Pillfire City had thought it would easily able to snuff out the Tiger and Dragon Meet in the cradle. Instead, it found itself dangled over a fire pit. The Pill-Martial Summit had been announced solely to destroy their rival. Given Pillfire Cityâs prestige and brand, most had been absolutely certain that over eighty percent of wandering cultivators would be drawn away from Veluriyam Capital.
But the heavyweight news from Veluriyam Capital smashed Pillfire Cityâs popularity to pieces. The winds were blowing from south to north. The Pinecrane Pill itself was astounding enough, but the news that Veluriyam Capital was founding a pill dao academy was even more incredible. And enrollment slots set aside for wandering cultivators!
Most incredulous was that young lord Zhen had boldly declared that Sacred Peafowl Mountain was able to refine any pill that anyone else could. Even if the advertisement was larger than life, his confidence won the hearts of many wandering cultivators. Going to Veluriyam Capital was a snap choice for them. They wanted to see for themselves whether the legendary young lord Zhen really was as remarkable as the stories described.
Pillfire City made several attempts to salvage the situation. They put multiple other benefits onto their own table. Emperor Pillzenith personally wrote to a number of secluded hermits in the wandering cultivator world. He wanted to borrow their popularity for the Summit.
In the past, he hadnât cared at all about them. He was making a special exception for this occasion. Unfortunately for him, no one was interested in his makeshift olive branch. His invitations received a few replies, but most couldnât be bothered to respond.
The top wandering cultivators generally lived carefree lifestyles. Emperor Pillzenithâs usual lack of respect towards them meant that they werenât going to immediately respond with much passion. What expert didnât have a resolute heart and a distinct temper?n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Pillfireâs actions were effective to a degree, but it was impossible for them to manipulate the situation back to the one-sided affair theyâd first predicted. Quite a few giants of the wandering cultivator world let it slip that they were planning on attending the Tiger and Dragon Meet. Most however, were still watching and waiting. There was still time before the two events. They wanted to see if either side was willing to offer a few more perks.
Because they were best in class, most of them tended to weigh up their decision until everything was clear. There was no need to be hasty and unnecessary rashness often led to a less than ideal result down the line. Their attitude spoke volumes about their eagerness.
The situation in the Upper Eight Regions became quite strange. Wandering cultivators, typically a group that had barely any bargaining power or influence, were thrust into the spotlight. They could suddenly sway the actions of both Veluriyam Capital and Pillfire City.
Pillfire City was between a rock and a hard place. If they hadnât responded to the Tiger and Dragon Meet by setting up the Pill-Martial Summit, perhaps they wouldnât have put themselves in so much trouble. As it was, they found it troubling to either proceed or back off. Theyâd wanted to make Veluriyam Capital lose face, but they were tossing their own aside first to do so.
âYour Majesty, those old-fox wandering cultivators are too wily. Theyâre waiting for us to up the ante.â Baili Shengzhi wasnât having a good month. Heâd found out rather belatedly that his responsibility wasnât a pleasant one.
âWe canât afford to lose this face, Baili. We have more than enough wealth to take them on. Weâll splurge a little this time. Weâre sure to recoup several times our investment eventually.â Emperor Pillzenith gnashed his teeth.
He knew that Pillfire couldnât afford to retreat now. It could only put more and more weights onto the scales to try to tip them. Otherwise, it would quickly become the laughingstock of the Upper Eight Regions. Worse, it would sustain a direct loss in a contest with Veluriyam. That was something Pillfire could not accept.
âYour Majesty, our problem right now is that we canât satisfy those old bastardsâ appetites with normal rewards.â Baili Shengzhi was despondent. âVeluriyam Capital has raised the stakes sky-high. Itâs very difficult for us to match them.â
At the end of the day, he was only an executor of Emperor Pillzenithâs wishes. He didnât have the carte blanche right to make whatever promises he wanted.
âBaili, announce that Iâm willing to auction off a Hoarcrown Supreme Mystery Pill!â
âWhat?â Baili Shengzhiâs entire body shook. Pill King Ji Lang and the emperorâs other subordinate experts reacted with similar surprise.
âYour Majesty, the Hoarcrown Supreme Mystery Pill? Are you... are you sure?â Baili Shengzhi asked with bated breath, desire flashing in his eyes.
âThen itâs settled.â Emperor Pillzenith looked pained, as if someone was cutting his flesh off.
âAlright, alright.â Baili Shengzhiâs tone sounded a bit odd, but he refrained from commenting further. He signified his acceptance of the order with a cupped fist salute.
âDonât despair, Baili. I havenât given a Hoarcrown Supreme Mystery Pill to you yet because Iâm hoping youâll break through to great emperor yourself. Sure, the pill can give you a twenty to thirty percent higher chance of breaking through, but why rely on a pill if thereâs no necessity?â
The Hoarcrown Supreme Mystery Pill was one of the three most precious pills that Pillfire City possessed. It was extremely difficult to refine and its materials were incredibly rare. Over his four thousand years of being a great emperor, Emperor PIllzenith had only managed to refine a single cauldron of them, having procured the materials by pure chance. That cauldron had only contained four pills total.
Baili Shengzhi was his top follower and confidant. Though the strategist had reached the peak of emperor realm a long time ago, he hadnât broken through to great emperor yet. It was the strategistâs deepest desire to get his hands on a single Hoarcrown Supreme Mystery Pill.
Alas, Emperor Pillzenith had never given one to him. He didnât really know whether Emperor Pillzenith wanted him to break through using his own strength, but hearing the name of the pill made his heart race nevertheless. If he had the increased certainty offered by the pill, it would be the perfect opportunity to ascend to great emperor!
The loss of spirit in Emperor Pillzenithâs top follower did not go unnoticed. Worried that his favorite lieutenant would lose faith in him, the emperor quickly added a few words of encouragement. âThereâs no need to despair, Baili. If you really canât break through with your own strength, do you think I wonât be able to spare a single Hoarcrown Supreme Mystery Pill?â
Baili Shengzhiâs eyes lit up. Blood pounded through his veins. âThank you, Your Majesty. I will carry out your commands at once!â
The Hoarcrown Supreme Mystery Pill was only one of the cityâs three most valuable pills. Pillfire Cityâs sheer resourcefulness was no joke.
The news of Emperor Pillzenithâs addition to the Summit made waves in the wandering cultivator world yet again.
âHaha, Pillfire is finally paying up now. Not bad, not bad. The Hoarcrown Supreme Mystery Pill isnât as attractive as the Pinecrane Pill, but it should still draw in a good crowd.â
âEmperor Pillzenith isnât usually the most friendly towards the world of wandering cultivators. Iâm sure he finds it painful being forced to make such a big investment.â
âHeh heh, he doesnât just want to attract wandering cultivators. Heâs trying to one-up Veluriyam Capital. Didnât Veluriyam say that Sacred Peafowl Mountain can refine any pill that anyone else has? Does young lord Zhen know how to refine the Hoarcrown Supreme Mystery Pill? Itâs a slap to the face, thatâs what it is!â
âWeâll see how that young lord responds. Heâs young and full of energy. I bet you he wonât take it lying down.â
âYoung lord Zhen always surprises, so letâs see what he does this time. Thereâs not much time left, hmm? Pillfire is being quite frank with offering the Hoarcrown Supreme Mystery Pill. If he doesnât respond, itâll be hard for him to convincingly demolish Pillfire in the end.â
âIt wouldnât be young lord Zhen if he didnât respond, eh?â
After Veluriyam Capitalâs incredible performance time and again, expectations for young lord Zhen were extremely high. Everyone craved to see what new amazement he had up his sleeve. The atmosphere grew tenser and conflicts grew more intense by the day.
On the third day after Pillfireâs announcement for the Hoarcrown Supreme Mystery Pill, Veluriyam Capital proclaimed yet another piece of stunning news. It shook the foundations of not only the wandering cultivator world, but the entire human domain.
Young lord Zhen had promised that a mysterious sage from Myriad Abyss Island would lecture about pill and martial dao at the Tiger and Dragon Meet. Furthermore, Veluriyamâs gathering welcomed not only wandering cultivators, but the other factions as well. Anyone that was interested could delegate a small team of representatives to attend.
Of course, reception limitations meant that one faction could only bring ten at most. Any more than that would be barred entry. Aside from this, young lord Zhen had also declared that since Pillfire was decided on confronting Veluriyam at every step, it was welcome to send any number of pill dao representatives to challenge Veluriyamâs pill dao prowess. The Sacred Peafowl Mountain was ready to receive them at any time!
Clearly, Veluriyam Capital was done with passive tolerance. Their displeasure was plain and they were going to duel openly.
The human domain reacted with absolute chaos.