Mu Liangchen didn't blame Bei Jisi for his attitude or his worldview.
He himself had once been like that, like a frog in a well.
"Sect Leader Bei, you don't understand. If you had the chance to witness it, you would understand."
Mu Liangchen's words were somewhat enigmatic.
Bei Jisi felt Mu Liangchen was deliberately making things difficult for him. With a hint of anger on his face, he urged, "Let's skip the tea and just have the competition."
He only wanted to use his proud disciple to thoroughly humiliate the Pill Sect. What was the point of drinking tea?
He was so angered that he felt like exploding, there was nothing good to drink.
"Alright, I'll have a disciple come over." Mu Liangchen nodded and then instructed a disciple in the hall to fetch someone.
Just as the disciples in the main hall received the order and were about to leave, Lü Siyao walked in from outside the hall and called out to Mu Liangchen, "Sect Leader, Master asked me to participate in the competition."
Suddenly, a young and exceptionally beautiful female alchemist entered, stunning everyone from the Artifact Sect.
When had the Pill Sect accepted such a young female disciple?
While others observed Lü Siyao's beauty, Bei Jisi was assessing her strength.
Immortal Emperor mid-stage!!!
Bei Jisi's eyes narrowed. Although Lü Siyao's cultivation was not as high as his disciple's, her youth had already greatly shocked him.
Lü Siyao was only 26 when she joined the Pill Sect, and only a few decades had passed since then; she was not yet 100 years old.
"Is this your Pill Sect's disciple?" Bei Jisi asked the obvious.
"Of course, genuine and certified," Mu Liangchen replied, then bowed to Lü Siyao, "Greetings, Martial Aunt."
...
What was that???
Martial Aunt?
Let alone Bei Jisi, even the other disciples from the Artifact Sect were stunned.
So young, and yet the Pill Sect Leader's Martial Aunt?
"You don't need to be so formal. Master asked me to compete," Lü Siyao reminded them again.
"Alright, no problem at all," Mu Liangchen quickly agreed.
"Wait, she's your Martial Aunt, why can she participate in the competition?" Bei Jisi inquired.
"What are the rules for our competition?" Mu Liangchen countered.
"Age under 500 years, and joined the sect less than 300 years," Bei Jisi stated the actual conditions without any worry.
This rule had been established long ago, and he naturally had it ingrained in his memory.
"Then that's it. My Martial Aunt is a disciple of our Pill Sect's Old Ancestor. Her seniority is high, and she meets all the requirements for the competition. You can check the records and her bone age at any time."
Mu Liangchen explained, allowing Bei Jisi to inspect as he pleased regarding his doubts.
Bei Jisi was already somewhat curious. Lü Siyao possessing such strength at such a young age, and being a disciple of the Pill Sect's Old Ancestor, was indeed enviable.
However, if he were to actually check her bone age, it would imply a lack of trust in Mu Liangchen. He then said, "What you say is enough. There's no need to check; I trust you on this matter."
"Under one hundred years old," Mu Liangchen stated calmly.
Being under one hundred years old naturally included the condition of joining the sect for less than three hundred years. However, upon hearing this, the people from the Artifact Sect looked on with astonishment.
Bei Jisi's own proud disciple was already 499 years old, practically at the last moment.
Yet, at an age not even reaching 500, he was already a Rank 7 Artifact Refiner, a powerhouse in the Immortal Emperor late stage. This was unprecedented, truly a supreme prodigy among prodigies.
Now, Lü Siyao, not yet one hundred years old, had indeed startled him.
"This… this is truly a genius." Bei Jisi, at a loss for words of praise, could only exclaim that Lü Siyao was a genius. He then continued, "May I know what rank alchemist she is now?"
Bei Jisi hoped Lü Siyao was below Rank 7, so he could at least save some face.
The difference between Rank 6 and Rank 7 was worlds apart. Although they were only separated by one rank, the gap between them was as vast as heaven and earth.
"Her rank is slightly lacking, which is why my Old Ancestor is somewhat dissatisfied."
Mu Liangchen was showing off, as he was stating a fact; Wu Jizi was indeed displeased.
In Wu Jizi's opinion, with the guidance of two Alchemy Grandmasters, abundant resources, and her excellent talent, Lü Siyao should have at least reached the level of an Alchemy Grandmaster.
Now, she was still only a Rank 9 Alchemist. Wasn't this disappointing to Wu Jizi?
Upon hearing Mu Liangchen's words, Bei Jisi sighed slightly in his heart: Fortunately, fortunately.
"She's still young, after all, she's less than a hundred years old. Her current strength is already very outstanding. Don't push too hard for her alchemy rank; she can catch up slowly in the future. Look at my disciple; he's nearly five hundred years old and is only a Rank 7 Artifact Refiner."
Bei Jisi misunderstood and even started advising Mu Liangchen.
"Heh heh… Sect Leader Bei, you've misunderstood. My Martial Aunt hasn't disappointed the Old Ancestor because of her low rank, but because she hasn't met his expectations,"
Seeing Bei Jisi fall for it, Mu Liangchen chuckled.
Was this bragging successful?
Bei Jisi was stunned, feeling an ominous premonition. He asked doubtfully, "Then what do you mean?"
"My Martial Aunt is currently a Rank 9 Alchemist. It's precisely because she hasn't met the Old Ancestor's expectations and hasn't broken through to become an Alchemy Grandmaster that he is disappointed."
Mu Liangchen revealed Lü Siyao's alchemy rank, then looked at Bei Jisi with a smiling face.
...
Bei Jisi was once again dumbfounded, too astonished to speak.
Rank 9 Alchemist?
Damn it, he was only a Rank 9 Artifact Refiner.
Now, this young girl, not yet a hundred years old, had a rank almost comparable to his own?
Bei Jisi felt extremely speechless and secretly resented Mu Liangchen, that cunning old schemer, for not telling the whole story, causing him to lose so much face.
This show-off was well-executed; it served him right to brag.
The competition hadn't even started in the main hall, but both sides had already shown off their disciples, and the Pill Sect had a clear victory.
Meanwhile, in Wu Jizi's pavilion, Xia Feng was also seated there.
"Siyao just went for the competition. If she knew you were here, she'd be overjoyed again," Wu Jizi said, looking at Xia Feng with a smile.
"Didn't I promise her last time that I'd bring her with me this time? You're not reluctant to part with your precious disciple, are you?" Xia Feng also had a big smile on his face.
Despite the significant age difference, their personalities matched well, and they got along very harmoniously.
"What do I have to be reluctant about? Take her away quickly, so there's one less person to bother me." Wu Jizi waved his hand, signaling Xia Feng to take Lü Siyao away quickly, though his eyes held a hint of reluctance.
Xia Feng could also see Wu Jizi's expression and said, "Brother, let's move the Pill Sect to Void City."
"Don't tell me that, go tell that kid Mu Liangchen." Wu Jizi didn't concern himself with any matters within the sect, but it was clear he didn't object.
Xia Feng laughed heartily upon hearing this, saying,
"Haha, alright then. Since Siyao is competing, I'll go and watch."