Chapter 1 The Beginning
The rewards for first place, in addition to twenty thousand top-grade spirit stones and a mid-tier Heaven-grade spirit artifact, included a divine-grade spiritual plant that could become an Immortal Grass. Second place was not bad either, with ten thousand top-grade spirit stones, a low-tier Heaven-grade spirit artifact, and a Saint-grade spiritual plant. The rewards for third, fourth, and fifth places, while not as impressive as the first two, were still quite substantial.
Therefore, most of the participating alchemists, even with the slightest hope, would not give up.
Bai Shengyi watched for a long time, then suddenly asked Feng Wuya, "Does the competition not stipulate that I cannot help others detoxify?"
This Feng Wuya was indeed well-informed.
"I've researched this before. As long as the person who is detoxified voluntarily forfeits the competition, then you can detoxify them. It's considered a private transaction, unrelated to the competition."
"Hmm, that's good."
"What are you planning to do?"
Feng Wuya immediately sat up straighter, looking at Bai Shengyi inquiringly. "I'm telling you, Elder Yun warned me before we came. He told us to take it easy, just win, and don't cause trouble, especially you."
It was as if he hadn't been the one teasing Mo Hanshuang just moments ago.
Bai Shengyi pouted, "We've already caused trouble by advancing."
Feng Wuya thought about it and realized it was true.
According to the agreement signed between the outer continent and the academy back then, the better the academy performed, the more beneficial it would be for the academy.
Therefore, it wasn't just the Xile Sect or the Wushang Sect. Any sect involved with the fate of the Divine启 Continent actually hoped that the Divine启 Academy would not perform well.
However, when Feng Wuya saw Bai Shengyi stand up and walk out, he suddenly realized that he had been led astray by Bai Shengyi's line of thought.
"Hey! Shengyi, don't be impulsive!" Feng Wuya also got up immediately.
Just like Bai Shengyi, he and Dong Wuyu had already neutralized each other's poison pills and both advanced. In essence, their competition was over.
Therefore, he had no reservations and quickly chased after her.
"If you're going to cause trouble, don't forget to include me!"
Dong Wuyu, who had overheard the entire conversation, almost stumbled and fell to the ground.
He knew it. How could someone who so readily made himself familiar and hinted at going easy on him be so serious!
Since the competition was still ongoing, they couldn't wander around randomly. Bai Shengyi went to the resting area provided by the organizers for those whose matches had concluded, which was in the center of the competition grounds.
"Detoxify! Detoxify!"
Bai Shengyi summoned her Reincarnation Brush and her spiritual energy flowed from the tip, writing four large characters. She then looked with a smile at the many alchemists on the competition grounds.
These were all spirit stones!
"Fellow Daoists, I can provide on-site detoxification services for those who forfeit the competition. No need to desperately seek favors from friends, nor despair as you wait for death. For only three thousand top-grade spirit stones, you can get detoxified on the spot! No charge if it doesn't work, come and try!"
The alchemists, still struggling with their poison pills, were stunned!
They could do this?
Bai Shengyi used her actions to prove to everyone that it was indeed possible!
The competition of fighting poison pills, which involved risking one's life, was inherently unreasonable. She had merely found a loophole in the rules of this unreasonable competition and made a small, somewhat unreasonable move. Why shouldn't she?
"She's disrupting the order of the competition!"
Hong Ni frowned tightly. His competition was tomorrow, but with Bai Shengyi's actions today, this year's alchemy competition would likely be overshadowed by her.
He thought for a moment and then said to Rong Bugui and Qi Xingchen, "We can't let her continue like this. Otherwise, our plan might be completely useless against her."
Rong Bugui and Qi Xingchen agreed.
So the three of them got up and headed towards the highest point of the Guanyu Platform, preparing to find the Mountain Master of Yueqingshan and the Sect Master of Wushang Sect.
However, when they arrived, they found that neither of them was there.
"Master Ku Le, Your Highness the Demon King, Mountain Master Hua Ling, Mountain Master Qunyu, Sect Master Xuan." Rong Bugui restrained his gloomy expression and greeted them respectfully.
Mountain Master Hua Ling was the most approachable. He said gently, "Sect Master Rong, are you looking for Sect Master Li? He went to find the Mountain Master of Yueqingshan."
He then pointed out where the two were to Rong Bugui. After thanking him, Rong Bugui led his companions away.
As soon as they left, Mountain Master Hua Ling smiled and asked Master Ku Le, "Master, what do you think of this girl's actions?"
Their clones had been in the Divine Abandoned Continent for so long, yet they hadn't noticed this female cultivator.
"I just sent someone to inquire and found out that this girl is actually Bai Shengyi, the one who caused Li Tingyun to issue a second pursuit order." Mountain Master Hua Ling said, a strange glint in his eyes.
"Mountain Master Hua Ling seems well-informed about the matters of Wushang Sect." The Demon King Lin Qingyu swayed his peacock fan, his enchanting face curving into a half-smile.
Mountain Master Hua Ling smiled gently, "Your Highness, don't let Li Tingyun hear that. If he misunderstands, won't he be finished with me?"
Lin Qingyu smiled, "I actually think this young girl is doing the right thing. This so-called poison-fighting pill competition should have been abolished long ago. Yet, they all pretend to be righteous and say that everyone likes to watch it, and that this competition can stimulate alchemists' research into medicinal herbs, so they are unwilling to cancel it."
"Heh, I find it hilarious. They are all researching harmful poisons, how is that a good thing? In my opinion, these poison pills are more terrifying than demonic cultivators!"
"Demon King, be careful with your words." Mountain Master Hua Ling frowned slightly and gently advised, "We can't think about things so extremely."
"That's right." Mountain Master Hu Yu echoed softly.
The Xuan Sect Master, who was always cold and rarely spoke, said, "This humble one actually agrees with the Demon King."
While they each had their own opinions, Master Ku Le was carefully observing the scene in the competition grounds.
As soon as Bai Shengyi finished speaking, the alchemists who had not yet succeeded in detoxifying, seeing that no one stopped her, began to forfeit their advancement and asked her to help them.
"Fellow Daoist, can you detoxify this poison?"
The inquiry came from a female cultivator in white. Due to the poisoning, both her hands were festering and bloody, making it impossible for her to refine pills.
For many years, in the poison-fighting pill competition, some alchemists would take extreme measures, either trying to destroy the opponent's spiritual roots or rendering them unable to refine pills. This way, the opponent's advancement was a foregone conclusion.
Since only one-third of the participants in the second round would advance to the third round, fewer people advancing meant fewer opponents.
"This is Alchemist Xuan Fang of the Xuan Nü Sect." Feng Wuya reminded her softly, standing beside Bai Shengyi.
The Xuan Nü Sect was the only top-tier sect in the Divine启 world composed entirely of female cultivators.
Xuan Fang looked up in surprise, "You know me? My luck was bad this time. I drew lots against the sworn enemy of my sect. The poison pill he refined is incredibly potent, and I can't resolve it."
While she was speaking, Bai Shengyi had already begun her work.
Xuan Fang watched as she took out a silver needle, pricked her a few times on the arm, and then felt a warm current flow into her dantian. Her previously numb internal organs suddenly regained sensation.
Following that, Bai Shengyi began refining pills again, and a pale green pill was presented to her.
"Eat it."
Xuan Fang quickly took it.
Fifteen minutes later, she stood up refreshed. "My spiritual power has been restored? The poison in my body..." She hurriedly went to ask Alchemist Qianyang and others to help check.
"It's gone! It was really detoxified!" Xuan Fang was overjoyed.
Bai Shengyi smiled, "As for the wounds on your hands, you'll have to treat them yourself."
"These are minor issues."
Xuan Fang had a wood element spiritual root. As soon as her spiritual power was restored, she formed a hand seal and her spiritual power covered her arms. In a moment, her arms were as smooth, tender, and white as before.
"Here are three thousand top-grade spirit stones! Please accept them, Fellow Daoist!"
Xuan Fang paid the reward on the spot but did not leave, instead resting in a nearby area.
"Xuan Fang actually went to that female cultivator for help! Let's give it a try too! There's still half an hour left until the time is up. We can't squeeze into the top one-third qualification spots, and we can't just wait here to die!"
A voice suddenly came from the crowd of participants.
After all, with Xuan Fang as a living example, more and more people came to seek Bai Shengyi's help!
Thus, Bai Shengyi had Feng Wuya assist her. The two of them were "earning spirit stones" with great enthusiasm, unaware that outside the competition grounds, two groups of people had already fallen into a heated argument because of them!