It had to be said that Xu Lingxiu’s innate skills consisted first in medicine refinement, and second in taunting and pulling aggro. So long as he wanted to anger someone, then it was a definite guarantee. There were very few people who could restrain themselves.
While Gu Zuo didn’t have Xu Lingxiu’s complete proficiency in this field of study, he was seventy to eighty percent there, at the very least. Most of all, when that young pharmacist on the other side tried to launch eight or nine psychic power attacks and none of them succeeded, the rage and resentment in his heart rushed forth in a split second. His face flushed red at flying speeds.
Immediately following that, he was unable to remain calm. In spite of everything, he sent out his psychic power once again. This time around, he increased the “horsepower”, and swore to blow up Gu Zuo’s pill cauldron!
...Everyone knew that psychic powers relied on control. If there was poor control, then the one who would probably be harmed wouldn’t be others. Rather, it would be oneself.
Because this Chongyun Sect pharmacist’s jitters had accumulated into an impulsive urge, and because this impulse prevented the smooth discharge of psychic power... It led to a loss of control.
Bang! Boom!
Gu Zuo blinked his eyes.
Speaking of which, he didn’t do anything yet. This skill hadn’t been displayed perfectly, so why did the other side’s cauldron explode?
What was even scarier was that, although the pill cauldron was very sturdy, due to the huge impact of the psychic power, some flames had rushed out from the inside. The Chongyun Sect pharmacist, who was still immersed in his fury, was unable to dodge in time. In the blink of an eye, the front lapels of his robes were burned!
It went without saying that pharmacists could play with fire. This bit of flame certainly couldn’t hurt him, but the originally free-flowing, full-body brocade robes had now become scorched black. Even his face was pasted with a layer of black ash... This was truly an unprecedentedly miserable appearance.
What was even more exasperating was that, after Gu Zuo subconsciously used his hand seals, his pill cauldron issued waves of astonishingly delicate fragrances. Nine deep-blue medicinal pills bounced out, and were instantly collected by him!
He successfully refined a complete set of nine pills. Moreover, seven pills were high grade, and two were mid grade pills that were infinitesimally close to high grade!
As for that Chongyun Sect pharmacist over there...
His cauldron blew up. The number of finished pills was naturally zero.
This confident Chongyun Sect pharmacist who came over originally thought that he had the strongest control over psychic powers among all of the sparring contestants. In the end, not only was he unable to deal with Gu Zuo, he also ruined his own medicinal pills, which were in the cauldron that was destroyed by his own psychic power — One couldn’t help but say that this kind of spectacle was extremely ironic.
Everyone in the Qingyun Sect pavilion saw this scene, and especially felt that their hatred had been vented.
Xu Lingxiu, who rarely spoke in praise, also opened his mouth: “During a huge occasion like this, Junior Sect Brother Gu sure can do things that exceeds the average person.”
On this side, Qingyun Sect was ecstatic. On that side, Chongyun Sect was aggravated.
How full of accomplished ambitions they were in the beginning, and how utterly discomfited they were afterwards &#k2014; What kind of a joke was this? If they couldn’t totally suppress Qingyun Sect, then the effect would be much too weak!
Above all, the one who sparred with Gu Zuo acted as the finisher. He was one of the strongest pharmacists who were brought this time by Chongyun Sect. Who would’ve thought that, not only wasn’t he capable of ending this contest perfectly, he instead lost the most face? With that arrogant ego of his, how could he endure it?
In that moment, he couldn’t maintain his upright and solemn appearance. He only flicked his sleeves, put away his somewhat damaged cauldron, and turned around to go back to his own pavilion.
It could be said that he ran away with his tail between his legs.
The final match ended. Although Qingyun Sect lost dubiously a few times at the start during the pill condensing segments, which triggered many disputes, the emergence of the last two matches made the people of Qingyun Sect understand that this type of matter wasn’t something that couldn’t be guarded against. It was just that their experience was lacking.
A complete defeat and a few wins were totally different. In particular, during this kind of spar, the first person and the last two people were all said to be the most powerful. As the first match was a tie, and the last two matches were both victories for Qingyun Sect, it was pleasing to hear — In terms of personnel with high-end techniques, hadn’t they gained the upper hand?
At the very least, no matter what kind of plans Chongyun Sect hatched, and no matter how much it wanted to suppress Qingyun Sect, it didn’t prevail through these medicinal pill spars.
Now, it could only wait for their follow-up actions.
Meanwhile, Gu Zuo and Xu Lingxiu exchanged glances. The two didn’t conscientiously listen to the official nonsense spoken by those people outside. Each of them had their own plans.
Xu Lingxiu’s heart already couldn’t wait. He wanted to quickly report the matter of the psychic power method to his own master. Under the protection of the crowd of martial artists, Gu Zuo wanted to go back to his hilltop and wait for his big brother’s return.
— To be honest, if that big brother of his still hadn’t returned yet, then missing the arrival of Chongyun Sect was also missing a rare opportunity to gain knowledge and experience.
It could be said that the members of Chongyun Sect returned in low spirits after their ambitions were dashed.
In the pavilion, a crowd of young pharmacists looked at each other in dismay. There was hatred and resentment on all of their faces.
One person angrily said: “The Sect’s mission can’t be completed right now. What should we do?”
Another person said: “This matter can’t be completely blamed on our mistakes...”
Someone else spoke up: “This failed matter rests on our heads. It was clearly a cinch, but accidents happened to occur. If we’re not to blame, then who is?!”
Then, another person sighed: “After this, when we renegotiate with Qingyun Sect, it’ll be greatly detrimental! Fortunately, Qingyun Sect is lacking in ability. It’s fundamentally different from our side, which has such marvelous techniques. It definitely won’t spoil the Sect’s grand plans. It’ll only make the wrangling somewhat more troublesome. If not...”
Everyone had lingering fears.
“Regardless of how we look at it, we’ve failed the mission this time. No matter how many reasons or excuses, we’ll be punished. I only hope that the Grand Elder will show lenience, and let us off lightly!”
Finally, someone said: “If we can take some time to reveal the might of our psychic powers again, maybe we can make up for it at that time...”
“This bears reconsideration.”
“If there’s a chance, we have to give it our all.”
“I hope that we can have our wishes fulfilled...”
Xu Lingxiu, who was accompanied by Xi Yangyun, arrived at the Pharmacist Hall’s Medicine God Hall.
The sole Golden-Level pharmacist in the Sect usually cultivated in secret here. Everyone who entered and exited this hall were all members of the Pharmacist Hall. If other Inner Sect disciples weren’t granted permission or given a token, then they basically weren’t allowed to enter this place.
As the Xu Clan’s extremely outstanding younger generation and as the True Disciple of that Golden-Level pharmacist, Xu Lingxiu was naturally able to pass through without any obstructions. Xi Yangyun was also rather familiar with this place. It wasn’t convenient for him to go in at this moment, but there was no problem with waiting in a reception area outside.
Very quickly, Xu Lingxiu walked into the Medicine God Hall.
In the hall, there was an incomparably huge pill cauldron that was nearly ten meters tall. In front of that cauldron sat a white-robed old man with placid qi emissions. With his back facing the entrance, the old man stared at the flames amid that cauldron.
In a clear voice, Xu Lingxiu said: “Master, this disciple, Xu Lingxiu, has an important matter to report!” Without the slightest hesitation, he spoke the truth, “This concerns Chongyun Sect’s secret plans as well as the continuation of our Pharmacist Hall’s pharmacists for the next hundred-thousand years. I hope that Master will listen to this disciple explain everything clearly one by one!”
Not much later, a somewhat aged voice that would leave its listeners tranquil echoed out:
“Lingxiu, speak.”
After throwing all the important matters to Xu Lingxiu — What Qingyun Sect wanted and what Chongyun Sect wanted had nothing to do with Gu Zuo. Normally, he occupied his time in the medicine refining palace hall and mulled over those item books in his possession. Additionally, he was at a loss over the mission that the system had just issued him.
— In other words, he hadn’t been told that the mission was completed yet. This showed that Chongyun Sect’s plot wasn’t thwarted. In that case, was Chongyun Sect still unable to discuss any terms with Qingyun Sect?
Whatever. It didn’t have that much to do with him.
The mutual calculations and strategies of the apex powerhouses was a matter that he, a small fry, didn’t need to break his brain thinking about — In any case, he had already sent over a big bargaining chip.
However, while Gu Zuo was preoccupied, Chongyun Sect didn’t remain idle. Not a single one of them was idle. Recently, Gu Zuo heard lots of gossip.
At the start, the first ones were between Chongyun Sect disciples and Qingyun Sect disciples — Of both martial artist and pharmacist professions — And the the spars that occurred again.
This time, conflicts of indeterminable size had sprung up all over the place among the Xiantian Realm disciples.
Moreover, one couldn’t tell which side had taken the initiative.
T/N: Thanks for the correction, Charysa.
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