Chapter 66: A Bitch Stirs Up Trouble, Golden Core Strikes in Anger
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At this moment, Yu Xian and Xiao Wusheng had no idea what Gu Hanfeng was thinking.
They couldn’t even perceive Gu Hanfeng’s sinister and poisonous gaze—such was the vast difference in cultivation level. All the two could do now was wait for the situation to unfold. There was simply no way to resist.
But perhaps ignorance truly was bliss.
Their moods remained unaffected.
Yu Xian was beaming with joy, his eyes gleaming with insight and revelation.
He had entered a state of epiphany—everything suddenly made sense!
Various alchemical methods, intricate techniques and processes all unraveled before his eyes and were quickly memorized.
Much of what had once seemed complex or obscure in alchemy was now made clear.
So this is the right way to refine pills—fast and efficient!
So this is how one saves time and energy!
So this is how to maximize effectiveness!
As expected of a grand alchemy gathering!
Even just this one visit, this chance to observe and learn, was enough for Yu Xian to feel it was worth more than anything.
Even if he didn’t possess Foundation Establishment-level spiritual power, he now believed he could attempt refining a Tier-3 pill!
As long as his hand speed was fast enough.
As long as he didn’t make mistakes.
He could try!
Tier-3 pills—normally only cultivators at Foundation Establishment could manage that level, relying on their spiritual strength.
Even peak Qi Condensation practitioners weren’t supposed to be able to refine them.
But Yu Xian felt—he could!
Such was his confidence!
Soon, the second round of the alchemy competition ended.
Out of more than a hundred participants, only seventy-four remained.
The defeated half were thoroughly convinced, with no complaints.
With Ling Huyang’s announcement, the third round began.
The atmosphere grew even livelier.
More and more non-participants gathered to spectate.
The noise and murmuring reached a crescendo.
This round would test the alchemists’ mental state, focus, and their ability to remain calm in a chaotic environment.
Yu Xian observed more attentively than ever. In this third round, the real masters began revealing their trump cards.
Some even formed pairs, challenging each other—if their pride wouldn’t let them back down, they would directly begin refining Tier-4 pills on the spot!
Guo Ping was one such alchemist refining a Tier-4 pill.
Though he had disgraced himself by kowtowing earlier, it hadn’t affected his alchemy. He had dominated the first two rounds.
Now, he faced a skilled rogue alchemist. They didn’t know each other, so formalities were abandoned—they’d compete with Tier-4 pills.
The rogue cultivator was no pushover—he too could refine Tier-4 pills!
But using a Tier-4 pill now meant more pressure in the later rounds—since any previously refined pill couldn’t be reused.
So using one too early was both a flex and a gamble.
Yu Xian, eyes sharp, walked over to observe the duel between Guo Ping and the rogue cultivator.
Studying others’ techniques isn’t shameful.
Even if Guo Ping was despicable—even if Yu Xian wanted to kill him—stealing his skills right now? Not a problem.
But—
“What are you looking at?!”
A shrill scream snapped through the air.
Li’er, eyes full of resentment, glared at Yu Xian. “How dare you watch my master refining pills?! Scram! Go watch your old dog of a master refine pills instead!”
Yu Xian’s brows twitched. He turned toward her with a cold stare—then ignored her.
A pampered mad dog barking—ignore it. Someone would deal with her eventually.
“Didn’t you hear me!?”
Li’er wasn’t satisfied. Seeing Yu Xian still standing there, she became furious. With a piercing shriek, she charged at him and slapped!
“You damned little bastard!”
The slap was skillful and habitual—clearly, she was used to abusing servants.
But Yu Xian was not her servant.
“Courting death?”
Yu Xian’s eyes blazed with killing intent.
He struck back!
Flames roared as his palm, wreathed in fire serpents, collided with Li’er’s hand.
BAM!
“AHHH!!”
A crisp crack—and a scream of agony!
Li’er’s hand twisted grotesquely, charred black, her bones cracked. She clutched her wrist and screamed in pain.
She had slapped like it was nothing.
Yu Xian retaliated with a spell!
She had never expected that!
Her scream attracted everyone’s attention.
Even Guo Ping’s focus was broken. He turned, his face darkening.
Though he had grown disappointed in this disciple, she was still his student—and her identity made things more complicated.
Abandoning his alchemy, Guo Ping leapt up and shouted:
“You little bastard! You dare cast a spell on someone!?”
His Foundation Establishment cultivation erupted.
With one finger, he was about to kill Yu Xian!
But Xiao Wusheng would never allow it.
He stepped forward, shielding Yu Xian.
“Your disciple struck first and now you twist the story? You shameless bastard! Even three kowtows were too kind for you. Back off!”
A silver serpent spell shot from Guo Ping’s finger.
Xiao Wusheng responded instantly—a three-zhang shield rose up to block it!
The collision created a massive blast of wind, shaking the entire area and interrupting all surrounding alchemists!
The noise, the danger—no one could focus anymore.
Booming magic, explosions nearby—who could continue refining pills?
Everyone stopped and turned toward the source of the blast.
“XIAO WUSHENG!! I’LL KILL YOU!!”
Guo Ping lost all composure, the memory of his humiliation resurfacing.
He began to chant a powerful spell—the kind that could only be used by high-level Foundation Establishment cultivators!
Xiao Wusheng wasn’t afraid. He, too, began to chant.
But before either of them could strike—
“ENOUGH!”
“INSOLENCE!”
Two furious roars echoed through the area!
A terrifying pressure descended like the wrath of heaven!
Golden Core might!
Everyone—hundreds of cultivators—felt crushed by an unimaginable force. Even moving became impossible.
Two figures appeared, each standing in front of one of the duelists.
Each raised a single finger.
“PUH!”
“ARGH!”
Both Xiao Wusheng and Guo Ping were blown back, their spells instantly shattered, and both coughed up blood!
“Master!”
Yu Xian was horrified. Despite the suffocating pressure, he rushed forward to catch his collapsing master.
His eyes burned with hatred and rage—but he didn’t act recklessly.
“Master! Are you alright!?”
Xiao Wusheng coughed violently, blood still on his lips.
“I’m fine… the senior didn’t hit too hard, just interrupted my spell… I’ll be okay.”
He was old—his body was weak.
The blow, though not fatal, wasn’t light either.
Guo Ping, on the other hand, was much younger—he recovered faster.
Yu Xian’s eye twitched. The anger and helplessness made him want to scream.
When… when will I finally be strong enough to protect those I care about?!
“You two fools!”
One of the Golden Core elders growled. “How dare you act so brazenly during the Pill Dao Gathering!? No one has dared to disrupt our grand event in decades! You should be punished severely!”
“Elder Cui! It was that brat who started it!”
Guo Ping shouted, pointing at Yu Xian. “He burned my disciple’s hand with a spell! Look!”
Li’er trembled in pain, holding her twisted hand. She screamed, “It was him! That bastard! He burned me!”
Yu Xian stood up slowly, supporting his master.
His voice was cold and calm. “Seniors, please judge fairly. She tried to slap me—I simply defended myself.”
“You liar! You bastard! You’re lying!” Li’er shrieked.
Yu Xian ignored her, looking only at the Golden Core cultivator.
Elder Cui frowned and turned to the other Golden Core watching.
The other elder nodded. “Indeed, it was the girl who struck first. But her slap was not magical—his counter was too vicious. His fire spell nearly crippled her hand. She’ll need a Tier-4 pill and months of recovery.”
Yu Xian frowned. “Senior, are you biased? How was I to know whether she used a spell or not? What if she’d killed me with a hidden technique? Would you bring me back to life? Do you let your enemies strike first before deciding whether or not to fight back?”
“INSOLENT!” the elder shouted. “You dare speak to me like this!?”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Yu Xian said solemnly. “I only hope for fairness.”
“You accuse me of unfairness?!”
The elder’s expression darkened. “You vicious brat! You maimed her and now insult me?! Ridiculous!”
“Please don’t be angry, Elder!” Xiao Wusheng quickly stepped forward. “This was all due to the fight between me and Guo Ping. The younger generation got involved… Please don’t be angry…”
“Hmph! Nonsense!”
The elder raised his hand and said coldly,
“You and your disciple have violated our rules—your punishment: cripple their dantians and destroy their cultivation! Let all be warned!”
Xiao Wusheng’s face went pale. “Senior! That’s too harsh! We didn’t come here to die!”
“Yes! Cripple them! Do it now!!” Li’er screamed from the back.
Guo Ping smirked. The brat dared defy a Golden Core elder? Fool.
The elder raised his hand once more.
Xiao Wusheng cried, “You’re making a mistake! You’ll destroy the trust of every guest who comes here again!”
“Are you threatening me?!”
The elder’s killing intent exploded.
Yu Xian muttered bitterly, “It’s all my fault… I dragged you down, Master…”
Everyone who ever cared for him… suffered.
But just as the elder was about to strike—
“Senior Lu, wait!”
A calm voice cut through the air.
Gu Hanfeng had arrived, stepping in front of the elder.
“Senior, this punishment is too harsh. Outsiders may view this poorly. Why not handle it differently?”
The elder raised a brow. “Oh? What do you propose?”
Gu Hanfeng smiled faintly and looked at Yu Xian.
“The Heavenly Demon Valley trial opens next month. Why not let this young man earn redemption there? Let him atone with merit instead.”