Chapter 52: Nalan Jie Awakens

"Hello, Uncle."

Nalan Su's teasing greeting made Chen Mo feel a bit uncomfortable. He replied softly, "Chen Mo."

"What? He's Chen Mo?"

"The one with three attributes?"

"He's also Sect Leader Yun's personal disciple. I heard his talent surpasses even Miss Yanran."

"Not only that, but I heard he was taken as a disciple by Pill King Gu He and became an Alchemist."

"Do you think he's here to help remove the Branding Poison from the old master of the Nalan family?"

Hearing Chen Mo's name, the dozen or so Alchemists in the hall were utterly astonished.

In the capital, while many might not recognize Chen Mo, they had certainly heard of his name.

Recently, Chen Mo's name had been widely circulated by storytellers in various taverns and bookstores.

As Sect Leader Yun's personal disciple and Pill King Gu He's personal disciple, no one in the Jia Ma Empire could boast a stronger background than him.

"Liu Fu, didn't I tell you to prepare a banquet to properly entertain him? Why did you bring the young man here?" Nalan Su scolded Liu Fu with a hint of dissatisfaction.

"It's not Uncle Liu's fault. I brought my junior brother here. He said he has a way to remove the Branding Poison from Grandfather's body," Nalan Yanran explained.

"Oh," Nalan Su's gaze shifted to Chen Mo. "Young man—"

"Uncle, you can just call me by my name," Chen Mo said, feeling a bit awkward being called "young man."

"Chen Mo, is what Yanran said true?" Nalan Su asked.

Chen Mo nodded. "There is a way, but I can't guarantee it will work."

Chen Mo wanted to set the expectations upfront, so he wouldn't end up being mocked if things didn't go as planned.

Hearing this, Nalan Su nodded thoughtfully, assuming Chen Mo was trying to impress his daughter.

Curious glances from all around fell upon them.

"I didn't expect him to really be here to detoxify the old master of the Nalan family."

"He only said he'd try, not that he'd succeed."

Nalan Su waved his hand, and the hall immediately fell silent. He looked around and began explaining the current condition of the old master.

Upon hearing that even Pill King Gu He had been unable to deal with the Branding Poison, the Alchemists couldn't help but shake their heads.

However, the reward Nalan Su had promised was too tempting. A white-haired elder was the first to step into the side room.

Less than ten minutes later, he came out shaking his head.

"Clan Leader Nalan, the Branding Poison is simply too stubborn."

Nalan Su and Nalan Yanran both sighed in disappointment.

After that, a dozen or so Alchemists took turns entering the side room, only to come out shaking their heads and sighing.

By this point, the father and daughter had lost all hope.

"Junior brother, thank you for your kindness, but let's leave now," Nalan Yanran said, knowing Chen Mo meant well. But since over a dozen Alchemists had failed, if Chen Mo tried and didn't succeed, it would be embarrassing.

Nalan Su also said, "Chen Mo, you and Yanran should leave now."

"Let me try. Who knows, it might work," Chen Mo insisted. "Uncle, you said the old master's condition is critical. Why not give it a shot? What's there to lose?"

Nalan Su thought it over seriously and realized it was true. "Alright, let's give it a try!"

Nalan Su was very considerate of Chen Mo's reputation—after all, he might become the Nalan family's son-in-law in the future.

Therefore, after deciding to let Chen Mo give it a try, Nalan Su had Liu Fu pay a generous fee to the dozen or so alchemists and then sent them away from the hall.

In Nalan Su's view, even if Chen Mo failed, he couldn't let outsiders laugh at them.

The three of them slowly approached the side room. Chen Mo gently pushed open the door, revealing a spacious interior. In the center, a large bed was placed, with a sallow-faced old man lying on it.

Around the bed, several maids were bustling about, taking care of the old man.

Chen Mo stepped closer for a look. Nalan Jie, who had once been ranked among the top ten powerhouses of the Jia Ma Empire, was now emaciated, reduced to skin and bones, his face dark with the aura of death.

"So severe..."

Originally, Chen Mo had been thirty percent confident, but after seeing this, his confidence dropped to ten percent.

"Junior Brother, can you do it?" Nalan Yanran, who had followed closely behind, was full of worry upon seeing Nalan Jie's worsened condition.

Chen Mo didn't respond. With a thought, he took out a Toxin Cleansing Talisman from his system and placed it on the old man's forehead, then began chanting the incantation written on the talisman.

Nalan Su, watching this peculiar scene from behind, had a strange expression on his face.

What is this?

As the incantation was chanted, the Toxin Cleansing Talisman spontaneously combusted.

Seeing the flames, the maids looked over, seemingly ready to extinguish the fire, but Nalan Yanran stopped them with a glance.

The talisman burned to ashes, and then a green light shot into the old man's brain.

Not long after, the old man lying on the bed began to convulse, and his previously numb face gradually showed signs of pain.

"The color has changed," one of the maids couldn't help but exclaim.

Nalan Su hurriedly stepped forward.

Indeed, the old man's previously dark complexion had regained a bit of color.

After a while, Nalan Jie, whose face had become even more flushed, suddenly opened his eyes. The dry, hoarse pain in his throat made him let out a roar, and a mass of black, foul substance flew out of his mouth.

It was a clump of black, stinking toxic blood.

The maids quickly opened the windows to air out the room.

"Old Master!"

"Grandpa."

Seeing Nalan Jie suddenly awaken, the father and daughter hurriedly called out.

"The poison has been completely expelled. Now, he just needs to recuperate properly."

Chen Mo hadn't expected the Toxin Cleansing Talisman to be as effective as a Healing Charm. In such a short time, even the Branding Poison, which even a Dou Emperor couldn't handle, had been expelled.

No wonder such talismans weren't sold in the system mall and could only be obtained through the Treasure Chest Lottery.

"What's this?" Hearing the unfamiliar voice suddenly ring out in the room, Nalan Jie slightly turned his head to look at Chen Mo. "Young man, was it you who saved me?"

Chen Mo's face darkened. Your son calls me that, and now you're calling me that too.

If we go by this, shouldn't my senior sister call me grandpa?

Seeing Chen Mo's strange expression, Nalan Jie was puzzled.

Nalan Su's mouth twitched slightly, also noticing the issue, and quickly said, "It was Chen Mo who saved you. He's Yanran's junior brother and also a direct disciple of Sect Leader Yun."

Then, he explained about Chen Mo.

After that, the three of them praised Chen Mo profusely.

During the conversation, even though Nalan Su mentioned that Nalan Yanran had feelings for Chen Mo, Nalan Jie still scolded Nalan about the annulment of the engagement.

However, his anger wasn't as intense as before.

The words seemed to hint that he might personally go to Wutan City to apologize to the Xiao family.

...

As the Alchemist Convention drew closer, more and more alchemists and various factions, attracted by the news, flooded into the capital like a tide.

The Miteer Family, renowned for its immense wealth, hosted several auctions during these days.

On the eve of the Alchemist Convention,

Chen Mo received an invitation from the Miteer Family, inviting him to attend an auction.