Wei Cheng nodded and said, "In that case, Master Yang and I shall verify the results ourselves!"
As he spoke, he channeled his spiritual energy, enveloping his share of the medicinal liquid and sending it drifting toward Yang Kai. Yang Kai, seeing this, similarly tossed his own refined Star Flower medicinal liquid across.
Both began examining each other's work while the many pill masters watching from the dueling platform leaned in with anticipation, eager to learn who had prevailed in today's exchange. But before the results were revealed, there was simply no way to tell.
After a short while, Yang Kai smiled faintly and looked up at Wei Cheng, only to see the man's expression shifting wildly, looking as though he had seen a ghost in broad daylight.
The spectacle was witnessed by all the onlookers, and comparing Yang Kai's unruffled calm, quite a few inwardly gasped, wondering if Wei Cheng had actually lost this round?
But how could that be? Both men on the platform were Heavenly Pill Masters—one using Human Fire, the other Heavenly Fire. No matter how you looked at it, Wei Cheng should not have lost.
Just as everyone was wrestling with their doubts, Wei Cheng suddenly let out a deep sigh, his expression somewhat dejected. The drop of medicinal liquid hovering before him dispersed into nothing, and he turned to cup his fists. "Master Yang's skill is extraordinary. I, Wei, admit I am your inferior. This round—I have lost!"
"You were too kind!" Yang Kai nodded calmly, unsurprised by the result. Wei Cheng's straightforwardness, however, earned him a measure of respect—his temperament might not be the best, but his character was passable. At least when he lost, he owned up to it without protest.
The crowd below erupted once more. Many pill masters stared at Yang Kai in utter disbelief, unable to fathom how he had used Human Fire to refine a medicinal liquid that surpassed Wei Cheng's. In the past, such a thing would have been unthinkable, yet today it had happened right before their very eyes.
"I'll have someone deliver the three hundred thousand Red Jade to Master Yang's dwelling. I take my leave now!" Wei Cheng's face flushed crimson. After speaking, he hurried down from the platform and led his two Blood Servants outward, quickly vanishing from sight.
"Congratulations, Master Yang." Wu Zhengqi stepped forward a few paces and handed back the Qingxu Sword he had been holding. "After today's battle, Master Yang's name will surely shake the entire Xuan Dan Sect. I expect your reputation will spread throughout every corner of the sect before long—there will be no one left who hasn't heard of you!"
Yang Kai took the Qingxu Sword and smiled faintly. "It's merely empty fame. Vice Hall Master Wu flatters me. Now that matters here are settled, I shall take my leave as well. I've troubled you today, Vice Hall Master Wu."
"No trouble at all. I was just here for the excitement." Wu Zhengqi chuckled.
Yang Kai nodded and descended from the dueling platform, with Yang Huai immediately following close behind.
Wei Cheng was remarkably efficient. Less than an hour after Yang Kai returned to his cave dwelling, Wei Cheng had already sent someone to deliver the three hundred thousand Red Jade. Yang Huai bustled about, carrying the stones inside. In an instant, the entire dwelling was suffused with dense spiritual energy.
He had previously obtained one hundred thousand Red Jade from Tianwu City, which had taken Yang Kai over a month to consume—enough to advance his cultivation from Earth Stage peak to Heaven Stage Three. Now, with three times that amount of resources, it should last him a good while.
However, there was no certainty about how far this would elevate his cultivation. As his level grew, the resources required grew ever more vast. Yang Kai even doubted whether these Red Jade stones would be enough to push him up two more stages.
Still, with these Red Jade, many things could be done. At the very least, he could prepare the body-tempering medicinal liquid that Yang Huai needed. Yang Kai immediately set aside some Red Jade, wrote out a prescription, and sent Yang Huai to Xuan Dan City to purchase the necessary herbs.
Xuan Dan City existed in the shadow of the Xuan Dan Sect. Medicinal herbs of every variety were the most commonly traded goods there—as long as it wasn't something exceedingly rare, you could find it there.
Yang Huai returned in less than two hours with bundles of every shape and size. Yang Kai prepared several things to assist his cultivation of the Flawless Tyrant Body Method, then sent him off to train on his own. Meanwhile, Yang Kai sat cross-legged amid a mountain of Red Jade and activated the Heaven-Devouring Battle Art!
On the dueling platform, Yang Kai made a name for himself in a single battle!
Though he had already drawn some attention when he joined the Xuan Dan Sect as a Heavenly Pill Master, the sect harbored many such masters, each busy with their own affairs. Even those who heard the news had been merely curious.
But after Yang Kai defeated Wei Cheng, his name spread throughout the entire Xuan Dan Sect in record time, just as Wu Zhengqi had predicted.
A seventeen- or eighteen-year-old Heavenly Pill Master who had defeated a veteran in medicinal liquid refinement, using nothing but a wisp of white Human Fire at that—
These extraordinary details piqued the interest of many, and even the Elder Council had caught wind of the matter.
The result of this battle was that Yang Kai periodically received invitations from various Heavenly Pill Masters, nearly all of them asking him to attend gatherings at their cave dwellings.
Among the Heavenly Pill Masters of the Xuan Dan Sect, it was common practice to gather frequently and exchange insights on alchemy. This was an extremely normal occurrence throughout the sect—through such exchanges and friendly competitions, each person could identify their own shortcomings and absorb the strengths of others.
It was an excellent atmosphere and a tradition passed down through the ages.
However, due to differing philosophies and methods, each Heavenly Pill Master maintained their own small circle, and it was difficult for outsiders to break in.