Chapter 102: Luo Xiong’s Fury Unleashed
After Qin Feiyang entered the alchemy chamber, Cheng Yi followed into Chamber One. The stone door was left ajar.
Lin Chen stood between the two chambers, scrutinizing Qin Feiyang with a sly smile. “I’m curious to see what grade of pill you can concoct.”
Meanwhile, Luo Xiong and two others sat with their eyes closed, nursing their injuries. The outcome was already decided; there was no need to watch further.
“Everyone, how about a wager?” the chubby fellow suddenly called out, a lecherous grin spread across his face.
“Ten to one on Jiang Haotian!”
“Two to one on Cheng Yi!”
The surrounding disciples shot daggers at him. It wasn’t that the fat man was disliked; rather, all of them yearned to enter the Pill King Hall. But the reserved spots were evidently not meant for them. The remaining two slots were fiercely contested by over a hundred disciples, making their chances slim to none. Frustration simmered beneath the surface.
Inside the two chambers, the pill refining had begun. Both men moved with practiced ease; their gestures flowed like drifting clouds and flowing water.
“Unbelievable!”
“Jiang Haotian has only been at the Pill Hall for just over two months, yet his speed keeps pace with senior brother Cheng Yi?”
A few disciples whispered among themselves.
Lin Chen was taken aback, suspicion flickering in his eyes. “What did you say? He’s only been here two months?”
“Yes!” They nodded.
One disciple added, “No, he’s been outside all this month, so technically, he’s only had one month of actual pill refining.”
“One month and already this skilled?”
Lin Chen was dumbfounded. Could this person truly be a pill refining prodigy?
No!
Though his speed matched Cheng Yi’s, the quality of his pills must be inferior.
A friendly smile remained on Lin Chen’s face, but within, he was icy cold.
What they didn’t know was that Qin Feiyang had only spent a few days on actual pill refining; the rest of the time was devoted to meticulously copying the ‘return to character’ technique.
After a hundred breaths, Cheng Yi waved his hand. A red pill shot out from the furnace. Without even glancing at it, he caught it and strode out of the chamber to Lin Chen, presenting the pill with both hands, his confidence evident.
Lin Chen examined it briefly and nodded. “Not bad. This healing pill can definitely be classified as a high-grade pill.”
Buoyed by Lin Chen’s approval, Cheng Yi’s confidence deepened. “Sir, Jiang Haotian is still far behind. You, with your golden body, might as well wait outside.”
“I admit defeat.”
But just then, a resigned voice sounded.
“Ha ha…”
Cheng Yi laughed heartily, turning to see Qin Feiyang emerge from his chamber. Arms crossed, Qin Feiyang regarded him coolly.
“Even if you concede, you should still present your concocted pill so everyone can see just how unworthy it is.”
“Uh!”
Qin Feiyang was momentarily stunned. Was this man out of his mind?
“Heh,” Qin Feiyang smiled faintly. “I think you misunderstood me. I was actually complimenting your exceptional flattery skills. I concede.”
At this, Cheng Yi’s expression stiffened; his face darkened instantly.
“This is the pill I made.”
Qin Feiyang casually tossed a healing pill toward Lin Chen.
Lin Chen subtly raised an eyebrow. Accustomed to flattery, he was clearly displeased with Qin Feiyang’s attitude. Yet his smile remained.
He caught the pill and glanced over it hastily. “This healing pill is at best low-grade. It falls far short of Cheng Yi’s high-grade pill. Therefore, I hereby announce the reserved spot goes to Cheng Yi.”
“Phew!”
Cheng Yi exhaled deeply, clasped his hands, and declared, “I swear lifelong loyalty to the Pill King Hall, vowing to defend its dignity to the death!”
Lin Chen nodded.
Cheng Yi then turned to Qin Feiyang, sneering, “Remember the bet?”
“I do.” Qin Feiyang nodded.
A cold gleam flashed in Cheng Yi’s eyes. “Then it’s time to honor your promise. For the sake of camaraderie, if you sever your own arms, I will overlook it.”
“Sever my arms?”
Qin Feiyang’s eyes narrowed slightly. This man sought to kill him at the earliest opportunity.
So be it—let’s see who is more ruthless.
He lifted his gaze to Lin Chen and smiled faintly. “Take another look.”
Lin Chen chuckled. “A low-grade pill is a low-grade pill. No matter how many times I see it, the result won’t change. Is this necessary?”
Qin Feiyang wished to maintain civility. After all, anyone appointed by the Pill King Hall to oversee evaluation must hold a respectable position.
But this man treated him with contempt, arrogant and dismissive.
Did he think Qin Feiyang was a nobody?
A murderous intent surged in Qin Feiyang’s heart. He swiftly drew the Azure Snow blade and, like lightning, slashed toward Cheng Yi’s neck.
“Ah!”
A scream of agony pierced the Pill Fire Hall.
Bang!
The next moment, Cheng Yi clutched his neck and collapsed, blood spurting wildly.
The surrounding disciples were stunned. Lu Hong’s face turned pale, and even the chubby man was dumbfounded.
This bastard was bold beyond measure—he dared to kill Cheng Yi right here in the Pill Fire Hall?
“Clear the way!”
Elder Mo’s roar cut through the chaos. Everyone shuddered and hurriedly stepped aside.
The three great figures hurried over, their faces dark as water as they looked down at the fallen, now dead, Cheng Yi.
Lin Chen’s usual smile vanished without a trace, replaced only by rage.
“Jiang Haotian!”
He abruptly raised his eyes to Qin Feiyang, a chilling aura radiating from him.
The temperature plummeted as if winter had arrived.
Everyone’s pupils contracted, instinctively stepping back.
But Qin Feiyang showed no fear. He met Lin Chen’s gaze and sneered, “If the Pill King Hall is full of mediocrities like you, then I’d rather not go.”
With that, he turned and strode out of the hall without looking back.
“You’re insolent!”
Lin Chen flew into a rage, lunging forward to grab Qin Feiyang.
“You’re the insolent one!”
At that moment, Luo Xiong let out a fierce roar and slapped Lin Chen.
Smack!
The sharp slap sent Lin Chen flying backward, crashing into the wall with a spray of blood.
A bright red handprint adorned his face, already swelling.
The pill in his hand slipped free and fell to the ground.
“How dare you strike me?”
Lin Chen was stunned into silence.
“Considering you’re part of the Pill King Hall, I’ve been holding back these past days.”
“But you? Always acting high and mighty, abusing your power. Who do you think you are?”
“The slap was mild—if you provoke me further, I’ll kill you right here!”
Luo Xiong stepped forward, murderous intent blazing.
“Master of the Hall, don’t lose control!”
“There’s a way to resolve this peacefully.”
Seeing this, Feng Cheng and Elder Mo’s expressions changed. They hurried up and grasped Luo Xiong’s arm, anxiously trying to calm him.
“Let go of me this instant!” Luo Xiong barked.
Though usually amiable, when angered, even Feng Cheng and Elder Mo dared not defy him.
They quickly released him.
Luo Xiong strode to Lin Chen’s side, lowering his head to glare coldly.
The moment their eyes met, Lin Chen shivered all over.
“Do you think I’m blind? I know you’ve been deliberately targeting Jiang Haotian.”
“My silence doesn’t mean you can act recklessly!”
“Now, open your eyes and see clearly what level his pill truly is!” Luo Xiong roared.
Lin Chen trembled and hastily spread his hands—only to find the pill was gone.
“It’s by your feet!” Luo Xiong snapped.
Lin Chen shivered, quickly grabbing the pill and examining it carefully.
“What!”
“This is…”
Seeing the pill’s markings struck him like a thunderbolt, shaking his very soul.
It was an exquisite pill, adorned with pill runes!
“Do you see now? If you understand, shout it out loud!”
Luo Xiong’s voice was icy.
“This healing pill is…”
Lin Chen’s face was filled with disbelief; he could not accept this terrifying truth.
“Must I say it again?”
Luo Xiong’s tone dropped, cold light flashing fiercely.
Lin Chen shuddered and shouted, “This is an exquisite pill!”
His words caused an uproar.
“Jiang Haotian can actually refine exquisite pills?”
“How long has he been at the Pill Hall?”
“Then the exquisite pill the fat man sold earlier was made by Jiang Haotian?”
“Incredible!”
“He’s a genius in the pill refining world—no, only a ‘monster’ could describe him.”
“No wonder the Master and the two Elders favor him so much.”
“Now it seems Cheng Yi was truly overestimating himself.”
The astonishment in everyone’s hearts defied description.
Especially Lu Hong, who kept muttering “exquisite pill” under her breath.
Suddenly, she felt that she, Cheng Yi, Ling Yan, and Ji Jin were nothing but clowns.
Thinking themselves so great, constantly mocking others as connections.
Yet the others had never taken them seriously.
How ridiculous!
Luo Xiong swept the crowd with a cold sneer. “You call him a connection, yet he can make exquisite pills. Isn’t that laughable? To me, it’s absurd. But the real joke is you…”
He turned back to Lin Chen with a scornful smile. “You jump to conclusions without even looking properly. I can’t fathom why the Pill King Hall would send trash like you to oversee the evaluations.”
“Trash?”
An intense fury surged inside Lin Chen. “Even if he can make exquisite pills, killing Cheng Yi is an unforgivable crime!”
“How dare you yell at me!”
“If you hadn’t targeted him, would he have killed Cheng Yi in a fit of rage?”
“We’re not deaf.”
“He told you to look carefully, but your arrogance blinded you. Not only did you refuse, you spoke insolently and maliciously!”
“Now tell me, whose fault is this?” Luo Xiong demanded sharply.
Lin Chen was silenced.
“A person capable of refining exquisite pills, especially one just beginning, holds immense value for the Pill Hall. You should know that well enough.”
“I remember how we, Elder Feng, Elder Mo, and I, went to great lengths to persuade him to join.”
“But now, because of you, he refuses to stay.”
“What do you propose we do?”
“If you can’t make him change his mind, I’ll have no choice but to report this to the Grand Hall Master!”
“Then we shall see what fate awaits you!”
Luo Xiong sneered and turned to leave, but paused to add, “And you’d better stop laughing—it’s annoying. For the upcoming evaluations, Elder Feng and Elder Mo, you’ll stay and supervise.”
“Understood.”
The two nodded.
Luo Xiong then strode away with long strides.