C12 Pushing into a Corner!

"Take these two pill refining rooms down and turn them into the arena for my showdown with Loong Jiaoyang," Gao Chuan commanded with an icy stare at Loong Jiaoyang. He directed the others to dismantle the outer walls of the two alchemy chambers, situated about three meters apart, leaving only the alchemy platforms intact.

Guo Liangren sidled up to Loong Jiaoyang, his voice laced with concern, "Fellow Daoist Loong Jiaoyang, how could you accept this challenge? You've only ever made Power Pills; how could you possibly concoct a Spirit Gathering Pill with just one set of ingredients?"

"I had planned to push the challenge to a month later after accepting, but Gao Chuan is too sly, insisting on an immediate contest," Loong Jiaoyang replied with a hint of bitterness.

In a hushed tone, Guo Liangren said, "Fellow Daoist Loong Jiaoyang, I'll try to get Saintess Zi Shan to come to your aid. Just buy some time and avoid a quick defeat in your pill-making."

"There's no need to risk it; they won't let you leave. And I'm not going to lose this competition," Loong Jiaoyang declared, his voice brimming with confidence as he shed his earlier despondence.

Staring at Loong Jiaoyang, Guo Liangren finally spoke, "Fellow Daoist Loong Jiaoyang, you've never even made a Spirit Gathering Pill before. Where does this certainty of victory come from?"

"Having never attempted it means I've never failed. And I've never considered the possibility of not succeeding at something I haven't failed at before," Loong Jiaoyang stated with unwavering confidence.

After a moment of reflection, Guo Liangren murmured to himself, "Fellow Daoist Loong Jiaoyang, that's quite the positive mindset."

If Saintess Zi Shan were here, she'd surely remark, "Fool Loong, you're being foolish again."

Soon after, Yue Bai and the disciples who had been gathering herbs returned, accompanied by over three hundred apprentice alchemists from the Pill Fire District.

The alchemical duel between Gao Chuan and Loong Jiaoyang had captured the attention of all. Loong Jiaoyang, the enigmatic man associated with the Holy Maiden, had become the talk of the town. In just a few days, he had transformed from an apprentice with no alchemy skills to a first-grade alchemist capable of consistently producing first-grade Power Pills.

His rapid ascent fueled the envy and bitterness of apprentices who had spent a decade attempting to refine Medicine Pills, yet had nothing to show for it.

Today, Loong Jiaoyang was set to engage in a deadly alchemist's duel with Gao Chuan, sparking eager anticipation among the apprentice alchemists of the Profound Girl Sect. They were keen to witness a man, who had effortlessly mastered pill refining, plummet from a high rise, doomed to be unable to refine pills for the rest of his days.

"Senior Brother Gao Chuan, here's your Spirit Jade Pill Refining Furnace," Yue Bai said, handing over a human head-sized, flawless green furnace to Gao Chuan.

Loong Jiaoyang eyed the Spirit Jade Pill Refining Furnace in Gao Chuan's grasp, and memories from the Pill Devil swirled in his mind. It was a medium-grade furnace—not the highest quality, but still several times more potent than a crude earthenware version. Moreover, the Pill Fire Formation within the Spirit Jade Furnace was particularly intense, making it ideal for concocting Spirit Gathering Pills.

"Gao Chuan, you've only brought one Spirit Jade Pill Refining Furnace. How am I supposed to compete with you?" Loong Jiaoyang questioned, frowning, as he noticed Yue Bai and the others had only procured one furnace.

"Hahaha, Loong Jiaoyang, have you lost your mind?" Yue Bai sneered, "What makes you think you're worthy of using a Spirit Jade Pill Refining Furnace?"

"That furnace is reserved for second-tier alchemists. You've never even successfully refined a second-tier Medicine Pill, so where would we get a Spirit Jade Pill Refining Furnace for you?" Yue Bai laughed heartily, his contempt for Loong Jiaoyang even more pronounced.

A shadow fell over Loong Jiaoyang's heart, and he retorted with a dark expression, "Gao Chuan, if you don't provide a Pill Refining Furnace suitable for crafting second-grade Medicine Pills, how can we even begin to compete?"

"Loong Jiaoyang, you must be joking. In a fight to the death, there's no reason to supply the opponent with a Pill Refining Furnace. Besides, I've told you countless times—you can simply concede, cripple your hands, and leave the Profound Girl Sect." Gao Chuan held the Spirit Jade Pill Refining Furnace with a domineering air.

Loong Jiaoyang inhaled deeply, attempting to steady his nerves. This time, Gao Chuan's cunning had truly backed him into a corner.

The Spirit Gathering Pill simply couldn't be produced in an earthen jar Pill Refining Furnace. The pill fire's formation was too feeble, the flames too weak. More critically, the furnace itself was fragile, at risk of exploding under the assault of potent medicinal forces.

Guo Liangren fretted over Loong Jiaoyang's potential swift defeat. If that happened, not only would Loong Jiaoyang face the peril of crippling his hand, but he would also be saddled with a massive debt of tens of millions of Gold Coins, dooming him to a lifetime of servitude under Gao Chuan.

Yue Bai and his group couldn't hide their glee; they relished the sight of Loong Jiaoyang's setbacks. They were eager to witness his downfall before he had a chance to rise.

"Loong Jiaoyang, will you concede, or shall we begin the challenge?" Gao Chuan demanded, his tone pressing.

"Let's compete!" Loong Jiaoyang growled fiercely, turning to enter the alchemy room, now stripped down to just the refining platform after numerous uses.

Gao Chuan watched Loong Jiaoyang with a mocking sneer. "Do you really think you can craft Spirit Gathering Pills in an earthenware furnace?"

"Exactly. I'll take you on with my earthen jar Pill Refining Furnace!" Loong Jiaoyang affirmed with a nod.

"Heh, Loong Jiaoyang, you might as well surrender now. There's no way that furnace can produce a Spirit Gathering Pill," Gao Chuan taunted.

"The earthenware pill refining furnace is capable of producing a Spirit Gathering Pill, and today, you'll witness it," Loong Jiaoyang shot back.

"Fine, I look forward to being astonished. But don't overdo it and end up blowing yourself to bits. Though, I must admit, I'd find that quite enjoyable, and I'd even splurge on a fine coffin for your burial," Gao Chuan said with a cold laugh.

"Enough talk. Bring me the ingredients; let's get this started!" Loong Jiaoyang demanded, eager to commence the contest. Guo Liangren shuddered, his mind racing with worry. "Fellow Daoist Loong Jiaoyang, don't rush into this. If Saintess Zi Shan gets wind of this and comes to our aid, we might yet have a chance to break free. Are you trying to doom us all right now..."

"Go, deliver the medicinal herbs to him; let's wrap this up quickly."

The ingredients were swiftly brought to Loong Jiaoyang's alchemy platform, while Gao Chuan took his share and proceeded to another station.

Loong Jiaoyang didn't rush to process the herbs. Instead, he inverted the earthenware pill furnace, channeling Spirit Power to connect with the furnace's pill fire matrix.

Driven to desperation, Loong Jiaoyang resorted to a perilously risky tactic to confront the challenge. Pill Devil, no ordinary alchemist, held in his memory a technique to alter the furnace's formation.

Applied to a robust Pill Refining Furnace, the method's adverse effects were minimal. But on a weaker one, it spelled certain ruin.

"Oh, earthenware furnace, after today, you'll rest in peace. I don't wish to destroy you, but I'm left with no choice. Once the pill is successfully refined, I promise to find a feng shui treasure spot for your burial. In doing so, you'll return to the earth, to the dust, back to your elemental roots," Loong Jiaoyang whispered to himself, his finger ablaze with a sphere of fire as he touched the base of the furnace.

"Eternal Alchemy Art—Surging Pill Fire Matrix!" Loong Jiaoyang bellowed inwardly, his fiery finger swiftly slashing across the base of the earthenware furnace.

The Surging Pill Fire Matrix technique employed blazing Li Fire Spirit Power to swiftly incise the existing pill fire matrix at the furnace's base, etching three fiery lines. These lines, once formed, instantly redirected the matrix's energy into the furnace.

Throughout this ordeal, the earthenware furnace shuddered. Even before the Medicine Pill refinement began, the furnace's body bore fine cracks from the intense modification.