Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“All the best, Senior Brother Disciple Lu!”
“Teach that conceited Fang Lin a good lesson!”
“Don’t ever show mercy, Senior Brother Disciple Lu!”
…
As soon as Lu Jiuhe made an appearance, it drew many of the official disciples’ cheers. It was apparent that he had many supporters.
With a smile pasted on his face, he arrived at the center of the alchemy alter in a calm and composed manner while the crowd surrounded them. He bowed in salutation toward Old Man Zhou in the direction of the stone altar.
Old Man Zhou nodded ever so slightly and said, “Fang Lin has yet to arrive. Please hold on for a moment.”
Upon listening to his words, the crowd immediately broke out in a clamor of discussion as many people found Fang Lin disrespectful. Elder Zhou and Lu Jiuhe had arrived, yet he had not appeared despite just being a low-grade disciple! He had truly gone too far.
The smile on Lu Jiuhe’s face faded. He said to Old Man Zhou, “Elder, what if Fang Lin doesn’t show up after a long time?”
“We shall wait for the time it takes to burn two more joss sticks. If Fang Lin hasn’t shown up by then, it means that he has acknowledged defeat,” Elder Zhou replied calmly.
Lu Jiuhe was slightly displeased. Why would he wait for the time it took to burn two more joss sticks? Was it not alright for him to wait for the time it took to burn one joss sticks?
However, this was Elder Zhou’s decision, so Lu Jiuhe could only complain about it in his heart.
Soon, one joss stick burned down to its end as time passed. Fang Lin had yet to appear. The sound of chatter amongst the crowd grew louder. In fact, even the junior alchemy disciples that supported Fang Lin secretly began to suspect if he had backed out from the match.
Lu Jiuhe stood on the alchemy altar, the smile on his face growing wider and wider. I shall wait for one more joss stick to finish burning. I’m going to win without even taking part in the match if Fang Lin doesn’t appear by then.
Even though it was a waste for him to win by default, he would retain his reputation and keep the Century Lingzhi. Lu Jiuhe strongly wished that Fang Lin would not appear at this very moment.
Elder Zhou felt puzzled in secret. Where is that boy, Fang Lin? Why hasn’t he shown up by this time? Could he truly be backing out in fear? That shouldn’t be it!
Meng Wuyou and Mu Yan were watching the match from a distance, feeling anxious in secret. In fact, Meng Wuyou had even taken the initiative to look for Fang Lin in his courtyard.
On the other hand, Zhao Dengming and Wu Zhen were standing in a dark corner with a smile on their faces. Fang Lin’s absence was precisely their wish.
The second joss stick was burning slowly as well. More than half of the joss stick gradually wasted away. At present, it was close to noon and Fang Lin had not appeared. Everyone began to disperse under the assumption that he would not show up anymore, so there was no need for them to stay.
Just as everyone was under the impression that Fang Lin was too cowardly to appear, the youth himself trotted over and squeezed into the crowd. “I’m sorry! I overslept. I’m not late yet, am I?” he said while giggling.
Everyone was speechless. Even Elder Zhou on the stone platform had an incredulous expression.
“What the h*ck? We’re all waiting for him while he was actually still sleeping?”
“He’s simply disregarding all of us. That’s truly disrespectful!”
“People like him should outright acknowledge his defeat. What’s the point of him coming over to make a spectacle of himself?”
…
All at once, Fang Lin’s comment caused condemning remarks. The crowd was infuriated as if they were gravely humiliated.
Lu Jiuhe had a sour expression as he said, “Fang Lin, everyone has been waiting for you, yet you’re late. What should your punishment be?”
Fang Lin took a glance at Lu Jiuhe. He pursed his lips before he said, “Why are you early, Senior Brother Disciple? We agreed upon starting the match at noon, yet you came so early in the morning. Are you doing this to embarrass me intentionally?”
Lu Jiuhe had an especially surprised expression on his face. How is there even someone like you in this world? It’s obviously your fault for being late, yet you’re still trying to falsely accuse me? Why are you being such a shameless person?
Elder Zhou could not bear to watch the drama anymore, so he let out a cough before he scolded, “Fang Lin, we’ve been waiting for you for such a long time. That’s impolite.”
Fang Lin hastily apologized to Elder Zhou who did not elaborate much either but chose to tolerate his lateness. Lu Jiuhe scoffed once. He did not bother to continue berating Fang Lin anymore because the real focus of the match was alchemy and not quarreling with each other.
Elder Zhou looked around as a sign for the people to quieten down. When the clamor of the entire alchemy sect gradually faded, he announced in a loud voice, “Today, I’m hosting an alchemy match between Lu Jiuhe and Fang Lin in the alchemy altar. If Lu Jiuhe wins, Fang Lin shall apologize. If Fang Lin wins, the Century Lingzhi goes to him. Do you both understand?”
Fang Lin and Lu Jiuhe nodded in unison. The terms of this match were undisputed because they had already declared it earlier.
Elder Zhou then announced, “The title of this match is Blood-clotting Pill. The ingredients will be provided while you prepare your athanor. The time restriction is six hours. Let’s begin.”
Before his voice died away, Lu Jiuhe patted his Nine Palaces Pouch and unleashed a light green athanor onto the ground before him with a bang.
“That’s the Green Stone Cauldron! I think it’s only owned by high-grade disciples.”
“That’s not right. Not every high-grade disciple is given a Green Stone Cauldron, but they exchange it from the alchemy pavilion.”
“Yes, the Green Stone Cauldron is considered a rather expensive athanor in the alchemy pavilion. Only high-grade disciples with a rich family background can afford it.”
“It seems like Senior Brother Disciple Lu is taking the match seriously. He’s even taken out the Green Stone Cauldron!”
“Fang Lin has just been promoted as a low-grade disciple recently. I think he can only afford using the most common Black Stone Cauldron to refine the elixir.”
“He’s going to lose for sure. There’s no room for discussion when it comes to that.”
…
As soon as Lu Jiuhe procured his Green Stone Cauldron, while many people felt sympathy for Fang Lin, even more of them were laughing at Fang Lin. In their minds, they thought, ‘You’re nothing but a low-grade disciple that’s overconfident enough to challenge a high-grade disciple. I bet you’re aware of your limitations after seeing Lu Jiuhe’s Green Stone Cauldron, so you want to withdraw from the match, don’t you?’
Lu Jiuhe took a disdainful glance at Fang Lin and was completely dumbstruck when he saw a shimmery golden cauldron appear in front of Fang Lin. The flickering golden light completely blinded Lu Jiuhe’s eyes.
Everyone gasped in surprise as well. The people that had been discussing the Green Stone Cauldron earlier were completely shocked by the sight of Fang Lin’s Golden Flame Cauldron. They stood with their mouths agape but could not speak.
“Oh wow! How is this cauldron so shiny!?” said a junior alchemy disciple foolishly.
An official disciple by his side shot a scornful glance at him. “You fool, it’s not shiny! It’s the Golden Flame Cauldron.”
Upon saying that, the official disciple’s expression turned into deep admiration at once. “This is the Golden Flame Cauldron. I think that there are only five of these cauldrons in the alchemy pavilion. Even an official disciple doesn’t qualify to exchange for it. I heard that Fang Lin was granted an excellent cauldron by the first elder previously, but I didn’t expect it to be the Golden Flame Cauldron. I’m so jealous!” the official disciple muttered to himself.
Lu Jiuhe looked at the Golden Flame Cauldron in front of Fang Lin in a daze, then he looked back at his Green Stone Cauldron once again. He immediately felt a rush of emotions swarm his heart and make him feel at a loss as to whether to cry or laugh. He wished that he could bury himself in a hole to hide.
It was infuriating. He had procured the Green Stone Cauldron in an attempt to crush Fang Lin’s ego. On the contrary, Fang Lin had procured the Golden Flame Cauldron which repeatedly felt like a slap to his face.
Lu Jiuhe was very depressed, but mostly he was filled with envy and jealousy. Who do you think you are to possess a Golden Flame Cauldron when you’re just a low-grade disciple? I’ve been working painstakingly for many years just to become a high-grade disciple, yet I’m only using the Green Stone Cauldron!
Fang Lin held the Golden Flame Cauldron and heaved a sigh loudly on purpose. He pretended to lament, “Sigh, I don’t have many good quality cauldrons, so I can only make do with the Golden Flame Cauldron.”