"Since Yang Kai is so insistent, he must have some means at his disposal. Perhaps he has another set of materials. Just hand over the one you've prepared to Grandmaster Zuo De," Long Tianshang's voice echoed from the void.
Hearing this, Ai'Ou froze and turned to look at Yang Kai with an inquiring expression.
Yang Kai simply smiled, flipped his wrist, and a pill core radiating seven-colored light appeared in his palm. The seven-colored radiance was actually even more vibrant than the one Ai'Ou had produced earlier.
"He really does have one!" the crowd exclaimed. Many alchemists gazed at the pill core in Yang Kai's hand with undisguised greed.
If the two pill cores were placed side by side, they would look nearly identical, except…
"Why do I feel like this pill core is a bit different from the one President Ai'Ou brought out?" someone muttered in confusion.
"It is a bit different indeed. They look the same, but there are subtle distinctions. Is this really the inner core of a Seven-Colored Elk?"
"This is the inner core of a Seven-Colored Elk variant—not from the true ancient beast itself, but the demon beast did possess a trace of Seven-Colored Elk bloodline in life," Yang Kai explained with a smile.
This item had been sitting in his Space Ring for many years. It was obtained from hunting a Seven-Colored Elk variant on the plains outside the Imperial Palace back when he'd first ventured there. It had never found a use until today.
"So that's how it is. What a pity," Zong Ao sighed.
"What do you mean?" Ai'Ou had already begun regarding Yang Kai as one of his own, and hearing Zong Ao's words, he couldn't help but ask with some anxiety.
"One of the primary materials for refining the Primordial Soul-Transferring Pill is the inner core of a Seven-Colored Elk. The one in Yang Kai's hand technically meets the requirements, but it isn't pure, which makes refining considerably more difficult. The one you previously collected, President, though it has lost much of its energy, is the genuine article. Using that one would undoubtedly give you a significant advantage," Zong Ao explained.
He was a Void King-grade alchemist of the upper tier. Although he himself had never managed to refine the Primordial Soul-Transferring Pill, the formula had been his proposal, and he naturally possessed deep expertise on the matter. His words carried genuine authority.
Hearing this, Ai'Ou's expression darkened.
"Ha ha ha! Trying to compete with this old man using a defective pill core?" Zuo De laughed loudly. "Boy, I advise you to concede now, so you don't embarrass yourself later."
"If a defective core isn't enough, how about this?" Yang Kai smiled. As he spoke, another object appeared in his palm. The moment it materialized, a strange fragrance drifted through the air. The crowd inhaled it and immediately felt their minds clear, as though all negative emotions within their hearts had been swept clean.
"A sachet to match the pill core!" Zong Ao's eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh. "Now that changes things—they'll be on equal footing."
Ai'Ou's spirits lifted as well. He knew that with a matching sachet to supplement the pill core, Yang Kai's disadvantage would be instantly erased.
Zuo De's face sank. "You managed to hunt down a Seven-Colored Elk variant as well? Even so, so what? Do you truly believe your alchemy can surpass mine? I'll give you one last chance—concede. You have no hope of winning."
"And I'll give the Grandmaster one last chance," Yang Kai retorted. "Otherwise, today's contest will become a permanent stain on your reputation."
"Hmph. If words fail, let actions speak. Since you have the materials, then let's begin. I'll make you submit with your own eyes!"
Yang Kai turned to Ai'Ou and cupped his fists. "President Ai'Ou, would you kindly find us a suitable location?"
"The Alchemist's Hall isn't far from here. We'll use that. They have access to genuine Earthfire there, and a Void King-grade alchemy furnace," Ai'Ou said, leading the way forward.
The others hurried to follow. The Void-grade alchemists were practically vibrating with excitement, faces flushed and hands trembling as they crowded around Grandmaster Zuo De, seizing the opportunity to pick his brain with questions. A Void King-grade alchemist was not someone you could meet on any given day, and with such a rare chance before them, they were determined to make the most of it.
Regardless of Zuo De's character, his alchemy skills were beyond dispute. A few casual pointers from him years ago had been enough to propel Zhan Yuan all the way to the mid-tier Void-grade. Many of the alchemists present considered themselves far more talented than Zhan Yuan—if they could receive even a few words of guidance from Zuo De, the benefits would last a lifetime.
Perhaps wanting to maintain his image, Zuo De accepted every question and problem the alchemists raised without refusal, answering each one with meticulous care.
Many of them reaped enormous rewards and expressed their profuse gratitude.
Zong Ao alone walked alongside Yang Kai, paying no attention to the commotion behind them.
Zhan Yuan, that smug creature, kept glancing sideways at Yang Kai with a smug, schadenfreude-laced smirk plastered on his face.
"Master, your student recently encountered a difficult problem and doesn't know how to solve it. Might I ask for Master's guidance?" Zhan Yuan suddenly called out in a loud voice.
The alchemists nearby all pricked up their ears, curious about what Zhan Yuan would ask.
"Oh? What problem? Let's hear it," Zuo De asked casually.
"A certain brat who doesn't know the height of heaven or the depth of earth—just a beginner in the way of alchemy—wants to compete with your student in a refining contest and has sworn a grand oath to win. Your student doesn't know whether he should accept. After all, if I agree, it would be bullying the weak, but if I refuse, people might mistake it for a lack of skill. It's really quite the dilemma."
"What dilemma is there? An alchemist's honor must not be trampled. Teach that fellow a lesson he won't forget—show him that the way of alchemy is not something just any stray cat or dog can dabble in."
Zhan Yuan immediately put on an expression of sudden enlightenment and cupped his fists. "Ah, so that's how it is! Thank you for your instruction, Master. Your student has learned well."