Soon, they arrived at Shendan Square, a huge square, square and square like a chessboard.
The square wasn't large, only a few hundred li away, but it was already densely packed with people around it.
This plaza is usually the exam site for the Shendan Hall disciples' assessments. Disciples of the Shendan Hall undergo a grading exam, which selects outstanding disciples. Those who pass the assessment receive better resources for cultivation.
Normally, during assessments, each of those small compartments would have a disciple seated, but today, only two high platforms were set up across the entire square.
On one of the high platforms, Ye Qian was already seated on it. At this moment, he meditated with his eyes closed, his expression solemn, no longer as arrogant and domineering as before. He seemed like a completely different person.
"This Ye Qian is truly terrifying. Once it's time to refine pills, he instantly calms down, his mind calm as still water, and there's no trace of arrogance or impatience as before." Wanqing linked arms with Long Chen and walked into the square. When she saw Ye Qian, she couldn't help but sigh.
Although she didn't like this person, she had to admit that Ye Qian truly had an astonishing talent for alchemy, while she was far behind.
"Lady Fengfei is here too."
Shen Chengfeng cried out in surprise. Long Chen followed his gaze and saw a small vacuum area around the stands.
Other areas were packed, but that small section was set aside, and no one dared approach.
A dozen maids surrounded Feng Fei like stars surrounding the moon. Even among the group of beautiful maids, Feng Fei stood out like a crane among chickens, standing out remarkably.
Feng Fei looked at Long Chen from afar, seemingly surprised. She probably didn't know that Long Chen could refine pills. A maid beside her was whispering something to her, her eyes still fixed on Long Chen, seemingly introducing him to Feng Fei.
However, after looking around, Long Chen found that most of the visitors here were young disciples of the Divine Clan; the older generation was nowhere to be seen.
Only on the main viewing platform did the Lord of Pills appear with great interest, seemingly very interested in this match.
"Brother Long Chen, you have to win!" Wanqing was a bit nervous. If Long Chen lost, the consequences would probably be even harder to accept than killing him.
"Don't worry, did you forget? Your brother Long Chen is the reincarnation of a Star Warrior. From now on, he'll be the one to pick stars for you. Long Chen chuckled.
Wanqing couldn't help but smile when she heard this. She was no longer the naive girl she once was, but even though she knew Long Chen was making things up, she still felt happy—especially for a hero like Long Chen, who made up stories just to comfort her, which made her heart feel even warmer.
Long Chen slowly walked toward the high platform. One had already been occupied by Ye Qian, and needless to say, the other was his.
As soon as Long Chen stepped into the square, countless people whispered among themselves, clearly all trying to find out who this person was.
"A frog at the bottom of a well who has never seen the world—what right do you have to challenge Senior Brother Ye Qian?" Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted loudly.
"That's right. Senior Brother Ye Qian's status is extremely noble; how could just anyone challenge him?"
"He's clearly using this challenge to elevate his status. This person is too sinister—win or lose, he's gained it."
"Despicable,"
"Shameless,"
"Vulgar"—
for a moment, more and more disciples dressed in Divine Pill Hall attire stepped forward and shouted loudly, almost cursing Long Chen out.
Long Chen shook his head, ignored them, and walked straight toward his own platform.
"I've been in seclusion for twenty-three years, and I never expected the disciples of my Divine Pill Hall to become so active. That's impressive." The Lord of Pills smiled faintly.
Sweat began to befall on the Hall Master's forehead. The Master was displeased and hurriedly said, "
Qian'er is the strongest alchemist among the younger generation of the Divine Pill Hall and is idolized by all the disciples. He was provoked, and these disciples genuinely dislike Long Chen..."
Dislike is just about using this kind of verbal battle? Does disliking someone mean you can curse? Did you see Long Chen's expression?
If this gets out, the Divine Pill Hall will lose face. Long Chen loses, but that's fine. If he wins, he'll not only slap the face of the Divine Pill Hall but also the entire Divine Clan. I think you, as the hall master, are about to step down and make way for others. "The Pill Master said slowly.
"Lord Dan ..." The Hall Master's expression changed.
"The Divine Pill Hall looks thriving on the outside, but the disciples are too arrogant and impatient to restrain themselves, so they ultimately cannot attain enlightenment through pills.
Including you, everyone has already gone astray, strayed from the path of alchemy. You really don't understand what I told you before I went into seclusion. The pill master sighed, a look of disappointment appearing on his face.
"Everyone, shut up! How can you hurt someone with such harsh words in public?"
The Hall Master of the Divine Pill Hall shouted coldly. The disciples who had been cursing more and more fiercely felt as if they'd been slapped in the face, their voices instantly silenced, and the whole place fell silent.
"Lord Dan, I ...," the head of the Divine Pill Hall looked at the Dan Master.
"Let's talk about this later. Let's just keep the competition going for now. I basically already know the result." The pill master waved his hand.
The Hall Master of the Divine Pill Hall had no choice but to nod. At that moment, an elder of the Divine Clan appeared in the center of the platform.
The elder of the Divine Clan shouted loudly, "This competition will be personally and justly conducted by the Lord Dan. Once the match begins, there will be no regrets. Have you all made up your mind?" Ye
Qian smiled slightly and said confidently, "I've made up my mind."
Long Chen nodded as well, and the elder continued, "According to the previous agreement, Long Chen, you may choose any pill from the Divine Pill Hall Manual to compete. You may choose." As
he spoke, the elder handed Long Chen an extremely ancient piece of animal skin paper, densely covered with writing.
There were actually over ten thousand kinds of pills listed above, all above the tenth rank, but there were only 873 twelfth-tier pills.
"Since I'm choosing, I won't hold back. Today, I'll refine the Life-and-Death Reincarnation Star-Fixing Pill." Long Chen pointed to a type of pill on the pill manual.
As soon as the name of the Life-and-Death Reincarnation Star-Fixing Pill was mentioned, the entire venue fell into a deathly silence. From the elders to the disciples of the Divine Pill Hall, their expressions changed.
Ye Qian sneered, "Nonsense. The Life-and-Death Reincarnation Star-Fixing Pill requires cultivation to reach the fourth step of the Tongming Realm and possess the power of life-and-death reincarnation to refine it." "
Can you refine it?" Long Chen asked.
"Hmph, of course I can't refine it, but I don't believe you can." Ye Qian snorted coldly.
"You can't refine it?" Alright then, the match is over. Let's settle the bill. Long Chen patted his butt, stood up from the stage, stretched lazily, and said.
"What do you mean?" Ye Qian's expression changed instantly; he had a bad feeling.
"If you can't refine it, neither can I. That way, we're even.
According to our previous agreement, if we tie, you still have to share 20 million points with me. So, boss, hurry up and settle the billOur shop has small profits and no debts, thank you. Long Chen put on a friendly and profitable expression, chuckling—his smile was as sinister as it could be.
In the distance, Wanqing covered her face with her jade-like hand, not wanting anyone to see her smile—that would seem impolite.
She had underestimated Long Chen's cunning. Ye Qian had already been led into a trap by Long Chen and didn't know that Long Chen had already set up his trap, and Ye Qian jumped right in without hesitation.
Shen Chengfeng and the others looked stunned. Damn, this is just too sinister, it's so sinister it could kill anyone. They did nothing, just talked and sat upstairs, and they only needed twenty million points? Wow, this is way too good at making money.
"You..."
Ye Qian was so angry his hair stood on end. He hadn't expected Long Chen to be so sinister—he'd fallen for it.
"What's wrong?" Trying to default on debts? No way, here, the Lord of the Pill is testifying, and countless eyes are watching. I don't believe you would do that. Long Chen glanced at the onlookers around and shrugged.
"Long Chen..."
The Hall Master's expression also changed. Long Chen was far too sinister.
"Shameless"
"Despicable"
"Vulgar"
"Get out of the Divine Clan! People like you don't deserve to stay here."
For a moment, the entire Divine Clan disciples were in an uproar. They had been looking forward to a peak showdown, hoping to see Ye Qian defeat Long Chen and display his power, but Long Chen used underhanded tactics and started cursing loudly.
Long Chen didn't care about the insults. He looked up at the sky, stretched out one hand, and acted as if to say whatever they wanted, just hand over the money quickly.
"Being wrong isn't shameful; what's shameful is not admitting it, and constantly blaming others.
I once told you: hold yourself accountable with the same as you judge others, and forgive others with the same as you forgive yourself. Only then can you broaden your heart. The bigger your heart, the longer the road ahead.
Unfortunately, over these twenty-plus years, you still haven't understood what this means. Not only has your alchemy skills not improved at all, but you have become increasingly stubborn and self-willed, which is why you have raised such a group of disciples. The Lord of Pills shook his head and said.
The Lord of the Pill Hall's tone was calm and composed, as if nothing could upset him, but the Hall Master of the Divine Pill Hall was sweating on his forehead as he listened.
Although the Lord of the Pill had no master-disciple relationship with him, he had given him countless guidance and held high hopes for him—almost no different from master and disciple. Yet, at this moment, the Master of the Pill was clearly very disappointed in him.
"Disciple knows what to do now." The Hall Master of the Divine Pill Hall nodded and suddenly stood up.
As the Hall Master of the Divine Pill Hall stood up, many disciples immediately shouted loudly.
"Hall Master, Long Chen is just a liar. Kick him out."
"Such trash actually dares to challenge Senior Brother Ye Qian. He's not even worthy to carry Senior Brother Ye Qian's shoes."
"People like this, just kicking them out is the end of it?" To desecrate our sacred art of alchemy should be dragged out and dismembered as a warning to others. "
Everyone, shut up!"
The Hall Master of the Divine Pill Hall shouted coldly, making the disciples' eardrums buzz and immediately shut their mouths.
"Ye Qian, you boasted yourself, but now someone has caught a loophole. You have to accept the consequences of a bet. Don't you know what you should do?" The Hall Master of the Divine Pill Hall shouted, and Ye Qian's face instantly turned green.