'A Half-Spirit Body?'
Under the pitying gazes of the crowd, Yang Xiao saw through Wang Qianhe's true nature with a single glance.
A Half-Spirit Body was a constitution between a Mortal Body and a Spirit Body. It could often be considered an incomplete Spirit Body, achievable through cultivation with a certain Secret Technique.
Some were also born with it.
Although possessing such a constitution couldn't compare to a true Spirit Body, one's affinity for and control over Primordial Power was a great deal stronger than that of an ordinary person.
This was why Wang Qianhe was able to achieve a level of Fire Control that even made Elder Yao feel inferior.
However, would Yang Xiao be afraid of him just because of a mere Half-Spirit Body?
Obviously not.
Besides, the competition was in Fire Control, the very thing Yang Xiao excelled at most.
"Junior, it's your turn. If you kneel down and admit your mistake right now, perhaps I'll overlook your previous remarks. It's still three rounds—if you win one, it counts as your victory. How about it?"
Wang Qianhe spoke again, his voice sinister.
"Sect Leader Wang is so magnanimous! This is how a senior should act!"
"Indeed. That kid from the Yang Family is far too arrogant. His temperament is a far cry from Sect Leader Wang's."
"Do you think the Yang Family kid will admit his mistake?"
...
Before Yang Xiao could even speak, the crowd was already buzzing with discussion, praising Wang Qianhe's magnanimity.
Even Cheng Boxuan and Elder Yao, upon hearing his words, felt that Wang Qianhe was indeed making a concession.
They just waited for Yang Xiao to accept.
"There's no need. It was just a minor trick. If, as you say, I win by winning just one round, then doesn't that mean there's no need for what comes next?"
Yang Xiao smiled coolly and stepped forward.
"How arrogant!"
"He's too conceited!"
Those who understood Wang Qianhe's Fire Control methods all frowned.
They were completely incapable of using such a technique.
Yet this junior actually called it a minor trick.
Didn't that mean they were worse than even a minor trick?
But when Yang Xiao stretched out his hand and pointed, a ball of crimson flame instantly appeared in the air, dancing as if it were alive. At that, everyone shut their mouths.
Then, as Yang Xiao casually extended his hand, pointing again and again, crimson flames gathered around him one after another, like elves of the heavens and earth.
In just a short moment, dozens of Red Flames had appeared.
It was incredible.
This was true godlike skill.
Everyone was marveling in amazement.
Even those who didn't understand what was happening felt that Yang Xiao's methods seemed even more profound.
"Simultaneously controlling fifty-six flames... Although their intensity is low and nowhere near Sect Leader Wang's, this level of control alone is already astonishing."
"Not necessarily. Those fifty-six flames are, after all, the weakest kind. If Sect Leader Wang were willing, it's not certain he couldn't do it too. The key is still temperature control. That's the real feat."
Faced with this scene, some were impressed and amazed.
Others, however, felt that it wasn't necessarily beyond Wang Qianhe's abilities.
Hearing this, Yang Xiao's expression changed. With a light flick of his finger, one crimson flame merged with another.
As the two fused, their size remained unchanged, but the color deepened considerably, faintly revealing a hint of orange.
At this action, all the commentators fell silent.
But Yang Xiao didn't stop.
Two flames merged, then four, then eight, then sixteen. Finally, all fifty-six flames around Yang Xiao fused into one.
The crimson flame had turned a bright yellow.
Compared to the two bright Yellow Flames Wang Qianhe had produced earlier, its intensity was just as strong, if not stronger.
Yet its form hadn't changed in the slightest, and it was much smaller than Wang Qianhe's. This level of control left everyone speechless.
Even Elder Yao's eyes were burning with intensity.
He was utterly shocked.
As for Wang Qianhe, however, a hint of joy flashed in his eyes.
'That waste of space, Yang Xiong, was right after all. This boy really does possess a powerful Fire Control Secret Technique.'
This was the very reason he had chosen Fire Control for the first round.
This was his objective all along.
As for winning or losing, he had never even considered it.
But even if he lost now, he didn't think it mattered.
'After all, if even *he* lost, just how powerful must this Fire Control Secret Technique be?'
'If I could obtain it…'
Wang Qianhe's mind instantly began to race with possibilities.
Down below, however, someone spoke up.
"Fusing the flames is indeed impressive, and it increases the temperature, but what about weakening it? Just now, Sect Leader Wang was able to freely control the temperature, raising and lowering it at will."
As soon as this person raised the question, Yang Xiao just smiled and pointed at the bright yellow flame before him.
A single Red Flame was ejected from it.
He pointed again, and another Red Flame was ejected.
He did this a full fifty-five times, and the single bright yellow flame reverted into fifty-six Red Flames.
This time, not a single person in the audience said another word.
Even Wang Qianhe was stunned.
Then, his shock turned to elation.
'This Secret Skill... it's too powerful!'
"Godlike skill. In this round, Young Friend Yang is the victor. Qianhe, do you have any objections?"
Elder Yao was stunned for a long time before he finally came to his senses and spoke to Wang Qianhe.
"I have naturally lost. Your disciple accepts the outcome of the bet."
Wang Qianhe nodded.
Immediately after, he added, "While his Fire Control is impressive, his knowledge of pharmacology is not necessarily as strong. He previously claimed that the Heaven Repairing Pill I refined was a wasted pill, a Poison Pill, and that I was deceiving him and his father. Since that's the case, for the second round, I challenge him to a duel of pharmacy."
"Using ingredients of the same level, we'll see who can refine a more superior medicine."
As soon as these words were spoken, Elder Yao's expression soured, a trace of displeasure showing.
He had originally intended for Wang Qianhe to concede defeat directly. After all, Wang Qianhe himself had said before that losing one round would count as losing the entire match.
Although Yang Xiao had later amended the terms, Elder Yao felt that as a Great Pharmacist, one should have the magnanimity to accept others.
And one should also have the courage to admit defeat.
Unfortunately, Wang Qianhe had disappointed him.
Not only did he refuse to concede, but he also chose another challenge designed to make things difficult for Yang Xiao.
A duel of pharmacy.
"Fine. For the second round, we'll have a duel of pharmacy. I won the first round. For this one, I'll let you go first again!"
Yang Xiao sneered and accepted.
Such a composed expression immediately earned him a sliver of admiration from many in the crowd.
This was the true bearing of a master.
Of course, without his prior godlike Fire Control Skill, they would have only seen him as arrogant and conceited. But after witnessing that skill, everyone's opinion had begun to shift in Yang Xiao's favor.
They even began to feel a sense of anticipation, eager to see what Yang Xiao would do next.
"You're certainly confident. In that case, I will also provide the Spirit Medicine. Here are ten stalks of Third-level Peak Spirit Medicine. I, this old man, will divide them into two identical groups. You may choose one."
With a wave of his hand, Wang Qianhe produced ten medicine boxes.
He opened them, revealing that they were indeed arranged in matching pairs, totaling five types of Spirit Medicine.
"No need. Even if you pick the five stalks with stronger medicinal power, I won't lose. You should choose first."
"Arrogant!"
Wang Qianhe's expression turned cold, but he didn't argue further. He stepped forward and took five stalks of Spirit Medicine.
Yang Xiao didn't even need to look. He just took a sniff and knew. 'This guy says all the right things, but didn't he still end up picking the five best stalks?'
'So hypocritical.'
"Since both sides have agreed upon the terms of the duel, let the second round begin!"
With Elder Yao's quiet declaration, everyone's focus once again fell on Wang Qianhe.
The second round, the duel of pharmacy, had begun.