“Master, are you alright? Be careful of your wounds.”
After changing his spot, Yan Fu rushed to Vicious Pill King and looked at him in worry. Vicious Pill King however, didn’t even acknowledge his presence.
Bam!
Vicious Pill King slapped his face out of the blue, sending him sprawling three meters away as he barked, “Humph, you dare finish before your master? Did you not see how close I was to not entering the finals?”
“Forgive me, master. I was wrong. I would’ve never considered it possible for that punk to…” Yan Fu crawled sullenly to Vicious Pill King but the latter’s words got stuck in his throat.
Squinting, Vicious Pill King spoke icily, “What were you trying to say? That the punk played me to such a miserable state?”
“Never!” Yan Fu lowered his head, sweating bullets.
Shaking his head, Vicious Pill King said, “What never? Yes, I was indeed played like a fiddle. Be it in alchemy or schemes, I failed on both accounts! Is there anything wrong with saying it? Even the brat admitted he could not kick me out. His plan failed. So what could I, in my sorry state, not dare to admit?”
Yan Fu was shocked. He looked up in fright as he muttered, “Master, why have you changed?”
“I have not changed, only returned…”
Taking a deep breath, Vicious Pill King gazed afar with eager eyes. It was unclear if he was speaking to himself or his disciple, “An alchemist’s mind should be set only alchemy. Success and failure are commonplace. It does not warrant covering it up!”
Vicious Pill King looked at Yan Fu, “Disciple, do you know why I hit you?”
“Because I dared to finish before master and shamed you…”
Before Yan Fu could finish, Vicious Pill King shook his head and laughed, “Ha-ha-ha, over that small matter? I only blame you for taking a spot and almost making me lose the chance to fight a worthy opponent! I never had such an opportunity in all my life.”
Laughing again, Vicious Pill King ignored his disciple and went to the tenth spot.
Yan Fu was startled and turned his head to look at his master.
He felt his master was unlike his usual self. His master used to emphasize results above all else. Successful refining was rewarded, while failure, punishment.
Under such strict guidance, he had managed to surpass Liu Yizhen’s rank and become one of the top five alchemists in the empire.
Now, his master no longer cared about results, but to have a fair match with the kid.
If the kid had dared threaten Vicious Pill King’s place of being the first alchemist in the empire from the start, he would’ve been long dealt with.
A dead man, even with neat alchemy skill wouldn’t have been able to challenge him.
[Strange, is it because the brat helped my master out just now?]Yan Fu’s heart was filled with questions.
He had no way of knowing it was simply a hero respecting another hero!
When formidable individuals fought, they may employ devious schemes, a dog eat dog battle, but a win was absolute and victory, brilliant. Zhuo Fan did not manage to kick out theVicious Pill King and openly admit his loss.
It is fine if he failed this time. After all, there was still the next round, which Zhuo Fan intended to dominate.
But from the gossip flying around about Vicious Pill King, it would be impossible for Zhuo Fan. Naturally, Zhuo Fan did not take their words to heart. He knew that these people could be used, but never relied upon.
Afterall, the sneaking and sinister way of a dowager had always been the weapons of the weak and the scorn of the strong.
Vicious Pill King felt the same and now had his spirit aroused. He wanted to pit against Zhuo Fan in this round and win clean and perfectly so that Zhuo Fan would have no room to deny it.
The battle between these two heavyweights was on the field of alchemy. Yet, it was also a fight to the death!
On the eastern stand, Huangpu Qingyun stared at Zhuo Fan, then at Vicious Pill King, “Tell me, can Elder Yan win?”
“Of course, second young master!”
Lin Zitian jumped right in with a giggle, “Elder Yan lost the first three rounds but from the third round, the brat used an ancient refining skill that is taxing on the body. His best is a 5th-grade pill while Elder Yan is a true 7th-grade alchemist. It would make no sense if he lost.”
“En, I see!”
Huangpu Qingyun nodded, but then smiled, “However, Elder Lin, thank you for reminding me. You said the same thing in the last round, staking your head on Elder Lin’s victory, and how did it end?”
Lin Zitian cursed in his heart as his smile froze.
[When did I ever put my head for the likes of that old coot? Isn’t it you who demanded it?]
His only choice was to keep those words to himself and shake his head with a bright smile.
Laughing, Huangpu Qingyun said, “Anyway, I do not expect anything from the old man. The loss in his first round can be said it was because of that brat’s tricks. But he failed the second round from pee.”
Huangpu Qingyun shook his head but then cracked up when he recalled Yan Song’s wretched look as if he swallowed a fly, “Alright, let’s take it as the kid is quite able. But the third round, a sneeze and a fart threw him back to the tenth spot. Is this still because of the kid’s amazing skills?”
“Second young master, Yan Song is usually a vicious and spiteful man. But to fail when it was most crucial, makes him unworthy of bearing heavy responsibilities.” The 5th elder stepped forward and started throwing stones at Yan Song.
Huangpu Qingyun raised an eyebrow, “Elder Lin, what do you have to say?”
Lin Zitian was hesitating. Second young master was clearly resentful over Yan Song’s failures but he had always stuck up for the old guy and their fates were tied. If he was a turncoat now, wouldn’t the second young master never trust his words again?
Lin Zitian gnashed his teeth.
[Since I was wrong from the start, then I’ll be so till the end. I hope this will be a chance for me and that old guy.]
He said, “Second young master, please relax. Elder Yan isn’t the only one at fault, because his opponent is too sinister. In this Pill King round, the requirement is definitely above the 5th grade and the kid won’t win no matter how cunning he is. Elder Yan will be the one to take the first place!”
Huangpu Qingyun eyed him deeply.
Not because he found Elder Lin’s words right, but that this opportunist had a loyal side. He couldn’t help but secretly nod at that.
Lin Zitian noticed his admiring gaze and sighed, feeling proud.
[This time, I made the right call. Sigh, it’s not easy sticking close to the ruling class…]
In the arena, Xiao Ya smiled at the ten grandmasters in their respective spots and started the finals, “In this Pill King round, everyone has free reign on what they make. Instead of speed, it will be the highest grade that will crown you Pill King in this Hundred Pill Meeting!”
In an instant, some were worried while others were happy!
Huangpu Qingyun’s side laughed. It went as Lin Zitian said, with the final round based on an alchemist’s true ability.
Tao Danniang frowned. Zhuo Fan was in the Bone Tempering Stage and could only make a 5th-grade pill after giving his all. How was he going to defeat the 7th-grade alchemist Vicious Pill King now?
Yet, by his appearances, Zhuo Fan seemed unconcerned. When Vicious Pill King looked at him, his eyes were filled with fighting spirit.
After losing three rounds in a row, he figured out that the kid couldn’t always rely on schemes. The refining of a 7th-grade pill at the Bone Tempering Stage may be pure fantasy, but…
[Humph, this kid might actually pull it off!]
Zhuo Fan felt the old man’s eyes and waved. He didn’t think the one to believe him the most ended up being his greatest opponent.
“Then, for the purpose of fairness, Drifting Flowers Edifice will provide high-grade ingredients for grandmasters who are missing ingredients.”
Xiao Ya clapped and a lovely group of hundreds of disciples pushed cabinets in the arena.
The cabinets contained ingredients from the lowest grade to the 7th, and even a few 8th-grade ingredients could be noticed.
Swallowing dryly, everyone, especially the alchemists, were now greedily looking over the items.
Like a pack of starved wolves meeting a fresh lamb. Like a pack of perverts meeting a naked and gorgeous lady!
[Damn, Drifting Flowers Edifice is filthy rich.] The sheer amount of ingredients here was not something a third and second rate clans could hope to obtain. Not even a first rate clan could get them easily.
“I invite the grandmasters to choose the ingredients you are lacking for your refining. A word of caution, however, do not get greedy. You need to refine with all the chosen ingredients, otherwise…” Xiaoya’s smile penetrated their deepest thoughts.
Coughing lightly, the people chuckled in embarrassment then began choosing.
In no time at all, they all finished, having returned to their spots. However, Xiao Ya looked around and found one spot empty still.
Looking at the cabinets, Zhuo Fan was there choosing, uh, looting his booty.
He didn’t take his time going from one ingredient to another but stuffed a whole cabinet in his ring and moved to the next. From the 1st grade to the 8th, he didn’t miss one. The crowd was in total shock!
[Dude, can you not so openly rob the Drifting Flowers Edifice?]
Silavin: My god. The comedy! My stomach! Hahaha!