Top-tier Unruly Master

Zhou Ruoran is also the most talented cultivating disciple in the history of the Jade Maiden Sect. Therefore, the sect master is very fond of Zhou Ruoran and has always personally taught her, clearly intending to focus on her cultivation. After all, Ruoran's talent is evident, and she is more diligent than any other disciple in the sect. How could the sect master not like such a disciple?

At this moment, Zhou Ruoran heard Taozi's words and couldn't help but smile knowingly. She understood that Taozi's heart was always aligned with hers. The reason Taozi persuaded her to accept Hao Chun's invitation was merely because of Taozi's personal curiosity about the Great Alchemy Competition. Furthermore, her purpose for coming was to meet that so-called Ding Lin.

Of course, Zhou Ruoran didn't have high expectations in her heart. She knew that the possibility of Ding Lin being Ding Fan was very small. After all, the Cultivation World is vast, and finding someone cannot be that easy. However, Zhou Ruoran obviously couldn't miss any opportunity, even if it was by sheer luck. Her heart was always filled with one mission — to find Ding Fan.

But now she had already seen a considerable amount of time pass during the Great Alchemy Competition, yet still hadn't seen this so-called Ding Lin. Inevitably, she felt a bit anxious. Zhou Ruoran also understood the more anxious she became, the greater her eventual disappointment would be. But there was no choice; even the slightest news about Ding Fan would leave her restless with anticipation. She understood the greater the expectations, the greater the disappointment, but Zhou Ruoran couldn't control herself.

"Senior Sister, this Great Alchemy Competition is really extraordinary! These participating alchemists are indeed very impressive!"

For a moment, Taozi watched the Great Alchemy Competition with avid interest and couldn't help but remark to Zhou Ruoran.

"Some alchemists are really young, yet so powerful at alchemy, even more impressive than our sect's alchemists. And they are rather handsome too! Especially that Zhang Hao, look, look senior sister, so handsome!"

"He's currently the leading figure in the Great Alchemy Competition, said to be more powerful than that Ding Lin, and he's quite the looker too!"

"Oh my, I really like him. Why don't we ask the sect master to recruit him into our sect? His alchemy skills are so great, they will certainly benefit the sect immensely! Wouldn't you agree, senior sister?"

"Wouldn't you agree, senior sister? Senior sister..."

Without waiting for Zhou Ruoran to reply, Taozi's words bubbled forth one after another, like a fountain; clearly, Taozi was ecstatic as one naturally is upon seeing handsome men. Obviously, her purpose for coming to the Great Alchemy Competition was rather complex, not merely for watching the spectacle but more importantly for the handsome men! At this moment, Zhou Ruoran felt a bit helpless, yet found Taozi quite adorable.

At this moment, Zhou Ruoran also didn't know what to say. Apparently, Taozi's words were playful, and her goal was simply to look at the handsome men; as for recruiting Zhang Hao into the sect, that was an entirely impossible matter. After all, Zhou Ruoran naturally heard the surrounding discussions about Zhang Hao—although she hadn't participated in the first round of the Great Alchemy Competition, she could tell from the conversations around her that Zhang Hao's performance in the first round was quite average, while this time his performance was particularly dazzling.

Naturally, many cultivators suspected him of cheating. Although this is the Great Alchemy Competition, considered a significant event in the Donglai Continent, competition cheating is evidently very common everywhere. From ancient times to the present, even in the strictly managed competition exams, cheating cannot be completely eradicated.

To put it simply, ordinary cultivators or alchemists possess no ability to cheat, as the Great Alchemy Competition is already very strict. However, those influential figures with power can evidently cheat quite easily.

Even though Zhou Ruoran is a woman, she understands the reasoning behind this very well. Whether Zhang Hao cheated or not, whether he depended solely on his genuine skills—what he displayed is clearly not something possessed by ordinary alchemists. He must be at least a Grade Seven or Grade Eight alchemist. Such a level of alchemist joining their sect would indeed be very difficult.

After all, their sect is only a medium-sized sect, not something that a Grade Seven or Grade Eight alchemist would fancy. After all, being an alchemist is an extremely scarce profession in the Cultivation World, highly revered. Even an alchemist of merely Grade Five is treated like a master by their sect, Zhou Ruoran knows.

That's because they are Grade Five alchemists—typically, what Grade Five alchemists refine would be Grade Five Medicine Pills, and sometimes they might even refine up to Sixth Grade Medicine Pills. But know this, Sixth Grade Medicine Pills are already very precious in the Cultivation World, as for someone like Ding Fan who casually refines Supreme Quality Medicine Pills, he is basically a monster. No sect would dare invite him, and even establishing a friendly rapport is considered incredibly fortunate.

Of course, presently, no one is aware that Ding Fan can casually refine Supreme Quality Medicine Pills. If word got out, even Master Nanyang would rush here immediately, for this would be utterly sensational, something never achievable by ordinary alchemists, and even Master Nanyang couldn't accomplish it.

For most cultivators, medicine pills between third-grade and sixth-grade are already quite good, and some of the rarer categories are such that even Grade Five Medicine Pills are hard to obtain. After all, not every Medicine Pill has the same traits, some require high-grade refinement and are extremely difficult to produce high-grade versions, while others may be easier to refine in high-grade.

Of course, the High Level Pill mentioned here is only up to the Sixth Grade Medicine Pill. Seventh Grade Medicine Pills and those above it are also classified as High Level Pills and are obviously not ordinary. The requirements for alchemists are very high, and refining any pill to a high-grade level is not an easy task.

Therefore, Zhou Ruoran knew in her heart that what Taozi said was merely a joke, not to be taken seriously.

At this moment, Zhou Ruoran did not say anything more, only gave Taozi a knowing smile. But just then, Hao Chun, watching the very beautiful Taozi, couldn't help but feel an itch in his heart and then, following Taozi's words, said:

"Sister Taozi, that kind of alchemist is not desirable. How could someone with such a character practice alchemy in your sect? Isn't that bringing disaster to your sect?"

Xiao Lee spoke ingratiatingly, obviously trying to please the other party. At this moment, Hao Chun, standing by, naturally knew Xiao Lee's intent, but he didn't say much. Although Taozi was quite beautiful, compared to Zhou Ruoran, she was lacking a bit. Since his follower liked her, he just let him be.

Just then, Taozi heard his words, and her face immediately showed a hint of anger, then she said.

"What do you mean by bad character? Even if his character is bad, he is still more handsome and capable than you! Hmph!"

Hearing her words, Xiao Lee obviously felt rebuffed, and he lowered his head silently without a word.

"Taozi, he's always like this! Don't mind him!"

At this moment, Zhou Ruoran obviously knew that Taozi's words were a bit too straightforward, and for a moment, the atmosphere was indeed a bit awkward. Zhou Ruoran knew in her heart that Taozi was the kind of person to speak whatever was on her mind. Although Zhou Ruoran didn't like the two people either, considering the face of the sect master, it clearly couldn't be too ugly for them.

After all, he is a core disciple of the Great Gate Sect and is greatly favored by the sect leader there. Her master valued this point, which is why he vigorously tried to pair her with him. After all, this way, her sect would have a backing from the Great Gate Sect. In case something happened to her sect, having the Great Gate Sect would significantly enhance their ability to mitigate risks.

Zhou Ruoran thus felt quite troubled. She knew very well that she had Ding Fan in her heart, and there was no room for anyone else. However, she still had to consider her master's feelings because her master was also the sect master of Jade Maiden Sect. As the sect master, it was natural to consider sect matters, even though her master was very fond of her and even said she should be respected.

But although her master said so, he still created many opportunities for her to engage with Hao Chun. Zhou Ruoran naturally understood it all, but her heart stayed true to Ding Fan. So, all she could do was maintain a stalemate, or perhaps be a bit cold to make him retreat in face of difficulties. However, what left Zhou Ruoran helpless was that no matter how cold she treated him, he never got tired of asking her out.

Zhou Ruoran, naturally beautiful, was incomparable to general female cultivators. For Hao Chun, even without his sect's encouragement, he would never give up on such a beautiful woman, even if she was cold to him. Not to mention, her master was trying his best to push them together. In Hao Chun's mind, the matter between him and Zhou Ruoran was only a matter of time.

Obviously, Hao Chun considered himself very highly. Although she hadn't agreed to be with him temporarily, it was only a matter of time. After all, he was already so outstanding. It should be known that reaching the Emergence Stage at his age was something not many young people across the Donglai Continent could achieve. He was also the sect master's most prized disciple, and it was even possible that he might lead the sect in the future.

Someone as excellent as him, how could she refuse? Even if she did, it would only be temporary.

However, in Zhou Ruoran's heart, sometimes she couldn't even remember his name. She really had no interest in him. If compared to excellence, not only across the Donglai Continent but the entire Cultivation World, few could surpass Ding Fan. Even if someone could, Zhou Ruoran hadn't heard of them, let alone met them.

"It's nothing, it's nothing."

Upon hearing Zhou Ruoran's words, Hao Chun immediately responded cheerfully. Clearly, Beautiful Zhou had spoken, and naturally, he needed to seize the opportunity. As for Xiao Lee's issue, it was trivial, but if it upset Beautiful Zhou, that would be a big issue.