Chapter 716: Collectively Subdued

Just as Ye Wushuang finished speaking, Yueh Rui and his companions walked in.

They hadn’t known the address, but Ming Lang had told them that if they followed the Second Miss, they would find the person who had so brazenly provoked them.

And so, they had followed Wu Qianqian here!

"You..." Wu Qianqian was instantly furious. She pointed at the men, then quickly turned to Ye Wushuang. "Young Master, I swear I didn’t reveal your address! You have to believe me! I didn’t know they were following me."

Wu Qianqian explained frantically, but it was a situation she couldn’t talk her way out of.

"It’s not as if I have something to hide. If they want to follow, let them. It’s of no concern." Ye Wushuang shook his head. How could he not understand what was going on?

"So you’re the expert who cured the Second Miss’s cold syndrome?"

Yueh Rui stepped forward and asked. The others came forward as well, their faces grim, still furious over Ming Lang’s provocation.

"What business do you have here?" Ye Wushuang asked.

"We heard you want to challenge us to an Alchemy competition." Yueh Rui’s tone was aggressive, his eyes fixed on Ye Wushuang. Two clusters of cyan flame flickered within them, an exceedingly strange sight!

"Elder Yueh, who told you that? When did Young Master Ye ever say he wanted to challenge you? You must have made a mistake."

Wu Qianqian was puzzled. She had been here for her treatment the past few days and hadn’t heard a thing. ’How did they hear about this?’

She turned to look at Ye Wushuang.

Ye Wushuang’s brow furrowed. "I’d like to know who told you that."

From their words, he had a vague sense that someone had deliberately instigated them.

However, he couldn’t figure out who he might have offended. ’Could it be that Fang Xing from before?’

"Never mind who said it. Since you issued the challenge, then I would like to witness your Alchemy Dao for myself."

Yueh Rui said no more and immediately set up a Pill Furnace in the courtyard. The other Pill Masters all watched on, determined to take this young man down a peg, no matter what.

"How tedious."

At the sight, Ye Wushuang tossed out the word and said to Wu Qianqian, "Time for your treatment."

"You all... This is absurd!" Wu Qianqian was furious. ’Aren’t they just putting me in an awkward position?’ She huffed and followed behind Ye Wushuang.

"It was Ming Lang who said you wanted to challenge us," Yueh Rui called out as he saw Ye Wushuang starting to leave.

"Ming Lang?" Ye Wushuang paused, turning to look at the men, and then at Wu Qianqian.

"It was him?" Wu Qianqian’s face was a mask of disbelief.

"You know him?" Ye Wushuang asked. He was certain he had no connection whatsoever to this Ming Lang, yet the man was trying to cause him harm.

"Ming Lang is the top genius of the Wutang Alchemist Guild. He treated my illness before, and he’s always been so warm, humble, and polite. I never imagined he could be this kind of person."

Wu Qianqian truly was surprised; she never would have expected it.

In her memory, Ming Lang was the model of a perfect gentleman. To think he would resort to such petty, backstabbing behavior!

Seeing their expressions, Yueh Rui and the other Elders began to realize they had been used as pawns.

However, this wasn’t the time to dwell on that. Since they had already issued the challenge, it was the perfect opportunity to test their skills against this expert.

They would sort everything else out after the competition was over.

"You want a challenge? I accept. However, my time is limited. I’ll give you a quarter of an hour." Now that he understood the situation, Ye Wushuang addressed them.

"Fine! I shall be the one." Yueh Rui stepped forward. His skill in the Alchemy Dao was a cut above the others, so it was fitting for him to go first.

Seeing that Yueh Rui was about to begin his Alchemy, Gao Yang and his son also moved closer.

WHOOSH!

Yueh Rui composed himself, his expression growing serious as he stared at the Pill Furnace. A torrent of cyan flame erupted from his body. This was also a type of Exotic Fire, called the Cyan Demon Fire!

It ranked relatively low on the Exotic Fire List.

He then took out the medicinal ingredients and began the process: melting and refining the materials, extracting their essence, and then starting the pill fusion...

He executed the dozens of steps in the process with exceptional smoothness.

「A quarter of an hour later.」

HUMMM!

The Pill Furnace shuddered. The Cyan Demon Fire receded, revealing an Elixir glowing with a cyan halo and hovering within. It was a Nine-Grade Treasure Pill: the Cyan Nether Pill!

"Elder Yueh, to complete a Nine-Grade Treasure Pill in a quarter of an hour, and a high-quality one at that... Your skill in the Alchemy Dao has improved quite a bit."

The others beside him were all amazed at the sight.

Gao Yang and his son were also shocked and filled with envy. This was the work of a master!

"Your turn."

Yueh Rui looked up at Ye Wushuang. "You’re young, so I won’t take advantage of you. I’ll give you more time—one hour. If you can refine a Nine-Grade Treasure Pill of the same rank, I’ll consider it your victory."

"One hour?"

Ye Wushuang shook his head with a smile. With one hand clasped behind his back, he walked forward, glanced at Yueh Rui and his companions, then turned to the Pill Furnace. He raised a hand and took out all the ingredients at once.

HUMMM!

The crowd only heard the sound of space itself trembling. Purple and crimson flames burst from Ye Wushuang’s body, surging into the Pill Furnace like two coiling, fiery True Dragons.

The flames flared, erupting with a sizzling sound.

Immediately after, Ye Wushuang’s hands began to fly, forming a series of Profound gestures as countless seals sank into the Pill Furnace.

HUMMM!

The Pill Furnace trembled again. In an instant, the two flames receded, and a Cyan Nether Pill appeared inside, shimmering with cyan light and exuding an overwhelming fragrance.

"Let’s go. Time for your treatment."

Without a second glance, Ye Wushuang called out to Wu Qianqian and headed for the room.

Wu Qianqian stared blankly for a moment before mechanically following after him.

Meanwhile, Yueh Rui and the other Pill Masters were left completely dumbfounded, their eyes wide in disbelief.

Not one hour, but a few short seconds. He had finished refining a Nine-Grade Treasure Pill, the Cyan Nether Pill, just like that. ’Is this even Alchemy?’

’What kind of speed is this?!’

Yueh Rui and the others stared at Ye Wushuang’s retreating back, feeling as if none of it was real.

"Quick, quick! Check the quality of the Treasure Pill!"

An Elder urged. Yueh Rui hurriedly picked up the Cyan Nether Pill and examined it closely, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

’Could it be a Top Grade Cyan Nether Pill?’

Seeing Yueh Rui’s expression of disbelief, the other old men crowded around.

"It’s not," Yueh Rui said. The other Elders let out a collective sigh of relief. If the quality had surpassed his as well, that would have been truly inconceivable.

However, just as they were thinking this, Yueh Rui continued, "It’s the absolute best of Top Grade. It has... a Pill Pattern!"

"What?! A Pill Pattern!"

Hearing those two words, the other men nearly jumped out of their skin. They knew the weight those words carried. They snatched the pill and examined it as if it were a priceless treasure.

"It’s really there, and so clear! Incredible, simply incredible!"

"A true master!"

"I have no words!"

The Elders were shocked beyond measure. To refine a Nine-Grade Treasure Pill in mere seconds, and one with a Pill Pattern at that—it was something they had never even heard of.

A Pill Pattern, in particular, required an extraordinarily high level of skill in Alchemy to produce.

"We are utterly outmatched."

Yueh Rui looked to the heavens and sighed. Today, he had truly witnessed something extraordinary.

Nearby, Gao Yang and his son exchanged a look, at a complete loss for words.