Shi Xuan remained somewhat unconvinced. He hoped the kid was nothing more than a fluke. What if he really was just pretending?
Alas, Jiang Chenâs answer shattered his unrealistic hopes. The answer was exactly the same as his research.
He wanted to pick a bone, but didnât know where to start. He looked several hundred years older in that instant, his expression preoccupied and gloomy. There were only three rounds. For him to lose the first round was very bad. He rather regretted being so careless.
If he hadnât agreed to the format of this battle, he might not be at such a disadvantage right now. At the time, he hadnât thought much of such a green-looking kid. How could he lose to a rookie in any aspect?
That overconfidence had been his bane. He was at a serious disadvantage after only round one.
He needed to win one of the ensuing rounds now. Otherwise, he would lose overall even if both the second and third rounds were ties.
He hadnât tasted a single loss ever since making his way into the world, despite competing against countless pill dao masters.
If he were to tarnish his pristine record today before all of these peers, he would no longer have a reputation to speak of, even without that bone-chilling bet. Moreover, he had far too much at stake to afford to lose.
Shi Xuan had recovered his wits by now. He finally realized that the young man heâd underestimated had been scheming against him all along. Shao Yuan had provoked him at all costs in order to make use of the long-prepared trap right in front of him.
Alas, he had wandered into trouble thanks to his pride.
Itâs fine, itâs fine. There are two rounds left. As long as I win one and tie one, I will still make this match a draw! His worldly experience allowed Shi Xuan to calm down very quickly.
It was necessary for pill dao masters of his achievement to possess tenacious wills. He wouldnât panic simply because he was at an initial disadvantage.
Shi Xuan quickly adjusted himself to his new circumstances. He couldnât allow his opponent to take the lead anymore. How was he supposed to win without taking back the initiative?
Thus, he interjected before the young man could speak. âYou had the first move for the first round, so now itâs my turn!â
Shi Xuan was embarrassed as soon as he uttered this. The other heavyweights from the Flora Sacred Land shared in his chagrin. Theyâd never been so awkward when it came to pill dao before. They were losing face for something as trivial as the order of questions in a battle!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Jiang Chen smiled coolly with magnanimity. âLetâs not bother with arguments. Why donât I give you the initiative for the next two rounds, eh?â
Pfft!
The already joyous Ziju Min spat out the tea in his mouth when he heard the concession.
That kid had a rather venomous tongue. The words sounded harmless on the surface, but the impact of their humiliation was incredibly vicious.
Considering that a young man was making an accommodation for a touted top ten pill dao giant of Myriad Abyss... it was a stinging blow against Shi Xuanâs self-esteem.
As expected, the older man became even more upset.
Shi Xuan was on the verge of exploding. Thankfully, he retained his reason; he knew the young man was using every chance possibly to discredit and antagonize him.
He became cooler despite his annoyance. âThe battle should be fair in the first place. Thereâs nothing youâre giving me. However, Iâm definitely going to win the second round. Donât think that you can dominate the whole world just because you had a lucky run-in with buried knowledge! Youâre far from being at the top.â
âSay all that after you win this second round. I think that will be far more convincing.â Jiang Chen smiled serenely. âAlright, I know why youâre trying to waste time. Ask your question! Iâm listening.â
Shi Xuan couldnât match Jiang Chenâs acerbic manner. He took a deep breath to retain his composure, then segued into the second question.
âMy second question relates to a pill dao formation. I have a formation diagram here, and you have to tell me which parts are problematic.â
Pill dao formations were very convoluted affairs. Any ordinary person would have a headache just by glancing at a diagram, much less analyze it. Shi Xuanâs second question really was much harder.
Jiang Chenâs smile was as nonchalant as ever. He didnât seem to care much about the prospect of a pill dao formation. He seemed to feel that everything was in control regardless. His confidence won him quiet approval from part of the audience.
Not everyone in the Ten Divine Nations liked the Flora Sacred Land. Because of Shi Xuanâs rise, Flora had angered a fair few of them. Aside from the Flora Sacred Landâs allies, there were numerous factions willing to see it stumble here.
Unfortunately, there were some who didnât like the Eternal Sacred Land either. In fact, not even everyone in Eternal Divine Nation wanted Shao Yuan to win much glory in this battle.
House Xiahou was probably the most representative example of this.
Currently, Xiahou Ying was green with envy. Nearby, her brother Xiahou Zong was even more displeased than she.
Heâd already marked Jiang Chen down as a potential opponent because of various factors. He wasnât happy about the rise of an enemy that he wanted to quash. Yan Qinghuangâs sincere smile at the first roundâs victory made a viper to crawl inside his heart.
But House Yan had a vastly different attitude.
Every attendee was overjoyed by the battleâs proceedings, the patriarch and Yan Wanjun most of all. The house and the sacred land were in a honeymoon period of good relations. After all, Shao Yuan had been their contribution.
Any honor that Shao Yuan won positively reflected upon the house as well. In fact, the patriarch and Yan Wanjun were conversing with some enthusiasm at this very moment.
Yan Zhenhuai was more of an introverted man. The slight smile upon his face was all he showed of his emotions.
Although Huangâer was the happiest of the bunch, she couldnât openly cheer for her beloved given the situation. But she saw no reason to hide her own radiant smile, and exchanged whispers with an equally content Ling Biâer from time to time.
As Jiang Chenâs friend and follower at this festival, Yan Qingsang had gained a bit of recognition as well, further improving his houseâs mood.
Ziju Min practically brimmed with excitement. If he hadnât been the host of the festival, he would have burst into laughter himself with a slap his thigh. He was too mirthful for words.
He hadnât expected everything to go so smoothly. That Shao Yuan could corner Shi Xuan in such a convincing manner was almost incredible!
Shi Xuan vying to be first for the second round meant that he was really stressed. Even Elder Zimu had never threatened him in this way.
Though the three primes refrained from commenting due to their lofty status, the looks they exchanged were full of wholehearted satisfaction and admiration. In this moment, all had become staunch supporters of Shao Yuan. They wanted the young man to crush his opposition in the second round more than anything.
That would bring an early, decisive conclusion to this battle, which would in turn restore the reputation lost so shamefully several decades ago.
Go, Shao Yuan! All three primes shouted in unison from the bottom of their hearts.
Shi Xuan would be forced to pay the price, and the sacred land and Elder Zimu would be vindicated!
Jiang Chen had his hands on the pill dao formation diagram.
In the human domain, such formations were essentially nonexistent. Thereâd been countless examples in ancient times, but every pill dao faction had been eradicated in the demon-sealing war. The grounds of some had survived, but only as undiscovered secret realms.
Meanwhile, pill dao formations were scarce in Myriad Abyss, but far from nonexistent.
Just like regular formations, pill dao formations had their own complexities according to level.
Jiang Chen was in no haste to study the diagram right away. Instead, he knocked on the table with a smile. âShi Xuan, you can take this time to mentally prepare yourself.â
âWhat?â Shi Xuan retorted coldly. âDonât change the subject, kid. Youâre only wasting your time.â
âI have more than enough to spare, thanks. Have you considered that if you lose here, the battle will be over prematurely? From now on, youâll be my pill slave until the end of your days!â
This was a cruel possibility indeed. The older man couldnât accept such a thing, even though he didnât think heâd lose. He glared daggers at Jiang Chen. âEveryone knows how to boast, kid. Why donât you do it after you win your part first?â
Jiang Chen roared with laughter. âI have a feeling Iâm going to very soon. Iâm especially proficient with pill dao formations, hahaha!â
Truthfully, there was nothing that he wasnât skilled at when it came to pill dao. He had said this to intentionally anger and confuse Shi Xuan, as well as wear down the other manâs fighting spirit and faith.
The tactic wasnât necessarily effective, but it did serve to humiliate Shi Xuan further. The three primes and Ziju Min would be happier because of it, and the sacred land thirsted for vengeance against Shi Xuan in any case. Why let any opportunity to humiliate his opponent slip by?