Zi Linling sighed, "The vast sea of people is like finding a needle in a haystack. So far, including you, we've only found four people."
Xuan Yuan Xun obviously froze for a moment, "I am also one of them?"
Zi Linling smiled brightly, "Then why do you think this ninth prince would specifically mention the calamity of world destruction to you?"
Xuan Yuan Xun paused, then smiled as if bathed in spring breeze, "Miss Zi has worked hard! But this prince is still a little confused and hopes Miss Zi can enlighten me."
Zi Linling chuckled, "It is my honor to enlighten the ninth prince. Please speak, and if I know, I will tell you everything."
Xuan Yuan Xun asked, "May I ask Miss Zi, with the calamity of world destruction approaching, how do you think our human race should survive it?"
"Unite as one, and face the enemy together!" Zi Linling uttered eight simple words.
This was her philosophy in her past life, and it applied equally here.
Xuan Yuan Xun clapped his hands and praised, "Miss Zi truly has profound insights! However, human nature is selfish and prone to scheming against each other. These eight words are easy to say but difficult to practice."
A cold glint flashed in Zi Linling's eyes, and she said, "Indeed. Therefore, saving people does not mean not killing."
"Saving people does not mean not killing?"
Xuan Yuan Xun murmured the sentence repeatedly, then his eyes lit up with sudden understanding, "If evil is not eradicated, the good cannot find peace. Miss Zi, please proceed quickly, and I will be your backing!"
Before Zi Linling could speak, a sharp voice rang out.
"Backing? Xuan Yuan Xun, can you provide backing?"
The owner of this voice was none other than Ouyang Yude, the president of the Alchemist Guild in Xuan Yuan City.
Behind him, besides Huang Tao, were five or six elders in master alchemist robes and a group of cultivators with unfriendly gazes.
Today, Ouyang Yude was not using an appearance-altering pill; he was in his true form.
It had to be said that his true face made one feel an urge to grab a shoe horn and smack him.
"President Ouyang, give this prince some face, hand over Huang Tao, and let's call it a day, shall we?" Xuan Yuan Xun said with a smile, trying to persuade him.
"Call it a day? Hand over my disciple?"
Ouyang Yude looked at Zi Linling on the stage and sneered, "Xuan Yuan Xun, I've given you face, but who gives me face? For the sake of the Xuan Yuan Divine Clan, I advise you, do not meddle in this mess!"
Xuan Yuan Xun raised an eyebrow, "President Ouyang, you should be well aware of who is right and who is wrong in this matter. Huang Tao, relying on being your disciple, has acted with impunity, causing widespread resentment in Xuan Yuan City. And the Huang family, leveraging Huang Tao's connection with you, has inflated pill prices and engaged in predatory business practices. You are not unaware of these, are you?"
Ouyang Yude arrogantly replied, "So what? Who made him a noble alchemist? And who made him have a master like me, an imperial alchemist?"
These words, even for the ever-tempered Xuan Yuan Xun, caused his face to turn cold.
As he was about to speak, he heard Zi Linling's mocking voice.
"Indeed, good advice is wasted on a fool! The president of the Xuan Yuan City Alchemist Guild? What a joke! Look at your high forehead, narrow chin, prominent nose bridge, and dark glabella – a face of a cruel, doomed man. It seems you're facing imminent disaster today. Are you sure you want to step onto the stage?"
Ouyang Yude flew into a rage, "You insolent girl! Don't think that because I was tricked by you by accident yesterday, you have the right to challenge me. Today, I will show you what true strength is!"
He then said to Huang Tao behind him, "Today, your master will support you. You must defeat this ignorant girl and uphold the prestige of our Alchemist Guild!"
"Yes, Master!"
Huang Tao walked out from behind Ouyang Yude, replied respectfully, and then leaped onto the stage.
He looked at Zi Linling with a lecherous expression and said, "Brat, do you remember what this alchemist told you? This alchemist vowed to make you groan under my crotch every day!"
As soon as Huang Tao finished speaking, a cold light flashed before his eyes.
"Ah!"
He let out a cry of pain.
In Zi Linling's hand, a scalpel that gleamed with cold light now had a piece of tongue attached to it.
Huang Tao's mouth was full of blood, and he was covered in a cold sweat from the pain.
He quickly took out a hemostatic pill and stuffed it into his mouth.
The bleeding stopped, but his tongue was shorter, making him slur when he spoke, "Cough cha te (You're looking for death)!"
"Pfft!" Zi Linling chuckled, "What do you want to eat? Shit?"
"You, you, you!" Huang Tao was so angry he couldn't speak.
"Disgraceful wretch!"
Ouyang Yude cursed fiercely and glared at Zi Linling, "To injure someone covertly, you insolent girl, do you want to be mortal enemies with us?"
Zi Linling's gaze turned icy, "It seems your good disciple didn't explain clearly! Once you step onto the Pill Martial Arena and even establish a life-or-death contract, then no matter who it is, the moment you step onto the stage, you must be prepared to leave your life behind!"
Ouyang Yude's face turned sinister, "Very well! Insolent girl, this old man will surely fulfill your wish."
"Tao'er, hurry up and begin!"
Huang Tao nodded and said, "Yes, Master!"
Then, he looked at Zi Linling, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes, "Brat, I will have a pill refining contest with you!"
Zi Linling sneered, "Very well! If you lose, leave your life behind!"
Huang Tao snarled, "Let's see if you have the ability! However, don't worry, if you lose, this alchemist won't kill you, he'll just make you 'a good woman'!"
Zi Linling's killing intent surged, "Since you are seeking death, I shall oblige you!"
Saying this, with a thought, the Nine Extremes Qiankun Cauldron heavily landed on the arena.
"This... is the Nine Extremes Qiankun Cauldron!"
Greed filled Ouyang Yude's eyes.
"Tao'er, enough with the nonsense, hurry and win, and seize the Nine Extremes Qiankun Cauldron for this old man!"
"Yes!"
Huang Tao responded and said, "Since it's a pill refining contest, whoever refines a higher quality pill wins!"
He took out his own cauldron and proudly declared, "This cauldron is called the Wind Moon Cauldron. This alchemist shall begin refining pills!"
After speaking, he took out a pile of medicinal ingredients. These ingredients were all at least Earth Grade high-tier.
Soon, flames rose under the Wind Moon Cauldron.
He glanced at Zi Linling mockingly, "This alchemist is going to refine a Master Grade Rejuvenation Pill. Can you refine it?"
Zi Linling snorted disdainfully, and the Phoenix True Fire blazed fiercely under the Nine Extremes Qiankun Cauldron.
Zi Linling took out a handful of medicinal ingredients from the Goddess Palace and casually threw them into the Nine Extremes Qiankun Cauldron.
In just ten breaths, nine half-step Imperial Grade Rejuvenation Pills flew out from the Nine Extremes Qiankun Cauldron and floated quietly in the air.
Meanwhile, Huang Tao, who was beside her, had not even extracted the first medicinal ingredient.