The night passed without incident. In the blink of an eye, the warm sun slowly rose amidst the clamor of Central City. Although the tremors from the previous night lingered, most Martial Artists in Central City had shifted their focus from the White Tiger Race to the Medicine Hall. Today was the Demon Race’s Pill Emperor competition, a grand event for Alchemists held once every five years.
By the crack of dawn, the square outside the Medicine Hall was already packed with people. Martial Artists had gathered early, eagerly awaiting the start of the Pill Emperor competition. Meanwhile, Shen Haoran and Feng Li had also left their lodgings and were making their way toward the Medicine Hall.
Along the way, Shen Haoran was swept along by the massive crowd. The enthusiasm of the Demon Race’s Martial Artists for the Pill Emperor competition far exceeded his imagination. Even those who knew nothing about Alchemy had flocked here, just to witness the grand spectacle held only once every five years.
Finally, Shen Haoran managed to squeeze his way to the front of the Medicine Hall. Gazing at the sea of people, he was so overwhelmed he felt the urge to turn around and leave. Fortunately, the Medicine Hall had opened a special lane for the competing Alchemists, allowing Shen Haoran to finally escape his misery.
"As expected of the Demon Race’s grand event. It really draws a crowd!" Shen Haoran said, looking back with some trepidation at the throngs outside the Medicine Hall. ’That feeling of being squeezed in line just now was more exhausting than fighting a Spirit Emperor Powerhouse!’
"Of course. After all, the Medicine Hall’s influence within the Demon Race is no less than that of the Four Great Divine Beast Families. Add to that its unique nature, and it naturally attracts a larger crowd. Still, this year is especially intimidating!" Feng Li said with a light chuckle.
"Alright, these people are just spectators. We should get going, the Pill Emperor competition is about to start!" After speaking, Feng Li took the lead and guided Shen Haoran into the Medicine Hall.
As one of the twenty great branch halls, the Burning Flame City Medicine Hall was exempt from the first round of the Pill Emperor competition. This was a privilege of the twenty great branch halls. However, while the other competing Alchemists were undergoing the first round of tests, the representatives from the twenty great branch halls would gather to exchange experiences—an unwritten rule of every Pill Emperor competition.
Led by Feng Li, the two of them soon arrived before a large hall. Shen Haoran looked up at the plaque hanging above the entrance. The two words inscribed on it, "Testing Hall," left him somewhat confused.
"On the surface, the twenty great branch halls gather to ’exchange experiences,’ but to put it bluntly, it’s really about showing off the strength of their respective branches. That’s why everyone gathers here at the Medicine Hall Headquarters’ Testing Hall," Feng Li explained.
Hearing this, Shen Haoran nodded and was about to step into the Testing Hall. However, just as he was about to enter the main gate, he was stopped by two guards.
"Halt! Who are you? This isn’t a place you can just enter!" one of the guards said coldly, blocking Shen Haoran’s path.
"We are the contestants from the Burning Flame City branch. We’re just here to register!" Seeing the guards block them, Shen Haoran took out the contestant qualification certificate from his robes and handed it over.
But to Shen Haoran’s surprise, the guard didn’t even glance at it. He slapped the certificate out of Shen Haoran’s hand and said coldly, "What Burning Flame City branch? Never heard of it. If you want to participate in the Pill Emperor competition, go to the front and join the first-round screening. This place is only for the twenty great branch halls!"
Hearing this, the expressions on both Shen Haoran and Feng Li’s faces immediately darkened. Even an outside Martial Artist could casually name the twenty great branch halls of the Medicine Hall, let alone a guard who worked there. The guard’s words clearly indicated he had no intention of letting them in.
Feng Li’s heart was burning with rage. He was the Hall Master of the Burning Flame City branch hall. Although Burning Flame City’s performance in past Pill Emperor competitions had been lackluster, it hadn’t fallen so low as to be bullied by a mere guard. He immediately stepped before the guard, his face ashen, and declared, "I am Feng Li, personally appointed by the Medicine Hall as the Hall Master of the Burning Flame City branch, and a Sixth Grade High Tier Alchemist! My Burning Flame City is one of the twenty great branch halls and is not for a lowly guard like you to insult!"
At that moment, Feng Li glared, his powerful aura stunning the guard, who became too terrified to speak. Of course, he knew that Feng Li was the Hall Master of one of the twenty great branch halls. The only reason he had blocked him was on the orders of another Hall Master inside the great hall. Now that Feng Li was enraged, a lowly guard like him was truly at a loss.
"Well, well, if it isn’t Teacher Feng? What’s gotten you so worked up? Losing your temper with a lowly guard... aren’t you afraid of tarnishing your noble status as a Hall Master?" Just then, a silky, effeminate voice drifted from within the great hall. Following the voice, an effeminate young man in the white robes of an Alchemist slowly walked out, a mocking smile on his face as he looked at Feng Li.
"Chen Chen, this is your doing!" Seeing the young man, Feng Li’s expression grew even darker, his face twisting in anger.
’Chen Chen?’ Hearing Feng Li’s cry, Shen Haoran turned his gaze to the effeminate young man. He recalled Feng Li mentioning Chen Chen before, calling him the greatest shame of Burning Flame City and of his entire life. It turned out that Chen Chen was an abandoned child Feng Li had taken in at a young age. Feng Li had treated him like his own son, teaching him everything he knew. And Chen Chen was indeed a genius in Alchemy, displaying incredible Talent from a young age, which had made Feng Li overjoyed.
But just as Feng Li was preparing to take Chen Chen to the Pill Emperor competition, Chen Chen suddenly vanished. Feng Li thought he had met with an accident while out gathering herbs, and the shock seemed to age him a dozen years in an instant. ’This was the child I raised with my own hands, my own son!’ To Feng Li’s astonishment, however, he saw Chen Chen again at the Pill Emperor competition. Only this time, Chen Chen wasn’t representing Burning Flame City, but Sha Hai City—a city that had always been their rival.
Feng Li had furiously demanded an explanation, only to be told that Sha Hai City had offered him greater benefits. The child he had raised for twenty years had betrayed him for profit. The blow was undoubtedly immense for Feng Li. To make matters worse, Burning Flame City had been utterly defeated in the last Pill Emperor competition, beaten by the very disciple he had personally taught. What a cruel irony. It was no surprise, then, that Feng Li was reacting so strongly to seeing Chen Chen now, and Shen Haoran understood completely.
"Teacher Feng, you’ve been well, I hope!" Chen Chen said with a broad smile as he walked forward to greet Feng Li.
Looking at the familiar face before him, Feng Li trembled all over, his expression turning utterly grim. He couldn’t utter a single word.
"Hold on. ’Teacher Feng’?" Shen Haoran stepped forward, seeing the pained look on Feng Li’s face. He stared at Chen Chen with disdain and sneered, "What right does a backstabbing wolf like you have to call Hall Master Feng ’Teacher’? You should go take a piss and look at your own reflection!" He detested ungrateful people more than anything, and since he had run into one, he was going to have to teach him a proper lesson.
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter