Chapter 765: Chapter 765: The Pill Battle Begins, Wild Betting Under the Heavens (4th Update)
Chapter 765: Chapter 765: The Pill Battle Begins, Wild Betting Under the Heavens (4th Update)
Xiao Dancheng smiled, “Shopkeeper Dong, this gentleman is a master whom I highly respect! He hase for the Alchemy Competition held here!”
“A master?” Dong Lingxin was quite astonished.
Because Xue An looked to be only in his twenties, with aid-back and indifferent demeanor, he appeared at first nce to be a frail schr.
Yet he was addressed by Mr. Xiao, the revered Xiao Dancheng, as a master?
Could it be that this individual is a descendant of some ancient alchemical family?
Dong Lingxin was pondering this.
Xiao Dancheng smiled and said, “Because we arrivedte, we’ve been unable to find amodations. I wonder if, by chance, your establishment can provide us lodging for a few days?”
Xiao Dancheng had expected Dong Lingxin to agree wholeheartedly, but unexpectedly, Dong Lingxin’s brow furrowed slightly, revealing a touch of difficulty on her face.
The smile on Xiao Dancheng’s face gradually became somewhat awkward as he lightly said, “Could it be that your establishment is facing some troubles? No matter, we will find another ce to stay!”
“No, Mr. Xiao, you misunderstand, there is no difficulty here. It would be an honor for our Judan Pce to have you stay, but…”
“But what?” Xiao Dancheng felt somewhat displeased, thinking that such a trivial matter was being made unnecessarilyplicated, causing him to lose face in front of the master.
At that moment, a voice full of arrogance and disdain rang out, “But Judan Pce certainly does not wee those who deceive the world and steal fame!”
Apanying the voice, a cultivator adorned in a golden elixir robe with a beard like five willows and surrounded by a swirl of elixir qi, confidently stepped forward.
Upon seeing this person, Xiao Dancheng’s expression suddenly darkened, “Cao Dusheng, it’s you!”
Cao Dusheng sneered, “Xiao Dancheng, I didn’t expect you to have the guts toe to this Alchemy Competition! Aren’t you afraid of being defeated just likest time, ending up as everyone’sughingstock?”
The mention of this turned Xiao Dancheng’s expression extremely ugly.
“Cao Dusheng, that was merely you being lucky! This time, I will defeat you!” eximed Xiao Dancheng.
“Defeat me? Haha, just you?” Cao Dusheng nced at Xiao Dancheng with utter disdain.
The tension between the two men was so thick that the bystanders could almost smell the gunpowder.
Dong Lingxin’s face showed embarrassment.
This was the reason for her hesitation just now.
Because she was well aware that this Elixir Master Cao Dusheng and Xiao Dancheng were sworn enemies.
In the previous Alchemy Competition, Xiao Dancheng had been technically outmatched and defeated by Cao Dusheng.
His arrival this time was undoubtedly to defeat Cao Dusheng and win back the reputation and dignity he had lost.
But all that would likely prove very difficult!
As Dong Lingxin was thinking this to herself, sure enough.
Cao Dusheng sneered, “Why don’t you open your eyes and see what rank I am now!”
With that, Cao Dusheng spread wide his elixir robe to reveal the small badge embroidered on his chest.
“This is… a Profound-Rank Elixir Master, how is it possible, how could you possibly be a Profound-Rank Elixir Master?”
Upon seeing the badge, Xiao Dancheng shook all over, shouting in disbelief.
Cao Dushengughed triumphantly, “Why couldn’t I be a Profound-Rank Elixir Master? Let me tell you, Xiao Dancheng, I have now be a disciple seated at the feet of the Quenching Elixir Ancestor, so naturally reaching the rank of Profound-Rank Elixir Master is nothing to boast about!”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Dancheng’s face became utterly ashen.
Because the blow was too great.
He had diligently practiced every day for the past several years, just to restore his honor at this Alchemy Competition.
But unexpectedly, the gap between them hadn’t narrowed; it had actually widened.
Now that his opponent had also be a disciple of the Earth-Rank Elixir Master, Quenching Elixir Ancestor, revenge seemed even more hopeless.
Upon seeing Xiao Dancheng’s expression, a look of smug satisfaction almost spilled over Cao Dusheng’s face.
“Xiao Dancheng, if I were you, I would obediently make my way back home and quietly be yourughable little ‘Elixir Honor’ in the Eastern Domain. Never set foot in the Central Region again—this is my sincere advice to you! Hahaha!” Cao Dushengughed triumphantly.
But at that moment, Xue An suddenly spoke up, “In this Elixir Competition, Xiao Dancheng will participate, and what’s more, he will make you kneel and admit defeat in front of everyone!”
Theughter abruptly ceased.
Cao Dusheng turned to Xue An, then with an expression of utter bewilderment, he asked, “Who are you to speak to me in such a manner?”
By now, Xiao Dancheng had regained hisposure and said loudly, “This gentleman is Mr. Xue, Xue An, an Alchemy Master!”
“Alchemy Master?” Cao Dusheng repeated, then scrutinized Xue An, his face taking on an increasingly peculiar expression.
Because Xue An looked far too young.
Alchemy, after all, was a practice that exceedingly required experience.
Thus, which among those alchemy experts wasn’t an elder with graying hair?
Someone of Cao Dusheng’s age was already considered quite young.
But Cao Dusheng had never seen anyone as young as Xue An be acimed as an Alchemy Master.
Therefore, with a sneer, he looked at Xue An and remarked, “Oh? May I ask which rank of Pill Master are you, esteemed Alchemy Master?”
Xue An had heard about this from Xiao Dancheng.
Within the Alchemist Guild, Pill Masters were divided into eight ranks.
They were Wilderness, Vast, Cosmos, Universe, Yellow, Profound, Earth, and Heaven!
Anyone wanting to enter Wandan City and obtain an official title had to undergo a Pill Master assessment, to verify their Elixir Dao Cultivation and see which rank of Pill Master they were.
But Xue An had never been to Wandan City, nor had he undergone a Pill Master assessment, so of course, there was no talk of which rank he held.
Xue An shook his head and said indifferently, “I have no rank yet.”
“What? No rank? Hehe, such an esteemed Alchemy Master has no rank?” Cao Dusheng said, feigning astonishment.
Then, turning to Xiao Dancheng, he sneered, “Hey, Xiao, I’m starting to wonder if you’re out of your mind! You actually acknowledge a greenhorn like this, who hasn’t even grown a full beard, as an Alchemy Master. Are you that desperate from losing?”
Xiao Dancheng’s face turned extremely ugly, about to retort sharply.
Xue An waved his hand, stopping him from speaking, and then said lightly, “It’s true that I do not yet have a rank, but I think at the Elixir Competition, whether I’m a fraud or a true master will be clear! As for you…”
“Yes?” Cao Dusheng said with a face full of disdain.
“Since you’re so certain of your victory, why not make the bet a bit bigger? If Xiao Dancheng loses at the Elixir Competition, he will cripple his Cultivation Level and leave Wandan City for good, never again to speak of alchemy!”
“And if you lose…” A cold smile emerged at the corner of Xue An’s mouth.
“You will kneel before Xiao Dancheng and me in front of all the cultivators in the world, and call out ‘Grandpa’ three hundred times, proiming ‘I am your grandson!’ How about that?”
With these words spoken, the color drained from the faces of everyone in the room.
Xiao Dancheng also couldn’t help but inhale sharply.
Because the stakes were simply too high—the bet on his side was his cultivation, while on Cao Dusheng’s side, it was his entire dignity.
Sometimes when dignity is trampled, it feels worse than death.