"So that's what he was planning!" Xia Sheng's face lit up with sudden realization.
Before this, he had been puzzled by Yang Kai's seemingly self-destructive behavior. But now it was clear — Yang Kai hadn't been courting trouble at all. He had been planning this all along, which was why he'd stepped forward to refine the Supreme Marvel Pills, then kept every last one for himself, using them as bargaining chips to trade with everyone.
All of this was part of his plan.
And the conditions required to execute this plan were extraordinarily demanding...
First, one needed absolute confidence in one's own alchemy — the ability to successfully refine the Supreme Marvel Pills. Without that confidence, a failed refinement would mean nothing could follow.
Second, one needed absolute confidence in one's own strength. Not enough to defeat everyone present, but at least enough to flee and save one's own life.
And now it was clear that Yang Kai possessed both qualities. The facts had proven that his plan was nothing short of flawless!
He had the ability to refine the Supreme Marvel Pills, and the ability to walk away calmly under the watchful eyes of all these powerful cultivators...
The initiative was entirely in his hands. Those who had harbored unrealistic hopes of obtaining the Supreme Marvel Pills had been played like puppets by Yang Kai all along.
During the time Yang Kai had been focused on refining, probably no one could have predicted things would turn out this way. If anyone had foreseen it, they certainly wouldn't have waited for Yang Kai to continue refining — they would have rushed in and seized the Supreme Marvel Treasure Lotus long ago.
This guy... his actions were enough to provoke the fury of both gods and men!
And yet, they were also deeply admirable — one couldn't help but admire his courage and audacity.
Such an act was tantamount to making enemies of everyone present. One wrong move would mean eternal damnation. Without real courage and boldness, who could pull something like this off?
Thinking this, Xia Sheng's expression shifted again as he silently cursed Yang Kai for being utterly cunning.
After the Supreme Marvel Pills were completed, Yang Kai had first given one to Lan Xun. The stated reason was that Lan Xun had provided a stalk of Jade Blood Lingzhi, as they had previously agreed. But in reality... he probably just didn't want to make an enemy of Lan Xun.
After all, Lan Xun's status was special, and no one wanted to be in conflict with her.
Even without that Jade Blood Lingzhi, Yang Kai would probably have found another way. Getting Lan Xun to accept a pill — something like "try these Supreme Marvel Pills and see their quality and effects" — once she had taken one, she couldn't very well make things difficult for him. On the contrary, after leaving the Land of Four Seasons, she would likely put in a good word for him whenever she could!
This was essentially adding an extra layer of safety for himself.
In that instant, the words "old and cunning" flashed through Xia Sheng's mind...
"Enough talk!" Wuchang spoke again, his tone cold and menacing. "What exactly do you want to trade for? State your terms."
"What exactly do I want to trade for? Heh heh heh..." Yang Kai merely smiled without answering. That insufferable expression and tone made everyone want to march up and beat him senseless just to vent their frustration.
"I am curious about something else, though..." Zhuang Bufan had clearly recovered from the aftereffects of clashing Source Force with Yang Kai by now. His face flushed with color, he stood up and looked at Yang Kai. "Brother Yang, those Supreme Marvel Pills... how many are left?"
The moment these words left his lips, Xiao Chen couldn't help but chime in: "Indeed, I was about to ask the same thing. How many Supreme Marvel Pills are there?"
A single batch of pills had a fixed upper limit. Even with the alchemy of the Star Boundary, even when refined by an Emperor-grade Alchemist, a batch could produce at most nine pills after completion!
Because nine was the extreme of numbers. No more were possible.
In other words, that batch of Supreme Marvel Pills could contain at most nine pills, and that was under the most ideal circumstances.
In reality, depending on the alchemist's grade, their condition during refinement, the pill-gathering technique, and the age of the ingredients, it was virtually impossible for any alchemist to produce a full nine pills in a single batch.
Even the most outstanding alchemists rarely achieved such a perfect result.
The Supreme Marvel Pills were of a considerable grade, and Yang Kai's alchemy level was not particularly high. So in any case, this batch of Supreme Marvel Pills could not possibly contain nine. There were likely only four, three, or perhaps even just two pills...
Before trading with Yang Kai, one at least needed to know the quantity of goods available. That was the most basic principle.
Yet upon hearing this, Yang Kai simply chuckled again. "How many are there, you ask? Heh heh heh heh..."
Zhuang Bufan's face darkened with exasperation. "Brother Yang, stop fooling around... I'm asking you a serious question."
Yang Kai glanced at him and said with a carefree smile, "Alright then, let me count."
"I appreciate it, Brother Yang!" Zhuang Bufan nodded.
Under everyone's watchful gaze, Yang Kai actually opened the pill furnace and leaned down to look inside.
The instant he opened the furnace, countless threads of Divine Sense converged on him from every direction, all eager to catch a glimpse of what was inside!
But before anyone could get a clear look, Yang Kai slammed the furnace shut. His expression turning displeased, he swept his gaze across the surroundings and snorted coldly: "Normally, telling you all how many pills there are wouldn't be a big deal... But this sneaky, underhanded attempt to peek is truly beneath contempt. I have decided..."
He paused, letting everyone's curiosity build.
"I'm not telling you!" Yang Kai announced brightly.