Chapter 2 The Competition Heats Up
As the second round of the competition began, the entire atmosphere of the Free and Unfettered Fish Platform became instantly tense.
With some alchemists eliminated in the first round, several small spaces were freed up, allowing the alchemists on the stage to reposition themselves. Coincidentally, Bai Shengyi and Mo Hanshuang remained in their original spots, while Jing Fei’s position was taken by Feng Wuya.
Upon arrival, Feng Wuya, acting familiar, asked Dong Wuyu, who had shrunk into a tiny ball beside him, “Brother, are you number 114?”
Dong Wuyu was on the verge of tears. If he hadn’t realized that the two people in front of him were the protagonists of “When Gods Fight, Mortals Suffer” after the first round, he would have to be incredibly dense. The two powerhouses sparred, and the air seemed to crackle with sparks. The young male cultivator holding a peony, calmly refining a sixth-tier pill, was also a formidable figure. He, a mere weakling, could only cower and tremble, eagerly awaiting the second round to switch positions. To his dismay—
Dong Wuyu looked at the number “114” displayed on the paper in his hand and was close to tears. “Mm.”
“Then let’s make a deal. You see, I’m just an ordinary fifth-tier alchemist. Getting through the first round was pure luck. In the second round, let’s go easy on each other…” Feng Wuya whispered conspiratorially to Dong Wuyu.
“Hmph! Isn’t this also from your academy? A castaway is just a castaway, only resorting to such petty tricks,” Mo Hanshuang sneered at Bai Shengyi, pointing at Feng Wuya.
Bai Shengyi’s expression remained unchanged, and she stood steadily, smiling lightly. “Don’t worry, I will absolutely not use such petty tricks. I will make you concede wholeheartedly.”
Mo Hanshuang had intended to use the male cultivator to put pressure on the young girl, but he hadn’t expected her to be completely unfazed. Instead, her aura grew even stronger. He couldn’t quite describe his feeling; he felt as though he were the one being targeted by her.
Amidst his uneasy state of mind, a moment later, a grand and ancient voice boomed across the entire Free and Unfettered Fish Platform. “The sixth alchemical competition, second round, officially begins!”
Bai Shengyi immediately summoned her alchemy furnace. With a sweep of her red sleeve, a large pile of medicinal herbs floated in the air beside her. Before beginning to process the herbs, she smiled at Mo Hanshuang in a good mood. “Senior, are you planning to refine the Nine Insects Pill?”
Mo Hanshuang’s hands trembled, and a top-grade poisonous scorpion was instantly reduced to smoke and ash by the alchemy fire, wasted. “How did you know?”
But after this remark, Bai Shengyi ignored him. Without an answer, Mo Hanshuang’s composure began to falter, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Since Bai Shengyi knew the name of the poisonous pill he was refining, did she also know how to cure it? He couldn’t help but glance at Bai Shengyi’s small space but could only recognize the herbs that made him envious; he had no idea what poisonous pill Bai Shengyi was refining. “Damn it!” Mo Hanshuang gritted his teeth tightly. After pondering for a while, he decided to change his pill formula on the spot.
“Eight-grade Starlight Grass, eight-grade Negative Pressure Wood, ninth-grade Snow Lotus Flower… Saint-grade Spring Transfer Flower! These spiritual plants are excellent medicinal ingredients for refining healing elixirs. How can they be used to refine poisonous pills? Isn’t this a terrible waste of resources!”
“Indeed! That Saint-grade Spring Transfer Flower, isn’t that the one the Xile Sect gave away a couple of days ago?”
Upon hearing this, the surrounding spectators of the pill duel began to discuss. “It’s her! I didn’t expect the Divine Revelation Academy’s disciples to all pass the first round this year.”
“Don’t say that, they’ve all passed the first round this year.”
“Then if this female cultivator wins the second round using the Xile Sect’s Spring Transfer Flower, won’t the Xile Sect be infuriated?” a male cultivator couldn't help but remark. The person beside him quickly tugged at him. The male cultivator complained, “Why are you pulling me…”
Seeing the Xile Sect members not far away, he smiled sheepishly, fell silent, and quickly scurried away. Tsk, it’s so easy to get caught when talking about people behind their backs.
On the spectator seats, Rong Xuelan was carried over. Enduring the pain all over her body, she gritted her teeth and said to Rong Bugui, “Father! Is Alchemist Mo reliable? Bai Shengyi absolutely cannot win. If she wins, won’t our Xile Sect become a laughingstock of the Divine Revelation Grand Assembly!”
“You still have the nerve to say that!” Rong Bugui’s usual gentle and smiling face vanished as he thought about what had happened these past two days. He said grimly, “If you hadn’t provoked her, our Xile Sect wouldn’t have to…”
“It’s my fault! It’s my fault! You always blame me! Why don’t you think about avenging me?” Rong Xuelan interrupted sharply. “If Mother hadn’t told you to find a way to detoxify me, would you have stopped caring?”
“Shut up!” Rong Bugui, his heart pricked by her words, let out a guilty growl. He angrily ordered someone beside him, “Keep an eye on the Young Miss, and call me when the competition is about to end.” With that, he flicked his sleeves and left.
Alchemist Moni, also carried over, watched this scene and couldn’t help but advise, “Young Miss, why do you have to argue with the Sect Master? Our primary concern now is dealing with that bitch Bai Shengyi.” He looked at those top-tier spiritual plants, his eyes reddening with jealousy. “This woman knows nothing! She’s just messing around, pointlessly wasting so many good things.”
“Then do you think Bai Shengyi can win this round?” Rong Xuelan asked gloomily, her lips drooping. Moni confidently replied, “Definitely not! I heard that Alchemist Mo started preparing for this grand assembly last year. This woman is certainly no match for him.” Speaking of which, Alchemist Moni looked enviously at Mo Hanshuang. If he had also gained the Sect Master’s favor, perhaps he could have shone brightly at the assembly today.
Just then, the voice of a servant came from beside them. “Young Miss, the Young Master of Qishan Pavilion and Alchemist Hongni of Hongni Pill in Dongyang Mountain are visiting.”
Rong Xuelan wondered, “What are they here for? We don’t know them?” It was one thing for Qi Xingchen, as she had met him twice. But Alchemist Hongni, a renowned alchemist for so long, was someone even her father might not have met! As Rong Xuelan was thinking this, she saw Rong Bugui return, already leading two strangers towards their Xile Sect’s location.
“Sect Master Rong, the poison afflicting your daughter seems familiar.” Rong Bugui heard this and excitedly said, “Does Alchemist Hongni know how to cure it?” If he knew, he wouldn’t have to be at Bai Shengyi’s mercy. Hongni was very pleased with Rong Bugui’s reaction and nodded, “Naturally. However, the one who tied the knot must untie it. If this alchemist’s guess is correct, this poison should originate from Bai Shengyi of the Divine Revelation Academy.”
“That’s right! Alchemist, whatever you need, we will find it,” Rong Xuelan said urgently. Once Alchemist Hongni cured her poison, she would absolutely kill Bai Shengyi. Bai Shengyi was unaware that these people had gathered and were plotting against her. She was leisurely adjusting the medicinal properties of the poison in her alchemy furnace. Many spectators cursed her for wasting excellent medicinal materials and spiritual plants. Even Feng Wuya broke out in a cold sweat for her, thinking she was too reckless, believing that these seemingly healing and harmless herbs could not possibly be used to refine poisonous pills. Bai Shengyi was simply acting wildly! But all things were interconnected and counteracted each other; how could they know that the more harmless something appeared, the less truly harmless it was? During her years of experimenting with Chinese medicinal herbs in the 23rd century, Bai Shengyi had learned a profound truth: never confine a medicinal herb’s use. The more she understood, the more she marveled at its wonders. For instance, at this moment, she snapped her fingers, and a cluster of pure white Dragon Pursuing Star Fire blazed across a row of herbs before her. These herbs immediately emitted a rich fragrance and cascaded into the alchemy furnace. She covered the furnace lid, controlled the fire, made a hand seal, and then switched to Ten Directions Nether Fire. Fifteen minutes later, a dark blue pill landed on a white porcelain plate. It had a matte texture, plain and unadorned.