1021 Pill Competition 3
Once Sima You Yue had finished tidying up the ingredients, she began to refine the third type. Right now, she wasn’t tired in the least. It wasn’t going to be a problem for her to refine another furnace full of pills.
“This guy’s mental strength is too good! Isn’t he tired at all?”
“Look at his face. Does he even look tired?”
“Nope. He looks perfectly energetic.”
“This brat is so mentally strong that it’s scary.”
“Exactly. After refining pills for a whole day, he’s the only one who hasn’t taken a break.”
“He’s so powerful at such a young age. He’ll definitely be a heaven-defying existence in the future.”
“An Array Master, has a contract with the King of the Rocs and is an alchemist to boot. With this kind of talent, it would be great if we were able to pull him over to my sect!”
“Hmph, even if he were to choose a sect, he would choose ours. He would have a brighter future at our sect as compared to yours!”
“Your clan? Forget it. No matter how talented he is, it’d just be neglected?”
“Both of you, stop fighting. He definitely won’t choose either of your sects. There’s no point to you fighting!”
“What is the meaning of this?!”
“Simple. Your quarrel is distracting me from watching the competition!”
“Who are you? You dare butt into our affairs!”
“Noisy!” Shi Qian Zhi waved his hand, and that person immediately grabbed his throat, unable to say another word.
“Shut up. You’ll naturally be able to speak once the competition ends. Otherwise, you can forget about ever speaking for the rest of your life!” Shi Qian Zhi turned back to watch Sima You Yue refine pills once he was done speaking.
Although the two men were disgruntled, they dared not make a fuss because they saw something symbolic on Shi Qian Zhi. A red fan.
There was nobody in the inner regions who did not know about Shi Qian Zhi’s proficiency in poison. If they dared to mess with him, they would definitely meet a poor end.
Since he said that he would cure them of the poison once the pill battle was over, staying silent was the best course of action.
“Divine Envoy, will this not cause trouble?” A lady beside Shi Qian Zhi asked.
“What trouble?” Shi Qian Zhi said as he looked at the two men, “Will you cause trouble for me?”
“Mmmph Mmmmph-” The two men hurriedly shook their heads, showing that they definitely wouldn’t!
The person saw the clear unveiled threat and shook her head helplessly.
“Divine Envoy, Sir Right Emissary, he…”
“Relax. Nobody else will be able to tell.” Shi Qian Zhi said, “Although there may be some that wonder why he has changed his method of revenge, just let him do whatever he wants to do. Just take note of any needs he might have.”
“Understood.”
Shi Qian Zhi looked at Sima You Yue’s….. front, to the person in front of her, and asked, “Just wait till your face is slapped!”
Sima You Yue’s attention was completely on the medicinal liquid inside the furnace. She did not notice those around her watching her and neither did she care.
“If you achieve stellar results in this competition, your father would definitely be proud.”
This single sentence kept swimming around in her mind. What kind of results would make her father proud? She didn’t know. She only knew that the better they were, the better.
Fusing, binding, she did every step cautiously and methodically right until the pill was refined successfully.
A smooth journey!
Those who were looking at the platform were stunned. Ever since she started refining her first batch of pills, she had never stopped right until she finished refining them all.
Furthermore, she didn’t halt or make a single mistake. It was as if she had refined those pills a hundred times before.
“This amount of mental strength. It’s just…”
“I’ve never seen this perverse amount of mental strength even from the people in the first group.”
“I wonder how he would fare competing against those from the first group
“Forget it. How young is that guy, and how old are the others. He’s lived for but a small fraction of the time they have. His mental strength is also far beyond theirs. If he was able to surpass them, it would be impossible.”
“He may not be able to now, but he may in the future.”
“That’s right, we’ll wait and see…”
“…”
Sima You Yue placed her fully refined pills on the table before giving a wave. A person in charge of recording the results came over immediately to take down her score, time, rank, quantity of pills and so on.
Once he was done, Sima You Yue walked off the stage and looked around the entire place. She was the first one to finish.
“Yue Yue, you’re so powerful!” Little Seven excitedly raised and waved her little hand.
“Not bad.” Mao San Quan nodded satisfactorily.
Sima You Yue walked back to her seat and felt like there was a very peculiar set of eyes watching her. She raised her head and took a look.
Shi Qian Zhi held his teacup in his hand and slightly raised it to her in salute. Then, he drank the rest of the tea.
Sima You Yue furrowed her eyebrows lightly and seemed to have realised something as she lifted her head up to look towards the stage.
The person standing in front of her, the stranger that seemed familiar…
As time dragged on, more and more people started to complete the refinement of their own pills. Once it was twelve in the afternoon, Ji Qing Yuan announced the end of the competition. Nobody else could continue refining pills, and the person in charge of recording the scores went around to take them down.
“We need half a day to tabulate the scores and will notify you of your respective positions tomorrow afternoon. The next round of the competition will commence the day after.”
After speaking, he left with those who had kept the scores.
On the morning of the second day, everyone was discussing the results of the battle this year, trying to guess whether or not they would be able to enter the semifinals.
As for Sima You Yue, she was inside the room, but nobody was interested in that.
“You’re saying that the person is Jiang Jun Xian?” Han Miao Shuang’s eyes went wide as she cried out excitedly.
“I’m guessing that it should be him.” Sima You Yue said, “I saw Shi Qian Zhi when I was looking at the platform. If Eldest Senior wasn’t here, based on his character, he wouldn’t come just to watch the competition.”
“Could it possibly be someone else?” Su Xiao Xiao asked.
“Does anyone else feel familiar?” Sima You Yue threw the question back at her.
“No.” Han Miao Shuang and Su Xiao Xiao shook their heads.
“Then that’s that.” Sima You Yue said, “Although his outward appearance is different and others can’t recognise him, the gaze with which he looks at us is a little different. This is why he feels familiar but is also a stranger.”
“So you’re saying that the person really is him? Didn’t he initially represent Jiang Jun Zhe? Why has he decided to attend the competition in this way instead?”
“He must have thought it through. This would cause the Jiang clan more regret, and give them a good slap to their faces.” Han Miao Shuang shrugged.
“If I were him, I would defeat Jiang Jun Zhe then reveal his identity to let them feel like they missed out on such a talented individual. Then, he would kill them, causing them to die with regret.” Su Xiao Xiao said.
“How troublesome.” Little Seven stepped on the table and said, “If i were him, I would just beat Jiang Jun Zhe up a few times, till his own parents wouldn’t be able to recognise him. Then I would break his arms so he would never be able to refine another pill again!”
A directly brutal approach!
“There are times where a psychological blow is more tortuous than pain to the body.” Sima You Yue said, “However, I feel like he may not necessarily not do what Little Seven said.”
Chapter 1022 Pill Competition 4
When afternoon came, the results from the competition on the first day were out.
The results were within expectations. Sima You Yue was at the top of the list, far ahead of the second place while the one behind him was extremely close.
Mao San Quan and the others were ecstatic when they knew of the results. Based on her score, not to mention reaching the top hundred, it was even within her reach to become first place. The sect would finally be able to wipe the sweat off their brow!
Sima You Yue didn’t have any reaction when she saw the results of the competition. She only asked, “How many more rounds are there to the competition? It wouldn’t be too late to rejoice only once it has ended.”
She took Sima Liu Xuan’s life jade and couldn’t bring herself to feel happy when she couldn’t figure out where he was.
The reason she had tried so hard this time was because she wanted him to be proud of her as his daughter. However, he couldn’t even see it with his own eyes.
She wanted to go and look for him, but she wasn’t able to. All she could do now was to cultivate, cultivate and cultivate!
Once she was strong enough, she would be able to go and look for him. She would be able to find out what happened to her mother.
Her establishment of her own influence was already on the right track. She wouldn’t have to interfere much in the happenings later on. When she thought about the events that were on her shoulders, she felt like once this competition was over, she would have to go into seclusion for a moment to help her strength develop properly.
On the morning of the second day, the second round of the competition had begun. The number of participants were cut by half.
“For the competition today, you are to refine three of the pills that you are proficient in. Prepare your own ingredients. The results will, of course, be based on the rank, time, quantity of your completed pills and so on. Good luck.”
Everyone knew long ago what this round would be like. That was why they had long since prepared the medicinal ingredients they needed inside their spatial tools. Once Ji Qing Yuan made the announcement, they took out these tools and began to refine the pills they specialised in.
The amount of time they took was obviously a lot less than the previous round. Furthermore, it didn’t seem like there was any incident of any furnace exploding. Everyone finished refining their pills before the time was up. For a perverse genius like Sima You Yue, she was quicker than the others by a third.
The final results were only announced on the second day. When Sima You Yue placed first, nobody was surprised anymore.
A few hundred contestants were dropped this time and only the first hundred competitors were able to enter the next round.
When the third round of the competition started, only a hundred contestants from the second group remained. It could be because the later matches were more exciting, so when the third round began, the two groups did not compete at the same time, but were a day apart. This allowed everyone to watch both battles.
“I didn’t think that you would have this ability in alchemy, but there are times where even a blind cat will be able to bump into a dead mouse, right?” Gu Xi Ping walked past Sima You Yue as he sneered.
Sima You Yue pretended not to hear him as she lowered her head and toyed with her fingernail.
There was no need to bother herself with people like him.
Gu Xi Ping was expecting a reply and shot her a glare before returning to his own seat.
The third round of the competition was on the refinement of a set pill. However, it was different from the first round. The pills were relatively more common, they were just a little more difficult to refine.
Furthermore, they did not circulate the pill that was going to be refined this round. The guild would provide the pill method and ingredients to allow the contestants time to focus on studying and following the traditional way of refining the pills.
Every single table had three portions of ingredients, which also meant that everyone had three chances. If they used up all their chances, that meant that they were disqualified immediately.
When Ji Qing Yuan announced the start of the competition, the contestants took out the pill recipe and started to study it. There were those whose expressions were overjoyed when they saw it because they had seen it often. They immediately started to refine the pills.
Xia Chang Tian and Zhao Xiang Qi had long since known that something like this would occur. It was impossible for nobody to have seen the pill recipe before. In order to ensure fairness, they changed the recipe a little to change a few types of ingredients. The method of refinement would be different, then.
“Bang-”
The sound of an explosion shocked everyone, who turned around to see what was going on.
When they saw another person fail, many revealed joyful expressions.
Sima You Yue merely glanced for a moment before recollecting herself to continue studying the pill recipe in her hands.
She had seen this method often, but upon careful inspection, she realised a few changes in the middle. That was why she had not started refining yet, deciding to allocate more time to study it carefully before starting.
After an hour or so passed, many began to refine their pills. Sima You Yue started inspecting her ingredients as well.
“Bang-”
Another furnace exploded.
“Bang-”
“Bang-”
More explosions sounded, causing the contestants to fluster and pay more attention.
After Sima You Yue finished inspecting her ingredients, she took a deep breath and began to refine her pill.
“Bang-”
“Bang-”
Sounds of explosions were heard from Sima You Yue’s front and side. However, they did not impact her. However, during the fusion process, because she had misjudged the timing to put in two of the ingredients, it led to a conflict of the ingredients, so her furnace met the same fate.
She was different from the others. She did not immediately pour the failed medicinal liquid away. Instead, she took it out and inspected it before placing it to the side and starting on it again.
This time, her refinement was considered smooth. She took note of all the points that she should and when it was at the point where it had exploded the last time, she was even more careful. Although there were still clunking sounds from the inside of the furnace, due to her experience, after clanging inside for a while, it finally quieted down.
Once the medicinal fluid had completely fused, the later processes posed no problem to her at all.
Very quickly, the fragrance of the pills wafted over, indicating the success of her binding process.
She kept the pills into her jade bottle and there was someone who came immediately to take note of her score. She found out later on that she was not the first one to complete it, and there were many after her who completed it as well.
What was even more surprising to her was that Gu Xi Ping had actually refined it before she did. She even thought that people like him, who liked to provoke others, had heads full of air. She didn’t think that he would have some substance to him.
The competition this day would select the ten best contestants to enter the last round of the competition. Sima You Yue looked at those around her and could more or less guess who managed to advance.
On the second day, the second group was resting and waiting for the results from the day before while the first group had excitedly begun the competition.
This time, Sima You Yue’s contestant resting area was switched to the observatory and her position was different. The corner from which she watched was also different.
A guy sat beside her.
Sima You Yue glanced at him, saying, “What are you doing here? Aren’t you afraid that someone will kill you?”
Shi Qian Zhi opened his fan and shook it, “If I were afraid, I would not be Shi Qian Zhi.”
“Blind arrogance.” Sima You Yue said lightly, “That should be him, right? Did he not initially mix himself with the Jiang Clan? What is doing here in the competition with a different appearance.”
“Wasn’t it you who said that it was better to slap their faces instead of intentionally throwing the battle?” Shi Qian Zhi threw the question back at her.
Sima You Yue was stunned. She had indeed said something like that, but that was something she told Han Miao Shuang and the others. Thinking about it clearly, he must have read her lips and found out what she said, which was why he changed his plans.
1023 Pill Competition 5
Shi Qian Zhi saw that Sima You Yue was rather suspicious and he smiled, saying, “You seem as if you do not know how important you are to him.”
“Is that so?” She looked at the stranger who was Jiang Jun Xian and she seemed to smile a little helplessly as she muttered.
“His heart is actually very bitter.” Shi Qian Zhi said, “Although it’s a little pretentious to say so, having known him for a hundred over years, I can read his mood from his eyes. His anger, hatred, apathy, discomfort. I know them all.”
“Why does it sound like you’re so passionate about him?” Sima You Yue felt a cold shiver.
“Hehe, I am a straight male. I only have interest in females.” Shi Qian Zhi said.
“Mmhmm, the one you like is Shi Qiu Shang. However, she’s just a single female. She doesn’t represent females overall.” Sima You Yue said.
“You even realised this.” Shi Qian Zhi didn’t deny it, “It’s a pity that she has never even once considered me since long ago.”
“You said it yourself that it was a long time ago. It’s different now, I can tell that she can’t bear to leave you.” Sima You Yue said.
“But it’s not because she loves me. However, who cares whether or not it is? It’s enough for her to stay by my side.” Shi Qian Zhi’s smile was tinted with pain.
“An intelligent way of thinking.” Sima You Yue said, “There are times where two people don’t have to mind so much when they are together.”
“You sound like someone who has experienced it before.” Shi Qian Zhi smiled.
“There are some things you don’t have to experience. Just seeing it is the same.” Sima You Yue siad.
“Hehe, maybe.” Shi Qian Zhi laughed lightly. He didn’t know whether she agreed with him or not.
The both of them kept silent later on and continued to watch the competition below. Apart from Jiang Jun Xian, Han Miao Shuang and Su Xiao Xiao passed as well. The other students from the sect were disqualified.
When Jiang Jun Xian was resting, he glanced at Jiang Jun Zhe.
Once the competition was over, Jiang Jun Zhi would definitely not make it to the top ten. When they realised that the one they had abandoned before was the true genius, what kind of expressions would they have?
Sima You Yue looked at Jiang Jun Xian’s eyes and sighed secretly.
As time passed, many completed their refinement and the one in charge of taking note of their scores came to take it down. After that, they returned to their resting area.
Han Miao Shuang and Su Xiao Xiao didn’t complete it that well. Many had finished refining the pills before they were done. However, their expressions weren’t bad. They were not like the others who were flustered and exasperated.
“Do you think Jun Xian will be able to enter the top ten?” Shi Qian Zhi asked.
“Whether or not he can enter, I do not know. But Jian Jun Zhe will definitely not be able to.” Sima You Yue said.
There were still a few tens of people before Jiang Jun Xian had finished. If their results were all higher than his, he would not be able to enter. However, if there were those who did worse than he did, he would still have a chance.
“That guy always looks capable, but he can’t actually do it. It’s already amazing that he was able to enter the top hundred. I dare to bet that he’s one of the last few.” Shi Qian Zhi said.
“I think that we don’t have to bet on that.”
“Bang-”
Just after Sima You Yue spoke, Jiang Jun Zhe’s furnace exploded.
At this moment, his furnace had already exploded three times. He had already lost all of his chances and his score was now zero.
However, he had managed to enter this round, which put him in the top hundred.
“Look at the Jiang clansmen. Haha, their faces are positively green.” Shi Qian Zhi laughed while pointing at the Jiang clan, causing others to look their way as well.
Laughing at others so brazenly, he was really the first!
“Could you be more subtle?” Sima You Yue rolled his eyes.
“This is something to celebrate about. Why should I be subtle about it?” Shi Qian Zhi threw the question back at her.
He had never been someone who laid low. On the other hand, he loved to be high key, which was why many powers in the inner regions knew of him.
However, when he saw Sima You Yue roll her eyes, he still had the bit of awareness not to laugh out loud.
When the competition was over, Shi Qian Zhi was the first to leave. Sima You Yue was rather glad that he had gone off. However, because others had already decided that they were together, they took it all out on her.
By the time they returned to the inn, the results of the day before were released. Sima You Yue was naturally the first one to enter the final round of the pill competition.
Mao San Quan was smiling so wide that his wrinkles were stretched tight. This was the first time in all these years that the sect had raised so many eyebrows. They, who were once the butt of the jokes of many, actually produced someone who caused everyone’s jaws to drop.
In the final competition, Sima You Yue was placed first, Gu Xi Ping was placed seventh, and of the remaining eight, three were from the central region and the rest were from the inner regions. You could see from this just how wide the disparity was between the inner and outer regions.
As for the three from the inner regions, she kind of knew them. One of them was from Tuoba Yan from the Tuoba clan, another was Cang Lang Chi from the Cang Lang clan, and the other was Mo Yu from the Western Liang’s Mo clan.
Tuoba from the East Mountain, Cang Lang from the barren North and the Qin clan from Southern Desolation. The four of them had all sent men, but the Qin clan was somewhat lacking and none managed to enter the top ten.
Once Sima You Yue came to the resting area, the other nine were already there. When they saw her enter, they all stared at her.
“Sima You Yue. Someone from the Sima clan?” Shen Ye Xuan, who placed third in the previous competition, asked.
“Sima Clan? What Sima clan?” Sima You Yue looked at him with a confused expression.
“You’re not from the Sima clan?” Shen Ye Xuan asked.
“I don’t know what Sima clan you’re talking about.” Sima You Yue said with a shake of her head.
“Xuan Xuan, he’s not from the Sima Clan. This time, the Sima clan sent Sima Yi Yun and Sima Qi Qi and the others. They were disqualified in the previous round.” Gu Xi Ping said, “I’ve never heard of a Sima You Yue from the Sima clan.”
Shen Ye Xuan looked at Gu Xi Ping before turning to Sima You Yue, asking, “Then where did you come from?”
This was someone from the inner regions. Prior to this, he did not know the names and identities of others. If it were not because Sima You Yue’s results were better than his, he would probably not have deigned to talk to her.
“I am a student from the Heavenly Sect.” She said lightly.
“Someone from the outer regions? Nobody from the Heavenly Sect has ever entered the top hundred before.” Song Ming Zhu, who was sitting with Shen Ye Xuan said.
“It’s not that nobody has ever done so, but that you did not know that they did.” Sima You Yue said.
“I’ve heard that the Heavenly Sect was initially going to be dropped by the Pill Subdivision. However, because of the previous incident, you were saved. However, relying on those kinds of methods to remain is not anything glamorous, is it?”
“Is that not so? It is merely a sect in the outer regions with a little bit of power. They actually think something of themselves!”
Sima You Yue sneered inwardly. She did not even know these people, but they insisted on degrading her sect. It seemed that these people were not of good character.
“However, based on what I know, as long as I enter the top hundred, the sect will be able to remain in the pill subdivision boldly. Am I not standing here with you guys right now? Now that you mention it, my results seem to have been slightly superior to yours in the previous three rounds. I was also the only one who got a perfect score in the discourse in the beginning, right?” She retorted sarcastically.