Chapter 85

Chapter 86: The Moon Surrounded by Stars

...

Chen Mo was fully focused, and with a single hand, he grabbed the herbs, which were lifted into the air and thrown into the alchemy cauldron, marking the final assault.

Huo Yingfan immediately turned around, a cold sneer in his heart: "What are you? You really think you're something. At best, you're just a show-off, a big garlic head. I want to see how you'll end this."

"I'll make you lose clearly!"

With a cold voice, he channeled mystic energy into the cauldron. In an instant, the inscriptions glowed. The faint spiritual energy scattered in the world seemed to be gathered by some force, surging in and transforming into fierce red flames.

One by one, the herbs were drawn into the cauldron. His divine sense skillfully manipulated the flames, which rotated along the cauldron, forming a beautiful and magnificent flame vortex. Countless sharp threads of flame enveloped all the herbs.

White dots emerged from the flames, pure essence flying out like a starry river, swirling towards the center of the cauldron, forming a white floating medicinal cocoon. It became increasingly round and larger, looking extremely dazzling and splendid.

"The Moon Surrounded by Stars!"

The essence flew out of the vortex, flowing upwards to the center, which was bright and round. Everyone looked and saw that it was indeed "The Moon Surrounded by Stars."

"What does that mean?" A voice sounded, and someone naturally asked out of curiosity.

"It's also an alchemy technique, but it's far more advanced than the others. It ranks third in the Changchun Valley."

"What about the first and second?"

"The first is Flowing Wind and Tracing Snow, and the second is the Hundred Filters Holy String Hand. The latter was created by the previous valley master, Zhen Zhen. As a grand-disciple, Chen Mo hasn't learned even a fraction of it. Guarding a treasure mountain without knowing it, that's the tragedy of a country bumpkin..." Ye Lianxiang naturally only criticized Chen Mo.

"Bang!"

Chen Mo's cauldron suddenly burst into sparks and exploded with a loud bang.

Countless fragments flew out, embedding into the surrounding stone buildings like blades, and the green bricks on the ground were lifted up!

Dust and mist billowed, and everyone hurriedly covered their noses and mouths, retreating.

"The competition is over."

Chen Mo was shrouded in smoke and dust, out of sight. Everyone had complex expressions, some mocking his overconfidence, some slightly regretful, and some coldly observing.

But without exception, they all believed Chen Mo had lost.

At this moment, Huo Yingfan held a crystal-clear pill in his palm, striding confidently up the steps, casually shattering a flying fragment of the cauldron.

At the same time, an extremely rich fragrance spread from his hand.

"Huh? What is that fragrance? So fragrant... It's a Spirit Gathering Pill!"

"Could it be, a Small Supreme Spirit Gathering Pill?"

"Amazing, amazing. No wonder, Senior Brother Huo, to be able to refine such a fragrant and perfect Spirit Gathering Pill."

"Only someone of Senior Brother Huo's divine appearance could refine a Small Supreme Pill."

"Indeed, it's a Small Supreme Pill. For a Second Rank Alchemist to refine it like this, Xiao Yingzi's skills are almost at the Third Rank."

Feeling the admiring gazes of the crowd, Huo Yingfan was even more composed and confident. He raised his head and confidently handed the carefully refined Small Spirit Gathering Pill to Gu Yue.

This time, he was enraged by Chen Mo's provocation, performing beyond his usual level, determined to crush him and ensure he never rose again.

"Senior Elder Gu Yue, please announce it."

Gu Yue looked at the misty scene where Chen Mo was, feeling regret. Since the cauldron had exploded, even if the pill had formed, it would have been destroyed by the explosion.

"Alright, I announce..."

Gu Yue's voice shook the entire venue, making everyone silent.

"Chen Mo!"

At this moment, someone in the crowd called out. Everyone looked, and a black figure emerged from the dust.

Of course, it was Chen Mo, who had exploded his cauldron at the last moment.

His hair was disheveled, his face blackened, but he walked steadily onto the stage, looked up at Huo Yingfan, and smiled, showing his white teeth.

When Chen Mo approached, Huo Yingfan quickly moved away, pulling his clothes, showing obvious disdain.

Gu Yue saw Chen Mo turn and smile at him, then open his hand to reveal a pill lying in his palm, still stained with blood.

It was as red and lustrous as a ruby, the size of a longan, and as transparent as a gem. Standing in front of Chen Mo, the rich fragrance was refreshing and soothing, spreading into the mind, making one feel very comfortable.

Gu Yue's old eyes widened, showing rare disbelief.

"Judge, what are you waiting for? Announce it quickly. I'm waiting for Junior Brother Chen to write an IOU." Huo Yingfan said in a deep, excited voice.

"Alright! I announce, the winner is—"

Gu Yue glanced at Huo Yingfan's back, seeing him proudly facing the crowd, as if he had already won. A cold smile appeared on his lips, and he paused before continuing loudly.

"Chen Mo!"

The entire venue fell silent, Chen Mo's name echoing in the square, reverberating in everyone's ears.

Gu Yue raised the pill high. Everyone followed his arm, looking from a distance. The sun was blinding, and the light passing through the pill was even more radiant, making it seem like a gem...

No! A star!

"Wow..." The crowd's eyes sparkled. This was not just a supreme pill, but something above it—superior!

"The winner is Chen Mo." Someone said, and everyone agreed.

"I have been in the Pill Offering Pavilion for many years. What pill haven't I seen? When refining pills, if the essence is less than fifty percent, it's a substandard product. If it's one hundred percent, it's a regular pill. If it's one hundred and fifty percent, it's a small supreme pill. If it reaches two hundred percent, it's a true supreme pill."

"Chen Mo's Spirit Gathering Pill has reached two hundred and fifty percent, making it... superior!"

As he spoke, Huo Yingfan suddenly flew into a rage, his eyes bloodshot, pointing at Chen Mo's nose, shouting loudly, spittle flying.

"How... how, how is this possible? Judge! He cheated! He must have cheated!"

"He exploded his cauldron, how could he have a pill? It must be cheating! Expel him, drive him away, break his legs, kill him..."

"Ridiculous!" Gu Yue roared, his voice infused with mystic energy and divine sense, shaking Huo Yingfan's ears, making him dazed.

"The Pill Offering Pavilion is a sacred place, how can you make such a commotion? Are you questioning my judgment as a judge?"

Huo Yingfan, in a fit of desperation, grabbed the pill.

The pill in his hand was warm, but his heart was cold, very cold, falling to the bottom, shattering. He was furious, but felt countless eyes on him, making him feel like needles were pricking his back, afraid to turn around.

Huo Yingfan couldn't bear it, his emotions mixed, a surge of anger rising, and he fainted, rolling down the steps.

"Xiao Yingzi!" Ye Lianxiang and others were shocked, rushing over.

She pried the pill from his hand and threw it at Chen Mo, who caught it, hearing a fierce and cold voice: "Chen Mo, you're good, remember this, Princess."

After that, they quickly dragged Huo Yingfan away from the Pill Offering Pavilion.

"Clap, clap, clap."

Someone started the first applause in the venue.

Then the applause came like a flood, wave after wave, lasting for a long time, drowning out Chen Mo's thanks.

When the applause subsided, people gathered around to congratulate him.

"Junior Brother Chen Mo, today's pill competition was truly eye-opening. I hope you can guide me in the future."

"Congratulations to Junior Brother Chen Mo for winning in a dire situation..."

"Junior Brother Chen Mo, come to my place for a drink another day."

"Junior Brother Chen Mo, how old are you? My sister, though beautiful, has no one who can catch her eye, but she has long admired you..."

"Go away, your sister can't compare to Master Mu!"

"Exactly, exactly!"

They didn't know that Chen Mo had indeed cheated to refine such a superior Spirit Gathering Pill. He had infused a drop of the Green Liquid from the Light God Tree at the last moment.

The result was unexpectedly astonishing, forming a superior Spirit Gathering Pill.

...

Ignoring the praise from the crowd, Chen Mo and Gu Yue quietly talked on the side.

"Junior Nephew Chen Mo, I am a peer of your master. If you have any problems, come to the Pill Offering Pavilion. We have all kinds of alchemy materials, for you to choose from."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

"Then... I will follow your advice, thank you, Elder Gu Yue."

Gu Yue nodded and then ordered someone to clear the winnings and settle them with Chen Mo. Some people tried to use tricks, but with the Pill Offering Pavilion, they didn't dare to cause trouble.

Soon, the two hundred thousand gold coins were all in Chen Mo's hands.

The crowd at the pill competition gradually dispersed, but there were still many people congratulating him on the platform.

They praised him openly, but some were actually trying to gather information about Mu Lingwei. If they could gain her favor, they might also stand out like Chen Mo today.

"Junior Brother Chen Mo, please go first."

At the Tian Gang Wu Xing counter, the disciples in line voluntarily gave the front position to Chen Mo, speaking respectfully. After much humility, he nodded in thanks.

"That's the Chen Mo who defeated Huo Yingfan just now."

"He's quite handsome."

Listening carefully, the delicate voice, though not as clear as a mountain spring, made Chen Mo's heart ripple. He couldn't help but think, "How things change, before the competition, I was criticized, but now it's the opposite."

Indeed, in this world, only strength is respected. Only by showing one's abilities would one be respected.

The weak are prey to the strong, and now, with one move, everything around him had changed.

The only downside was that to get an Easy Meridian Pill, after buying the century-old green banyan wood marrow, the prize money was quickly spent.

"Enhancing strength is the key." Chen Mo muttered, dealing with the flood of flattery, and quickened his steps back to the Floating Pavilion, thinking about how to convince his beautiful master to help him refine the Easy Meridian Pill.

...

Page flip, AD starts

Page flip, AD ends