grade Alchemist. I’m responsible for the inspection and alchemy of various Pills in the workshop."

The other two middle-aged Alchemists, however, exchanged a glance, a hint of nervousness in their eyes. Still, they cupped their hands and said, "Young Master Ye, the two of us are responsible for refining the workshop’s Blood Coagulation Pills and liaising with the supply channels."

Ye Xuan’s expression was one of sudden understanding. "No wonder," he said. "So it seems, Qi San, that you must be responsible for inspecting the Tengguang and Obstacle Clearing Pills. And you two must handle the supply channels for those same two Pills, correct?"

"Wha..."

The expressions on all three of their faces changed.

The other Alchemists in the room also looked over, confused, not understanding the meaning behind Ye Xuan’s words.

Under everyone’s gaze, Elder Qi gave a bitter smile. "Young Master Ye, you must be joking. The Tengguang Pill and Obstacle Clearing Pill are core family secrets, personally inspected by Alchemy Master Luo Xiang. How could a mere Third Grade Alchemist like myself have access to them?"

The other two middle-aged Alchemists looked even more tense. They laughed awkwardly and said, "Elder Qi is right. Alchemy Master Luo Xiang handles the Tengguang and Obstacle Clearing Pills personally. The two of us aren’t nearly qualified enough."

Ye Xuan’s gaze turned cold. He sneered, "If one of you can’t access them and the other two aren’t qualified, then why do you reek of the raw ingredients for those two Pills?"

GASPS!

A wave of shock went through the room. Including Luo Min and Luo Xiang, everyone’s head snapped toward the three men, their gazes turning razor-sharp.

"I... We... we don’t..."

The two middle-aged Alchemists immediately refuted the accusation in a panic, their eyes shifting nervously.

Elder Qi, however, was stunned for only a moment before giving a bitter smile. "Young Master Ye, that is a serious accusation. This old man isn’t even entirely clear what the raw ingredients for the Tengguang and Obstacle Clearing Pills are, so how could I have come into contact with them? If there truly is a scent on me, I must have been unintentionally contaminated while inspecting other materials."

"Young Master Ye, what exactly is going on? Are you saying these three are compromised?"

Luo Min secretly sent a mental message to Ye Xuan, but he was incredibly puzzled. ’Although I showed Young Master Ye the Tengguang and Obstacle Clearing Pills, I never told him their ingredients. How could he know what they are? Or is he just suspicious of them and trying to bluff a confession?’

Luo Xiang also sent a puzzled mental message to Luo Min. "Patriarch, did you tell Young Master Ye the ingredients for the Tengguang and Obstacle Clearing Pills?"

Luo Min shook his head, replying mentally, "Of course not."

Seeing the three deny it, Ye Xuan suddenly gave a faint smile. "Oh? So, was I mistaken?"

"That must be it."

The two middle-aged Alchemists sighed in relief and quickly agreed.

Ye Xuan nodded, chuckling. "Alright, let’s say I was mistaken. But I have another question. The two of you are clearly Fourth Grade Alchemists, so why are you pretending to be at the Third Grade?"

"What? Those two are Fourth Grade Alchemists?"

Everyone stared at the two men, dumbfounded.

"How did you know...?" the two middle-aged Alchemists blurted out in shock. The moment the words left their mouths, they realized their mistake. Panic flared in their eyes again, and they stammered, "We... we only broke through to the Fourth Grade a few days ago. We just hadn’t gotten around to reporting it yet..."

If Luo Min still couldn’t tell there was a problem with these two at this point, he would have to be a complete idiot.

"Men! Seize them!"

At his angry roar, several Alchemists pounced forward with surprising ferocity.

The Profound Power within the two men erupted as they tried to flee, but there was no escape from the room. A moment later, they were tied up securely.

"Patriarch Luo Min, what is the meaning of this?"

"We are contracted Alchemists of the Luo family, not your indentured servants! What right do you have to imprison us?"

"We demand an explanation!"

The two Alchemists shouted in outrage.

"Heh. I’ll give you your explanation in a moment." Ye Xuan sneered, then turned to Elder Qi. "And now, isn’t it your turn to explain yourself to me?"

Elder Qi put on an expression of bewilderment, trembling fearfully as he said, "This old one doesn’t understand what Young Master Ye is saying."

"Still acting?" Ye Xuan said lightly, his eyes narrowing. "A Fifth Grade Alchemist like you, pretending to be at the Third Grade for so long... that must have been exhausting."

"What?"

Everyone was even more astounded and turned to look at Elder Qi. ’Elder Qi is a Fifth Grade Alchemist? Impossible! He’s been at the workshop for five or six years. If he were a Fifth Grade Alchemist, how could no one have known? Besides, why would a Fifth Grade Alchemist need to stay with the Luo family, posing as a Third Grade Alchemist for all these years?’

"Young Master Ye, are you certain you’re not mistaken?" Luo Min and Luo Xiang asked in disbelief.

"We’ll find out if I’m mistaken once we’ve captured him," Ye Xuan sneered.

Luo Min and Luo Xiang immediately became guarded, as if facing a great enemy, and stared intently at Elder Qi.

"There’s no need for the Patriarch and Alchemy Master Luo Xiang to act." A flash of anger appeared on Elder Qi’s seemingly honest face, and he spoke with righteous indignation. "Young Master Ye, this old one admires your accomplishments in Alchemy, but I am merely a Third Grade Alchemist. I will allow myself to be bound here today. If you do not give me a satisfactory explanation afterward, this old one will not be able to die in peace."

After speaking, under the watchful eyes of the entire room, Elder Qi truly offered no resistance and allowed himself to be tied up.

His righteously indignant expression made everyone wonder. ’Could Young Master Ye have made a mistake?’

Ye Xuan glanced at him and chuckled but said nothing. Instead, he walked over to the two middle-aged Alchemists. "You wanted an explanation, didn’t you? I’ll give you one now."

As his voice fell, four Pills appeared in Ye Xuan’s hand. He forced two into each man’s mouth.

"What are you doing?" The two men struggled painfully, but after a moment, they grew still. Their eyes became dazed, as if they had lost their souls.

"Now, I will ask, and you will answer," Ye Xuan said coldly. "Which family sent you two here?"