Chapter 0025

Chapter 25: The Arrogance of Shang Guan Wu Hui

Everyone held their breath, ready to mock. Tang Qi crossed his arms, already set to enjoy the show.

But the instant the cauldron opened, a sudden change shook the world. There was a boom. Tang Qi’s pill cloud vanished at once, as if it had met something terrifying.

“How is that possible?” people muttered, stunned. Above them, dragons and snakes seemed to dance in the sky. The ground split, and ground fire surged up.

“No!” the earlier mocker screamed. A sweep of Heavenly Tribulation struck him, and he turned to ash on the spot. To insult Heavenly Tribulation was to invite it.

“It is real thunder and ground fire.” “A seventh grade pill. He is a seventh grade alchemist.” Alchemy grandmasters spoke in hoarse voices and stared at Zhou Tong like they were looking at their faith. Lightning crisscrossed the hall and lit half of the youth’s face, making him look solemn and grand. No one dared to jeer again. With raw strength, Zhou Tong had slapped every face.

“This cannot be. It is not real.” Tang Qi’s face turned chalk white. A moment ago he was the new star in everyone’s eyes; now he was only a pitiful backdrop. Seventh grade against sixth grade was a crushing gap.

After the Lightning Tribulation faded, the Bodhi Pill hovered before all eyes. Everyone was convinced. This pill could claim the crown among seventh grade pills.

Chen Ling’er stood there like she had been struck by lightning, her heart pounding hard. She stared at Zhou Tong as if seeing him for the first time. [She had to admit, his figure in the lightning quietly moved her heart.]

Zhou Tong said without pride and handed the pill to Luo Yi: “The pill is done. Please settle the task.”

Luo Yi’s face turned ugly. He had accepted orders from Mo Liu Su to crush the Joyous Union Sect. If these tasks were completed, his plan would fail.

“Next,” Zhou Tong added, “I still plan to refine seventh grade pills.”

At that, Luo Yi exploded. He kicked the task stele and shattered it, then said: “Sorry. These tasks are canceled.”

Cold light leaked into Zhou Tong’s eyes. Long Ling Yun asked quickly: “If there are no tasks, how do we earn merit points?”

Luo Yi smirked: “Then you wait. If there are no tasks for a day, you wait a day. If there are none for a year, you wait a year.”

The crowd understood at once. He was working with the Jade Purity Sect. Tang Qi swept away his gloom and laughed madly: “This world runs on power. So what if you can refine pills? In the end, you still cannot do anything.”

He was about to savor Zhou Tong’s frustrated face when a fierce aura crashed down over the hall.

A deep voice rang out: “Who can save my daughter? I, Shang Guan Wu Hui, will give rich reward.”

The crowd trembled. Shang Guan Wu Hui was the sect master of the Upper Clarity Sect, a man of very high rank and great power. He strode in, face tight with worry, holding a pale girl in his arms. It was his daughter, Shang Guan Wu Gou.

His arrival drew alchemists from all sides, real masters among them. After they examined her, many shook their heads in secret. One said: “This child has the fiercest water poison. She has high resistance to any pill. The danger is great.”

Shang Guan Wu Hui’s eyes dimmed. He had heard this many times. He murmured: “Is my Wu Gou really beyond saving?”

Zhou Tong said: “I can save her.”

Shang Guan Wu Hui’s blood shot eyes swung to him like a beast ready to bite: “Brat, are you mocking me? Even alchemy grandmasters are helpless. What can a child do?”

Zhou Tong replied: “Not so. I can remove the poison, but it will take an uncommon method.”

Before he could explain, Tang Qi brightened. He had once found a great chance. In his Signet Ring was a strong soul and many pills, enough to counter water poison. This was the perfect time to shine, and he would not miss it. He stepped up and said: “Senior, do not listen to his nonsense. I have a Nine Nether Phoenix Fire Pill that can ease the crisis for your daughter.”

He took out the pill. The Hall of Enforcement filled at once with fragrance. Many pill alchemists’ eyes lit up. An eighth grade pill was rare and priceless, far beyond their reach.

“Good, good,” Shang Guan Wu Hui said, excited like he had found hope. “If you can save Wu Gou, I will grant any request.” He took the pill and moved to feed it to the girl.

Zhou Tong raised a hand and said quickly: “Wait. I already said we need an extraordinary method. Any pill will only make it worse.”

Shang Guan Wu Hui snapped: “What are you that you dare talk wildly here? Disrupt me again and I will kill you where you stand.”

Tang Qi fanned the flames: “Senior, you may not know this. He used to be my senior brother, but his heart went crooked and my master expelled him. Now he has sunk so low he joined the Joyous Union Sect. His words are not worth your trust.”

Mockery flashed across Shang Guan Wu Hui’s face. Under all eyes, Shang Guan Wu Gou swallowed the pill. At once the poison aura faded, and color returned to her cheeks. She looked like she had truly recovered.

“How do you feel?” Shang Guan Wu Hui asked, thrilled.

“Father, I feel much better,” the girl said softly, “my whole body is warm and comfy.”

Everyone let out a breath, but a trace of venom flashed in Tang Qi’s eyes. He wanted to use this moment to crush Zhou Tong forever.

“Senior, this junior has an impolite request,” Tang Qi said with a bow.

Shang Guan Wu Hui laughed: “I owe you a great debt. Speak your condition. I will agree.”

“Thank you, senior.” Joy showed on Tang Qi’s face. He pointed straight at Zhou Tong and said: “I once respected this man, but his behavior has let me down. He betrayed our sect and colluded with outsiders to insult my master. Please help me punish him.”

Faces around them changed. It seemed Tang Qi had decided to kill Zhou Tong.

Chen Ling’er blurted out: “Tang Qi, this is our own affair. Why trouble senior to step in?”

Shang Guan Wu Hui cut her off, voice cold: “No need. Even if the young man said nothing, I would not let a scoundrel run wild.”

He stepped toward Zhou Tong. A terrifying pressure rolled out like a crashing mountain. He said: “Abolish your cultivation, slap your own face three hundred times, then cut off one arm. Do that, and today ends here. If not…”

Zhou Tong looked at him without courtesy and said, eyes full of pity and mockery: “If not, what can you do to me?”

That look lit a fire in Shang Guan Wu Hui’s chest. He growled: “I gave you a chance. Do not blame me for what happens next.”

“This is the Hall of Enforcement,” the little demoness and Long Ling Yun shouted together as they raised their qi to share the pressure with Zhou Tong, “how dare you act wild here?”

Long Ling Yun glanced back at Luo Yi. He only wore the face of a man watching a show. She yelled: “Someone is making trouble here. Go call people.”

Luo Yi said with a smirk: “Why call anyone? No laws are being broken. Besides, you cheated first. If anyone should be punished, it is you.” People suddenly remembered he had been bought by the Jade Purity Sect.

“Now we will see who can save you,” Shang Guan Wu Hui said coldly, lifting his hand to strike.

Zhou Tong remained calm and began to count: “Five.”

Shang Guan Wu Hui laughed: “Are you counting down to your own death?”

Zhou Tong went on: “Four, three, two.”

Shang Guan Wu Hui frowned. A thin thread of worry rose in his chest as he asked: “What are you counting?”

“One,” Zhou Tong finished with a soft sigh.

A scream split the great hall at once, and Shang Guan Wu Hui’s whole body shook. He whirled and cried out: “Wu Gou, what is wrong with you?”