Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

”That old beast!”

Yang Ying saw Wang Qianhe as well.

Impulsive, he wanted to lunge forward and kill the old bastard.

But Yang Xiao, of course, wouldn’t let him actually charge forward. Even though the old bastard was as vile as a stray dog, his identity as a Fifth-level Great Pharmacist aside, his strength alone was at least at the Peak of the Innate Realm.

In fact, Yang Xiao could sense that purely in terms of cultivation aura, this Wang Qianhe was likely even a bit stronger than his own father, Yang Zhentian.

As for whether he had reached the realm of a Martial Arts Grandmaster, Yang Xiao couldn’t tell.

The old bastard concealed his true strength very well.

”Heh... The Yang Family junior has arrived. What an inconsiderate brat, making all of us wait for him. Master, do you truly believe this competition is necessary?”

Wang Qianhe first threw a barb at Yang Xiao, then turned and cupped his hands toward Elder Yao.

”The younger generation is formidable; you shouldn’t underestimate others. Since you call me Master, I naturally hope you will win people over with reason. As both sides have their own story regarding the Heaven Repairing Pill, I find the duel proposed by Young Friend Yang to be quite fair.”

His tone was light and impartial.

Yet, a cold glint flashed in Wang Qianhe’s eyes.

He felt that Elder Yao was publicly reprimanding him, embarrassing him in front of everyone.

”Since Master holds this junior in such high regard, then today, I shall naturally give him the opportunity to witness the true methods of a Pharmacist. For this first round, how about we compete in Fire Control?”

Wang Qianhe stood up straight and said coldly.

”Fire Control?”

Elder Yao’s expression flickered.

Cheng Boxuan, however, grew furious. ”Young Master Yang’s aura is only at the Martial Master Peak, he hasn’t even reached the Innate Realm, and you want to compete with him in Fire Control? Isn’t this just blatant bullying?”

”Weren’t the terms that I would be the one to choose the events?”

Wang Qianhe showed no courtesy at all toward Cheng Boxuan.

With a single cold sentence, he shut him down completely.

”Junior, you were the one who demanded this duel. Originally, I would have never agreed. However, since my master has accepted on my behalf, then I, Wang Qianhe, have no choice but to compete. This will be a chance for you juniors to see what a true Pharmacist is, so you don’t get arrogant and conceited just because you’ve taught yourself a bit of medicine and pharmacology! So today, I shall formally challenge you to a pharmacology duel.”

”This duel will consist of three rounds. As long as you can win a single round against me, I’ll consider it your victory. How about that? Very fair of me, isn’t it?”

”The first round will be Fire Control. You have no objections, correct?”

Wang Qianhe said nonchalantly.

Although he was speaking to Yang Xiao, his eyes never once glanced in his direction.

His tone was filled with utter disregard. Contempt.

”Yes, of course I have an objection.”

Yang Xiao spoke up.

The moment he spoke, all eyes turned to him.

But Yang Xiao seemed completely unfazed.

He paid their stares no mind whatsoever.

This caused more than a few people to regard him in a new light.

After all, the eyes are the windows to the soul. While being the center of attention is a great honor, it also brings immense pressure.

This was especially true since these people were all accomplished practitioners of the Martial Dao. A single glance from them was not merely a line of sight, but also carried the Power of Heart Spirit.

When all those gazes converged, anyone with a weak will would likely have been scared witless.

But even so, the crowd still didn’t favor his chances.

’Looks like this Yang Xiao is scared. It makes sense. In a Fire Control competition, he has absolutely no chance of winning. A Martial Artist may have True Qi, but it can’t leave their body. If you can’t even project your True Qi, how could you possibly talk about Fire Control?’

’That’s right. Most Low-tier Pharmacists have the cultivation of a Martial Artist. At best, they can use their internal True Qi to intensify an existing flame; you can’t really call that Fire Control. Only when one reaches the Innate Realm can they condense their True Qi into a True Flame. That’s when you can talk about real Fire Control techniques. Sect Leader Wang has this round in the bag.’

...

But just as everyone thought Yang Xiao was raising an objection to change the event, they heard him declare in a clear voice, ”Since this is a three-round duel, victory should naturally go to the one who wins two rounds. However, given your vile character, you’d probably have a hard time winning under those rules. So how about this: of the three rounds, if you manage to win just one, I’ll consider it your victory!”

”How about that? That’s very fair to you, isn’t it?”

Yang Xiao was throwing Wang Qianhe’s own words right back at him.

Instantly, the crowd erupted in an uproar.

’How arrogant! How can this Yang Xiao be so conceited?’

’Exactly, Sect Leader Wang has the standing to say something like that. What right does he have?’

’Then again, maybe he actually has the skills to back it up.’

”...”

Wang Qianhe’s expression was also incredibly foul.

Just as the crowd was saying, he felt that as the leader of Medicine Peak, he was qualified to offer such seemingly generous terms.

Of course, his intention wasn’t truly to be generous, but to belittle Yang Xiao.

To crush him.

But for Yang Xiao to throw the same words back in his face instantly sent him into a silent rage.

If he hadn’t always practiced forbearance and refused to show his true feelings in front of others, he probably would have become hysterical.

Even with his utmost control, his expression remained ugly. His previous composure, indifference, and high-and-mighty air had all vanished.

”Good. Very good. You truly are an arrogant brat. I wonder how you plan to save face after you lose three straight rounds!”

Wang Qianhe growled.

”You’ll find out when the time comes. Since you’re my elder, I’ll let you go first in this round.”

Yang Xiao, however, remained perfectly composed.

This infuriated Wang Qianhe to the point of madness.

Without another word, he stirred the True Qi in his body. Spreading his palms, two three-foot-tall, bright yellow flames erupted from them.

The flames were fierce.

Yet they coalesced like serpents, swaying left and right.

To the onlookers, it was a display of truly miraculous skill.

Suddenly, the temperature of the flames plummeted. Their shape remained the same, but their color changed from bright yellow to orange-yellow. A moment later, they slowly shifted from orange-yellow back to bright yellow.

This technique left the Great Pharmacists and anyone with some knowledge of Fire Control completely astounded.

One had to understand that simply condensing True Qi into a True Flame was already no easy feat.

Most who could accomplish it were qualified to become Pharmacists.

Furthermore, the higher the temperature and larger the shape of a True Flame, the harder it is to control. Previously, Wang Qianhe had held a three-foot-long, bright yellow flame in each hand.

He could even make them sway continuously. This feat alone was something that even a Fourth-level Peak Great Pharmacist like Liu Junyi would have to admit he couldn’t replicate.

But at that point, they would only feel inferior, not truly astonished.

But what came next, the control of the fire’s temperature, changing it from bright yellow to orange-yellow...

It looked like a simple change in color, but in reality, the temperature difference between the two was enormous.

What was even more frightening was that Wang Qianhe could adjust the flame’s temperature with such ease.

Even among Fifth-level Great Pharmacists, very few could likely accomplish such a feat.

Therefore, when he revealed this technique, even Cheng Boxuan—and indeed, even Elder Yao—were utterly shocked.

They felt that when it came to Fire Control, Wang Qianhe was now number one in the Purple Sun Sect.

Because not even Elder Yao could do it.

’Young Master Yang is going to lose this round!’

A bitter feeling washed over Cheng Boxuan.

The others who understood what this meant looked at Yang Xiao with expressions full of pity.

This kid was doomed to lose.

Originally, by Sect Leader Wang’s proposal, he only needed to win one of the three rounds. But no, he just had to go and court death, saying that if his opponent won a single round, he would concede defeat.

He had well and truly lifted a rock only to drop it on his own foot.