Chapter 65: Demanding a Kowtow for Dignity, The Old Daoist’s Venomous Scheme Exposed
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Li Huyang’s expression froze.
The crowd around was equally stunned.
Guo Pin was utterly shocked, then his entire face turned red with rage.
“What did you say?!”
His facial muscles twitched violently as he stared at Yu Xian and growled, “You want me to kowtow to him!? Are you dreaming in broad daylight!?”
Xiao Wusheng, however, showed a gratified smile.
With just that one sentence from his disciple, all the previous sneers and insults he had endured vanished without a trace.
Whether Guo Pin kowtowed or not no longer mattered.
Yu Xian’s expression was icy. “If he won’t kowtow, then I’ll take her tongue. No other substitute will be accepted.”
“You—!”
Guo Pin gnashed his teeth, glaring at Yu Xian like a wild beast, snarling, “You dare!?”
“Try me and see if I don’t!”
Yu Xian bellowed, turning to Li Huyang. “Senior! Since he refuses, then I demand her tongue. Please uphold the bet!”
Li Huyang turned to Guo Pin, speaking mildly, “Fellow Daoist Guo, it’s only a few kowtows. This kind of wager isn’t excessive. Such things have happened before. Are you sure you won’t accept?”
Li’er tugged on Guo Pin’s sleeve, murmuring softly, “M-Master… I… I don’t want to lose my tongue. Maybe… maybe you could just do it…”
Guo Pin’s face turned the color of pig liver, veins bulging on his forehead in fury.
This disciple… was truly disappointing!
“You kowtow, or not? I’ll ask just once more.”
Yu Xian’s tone was as cold as ever. He didn’t care what Guo Pin thought.
Since cutting that venomous woman’s tongue would cost too much and put his master at risk, he’d take some interest first.
The rest could be settled later.
Guo Pin trembled all over with fury.
For him, kowtowing to Xiao Wusheng was worse than Li’er losing her tongue!
He was eighty-one years old!
In his life, he’d only ever kowtowed to his parents and his master.
To anyone else? Never!
But if he refused now…
Yu Xian would demand Li’er’s tongue.
And for the sake of fairness and reputation, Li Huyang and the others would enforce the bet.
He alone wouldn’t be able to stop it.
But to kowtow…
With hundreds of onlookers — six great sects, countless rogue cultivators — all watching…
If he kowtowed, by tomorrow this news would spread across all of East Continent!
He would be a laughingstock!
“Not kowtowing? Alright then.”
Yu Xian didn’t give him time to decide. His eyes turned colder. “Senior judge! I want her—”
“I… will kowtow!”
A gritted, broken voice rang out.
Guo Pin’s flushed face turned pale, and his previously radiant countenance instantly aged.
He trembled as he stepped forward and stood before Xiao Wusheng.
Xiao Wusheng remained calm, not mocking or condescending — he just gazed at him with quiet indifference.
Guo Pin stared at Xiao Wusheng for a moment, his cheeks bulging from clenched teeth.
Finally, he muttered in a voice barely audible, “Xiao Daoist… you’ve raised a good disciple…”
With that, he lifted his robe, and fell heavily to his knees.
Xiao Wusheng stroked his beard, his face full of pride.
Once on his knees, it became simple.
Guo Pin decisively knocked his head three times, stood up coldly, and walked away.
Xiao Wusheng couldn’t hold it in any longer. He laughed heartily, all past frustrations washing away.
Yu Xian didn’t say more either. He turned silently and returned to Xiao Wusheng’s side, just like before.
Li Huyang breathed a secret sigh of relief and declared,
“Yu Xian refined one hundred pills, all of supreme quality. Li’er refined one hundred, with ninety-six supreme and four high-grade. I declare — Yu Xian wins!”
He waved with a smile,
“This duel between juniors was truly spectacular. Let it serve as a lesson to all — pill refining wagers are no trifling matter! One must approach them with utmost care! Haha! Fellow Daoists, have you drawn your numbers? Then pair off accordingly. The Pill Refining Tournament officially begins!”
The crowd dispersed, finding their designated opponents.
Though the duel had seemed ruthless, with threats of hands and tongues being severed — in the end, it was about reputation.
Even if Yu Xian had lost and was asked to sacrifice a limb, it likely would’ve ended with Xiao Wusheng kowtowing instead.
Still, the Pill Refining Tournament was the main event!
Guo Pin stood in place for a while, trying to calm his turbulent rage.
Eventually, he exhaled deeply, looked at his number slip, and went off to find his match — completely ignoring Li’er.
Li’er’s pale face began to recover some color, though her eyes grew ever colder.
She glared hatefully at Yu Xian, wishing to devour him alive. When Guo Pin walked off to compete, she snorted coldly and quickly followed.
Yu Xian remained calm, treating her as mere air.
As the crowd thinned, Xiao Wusheng looked at Yu Xian, eyes full of affection and admiration. He softly said,
“Disciple, you didn’t need to make him kowtow. Wouldn’t tangible benefits be more useful? Why fight for face?”
Yu Xian shook his head. “Master, it wasn’t for face — it was for pride. They can humiliate me, but they can’t insult you. I originally planned to really cut that venomous woman’s tongue, but the price was too steep — it might have harmed or even killed you. So I took interest first — I made her master kowtow to you.”
Xiao Wusheng was briefly stunned, then smiled warmly, patting Yu Xian’s shoulder.
“You’re right. Take interest now, settle the account later. Come, let’s go watch the pill refining.”
Yu Xian nodded and followed.
All around, pill refiners quickly matched up using their numbered slips and began discussing what to compete on.
Furnaces were raised, and dozens of Medicine King Valley disciples bustled about, distributing spiritual herbs.
Waves of medicinal fragrance began to flood the square.
Everywhere you looked, people were competing in alchemy. Yu Xian’s eyes lit up — this was an extremely rare opportunity to learn alchemical techniques.
“Xiao Daoist.”
A voice called out.
Yu Xian and Xiao Wusheng turned to see a white-haired old Daoist walk over with a smile, subtly glancing at Yu Xian before laughing,
“It’s been a long time.”
“Oh? Daoist Gu, what brings you to a Foundation Establishment level tournament?”
Xiao Wusheng’s face changed slightly, bowing respectfully in return.
This man was Gu Hanfeng, a newly promoted Jindan elder of Medicine King Valley in recent decades.
He was ten years older than Xiao Wusheng and had already formed his golden core thirty years ago — far outpacing Xiao Wusheng.
Now, he was a true senior.
Gu Hanfeng chuckled, “Why can’t I come? I used to compete in these events myself, won first place ten times. I’m here to relive old memories.”
Xiao Wusheng smiled politely. “Daoist Gu’s alchemy is unparalleled. It’s a great honor that you’re here. If you’re willing to offer pointers, it would be a blessing to all present.”
“Offer pointers?”
Gu Hanfeng grinned. “Of course! I love guiding juniors.”
He looked toward Yu Xian and said, “This disciple of yours is quite something. I saw the whole event earlier — his alchemical talent is exceptional. I’d love to give him some pointers.”
Xiao Wusheng’s expression changed slightly, forcing a smile.
“Daoist Gu overpraises. He’s got decent talent, but he’s far from exceptional — certainly not compared to you. Like fireflies to the moon.”
Gu Hanfeng shook his head. “You don’t know what you have. His stability in alchemy is rare in my lifetime. Even without innovation, just that consistency will earn him great fame.”
He turned to Yu Xian.
“Young man, what’s your name?”
“Yu Xian.”
“Yu Xian…”
Gu Hanfeng nodded. “A family that cultivates virtue shall always have a surplus of blessings — a very fine name.”
Yu Xian’s brow lifted slightly. He’d heard those words many times from his father when he was young.
His father was proud of the family name ‘Yu.’
But their family had never enjoyed much fortune.
Perhaps their ancestors never really cultivated virtue?
The thought made him bitter.
Now hearing it again from someone else gave Yu Xian a fleeting moment of warmth.
“Thank you, senior.”
He nodded politely but said no more.
With his master present, it was best to keep quiet.
Xiao Wusheng’s smile was growing stiffer. He managed, “Daoist Gu, anything else?”
Gu Hanfeng smiled, “Just reminiscing, that’s all.”
He turned back to Yu Xian.
“Yu Xian, watching the alchemists around you — how do they compare to your master?”
Xiao Wusheng’s face instantly grew cold.
Yu Xian’s brow furrowed. His goodwill evaporated.
Without even glancing at the others, he said bluntly,
“Of course my master is better. Why would you ask such a pointless question?”
Gu Hanfeng laughed.
“So your master is the greatest alchemist in your eyes. But if his skill is so high, why didn’t he join the competition?”
“What do you mean by that, Daoist Gu?”
Xiao Wusheng’s face was now icy, his eyes flashing with anger.
Trying to sow discord between master and disciple? Make his pupil look down on him?
What a vile man!
Gu Hanfeng grinned.
“I’m just being honest. Why not compete and prove it to your disciple?”
Xiao Wusheng’s beard flew with fury.
For a moment, he couldn’t restrain himself. He clenched his teeth, ready to enter the competition — even if others mocked him for being inconsistent!
But Yu Xian suddenly grabbed his wrist.
Looking at Gu Hanfeng, Yu Xian said coldly,
“Senior overthinks. My master’s alchemy already surpasses all others in my heart. He doesn’t need to prove anything. If you’re done reminiscing, please enjoy your memories alone. My master and I still have much to observe.”
“Hm? Hahaha. Not bad. Not bad at all.”
Gu Hanfeng’s smile froze momentarily.
He glanced again at Xiao Wusheng. “You have a good disciple, Xiao Daoist. So you must work even harder.”
He turned and walked away, watching the tournament, occasionally nodding.
“Master, let’s go.”
Once Gu Hanfeng had left, Yu Xian released his grip and moved forward.
But Xiao Wusheng stood still, silent.
“Master?”
Yu Xian looked back, frowning. “Don’t listen to his nonsense.”
“…He’s not wrong. You’re an exceptional child. A good disciple. And I… as your master…”
Gu Hanfeng’s words had hit Xiao Wusheng’s softest spot.
The better his disciple, the more ashamed he felt.
One hundred furnaces, all perfect — even he couldn’t do that!
“Master! What are you thinking!?”
Yu Xian quickly saw through his master’s turmoil.
He grabbed Xiao Wusheng’s hand and said firmly,
“You’re my master! A master is a father for life! There’s no need to compare or justify anything!”
Xiao Wusheng trembled.
Looking at the boy who had grown as tall as him over just a year and a half, his eyes misted.
He had no Dao companion, no mortal children.
But now… he had one.
A disciple was a son.
“My disciple… my good disciple…”
Xiao Wusheng’s lips quivered, tears instantly evaporated by his inner fire — his heart was filled with joy and a never-before-seen determination.
Gu Hanfeng was right — he had to work harder!
Or how long could he stay with this boy?
Yu Xian didn’t notice this hidden determination, only smiled and said,
“Come on, Master, you promised to explain alchemy. Let’s go.”
“…Yes, let’s go.”
Xiao Wusheng smiled again.
The two walked forward, watching the duels.
Xiao Wusheng explained everything Yu Xian looked at in detail.
Though old, he had the advantage of vast experience.
No matter what pill was being refined — he knew them all and explained each technique clearly.
Yu Xian benefited greatly.
Elsewhere, Gu Hanfeng’s expression was calm as he watched Yu Xian flit about the field.
Such a pity.
Such a piece of jade, taught by a fool.
But how long could that fool live?
His words earlier — they had hit the mark.
A proud man would never let such a thing go.
When they returned… that old fool would try to condense his golden core again.
And with his body and foundation ruined, he would only have two options:
Succeed, or die.
And once he died…
This youth named Yu Xian — he had full confidence he could win him over.
Such talent…
Would make the perfect “Pill Seed.”
Gu Hanfeng narrowed his eyes, a glint of coldness flashing as a sinister smile crept across his lips.
Then he turned and walked away.
