Chapter 22

Just as everyone thought it was an illusion and the scene was as quiet as a forest, a sudden voice came from behind the crowd: "No, that's not the Three Yang Pill."

Two elders had already stepped out from the path that the crowd had made for them. When the disciples of the five sects saw the two elders, their faces all tensed up, and they all knelt down.

"Greetings, Venerable Elders."

The moment Qin Youwei heard the words of the two elders, he immediately called out in pleasant surprise.

"Yes, yes, that's right. This is simply impossible. How could this kid possibly refine the Three Yang Pill? This is a precious pill known as the Little Pill King, and we almost fell for his trick."

Everyone also had a look of realization. No wonder, they had been wondering how this kid could really refine over a dozen Three Yang Pills.

Not to mention over a dozen, even refining one would be a tall tale.

Don't joke, with Qin Youwei's current Master-level alchemy skills, he could barely manage to refine it.

And the success rate was quite low. If this kid could refine one with such ordinary fire, there would be something fishy.

At this moment, the two elders could not wait to step onto the stage and walk to Bai Chen's side.

"Little friend, do you mind if I take a look at this pill?"

"I do mind. Don't touch it if you're not buying. Six thousand taels per pill." Bai Chen's expression was unfriendly. He had already determined that these two old men were definitely sent by Qin Youwei to deliberately make things difficult for him.

"Haha... six thousand taels, not expensive at all." The white-haired elder laughed heartily, fumbled in his clothes for a moment, and then looked at the black-haired elder: "Did you bring silver notes?"

"No... I didn't bring any."

"Two... Venerable Elders, this kid's lousy pill, why would it cost six thousand taels? I think he's gone mad." Qin Youwei shot a mocking glance at Bai Chen.

At this moment, he was extremely pleased. Cheating on the stage, he had definitely lost face.

And being exposed by the two Venerable Elders in public, this would be quite a spectacle.

Qin Youwei couldn't help but look at the two Venerable Elders a few more times, wondering if they had seen his performance when he was refining the pill earlier.

If they had noticed him, becoming their disciple...

Qin Youwei's heart was filled with joy, but the two Venerable Elders paid no attention to him. Instead, they turned to Long Tuxiao below the stage and smiled: "Young man from Dragon Tiger Sect, do you have silver notes?"

"Yes, yes..." Long Tuxiao hurriedly replied, respectfully taking out a stack of silver notes and handing them to the two Venerable Elders.

"Little friend, keep it well." The white-haired elder politely handed the silver notes to Bai Chen, then picked up a pill from the tray.

He first sniffed it, then passed it to the black-haired elder. The two exchanged glances for a moment.

Then they examined it under the sun for a while, as if pondering something, before finally turning their gaze to Bai Chen.

"Complete Yang Pill, no mistake. From the luster, it has a silver glow with a golden hue, and the fire essence reveals a touch of spirituality, exactly as described in the records of the Complete Yang Pill."

"Hmph... indeed not the Three Yang Pill. Kid, do you admit defeat?" Qin Youwei, who had never heard of the Complete Yang Pill, was even more pleased after getting a definite answer.

With the two Venerable Elders present, even if this kid was arrogant, he wouldn't be able to cause any trouble.

However, when the two elders turned around, they looked at Qin Youwei with extreme disgust and coldness.

"Brat, are you really ignorant or just pretending?"

"Um... Venerable Elders, this junior dares not. But with the bet in place, this person refined this worthless Complete Yang Pill. It's all thanks to the keen eyes of the two Venerable Elders for identifying the truth, or else this kid would have fooled us..."

Slap—

Before Qin Youwei could finish speaking, the black-haired elder suddenly slapped him, his face cold and indifferent, his gaze sharp like a sword.

"How did your elders teach you? You're blind."

"The Pill Marvel Sect is indeed just a hollow reputation. How dare they bring out such a blind and ignorant young man to disgrace themselves." The white-haired elder also looked disappointed.

Long Tuxiao was a bit nervous and asked softly, "Venerable Elders, what grade is this Complete Yang Pill, and what are its effects?"

The white-haired elder placed the Complete Yang Pill in Long Tuxiao's hand: "Young man from Dragon Tiger Sect, your six thousand taels are well spent. Take it back to honor your elders."

Long Tuxiao looked at Bai Chen, then at the two Venerable Elders: "The six thousand taels are for the Venerable Elders. I dare not claim credit. Venerable Elders, please take back the pill."

The white-haired elder took back the pill, seemingly pleased with Long Tuxiao's actions, and nodded slightly: "Very well, seeing your sincerity, I'll tell you. The Complete Yang Pill is actually a higher-grade version of the Three Yang Pill, not a sixth-grade pill, but its effects far exceed those of a fifth-grade pill."

The black-haired elder continued in a cold tone: "The effects of the Complete Yang Pill are many times better than those of the Three Yang Pill. Although the Three Yang Pill can forcibly open the qi gates above the fifth grade and below the innate realm, its nature is too fierce, easily damaging the qi sea, making it difficult to break through to the innate realm for the rest of one's life. If you don't believe me, ask your elders; they will surely feel a slight pain in their qi sea every time they practice."

The white-haired elder added: "But the Complete Yang Pill has no such side effects. It will not leave any lingering problems. Moreover, taking the Complete Yang Pill will stabilize the qi sea and significantly improve cultivation, making it easier to break through to the innate realm in the future."

Long Tuxiao was stunned, and Qin Youwei stood there dumbfounded, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief.

Not just them, the spectators below the stage were also dumbfounded.

"Then... then why is the value of the Complete Yang Pill the same as the Three Yang Pill?" A spectator below the stage couldn't help but ask.

"The people in this Qingzhou City are ignorant. If you take it to a famous sect in Shu, it would be worth fifty thousand taels, and no one would haggle with you."

The black-haired elder's tone was cold, and his words were harsh, but no one dared to contradict him.

Long Tuxiao was a bit scared and secretly glanced at Bai Chen.

He suddenly remembered that earlier, he had offered five hundred taels to get Bai Chen to cause trouble, which Bai Chen had treated like a beggar.

At the time, he thought Bai Chen was asking for too much, but now he realized...

He suddenly realized that he was indeed treating Bai Chen like a beggar.

How could he offer five hundred taels to a Master-level alchemist? Wasn't that a blatant insult?

Bai Chen could casually refine over a dozen pills worth tens of thousands of taels.

This wasn't insulting him; it was insulting himself.

"The techniques you used earlier, we saw clearly in the tavern. We are truly impressed. May I ask which sect you belong to?"

"These are trivial matters. We can talk about them later. I only care about the outcome of the bet."

"It doesn't count, it doesn't count. You said you would refine the same pill I did! You didn't refine the Three Yang Pill, so you lost!" Qin Youwei suddenly lost control, roaring hysterically, his face red.

How could this be? How could he lose to him?

It's a scam, this must be a scam!

He must have hidden the pills beforehand and tricked me!

Long Tuxiao couldn't help but sigh and shake his head. It seemed he had overestimated Qin Youwei.

Earlier, he thought Qin Youwei had some talent and skills, but now he was acting like a cheat.

Everyone knew the outcome, yet he was still cheating in public.

Cheating was one thing, but don't do it in front of the Venerable Elders.

The Venerable Elders clearly favored Bai Chen, yet he was still acting so shamelessly. Wasn't he just making things worse for himself?

"Hand it over!" The black-haired elder, as cold as ever, extended his hand toward Qin Youwei.

Qin Youwei stepped back: "I didn't lose... I didn't lose. This is the treasure of the Pill Marvel Sect. I can't lose... I... I..."

Qin Youwei suddenly jumped off the stage and disappeared into the crowd.

Everyone was stunned, and Long Tuxiao was overjoyed. Qin Youwei, you're finished...

The two elders looked displeased, and Bai Chen glared at them: "It's all your fault."

"Little friend, we are truly sorry. It's our fault, but rest assured, since this matter started with us, we will ensure that the bet is honored."

"Kid, your alchemy skills are not inferior to ours. Who is your master? We want to become your disciples." The black-haired elder's tone was icy.

But his words instantly drew everyone's attention.

"Two... Venerable Elders, are you joking?"

The black-haired elder turned his cold face: "Who is joking? If you can't see his alchemy skills, do you think we are as blind as you?"

"Um... this brother's alchemy skills are..." Long Tuxiao's eyes flickered.

He guessed that the Venerable Elders were probably exaggerating Bai Chen's skills. In his mind, the Venerable Elders were Grand Masters, and this kid was definitely a Master.

"At least Grand Master level. While we can refine higher-grade pills, we can't refine the Complete Yang Pill. Moreover, the alchemy techniques he used just now, we might not be able to perform completely."

If there was someone more frustrated than Long Tuxiao at this moment, it was definitely Mu Sansheng.

His face was a mix of disappointment, or rather, despair.

What had he done?

A Grand Master-level alchemist came to him and said, "I want to be your friend."

And what did he do?

He arrogantly said, "You don't have the qualifications..."

What the hell was this?

How could he be so stupid?

Mu Sansheng's little junior brother looked at him with deep sympathy.

"Senior Brother, I understand, I get it..."

You get it? You get nothing.

Can you understand my pain?

"Haha... little brother, I'll offer twenty thousand taels for each Complete Yang Pill. Will you sell them all to me?"

At this moment, a large man walked out from the crowd. The middle-aged man was tall and muscular, with a dragon and tiger embroidered on his chest, dark skin, and a beard, exuding a tiger-like aura.

"Venerable Medicine, Venerable Poison, this junior greets you." The man bowed to the two elders and strode toward the stage.