"The female cultivator from Divine Revelation Academy has formed her core!"
With a gasp, all eyes turned towards Bai Shengyi.
She stood there, her red robes fluttering in the wind, exuding an air of leisure and ease. With a slow, deliberate palm strike, she tapped the pill furnace. A pill, emerald green and radiating vibrant life force, landed in her palm.
Her fingers, delicate as jade, casually tossed the pill into her mouth. The action was both unrestrained and nonchalant.
"She's taken the pill!"
"She's fine? Did she just break free from Alchemist Mo's poisoned pill?"
The crowd watched in disbelief. Yet, at that very moment, Alchemist Qianyang, along with several other alchemists, approached Bai Shengyi. After their examination, they announced, "Passed!"
A wave of murmurs swept through the crowd!
This female cultivator had truly and effortlessly broken through Alchemist Mo's seventh-tier poisoned pill!
Was it her extraordinary skill, or was Alchemist Mo's reputation undeserved?
However, observing Bai Shengyi’s relaxed demeanor, a stark contrast to the life-or-death stakes of the competition, most people leaned towards the former. After all, Alchemist Mo had risen to fame alongside Alchemist Qianyang and Alchemist Hongni.
Mo Hanshuang, standing beside Bai Shengyi, found himself increasingly uneasy.
Just then, Bai Shengyi, a smile gracing her lips, softly reminded him, "Old esteemed senior, two quarters of an hour have already passed."
With a flick of her wrist, countless vines materialized out of thin air, weaving themselves into a lounge chair. She reclined on it, idly observing the unfolding spectacle with a sense of profound ease.
She presented a striking contrast to Mo Hanshuang beside her.
Mo Hanshuang’s entire body trembled.
It was from pain, and from fear. He had never imagined being outmaneuvered by a mere girl not yet twenty years old! The throbbing pain that wracked his body now could not conceal the panic gripping his heart. More than that, he had just discovered that this third-tier pill, which he had initially dismissed, was changing its properties with time! For the first quarter of an hour, its potency leaned towards fiery toxins; in the second quarter, it exhibited characteristics of insect venom…
How could this be possible? What kind of poisoned pill behaved like this?
Large beads of sweat formed on his forehead and trickled down his face, but Mo Hanshuang paid them no mind. His eyes were fixed on the pill furnace and the medicinal ingredients in his hands, a chill creeping through him. He realized, with a sinking heart, that if he didn't acknowledge his gross underestimation of Bai Shengyi, his life up to this point would have been in vain.
"Alchemist Mo hasn't made a move in a long time!"
From below, spectators noticed this too, voicing their confusion.
"Could it be that he can't resolve the poisoned pill from the Divine Revelation Academy?"
"No way! It's just a third-tier poisoned pill. Surely Alchemist Mo can handle it? Alchemist Mo is the most renowned alchemist of the West Music Sect!"
In the current era, cultivators believed that the higher the tier of a poisoned pill, the greater its toxicity. Consequently, higher-tier alchemists were more respected and feared. No cultivator could guarantee they would never need an alchemist.
Meanwhile, at the West Music Sect’s seating area, the atmosphere was somber.
"Didn't you say there was no problem? Why can't Mo Hanshuang even deal with such a minor poisoned pill?" Rong Xuelan shouted at Rong Bugui, her voice laced with frustration. "Bai Shengyi is perfectly fine now. Others will think our West Music Sect is powerless against her!"
Rong Bugui was even more incensed than Rong Xuelan. However, looking at his daughter yelling at him, he frowned deeply and said, "Calm down."
But Rong Xuelan couldn't calm down. She couldn't fathom what Bai Shengyi had done to her. For days, she had been in constant pain, hating Bai Shengyi intensely and eagerly awaiting her humiliation or demise to bring her solace. Instead, Bai Shengyi was perfectly fine!
Mani cautiously interjected, "Sect Master, this matter is indeed peculiar. With Senior Mo's abilities, this shouldn't be happening."
"Be quiet!" Rong Bugui snapped coldly. Despite his own questionable character, he possessed a degree of sense. In such a life-or-death competition, Mo Hanshuang would never hold back against Bai Shengyi. Unfortunately, he had sense, but Rong Xuelan lacked it.
Upon hearing Rong Bugui scold Mani, who was siding with her, Rong Xuelan exploded. "Why are you yelling at him! Mani is right. I think Mo Hanshuang simply didn't give his all!" Rong Xuelan scoffed. "I'll write a letter to Mother and tell her…"
Before she could finish her veiled threat, Rong Bugui became enraged.
"Go ahead and write! You go write it yourself!" Rong Bugui waved his hand dismissively. "Guards, escort the young lady back. Let her find her mother for help."
Rong Xuelan was both shocked and furious, not expecting Rong Bugui to disregard her plea this time. She tried to protest further, but Rong Bugui was determined to curb her temper. Having anticipated this, guards quickly took her away from the competition grounds.
"My apologies for letting you two witness that display." Rong Bugui offered an embarrassed smile to Hongni and Qi Xingchen.
Hongni, maintaining her composure, stated plainly, "It's alright. Sect Master Rong, just remember our agreement from earlier."
"Certainly, this Sect Master will arrange it immediately." Rong Bugui cast a final, lingering glance at Bai Shengyi and Mo Hanshuang on the arena before hurrying away.
"Five quarters of an hour have passed."
Initially, Bai Shengyi had been the one to announce the time at regular intervals. After Feng Wuya and Dong Wuyu completed their match, Feng Wuya automatically took over Bai Shengyi's role. Feng Wuya was jovial, and even when feigning seriousness, his words carried a hint of amusement.
Hearing his reminder, Mo Hanshuang's forehead dripped with even more sweat.
"Boy, don't be so arrogant!" Mo Hanshuang threatened coldly.
Feng Wuya grinned playfully. "Esteemed senior, I'm merely reminding you about the time. Perhaps you'll need to refine a third or even a fourth batch of pills?"
As his words fell, Mo Hanshuang ingested the antidote he had refined for the second time. The moment the pill entered his mouth, his eyes fixed on Feng Wuya with fierce intensity.
"Pfft!"
Mo Hanshuang coughed up blood in his rage!
"Oh dear, don't try to frame me. If your self-refined antidote is useless, don't blame this grandpa." Feng Wuya quickly leaped to Bai Shengyi's side.
"You all just wait for me!"
This was not the time for accusations. Mo Hanshuang had already sensed a reversal of his qi and blood. In addition to a needle-like, bone-piercing pain that refused to cease, his spiritual energy was slowly stagnating. He had to find a way to analyze the poison quickly; he didn't want to die here. Mo Hanshuang was now in utter panic.
Feng Wuya, finding himself idle, also used his wood-elemental spiritual energy to weave two vine chairs and enthusiastically invited Dong Wuyu to join him. He found the young lad quite likable, especially since he had truly shown mercy, only refining a tickle pill for him. Thus, Feng Wuya reciprocated this kindness with greater familiarity towards the young man.
However, Dong Wuyu declined and sat upright, observing Mo Hanshuang’s refining process.
"Captain, will your pills really kill people?"
"Yes."
Although Bai Shengyi was answering Feng Wuya's question, her eyes remained fixed on the ongoing competition. The second round required everyone to refine a poisoned pill within three hours and then detoxify it within another three hours. Of course, if they were certain they couldn't resolve the poisoned pill, they could forfeit the match, but this would disqualify them from advancing. Currently, more than half of the detoxification period had passed. The arena was filled with alchemists either groaning in pain or looking dejected, yet no one had forfeited. This was not only because they represented the honor and competition points of their respective sects, but also because the prize for the pill-making competition at this Divine Revelation Grand Gathering was exceptionally substantial.