Free Web NovelChapter 333: Debate [2]
Early the next morning, the Alchemy Platform was even livelier than yesterday.
After the brutal screening of the first round, the 120 advancing Alchemists became the focus of everyone’s attention. The viewing stands were packed, and quite a few Nascent Soul Old Monsters had even arrived in person, clearly hoping to scout some good talent to take under their wings, or simply to watch the spectacle.
Fang Hao still arrived just in time, but today he did not shrink into a corner, instead standing openly in the area for those who had Advanced.
He could feel many gazes falling on him intentionally or unintentionally; some were curious, some were scrutinizing, and there was also the undisguised contempt from Willow Follow Wind from yesterday.
"Quiet!"
The chief judge, Pill Star Child, appeared on time, still maintaining his immortal and transcendent demeanor, but today’s rules were clearly much more complex.
With a wave of his hand, 120 jade pillars, each half a person’s height, rose in the center of the Alchemy Platform. At the top of each jade pillar sat a crystal box shrouded in spirit light; inside the box, some item seemed to be sealed, though it was unclear what it was.
"The second round is Medicine Identification," Pill Star Child announced, his voice booming like a bell. "This round does not test Alchemy, only eyesight and knowledge."
"Sealed within the jade boxes before you is a type of Spirit Medicine material; it could be a Spirit Medicine, a mineral, a special part from a Demon Beast, or even some rare Heaven And Earth Treasure."
"You have the time of one incense stick to use your Divine Sense to investigate and write down its name, attributes, effects, and at least three identification features in the Jade Slip. Those who answer more than eighty percent correctly will advance."
As soon as these words were spoken, a buzzing sound of discussion immediately erupted from below the stage.
This test question was too tricky! It didn’t let you use your hands; it just tested how much knowledge you had in your head.
What if you encountered something that only existed in ancient books? Wouldn’t you be completely lost?
Fang Hao’s heart stirred. This test question was practically tailor-made for him!
He had "the hundred solutions of heavenly craftsmanship," an all-encompassing treasure manual on Artifact Refining and Alchemy to rely on, and combined with the knowledge Mo Yunhe, that old fellow, had accumulated over nearly a thousand years of life, he was confident that his understanding of Heaven And Earth Treasure was second to none present.
"Now, take your positions!"
Fang Hao walked to the jade pillar marked "Number 108, Jia," took a deep breath, and adjusted his state to the best.
Following Pill Star Child’s command to "Begin," he did not hesitate to probe the crystal box shrouded in spirit light with his Divine Sense.
As soon as his Divine Sense made contact, a bone-chilling, cold aura fed back along his Divine Sense, making him shiver uncontrollably.
Inside the box lay a fist-sized "stone," pitch-black all over, with its surface covered in honeycomb-like holes. Inside the stone, a dark green ghostly light faintly swirled, emitting an unsettling aura of dead silence.
"This is... ’Nether Stone’?" Fang Hao stared at the stone emitting eerie light before him, his expression one of astonishment. His pupils constricted slightly, as if he had seen something unbelievable.
The stone was pitch black like ink, covered in fine lines that intertwined like a spider web. It emitted a cold and mysterious aura that made one shudder.
Fang Hao sighed in admiration inwardly. He had only ever seen records of this kind of treasure in an ancient classic—the "Chapter of Strange Objects" in "the hundred solutions of heavenly craftsmanship."
It was said that the "Nether Stone" was one of the most exotic treasures in heaven and earth, growing only in places that were extremely dark, damp, and shrouded in Yin Qi.
They needed to absorb the Yin Sha Qi from deep underground and the lingering resentment of countless departed souls for a long time, and only after long years of precipitation and accumulation could they gradually condense into shape.
Due to its extremely harsh formation conditions and the long time required, the "Nether Stone" could be described as rare and precious as a Phoenix feather or a unicorn’s horn.
More importantly, it was an essential core material for refining Advanced Yin-attribute Magic Treasure and some special types of Puppet! Such a treasure, once it appeared in the world, would surely cause various forces to scramble and covet it.
He dared not be careless and carefully recalled the description in the classic: "Nether Stone, black as ink, light and porous, cold to the touch, feeling of wailing souls when probed with Divine Sense... ghostly light swirls inside, a sign of condensed remnant souls... can be used to refine ’Nine Nether Banner’, ’Yin Sha Puppet’..."
After confirming there were no errors, Fang Hao immediately wrote furiously on the Jade Slip, not only clearly writing down the name, attributes, and efficacy for refining Yin-attribute Magic Treasure, but also detailing its weight, texture, Divine Sense response characteristics, and more than three identification methods, even writing down a obscure "Earth Fire Burning Method" that could be used to identify its age.
When he finished writing this, less than half of the incense stick had burned. Fang Hao looked up and around, finding that most people were still deep in thought, some sweating on their foreheads, others scratching their ears and cheeks.
That Willow Follow Wind was calm and composed, clearly having also finished answering, and was looking at Fang Hao with a provocative gaze, seemingly mocking him for "putting on an act."
Fang Hao couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to him; he closed his eyes to rest, reviewing the previous answer in his mind to ensure it was foolproof.
The incense stick burned out, and the Jade Slip automatically flew back into Pill Star Child’s hand. The chief judge did not waste words, directly conjuring an ancient bronze mirror Magic Treasure; the mirror light swept over the Jade Slip, instantly completing the grading.
"Now announcing the results." Pill Star Child’s voice was flat, but the content he spoke made many people’s faces turn pale.
"Number 03, Yi, incorrect. This item is ’Rotten Bone Flower Stamen’, not ’Heart-Eroding Grass’."
"Number 47, Bing, thirty percent correct, eliminated."
"Number 15, Jia, Willow Follow Wind, all correct."
"Number 108, Jia, Fang Hao, all correct."
"What? All correct?" There was an immediate uproar below the stage.
Willow Follow Wind getting everything correct was understandable, after all, he was a Genius from Medicine King Valley. But this unknown Fang Hao, actually also got everything correct?
That Nether Stone was famously obscure; many old Alchemists might not even recognize it fully!
Willow Follow Wind’s expression instantly sank, and the look he cast toward Fang Hao changed from contempt to coldness.
He had originally thought that he could easily crush this Loose Cultivator in this round, but he didn’t expect the other party to actually tie with him!
Fang Hao was secretly pleased; it was indeed right to go all out.
In this round, he had to demonstrate enough weight to attract Su Xuan’s attention and to deter certain petty people.
"Sixty people have Advanced. Tomorrow, third round, Pill Battle!" After announcing the results, Pill Star Child waved his large sleeve and disappeared instantly.
The third round, Pill Battle! As the name implies, it was a direct confrontation between Alchemists, comparing solid, real Alchemy skills!
Fang Hao was just preparing to leave when a voice called out to him.
"Fellow Daoist Ning, please stay."
Fang Hao turned back and discovered that the one who had called him was actually Willow Follow Wind.
At this moment, this Medicine King Valley Genius wore a seemingly warm smile, but deep in his eyes was ice-cold coldness.
"Fellow Daoist Willow, what instructions do you have?" Fang Hao remained composed.
Willow Follow Wind walked a few steps closer and lowered his voice, but his tone carried a hint of condescension: "Fellow Daoist Ning is quite good at hiding things."
"However, Medicine Identification is ultimately a minor path; tomorrow’s Pill Battle is when the real truth will be seen. I advise you, Fellow Daoist, some things are not for you to covet; it would be better to withdraw early, lest you... bring humiliation upon yourself."
Fang Hao smiled, a very faint smile, but his eyes were sharp as knives: "Is Fellow Daoist Willow threatening me?"
"Threatening?" Willow Follow Wind sneered, "I am just stating a fact. The top three of this Debate are destined to be in the pockets of us Sect Disciples. As a Loose Cultivator, why must you wade into these muddy waters? If you withdraw now, I, Willow Follow Wind, can give you a sum of Spirit Stone, enough for you to live happily for a lifetime."
The smile on Fang Hao’s face gradually faded. He looked at Willow Follow Wind and said word by word: "I appreciate your good intentions, Fellow Daoist Willow. However, since I have come to this Debate, I will not give up halfway. As for who the top three will fall to, tomorrow, it will naturally be revealed."
Having said this, Fang Hao no longer looked at him, turned, and walked away with long strides.
Willow Follow Wind stood in place, watching Fang Hao’s departing back, his expression so gloomy it could drip water.
Behind him, a Cultivator who looked like a lackey stepped up and whispered: "Senior Brother Willow, this brat doesn’t know what’s good for him, should we..."
Willow Follow Wind waved his hand, a trace of killing intent flashing in his eyes: "No need. Tomorrow’s Pill Battle, I will let him know just how big the gap between a Loose Cultivator and a Sect Genius is. By then, he will regret today’s choice."
On the other side, Fang Hao had just walked not far from the Alchemy Platform when Clear Sound arrived as promised again.
"You have angered Willow Follow Wind." Her tone was somewhat grave.
"He was the one who provoked me first," Fang Hao said calmly. "What, is Senior Su afraid?"
Clear Sound shook her head: "Master just asked me to remind you that this Willow Follow Wind is narrow-minded and vengeful. During tomorrow’s Pill Battle, he will likely target you. Moreover, the rules of the Pill Battle... might be unfavorable to you."
"Oh? What rules?"
"The specifics are not yet clear, but it is said to be a one-on-one duel, with the judges specifying the Pill Formula, and the winner advances," Clear Sound said. "If Willow Follow Wind manipulates things in the dark to make you face a strong enemy, or specifies a Pill Formula you are completely unfamiliar with..."
Fang Hao frowned slightly. This was indeed a trouble. If he were truly targeted, even if he had heaven-reaching abilities, it would be difficult for him to display them.
"I understand, thank you for informing me," Fang Hao said in a deep voice. "However, when soldiers come, block them; when water comes, cover it with earth. If he wants to play, I will accompany him to the end."
Clear Sound looked at the unyielding determination in Fang Hao’s eyes, and her heart stirred slightly. This Loose Cultivator seemed to be quite different from the others she had met.
"You... take care of yourself." She ultimately just sighed softly and turned to leave.
Returning to the inn, Fang Hao immediately began to prepare for tomorrow’s Pill Battle.
He went through all the Tier 4 Pill Formula he had mastered in his mind, from the most basic ningyuan pill, to the complex Soul-Nourishing Pill, Gold-Tempering Fire Spirit Pill, and then to the several obscure but powerful special Medicinal Pill recorded in "the hundred solutions of heavenly craftsmanship."
He knew that tomorrow would be a tough battle. Not only would he have to face Willow Follow Wind’s targeting, but he would also have to refine a Medicinal Pill capable of crushing his opponent under everyone’s gaze.
"Pill Battle, huh..." Battle Intent rose in Fang Hao’s eyes. "Then let me see if these Alchemy Geniuses of Myriad Laws Immortal City can truly force out my full strength!"
In the night, the light in Fang Hao’s room remained lit all night long.
