Chapter 231: Dissatisfaction (2)

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The examining Elder took a deep breath and first walked up to Yao Xian.

He carefully inspected the pill, his face showing heartfelt admiration: "Myriad Medicine Sacred Land, Yao Xian, Void Phantom Spirit Pill, Grade: Top-Grade!"

"Yay! Senior Sister Yao Xian is invincible!"

"Top-Grade! It’s Top-Grade again! First place is ours!"

The Myriad Medicine Sacred Land Disciple area erupted in thunderous cheers. Many people let out long sighs of relief, feeling that victory was assured.

A trace of a smile also appeared on the Myriad Medicine Sacred Lord’s tense face, and his hanging heart was mostly put at ease.

However, when the examining Elder walked up to Chen Chuan and took that seemingly plain but Dao-imbued pill, his expression instantly became incredibly vivid.

After repeated inspections and even using his Saint Sense to perceive it, he looked up and shouted with a voice trembling with extreme shock:

"Taiyi Holy Land, Chen Chuan, Void Phantom Spirit Pill, Grade: T-Top-Grade!"

"Boom!"

Like Nine Heavens thunder exploding in their minds, the entire square completely boiled over.

"Top-Grade again!"

"Refining a Top-Grade Saint Emperor pill with Earth Fire! Am I dreaming?"

"Monstrous talent! An absolute Alchemy monstrous talent! Rare in all of history!"

The cheers from the Myriad Medicine Sacred Land Disciples stopped abruptly. They were all dumbstruck, their faces filled with confusion and loss.

Lost?

Senior Sister Yao Xian actually failed to pull ahead?

The smile on the Myriad Medicine Sacred Lord’s face froze instantly, replaced by utter shock and that increasingly strong sense of unease.

It’s over; the thing he feared most had happened!

Tied for first?

While this was a way to save face, the myth of the Myriad Medicine Sacred Land dominating the first place in Alchemy had been broken today.

Yao Xian’s delicate body trembled slightly, her pearly teeth biting her red lips as she looked at Chen Chuan with complex emotions.

There was admiration, there was unwillingness, and more so, there was a throb of excitement from meeting a true opponent.

"Hahaha! Good Disciple, beautifully done. I knew you could do it."

Mu Qing jumped straight up from his seat, dancing with joy, laughing so hard his teeth were visible but not his eyes.

He suddenly turned around and pointed at Ye Qingfeng, Hai Yan, and Wang Shishan, whose faces were as pale as death:

"You three old fogies! What do you have to say now? Origin Stones! Two million low-grade Origin Stones each, not a single one less. Hurry up."

Ye Qingfeng and the others’ faces turned from green to white; their chests felt so blocked they almost coughed up blood.

Under the watchful eyes of the public and in the face of ironclad facts, they could no longer argue.

In the end, the three of them, almost gnashing their teeth, trembling as they each took out a Storage Ring filled with Origin Stones and slammed it down in front of Mu Qing.

Mu Qing didn’t care; he happily scooped them up. With a sweep of his Divine Sense, the smile on his face became even more brilliant, like a blooming chrysanthemum.

He weighed the Storage Pouch and said triumphantly, "Tsk tsk, thank you three old friends for your generosity! Now I can buy some more good things for my Disciple."

Looking at Mu Qing’s petty, triumphant face, Ye Qingfeng and the others felt their hearts bleeding. They were so frustrated they almost fainted, only able to huff coldly and turn their heads away to keep out of sight.

Just then, the presiding Elder announced loudly:

"It has been determined that in the third round of Alchemy, Chen Chuan of Taiyi Holy Land and Yao Xian of Myriad Medicine Sacred Land both successfully refined Top-Grade Void Phantom Spirit Pills."

"Therefore, for this Pill Refining Assembly, the champion position is a tie for first place between the two!"

This result was the best situation the Myriad Medicine Sacred Land could fight for, preserving a final shred of dignity.

However, Mu Qing was not having it.

"Tied for first? This old man does not agree!" Mu Qing’s voice was like a resonant bell as he stood up, attracting the gaze of the entire venue.

"What kind of flame did my Disciple Chen Chuan use? It was the most ordinary Earth Fire. Whereas what Fairy Yao used was Heaven and Earth Spiritual Flames."

"To achieve the same result as a Spiritual Flame despite the disadvantage of Earth Fire, how much more difficult is that?"

"The difference between them is clear to everyone! In this old man’s view, this first place should belong to my Disciple Chen Chuan."

The Myriad Medicine Sacred Lord’s expression turned ugly as he said deeply, "Elder Mu Qing, both pills are of Top-Grade quality. Judging it as a tie for first is in accordance with the rules; there is nothing improper."

"Rules are dead, but people are alive!" Mu Qing argued strongly.

"In an Alchemy competition, how can we only look at the result and not the process and difficulty?"

"If we go by what the Sacred Lord says, then in the future, everyone will only pursue the final pill quality. Who will care about the flame, techniques, and process control? Isn’t that putting the cart before the horse?"

Mu Qing’s words made many people around nod secretly. Indeed, for Chen Chuan to achieve such an accomplishment with Earth Fire, his Alchemy attainments were likely truly above Yao Xian’s.

The Myriad Medicine Sacred Lord was momentarily speechless, his face even uglier. He could not just watch as the first place was taken away like this.

Just as the atmosphere was at a stalemate, a cold and firm voice rang out:

"Elder Mu’s words are reasonable."

Everyone looked toward the source of the voice; it was actually Yao Xian who had spoken.

She walked out slowly, her gaze clear as she looked at Chen Chuan, then turned to Mu Qing and the Myriad Medicine Sacred Lord, saying loudly:

"A tie for first is indeed difficult to convince the public. Young Master Chen refined a Top-Grade Saint Emperor pill with Earth Fire; his skills are superb, and Yao Xian admires them."

"For the sake of fairness, I propose that Young Master Chen and I have an additional match!"

She paused and said something shocking: "This time, we will refine a Great Saint Grade Elixir!"

"What? A Great Saint Grade Elixir?"

"My god! Senior Sister Yao Xian is actually going to challenge a Great Saint Pill?"

"She’s only in the Saint Realm! Even with a Spiritual Flame, refining a Great Saint Pill is extremely difficult. It’s said it might even trigger an Elixir Tribulation."

"Elixir Tribulation? That’s a heavenly might that even a Great Saint has to treat with serious caution! How can Senior Sister Yao Xian withstand it?"

The entire square completely exploded; everyone was stunned by Yao Xian’s bold proposal.

The Myriad Medicine Sacred Lord was first startled, then a glint flashed in his eyes.

He knew Yao Xian’s trump cards and strength well; she indeed had the capital to attempt refining a Great Saint Pill.

Although the risk was huge, if she succeeded, she would not only firmly surpass Chen Chuan but also showcase the unrivaled foundation of the Myriad Medicine Sacred Land.

As for the Elixir Tribulation, with him present, he could just step in to protect Yao Xian at the critical moment.

"This seat believes Xian’er’s proposal is feasible!" The Myriad Medicine Sacred Lord immediately stated his position, looking at Mu Qing: "Elder Mu Qing, I wonder if Chen Chuan dares to accept the challenge?"

Everyone’s gaze instantly focused on Mu Qing and Chen Chuan.

Mu Qing was first taken aback, then looked at Chen Chuan, only to see that Chen Chuan’s face was still calm, and there was even a faint smile on his lips, as if he had long expected Yao Xian’s challenge.

Mu Qing felt greatly reassured and laughed heartily, saying with heroic spirit, "Why wouldn’t he dare? My Disciple Chen Chuan will accompany you to the end!"

"Hiss!"

Hearing Mu Qing agree without hesitation, the sound of people drawing in cold breaths rang out again.

Could it be that this Chen Chuan, at the first level of the Half-Saint Realm, also possessed the terrifying strength to refine a Great Saint Grade Elixir?

At this moment, everyone’s curiosity was raised to the peak.

This twist-filled Pill Refining Assembly’s final confrontation was actually going to rise to the level of the legendary Great Saint Pill.

In this battle between dragon and tiger, who would eventually come out on top?

And what kind of variables would that possible Elixir Tribulation bring?

Above the square, the wind and clouds seemed to begin gathering quietly.