Chapter 719: The Bet

A crowd steadily converged on the grand plaza. Soon, almost every member of the Wutang Alchemist Guild was present.

Their gazes were fixed on the handsome young man standing in the middle of the plaza. He was dressed in immaculate white robes, his eyes clear and bright, yet also deep and intimidating.

Beside him stood Wu Qianqian, Gao Yang, Yueh Rui, and a few others.

"So that’s the brat who’s arrogantly challenging the Wutang Alchemist Guild. He even brought the Wu Family’s Pill Masters. Looks like he came prepared."

"What’s there to be afraid of? When it comes to alchemy, who can possibly beat our Alchemist Guild? No matter how many of them show up, they’re just asking for humiliation."

The crowd surrounding Ye Wushuang buzzed with discussion, contempt, and disdain.

With the Pill King presiding over the Guild, not even Patriarch Wu would dare to act so insolently here, let alone some brat who was still wet behind the ears!

"Qianqian, get over here!"

Wu Lanlan shouted to Wu Qianqian, wanting her to distance herself from Ye Wushuang and avoid the inevitable embarrassment.

But Wu Qianqian didn’t do as she was told. She noticed that even in the face of this intimidating scene, Ye Wushuang’s expression hadn’t changed in the slightest. He remained calm and collected, utterly composed.

He showed no signs of nervousness at the prospect of facing the Pill King. That confidence alone made her decide to trust Ye Wushuang without a moment’s hesitation.

’Just you wait. You’re going to be utterly humiliated.’

Ming Lang thought coldly as he stared at Ye Wushuang.

RUMBLE!

Before long, a series of figures emerged from the Pill Halls surrounding the plaza. Each one rode upon a cluster of Exotic Fire, soaring over the crowd before landing in the center, right in front of Ye Wushuang.

"It’s the seven great Pill Master elders of our Guild!"

A commotion swept through the crowd at the sight of the newcomers.

Ye Wushuang turned to look as well. The seven men were dressed in blue robes, each with a silver badge pinned to their chest.

The silver badges were emblazoned with the symbol of an Exotic Fire, marked with nine stars!

This was the mark of a Ninth-Level Alchemist!

Furthermore, their Cultivation was at the Pseudo-Saint Level. Dao Marks flowed across their bodies, and the searing, destructive aura of flames washed over the onlookers.

"Elders!"

Ming Lang seized the opportunity to step forward and bow.

The seven men nodded before turning to Ye Wushuang. They scanned him from head to toe and frowned; to their surprise, they couldn’t see through his Cultivation!

However, their gazes didn’t linger on Ye Wushuang for long. They turned to Yueh Rui and said coldly, "Yueh Rui, as Pill Masters of the Wu Family, you barge into our Alchemist Guild as a group. Are you looking to have a contest with us?"

Upon hearing this, Yueh Rui and the others could only force a bitter smile. They might want to issue a challenge, but in front of the man standing right there, they weren’t the least bit qualified to do so!

"Elder Xiaa, you’ve misunderstood. We’ve come today because we have business with your Guild Master."

"See our Guild Master? Surely you don’t mean to seek guidance from him?"

Elder Xiaa sneered, his expression full of disdain. In Wutang City, the Pill King was an invincible existence!

"Elder Xiaa, why must you be so..."

Seeing Elder Xiaa’s overbearing attitude, Yueh Rui felt a flicker of anger. But just as he was about to say more, Ye Wushuang waved a hand, cutting him off.

Then, Ye Wushuang stepped forward and said nonchalantly, "You’re not wrong. I was just thinking I’d like to exchange a few pointers with your Guild Master!"

"Challenge our Guild Master?"

The seven Elders were momentarily stunned, their gazes abruptly fixing on Ye Wushuang.

"Hahaha!"

The surrounding crowd erupted in laughter, as if they had just heard the world’s greatest joke. They stared at Ye Wushuang with mocking expressions, as if looking at an arrogant fool.

"Do you know what they’re laughing at?"

Elder Xiaa collected himself and sneered. "A man without even a Pill Master’s badge wants to challenge the Pill King. I don’t know whether to call you young and reckless or arrogant and ignorant. If you want a challenge, there’s no need to bother the Pill King. I’ll deign to give you a few pointers myself!"

Ye Wushuang remained perfectly composed and asked leisurely, "Can you represent the entire Guild?"

"You could say that."

Elder Xiaa didn’t understand why Ye Wushuang would ask such a question, but he answered without hesitation. As the Great Elder, he could indeed represent the Guild.

Besides, ’with my many years of experience in alchemy, how could I not be able to teach some arrogant punk a lesson?’

"Good."

Ye Wushuang uttered a single word.

"Very well, then let’s begin."

Elder Xiaa sneered. This arrogant young man truly needed to be taught a lesson.

"We can begin," Ye Wushuang said calmly. "But since this is a competition, there must be a winner and a loser. And what’s the point of a competition without some stakes?"

Stakes?

At that, Wu Qianqian, Yueh Rui, and the others narrowed their eyes. They seemed to realize what Ye Wushuang was up to.

He was most likely after the Celestial Essence Emperor Heart Grass!

They exchanged glances and smiled wryly. All they could do was offer a moment of silence for the Alchemist Guild in their hearts.

"Stakes? I have no objection. What do you want to bet?"

Oblivious to the real reason, Elder Xiaa paused for a moment before asking.

"If I win, I want the Celestial Essence Emperor Heart Grass from your Alchemist Guild. And beyond that..." Ye Wushuang stared calmly at Elder Xiaa’s face, "...you will also give yourself one hundred slaps."

"You..."

Hearing Ye Wushuang’s conditions, Elder Xiaa’s expression turned icy, his eyes brimming with killing intent!

The other Elders snorted coldly as well. "If he wants to bet, then take the bet," one said with disdain. "Don’t let him think the Alchemist Guild is afraid of him."

"Fine, I accept your terms," Elder Xiaa sneered, a vicious glint in his eyes. "However, if you lose, I want you to... sever your own hands. Furthermore, from now on, whenever you encounter anyone from the Wutang Alchemist Guild, you will kneel and clear the path."

"How vicious!"

Yueh Rui and the others frowned upon hearing Elder Xiaa’s demands.

"Then let us begin."

Ye Wushuang’s expression remained unchanged. He hadn’t taken the threat to heart in the slightest.

"You just get ready to sever your own arms," Elder Xiaa said with a contemptuous smile as he walked onto the high platform in the center of the plaza.

Yueh Rui and the other Pill Masters from the Wu Family shook their heads and sighed to themselves, once again offering a silent prayer for Elder Xiaa.

The crowd’s attention then shifted to the high platform.

Elder Xiaa produced a Pill Furnace and set it before him. It was a Half-Saint Level furnace, and the faint fragrance of herbs still clung to it. He had clearly used it to refine a great number of Treasure Pills.

Ye Wushuang also produced a cyan Pill Furnace. Down below, Wu Qianqian recognized it as the very one he had acquired at the Trading House.

"The rules are as follows: we have a quarter of an hour to each refine one Nine-Grade Treasure Pill. Failure to produce a pill results in a loss. Producing a pill of inferior quality results in a loss. Since the Wu Family’s Pill Masters are present, we can have joint supervision. No one will be able to deny the outcome."

Elder Xiaa announced loudly.

"Elder Xiaa, you must cut off that arrogant fool’s arms! Make an example of him, or every nobody will think they can challenge the Alchemist Guild’s authority!"

"Begin!"

With a shout, Elder Xiaa released a ball of blue flame—it was a special type of Exotic Fire!

The Pill Furnace instantly began to tremble. He released his Divine Soul, placed the medicinal ingredients inside, and stared with rapt attention.

Ye Wushuang, however, simply stood there calmly without making a move, looking completely at ease. His current skill had already surpassed that of a Pill King, to the point where he wasn’t even sure what Realm he had reached. Refining a Nine-Grade Treasure Pill was child’s play for him.

"Don’t tell me the brat’s been scared stiff."

Seeing him remain motionless, the crowd began to jeer, assuming Ye Wushuang had stage fright.

"So much for being some great expert. He’s all talk. When it’s time for action, he’s completely useless!"

Wu Lanlan scoffed. She failed to notice, however, that the Wu Family Elders were now staring at Ye Wushuang with rapt attention, incredibly tense, as if they were waiting for something momentous to happen.

Time ticked by, second by second. Ye Wushuang still hadn’t moved, while the fragrance of medicinal herbs had already begun to waft from Elder Xiaa’s Pill Furnace.

And at that very moment, Ye Wushuang finally moved.