Chapter 63: Your Tongue, My Arm – A Pill Duel to Determine Victory
by SurroundedbyBooksNo matter how good-tempered Xiao Wusheng normally was,
He had come here with a clear purpose—
To let his disciple watch alchemy, learn alchemy.
Even if someone insulted him, he planned to remain calm, to hold his peace.
But now, Guo Pin actually wanted his disciple to apologize to that brat?
He couldn’t endure it anymore!
Xiao Wusheng’s eyes flashed coldly as he took a step forward and pointed at Guo Pin with a scolding shout:
“Guo! Who are you asking to apologize!? Are your eyes full of pus and blindness? You raised such an arrogant, insolent brat who knows neither the heights of heaven nor the depths of earth, and now you want my disciple to say sorry!?”
Guo Pin’s expression froze on the spot.
The surrounding crowd all turned to look in astonishment at Xiao Wusheng’s booming fury.
Then Guo Pin’s face darkened, and he said in a slow, cold voice,
“Xiao Wusheng, I showed you some respect because of your age, but it seems you’ve climbed over my head. What my disciple does is none of your business! If that useless brat of yours doesn’t apologize today, I’ll make sure you can’t walk out of Medicine King Valley!”
“Try it then! When I started cultivating and refining pills, your father wasn’t even born yet! And you dare act arrogant in front of me!?”
Xiao Wusheng roared again, like a furious lion, eyes filled with killing intent.
“You’re courting death!!”
Guo Pin was completely enraged and stepped forward, ready to fight.
“What are you all doing!?”
But then, a loud shout rang out.
It was Li Huyang, arriving with several Foundation Establishment peak-level cultivators from Medicine King Valley. He frowned as he stepped forward and asked,
“Why are you arguing and hurling insults? What kind of behavior is this? Didn’t I say, this is a gathering to befriend with pills—harmony must not be broken!”
Guo Pin sneered,
“Daoist Li, this old man still holds a grudge over losing to us in alchemy years ago, and now he’s letting his disciple insult my female disciple! Pathetic!”
Li Huyang narrowed his eyes at Xiao Wusheng and chuckled,
“Old friend, still remembering that match from twenty years ago? I know you weren’t convinced last time. How about drawing lots and competing again?”
Xiao Wusheng’s expression turned cold, rage barely restrained.
But just as he was about to risk everything and accept the challenge—
A soft chuckle interrupted.
Everyone turned toward the sound.
Yu Xian stepped forward, smiling as he bowed politely to Li Huyang.
“Esteemed elders, this is a misunderstanding. I didn’t insult this young lady. I merely wanted to spar with her in alchemy.”
The onlookers looked on with mixed expressions.
Guo Pin frowned.
As for Li’er, she laughed mockingly, pointing at Yu Xian.
“You? You want to spar with me in alchemy? Hahaha! You’ve got guts. Fine! I accept!”
Yu Xian smiled,
“Sister, you’re straightforward. But since you called me trash earlier, I, as trash, naturally wouldn’t dare compare with you in refining higher-grade pills. Let’s just compete in refining a first-tier pill. How about that?”
Li’er smirked with open mockery,
“You admit you’re trash? And you want to refine first-tier pills? I could do that when I was seven! Are you sure?”
Yu Xian nodded calmly.
“Your talent is peerless. Competing in high-tier pills, I’d surely lose. So let’s each refine a furnace of Lesser Spirit Pills, and whoever produces higher-quality pills wins.”
“Hahaha! Fine! I’ll humor you, little garbage, and make sure you lose completely!”
Li’er’s face was full of disdain.
Lesser Spirit Pills? She could make those when she was five!
“But a competition isn’t fun without stakes, right?”
Yu Xian’s smile slowly faded. His face turned expressionless as he raised a finger and pointed at Li’er.
“If you lose, I want your tongue.”
Huh?
The crowd fell silent for a moment.
Even Li Huyang and Guo Pin’s expressions darkened instantly.
This brat… going straight for flesh and blood wagers!?
Li’er’s mocking smile turned icy. She narrowed her eyes and said coldly,
“You want my tongue? Fine! What do you bet?”
“Whatever you want.”
Yu Xian’s tone was calm.
“Then I want your arm!”
“Deal.”
Yu Xian didn’t even blink. He turned and bowed to the surrounding cultivators.
“Elders, today we duel in alchemy. One furnace of Lesser Spirit Pills. Whoever makes better-quality pills wins. If I lose, I’ll cut off my own arm. If she loses, she cuts off her tongue. All of you are witnesses. If anyone tries to go back on their word—please, help enforce the wager!”
Everyone’s expressions changed dramatically!
Even Xiao Wusheng’s face turned pale.
Li Huyang and Guo Pin were already wearing frosty expressions.
This brat… really left no way out!
Had it been a private bet, there might’ve been room for compromise.
But now—with the public as witness—it was binding.
Li’er’s expression turned serious.
She could feel the resolve coming from Yu Xian!
“Disc—”
“Master, say no more! My mind is made up!”
Xiao Wusheng was panicking.
Self-amputation… Yu Xian was gambling with his future!
He wanted to stop him, but Yu Xian grabbed his hand, eyes steady and firm.
Xiao Wusheng knew this disciple well.
Gentle on the surface, respectful, always smiling.
But deep inside—stubborn to the bone.
Once he made up his mind, no one could change it.
“Fine! Fine!”
Without realizing, Li’er’s momentum had been completely crushed.
She yelled defiantly,
“All seniors present are witnesses! Loser must honor the wager!”
Guo Pin’s brow furrowed, gaze turning fierce toward Xiao Wusheng.
Xiao Wusheng’s eyes were bloodshot. He stared back.
“Very well!”
Li Huyang finally nodded, speaking gravely,
“Since the two young ones are willing to stake their pride, we elders must support them. I’ll act as the judge!”
He waved his hand.
“Bring two sets of materials for refining Lesser Spirit Pills. One set per person. Whoever produces pills of higher quantity and quality—wins!”
Yu Xian released Xiao Wusheng’s trembling hand and smiled calmly,
“Master, may I borrow your furnace?”
He couldn’t use his Pity Grass Furnace—if someone recognized it, he’d be exposed.
Xiao Wusheng clenched his jaw, said nothing, and summoned his Golden Mirror Pill Furnace.
Guo Pin followed, summoning a fourth-grade pill furnace with a white tiger carved on it and set it before Li’er.
Yu Xian sat quietly before the furnace, composed like still water.
Li’er’s eyes flickered slightly, cheeks flushed with either excitement or tension. Gritting her teeth, she also sat cross-legged before her furnace.
The onlookers automatically stepped back to give them room.
The process of refining first-tier pills wasn’t anything special.
But the wager was!
A tongue and an arm—
This made it worth watching!
Medicine King Valley acted fast. Within ten breaths of Li Huyang’s command, two disciples arrived with 100 sets of materials for Lesser Spirit Pills and a stack of Dragonrock Charcoal.
Li Huyang asked,
“Are you two ready?”
Yu Xian said softly, “Ready.”
Li’er, adjusting her state of mind, also said, “Ready.”
“Begin!”
The moment Li Huyang gave the order, Yu Xian threw six Dragonrock coals into the furnace—beginning to heat.
Li’er did the same.
Refining Lesser Spirit Pills wasn’t hard.
Everyone here knew how to do it.
But refining one was different from refining a hundred.
The more you made, the higher the chance of error.
And even the tiniest mistake could mean the difference between high-grade, superior-grade, or top-grade.
So what they were really competing on wasn’t just skill,
But willpower, consistency, and mentality.
First batch—
Both refined top-grade pills!
Second batch—top-grade!
Third—still top-grade!
The crowd began narrowing their eyes.
Xiao Wusheng and Guo Pin were sweating bullets.
Even top-tier alchemists wouldn’t dare guarantee 100 batches of top-grade pills!
61st… 63rd batch…
Both were soaked in sweat.
But Yu Xian remained still as wood, calm and composed.
Each batch identical to the last.
Li’er, on the other hand, was starting to show signs of frustration.
Then came the 64th batch.
Yu Xian—top-grade.
Li’er—superior-grade.
She had slightly underpowered her flame while extracting the essence.
Just a tiny slip—but enough to lower the pill grade.
She didn’t know how Yu Xian was doing, so she merely felt annoyed and kept going.
But the audience noticed.
He’s too steady…
Even Xiao Wusheng’s expression eased a little.
Guo Pin’s eyelids twitched violently, eyes red with anger.
Li Huyang stroked his beard, admiration flashing in his eyes.
Yu Xian’s methods weren’t fancy.
He just followed the prescription exactly.
And that’s what brought consistency.
Li’er had talent—but liked to tweak things for speed.
This time, it backfired.
The next 30+ batches would be the real test.
Exhaustion, mental strain, and pain would creep in.
Each batch was a risk of failure.
Yu Xian was drenched in sweat—but still steady.
Li’er’s nerves were fraying, arms aching, and focus slipping.
88th batch:
Yu Xian—top-grade.
Li’er—superior-grade.
99th batch:
Yu Xian—top-grade.
Li’er—superior-grade.
100th batch:
Yu Xian—top-grade.
Li’er—superior-grade.
Complete silence.
All eyes were on Yu Xian, full of disbelief.
Guo Pin was trembling, eyes bloodshot with fury.
Yu Xian let out a long breath, like surfacing from water.
Li’er jumped up and declared smugly,
“Little garbage! I refined 100 batches! 96 top-grade! 4 superior-grade! What do you have to compare!?”