Chapter 4000: Successor to the President

"Qi Qi thanks the Guild Leader for his appreciation!"

Hua Qiqi bowed in thanks. She wasn't truly fixated on the position of Guild Leader from the bottom of her heart.

However, as a member of the Alchemist Guild, having grown up there since childhood, she didn't want the Guild to become a tool for others to seize power and benefit.

Seeing the Guild Leader's successor decided, the reactions of the people in the room varied.

Wu Zheng and the other two were naturally overjoyed. In their hearts, Hua Qiqi was the most suitable candidate for the next Guild Leader.

Luo Rong, Mo Chongba, and Liu Baimei were filled with anger and resentment, but they dared not show any of it.

After all, the Alchemist Guild had developed for so many years, and the forces within it were relatively balanced. Even against the three Elders, they didn't have much of an advantage, let alone against the Guild Leader.

In contrast, Kong Lingyuan was calmer. He was originally a neutral party, leaning towards whoever offered greater benefits, and wasn't particularly enthusiastic about who became the Guild Leader.

Xie Hongying stood behind the Grand Elder and the others, her head bowed. No one knew what she was thinking.

Zhuge Qingyang motioned for Hua Qiqi to step aside, then introduced Ye Bufan to everyone present.

"This is Divine Doctor Ye Bufan, a good friend of Qi Qi. It's entirely thanks to him that this Old Man's injuries were healed and the poison someone administered was also removed."

As he spoke the last part, a hint of coldness permeated his voice. It was clear that his poisoning was the work of someone within the Alchemist Guild, though he couldn't yet determine who.

Luo Rong and Mo Chongba naturally knew what was going on, but both were old foxes and naturally showed no unusual reactions. Instead, they wore expressions of shock.

"How could this be? Who would dare to poison the Guild Leader? Could it be that there's an internal spy within the Alchemist Guild?"

Luo Rong feigned righteous indignation, as if he had forgotten that he had orchestrated all of it.

The Second Elder Wu Zheng, however, was genuinely enraged. He hadn't expected that under his very nose, the Guild Leader had been tampered with. He also felt extremely guilty.

"It was this Old Man's inadequate defense. I ask the Guild Leader for punishment!"

Zhuge Qingyang waved his hand, "Forget it, this matter has nothing to do with you. There's no need to blame yourself."

"Divine Doctor Ye, thank you for your help."

Wu Zheng was the first to express his gratitude to Ye Bufan, and the others quickly followed suit.

Luo Rong and Mo Chongba also bowed in thanks, but in their hearts, they utterly detested the Young man before them, wishing they could cut him into a thousand pieces and dismember him.

If it weren't for him curing Zhuge Qingyang, their plan would have already succeeded. How could they be in such a passive situation now?

Amidst their shock and anger, a ripple of thought emerged in their minds: the person who caused a ruckus at the Alchemist Guild's assessment hall and injured Fan Dongping and Kong Xifeng also had this name. They wondered if it was the same person.

Kong Lingyuan was also like this; although a smile hung on his face, his gaze became sharper.

Zhuge Qingyang looked at Ye Bufan, "Divine Doctor Ye, you saved me this time and greatly helped the Alchemist Guild.

A great kindness needs no words of thanks. From now on, you are this Old Man's great benefactor. Feel free to state any request; as long as I can do it, I will do my utmost."

"Senior Zhuge, you are too kind!"

Ye Bufan smiled slightly, "I came to Lingxiao City this time for nothing else but to obtain an Alchemist badge and then participate in the Dan Wang Competition."

Ye Bufan wasn't trying to repay kindness with demands; he just wanted to expedite things and not waste too much time here.

After all, he had witnessed the conduct of those people from the Alchemist Guild before. Next time he went, who knew what tricks they might pull.

If Zhuge Qingyang stepped in, everything should be much simpler, at least not so troublesome, as his time was precious.

But as soon as he spoke, the hearts of Luo Rong and Kong Lingyuan instantly became restless.

Before, they had guessed whether Ye Bufan just shared a name with that person. Now, they could confirm it was indeed the Young man before them.

Zhuge Qingyang was unaware of what had happened at the Alchemist Guild. In his view, this matter was as simple as could be.

"Qi Qi, take Young Master Ye to the assessment hall right now. Apart from the assessment procedures that cannot be omitted, everything else should be simplified."

But before Hua Qiqi could speak, Luo Rong stood out.

"Guild Leader, I believe this matter is inappropriate."

This Old Man appeared respectful, calling him "Guild Leader" repeatedly, but in truth, he didn't hold much reverence for Zhuge Qingyang in his heart; otherwise, he wouldn't have orchestrated so many schemes before.

Having been in the Alchemist Guild for so many years and holding the position of Grand Elder, he naturally had his way of handling things.

He had already figured out Zhuge Qingyang's temper: as long as he adhered to the Alchemist Guild's rules, the other party couldn't do anything to him.

"Grand Elder, what do you mean by that?"

Zhuge Qingyang was a bit surprised. In his opinion, a young, talented genius going to obtain an Alchemist badge was the simplest thing.

"It's like this, Guild Leader…"

Luo Rong recounted what had happened at the Alchemist Guild, of course, emphasizing that Ye Bufan had injured Kong Xifeng and Fan Dongping.

He concluded by saying, "Although Young Master Ye rendered meritorious service by treating the Guild Leader, he forcibly entered the Alchemist Guild, injured the Deputy Head of the Enforcement Hall, and also severely wounded Young Master Kong Xifeng.

According to the rules of the Alchemist Guild, merits are rewarded, and faults are punished.

He saved the Guild Leader, and our Alchemist Guild can offer appropriate remuneration.

However, with such egregious conduct, such a person is not suitable to be an Alchemist, nor is he suitable to be assessed for a badge in the assessment hall.

Such a person not only has no qualification to obtain a badge but will also be blacklisted, forbidden from entering the Alchemist Guild for life."

At this moment, Luo Rong utterly detested Ye Bufan. It was this Young man who had disrupted all his plans, rendering all his efforts futile and bringing his success to naught.

It was a pity he couldn't retaliate now, but he had to do everything in his power to thwart whatever the other party wanted to do.

He couldn't let him get an Alchemist badge, nor could he let him participate in the Dan Wang Competition; only then could he vent his anger.

Kong Lingyuan held the same thought. His Grandson couldn't have been beaten for nothing, so he immediately stood up as well.

"Guild Leader, I believe it should be so. After all, without rules, there can be no order. Given his egregious conduct, he is simply not suitable to become an Alchemist."

Zhuge Qingyang frowned, not expecting things to turn out this way. What was originally a simple badge assessment had become so complicated.

He didn't express his stance directly but looked at Ye Bufan.

"Divine Doctor Ye, is this true?"

Ye Bufan had figured it out: these two Old Men were the backing of Kong Xifeng and Fan Dongping, and they were only now coming out to cause him trouble.

"It is true, but there was a reason…"

Ye Bufan then truthfully recounted the events, without any omissions.

Afterward, he offered no further defense, standing there quietly, awaiting Zhuge Qingyang's attitude.

As soon as he finished speaking, the Second Elder Wu Zheng stood out.

"Guild Leader, during your illness, some people indeed acted wantonly in our Alchemist Guild, including the Third Elder's Grandson, Kong Xifeng.

Charging a toll at the entrance of our Alchemist Guild, what kind of behavior is that? Such a person deserves to be beaten.

Including Fan Dongping, the Deputy Head of the Enforcement Hall, he neglected his duties and acted recklessly where he shouldn't have. In such circumstances, it was reasonable for Young Master Ye to administer punishment, and he committed no fault."

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