"I can!"

Jiang Chen confidently spoke, "I can heal your soul injury!"

"What?!" Lou Wenkang and the others exclaimed in surprise.

"Does the Family Patriarch know of the Soul Nourishing Pill?" Jiang Chen asked softly.

The Lou Family Patriarch was visibly shaken, looking at Jiang Chen in disbelief, "Are you referring to the ancient elixir that can nourish the soul and even repair it, the Soul Nourishing Pill?"

"Yes, I can refine the Soul Nourishing Pill to help the Family Patriarch recover from the soul injury," Jiang Chen said with a slight smile.

"Are you also an alchemist, Mr Jiang?!"

"You can refine the Soul Nourishing Pill?!"

"You're an alchemist?!"

The people of the Lou Family all cried out in astonishment.

Jiang Chen nodded slightly.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Both the Lou Family Patriarch and Lou Wenkang's breathing became hurried, their gazes at Jiang Chen were like hungry wolves that had spotted meat.

An alchemist was a precious talent controlled by the large powers; among the Six Great Sects and Four Great Families, only two or three powers possessed an alchemist.

Once a force had an alchemist, it was even more prosperous than having an ancient martial artist!

"Mr Jiang, please help me refine a Soul Nourishing Pill. From now on, my Lou Family will heed Mr Jiang's orders unquestioningly!" the Lou Family Patriarch said earnestly.

Lou Wenkang's earlier promises were just momentary assistances, but the Lou Family Patriarch's promise was of complete obedience—two entirely different concepts!

The change in the way the Lou Family Patriarch addressed him also highlighted the importance of an alchemist!

Moreover, the Lou Family Patriarch was well aware that not just any ordinary alchemist could refine a high-level elixir like the Soul Nourishing Pill; even in the legendary Elixir Valley, very few people could make it!

Jiang Chen and his party then stayed at the Lou Family residence.

Early the next morning, the Lou Family secretly began to acquire the necessary ingredients and the pill furnace required for refining the Soul Nourishing Pill.

To ensure that Jiang Chen's refining process was undisturbed, the Lou Family cleared out a villa especially for him. The Lou Family Patriarch moved in directly to the ground floor's grand hall, banning anyone from entering.

The Lou Family, true to its status as a top Martial Arts Family, while unimpressive in its commercial achievements, had its unique channels for sourcing medicinal ingredients—after all, every Martial Arts Family needed medicinal ingredients.

In order to ensure that Jiang Chen could successfully refine the Soul Nourishing Pill, the Lou Family spared no expense, preparing medicinal ingredients sufficient for ten pills for Jiang Chen; after all, pill refining had a success rate, and instances of failing hundreds of times weren't unheard of!

During this time, Lou Fengfeng was not idle either. Having been put in contact by Yi Chen's people as arranged by Jiang Chen, she began to actively develop her logistics business, and within half a month, Lou Family's business started to take shape.

These days were tough for Lou Qiangqiang, who would run daily to the villa where Jiang Chen was refining pills, hoping to foster a connection, but each time he was politely turned away by the kindly but firm Elder Wen.

With the Lou Family Patriarch holding fort on the first floor of the villa and Elder Wen guarding the entrance, surrounded by several of the Lou Family's Innate Grandmasters, the villa was fortified as impregnable—a fly couldn't even fly in!

...

Time hurried by, and before long, the day of the Ouyang Family Patriarch's grand eightieth birthday had arrived.

As one of the Four Great Families and the only top-tier Martial Arts Family residing in the ancient capital, the Ouyang Family naturally lived in the Central Region of the ancient city.

The ancient capital was the historical capital of the six dynasties in the Flame Dragon Kingdom, and it boasted numerous ancient mansions, among which the Ouyang Family's residence was previously a prince's mansion.

The Ouyang Family's estate was even larger than the Jiang Family Courtyard, making it the largest private residence in the ancient capital, with eight courtyard complexes. The birthday banquet for the Ouyang Family Patriarch was held in the grand hall of the fourth courtyard.

Across from the Ouyang Family estate, several youths looked over at the grand entrance of the Ouyang Family's residence from a distance.

Jiang Chen, Yan Hu, Mo Bao, and Lou Qiangqiang accompanied Zhu Wenqiang to the Ouyang Family's estate, separating from the rest of the Lou Family, after all, they represented Zhu Wenqiang's side.

Lou Qiangqiang was an exception; ever since Jiang Chen had finished refining the elixir, Lou Qiangqiang had been sticking to Jiang Chen like glue, following him around tirelessly and trying his best to please Jiang Chen.

When members of the Lou Family witnessed this scene, they all expressed their tacit support. After all, this was the Jiang Family Head and an Alchemist; if they could forge a family connection with him, the Lou Family could soar to great heights!

The most supportive of Lou Qiangqiang's pursuit of Fu Ling'er wasn't Lou Wenkang, but the Lou Family Patriarch, who alone knew that Jiang Chen was not only an Alchemist but also a Semi Venerable, hardly less powerful than himself. Having such a young Semi Venerable as a great brother-in-law meant Lou Qiangqiang would have nothing to worry about for life.

However, the Lou Family Patriarch didn't divulge Jiang Chen's true strength to the rest of the family. He could tell that Jiang Chen wanted to keep a low profile, and with the matter of the Beihai National's secret technique arising, the patriarch thought that hiding Jiang Chen's strength might bring unexpected benefits.

Meanwhile, Zhang Wenjie and Meng Yanran hurried back to Dingjing the day after, having clearly recognized the importance of strength, they went back to study diligently with Elder Yao!

"Mr. Jiang, I'm feeling a bit nervous!"

Standing in front of the entrance to the Ouyang Family estate, Zhu Wenqiang felt some trepidation, as after all, it was a home he had never set foot in since childhood. Although he didn't harbor much sentiment for this family, the people living inside were still his blood relatives.

And most crucially, Zhu Wenqiang's biological father was also living inside.

"No need to be nervous, just walk in confidently," said Jiang Chen, patting Zhu Wenqiang on the shoulder. "They invited you over, what is there to be afraid of?"

"Exactly, Brother Zhu, there's no need to be anxious, I'm here for you. I know all the youngsters from the Ouyang Family, you can rest assured!" Lou Qiangqiang on the side chimed in, cheering Zhu Wenqiang on.

Upon hearing Lou Qiangqiang's words, Jiang Chen glanced at him and humorously said, "Right, with you here, the little demon king of the ancient capital, we really have nothing to fear!"

"No, Big Brother, don't listen to their nonsense, I'm really well-behaved!" Lou Qiangqiang immediately looked sheepish and protested anxiously.

"Hey, isn't that the infamous little demon king? Why isn't he with the rest of the Lou Family? Who are those people with him?"

"Who knows! Anyone who associates with the little demon king can't be up to any good!"

"Keep your voice down, or the little demon king might hear you and smash your family's windows!"

"Smashing windows would be getting off lightly, watch out he doesn't splatter dog blood on your doorstep!"

A buzz of conversation arose, and several youths glanced over at Lou Qiangqiang and his companions before quickly walking into the Ouyang Family estate.

"Smashing windows?!"

"Splattering dog blood?!"

Jiang Chen and his companions looked at Lou Qiangqiang with surprised expressions.

Lou Qiangqiang glared at the backs of the several youths, and noticing the looks from Jiang Chen and the others, he offered a sheepish smile to Jiang Chen, scratched his head, and displayed an embarrassed countenance.

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