Wei Tianxiao was somewhat disappointed after seeing Jiang Chenâs herb selection, but he wasnât convinced of the outcome. He knew that having a second rank pill king compete against a sixth rank pill king was already quite unfair. But he also knew that there was no other way out. They would at least go down in style! Even if they lost the wager, theyâd at least express their loyalty clearly to the Coiling Dragon Clan.
Young master Ji Sanâs thoughts, however, were not on the competition. He was still in stunned shock. His thoughts had been wandering after Pill King Zhen had deciphered the Ingenious Decan Pill Enigma. He recalled the Pine Crane Pill Jiang Chen had mentioned before. He had been somewhat skeptical at first, believing its effects to have been exaggerated. But after witnessing the completion of the Ingenious Decan Pill Enigma, young master Ji San couldnât help but realize that this Pill King Zhen from House Wei might be a person of great origins. He wasnât privy to Pill King Zhenâs actual identity, but was certain the latter had been mentored by a great master. Furthermore, this teacher should be at a much higher level than these top ranked pill kings like Pill King Yu. This also meant that his teacher might possible be one of those fabled pill emperors! But even so, one of those legendary existences still might not be able to grasp the Ingenious Decan Pill Enigma in its entirety.
A pill dao expert with a complete grasp of the Ingenious Decan Pill Enigma couldnât possibly be lacking in knowledge and experience. It was highly unlikely that Pill King Zhenâs claim regarding the existence of the Pine Crane Pill was just an irresponsible remark. Young master Ji San had only previously seven parts confident, but now he was absolutely convinced. âThis Pill King Zhen is definitely someone with a glorious future. I, Ji Ole Third, have made countless friends but laughably, all are fairweather companions. Very few can be counted on in times of need. Itâs actually this incidental acquaintance who might have such a potential. I must maintain this friendship no matter the outcome of this competition. Our Coiling Dragon Clan may yet rise again, if in the future, we find an opportunity to request a batch of Pine Crane Pills of his master .â
Imagining all the wonderful possibilities greatly excited young master Ji San. As for the present contest, he didnât particularly care about it. What did temporary gains or losses matter? His thoughts and energy were focused on the Pine Crane Pill. They already possessed the Goldencrown Cloudcrane and only lacked the pinecone from the Invisible Chameleon Cloudpine. Young master Ji San firmly believed the heavens wouldnât bar every path. No matter how concealed, there was bound to be a path towards hope and light amidst the heavenly dao.
In contrast to the young master Ji San who lost in reverie, those from the Majestic Clan were all highly focused and confident. The seventh rank pill king was the highest ranking member of Wang Tengâs entourage. He was reporting something to the latter. âYoung clan lord, Pill King Rongâs selected batch of materials is higher than Taiyuan Towerâs by an entire level. Weâre almost certain to win this round, considering Pill King Rongâs skill as a sixth rank pill king. Now it only remains for us to see whether he can successfully complete the refining within two hours.â This seventh rank pill king possessed piercing insight. Heâd also observed the brilliance of Pill King Rongâs herb selection, just as the judges had.
Wang Teng had also noticed the technical disparity and nodded with delight. He was all smiles; he felt everything was proceeding according to plan. Taiyuan Lodge had already obtained victory during the first stage. Their opponent had won the first round of the second stage by sheer luck. But if Taiyuan Lodge won the second round, their scores would draw again. Then Taiyuan Lodge would only need to win the third round of the second stage to become the victor of the whole competition. House Weiâs store would then change ownership and become the Majestic Clanâs property!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Wang Teng was feeling ecstatic at the mere thought. Heâd have trampled House Wei, slapped the Coiling Dragon Clanâs face and secured House Weiâs store in the Farmerâs God Street Market at the same time. It was like killing three birds with one stone! Truthfully, Wang Teng had harbored certain misgivings before the contest had begun. He was suspicious of House Weiâs unusual storefront wager. But at the moment, he was quite certain that it had been a bluff in order to force him to back off and suppress the Taiyuan Lodgeâs morale.
Humph! Did you think this kind of scheme can trick our Majestic Clan? You lot from House Wei think too highly of yourselves! Wang Teng felt inwardly disdainful and reckoned that House Wei mustâve be hopping mad at the moment. No one in their right mind would offer their only storefront at Farmerâs God Market as a wager. A mere ninth rank aristocratic family wants to compete against my Majestic Clan? Theyâre simply looking to die!
Wang Teng was supremely smug. Victory was now in sight and so close at that. This sense of accomplishment elevated his mood greatly. It was as if he was already standing on the summit and taking in the panoramic scenery.
He couldnât help but glance at young master Ji San with glee. He wanted to see young master Ji Sanâs troubled expression. But Wang Teng didnât expect to see the other lost in reverie as if the present contest didnât concern him in the least.
âCould Ji Ole Third have abandoned all hope?â Wang Teng felt a shred of uncertainty after seeing the young masterâs current state. He then turned to check on the father and son from House Wei. They were now looking rather distressed. This was especially true of Wei Tianxiao, whoâd almost turned green. Wang Teng was reassured after seeing their expressions.
âWei Tianxiao, this is what happens when you refuse my toast. Youâre forced to drink a forfeit! Our Majestic Clan gave House Wei an opportunity. Not only did you scorn our kindness, but you also worked to oppose us! You simply donât know how to recognize the change of the times!â Wang Tengâs contagious delight affected the father and son from House Tong as well as their subordinates. Victory seemed almost assured for those from the Taiyuan Lodge.
Others from within the audience secretly sighed after seeing Jiang Chenâs selection of materials. They were originally hoping that Taiyuan Tower would produce a miracle of sorts and take the second stage of the competition in one fell swoop. They wanted him to prove it was possible for the weak to triumph over the powerful! But as things stood, it seemed the powerful were still powerful in the end, just as the weak were still weak. The Ingenious Decan Pill Enigma was likely just an unexpected hitch!
Jiang Chen was now already lost in his own world of pill dao. Ordinary folks couldnât comprehend the methods of the Deviant Pill Faction. But the principles were clear as day to him. The two hour time limit was quite pressing. Jiang Chen couldnât and didnât hide his strength any longer. He began to exhibit all of his various techniques, and only the heavens knew just how many fire control techniques Jiang Chen had mastered. However, this was obviously not the right occasion to show off flashy techniques. He merely activated the True Fires of Ninety Nine, the technique that had thoroughly filled Shen Trifire with admiration back at the Regal Pill Palace. The True Fires of Ninety Nine utilized the principles of layering and demanded fine control skills and proficient composition ability.
Jiang Chen had played with the True Fires of Ninety Nine countless times during his past life. But he wouldnât have chosen to use it here if he didnât have to consider the strict time limit. But the current situation was urgent and required more intense flames than usual. Furthermore, the Deviant Pill Faction didnât reject such fire control techniques. On the contrary, they even preferred them.
Pill King Yuâs eyes lit up the moment Jiang Chen started his fire control technique. Heâd just been sighing after witnessing Jiang Chenâs selection of herbs and immediately noticed something different about this technique. Simply watching this fire control ability felt breathtaking.
Pill King Zhen had selected a batch of mediocre ingredients, but his fire control was spectacular! The contrast was too extreme. Pill King Yuâs wildly fluctuating impressions made it difficult for him to accurately judge this young pill king. âCould it be that Iâve misjudged him? Is there some hidden wisdom behind his choice of unremarkable materials?â Pill King Yu was not one to go about with his nose in the air just because he was a ninth rank pill king. On the contrary, he was still full of passion and still hungered for new knowledge. Pill King Yuâs eyes naturally lit up when he witnessed a fire control technique the like even heâd never seen before.
âIt seems this Pill King Zhen had truly been mentored by an illustrious master. His fire control technique is obviously extraordinary. I have travelled far and wide throughout the Upper Eight Regions and exchanged knowledge with countless peers, yet Iâve never seen such a technique of fire control. I truly wonder who Pill King Zhenâs master is.â Pill King Yu was afire with curiosity regarding Jiang Chenâs origins. How powerful would the mentor be if even the student is so accomplished? He had to admit that the mentor of House Weiâs pill king must be someone at a much higher level than himself. He was, no doubt, a pill emperor. Pill King Yu was even slightly envious of Jiang Chen at this point.
Jiang Chenâs fire control technique also gave pause to many who were previously certain of his defeat. Although not everyone was a pill dao genius, they were still able to discern the skill of such a technique. Not even a high ranking pill king might be able to perform such a high level fire control method.
âWho wouldâve thought House Wei had invited a genius in fire control!â The spectators were secretly surprised. Even Wei Tianxiao felt momentarily enraptured and forgot to bother with calculating his potential losses.
The highly complacent Wang Teng began to frown after seeing Jiang Chenâs fire control technique. âThis brat wasnât just for show after all. It seems his fire control technique was indeed taught to him by a great master.â Wang Teng was startled, but he didnât believe the opponent would win with just this fire control technique. In the end, pill refining required a comprehensive set of skills. Defeat was assured if one couldnât refine the higher ranked pill, no matter how dazzling his fire control abilities were. That was the reason why Wang Teng was still fairly calm despite being somewhat surprised.
The nine judges, however, had already forgotten to observe Pill King Rongâthe latterâs choice of materials and refinement methods were all conventionalâtheyâd probably be performing the same procedures in his shoes. The process itself wasnât very different, the only distinction being the brilliance of oneâs methods. It wasnât exactly something to wait with bated breaths. But it was an entirely different matter with House Weiâs pill king. His selection of ingredients was mediocre at best, but his fire control technique was extremely brilliant. How could a person with such deep knowledge of fire control techniques not know how to select materials properly? They all felt it impossible. They were all eager to be the first to witness what new and dazzling technique House Weiâs pill king had to show them.