Chapter 159 - 156: The Pill King Bows His Head

On the Alchemy Platform, flames blazed.

An hour had already passed.

During this time, both alchemists had tossed more than a dozen different herbs into their respective Pill Cauldrons.

The alchemists present were all masters of their craft, vastly experienced. But at this moment, they were like humble students, observing the two figures on the Alchemy Platform.

Pill King Lu Changsheng’s alchemy technique was as smooth as flowing water, utterly flawless.

But to everyone’s astonishment, Ning Jiang’s control over the flame was just as masterful, not the least bit inferior to Lu Changsheng’s.

In terms of technique alone, Ning Jiang was shockingly on par with Lu Changsheng.

From start to finish, not a single wisp of medicinal aroma had escaped either of their Pill Cauldrons.

A contained aroma meant the elixirs were at least Treasure Grade.

An alchemist capable of refining a Treasure Elixir could be called a Grandmaster.

"I’m starting to waver. Could this man truly be a Pill King?"

An Alchemy Master muttered, unable to help himself as he watched Ning Jiang’s masterful technique on the Alchemy Platform—a technique in no way inferior to Lu Changsheng’s.

"In terms of technique, several of the Alchemy Grandmasters are nearly on par with Lu Changsheng," another countered. "But successfully refining a Supreme Grade Elixir isn’t just a matter of technique."

Someone shook his head.

How difficult was a Supreme Grade Elixir to make? Lu Changsheng had only managed to refine five in his entire lifetime!

"I absolutely refuse to believe he can refine a Supreme Grade Elixir. If he pulls it off, I could die right here and now with no regrets."

Wei Tianchen’s fists clenched. His talent for alchemy was immense, said to have even surpassed that of a young Lu Changsheng. He was the number one alchemist among the younger generation in Cyan Cloud Country, a genius who could stand on equal footing with the veteran Grandmasters.

He refused to believe Ning Jiang was a Pill King!

"Tan Jinglin," said the red-faced Grandmaster from the Ji Family, "you said before that he’s a Pill King. You even swore a deadly oath to guarantee it, didn’t you?"

"I did."

"I don’t believe a single word of it. I’ll bet you five million Primordial Stones. You dare?" Since Ji Hai had died at Ning Jiang’s hands, the red-faced Grandmaster naturally harbored a deep resentment for him.

"Why would I refuse such a generous gift of Primordial Stones? I’ll take that bet."

Their exchange shocked everyone nearby.

Five million Primordial Stones was an immense fortune, even for an Alchemy Grandmaster.

Time passed.

On the Alchemy Platform, after adding the final herb, Lu Changsheng said, "You said I could use any means to improve the quality of the elixir, correct?"

"Use whatever tricks you have up your sleeve," Ning Jiang replied nonchalantly.

Lu Changsheng’s eyes narrowed. He took out a Jade Bottle containing a pale golden liquid. The moment he uncorked it, an intoxicating aroma that enchanted the entire crowd wafted out.

"Elixir Liquid."

An alchemist exclaimed.

Ning Jiang gave it a second glance. He remembered that Du Wanqing also possessed an Elixir Liquid, one he’d obtained by chance, which could elevate an elixir to Treasure Grade.

The Elixir Liquid in Lu Changsheng’s hand was clearly far superior to Du Wanqing’s.

With his vast knowledge, Ning Jiang knew that this type of Elixir Liquid was mostly created using Spiritual Water and contained traces of Spiritual Qi.

Unfortunately, not even a single Spirit Vein could be found in the present-day Cyan Cloud Country.

"I obtained this Elixir Liquid from an Ancient Cave Mansion in the Hundred Thousand Mountains," Lu Changsheng announced. "It can push the quality of an elixir one step further!"

As he spoke, Lu Changsheng poured the pale golden Elixir Liquid into his Pill Cauldron.

’Master’s even using the Elixir Liquid! He’s sure to win!’

Liang Xiyue was taken aback; she never expected Lu Changsheng to take this competition so seriously. He only possessed that one portion of the Ancient Elixir Liquid, which he cherished like a priceless treasure and had never been willing to use.

Ten breaths after Lu Changsheng poured in the Elixir Liquid.

"Rise!"

Lu Changsheng slapped his palm against the Pill Cauldron, and a glossy black orb instantly shot out.

"Huh? Why does the elixir look like that?"

The crowd was baffled, not understanding what they were seeing.

Tan Jinglin’s gaze sharpened. He recalled that when Ning Jiang had refined his Supreme Grade Elixir, it had looked exactly like this and had drawn a great deal of skepticism.

"Open."

Ignoring the surrounding chatter, Lu Changsheng held the glossy black sphere in his palm and sent a pulse of Gang Qi through it.

CRACKLE.

The outer shell began to crack apart. With each layer that shattered, a wave of fragrance was released.

One hundred zhang, three hundred zhang, one thousand zhang!

A thousand-zhang fragrance—a Supreme Grade Elixir!

The entire venue erupted.

"There’s more!"

People exclaimed as the shell continued to crack, finally revealing the elixir itself.

Its surface was covered in a dense web of Pill Patterns, and its fragrance billowed out to fifteen hundred zhang, blanketing the entire Pill King Valley.

Just as countless people were reveling in the aroma, it vanished in an instant.

Supreme Grade Elixirs kept their fragrance contained. The medicinal efficacy of such an elixir wouldn’t diminish in the slightest, even after several hundred years.

"Fifteen hundred zhang! The Pill King is sure to win!"

"The best Supreme Grade Elixir the Pill King ever refined only produced a fragrance of just under twelve hundred zhang."

The faces of the Pill King Valley Elders lit up with joy.

After using the Ancient Elixir Liquid, the elixir’s quality had clearly reached a new level. Under these circumstances, how could Ning Jiang possibly win?

"Congratulations, Pill King."

The many alchemists present offered their congratulations. In their hearts, most of them were hoping for Lu Changsheng to win.

After all, Lu Changsheng was a living legend to many of them, while Ning Jiang was just a junior.

They could admit their own alchemy skills were inferior to Lu Changsheng’s, but they could never accept someone so young lording his superiority over them.

"Do you still wish to continue?" Lu Changsheng asked, brimming with confidence. "If you are willing to concede now and leave Pill King Valley, we will not hold you accountable for your actions."

"Oh? You think you’ve already won?"

Just then, Ning Jiang stood up and retracted the flames. "Perfect timing. I’m finished as well."

He slapped his palm against the Pill Cauldron, and an identical black orb shot out.

"Hm?"

Lu Changsheng’s eyes widened in shock. That appearance... it was unmistakably that of a Supreme Grade Elixir.

CRACK—

The sphere gradually cracked apart, its fragrance spreading with each layer.

The looks of disdain on the faces of the surrounding alchemists gradually morphed into shock.

One hundred zhang, five hundred zhang, one thousand zhang!

A Supreme Grade Elixir.

It really was a Supreme Grade Elixir!

Tan Jinglin hadn’t lied. Ning Jiang was also a Pill King!

A single thought roared in the minds of countless people:

’He’s actually a Pill King!’

A Pill King this young... Had they not seen it with their own eyes, they would never have believed it.

Many even pinched themselves, wondering if it was all a dream.

But it was far from over. Everyone stared, eyes wide and unblinking, as the elixir’s final layer shattered.

BOOM—

The fragrance exploded outward, rapidly expanding until it reached fifteen hundred zhang!

"This!"

The crowd was stunned, their mouths hanging open.

"Does that mean it’s a draw?"

someone murmured. But everyone knew the truth in their hearts: Lu Changsheng had needed the Ancient Elixir Liquid to reach fifteen hundred zhang, whereas Ning Jiang had used nothing. The difference in skill was immediately obvious.

"A draw? Not quite," Ning Jiang said. "I refined an entire cauldron’s worth. That was just the first one!"

Before the stunned eyes of the entire audience, Ning Jiang pulled eight more elixirs from his Pill Cauldron.

As the shells on all the elixirs shattered, an overwhelming fragrance billowed into the sky. A dead silence fell over the area.

Eight elixirs, every single one covered in Pill Patterns, and the fragrance of each reached fifteen hundred zhang!

"Nine elixirs in a single batch, all of them Supreme Grade! If Mr. Ning isn’t the Pill King, then who is?"

Tan Jinglin laughed heartily, feeling utterly vindicated. "This junior, Tan Jinglin, pays his respects to the Pill King!"

"This junior, Gao Wensong, pays his respects to the Pill King!"

"This junior, Weng Yiguang, pays his respects to the Pill King!"

"This junior, Huang Jiuxiang, pays his respects to the Pill King!"

"This junior..."

Six of the Seven Great Alchemy Grandmasters of Cyan Cloud bowed one after another, their faces filled with reverence.

The red-faced Grandmaster of the Ji Family went pale, then red, and finally let out a long sigh. "Ji Hai offended a Pill King; his death was more than deserved. This junior, Ji Buyan, previously spoke insolently to the Pill King and is willing to kowtow in apology. I beg the Pill King to forgive me."

As he spoke, he dropped to his knees before Ning Jiang with a THUD and pressed his forehead heavily to the ground.

A mighty Grandmaster, a man who would rather die than be humiliated, was now utterly convinced and willingly kneeling in apology.

"I must be dreaming... I must be dreaming..."

Wei Tianchen’s face was ashen, drained of all its former pride and brilliance. His body trembled, and he collapsed onto the ground.

Around him, the disciples from the great families who had previously flocked to his side now recoiled as if he were carrying the plague.

’He actually... really is a Pill King.’ A complex look filled Liang Xiyue’s beautiful eyes.

Then, an even more earth-shattering sound erupted.

"We pay our respects to the Pill King!"

Every single Alchemy Master present, without exception, bowed down.

"Lu Changsheng," Ning Jiang said, "who won?"

Lu Changsheng sighed. The man who was once the number one alchemist in Cyan Cloud Country bowed his head to Ning Jiang. "In the presence of a true Pill King, I, Lu Changsheng, am utterly and thoroughly convinced of my defeat."

In his entire life of painstaking effort, he had only managed to refine six Supreme Grade Elixirs, including the one from today.

Ning Jiang had produced nine in a single batch. How could he possibly compare?

The gap between them was as vast as that between heaven and earth.

The Pill King Valley Elders wore bleak expressions. Even their legendary Pill King had bowed his head to Ning Jiang.

This meant that from this day forward, Cyan Cloud Country would have only one Pill King—Ning Jiang. Lu Changsheng was no longer worthy of the title.

A true King is one of a kind.

Pill King Ning Jiang. From this day on, he was the undisputed number one alchemist in Cyan Cloud Country.

"Do you have anything else to say about Wei Tianchen?" Ning Jiang asked coolly.

A flash of regret appeared in Lu Changsheng’s eyes, but he still said firmly, "A Grandmaster cannot be insulted, let alone a Pill King. Tianchen... deserves to die."

In this world, after all, the strong were revered.

How could one dare to offend a figure of a Pill King’s stature? If someone had offended him, Lu Changsheng, he would not have let them off, either. Such was the inviolable authority of a Pill King.

Ning Jiang not only possessed world-shocking strength but was also a Pill King. If he still tried to protect Tianchen, the entire Pill King Valley would be implicated.

With a soft squelch, a bolt of Innate Gang Qi shot through the air, piercing Wei Tianchen’s brow.

Wei Tianchen’s body crumpled to the ground.

Ning Jiang surveyed the scene. He saw that while the Elders of Pill King Valley looked heartbroken, their expressions were dominated by something else: awe. Awe for him.

"Take me to see Wei Yanran."

The main culprit was dead. Ning Jiang had no intention of slaughtering everyone.