Chapter 878: The Noose Tightens

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Tracing the precious and still warm pill in his hand, Baili Jingwei praised, “Sir is a true grandmaster on the path of alchemy to have achieved such outstanding speed in refining.”

“Sir’s too kind.” Zhuo Fan was humble.

Baili Jingwei bowed deeply, “It is a glory deserving of sir’s talent. May I know sir’s name, where you come from and where you stay?”

“I am Gu Yifan from western lands that has taken temporary refuge at the Gu residence.”

“Oh, a newcomer to the central area, ha-ha-ha. Welcome!”

Baili Jingwei bowed again, “The Sword Star Empire of the central area always appreciated talent. I believe Sir Gu will have a great chance to make something of yourself here.”

“Thank you for the kind words.”

“No no no, this is a fact. My Sword Star Empire will never neglect any talent!” Baili Jingwei bowed again and gestured, “Sir Gu has not only come out first in preliminaries but also passed the two grandmasters. The honor is yours. Please follow me.”

Baili Jingwei led the way, with the guards flanking the sides and carving a path. Now that was respect right there.

Zhuo Fan nodded inside, more alert than ever.

[He sure knows how to cater to the people’s feelings. Decisive when needed and respectful when required. There’s nothing fake about him. Truly a man of character.]

Saying he was resourceful and shrew was an understatement. It was more appropriate to call him a genius mastermind.

[There’s no way some steward of a Sword King’s manor acts like this.]

Zhuo Fan took a deep breath and followed. Shangguan Qingyan next to him woke up moments later and followed with a face flushed with pride.

All that remained were just a few hundred envious alchemists watching the two go in front and be given such glory like honored guests of the royal family.

But no one’s envy could ever match Shangguan Yulin’s.

[For god’s sake, here I was eager to see his head roll only to make a sudden recovery and take first place. He got to keep his head and get all the honor and glory. This is just absurd!]n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

[I’m the main here, me! While you’re just the backup! How are you better?]

Shangguan Yulin was filled with discontent, especially seeing Shangguan Qingyan looking so happy near Zhuo Fan.

[What was the week of hell even for? I can’t even beat a meager 7th grade Radiant Stage weakling alchemist?]

He didn’t like it at all and was not about to take it lying down. The rancor burned in his stare, his curses unspoken.

[Gu, enjoy it while you can, the bigger you are the harder you fall. A Radiant Stage alchemist like you, 7th grade is the limit. Your shortcomings will be made painfully obvious in the second round, where your fall from grace will be met with harsh rebuttal.]

[The hope of Shangguan clan getting into the manor still rests with me, and me alone!]

[This isn’t grievance, but confidence in my alchemy. Just you wait!]

Patting his bruised ego, Shangguan Yulin looked ashen as the flame in his hand finished the pill.

The side alchemists found his expression baffling.

[Friend, buddy, what’s up? If refining gets you pissed, how are you an alchemist?]

“See that? That’s Baili Jingwei, knowing when to be resolute and conforming. The guy he just threatened is now being led like a guest of honor, the switch in treatment coming at the drop of the hat.”

In a dark corner, Shangguan Feiyun and Danqing Shen overlooked the competition. Shangguan Feiyun’s eyes shone, “I admit that I fall short in bearing when compared to this kid. He’s definitely Prime Minister for a reason, humph.”

Danqing Shen chugged another mouth of wine and chuckled, “Ha-ha-ha, that’s the whole point of being made Prime Minister. You think just about everyone is a skilled martial artist like us?”

“What’s wrong with being one? Isn’t Sword Star Empire’s ancestor, Invincible Sword, one as well? Without one such as him holding the nation, Sword Star Empire could never intimidate the other lands. I wouldn’t have run off to the central area to become one of the Nine Sword Kings either.”

“In the end, conquest is done with force, while pacification through guile. Sword Star Empire’s power does come from the Invincible Sword. But there are some things we know too well…”

Danqing Shen’s eyes flashed, staring at the smiling Baili Jingwei, “Sword Star Empire’s power is half due to that man’s efforts. Without Baili Jingwei, Invincible Sword might be able to take the four lands all the same, but it would be a difficult undertaking. Now though, the day looks awfully close…”

Shangguan Feiyun squinted and nodded, “Central area has become stronger and with the might of the Nine Sword Kings, the four lands have no chance. Baili Jingwei’s plan for years will soon come to pass…”

“Eh, what’s that guy doing here?”

Danqing Shen startled Shangguan Feiyun with his cry. He muttered confused, “Now even western lands is…”

Shangguan Feiyun asked, “Old man, who are you talking about?”

“Uh, no one. Got the wrong person.”

Danqing Shen blinked a couple of times then shook his head with a chuckle. Though his grip on the wine jug was harder, his sharp eyes hid the unknown intent behind them…

…

Reaching the very front, before the two grandmasters, Baili Jingwei bowed to Zhuo Fan, “Sir Gu is the best alchemist. Please stay here and allow me to witness sir’s remarkable skills.”

“Sir’s too kind.” Zhuo Fan spoke. Baili Jingwei nodded and went on stage to resume his watch over the other candidates.

Just that compared to the rest of the crowd, the top three were way too fast.

Glancing at Zhuo Fan, Meng Feitian and his junior brother looked skeptical. It was hard for them to swallow the fact Zhuo Fan, at his age and cultivation, could refine faster than them. It was a kind of talent that was too outrageous to accept.

“Kid, whose mantle do you carry?”

“Oh, it’s my clan’s inheritance, ha-ha-ha…” Zhuo Fan’s bright reply came to Meng Feitian’s cold and questioning tone.

Meng Feitian knew his meaning and mocked, “Fine, keep it to yourself. We don’t care anyway. But let me tell you, we have strict demands on alchemy. Making anything but the best 7th grade pill will be an insult to ourselves and a disgrace to our master. While speed is of the essence, we have made perfect pills. So don’t go getting a big head for being faster than us with just a top pill.”

“Heh, old foggies wasted so much time making some perfect pills…” Shangguan Qingyan was quick to answer first with an annoyed glare.

Zhuo Fan rushed to stop her, “Seniors, please forgive my ignorance. It just happened for me to be a bit faster this time. Don’t mind it.”

“If we did, we’d be the ones shaming ourselves for lowering to a kid’s level.”

Meng Feitian didn’t care, but some things he had to admit, “Regardless of it being a top quality, you sure are young and promising to make it with such a cultivation and at that speed. The action speak of your skills. One day you may even surpass us. Work hard, kid.”

Zhuo Fan cupped his hands, “Thank you so much for your praise, senior.”

Ending it there, the two grandmasters ignored him, but as they shared a glance, they gave a sigh filled with mixed feelings.

[The new replaces the old.]

They felt threatened by the promising youth.

“It’s the first time I see Old Meng looking so lost.”

Baili Jingwei watched their interaction with a smile, “This proves Sir Gu is indeed a talent to get their approval. His cultivation may be lacking but more than deserving of being groomed. The Pill King Convention finally shows results, getting me another talent, ha-ha-ha…”

The guard bowed from the side, “Congratulations, sir, the empire has gained another helper.”

“Tone down the flattery.”

Baili Jingwei waved him off, “The others’ refining is about to end. Get those bums without a flame out of here. Shangguan clan is the best in eastern lands for a reason. There’s no way they’ll send a spy in with some lousy flame. Humph…”

“Yes, Prime Minister is wise.”

The guard nodded and got to work…