The Extreme Alchemist of the Mighty Cauldron
Chapter 985 - Chapter 985 Chapter 984 Significant Improvement in Strength

Chapter 985: Chapter 984: Significant Improvement in Strength Chapter 985: Chapter 984: Significant Improvement in Strength Only a figure could be seen, slowly emerging from the depths of the herb garden, carrying an extraordinary aura.

Upon closer inspection, this person was none other than Fang Lin, who had been in closed-door cultivation for several months.

With less than half a month left before the start of the third stage of the Talent Battle, Fang Lin’s appearance at this moment proved that his strength had greatly increased.

“You’ve finally come out. If you hadn’t appeared in another three days, heading to the Qing Nation would have become too late,” Ye Mengxian said, her eyes carefully sizing up Fang Lin.

Fang Lin spoke with a smile on his face, “There’s been a slight deviation from the expected time, but it should be just in time.”

“Hmm, why not spar with me and see how much your strength has increased?” Ye Mengxian, unable to see through Fang Lin, suggested a sparring match.

“Yes, yes, Master, quickly spar with this guy and knock him to the ground!” Dugu Nian immediately became excited from not too far away.

Fang Lin rolled his eyes and looked at Dugu Nian, “Otherwise, let me spar with you first to see if you’ve become any stronger during this period.”

Dugu Nian snorted, “I can’t beat you, alright?”

Ye Mengxian looked at Fang Lin with zest and said, “A move or two will suffice. If you can exchange blows with me without being at a disadvantage, then there’s no need to worry too much about the Talent Battle of the Nine Countries.”

Seeing Ye Mengxian insist, Fang Lin did not refuse and bowed slightly towards Ye Mengxian, “In that case, I apologize in advance for the offense.”

“Come on,” Ye Mengxian beckoned to Fang Lin, signaling for him to make the first move.

Fang Lin suddenly stomped his foot, and a surging aura transformed into a tidal wave, pressing towards Ye Mengxian.

Ye Mengxian’s sleeves fluttered, and with seemingly casual ease, she diffused Fang Lin’s offensive.

“Use all your strength,” Ye Mengxian said as she raised her jade hand and pointed a finger at Fang Lin. It appeared ordinary, but it was filled with an astounding aura that made Fang Lin’s heart sense an imminent crisis.

Without holding anything back and fully aware that Ye Mengxian’s move was meant to force out all his strength, Fang Lin threw a punch, channeling his immensely vigorous blood energy.

The collision of fist and finger was the clash between Fang Lin’s blood energy and Ye Mengxian’s Inner Strength.

With that blow, the whole Tiankui Pavilion seemed to tremble, and if it were not for the protective array that enveloped and fortified it, the pavilion might have collapsed under the might of their clash.

Even so, this exchange was of staggering power, causing Dugu Nian in the vicinity to immediately back away quite a distance.

Fang Lin’s complexion changed slightly, and he took a few steps back, while Ye Mengxian stood in place, as calm as ever, with her dress not even fluttering.

“Fang Lin, that can’t possibly be the full extent of your strength,” Ye Mengxian said with a slight frown, somewhat dissatisfied.

Fang Lin gave a bitter smile, “It’s just that Master Ye’s strength is too formidable.”

Ye Mengxian huffed lightly and, not wasting words with Fang Lin, transformed her jade hand into a palm and attacked with overwhelming force.

Fang Lin wore a grave expression. Ye Mengxian’s palm strike was even more powerful than her earlier finger strike, more than twice as strong.

Clearly, Ye Mengxian was not quite satisfied with the strength Fang Lin had shown and wanted to know if he was holding back.

Confronted with her palm strike, Fang Lin could no longer afford to hold back and used all his Inner Strength and blood energy to execute the Kylin Fist.

“Well met!” exclaimed Ye Mengxian, her palm strike bearing down.

Boom!

There was none of the anticipated violent spectacle one might have imagined; as their fist and palm met, their energies canceled each other out completely, without spreading out in the slightest.

Fang Lin retreated again, even more than the first time, while Ye Mengxian also took two steps back with a look of surprise on her face.

“Master Ye, I concede, admitting my inferiority,” Fang Lin said, bowing with his hands clasped.

Ye Mengxian beamed brightly, “Your strength is not bad; you might still have something up your sleeve, but to be able to fight me to this extent, as long as you perform normally in the Talent Battle, you should be able to enter the top five hundred.”

“If Master Ye with such strength were to participate in the Talent Battle, you would surely rank within the top ten,” Fang Lin said.

Hearing this, Ye Mengxian shook his head slightly, “Even if I were to participate, which I am not, it would still be impossible for me to enter the top ten. I can’t defeat those freaks in the top ten.”

Shock appeared on Fang Lin’s face, “Are the people in the top ten of the Talent rankings really so formidable?”

Ye Mengxian nodded gravely, “You have interacted with Duan Qilin from the Pill Alliance Nine Guards; what do you think of his strength?”

Fang Lin seriously replied, “He is very strong; I fear there are few within the same realm who can contend with him.”

Ye Mengxian continued, “With Duan Qilin’s strength, if he were to participate in the Talent Battle, he wouldn’t make it into the top ten either.”

Hearing this, the joy Fang Lin had felt from just coming out of seclusion immediately evaporated.

Seeing Fang Lin’s pressure building, Ye Mengxian showed a smile, “Don’t worry so much, how far you can go isn’t an issue.”

Fang Lin gave a wry smile, “I was thinking about vying for a spot in the Talent ranking’s top ten. Now it seems, I was being too optimistic.”

Afterward, Fang Lin went to see Elder Tiankui, who didn’t say much but patted Fang Lin’s shoulder and handed him a Jade Slip.

“Master, what is this…” Fang Lin received the Jade Slip and asked, puzzled.

Elder Tiankui spoke, “It’s a secret technique I cultivated in the past, easy to master, and it should be of some help to you.”

Upon hearing this, Fang Lin thanked Elder Tiankui and stored away the Jade Slip.

“You should have received the message; to which city are you heading?” Elder Tiankui asked.

Fang Lin nodded, “Disciple is going to Sea Moon City.”

Before Fang Lin’s seclusion had ended, he had already received news from the Upper Three Countries, instructing him to head to Qing Nation’s Sea Moon City to participate in the third stage of the Talent Battle.

Just like him, Dugu Nian was also heading to Sea Moon City. With both of them in the same city, it saved a lot of trouble.

“Sea Moon City, huh? The scenery there is indeed quite nice,” said Elder Tiankui.

As his tone turned, Elder Tiankui’s expression became more serious, “Be cautious and vigilant on your way to Qing Nation; do not indiscriminately stir up trouble, especially with the people from Qing Nation, be extra wary.”

Fang Lin uttered a sound of acknowledgment; naturally, he was well aware of this.

After leaving Elder Tiankui, Fang Lin directly made his way to where Su Xiaotong was engrossed in Pill Refining.

Su Xiaotong was so deeply immersed in Pill Refining that she hadn’t noticed Fang Lin’s approach at all.

At this moment, if Fang Lin had harbored any evil intentions, Su Xiaotong probably wouldn’t have had the time to react.

“Miss Su,” Fang Lin spoke up, startling Su Xiaotong, who quickly turned around.

“Who are you?” Su Xiaotong looked at Fang Lin with some confusion.

The corner of Fang Lin’s mouth twitched, and he could only say, “I am Fang Lin, do you remember me, Miss Su?”

Su Xiaotong’s delicate eyebrows knitted slightly, her face showing confusion, she pulled out a small booklet and flipped through it rapidly.

“I remember you, Fang Lin,” Su Xiaotong found Fang Lin’s name and immediately smiled.

Fang Lin looked at the booklet in her hands and felt relieved. It was a new one; the old one had been burned by a female disciple from Jin Yuan.