Chapter 152: The Yin-Yang Five Poisons Pill
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Mu Ye was stunned.
She had been rivals with Wang Qian for years, and no one knew his strength better than she did. It was evident that while she had been diligently cultivating, Wang Qian had not been idle either.
The arrogance she had developed after her breakthrough dissipated instantly. Her fluttering emotions settled, and a serene determination returned to her expression.
There was always someone stronger, always another challenge ahead.
Her journey was still far from over.
As the rankings were announced, Wang Qian felt a wave of relief, as if a weight had been lifted. He raised his head high, basking in the admiration radiating from all directions. In his mind, he had already begun envisioning himself as the Young Sect Master.
“Contestant 439, Mu Ye, please present your pill.”
Elder Luo’s words abruptly shattered Wang Qian’s daydream. His gaze shifted to Mu Ye, brimming with provocation.
Mu Ye, upon hearing the summons, did not immediately open her Pill Refining Furnace. Instead, she turned to search the crowd. It didn’t take her long to find who she was looking for, her gaze tinged with unease.
Standing among the disciples of the Medicine Hall, Yu Zhao offered Mu Ye a reassuring smile and a firm nod.
“Believe in yourself. You can do it.”
Receiving the silent encouragement, Mu Ye’s resolve solidified. She nodded back at Yu Zhao before turning to open the furnace. From within, she carefully retrieved two pills—one black and one white—and placed them on a tray.
As the pills were revealed, the vast plaza erupted into an uproar.
“That’s strange. Why are Mu Ye’s pills different colors?”
“And there are two of them! Could she have messed up the refinement?”
“They don’t look like failures. Did she and Senior Brother Wang agree to only pull out their big moves during the assessment?”
The elders of the Green Wood Sect, who had been speculating about Mu Ye’s unusual refinement technique, now stared at her pills with heightened curiosity.
Could this technique produce pills with extraordinary effects?
When they saw the result—two pills of different colors refined in the same furnace—it was a first even for them.
Wang Qian and Elder Wang’s initial smugness evaporated. Their expressions darkened as unease crept into their hearts. They had assumed defeating Mu Ye would be a breeze, but her unique approach to pill refining had instantly leveled the playing field.
Mu Ye calmly carried the tray to the high platform, her demeanor poised as she addressed the elders.
“Disciple Mu Ye presents the Three-Grade Pill: the Five Poisons Pill.”
Before she could say more, Elder Lotus and another elder acted swiftly, each snatching one of the pills from the tray.
Elder Lotus held the white Five Poisons Pill. Its luster and texture were exquisite, comparable to Wang Qian’s Departing Fire Pill. She rubbed a small amount of powder from the pill with her spiritual energy and tasted it at the tip of her tongue.
Yes, it had the taste of poison.
The other elder compared the black Five Poisons Pill, noting that aside from the color, it was identical to the white one.
The elders were astounded.
If the pills were the same, why were their colors different?
They looked collectively at Elder Lotus, signaling her to ask the question on everyone’s mind.
Elder Lotus, equally curious, asked, “Mu Ye, your two Five Poisons Pills have different colors. Is there a specific reason for this?”
If it was merely a difference in appearance, Mu Ye’s assessment would not score too highly, certainly not enough to surpass Wang Qian.
In other words, Wang Qian could still claim victory in this round.
The most nervous person at that moment wasn’t Mu Ye—it was Wang Qian. His fists clenched, and his heartbeat thundered in his ears.
Please don’t let there be a reason. Please don’t…
“There is.” Mu Ye held up two small pills, her calm voice breaking the silence around her. “Both of these pills are Five Poisons Pills. Consuming either one will lead to poisoning. However, if the second pill is taken within a certain period, it neutralizes the poison. Separately, they are toxic, but together, they cancel each other out. This is what I call the Yin-Yang Five Poisons Pills.”
The crowd froze, stunned into silence.
Yin-Yang Five Poisons Pills?
Creating both a poison pill and its antidote simultaneously with the same set of ingredients? Was such a feat even possible?
“Impossible! You couldn’t have achieved this!” Wang Qian snarled, his face twisted in disbelief.
As an alchemist himself, Wang Qian understood the magnitude of this concept. If true, it meant that while he was still perfecting borrowed techniques, Mu Ye—his peer—had created an entirely new school of alchemy. Such an accomplishment would make Mu Ye’s name echo throughout the alchemy world.
Mu Ye met his gaze calmly. “Just because you can’t, doesn’t mean I can’t.”
This was her achievement, and she wasn’t going to shy away from it.
“No! I refuse to believe it!” Wang Qian roared, his voice hoarse. He tried to charge at Mu Ye, but Elder Luo stopped him in his tracks with a mere thought, freezing him in place.
Elder Wang rose from his seat, wanting to intervene. But seeing Wang Qian’s frenzied state, he hesitated, his sorrow and helplessness evident. Releasing him would only worsen the situation.
The disciples of the Green Wood Sect exchanged uncertain glances. Many of them had never heard of such alchemical techniques before and were naturally skeptical. Their doubts mirrored those of several elders present.
Could a Foundation Establishment disciple like Mu Ye truly pioneer a revolutionary alchemical method with just her own insight?
Elder Lotus voiced the question that lingered on everyone’s minds. “Mu Ye, do you have a way to prove the miraculous properties of your Yin-Yang Five Poisons Pills?”
“I do,” Mu Ye replied confidently. “Master, please hand me the two pills.”
With a gentle smile, Elder Lotus placed the black and white pills back onto Mu Ye’s tray. Without hesitation, Mu Ye picked up the black pill and swallowed it.
The poison dissolved instantly.
Her complexion turned an alarming shade of green, her lips darkened, and her body stiffened as she collapsed backward.
Sect Master Wu Sang: “!”
Elders: “!!”
Disciples: “!!!”
Elder Luo, the closest to her, rushed to catch her falling body. Without wasting a moment, he grabbed the white pill and placed it into her mouth.
Moments passed, and the rigidity in Mu Ye’s body faded. Her complexion returned to normal, and she regained her balance with Elder Luo’s support. “Sect Master… Master… Elders…” she muttered, her words slightly slurred due to the lingering effects of the poison.
Nonetheless, her actions had proven her claims beyond doubt.
Elder Lotus looked at her with a mixture of pride and concern. Many believed that Elder Lotus valued Mu Ye for her innate talent, but few knew it was Mu Ye’s unwavering dedication and passion for alchemy that truly set her apart.
“Outstanding,” declared an elder from the Pill Hall after a long pause.
“I agree,” another elder affirmed.
“Mu Ye is undoubtedly deserving of the highest grade,” a third added.
All eyes turned to Sect Master Wu Sang for the final verdict.
He beamed. “A well-earned honor.”
Elder Wang slumped back into his chair, defeated. The Sect Master’s stance was clear—his favored candidate, Wang Qian, had no chance.
“Mu Ye, your evaluation is graded as the highest—superior.”
The crowd buzzed with excitement.
“Two superior evaluations! Has this ever happened before?”
“Senior Brother Wang Qian earned his because he deserved it, but Senior Sister Mu Ye… She’s beyond even the superior grade!”
“Mu Ye is extraordinary. I thought Senior Brother Wang would win for sure, but she completely outclassed him! If she becomes our next Young Sect Master, I’ll fully support her!”