Chapter 105: Chapter 105: One Step Ahead
Translator: 549690339
This Pill Sect versus the Ten -Thousand Medicine Sect competition was of critical importance. It concerned the reputation of not just the Pill Sect, but also the Purple Mist Sect. Even for Ding Xuanji and Yu Qiufan, the Four Elites of the Pill Sect also had to make their presence felt.
Defeat in the first round was expected by the two.
With Meng Chaoyang stepping up for the second round, Ding Xuanji and Yu
Qiufan initially had great confidence in him. After all, as among the Four Pill Sect Elites, they were well aware of Meng Chaoyang’s Alchemy Tao prowess.
But seeing that their opponent was Zhang Tianmiao, the situation wasn’t so clear to predict.
“In this round, if Meng Chaoyang makes even a slight error, his defeat is guaranteed.” Ding Xuanji, with a demure expression, made this perfunctory remark.
Yu Qiufan, on the other hand, seemed warm, smiling and stating. “Meng Chaoyang isn’t to be underestimated. During the Medicine-Seeking Peak event, he outsmarted us and Ouyang Jing. He won’t lose this contest so easily.”
Upon mention of the Medicine-Seeking Peak, a chill appeared on Ding Xuanji’s face. “I will settle the score with Meng Chaoyang for that incident someday. Using us as pawns is outrageous.”
Yu Qiufan responded with a slight smile and a shake of his head. “Instead of settling the score with Meng Chaoyang, it would be better to settle old scores with someone else.”
Ding Xuanji snorted and glared coldly at Fang Lin who was not too far away.
“Ever since this brat joined Pill Sect, he has caused quite a bit of trouble. Although I have kept my patience until now, with Kang Lu’s death, I have no choice but to act. What about you? What’s on your mind?” Yu Qiufan asked with a grin.
Ding Xuanji withdrew his gaze. Indifferently, he stated, “You do your thing, I’ll do mine.”
Yu Qiufan nodded and didn’t utter another word, focusing his attention on the second crucial round of the match.
Fang Lin, on the other hand, felt something and glanced back in the direction of the duo.
“Why do I feel as if someone is badmouthing me behind my back?” Fang Lin muttered to himself, his gaze returning to the Pill Array.
At this moment, Meng Chaoyang and Zhang Tianmiao had already begun their preparations.
Unlike the first round, the second involved concocting a Grade Two Pill. This called for a different number and variety of medicinal ingredients to be prepared, along with a Pill Furnace made from premium grade materials.
From the distribution and arrangement of medicinal materials, the contest had begun, with all eyes focused on the two of them.
Meng Chaoyang appeared extremely adept, mixing his medical ingredients without any hesitation.
Zhang Tianmiao’s progress was almost identical to Meng Chaoyang’s, both of them moving in nearly perfect sync.
The sight left most bystanders in awe. This was the caliber of true talent and distinguished individuals. They were indeed different from ordinary people.
The Pill Sect marveled at Zhang Tianmiao’s profound mastery, while the Ten-thousand Medicine Sect acknowledged Meng Chaoyang’s prowess, their earlier scorn and disdain gone.
This round was a pivotal one. If Meng Chaoyang lost, there would be no need for a third round, and Pill Sect would unquestionably lose the entire match.
However, if he won, Pill Sect and Ten-thousand Medicine Sect would be tied, leaving the final decision to be fought over between Fang Lin and a young girl from their counterparts.
The Ten-thousand Medicine Sect still had a fallback, but there was no room for retreat for the Pill Sect. They had no choice but to win, no matter what.
All of a sudden, Meng Chaoyang slapped the Pill Furnace, causing the lid to fly open. Then, he threw in a batch of medical ingredients.
“Meng is taking the lead!”
“Wait, Meng hasn’t finished sorting his medical ingredients. How did he start the pill refining so soon?”
“Could it be that he has some other plan in mind?”
Noticing Meng Chaoyang starting the Ignition Alchemy ahead, many people viewed his actions in doubt.
“This move seems rash.”
Several of the Pill Sect elders privately expressed their concerns. Meng Chaoyang starting the Ignition Alchemy early was an obvious attempt to get ahead of Zhang Tianmiao in terms of timing.
However, in doing so, he might fall short of the meticulously prepared Zhang Tianmiao in terms of the precision of pill refining.
Often, minute details could lead to substantial variances in the quality of the pills.
“Humph, Meng Chaoyang is merely so-so after all. He began refining so hastily in order to save time, I foresee his loss in this round.” On the side of the Ten-thousand Medicine Sect, most felt elated.
From their perspective, Meng Chaoyang’s anxiety confirmed his defeat. Once panic-stricken, a loss was not far off.
Zhang Tianmiao cast a glance at Meng Chaoyang, a trace of confusion on his simplistic face before returning to his task.
The flames in Meng Chaoyang’s Pill Furnace billowed, swiftly heating up the furnace. The previously inserted herbs also began to dissolve. Meng Chaoyang moved swiftly, throwing two types of herbs into the Pill
Furnace.
After waiting for a while, he threw another three types of herbs in.
It was then that Zhang Tianmiao commenced with his Ignition Alchemy. While his pace was fast and steady, Meng Chaoyang’s progress was clearly ahead.
For the crowd watching from both sides, their every move was torture, all of them being incredibly nervous.
Especially for the disciples and elders of the Pill Sect, who lived in fear of seeing Meng Chaoyang make a single mistake. Their hearts were in their throats.
No one dared to make any noise for fear of distracting the people on the Pill Array.
No one was foolish enough to try to sabotage their opponents. With so many elders present, and personal supervision by the Chief of the Pill Sect and the leader of the Ten-thousand Medicine Sect, anyone who dared to create a nuisance would surely face a dreadful end, probably even being killed on the spot.
Fang Lin, probably, was the most composed person in the crowd.
Despite observing the proceedings on the Pill Array, he was neither anxious nor nervous, always maintaining the attitude of a spectator.
The reason was simple – Fang Lin didn’t have much sense of belonging to the Pill Sect. He was just a lone, displaced ghost.
Especially after receiving so much injustice at the Pill Sect, he didn’t care much about their honor or disgrace. Even if the Pill Sect was a laughing stock, Fang Lin wouldn’t be bothered.
This wasn’t where he belonged. The place he longed to return to was the Pill Saint Palace.
Even if Meng Chaoyang lost, Fang Lin would not be disappointed.
Of course, if Meng Chaoyang didn’t lose and a third round was needed, Fang Lin would certainly step forward, determined to vanquish any opponent.
The pride of the Pill Sovereign Soul would not permit Fang Lin to fail in the path of Alchemy. This was the dignity of the Sovereign of Pill.
Even if his physical body was not present and time had faded, the soul of Fang Lin remained the supreme ruler of Alchemy, a figure who defied the heavens and earth in laughter.
On the Pill Array, the competition between Meng Chaoyang and Zhang
Tianmiao was in full swing. Both had reached the Pill Refining stage, their Pill Furnaces with flames soaring like a Flood Dragon, seemingly raising the temperature of the entire Pill Array area.
Time trickled away little by little. In the blink of an eye, four hours had passed, but no one present felt the passage of time.
When Meng Chaoyang’s Pill Refining was nearly at its conclusion, the crowd finally realized how much time had elapsed..