Chapter 62: Discussion Among the Medicine King Valley Disciples; Humiliation Endured in Silence

In the rear courtyard, Xiao Wusheng had already been waiting for Yu Xian.

Beside him stood two giant cranes, each nearly ten feet tall.

Yu Xian recognized these cranes as Ten Thousand Mile Cranes from the Spirit Beast Pavilion. They weren’t the fastest flyers, but they were exceptionally enduring and had gentle temperaments. Feed them a few spirit pills and they could fly continuously for days.

They were the favored mounts for Foundation Establishment and below cultivators. As for Golden Core cultivators, their flying treasures were easily ten times faster, making such cranes obsolete for them.

Since they needed to travel thirty thousand miles to the Medicine King Valley, Yu Xian and Xiao Wusheng had no choice but to use the cranes—flying on their own wouldn’t be fast enough. Even Xiao Wusheng, at peak Foundation Establishment, wouldn’t make it in five days unaided.

Seeing Yu Xian approach, Xiao Wusheng nodded. “Let’s go.”

He leapt onto one of the cranes and sat cross-legged.

Yu Xian followed, doing the same on the other crane.

Xiao Wusheng formed a hand seal, and a shimmering formation rose at the entrance to the garden. A recorded voice rang out: “This Daoist is away for half a month. Visitors, please wait patiently.”

Then he patted the crane’s neck and smiled. “Let’s go, my dear crane!”

With a resonant cry, the two cranes flapped their massive wings and soared into the sky, heading west.

High in the air, fierce winds howled around them.

Yu Xian had flown at high altitudes twice before—once with Quan Dao and once with Song Qingtian—both times within protective treasures that blocked all wind. But now, although the Ten Thousand Mile Crane flew steadily, the gale battered his face, leaving no trace of that elegant, immortal-riding-a-crane aesthetic.

Xiao Wusheng, however, calmly formed a wind-shielding technique and was as steady as an old dog.

Yu Xian had no choice but to turn his back to the wind, facing the crane’s tail. With the protection of his Five-Treasure Silver Dragon Armor, the wind against his back wasn’t too bothersome.

He exhaled slowly, gazing at the land below. After a while, he closed his eyes to cultivate—after all, with his master leading the way, he didn’t have to worry about anything.

They flew for four days, stopping once to feed the cranes spirit pills.

On the morning of the fifth day, a vast basin came into view at the edge of the earth, shrouded in thick spiritual energy and covered by a massive glowing formation—this was the Medicine King Valley!

“Disciple, we’re here,” Xiao Wusheng said, a hint of emotion in his voice.

Yu Xian opened his eyes and turned to face the wind. Squinting, he looked forward. “It truly is a basin. ‘Medicine King Valley’—an apt name.”

“This land is a natural herb garden, abundant in spiritual qi, with herbs growing everywhere. It’s said that when the Medicine King Valley sect was founded, they paid a great price to seize this land,” Xiao Wusheng explained. Though he disliked the sect, he couldn’t help but envy the terrain—any alchemist would.

Yu Xian, also an alchemist, nodded in agreement.

Just then, a crane’s cry rang out from the south. The Ten Thousand Mile Cranes beneath them responded, their cries laced with fighting spirit.

Two cranes approached from the distance, and a mocking voice echoed across the sky.

“Well, well! Isn’t this Master Alchemist Xiao? I never thought you’d come to this year’s grand alchemy tournament. Didn’t you swear never to return after getting slapped down twenty years ago? Hahaha!”

The voice was filled with ridicule and contempt.

Yu Xian narrowed his eyes coldly.

But Xiao Wusheng merely laughed. “Ah, old history! Why dwell on the past? I’m just surprised Brother Guo remembers.”

The two cranes drew near—one carrying a middle-aged man, the other a young woman.

The man sneered. “You’ve got guts to come again. Aren’t you afraid of repeating the past?”

Xiao Wusheng smiled calmly. “I no longer seek victory, so how could I repeat defeat? But be careful, Brother Guo—you might end up walking the same path I did.”

The man’s expression darkened.

Then, the young woman beside him scoffed, “What a joke! My master is an alchemical genius. How could some washed-up old fool compare? He should just shut up if he’s too incompetent to win!”

Xiao Wusheng’s face turned cold, but he said nothing. Trading barbs with peers was one thing—but retaliating against a junior? That would only lower himself.

Yu Xian also remained silent, though his gaze was icy as he remembered her face.

The man pretended to scold her. “How dare you interrupt?”

But the young woman pouted, “I didn’t say anything wrong. Weaklings clinging to age and status are the real disgrace.”

The man awkwardly smiled and looked at Xiao Wusheng. “Apologies. My disciple is a bit spoiled. We’ll see you in the Valley.”

With that, they sped off ahead.

Xiao Wusheng exhaled heavily, suppressing his anger.

“That man is Guo Pin from the Xuantian Sect. A genius alchemist. He defeated me fairly twenty years ago.”

He paused, voice laced with bitterness. “That girl was right. In alchemy, skill is everything. Weak is weak. Lacking skill means swallowing humiliation.”

Yu Xian’s eyes burned with icy rage—but he couldn’t help his master, couldn’t even offer empty comfort.

“To reclaim honor, there’s only one way—become stronger.”

Xiao Wusheng’s eyes met Yu Xian’s. “I may never surpass them. But you—you will be stronger than that girl. Stronger than all of them. I believe in you!”

Yu Xian nodded solemnly.

Was this emotional coercion from a mentor?

Perhaps.

But he would bear it willingly.

Still, Xiao Wusheng shook his head again. “Forget what I said—I was too angry. Don’t let this become a heart demon. Take it slow. Step by step, no rushing.”

“I understand, Master.”

Xiao Wusheng finally smiled with genuine relief.

They soon arrived at Medicine King Valley, which was abuzz with the five-yearly alchemy grand tournament.

Hundreds of alchemists from major sects and the famed among rogue cultivators descended upon the Valley.

The disciples at the entrance greeted them with courtesy after Xiao Wusheng presented his invitation.

As they were led into the valley, the richness of the qi surpassed even Baiyun Sect by several degrees. Every step was lined with medicinal herbs, and the air was thick with the fragrance of alchemy.

Upon reaching the inner valley, a great square spread out, dominated by a statue of a seated man pointing at a giant cauldron.

Xiao Wusheng was greeted by an old acquaintance with apparent politeness but hidden malice—Li Huyang.

“Sect Master Xiao! I sent you four invitations and thought you’d never come. This fifth one finally worked!”

“I had prior obligations,” Xiao Wusheng smiled. “But this time, I couldn’t miss it.”

As they stepped into the square, whispers began—mockery from those who remembered Xiao’s humiliating defeat two decades ago. Some even recalled his nickname: “Xiao No-Face.”

He had once accused his opponent of cheating after a loss, only to lose again and again—dropping from second place to not even making the top ten.

Yu Xian’s face turned cold. He finally understood the weight his master had carried.

Xiao Wusheng remained composed, greeting familiar faces. But his real enemy stood on the high platform: Li Huyang.

It was him. He was the one who cheated.

As the host of the tournament, Li Huyang announced the rules: one-on-one matches, with materials provided by the Valley. Alchemists would draw lots and compete based on pill grade, quality, and efficacy. The winner would receive a Golden Core Pill.

An uproar followed—this was a rare treasure that could assist in condensing the Golden Core!

After the explanation, participants began drawing lots.

Two elders appeared, overseeing the event to prevent cheating—but they were from the Medicine King Valley themselves.

Xiao Wusheng didn’t move to draw. Neither did Yu Xian.

But Guo Pin’s disciple, the same arrogant girl from earlier, turned to mock them again.

“Look at that! Cowards who won’t even enter the competition? Old trash teaching young trash—what a joke! Even if you train for a hundred years, you won’t match my skills from a single year!”

Yu Xian stepped forward, eyes full of killing intent, but Xiao Wusheng stopped him.

“Don’t act on impulse.”

The girl sneered, “Heh, just what I thought.”

Guo Pin returned. “What’s going on?”

His disciple answered smugly, “They didn’t dare do anything. Just trash.”

Guo Pin narrowed his eyes. “Master Xiao, did your disciple offend my student? Have him apologize.”