Chapter 38: An Unfair Duel

  Simmer wore a snow-white clean alchemy robe, with an unusual pattern embroidered on it. Fowling's poisonous eyes naturally recognized it easily, that was a kind of spell array, which helped the master to control the flame better.

  On her right wrist, she wore a crystal clear bangle, with several clusters of red light swirling in the center - although it was unclear what its purpose was, even if one didn't think about it too much, they would know that it wasn't just for show. There was also a bulging storage pouch at her waist, which was clearly an upgraded version, and who knows what else was hidden inside.

  Oh, and behind him were two young servants carrying an ancient bronze-colored furnace...

  Feng Ling sized up Sima Shi from head to toe several times, and couldn't help but let out a cold snort from his nostrils. "Sima brother, you really are willing to spend this much capital. Are you that afraid of losing the token?"

  This set of attire, the robe and armlets, are probably at least high-grade artifacts. And that cauldron, with its fluctuating spiritual energy, is even more powerful than the robe and armlets. Could it be that they're actually top-grade artifacts or perhaps even magical instruments? It's likely that Sima Gong brought all of his own alchemy equipment for Sima Huo to use.

  It seems that Ling Xiao is being taken very seriously. It looks like they have made up their minds to humiliate Ling Xiao severely.

  At this thought, Fuling's face became even more gloomy.

  Simadeng smiled and didn't take offense, lightly saying: "Fuchang Lao said jokingly, just a minor dispute between juniors. Even if I'm not good enough, I wouldn't be reluctant to part with a mid-grade artifact." In front of so many people, he naturally couldn't directly address her as his cousin's daughter again.

  Fu Ling let out a cold hum and stopped responding.

  Outside the Qingyun Hall, many disciples of the Qiyun Sect also gathered in a lively and bustling manner. The trial between Ling Xiao and Sima Fei, due to the need to rent the Earth Fire Room inside the Qingyun Hall in advance, naturally couldn't be kept secret from others.

  Ling Xiao and Sima Shi, one of whom is a outer door disciple who has gained fame in recent months and even received the favor of Fuling due to his elixir refinement; while the other is one of the two great elixir masters of Qiyun Sect, the only son of Elder Sima Dian, whose reputation for elixir refinement has long been spread outside.

  As a result, the alchemy competition between these two people naturally attracted the attention of many people.

  Many people are curious about who is stronger and who is weaker, whether Sima Zhanglao's only son Sima Huo is not living up to his name or if Ling Xiao's rise is just a temporary stroke of luck.

  It actually gathered so many people, and Sima Gong was also greatly surprised.

  There was a faint sense of unease in his heart, and if Sima Shi lost under such circumstances, he would inevitably suffer a great setback. However, thinking about the preparations Sima Shi had made for alchemy, he had already changed into a different outfit and specially chosen the Tianyan Dan... With only three materials, even if Sima Shi lost his hand and couldn't win, he probably wouldn't lose either. Only then did his heart calm down.

  But beside her, Fuling's face was still unpleasant. She had always been proud and arrogant, and there were actually so many people paying attention to her; what if Ling Xiao lost...

  He cast a sideways glance at Sima Fei, who stood proudly like a proud fighting cock, and felt that this possibility was not small. His heart became even more stifled.

  "Fu Zhanglao, where is Ling Xiao from your sect? Why hasn't he shown up yet?"

  Simadadian turned sideways and asked Fowling.

  The latter's face was stiff, and he said expressionlessly: "Wait a little longer, dare he not come?" But there was some gnashing of teeth, and even she herself couldn't help but wonder if Ling Xiao wouldn't really be afraid to come.

  It was almost noon when they were about to meet, and even the disciples gathered outside the Qingyun Hall began to get restless.

  Just as everyone was getting impatient, Fuling suddenly moved and saw a figure squeezing in from the crowd.

  "Everyone, please make way, make way, let me pass—"

  It was just then that Ling Xiao awkwardly squeezed through the crowd towards here. But suddenly, a burst of laughter erupted from the crowd.

  Even if Fuling saw him, his face would still sink involuntarily.

  His appearance was even more disheveled than three days ago. The high temperature in the kiln room, and Ling Xiao had been staying inside all day without washing, it's easy to imagine how unkempt he looked. His hair was messy, his clothes were tattered - this was because he had accidentally gotten soot on himself; his face was even more flushed from the smoke, and there was a faint smell of char coming from his body...

  His appearance was in stark contrast to Sima Jue's white attire.

  A group of disciples surrounding him couldn't help but burst out laughing, and just by looking at his preparations, Ling Xiao had already lost count of how many miles he was behind. Some of the disciples who entered the same year as Ling Xiao originally had high expectations for him, but now they couldn't help but feel disappointed.

  Simadeng's old face changed, first in shock, then unable to help but relax and open up, laughing: "Hmph, hmph, Shifu's sister, this disciple is indeed broad-minded and unflappable! To have rushed over like this, it seems you didn't take this test to heart at all!"

  Feng Ling's face was tightly clenched, how embarrassing!

  If not in public, she would have picked up Ling Xiao and thrown him into the Yunhu Lake at the foot of Qiyun Peak. Even if you're afraid of fighting, do you need to deliberately make it like this? She coldly snorted and turned her face to one side.

  In his heart, he was furious and resentful, if Ling Xiao dared to lose this trial, see how he would deal with him...

  Simadeng smiled and looked at Ling Xiao, who was rushing over in a hurry, as well as Sima Fei, who had been waiting impatiently for a long time. He said with a smile: "Now that everyone is here, let's start the competition! Each person will receive three portions of materials to refine the Tianyan Dan. Whoever refines it successfully wins!"

  Then, following the rules, they checked the storage bags of both people and confirmed that neither had prepared more Tianyan Dan materials.

  Then Sima Ting gave out three copies of the materials to each person, as well as a copy of the Tianyan Dan formula. Although he knew that the two must have made some preparations beforehand, this was also a necessary procedure.

  Simmering with pride, Sima gave a courtesy, "Thanks, Father." Then he glanced at Ling Xiao and let out a cold snort of disdain, "It's starting now, don't hold back." As soon as he finished speaking, he beckoned with his hand, and the furnace that had been brought over flew over to him. He held it up with one hand and walked towards the earth fire room, the red flames on his robes fluttering and swirling, hot air rushing forth.

  Ling Xiao rubbed his head, seeing Fu Ling's head turned to one side, refusing to look over. He could only follow suit and respond with a "Thank you, Elder Sima." Then he also headed towards the Earth Fire Room.

  He didn't mean it to be like this naturally.

  It was really for the sake of refining the Xuan Yin Dan that he forgot about time, and even more so, he forgot about competing with Sima Shi. Later, when he suddenly remembered, it was already too late, and there was no time to wash up or change clothes, so he had to rush over hastily, ending up in this state. Moreover, how could he have expected that there would be so many people gathered here?

  Not even a fight, and Fuling lost face so badly... no wonder he wasn't given a good look.

  But just as he was about to enter the Earth Fire House, Ling Xiao suddenly felt a gaze, which had been fixed on his back. Originally, being in such a situation would make him used to being stared at, but this gaze gave him a very strange feeling.

  He turned his head, but saw only a fleeting figure in the crowd, seemingly a thin and short young man.

  He slightly furrowed his brow, not recognizing the person, and casually turned back around to continue walking towards the earth fire house. But just as he took two steps away, he suddenly realized something was off in his mind - that figure, why did it seem somewhat familiar? He abruptly turned his head again to take another look, and coincidentally saw the man lift his head and gaze over here.

  When their eyes met, she gave him a big white eye, revealing a coquettish expression with a few points of complacency, looking spoiled and lovely.

  Ling Xiao's thoughts suddenly turned, and he suddenly remembered that this gaze was actually the girl he had met in the deep valley a few days ago - the bright and beautiful girl with a silver fox that could cast illusions by her side!

  But she somehow managed to get a set of outer disciple attire from the Qi Yun Sect, with a rough and simple makeup on her face. At first glance, she really looked like a man. If not for Ling Xiao's lingering doubts, he might not have been able to recognize her at all.

  A mix of shock, amusement and nervousness...

  She obviously can't be a disciple of the Qiyun Sect, which means she must have disguised herself and snuck into the Qiyun Sect! The sect's gate is not a place where outsiders can come and go as they please. She's too bold, isn't she? This is a serious offense. Yet, in her mind, she couldn't help but think of what she said that day...

  "Hmph, what strict rules? Are you precious or something? Wait, one day I'll go there myself, no need for you to take me!"

  At that moment, he was so shocked that he couldn't help but laugh and cry. He had thought that the girl's words that day were just a joke or even a angry remark, but who would have known that she would actually be so bold as to disguise herself and sneak into the sacred place of the Qi Yun Sect.

  All sorts of thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, and one foot had already stepped into the fiery pit.

  He was also a member of the Qiyun Sect, and since he had discovered it, he shouldn't have continued to cover up for this girl. Besides, they didn't have any close relationship anyway. However, this kind of thing could be either big or small; in his heart, he felt that the girl was probably just being mischievous and bold, without any malicious intent. If he were to make a fuss about it, wouldn't that just cause unnecessary trouble for others?

  So, after a slight hesitation, I still kept silent, and just stored more thoughts in my heart.

  All this happened between the electric light and the flint, others naturally wouldn't notice Ling Xiao's abnormality, let alone discover that someone had mixed in with the outer door disciples.

  But Sima Gong smiled and watched the two enter, then turned to Fu Ling and asked: "Junior sister, in your opinion, who do you think will win between the two?"

  Fuling's face turned even darker, but he refused to show any weakness in his words, "We'll see who wins in the end."

  Simadeng laughed "haha" and didn't say anything more.

  The disciples below also couldn't help but whisper to each other in discussion. "Hey, who do you think will win?"

  "It's definitely Sima Zhi, his alchemy talent is obvious to everyone!"

  Someone next to him suddenly said, "Ling Xiao isn't bad either. He can actually refine a Pei Yuan Dan that's close to being of the highest quality, and is valued by Fu Ling, who personally guided him in alchemy. This is unprecedented! And didn't you guys hear that just two days ago, Ling Xiao broke through to the third layer of Qi Refining and refined a mid-grade Xuan Yin Dan? Such talent is too monstrous!"

  "That person suddenly let out a cold laugh, 'What if it is? Looking at the current situation, isn't it obvious who will win and who will lose?'"

  Everyone was suddenly speechless.

  ……

  Ling Xiao is like this, it's really hard to give people enough confidence... especially those who are familiar with Ling Xiao, feel even more embarrassed.

  Feng Lingxiu's hearing was extremely keen, and the discussion below naturally reached her ears clearly. Her face grew increasingly unsightly. In her heart, she had already begun to plan how to deal with Ling Xiao when she returned...

  But Ling Xiao was still sitting cross-legged on the ground in the fire room, and his mind was still somewhat uneasy.

  Why did this girl suddenly appear here? Could it be that it was just because of those words spoken in anger that day? Her heart skipped a beat for no reason. But then she thought this idea was absurd, they had only met once after all.

  Just as she suppressed this thought, she couldn't help but think again: would she be discovered by others here? In the Qi Yun Sect, there were not a few elders in the foundation-building period. Not to mention others, just in the Qingyun Temple alone, there were two elders, Sima and Fuling. Although the girl was clever and the silver fox was skilled in illusion techniques, could they really deceive the eyes and ears of the foundation-building period elders?

  After thinking for a long time, he finally calmed down. He gathered his thoughts and after all, this was still a test, so he had to respond somehow.