Chapter Thirty-Six: Each Has an Ace Up Their Sleeve

  Sorry for coming back late, sent a bit later, but absolutely no less in quantity!

  Continue to collect and recommend

  *****

  Simad took out a rather strange medium-grade artifact.

  At first glance, it seems like ten beads, each the size of a goose egg, round and lustrous. Under the light, they faintly reflect a soft red glow.

  Ling Xiao was, after all, just an outer sect disciple. His knowledge of the various strange and exotic treasures and objects in the cultivation world was still quite limited. Looking at Sima Dian taking out such a mid-grade talisman, he couldn't see what its function was at all.

  Fuling let out a cold hum, as if he was very disdainful.

  Simadeng didn't think it was a mistake, and he smiled slightly as he explained to Ling Xiao: "This is the Ten Beads Shield, a defensive-type talisman. However, unlike other defensive talismans with fixed shapes, this talisman can change its shape freely according to needs by combining these ten beads into various forms. Sometimes long, sometimes short, sometimes sparse, sometimes dense, it's unpredictable and extremely agile."

  Ling Xiao was very interested.

  Fuling snorted, "Isn't it the Hundred Bead Shield? Why did you only bring out ten beads?"

  He then turned to Ling Xiao and said lightly, "A top-grade artifact that Sima brother obtained in his early years, named the Hundred Bead Shield. This time, although it's a bit stingy, he only took out ten beads, which weakened its power by more than half, but it's still barely usable. Although it can only be considered a mid-grade artifact now, whether it's defensive power or agility, it's only slightly inferior to top-grade artifacts. You decide what to do with it."

  Although she said that Ling Xiao should handle it himself, her tone and expression clearly indicated that she was already prepared to let Ling Xiao compete with Sima Fei.

  Looking at this somewhat strange medium-grade artifact, Ling Xiao was also quite moved.

  If he said he didn't want it, that would be a lie. With Fuling's temperament, if he could say "the power is barely sufficient", then this Ten Bead Shield must have extremely impressive power. A mid-grade artifact, at the very least, would require 10 pieces of low-grade spirit stone. If this Ten Bead Shield was already close to being a high-grade artifact, then even 20 or 30 pieces of low-grade spirit stone wouldn't be surprising.

  This adds up to even more than the value of the furnace he destroyed.

  Moreover, he uses Flying Claw Symbol, excels at offense but is clumsy at defense. If he can obtain a defensive symbol, it would be perfect.

  Her gaze flicked towards Fuling, but he merely let out a cold hum, his nostrils pointing upwards, without saying a word.

  Simadeng smiled warmly, "Since no one has any objections, let's settle on this. Let's have the competition at the Qiyun Sect's Qingyun Hall's Dihuofang. The place is spacious too. I and Fuling Shijie will be the judges. As for the time, let's set it three days from now. You all take good rest during these three days and recharge your spirits."

  Ling Xiao had just finished refining the elixir and was already very exhausted. If he were to engage in a trial at this time, he would naturally be at a great disadvantage. This is a common rule for elixir trials.

  But Ling Xiao's face became increasingly strange. Was he really going to use these ten bead shields as a test, to compare their alchemy?

  Isn't this forcing him to catch a white wolf with bare hands?!

  If it's a competition to see who can refine the elixir in the shortest time, or a competition to see who has the best technique and methods for refining the elixir, or even a competition to see who has the most knowledge about refining the elixir... I'm afraid Ling Xiao won't be able to compare with Sima Shi. After all, he's only just followed Fu Ling and learned some superficial skills.

  Alchemical refinement is a profound and intricate path with too many things!

  But it was just a test, who could refine the elixir? In fact, he really didn't want to take advantage of this opportunity.

  Ling Xiao couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time. With that strange flame by his side, it goes without saying that three sets of materials wouldn't be needed, just one set would do, and with enough time, he could absolutely refine it successfully.

  Of course, this refers only to the elixirs that Ling Xiao can refine. Like the Small Return Elixir, only a cultivator who has reached the fourth layer of Qi Refining can refine it. With Ling Xiao's current cultivation level, even if the strange flame in his body is extraordinary, he still cannot refine it. However, the Heavenly Flame Elixir is clearly not within this range.

  Looking at Sima Dian's old and calm face, and Sima Fei's eyes shining with sharp light, obviously ready to severely scold him... Ling Xiao just felt speechless.

  "Um, isn't this a bit...? How about we try a different approach?"

  "No need for that, just compare with this! This is the most representative of a true alchemist's level!" Sima Dian said with a smile.

  Ling Xiao was at a loss, and could only say: "That... that's not necessary to prepare anything else. Why don't we just start now?" He pointed to the shattered furnace, "I still need to think of ways to earn more spirit stones as soon as possible..." Although it was likely he would get the Ten Jewel Shield, which was even more valuable than the furnace, but could he really use the Ten Jewel Shield as compensation?

  That's something I'm reluctant to part with.

  Simadeng's smile stiffened, Sima Huo, who was originally standing proudly aside, was taken aback, and Fowling, whose impatience was growing more and more unbearable, also froze...

  What did he say? Still thinking of ways to earn some spirit stones?

  The implication of this sentence is like competing with Sima Shi, without having to spend much effort. Even during the competition, there are still thoughts of earning spiritual stones.

  Being "despised" by him like this, even Sima Gong, who was very tolerant, couldn't help but twitch his face slightly.

  Simmering with rage, Sima Yi glared at Ling Xiao with a fierce gaze, "No need to continue, I'll come find you in three days for a rematch!" With that, he turned and left. In his heart, he had already made up his mind to thoroughly defeat him in three days' time, to make him understand the vast difference between them.

  Simaditian chose to refine the Tianyan Dan, of course, it wasn't a casual choice.

  This seemingly fair competition actually hides the greatest unfairness! Others don't know that due to the secret method they father and son have been practicing, they are extremely familiar with the Tianyan Dan. And Sima Fei has also put in a lot of effort, so he is relatively more confident. With three sets of materials, he has at least 70% confidence that he can successfully refine it.

  Even if Ling Xiao is a genius, after all, he has just started learning to refine second-order elixirs. How can he possibly understand how to refine this kind of rare and unusual elixir?

  In this way, three days later, Sima Shi had at least a 70% chance of winning, and if nothing else, he could have ended in a draw.

  ……

  Not mentioning Sima Temple's calculations, but saying that Ling Xiao couldn't help but sigh. If he had a choice, he really didn't want to go through this meaningless test. He neither wanted to show off nor offend Sima Temple and his son too much, so why bother with the test? However, getting a mid-grade artifact would be some consolation.

  With that strange flame by his side, this kind of test is really pointless...

  His concern is no longer how to win, but rather how not to win too overwhelmingly... Looking at Fuling's face, losing doesn't seem like an option anymore.

  He thought of Fuling and suddenly felt two gazes staring at him without blinking, and he couldn't help but lift his head with a guilty conscience, "Master Fuling—"

  Feng Ling is staring at Ling Xiao.

  She was very dissatisfied with Ling Xiao's cowardice. In her opinion, even if she couldn't win, she mustn't show weakness like him.

  However, thinking of Ling Xiao's last sentence, the look on Sima Gong's father and son's faces was not only delightful but also made me feel relieved. It should be like this, losing a battle doesn't mean losing everything. As for his previous sarcastic words, I no longer hold them against him.

  Looking at his worried face, he comforted him instead, "Are you worried about the trial in three days? Don't worry, I think Sima and his son just want to save face, so they intentionally set up this difficult trial. It's just a draw anyway. Refining three materials into Tianyan Dan is not easy."

  Three materials, refining the Tianyan Dan? If it's her, or Sima Gong personally takes action, there is still a possibility of successful refinement. Ling Xiao and Sima Zhuo, two of them? Most likely they won't be able to refine it. If neither of them can refine it, then it will naturally end in a draw.

  However, she obviously misunderstood Sima Gong and his son, and also misunderstood Ling Xiao.

  "Disciple, I'm not worried about the trial. I was just thinking, with this furnace blown up, how many spirit stones will you have to compensate..."

  How many spirit stones should I compensate? It seems he really is thinking about this.

  Feng Ling's face suddenly turned from being very strange to very ugly, and he glared at him fiercely, expressionlessly saying: "Compensation for the Spirit Stone? If you dare to lose in the trial three days later, immediately give me thirteen pieces of low-grade Spirit Stones!"

  ……

  Ling Xiao walked towards the west peak of Qi Yunfeng.

  The contest with Sima Zhi was three days later. In fact, this contest was meaningless to Ling Xiao, so he didn't take it seriously either.

  As for Fuling's words, asking him to compensate with thirteen pieces of low-grade spirit stones was mostly a joke. As a foundation-building cultivator and elder of the sect, how could he really care about a mere alchemy furnace?

  Of course, although Fuling won't mind, he can't really not compensate either.

  Moreover, Luojin girl wants the Xuan Yin Dan, he only refined one grain, if you want to get the Lian Yun Jian's finger bone, you have to refine another grain; if you want to compensate for the furnace tripod, you have to refine more grains again; besides, you still need to accumulate some cultivation-used Pei Yuan Dan or Jiu Zhi Dan...

  Ling Xiao couldn't help but let out a sigh, still having to work hard at refining pills.

  He rushed to the Purple Cloud Hall. He planned to first exchange a medium-grade Xuan Yin Dan for 200 contribution points, and then use these 200 contribution points to exchange for some materials for cultivating Yuan Dan. Taking advantage of these three days, he would refine some good auxiliary cultivation aids.

  As for Jiuzhidan, there's no need to rush for now.

  After all, his cultivation is only at the third layer of Qi Refining, and taking middle-grade and high-grade Pei Yuan Dan is already sufficient. It's better to wait for this period to pass, and then slowly try refining again.

  As for trying to refine the elixir and all that, he really didn't put his heart into it at all...

  In the Purple Cloud Hall, the one on duty was coincidentally Chen Gang again. Ling Xiao stepped forward and greeted him before taking out a medium-grade Xuan Yin Dan and telling him about his origins.

  It was said that he had actually refined the Xuan Yin Dan himself, and it was still a mid-grade one. Chen Yang couldn't help but reveal a surprised expression. On the one hand, he added 200 contribution points to his identity jade slip, and on the other hand, he couldn't help but say in a somewhat envious tone: "Ling Shidi, your progress in alchemy is really too terrifying."

  Ling Xiao hastily declined.

  Chen Ang was also friendly to him, so Ling Xiao exchanged a few pleasantries with him before preparing to take his leave.

  Chen Ang suddenly stopped him, with a face that was both helpless and amused, saying: "Ling Shidi, I know you don't lack these elixirs. However, this is the sect's rules, and I'm not good at violating them either. Here are three middle-grade Cultivation Elixirs, it's your reward for breaking through to the third layer of Qi Refining! Also, bring me your identity jade slip, I'll modify the information on it."

  Every time a disciple of the Ziyun Sect makes a breakthrough, the sect rewards them with some elixirs. When he broke through to the second layer of Qi Refining, he had once received three middle-grade Cultivation Elixirs.

  Ling Xiao has been busy lately and for a moment, he had forgotten that there was such a thing.

  Three pellets of Zhong Pin Pei Yuan Dan, although it's nothing to him, but at this time he is most lacking in dan medicine, it can be considered an unexpected joy. He hastily took over, smiling and thanking Chen Gang Shixiong.

  Logically speaking, Chen Ang should have been reprimanded by the sect on behalf of Ling Xiao to show encouragement.

  However, he simply waved his hand and dismissed Ling Xiao in a bad mood. With Master Fuling covering his head, what's the point of saying these useless things?

  He came out of the Purple Cloud Hall and didn't rush back to Fuling. Instead, he headed towards his own residence first.

  But just after turning a corner, I suddenly heard not far away, the sudden transmission of "ripped——" the sound of clothes tearing, followed by a woman's cry of surprise, and upon closer inspection, the voice was quite familiar, like...