Pill Doubling, in essence, is a competition in Alchemy.
And this is indeed the most common method for Alchemists to resolve disputes, as most Alchemists do not possess high cultivation and rarely engage in life-or-death battles like other Cultivators.
Du Guirong's words piqued the interest of the surrounding crowd; being able to witness a Pill Doubling between two Alchemists was a rare opportunity.
However, most people thought that the outcome of this Pill Doubling would surely be Du Guirong's victory, as he was a Second Grade Alchemist, while Xia Zhongxing was only a First Grade Alchemist.
Xia Zhongxing raised his eyebrows, and before he could speak, Du Guirong continued, "If you win, then consider today as if I never came; but if you lose, not only must you immediately close Duoyao Pavilion and have that boy sever one of his fingers and swear a poisonous oath, but you must also give me the Foundation Establishment Pill in your possession!"
Foundation Establishment Pill!
A gasp of astonishment immediately arose from the crowd.
The Foundation Establishment Pill, a Fifth Grade Medicinal Pill, is used for Late Stage Cave Heaven Realm Cultivators to break through to the Dao Spirit Realm. Its value can no longer be measured in Spirit Stones. No one expected Xia Zhongxing to actually possess a Foundation Establishment Pill.
Xia Zhongxing suddenly laughed and said, "So Great Master Du is interested in my Foundation Establishment Pill!"
Everyone understood perfectly. Although Du Guirong might genuinely have come to suppress Jiang Yun, his true objective was likely the Foundation Establishment Pill.
"What, are you perhaps afraid?" Du Guirong said proudly, "How about this: although I am a Second Grade Alchemist, when we compete, we will only compete in refining First Grade Medicinal Pills, how about that?"
It sounded like Du Guirong was giving way to Xia Zhongxing, but in reality, a Second Grade Alchemist's success rate in refining First Grade Medicinal Pills is far greater than in refining Second Grade Medicinal Pills.
At this, everyone's gaze focused on Xia Zhongxing, wondering how he would respond.
However, before Xia Zhongxing could reply, another voice already rang out, "How about I compete with you instead!"
The speaker was none other than Jiang Yun!
Originally, everyone had almost forgotten his existence, but unexpectedly, at this moment, he actually stepped forward voluntarily and even offered to compete with Du Guirong in Pill Doubling on behalf of Xia Zhongxing!
Even Xia Zhongxing suddenly turned his head, his eyes fixed intently on Jiang Yun, asking, "You know how to refine Medicinal Pills?"
"A little!"
"Hahaha!" Du Guirong suddenly burst into loud laughter, saying, "Forget about incompetent doctors; at your age, you dare to claim you know Alchemy. You truly don't know the immensity of heaven and earth! If you compete with me, as long as the Medicinal Pill you refine has half the efficacy of mine, I'll consider you the winner!"
In truth, Du Guirong was eager for Jiang Yun to substitute for Xia Zhongxing in the competition, as this would naturally increase his chances of winning, which was why he spoke so arrogantly.
Jiang Yun ignored Du Guirong and continued to look at Xia Zhongxing. After only a few breaths, Xia Zhongxing nodded and said, "Alright, then I'll trouble Brother Gu!"
Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes widened!
One must know that although this Gu Jiang's medical skills were extremely high, he had stated early on that he could help others heal injuries and detoxify, but he alone could not refine Medicinal Pills, requiring others to obtain them themselves.
From this, it was not difficult to deduce that he probably only had a slight understanding of Alchemy. Yet now, not only did he step forward voluntarily, but Xia Zhongxing actually dared to agree to let him compete with Du Guiguang in Pill Doubling.
"Good!" Du Guirong, fearing that Xia Zhongxing might go back on his word, said hastily, "He can substitute for you, but the conditions we agreed upon earlier cannot change."
"No problem!"
Xia Zhongxing's expression was calm, as if he had great confidence in Jiang Yun.
A glint of triumphant cunning immediately appeared in Du Guirong's eyes as he said, "Then let's start quickly!"
"Before we start, I have two small requests." Jiang Yun rubbed his nose and said, "First, I need a pot, either a stone pot or an iron pot will do!"
"A pot?"
Everyone was stunned. Du Guirong frowned and asked, "What do you want a pot for?"
"Alchemy!"
After a moment of silence, Du Guirong suddenly burst into loud laughter, while the others, though not laughing, all showed more or less peculiar expressions on their faces.
No Alchemist had ever been heard of using a pot for Alchemy; this was simply a joke.
Instead, Xia Shi said anxiously, "Brother Gu, will the stone pot we use for cooking in the kitchen work? I'll bring it to you!"
This remark naturally caused another burst of laughter, but Jiang Yun nodded with a serious expression, saying, "Good!"
Xia Shi paid no attention to how others viewed him and rushed to the backyard. A moment later, he walked in carrying a stone pot and placed it in front of Jiang Yun.
"Thank you!" Jiang Yun nodded to Xia Shi, then looked at Du Guirong and said, "Second, I also don't have the Medicinal materials; you'll need to provide them."
"I'll give them to you!" Du Guirong, with a smiling face, waved his large sleeve, and immediately a pile of Medicinal materials appeared in front of Jiang Yun.
Just by glancing at these Medicinal materials, Jiang Yun knew that the other party intended to refine Qi Induction Pill!
Indeed, Du Guirong spoke, "We will refine the most commonly used Qi Induction Pill. For fairness, and to avoid others saying I'm bullying the weak, I will refine first. After my Medicinal Pill is complete, you can then refine yours."
"Alright!"
Du Guirong smiled coldly, and with a wave of his large sleeve, a loud "boom" was heard. A half-person tall san hua furnace already appeared in front of him.
The san hua furnace was entirely black, with four openings, resembling a blooming four-petal flower. Four circles were covered with colorful patterns, which Jiang Yun didn't recognize, but he knew they were Formations!
Various Formations were drawn on the san hua furnace, such as fire control Formations, spirit gathering Formations, etc., which could increase the success rate of Alchemy and the efficacy of the finished Medicinal Pill.
Most of the surrounding people naturally didn't recognize this san hua furnace, but Xia Zhongxing's voice suddenly rang in Jiang Yun's ear: "san hua furnace, Third Grade!"
Jiang Yun nodded to Xia Zhongxing without speaking. He knew that Alchemy tools were divided into two types: furnaces and cauldrons, and they also had different grades. Although Third Grade was not high, it was not something an ordinary Second Grade Alchemist could possess.
From this, it was not difficult to see that Du Guirong was quite wealthy.
With the appearance of the san hua furnace, Du Guirong shot a ball of flame beneath it. Then, various Medicinal materials began to be thrown into the furnace.
Throughout Du Guirong's Alchemy process, Jiang Yun watched intently, as this was the first time in his life he had seen someone use a san hua furnace for Alchemy.
Although Xia Zhongxing also performed Alchemy, he never allowed outsiders to enter when he was refining Medicinal Pills, not even Xia Shi.
As he watched, Jiang Yun secretly nodded. As an Alchemist, even though he had never used a san hua furnace, he could tell good from bad at a glance.
It had to be admitted that using a san hua furnace, especially one with many Formations drawn on it, for Alchemy was indeed much more convenient and faster than using a pot.
However, Jiang Yun could not praise Du Guirong's Alchemy technique. Although it appeared to be without any panic, several steps had significant flaws.
It was fortunate that he was only refining a Qi Induction Pill; if he were refining a Second Grade Medicinal Pill, he would have failed multiple times already.
Half an hour later, accompanied by a medicinal fragrance wafting from the san hua furnace, Du Guirong suddenly roared, "Open the furnace!"
"Buzz!"
The san hua furnace vibrated violently, and then two white Medicinal Pills flew out from within, landing in his hand. After a quick inspection, a look of arrogance reappeared on his face. He spread his palm, displaying the Medicinal Pills in his hand to everyone, saying, "Both are First Grade Human Rank!"
For the other Cultivators watching, they were merely spectators, observing the excitement and the final efficacy of the finished Medicinal Pills. Upon hearing that they were Human Rank, even though many had been displeased with Du Guirong's attitude earlier, they had to admit that he was indeed worthy of being a Second Grade Alchemist.
He could casually refine Human Rank Medicinal Pills!
"Boy, never mind if the Medicinal Pill you refine can have half the efficacy of mine; as long as you can refine a Mortal Rank one, I'll consider you the winner!"
Jiang Yun did not reply, only nodded silently, and then began his own Alchemy.
Although everyone had a good impression of Jiang Yun, at this moment, no one believed he could win. Especially when they saw his somewhat clumsy movements and his method of refining Medicinal Pills with a stone pot, they all smiled bitterly and shook their heads.
Only Xia Zhongxing, watching Jiang Yun's busy movements, occasionally had flashes of light in his eyes.
Similarly, half an hour later, Jiang Yun also completed his refining. He lifted the lid of the stone pot, and inside lay two Qi Induction Pills.
Taking out the Qi Induction Pills, Jiang Yun handed them to Du Guirong and said, "My apologies, both are First Grade Mortal Rank!"