Everyone held their breath, ready to jeer.
Tang Qi folded his arms across his chest, looking every bit the spectator at a show.
But as the furnace opened, a sudden change occurred!
“Boom!”
Tang Qi’s pill cloud scattered in an instant, as if it had encountered something terrifying.
“How is that possible?”
While the crowd stood stunned, dragons and serpents writhed across the heavens, the earth split open, and earthly fire surged forth!
“No!”
The man who had just spoken let out a cry of despair, was swept up by the heavenly tribulation, and reduced to ashes on the spot.
Desecrate the heavenly tribulation, and you will naturally be singled out for punishment!
“It really is heavenly thunder and earthly fire!”
“A seventh-grade pill—he’s a seventh-grade pill master!”
Some of the alchemy grandmasters’ voices turned hoarse.
They stared at Zhou Tong with fierce expressions, as if gazing upon their own faith made flesh!
Amid the weaving lightning, half of the youth’s face was illuminated, solemn and awe-inspiring.
At this moment, no one dared utter a single word of mockery.
Zhou Tong had slapped everyone in the face with sheer strength.
“Impossible.
This can’t be real!”
Tang Qi’s face turned deathly pale.
A moment ago he had been the rising star adored by all; now he had been reduced to a pitiful sideshow.
Seventh grade against sixth—this was a crushing disparity across dimensions.
The two simply could not be compared!
A moment later, the tribulation lightning dispersed, and the Bodhi Pill came into view.
Everyone was convinced: this pill could claim supremacy among seventh-grade pills!
Chen Ling’er stood off to the side as if struck by lightning, her heart pounding violently.
She stared fixedly at Zhou Tong, as if meeting this person for the first time.
She had to admit it: the figure of the youth bathed in thunderlight had quietly pried open the door to her heart.
“The pill is complete.
Settle the task!”
Zhou Tong showed not the slightest pride, handing the pill to Luo Yi—but the other man’s face was dark as pitch.
He’d miscalculated!
He had already received Mo Liusu’s commission to drag the Hehuan Sect down at all costs.
If things went on like this, wouldn’t all his efforts come to nothing?
“Next, I’m refining another seventh-grade pill!”
Hearing this, Luo Yi abruptly rose to his feet and kicked the task stone tablet to pieces.
“My apologies, but these tasks have been withdrawn as well!”
A chill seeped into Zhou Tong’s pupils.
“If even these tasks are gone, how are we supposed to earn merit points?”
Long Lingyun asked urgently.
“Heh…
then you wait.
If there are no tasks for a day, you wait a day.
If there are none for a year, you wait a year!”
At these words, everyone understood at last: this man was in league with the Yuqing Sect!
Tang Qi’s gloom vanished in an instant, and he burst into arrogant laughter.
“Haha…
You need backing in this world.
So what if you can refine pills?
In the end, you can’t do a thing!”
Just as he was getting ready to savor Zhou Tong’s stifled expression, a formidable aura suddenly descended upon the place!
“If anyone can save my daughter, I, Shangguan Wuhui, will reward you handsomely!”
Everyone trembled!
This Shangguan Wuhui was none other than the Sect Leader of the Shangqing Sect—a man of towering status and immense power!
His arrival drew the attention of every alchemist present, including true grandmasters among them.
Yet after examining her, many of the masters shook their heads in private.
“The child is afflicted with the most potent water poison, and she has an extreme resistance to any pill.
Her condition is dire.”
Shangguan Wuhui’s expression dimmed.
He had heard these very words many times already.
“Is my Wugou truly beyond saving?”
“I can save her!”
Zhou Tong suddenly spoke, drawing Shangguan Wuhui’s gaze.
The man’s eyes were bloodshot, like a beast ready to devour.
“Boy, are you toying with me?”
“Even alchemy grandmasters are at their wits’ end.
What can a snot-nosed brat like you do?”
“Not at all.
I can undo your daughter’s water poison, but I must use unconventional methods.”
Zhou Tong was just about to explain when Tang Qi, at the side, looked eager.
He had once stumbled upon a great fortune—within the ring on his finger dwelt not only the soul of a mighty expert but also all manner of pills, more than enough to dissolve the water poison.
This was the perfect chance to show off—how could he let it pass?
“Senior, don’t listen to his wild talk.
I have here a Nine Abyss Windfire Pill that can resolve your daughter’s immediate crisis!”
Tang Qi said smugly, then produced the pill.
Instantly, the entire Enforcement Hall filled with pill fragrance, and many alchemists’ eyes lit up.
This was an eighth-grade pill—extremely precious, something they could only gaze upon from afar!
“Good, good, good!
Heaven is truly helping me!
If you can save Wugou, I’ll agree to any request you make, old man though I am!”
Shangguan Wuhui said excitedly, as if he had seen hope.
He took the pill and was about to feed it to the girl in his arms.
“Hold on!”
Zhou Tong hastily stopped him: “As I said, saving your daughter requires unconventional methods.
Taking any pill will only make things worse!”
“Who do you think you are, spouting nonsense here?!”
Shangguan Wuhui roared in fury.
“Interfere again, and I’ll kill you on the spot!”
“Heh…
Senior, you wouldn’t know, but this man was once my senior brother.
Because of his twisted heart, my master expelled him from the sect.
Now he’s sunk so low as to join the Hehuan Sect.
His words…
best not to believe them!”
Tang Qi fanned the flames at the side, and sure enough, a mocking look immediately appeared on Shangguan Wuhui’s face.
Under everyone’s gaze, Shangguan Wugou swallowed the pill.
Right after, the poisonous aura on her body rapidly vanished, and her face regained its rosy color, as if she had truly recovered.
“How do you feel?”
Shangguan Wuhui asked the girl excitedly.
“Father, I feel much better.
My body is warm and cozy, so comfortable…”
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief—except Tang Qi, in whose eyes flickered a venomous gleam.
He was going to use this chance to utterly destroy Zhou Tong and make sure he could never turn things around.
“Senior, I have an impertinent request!”
He cupped his hands to Shangguan Wuhui.
I owe you a great debt.
Name your condition, and I won’t refuse!”
“Thank you, Senior!”
Delight showed on Tang Qi’s face.
Suddenly he pointed at Zhou Tong.
“Senior, hear me out.
I once held this man in the utmost respect, but his actions have disappointed me beyond measure.
Not only did he betray the sect, he colluded with outsiders to humiliate my master.
Please, Senior, punish him on my behalf!”
The expressions of everyone around changed.
It seemed Tang Qi was determined to finish Zhou Tong off.
“Xiao Qi, this is our own affair.
Why drag a senior into it?”
Chen Ling’er, for whatever reason, had a fit of temper and actually spoke up for Zhou Tong.
“Say no more.
Even if the young brother hadn’t spoken, I wouldn’t stand by and let such scum do as he pleases.”
Shangguan Wuhui said coldly, stepping toward Zhou Tong.
A terrifying oppressive aura surged over him like mountains and seas!
“Cripple your own cultivation, slap yourself three hundred times, and cut off one of your own arms, and today’s matter ends here.
Otherwise…”
“Otherwise, what can you do to me?”
Zhou Tong was completely unyielding, his eyes carrying pity and scorn.
That expression kindled a fire in Shangguan Wuhui’s heart.
“I gave you a chance and you wouldn’t take it.
Don’t blame me for being merciless.”
“This is the Great Enforcement Hall!
Would you dare to commit violence here?!”
The Little Vixen and Long Lingyun both activated their aura, sharing the pressure with Zhou Tong.
Long Lingyun glanced back at Luo Yi, who wore the expression of one enjoying the show.
“Someone’s making trouble here.
Why don’t you go fetch help?”
“Why should I?
There’s nothing illegal happening here.
Besides, you deceived people first—if anyone deserves punishment, it’s you!”
He said with a face full of mockery, and people suddenly remembered: this man, too, had been bought off by the Yuqing Sect.
“Let’s see who can save you now!”
Shangguan Wuhui said coldly and was about to strike at Zhou Tong.
“Five…”
Zhou Tong, unconcerned, suddenly began counting.
“Counting down the seconds of your life?”
Shangguan Wuhui found it utterly ridiculous.
“Four…
three…
two…”
“What are you counting?”
Shangguan Wuhui frowned.
For some reason, a faint unease rose in his heart.
“One!”
The countdown finished.
Zhou Tong let out a soft sigh.
The next moment, a scream tore through the hall, and Shangguan Wuhui trembled all over!
“Wugou!
What’s wrong?!”