I Really Am A Villain
Ch. 337 - Alchemy Like Roasting Beans

“What did you just say?” One of the young men at the other table slammed the table and stood up after hearing the green-robed youth’s words.

He glared coldly at him, brows furrowed.

“Let it go, Dan Yang,” the girl beside him tugged at his sleeve, trying to calm him.

“How can I let it go?” Dan Yang replied calmly. “This isn’t just about Brother Dan Qing’s honor. It’s an insult to the face of our Soaring Cloud City Dan Imperial Clan branch.”

“What? Even trash like you care about saving face?” The green-robed youth took a sip of wine, clearly unconcerned.

“Isn’t that going a bit too far?” Dan Qing stood up slowly, displeased.

“You people from the branch family of the Dan Imperial Clan aren’t much,” the green-robed youth shook his head with a smirk.

“If you’re that good, why have I never heard of you before?” Dan Yang said with disdain.

“This time the Dan Imperial Clan’s main family is holding the Myriad Pills Assembly at the Alchemy Tower. All alchemy geniuses from across the Eastern Continent will gather there,” the green-robed youth said with a smile. “And from there, I will rise to fame.”

“Anyone can talk big,” Dan Yang sneered. “Who’s to say Brother Dan Qing couldn’t easily outdo you?”

“Ignorance of the weak,” the green-robed youth shook his head and chuckled.

“Want to compete, brother?” Dan Qing took a deep breath and calmly asked.

“I don’t mind,” the green-robed youth replied. “How about we do it at my Dan Imperial Clan’s pill room?”

“No need, right here is fine,” the green-robed youth said, shaking his head.

“Here?” Dan Qing was slightly stunned.

For a proper alchemist, the setting is crucial.

Every step in alchemy must be precise. A single misstep could ruin the pill.

The green-robed youth didn’t speak. He waved his right hand.

Light purple spiritforce gathered around him.

In mid-air, the energy intertwined and formed a light purple pill cauldron.

Though formed from energy, the cauldron looked lifelike, almost indistinguishable from a real one.

“Pill-Aura Cauldron-Condensation,” Dan Qing said seriously.

This was a high-level alchemy technique.

Normal alchemists needed actual pill furnaces to refine pills.

But some masters had reached such proficiency that they could form cauldrons from their own spiritforce.

Only the head of the Soaring Cloud City’s Dan Imperial Clan and a few elders could do this.

No one from the younger generation had achieved it, until now.

With this one move, the green-robed youth had already widened the gap between them.

...

The green-robed youth then waved his hand again.

The cauldron floated in the air, echoing with a hollow sound.

A purple flame burst from his palm, slowly heating one side of the cauldron.

Then, countless herbs flew out from his storage ring.

He suspended all the herbs mid-air with his spiritual energy.

Once the cauldron was hot enough, he dumped all the liquid essence and herbs in at once.

There was no order to it, just everything thrown in like a chaotic stew.

The Dan Imperial Clan disciples were dumbfounded.

What kind of alchemy was this?

Alchemy was all about careful sequencing based on the properties of the herbs.

“No one refines pills like that,” Dan Yang said in shock.

“This is going to be a disaster.”

“That purple flame must be some kind of exotic fire,” Dan Qing muttered. “It can speed up pill-making, but it requires extreme control.”

As they spoke, the flames under the cauldron burned brighter.

A faint medicinal aroma began to waft out.

The green-robed youth waved his hand again.

The energy cauldron vanished, and the fire wrapped around more than a dozen pills that floated into the air.

...

As the flames faded, the scent of the pills grew stronger.

“It’s done?” Dan Yang said, stunned.

“That was barely any time!”

“Six minutes,” Dan Qing said seriously. “A Level 5 pill, Heavenly Lotus Detox Pill. It even has pill patterns. Perfect grade.”

The green-robed youth held the pills in his hand, examined them, and spoke slowly.

“I don’t expect much. If you can make the same pill in the same amount of time, you win.”

“My pill cauldron is in the pill room,” Dan Qing replied.

“No need for that. Tell me, even with a cauldron, can you do it?” the green-robed youth asked.

Dan Qing was silent, then shook his head.

The man’s alchemy could only be described one way: Alchemy like roasting beans, done with ease.

Seeing Dan Qing’s response, the green-robed youth chuckled.

He downed his wine and walked out of the inn.

“Remember my name, Zhuo Buyu. The man who will make a name for himself at the Alchemy Tower.”

Everyone stared in silence at his departing figure.

The scene had been too shocking.

The difference in skill was obvious.

Only Xu Zimo smiled quietly nearby.

He casually sat down and ordered some dishes.

“Why are you laughing, brother?” Dan Qing turned and asked curiously.

“Do you know how to perform sleight of hand?” Xu Zimo asked.

“What do you mean?” Dan Qing replied, confused.

“If you do, you could also make pills like roasting beans,” Xu Zimo smiled.

Dan Qing paused, thinking back on everything Zhuo Buyu had done.

“That kind of illogical alchemy, do you really think he could make a perfect Level 5 pill with such sloppy steps?”

Xu Zimo smiled.

“Is he the reincarnated Alchemy Emperor or something?”

Dan Qing was suddenly enlightened.

Right, of course.

From start to finish, it had all been an act.

Aside from the impressive cauldron formed from pill aura, everything else seemed off.

It was likely the pills were pre-prepared, and the scent was dispersed by some special trick.

No wonder he had left in such a hurry.

But what was his goal?

Dan Qing couldn’t figure it out.

“Thank you for the guidance,” Dan Qing quickly introduced himself and expressed his gratitude.

Xu Zimo shook his head, unconcerned.

He watched the green-robed youth walk away and smiled to himself.

“Qi Tiansheng, looks like you haven’t changed.”

He didn’t expose the man, after all, they were old acquaintances and would probably meet again.

...

After breakfast, the Dan Imperial Clan disciples left early.

Xu Zimo wandered around the city by himself and returned to the inn at dusk.