C10 Shocking the World!

The simple wooden door of the alchemy room creaked open as Loong Jiaoyang stepped out, his hands empty.

"Hehe, with the third incense stick barely burning, Junior Brother Guo Liangren, it looks like I've won, right?" Yue Bai beamed at Guo Liangren.

With a wry smile, Guo Liangren nodded, "You've won, Senior Brother Yue Bai."

"What win?" inquired Loong Jiaoyang, his curiosity piqued.

"Hehe, I owe you one, Fellow Daoist Loong Jiaoyang. Your timing in failing to refine the pill saved me from losing five thousand gold coins," Yue Bai said, his smile radiant.

"Failed at pill refining? You must be mistaken, my friend. I've successfully created a Power Pill; it's just not very presentable, so I didn't show it," Loong Jiaoyang clarified.

"Eh... What was that? You made a Power Pill?" Guo Liangren, his face ashen, quickly moved closer to Loong Jiaoyang and pressed.

"Why not see for yourself if it's been successfully refined?" suggested Loong Jiaoyang.

Yue Bai gaped at Loong Jiaoyang, "Did you truly succeed in making a Power Pill?"

"Yes, I did. I'm still perfecting the technique, so the pills are a bit uneven. That's why I'd like to ask for your help to get more Power Pill ingredients tomorrow—I plan to refine some more," Loong Jiaoyang confirmed with a nod.

Bursting into laughter, Guo Liangren exclaimed, "I haven't lost! Look, Senior Brother Yue Bai, Fellow Daoist Loong Jiaoyang really did refine a Power Boosting Pill!" He emerged, triumphantly holding the unevenly sized pills that Loong Jiaoyang had crafted.

Yue Bai turned to see the impressive, fist-sized Medicine Pill in Guo Liangren's hands, feeling as though it was a punch to his heart.

A single tear streamed down Yue Bai's cheek.

"Why the tears, Fellow Daoist?" Loong Jiaoyang asked, taken aback.

"Who the hell is your Dao Friend? You've ruined me—I'm bankrupt!" Yue Bai collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Dao friend, please stop crying. Gambling is a mistake; you need to learn from this and vow never to do it again," Loong Jiaoyang advised earnestly.

"Screw vows... You big fraud, I'll haunt you even as a ghost!" Yue Bai, overcome with emotion, dashed tearfully toward the cliff's edge.

"Senior Brother Yue Bai, don't do anything rash!" Zhu Mao swooped down, pinning Yue Bai to the ground, followed by several other disciples piling on top. The result was Yue Bai foaming at the mouth, bleeding, with three broken ribs.

...

"Giggling... Hahaha..."

In the Profound Girl Sect's Saintess's private courtyard, Zi Shan was laughing so hard on her bed that she could barely catch her breath, leaving Xiaohong at a loss for words. She had never seen the Saintess Zi Shan in such a state.

"Hehe, Loong Jiaoyang is such a fool, always doing things that drive people to the brink. Poor Yue Bai, he's hit rock bottom, bankrupt and with three broken ribs. Considering his plight, I'll let today's incident slide," Zi Shan said, massaging her cheeks, sore from laughter.

"Miss, how can you just let him off the hook so easily? He lost all his money because of his own greed," Xiaohong said, her disdain for Yue Bai evident.

"I'm in a good mood, so I'm sparing him. Besides, Loong Jiaoyang has revealed his talent for alchemy; my father certainly won't allow Gao Bing to kill him now," Zi Shan replied with a smile.

Xiaohong gave Zi Shan a puzzled look and ventured, "Miss, you couldn't possibly be falling for Loong Jiaoyang, could you?"

"What are you blabbering about? Slap yourself!" Zi Shan's mood flipped instantly, her face flushing as she commanded.

Papapa.

Xiaohong lightly slapped her own cheeks twice, "I won't speak carelessly again, Miss."

"You cheeky girl, you're asking for a scolding," Zi Shan huffed, then suddenly inquired, "Xiaohong, why on earth would you think I have feelings for Loong Jiaoyang? You know as well as I do that I only brought him here to provoke Gao Bing."

After a brief pause, a look of sadness crossed Zi Shan's beautiful face. "My father has made it clear that in two years, when I turn eighteen, I will be wed to Gao Bing. Nothing can change that. Such is the destiny of a Saintess of the Profound Girl Sect."

"Miss, I only speculated because I noticed your deep concern for Loong Jiaoyang," Xiaohong said, her voice softening as she saw Zi Shan's forlorn and mournful expression. "Miss, if you truly do not wish to marry Holy Son Gao Bing, then Loong Jiaoyang might be the only one who can alter this course."

Zi Shan turned sharply towards Xiaohong, her desolate sadness giving way to a radiant smile. She, too, believed that Loong Jiaoyang could be the one to change her fate.

...

The tale of Loong Jiaoyang crafting a fist-sized Power Boosting Pill, losing all his money to Yue Bai in a wager, and his subsequent despair that led him to contemplate suicide, swept through the Profound Girl Sect in a single night.

Holy Son Gao Bing was oblivious to these events. Having received the Spirit Gathering Pill from Zi Chongyang, the sect master of the Profound Girl Sect, he immediately secluded himself for cultivation.

Yet, the incident caused considerable unrest among those close to Holy Son Gao Bing. Some moved in the shadows, casually passing by the guest room where Loong Jiaoyang resided.

Zhou Li was well aware of these developments but chose not to intervene. She resolved not to act unless these individuals confronted Loong Jiaoyang outside of her watchful gaze.

Zhou Li harbored a deep loathing for Loong Jiaoyang, now linked to Saintess Zi Shan. She was constantly tormented by regret, questioning why she hadn't ended his life when she had the chance.

Nevertheless, the Profound Girl Sect's disciples found it challenging to harm Loong Jiaoyang, given his dedication to the art of pill refining. Once he entered the Pill Fire District, he would immerse himself in his craft for the entire day.

Over the past three days, Loong Jiaoyang had been refining pills with a fervor bordering on obsession. The pills he produced were of exceptional quality, their medicinal effects and appearance meeting the highest of standards.

Guo Liangren had grown quite close to Loong Jiaoyang over the past few days and was deeply appreciative of Jiaoyang's help in winning a bet. He frequently fetched ingredients for Jiaoyang's potent Power Pills. However, today, Jiaoyang had lost interest in crafting Strength Boosting Pills; his sights were set on concocting the second-grade Spirit Gathering Pill.

Jiaoyang realized that despite possessing the Pill Devil's memories of pill refinement, there were many techniques he couldn't perform. To craft a Vein Pursuing Pill and heal his meridian injuries, he needed to master the second-grade Medicine Pills first. Only then could he attempt the third-grade Vein Pursuing Pill.

To prepare for the Spirit Gathering Pill, Jiaoyang had gritted his teeth through the agonizing practice of the Great Devil Heart Sutra the previous night, advancing to the Great Completion Period of the Human realm. His Evil Blood Demon Foundation and the eight extraordinary meridians both expanded fivefold, subjecting him to excruciating pain beyond words.

Nevertheless, Jiaoyang was determined to persevere through the ordeal. The Spirit Gathering Pill's refinement required an immense amount of spiritual qi, and attempting it at the peak of the Human Stage without sufficient Spirit Power was likely to end in failure.

Upon arriving at the pill refining room he'd been using recently, Jiaoyang saw a figure in white standing outside. Yue Bai and others gazed at this individual with deep respect.

Guo Liangren had been lying in wait and, spotting Jiaoyang, stealthily emerged to warn him, "Fellow Daoist Loong Jiaoyang, don't approach. That man is Gao Bing's elder brother, Gao Chuan, a Tier 2 alchemist."

"Gao Chuan, is he here for me?" Jiaoyang inquired, puzzled.

"Yes, and he intends to disable your hands!" Guo Liangren disclosed with caution.

"Mutilate my hands? He's seeking a fight to the death with me?" A fierce glint flashed in Loong Jiaoyang's eyes. The agony of having his Pubic Region and meridians destroyed by Qin Lan had left him with a deep-seated loathing for the word 'mutilate.'

The thought of Gao Chuan wanting to cripple his hands disturbed Loong Jiaoyang's peace of mind.

"An alchemist engaging in a fight to the death? He intends to best you in the art of pill refining, forcing you to cripple your own hands so you'll never again be able to craft Medicine Pills in this lifetime," Guo Liangren whispered.

"What? Does the Profound Girl Sect condone such contests between alchemists?" Loong Jiaoyang exclaimed in astonishment.

"The sect certainly doesn't permit such duels. However, Fellow Daoist Loong Jiaoyang, since you're not a member of our sect, he can invoke the right to challenge you to a life-and-death match typical among alchemists." Having said that, Guo Liangren gestured towards the path leading away from the spirit field. "You should leave quickly, while he's still unaware of your presence, or else you'll be in grave danger."