Chapter 112 - 112: I Want to Challenge You Again!
The Pill Furnace exploded, and fragments flew all over the place, several of which were headed for Dugu Nian.
If she were hit by these fragments, it could cause severe injury, if not death.
Yet, at this moment, Dugu Nian just stood there, unmoving, frozen in place.
No one had seen it coming, and no one had expected this situation to occur. The nearest elder of the Ten-thousand Medicine Sect wanted to save her, but it was too late.
Just as danger loomed for Dugu Nian, a shadow appeared mysteriously by her side and without waiting for a response, grabbed her and quickly moved to safety.
Dugu Nian had narrowly escaped danger, and the person who had rescued her was none other than Fang Lin with his quick reflexes.
Except for Fang Lin, no one else could have possibly saved Dugu Nian in that critical moment.
By the time they had moved away, the fragments from the shattered Pill Furnace scattered all over. Burnt and blackened debris spread on the ground.
Dugu Nian was held by Fang Lin, bewildered and shocked, it took her quite some time to come back to her senses.
This unexpected event at the Pill Array dumbfounded everyone, especially those from the Ten-thousand Medicine Sect who felt as if they had been struck by lightning.
Only then did the elder from the Ten-thousand Medicine Sect rush to Dugu Nian’s side, and seeing her being carried by Fang Lin, he shouted in hostility, “Put her down now!”
Fang Lin smirked, unceremoniously dropping Dugu Nian to the ground.
“You!” The elder from the Ten-thousand Medicine Sect was about to explode in anger as the elder from the Pill Sect intervened.
After helping Dugu Nian up, who seemed to be still in a daze, she glanced back at the scattered fragments of the Pill Furnace and the pile of black things on the ground, her face filled with a dark expression.
At the same time, smoke started rising from within Fang Lin’s Pill Furnace and was followed by the tantalizing scent of alchemical Pills, which uplifted everyone’s spirits.
At this moment, the many disciples of Pill Sect were filled with exhilaration and started shouting, yelling in happiness even if they had little hope in Fang Lin before.
The elders of Pill Sect were all smiling, especially Mu Yan and Meng Wuyou, who were more excited than they had been when they themselves had won the contest.
Atop the stone platform, Gu Daofeng showed a rare hint of a smile. Despite tangled emotions, he was clear that he should show visible happiness.
The Palace Master of Ten-thousand Medicine Sect on the other hand, his expression was as black as the bottom of a pot, filled with disbelief and anger.
“Master Gong, it seems that the winner is determined now,” Gu Daofeng said with a smile, purposefully provoking him.
Elder Gong stood up abruptly, glowering at Gu Daofeng.
“Chief Gu, that’s quite a trick you’ve got. I heard rumors about one of your disciples mastering the Ancient Skill of Shaking Three Mountains. I didn’t believe it until I saw it today. It’s surely opened my eyes,” Elder Gong stated with rage covering his face.
Gu Daofeng chuckled, “That’s nothing. Compared to the alchemical prodigy Dugu Nian of your sect, our Fang Lin merely got lucky. Not much to speak of.” This comment nearly made Elder Gong choke on his own blood with fury.
The fury and anger in Elder Gong were so great, it was suffocating. In the face of an assured victory being completely overturned, if anyone else were in his shoes, they might have fainted in anger.
Though Elder Gong didn’t faint from rage, he was still simmering inside, looking for an outlet to vent.
The disciples of the Ten-thousand Medicine Sect were in shock, and they were speechless, unable to utter a word in response to the exuberant joy of their counterparts.
The Ten-thousand Medicine Sect had lost, the final round. The outcome hasn’t been announced yet, but it was evident to everyone that even if Fang Lin produced just one inferior Spirit Qi Pill, he could still win.
Because Dugu Nian couldn’t even take out a complete alchemical Pill.
Even if Fang Lin brought out the worst quality finished pill, it was better than the pile of medicinal dregs that Dugu Nian had produced.
All the disciples of the Ten-thousand Medicine Sect found this result hard to accept. They had been looking down on the disciples of Pill Sect and had never imagined that they would lose.
But despite the result being too hard to accept, they still had to swallow this bitter pill of failure.
With all eyes on him, Fang Lin walked over to his Pill Furnace, calmly opened the lid, and more concentrated smoke came out.
Once the smoke had cleared, Fang Lin took out three smooth pills from inside the furnace.
Seeing these three pills, Dugu Nian’s face fell even more, and she hung her head low.
The people from the Ten-thousand Medicine Sect gnashed their teeth in anger, wishing they could dash forward, snatch Fang Lin’s pills, smash them on the ground and stomp them beneath their feet.
The appearance of the three well-formed pills was impressive, regardless of their quality.
Compared to the pile of black medicinal dregs behind Dugu Nian, it was no contest and looking at them made every Ten-thousand Medicine Sect disciple angry.
With a smile, an elder of Pill Sect received the pills and sent them up to the stone platform. But it was clear to everyone that the result had been decided, Pill Sect had won this round.
Gu Daofeng and Elder Gong were staring at the three pills. Gu Daofeng was quite calm, but there was a notable tension in Elder Gong’s eyes.
These three Spirit Qi Pills were all of superior quality, and they were flawlessly done.
It was safe to say, even if Dugu Nian managed to produce a Spirit Qi Pill, it would be far inferior from these three pills.
Elder Gong stayed silent, his eyes glued to the three pills.
Seeing his silence, Gu Daofeng stood up with a smile, “Master Gong, Fang Lin from the Pill Sect won the third round. Hope you don’t have any objections.”
Elder Gong wanted to express his intense objections but could not bring himself to voice them.
Seeing him silent, Gu Daofeng announced in a loud voice, “For the third round,
Fang Lin of the Pill Sect is the winner!”
With Gu Daofeng’s announcement, sounds of cheers erupted from the Pill
Sect’s side. Everyone, whether they knew Fang Lin or not, shouted Fang Lin’s
name enthusiastically.
Some who had previously held a grudge against Fang Lin, like Ding Xuanji and others, as well as elders like Zhao Dengming and Yu Zhen kept silent.
Pill Sect finally won a round, with an overwhelming advantage. They had defeated an opponent who couldn’t even produce a complete Pill.
Even though they hadn’t won overall in the grand scheme of things, Pill Sect didn’t lose, they were tied. Their opponent, on the other hand, was also a tie. Even a tie was considered a great result for Pill Sect. If it weren’t for Fang Lin, they probably wouldn’t even have achieved a draw.
“No! I won’t lose! I demand a rematch!” Suddenly, the dispirited Dugu Nian screamed out loud, seemingly gone mad..