Chapter 667 - 648: Celestial Master???

"Am I stopping you?" Ji Ruyan was now certain that if the Red Melt Bird in Wang Meng’s arms wasn’t treated soon, it would die in a matter of moments. She casually stepped aside, clearing the path.

Wang Meng just shrugged and started walking out.

Ji Ruyan froze. ’This... This bastard is actually leaving? This isn’t how the script is supposed to go! Shouldn’t he be jumping up and down in a panic, begging me for help?’

"Stop right there!"

Wang Meng frowned and turned back. "Is there something else?"

"Your Third-Transformation Red Melt Bird is going to die if you don’t treat it," Ji Ruyan reminded him, taking great pains to do so. She wanted Wang Meng to beg her, and then she would refuse him!

"Well then, respected Grandmaster, can you help?" Wang Meng offered the Red Melt Bird to the Seventh Princess.

"Sorry, I can’t!" Ji Ruyan refused without a moment’s hesitation. A wave of liberating joy washed over her; it was more satisfying than anything she could imagine.

Seeing her smug expression, Wang Meng knew he was screwed. ’Damn it all, another one I owe a debt to.’ And this one was clearly going all out to pick a fight, yet here he was, walking right into it.

’What a pain in the ass. It seems my temper has gotten way too good since I came here.’

Just then, Nine Discount let out a groan. The little guy was extremely stubborn; it would never have made a sound if it wasn’t at its absolute limit. A pang of sorrow struck Wang Meng’s heart.

He had planned to wait until he got back to treat it, but seeing Nine Discount’s condition, he feared it really couldn’t hold on any longer. Without hesitation, he cast a Rain Dew Technique.

The moment he made his move, the entire hall fell silent.

What in the world was going on???

A radiant light from the Rain Dew Technique suddenly enveloped the dying Red Melt Bird...

VMMMM...

The internal injuries torn open by the Power of Tribulation inside the Red Melt Bird began to heal rapidly under the restorative effects of the Rain Dew Technique!

Ji Ruyan, who had been waiting on the sidelines for the show to start, was stunned... As for Sun Lie, he nearly bit his own tongue. This level of skill... it was at least on par with his own!

’I actually misjudged him. I’ve made a complete fool of myself this time.’

But Sun Lie quickly noticed something was different. On the surface, it was the Rain Dew Technique, but its effects were far beyond what the technique should be capable of. The range, the radiance, the sheer abundance of power—even the onlookers could feel it.

Ji Ruyan bit her lip. ’The rumors were actually true! That bastard who deserves to be sent to the eighteenth level of hell really knows the Rain Dew Technique!’

In Ji Ruyan’s eyes, this was as preposterous as a boiled egg hatching a Divine Beast.

However, this Rain Dew Technique from Wang Meng was only the beginning...

Once he started using Magic, Wang Meng was fully focused on healing Nine Discount. The little guy had actually been enduring the pain without letting him know, which made Wang Meng, its master, feel deeply ashamed. It was true; in the Small Thousand Realm, his heart had been forged hard as steel. He had learned to ignore many things. But in Wang Rencai’s fragile body, some of those lost sensitivities were suddenly returning.

’Is this a hindrance?’

Wang Meng didn’t know, but he quite liked the feeling.

If becoming a god meant becoming a numb, ignorant thing, he would rather become a Demon.

Wang Meng patted the Red Melt Bird’s wing... Nine Discount’s gaze grew resolute.

He cast another Rain Dew Technique, this one even more magnificent than the first. What was crucial was the sheer effortlessness with which Wang Meng performed it, leaving the surrounding Pill Masters dumbfounded. They began whispering to one another, ’Where did this incredible young Pill Master come from?’

Casting the Rain Dew Technique was one thing, but to cast it at this level with such a relaxed demeanor was almost unheard of.

Despite his astonishment at Wang Meng’s strength, Sun Lie still sighed. The Rain Dew Technique only treated the symptoms, not the root cause. It was ultimately useless. ’It’s a shame my own Divine Pill Voiding Technique isn’t at a high enough level,’ he thought.

Ji Ruyan also gradually recovered from her shock. ’Now this is interesting,’ she thought. ’Bullying a complete waste of space is no fun at all. Let’s see what skills Wang Rencai managed to pick up after a year out in the world.’ But of one thing she was certain: not even a Celestial Master’s Rain Dew Technique could save this Red Melt Bird.

Wang Meng cast one Rain Dew Technique after another to alleviate Nine Discount’s pain, while secretly activating another Cultivation Technique.

The Divine Pill Voiding Technique. The "Voiding" part of the name came from its principles: "Void" referred to a world, and the technique allowed a single Divine Pill to "manifest" that world. It could then pour out the power of that world—the World Power—to attack or heal with miraculous effect. It was a kind of quasi-law, or perhaps more accurately, a Cultivation Technique that mimicked the Dao Laws.

According to Wang Meng’s own cultivation theory, this was essentially a "deficiency of life." The technique extracted that "missing" part from the world, formed it into a Divine Pill, and used it to heal. It was remarkably similar to his own combat-focused Five Elements Deficiency. But he had to admit, the scope of this technique was far broader, directly harnessing the power of heaven and earth.

Of course, this was an insight unique to Master Wang’s perspective; not something other Pill Masters could comprehend. It was likely that not even the original creator of the Divine Pill Voiding Technique truly understood its essence.

Rays of light coalesced in Wang Meng’s hands, forming something that resembled an Array Technique.

Everyone’s jaw dropped. ’...The Divine Pill Voiding Technique.’

Sun Lie’s expression was first one of disbelief, then beads of sweat the size of soybeans started rolling down his face. ’This is bad, this is bad! I’m in deep, deep trouble!’ The association had just announced that an Elder would be making an unannounced visit soon, and he had actually run into them. ’It all makes sense now! Who would be bored enough to make a fuss over a Third-Transformation Red Melt Bird? And who has the power to push a common Third-Transformation creature to the Fifth Transformation? Only a Pill Cultivation Celestial Master!’

Ji Ruyan wasn’t thinking that far ahead. She was simply terrified. His mastery of the Divine Pill Voiding Technique was even more refined than her own...

A faint, fragrant aroma of a medicinal Pill emanated from Wang Meng’s hands. A Divine Pill, virtualized from True Essence Power, formed in a single revolution.

Gazing at the fully formed Divine Pill, Wang Meng breathed a sigh of relief. It was his first time attempting this, and he had even integrated his Five Elements Deficiency technique into the process. He had to be extremely careful; Nine Discount’s life was on the line, and there was no room for error.

The True Essence Divine Pill in Wang Meng’s hand shone with a faint white light. When it came to the Alchemy Divine Light, cyan was considered precious, and purple was revered. In comparison, a white light simply couldn’t be presented on the main stage.

Just like Sun Lie’s attempt, a white Divine Pill was useless.

Only a Grandmaster could possibly refine a Cyan Pill. Of course, they might occasionally produce a Purple Pill, but that depended entirely on luck.

Ji Ruyan slowly let out a sigh of relief. For a moment there, she had actually been a little worried.

But just then, the white Divine Pill continued to absorb the world’s Spiritual Power, condensing unceasingly. Wang Meng remained fully concentrated. A moment later, a cyan glow appeared. The surrounding Pill Masters, who had been excitedly watching the spectacle, immediately fell silent. ’Holy crap, we’ve run into a monster.’

’That’s at least the level of a Grandmaster!’

A glance at Master Sun Lie showed he had been standing there with his head lowered submissively for some time now. ’Damn, this guy is probably...’

There was no shortage of quick-witted people among the Pill Masters, but none of them could have ever imagined... Just then, an even more astonishing change occurred. The cyan Divine Pill didn’t stop there. Its color grew more and more brilliant until it finally became a pale purple Divine Pill.

The moment the Alchemy Skill was complete, a refreshing fragrance instantly filled the air. Everyone felt invigorated, and the True Essence Beasts in attendance were all grinning from ear to ear.

Once the Pill was formed, the rest was well within Master Wang’s control. He quickly held Nine Discount and fed it the medicinal Pill.

The entire process was critical, yet the stubborn little creature hadn’t let its pain distract Wang Meng in the slightest.

After swallowing the Divine Pill, Nine Discount immediately felt its body recovering. Wang Meng’s understanding of the process was even more thorough. ’This Alchemy Skill is truly marvelous,’ he thought. ’The myriad worlds truly hold endless mystic wonders. There is still so much for me to learn.’

By this point, however, all the other Pill Masters had already fallen to their knees.

"This junior, Sun Lie, pays his respects to Lord Celestial Master! I had eyes but failed to recognize a great man. I beg for Your Lordship’s forgiveness!"

The surrounding onlookers were all floored. Haojing was different from other places; its people, whether commoners or Cultivators, were quite worldly. But even in Haojing, a Celestial Master was a supreme existence. Such figures were legendary, as elusive as a Divine Dragon that shows its head but never its tail.

Besides, such a young Celestial Master was simply unheard of.

Just as Wang Meng was about to speak, another sudden change occurred!

Nine Discount was suddenly in great pain. The other Pill Masters were startled. ’That’s impossible! With a Celestial Master Level Divine Pill, as long as this Third-Transformation Red Melt Bird had a single breath left, it should have been completely fine. Unless... the Divine Pill was a dud?’

The average Pill Master could only watch the show, but Sun Lie and Ji Ruyan knew what was really happening. Ji Ruyan, in particular, was remarkably talented and diligent. In truth, the members of the Great Zhou Imperial Family were incredibly hardworking and adept at hiding their true strength—this was true for all the princes and princesses. Few people knew the extent of Ji Ruyan’s abilities as a Pill Cultivator. The Ji Family’s imperial power hadn’t lasted this long because of tradition; it was because of their strength and their bloodline!

What Wang Meng had just performed was, without a doubt, a near-perfect Divine Pill Voiding Technique. Of course, there were slight differences in the details—every Pill Master had their own approach, so that wasn’t strange—but the outcome should have been positive.

So what was happening now?

Sun Lie, however, knew a little more. ’Could it be... the Power of Tribulation is lashing out?’

"Respected Lord Celestial Master, you should..." Sun Lie wanted to suggest killing the Red Melt Bird before the Power of Tribulation could erupt. If it did, it would trigger a Celestial Tribulation—a disaster of no small scale.

Wang Meng shot a sharp glance at Sun Lie. It was pure instinct. Master Wang was famous for being fiercely protective of his own. He had long since come to see these little creatures as his companions. Anyone with ill intentions was just courting death. ’A Celestial Tribulation? What a joke.’

Terrified, Sun Lie stumbled back several steps and fell to his knees, keeping his head low, not daring to utter another word.

Though it was only one rank higher, the difference was like that between heaven and earth. A Master might become a Grandmaster, but the chances of a Grandmaster becoming a Celestial Master were practically nonexistent.

Wang Meng stood before Nine Discount as thunder rumbled faintly in the sky. He couldn’t help it now. His protection wasn’t about coddling his companions. To survive in any world, you had to rely on yourself. Nine Discount understood this too. It had to overcome this trial on its own.

It *had* to break through!

Nine Discount understood this without Wang Meng needing to say a word.

It had done all this for this very chance—to prove that it was all possible!

Who said Red Melt Birds were trash? Who said a Red Melt Bird couldn’t advance in rank!

The Red Melt Bird struggled in agony, its body crackling with black Lightning. Two opposing forces seemed to be locked in a fierce struggle within it. In the sky above, there were faint signs of a forming Thunder Tribulation, but strangely, it never coalesced completely.

Wang Meng looked up at the sky and sneered inwardly. ’A True Essence Beast’s tribulation from the Third to the Fifth Transformation is just a minor one, hardly a threat. It seems the Dao Laws don’t want to stir up trouble either.’

Ji Ruyan stared at Wang Meng in disbelief. This man... it was this man, this ignorant, good-for-nothing bastard. In that instant, as he gazed up at the heavens, he seemed to possess an arrogance that challenged the sky itself.

She wondered if she had fallen under some kind of evil spell.

In that moment of daze, the Red Melt Bird let out a long, clear cry, and its body erupted in a brilliant cyan light!

(Nine Discount is about to shine! Please vote with your monthly tickets, ahhhh!) (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)