Chapter 136 – 137

Chapter 136: 136

In the arena, Xiao Ya was pacing back and forth, her brows locked in deep thought .

Many alchemists started turning in their pills, qualifying for the next round . But regarding the first place, she was still uncertain what to do .

It was a spot that could only be taken by either Grandmaster Song or Vicious Pill King .

While Vicious Pill King’s 4th-grade pill was held in her hand, Grandmaster Song’s pill turned into a waste after cutting it in two . How could she possibly judge this?

Despite not being so erudite, the fading pill was a 5th grade pill . But why did it drop grades? What was up with that?

Without getting to the bottom of it, she couldn’t make a call

If she put Grandmaster Song in first place, she wouldn’t know how to explain if the need arose . Putting Vicious Pill King first would earn the scorn of the top ten alchemists .

As if saying this lady was too green and unable to see the pill’s secret . What vexed her most was Vicious Pill King also looked at her the same .

She was thoroughly stuck .

This was her first time in all her years of judging that she encountered such a problem .

She could only turn to Liu Yizhen, pleading for guidance . She found him the most amiable among the top ten grandmasters .

As for Zhuo Fan and Vicious Pill King – one smug, the other an iceberg – it was best to ignore them . Meanwhile, she avoided asking  Aunt Tao or Yan Fu as they might play favorites .

“Grandmaster Liu, could you please explain to me what is so great about Grandmaster Song’s pill?”

Liu Yizhen bowed to Zhuo Fan first .

It was a gesture of respect to seniors among alchemists . Liu Yizhen was among the ten best alchemists in the empire . Yet, he has never bowed, even to Vicious Pill King .

He was convinced Zhuo Fan’s refining skill was a cut above everyone here . He was on another level .

This bow made everyone drop their jaws . Even the amateur alchemists . They knew Zhuo Fan was amazing, but not this much . Until Liu Yizhen, a grandmaster bowed to him as a junior .

Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow, not expecting the old guy to disregard his own reputation and nodded .

This nod had another meaning .

Among alchemists, secret skills were passed down through the generations, never divulged . If someone guessed some points about a pill, they could not speak without the owner’s explicit accord . It would be a gross form of disrespect .

Cutting all ties at best, or fighting to the death at worst .

Liu Yizhen bowed in respect and Zhuo Fan nodded his assent .

Liu Yizhen smiled, “Young miss, Grandmaster Song’s skill is beyond amazing . Did you know that Grandmaster Song’s secret refining skill is the legendary long lost skill, Sacred Dragon Evocation?”

What? Ancient secret skill?

The people froze in shock!

Even Long Jiu’s group, as well as Huangpu Qingyun’s, they all went slack jawed .

The ancient refining skill had been lost for so long they became legends . It was inconceivable how such a legendary skill would appear in the hands of a youth .

The people started to get excited, watching with shining eyes .

Xiao Ya looked at Zhuo Fan incredulously . She found him too young at first . But now, he could compete with Vicious Pill King, and make everyone speechless .

But it went far beyond that . He used an ancient secret refining skill, one long lost in legends .

That was why the proud Vicious Pill King conceded . Who could contest with an alchemist that used an ancient secret refining skill?

“But Grandmaster Liu, why did Grandmaster Song’s pill turn to waste like this?” Xiaoya bit her lip and rushed to ask for an answer .

Shaking his head, Liu Yizhen showed great veneration, “This is exactly what made Grandmaster Song’s pill so miraculous . It wasn’t fading, but used by all of us instead . ”

What?!

His words sent ripples of shock through the audience .

Liu Yizhen continued, “A normal pill, regardless of grade, could only use 50% of its ingredients’ effect . But the ancient secret skill Sacred Dragon Call was said to make use of everything they had . Everything was refined . Once eaten, it would immediately dissolve . ”

“That golden mist coming from the pill was its true essence . If someone swallowed it, it was the same as a 5th-grade pill . But it was instead dispersed to the surrounding, and everyone else benefited from it . Now, it has been used up, it is no different than left over material . This is why I immediately felt deep regret when I said you could split the pill . ”

“I see . I now understand why I felt so energized after breathing in the pill’s aroma!”

They all agreed and looked at Zhuo Fan with admiration .

“Grandmaster Liu, why did the grade drop?” Xiao Ya asked her most pressing question . This had to do with judging who was in first place .

Liu Yizhen’s face froze and shook his head awkwardly, “Ha-ha-ha, I’m not sure either . I have only read some records regarding this ancient secret refining skill . The only one who knows its secrets is only Grandmaster Song . ”

Whoosh!

In a blink, eyes whipped to Zhuo Fan . Xiao Ya was no different .

Zhuo Fan raised his eyebrows and grinned evilly, “Want to know? He-he-he, but I won’t tell you unless you beg for it!”

“You!”

Xiao Ya glared with hatred at him . She may have been disrespectful, but not enough to condone such constant mockery .

But that’s how petty Zhuo Fan was . He looked askance, clearly meaning to evoke others to know his thoughts . [On your knees and beg for it, or yours truly won’t say a word . ]

[I already displayed my skill and earned my right as the first place . Now you want me to share my secrets with the whole crowd?]

His attitude allowed others to understand the reason . So, even if they were in the Drifting Flowers Edifice, they lifted their fists .

“Beg, beg, beg…”

The crowd roared with mighty force, shaking the entire Drifting Flowers Arena .

Huangpu Qingyun’s mood darkened . He didn’t think Zhuo Fan had such skill to turn this around and grasp everyone’s hearts .

This was the way of a ruler!

“This man must not be allowed to live!” Huangpu Qingyun glared with hatred . His followers nodded .

Liu Yizhen didn’t think much of the scene and only shook his head . [Grandmaster Song is such a prankster, ha-ha-ha…]

With the hall shouting beg, Xiao Ya was on the verge of tears . While Zhuo Fan just leaned on the cauldron impassive .

It seemed he’d only give up after she kneeled .

Helpless, Xiao Ya’s tears flowed, and her slender legs began to buckle .

But an angry roar came from the terrace, “Song Yu, stop playing around!”

Zhuo Fan was startled and looked at the angry Chu Qingcheng . With a helpless smile, he relented in her favor and shook his hand at Xiao Ya, “Whatever, it was only a joke . You take me for such a heartless man?”

[I do!]

Xiao Ya didn’t dare say it, however, she gave a look of thanks towards Chu Qingcheng .

“As to why yours truly used this secret skill, you have Vicious Pill King to thank for that . He was so careless in spilling some green python scale mixture after all!”

Now that Xiao Ya was off the hook, Zhuo Fan started explaining . But the first thing he did was drag Vicious Pill King into this . The crowd had become calmed, listening enraptured to Grandmaster Song’s lecture of his skill .

“Grandmaster Song is still blaming me for my inadvertent mistake?” Vicious Pill King squinted .

Shaking his hand, Zhuo Fan shook his head, “Why, I would never! I am only thanking you . Sacred Dragon Evocation has the dragon word in it and had to have an ingredient related to dragons . The Yang Pill had no such ingredient . Meanwhile, a snake was, for all intents and purposes, can be considered a small dragon . Your mistake granted me the liberty to use this secret art!”

“But the snake is yin, while the Yang Pill only had yang ingredients . And Grandmaster Song’s Yang Dragon Pill is also yang . I did not sense any yin inside . ” Vicious Pill King’s eyelid twitched, clenching his fists .

Snickering, Zhuo Fan mocked, “You think the likes of you can unravel the mysteries of an ancient secret skill? Yin and yang restrain each other, but can also interchange . To evoke the yang out of this yin, green python scale extract, I had to rely on yours truly’s essence to wash it down with additional incentive . ”

Holding his belly, Zhuo Fan laughed out, “Pee is water, and water is yin . But a virgin is pure yang . Yours truly used his pure yang pee to change yin into yang, to turn a snake into a dragon . Not only has the ingredients been refined completely, but there was also the extreme yang dragon power . This allowed the 2nd grade pill to rise to the 5th grade . A pity that once the pill is split, the pills effect starts to leak along with the dragon power, lowering its grade and potency . ”

Now everyone understood and looked at Zhuo Fan with a greater admiration for his secret refining skill .

Vicious Pill King was no different, clapping his hands with force, fully admitting defeat in his heart, “Grandmaster Song is unparalleled in his refining skill . I concede this round to you without remorse . However, Grandmaster Song, you’re at a disadvantage . The next round is mine . ”

Vicious Pill King’s eyes flickered with killing intent . Zhuo Fan grinned .

The two locked eyes and even a blind man could see they were at odds . Tao Danniang was moved . It caught her by surprise, the fact that Zhuo Fan could make Vicious Pill King admit his loss .

His future was boundless .

Then she started worrying . Vicious Pill King’s last words pointed at Zhuo Fan’s weaker cultivation .

Even with Zhuo Fan’s unparalleled refining skill, he could not beat Vicious Pill King .

Helpless, Tao Danniang was thinking on how to settle this and not let such a great youth fall here .

It was only now that Xiao Ya spoke after having made her decision, “In this round, 39 passed and 11 forfeited . The first place stays with Grandmaster Song . The second place is Vicious Pill King’s…”

Her words traveled far and the crowd began to wonder why so many people withdrew?

They had no way to know that many felt inferior after they witnessed Zhuo’s refining skill, their confidence was in shambles . If an alchemist had no confidence, how could they refine?

Translator: StarReader

Editor: p4553r

“Wonderful! We won another round.”

Peony Overseer cried in joy. The other two women were also sporting smiles. Song Yu was a fake, but his refining skill couldn’t be more genuine.

If it weren’t for him, Vicious Pill King would’ve been in the lead. If things continue like this, the best alchemist in the empire would finally be defeated.

Dong Tianba saw them so excited and hesitated to speak, “Edifice Lord Chu, I may be presumptuous, but I am certain that man is not brother Song Yu. To be blunt, me and brother Song Yu are very close. There’s no way he’s a virgin!”

“So what if he isn’t Song Yu?”

It was Xiao Dandan who spoke in his defense, “No matter who he is, he will always be my Darling.”

Chu Qingcheng and the overseers nodded.

Chu Qingcheng smiled, “Dong Tianba, his killing intent must’ve scared you. To the point where you did not manage to hear our conversation. Young master Xie already stated that that man is a friend of his and not Song Yu.”

“Then what happened to brother Song Yu?”

“Isn’t it obvious? He killed him. Why else would he dare take his face and run around the place?” Xie Tianyang laughed, patting Dong Tianba’s shoulder. Then admired Chu Qingcheng, “Great sister in law knows how to handle her husband well. I will rely on you in the future to get this brat to fall in line. Don’t ever let him harm others, especially me.”

Chu Qingcheng blushed and hid it with anger, “Young master Xie, w-what nonsense are you saying?”

“Nothing in particular.” Xie Tianyang blinked as he stated in all seriousness, “That brat is petty and spiteful. If someone punched him, he replies with ten slashes of the sword. But your earlier words restricted his nefarious temper. Great sister in law is highly valued in his heart. Perhaps only you can curb his murderous streak, and also appreciate him more.”

Chu Qingcheng’s blush was fierce and demurely nodded, but her heart was overjoyed.

“I-is he that frightening?” Chu Qingcheng muttered.

Frowning, Xie Tianyang looked at Long Jiu and the rest, then they all nodded. They all held fear in their eyes, no exception.

Sighing, Chu Qingcheng smiled broadly.

If such a terrifying man changed for her, that meant his feelings for her were real!

[My ideal husband is like Qingtian. A dashing hero, willing to risk his life for me. Today, I have found him…]

Chu Qingcheng watched Zhuo Fan with a warmer gaze, her feelings for him growing ever more…

Boom!

In the western stand, Huangpu Qingyun banged the table. The heavily cracked stone table turned to dust.

The others by his side jumped in fear and reeled a step.

“The second round is another failure! And Elder Yan even admitted defeat! Tell me, does he have any chance of getting the Bodhi Root and that punk’s head on a platter?”

Huangpu Qingyun’s eyes were chilling to the bone.

None made a peep. Lin Zitian’s eyes shifted, [This is a perfect chance to kiss some ass.]

He advised, “Second young master, please quell your anger. Elder Yan is known as the Vicious Pill King, the best alchemist in the empire. A slight oversight, causing him to lose two rounds is of no consequence. Believe in him as he is sure to have a plan.

Lin Zitian’s words were more or less the same as 5th elder’s. Shoving the blame on Yan Song regardless of the outcome.

Too bad, this time was different.

Huangpu Qingyun’s eyebrows trembled, trying his hardest to calm himself, “Oh? Since Elder Lin believes Elder Yan so much then I will hold you responsible if he fails.”

“Al- uh, wha-?”

Lin Zitian was dumbstruck. [W-why aren’t you treating me the same as you were to the 5th elder?]

Watching this scene play out, the 5th elder was now laughing and mocking him.

[Lin Zitian is an opportunist, but has no ass-kissing techniques! Copying me is not helpful at all and will be detrimental instead. Playing the same flattery won’t work.]

[Huangpu Qingyun valued Yan Song greatly before. Therefore, raising Yan Song in esteem worked then. But now that he failed a second time, Huangpu Qingyun’s thoughts on Yan Song have changed. He is pissed at Elder Yan’s Inability to do anything. Praising him now would only set Huangpu Qingyun off in directing his anger onto you.]

[He-he-he, fawning is also a skill, so, as an opportunist, you better start practicing it.]

5th elder cackled in his heart, while Lin Zitian was on the verge of crying.

[What bad luck. I always…]

Ding!

A clear ringing signaled the start of the third round.

Xiaoya looked at the 40 alchemists, “This round will be regarding your refining ability.”

At her words, everyone focused on the first place, on Zhuo Fan.

They witnessed his ability and were clear that Grandmaster Song ruled in the refining skill department.

One man sighed, another watched the sky in sadness, both equally depressed for having no chance to win. Only the top ten alchemists kept a calm face.

They knew that alchemy was based on refining skills but it was not the only deciding factor to make a pill.

After two rounds, they realized the conditions were increasingly harder to fulfill. As the grade of the pills required increased, Zhuo Fan began to reveal his weakness.

This was what they’ve been waiting for.

Zhuo Fan was indeed a grand genius of alchemy but wasn’t infallible. He could not use his refining skill and refine any kind of pill he wanted…

“In this round, grandmasters need to refine a 5th grade pill!” Xiao Ya declared.

Zhuo Fan began to frown, while the top ten alchemists expected it.

Vicious Pill King, in particular, showed his sinister smile towards Zhuo Fan.

“The faster you can make it the higher you will climb. The first to finish will enter the Pill King finals of this competition. Begin!”

They started igniting their Yuan Qi flame just as she finished. Most had no choice but to make use of the cauldron. But only Vicious Pill King and Tao Danniang refined with their hand.

These two’s skills were far higher than theirs.

But when people looked at Zhuo Fan, they saw him just standing there. Even his expression was grave.

“Oh no, he’s in trouble!” Long Jiu was getting anxious. The others too watched him nervously.

Peony Overseer with her fiery temper, was even more so, “Uncle Jiu, what’s wrong? Wasn’t he unparalleled so far? Why isn’t he moving?”

Long Jiu stared at the frozen Zhuo Fan and sighed, “Because of this brat’s weakness.”

“Weakness?”

“Yes!”

Long Jiu spoke gravely, “He won in the first two rounds against everyone and even made Vicious Pill King concede because of his incredible secret refining skill.”

“There are three deciding factors to an alchemist’s level. Cultivation, flame, and refining skill. Cultivation is used to supply the flame for longer periods of time, the flame is for refining ingredients, and the refining skill needs to be high enough to handle high grade pills. But…”

Long Jiu clenched his teeth, “This kid’s refining skill is amazing, however that is all he has. His flame is just a normal one made from Yuan Qi. But what’s worse, his cultivation is only in the 2nd layer of Bone Tempering Stage.”

“Any alchemist with this cultivation could refine a 3rd-grade pill at most. Yet he used 2nd-grade pill ingredients to make a 5th-grade pill. That is his limit. Now that he is competing against the other grandmasters, with 5th-grade pill ingredients being used, his flame is inadequate. Meanwhile, his cultivation is shallow. I am certain he will not be able to refine the ingredients before his Yuan Qi runs out. Refining such high-grade ingredients is a whole other matter.”

The shock was palpable and they turned to watch Zhuo Fan on his last leg, but this time with sorrow.

“Master, if Darling loses, will he lose his head too? Please save him!” Xiao Dandan pleaded.

Long Jiu and the others weren’t worried though.

Zhuo Fan wasn’t one who lost his head that easily. It was more correct to say others lost their heads to him.

Even in the off chance he lost, he’d just stick to the basics, killing people and uprooting their any source of trouble. In their minds, he was in no trouble.

They did not realize, however, how important this competition was to Zhuo Fan. He couldn’t fail here. It concerned returning Chu Qingcheng’s favor. The Luo clan was already running him into the ground with all its needs and having Chu Qingcheng’s Drifting Flowers Edifice hanging overhead was too much for him to handle.

Zhuo Fan was now considering whether to use the azure flame or not…