Reborn as Xu Xuan, Plundering Perks & Flooding the Mountain Ling

Chapter 13: When the Heavens is Enage, It Pours; When a Man is Arrogant, He Faces Calamity

“Maybe… we misheard?”

“One person mishearing is understandable, but all of us? Impossible!”

“Or maybe Master Xuan Mu just misspoke?”

“Are you kidding? Master Xuan Mu is a Golden Core cultivator.”

“Look at our senior disciples in the Alchemy Sect… and even the elders!”

“They don’t seem the least bit surprised…”

“Oh no, this senior brother is probably real!”

“You mean… he’s becoming a core disciple right away?”

“Huh???”

The disciples of the Alchemy Sect were in an uproar. Yet Master Xuan Mu didn’t bother to intervene—he simply waited for them to quiet down on their own.

“Do any of you have objections to this?”

The disciples exchanged glances. Some wanted to speak but hesitated at the last moment. Suddenly, a voice rang out from the crowd.

“Master, we don’t object. But there’s something we don’t quite understand…”

Master Xuan Mu waved his sleeve dismissively.

“No need for excuses. In our Alchemy Sect, alchemy skill is what matters! If you have doubts, feel free to challenge your new Senior Brother Xu and judge for yourselves if he is worthy of that title!”

Xu Xuan stepped forward with a calm smile. If calling him “Senior Brother” was already unbearable, what would happen if they had to call him “Master”? Would they fight each other like rabid dogs? He didn’t speak, but his actions made his stance clear.

“Come at me. I’ll take on whatever you throw my way!”

The inner disciples hesitated. Master Xuan Mu and Xu Xuan’s confidence was overwhelming, shaking even those who had been so sure of themselves moments ago.

“Look at Master Xuan Mu’s attitude! This Xu Xuan must have some real skill.”

“Of course! Otherwise, how could he be promoted to a core disciple so quickly?”

“Forget it, you guys go ahead! I’m too weak—I’ll stay out of this mess.”

Just then, a thin disciple spoke up.

“Senior brothers, have you no confidence in yourselves? I saw this Xu Xuan just last month—he was still farming in the back mountains! No matter how much of a genius he is, he couldn’t have learned much in such a short time. Don’t be fooled by his act!”

“What? An outer disciple? Promoted ahead of schedule?”

Time flows differently in the mountains—seasons change go unnoticed, and closed-door cultivation often lasts weeks or months at a time. So, most disciples barely heard of Xu Xuan. But now, hearing that he had started as a mere farmer, all lingering hesitation vanished. A mere farming disciple? Not even a month in the sect? How could someone like that become a core disciple and stand above them? Emotions flared. It wasn’t long before someone stepped forward.

“Senior Brother Xu, I am Jing Du. I’d like to challenge you!”

This Daoist, known as Jing Du, was over thirty, his face weathered with age. A strong herbal scent clung to his robes, a sign of someone who had spent years immersed in alchemy. His appearance stirred the crowd.

“Jing Du?!”

“That’s not surprising, is it?”

“Among us inner disciples, Jing Du has the best chance of becoming a core disciple.”

“But now, with Senior Brother Xu appearing out of nowhere…”

“Jing Du’s path to promotion is as good as ruined!”

At first, there was sympathy for Jing Du. But soon, the discussion shifted to the upcoming duel.

“There’s no need to pity him!”

“Jing Du entered Mount Longhu at sixteen—he’s been here for fifteen years. Three years as a labourer, two years tending fires, two years identifying herbs, And the last eight years? Spent almost entirely refining pills! In terms of alchemy, no other inner disciple can match him! Meanwhile, Senior Brother Xu hasn’t even been here a month. He probably can’t even name all the pills, let alone compete!”

Xu Xuan nodded slightly and returned the courtesy.

“Junior Brother Jing Du, feel free to pick the challenge.”

The disciples were taken aback.

“This Xu Xuan is arrogant beyond belief!”

“He’s barely entered the sect, yet he dares let Jing Du set the challenge? Does he not realize he might not even understand the question?”

“The heavens send rain when they are enraged, and men invite disaster when they are arrogant!”

“Looks like Jing Du won’t hold back—Senior Brother Xu is in for a humiliating defeat…”

Hearing himself being called “Junior Brother,” Jing Du’s anger surged. This upstart, a mere lucky outer disciple, had stolen his rightful place as a core disciple—and now dared to look down on him? If he didn’t teach Xu Xuan a lesson today, wouldn’t the fool think refining pills was as easy as breathing?

“In that case, Senior Brother, I’d like to challenge you to refine Cold-Heat Pills!”

“Alright.”

Xu Xuan strode straight to the alchemy furnace. Jing Du had expected some back-and-forth argument first. But Xu Xuan didn’t waste a single word—he started immediately.

“Less talk, more action. Fine by me!”

Seeing the two get to work, the crowd buzzed with anticipation.

“Jing Du is… cunning!”

“Indeed. He chose Cold-Heat Pills—hardly anyone in the sect has ever refined them!”

“That’s true! Cold-Heat Pills can protect against extreme temperatures, keeping the body warm in winter and cool in summer. They’re more like miraculous elixirs than regular pills! But they’re expensive, difficult to refine, and ultimately impractical. Rich people don’t need them, and those who need them can’t afford them.”

“They only sell occasionally to high-ranking nobles in the capital. Who would bother learning such a useless pill? Not to mention, it wastes valuable ingredients!”

“This Xu Xuan is doomed. He probably hasn’t even heard of Cold-Heat Pills! Whatever, let’s just enjoy the show…”

Above the Alchemy Hall—

Master Xuan Mu stood alongside two senior elders, while four core disciples stood respectfully at their sides.

“Elder Xuan Ying, if I recall correctly, you refined a batch of Cold-Heat Pills two years ago. They still haven’t sold out, have they?”

Elder Xuan Yin smirked. Before he could finish speaking, Elder Xuan Ying quickly cut him off, steering the conversation back to Master Xuan Mu and Xu Xuan.

“Can I help it if no one buys them? But I have to say, Master Xuan Mu, your disciple is in real trouble this time. When I refined Cold-Heat Pills, my assistant was none other than Jing Du. With all his years of experience, he has at least a 90% chance of succeeding. I’d bet anything—Jing Du is going to win.”

Master Xuan Mu chuckled.

“Oh? What would you like to bet, Junior Brother?”