151: I was just lucky.

As the crowd gradually dispersed, many sharp-eyed onlookers finally noticed Jiang Donghua and his group standing nearby.

"Huh? Isn't that the Ninth Young Master of the Bai Family from Heavenly Serpent City?"

Someone lowered their voice in surprise.

"That's right! And that Black Robed Man next to him, hiss, it looks like Heavenly Serpent City's Ninth Elder, Qin Wuye! He is a Dou Huang expert!"

Another person gasped, their gaze sweeping over Qin Wuye's stern figure with reverence.

"The young man being accompanied by Bai Xiaofeng and Qin Wuye couldn't possibly be that Master Jiang Donghua who has been causing such a sensation recently, could he?"

"It must be him! I heard he is already a Fourth-Grade Alchemist at such a young age, and even Heavenly Serpent City treats him with great courtesy!"

Whispers spread through the crowd, and everyone's gaze involuntarily focused on Jiang Donghua.

When they clearly saw his face, they were even more shocked—he was too young!

Judging by his appearance, Jiang Donghua was barely twenty years old, yet the steady demeanor surrounding him was in no way inferior to those long-established Master Alchemists.

Coupled with the attitude of Bai Xiaofeng and Qin Wuye, who subtly treated him as their center, people became even more certain of his identity.

"This Master Jiang is even younger than the rumors suggested!"

Someone couldn't help but exclaim.

"With his talent, he will likely enter the fifth grade within ten years, and within twenty years, perhaps he will become another Sixth-Grade Master Alchemist!"

"Tsk tsk, Heavenly Serpent City really struck gold this time!"

Hearing the surrounding discussions, Bai Xiaofeng's lips curled up slightly. He leaned close to Jiang Donghua's ear and chuckled softly.

"Master Jiang, it seems your fame has already spread throughout Myriad Medicine City."

Jiang Donghua's expression was calm; he was long accustomed to such gazes.

He casually glanced around and said flatly.

"Mere empty fame. Let's go."

Red Silk pouted and muttered.

"Putting on airs..."

But a hint of smugness flashed in her eyes; clearly, she was quite pleased that Jiang Donghua was being praised.

Qin Wuye remained silent, but his eyes flickered slightly.

The greater Jiang Donghua's reputation, the higher the chance the Medicine Family Ancestor would notice him.

Just as the group was preparing to leave, suddenly.

"Master Jiang, please wait!"

A clear voice came from behind.

Everyone turned around, only to see a young man wearing a luxurious Alchemist robe quickly approaching. Four silver stripes were clearly embroidered on his chest!

Another Fourth-Grade Alchemist Master!

Bai Xiaofeng narrowed his eyes and whispered to Jiang Donghua.

"Someone from the Yao Family."

Jiang Donghua paused, turned to look at the newcomer, and a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes.

It seemed someone couldn't sit still.

As Yao Long's voice fell, the onlookers who were originally dispersing stopped in their tracks, their eyes shimmering with excitement.

A spar between two Fourth-Grade Alchemists was not a common sight.

Hearing this, Jiang Donghua's eyebrows twitched slightly, and his gaze lingered on Yao Long for a moment.

The opponent wore a luxurious Alchemist robe, his sleeves embroidered with complex medicinal patterns, and four silver lights flowed across his chest, clearly indicating his high status within the Yao Family.

He wore a faint smile on his lips, appearing humble, yet a hint of arrogance was hidden deep in his eyes, showing extreme confidence in his alchemy skills.

Seeing this, Bai Xiaofeng frowned, intending to step forward and shield Jiang Donghua from this sudden challenge.

After all, the Yao Family actively provoking them on Heavenly Serpent City's territory might not be just a simple spar.

However, just as he took half a step, Jiang Donghua gently raised his hand, signaling him not to speak further.

"Oh? The alchemy genius of the Yao Family is also interested in the fire spirit pill?"

Jiang Donghua's tone was calm, but his gaze curiously examined Yao Long.

Yao Long smiled slightly, cupped his hands, and said.

"Master Jiang must be joking. I merely heard that the fire spirit pill you refined is of extremely high quality, even capable of inducing the pill pattern phenomenon. I admire this greatly and wish to exchange pointers."

Jiang Donghua did not respond immediately, but instead slowly rubbed his cuff, seemingly contemplating.

The surrounding air seemed to solidify slightly due to his silence. After a moment, he slowly spoke.

"A spar is naturally fine."

He paused, raised his gaze slightly, and a subtle curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Since it's a competition, shouldn't there be a stake?"

A sharp light flashed in Yao Long's eyes; clearly, he was prepared. He smiled and said.

"Master Jiang is indeed straightforward! How about this: we won't bet too big. We'll simply compete on whose refined fire spirit pill is of higher quality. The loser hands over the fire spirit pill he refined. What do you say?"

As soon as these words were spoken, a low uproar immediately arose from the surroundings.

"A fire spirit pill? That is a superior fourth-grade pill; one pill is worth at least several hundred thousand gold coins!"

"Tsk tsk, this person from the Yao Family is truly wealthy and powerful, offering such a stake right away!"

"Will Master Jiang accept? Although his alchemy skills are superb, the Yao Family has deep foundations; he might not necessarily lose!"

Listening to the surrounding discussions, Jiang Donghua's expression remained calm, though a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes.

The fire spirit pill was indeed valuable, and even he would not easily waste the materials.

However, since the other party was proactively offering it up, he didn't mind accepting this gift.

"I accept."

He nodded gently, his tone casual, as if discussing a trivial matter.

A look of delight flashed in Yao Long's eyes, and he immediately said.

"Since that is the case, why don't we compete on the Pill Arena in Myriad Medicine City? There are ready-made Medicine Cauldrons and space there, making it convenient for fellow practitioners to watch."

Jiang Donghua neither confirmed nor denied, merely giving Bai Xiaofeng a faint glance.

The latter immediately understood and whispered a few words to Qin Wuye.

Qin Wuye nodded slightly, his stern gaze sweeping the surroundings. The invisible pressure caused the restless crowd attempting to approach to subconsciously retreat a few steps.

"Let's go."

Jiang Donghua stepped forward, and Red Silk followed closely behind, muttering softly.

"That guy clearly has ill intentions. Don't let your guard down and fail spectacularly."

Jiang Donghua chuckled softly and replied in a low voice.

"Don't worry, it's just a fire spirit pill. It won't cause me to fail."

Red Silk pouted and said nothing more, but a hint of anticipation flashed in her eyes.

She had personally witnessed Jiang Donghua's elegance when refining pills; his fluid fire control technique was absolutely incomparable to that of ordinary Alchemists.

Yao Long was already impatient. He leaped onto the high platform, flicked his sleeve, and a crimson Medicine Cauldron steadily landed on the stage. The cauldron body was engraved with flame patterns, faintly emitting a scorching aura.

"The Flame Cauldron! The Yao Family truly has deep foundations, capable of producing a Medicine Cauldron of this caliber!"

Someone below the stage exclaimed.

Jiang Donghua's expression remained unchanged. He slowly walked onto the high platform, flicked his finger from his sleeve, and a completely yellow Medicine Cauldron materialized out of thin air, settling steadily before him.

The cauldron body was ancient and unadorned, yet it subtly exuded a stable and weighty aura.

"This cauldron seems unfamiliar?"

The crowd below exchanged glances, clearly unfamiliar with Jiang Donghua's Medicine Cauldron.

A trace of disdain flashed in Yao Long's eyes, but he quickly concealed it and smiled, saying.

"Master Jiang, please begin."

Jiang Donghua nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below before finally landing on Yao Long, and he said lightly.

"Let's start."

The crowd below gradually stirred, and whispers spread like ripples.

"Yao Long is the cream of the crop among the Yao Family's younger generation. It's said that the fire spirit pill he refines is only a hair's breadth away from condensing a pill pattern!"

A Gray-Robed Elder stroked his beard and whispered to his companion.

"Yes, at last year's Pill Convention, several elders highly praised his fire spirit pill, saying the heat control was masterful, lacking only a trace of spirituality."

Another person nodded in agreement, a light of recollection flashing in his eyes.

Not far away, several young Alchemists gathered, their expressions excited yet slightly hesitant.

"Do you think this Master Jiang can really defeat Yao Long?"

A girl with a ponytail asked softly, unconsciously twisting the corner of her clothes.

The young man beside her shook his head.

"Yao Long's fire spirit pill is famously stable, almost always reaching the high grade. Although Master Jiang is renowned, he is still young. No one knows how he performs in actual combat."

"Hmph, I disagree!"

A burly man suddenly interjected, speaking in a rough voice.

"Heavenly Serpent City is not a minor power. How could an Alchemist personally accompanied by the Ninth Elder not have real skill?"

Hearing this, everyone showed thoughtful expressions.

Indeed, someone Heavenly Serpent City valued so highly was certainly no ordinary person, but the Yao Family's foundation was equally deep, and Yao Long was an outstanding talent of the younger generation. The outcome of this match was truly hard to predict.

Just as the discussions began to heat up, Bai Xiaofeng suddenly cleared his throat twice. The sound was not loud but clearly reached everyone's ears.

"Everyone, I, Bai Xiaofeng, state here today, daring to guarantee in the name of Heavenly Serpent City, that Master Jiang will definitely win this match!"

He looked around, a confident smile playing on his lips.

His voice was sonorous and immediately drew an uproar.

"The Ninth Young Master is so certain?"

Someone said in surprise.

"The reputation of Heavenly Serpent City is not something to joke about casually. It seems this Master Jiang truly has hidden depths!"

Bai Xiaofeng stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the crowd as he continued.

"If anyone doesn't believe it, feel free to place a wager with me. I'll put up one million gold coins, betting on Master Jiang to win. Does anyone dare to take the bet?"

At these words, the area below the stage fell silent for a moment.

One million gold coins was not a small sum for ordinary people.

After a brief silence, a middle-aged man dressed in brocade robes stepped forward and said in a deep voice.

"Since the Ninth Young Master is so confident, I will boldly accept this wager. One million gold coins, betting on Yao Long to win!"

Bai Xiaofeng smiled slightly and nodded.

"Good, it's settled."

With the establishment of the wager, the atmosphere in the venue grew increasingly tense.

Everyone's gaze constantly shifted between Jiang Donghua and Yao Long, trying to discern some clues from their expressions.

Yao Long still wore a faint smile, but a trace of disdain flashed in his eyes.

Bai Xiaofeng's public statement was undoubtedly a form of contempt toward him. He gritted his teeth and sneered inwardly.

"In a moment, I'll let you know that the Yao Family's alchemy skills are not something just anyone can compare to!"

Red Silk stood to the side, arms crossed over her chest, a smug curve on her lips.

She glanced at Yao Long and thought to herself.

"This guy probably doesn't realize he's messing with the wrong person, does he? He'll have something to cry about soon enough!"

As the two men took their positions, the atmosphere in the arena grew increasingly solemn.

Everyone's attention was focused on the flames flickering in their palms.

That was the foundation of an Alchemist and the key to determining the quality of a pill.

Yao Long's lips curled up slightly. He spread his five fingers, and a cluster of crimson-gold flame suddenly erupted in his palm.

As soon as the flame appeared, the surrounding temperature immediately soared. The air was scorched and slightly distorted, and a clear phoenix cry could even be faintly heard.

"The Origin Flame of the Scarlet Flame Demonic Phoenix?!"

Someone below the stage cried out in shock.

"A Beast Fire from a Sixth-Tier Demonic Beast! This is much more powerful than ordinary Dou Qi flames!"

"No wonder Yao Long's fire spirit pill can infinitely approach the pill pattern; with the aid of such a flame, the difficulty of fire control is reduced by at least thirty percent!"

The crowd stirred, and many people looked at Jiang Donghua with pity.

In the Alchemist world, the strength of the flame often directly determines the outcome. It was like two swordsmen fighting: one held a wooden stick, and the other wielded a divine weapon; the difference was clear at a glance.

At this moment, Jiang Donghua calmly spread open his palm.

A wisp of orange-yellow flame slowly rose. Although it was also scorching, compared to Yao Long's crimson-gold inferno, which seemed capable of burning the heavens and boiling the seas, it appeared far too gentle.

An experienced Alchemist shook his head and sighed.

"It is good that the young man has talent, but the gap in raw strength is ultimately difficult to bridge."

Even Bai Xiaofeng, who had just placed a bet on Jiang Donghua, frowned slightly.

Although he had confidence in Jiang Donghua, the suppression of Dou Qi fire by Beast Fire was common knowledge in the Alchemist world.

Yao Long took in everyone's reactions. The flame on his finger suddenly surged, transforming into the phantom of a fire phoenix ready to take flight.

He deliberately let the flame sweep past Jiang Donghua, the heat wave causing the opponent's robes to flap loudly.

"Master Jiang, if you concede now, the wager can be voided."

Jiang Donghua stared at the jumping green fire in his palm and suddenly chuckled.

His wrist suddenly flipped. The seemingly docile cluster of flames wrapped around itself like a living thing, condensing into nine hair-thin threads of fire at his fingertips.

Each thread of fire had a different color, and lotus-shaped patterns even appeared where the orange and yellow hues met.

"This is the Flame Separation Technique?!"

A white-haired elder in the viewing stands suddenly stood up.

"Controlling nine threads of fire simultaneously, is he not afraid of his cauldron exploding?!"

Yao Long's pupils contracted sharply.

This level of exquisite fire control could not be measured by the flame's strength. It was like a craftsman carving flowers with a blunt knife; the competition was no longer about the tool itself.

Jiang Donghua flicked his fingers lightly, and the nine threads of fire darted into the Medicine Cauldron like swimming fish. His voice remained calm.

"The Dao of Alchemy has never been about whose firewood burns the strongest."

As the nine threads of fire from Jiang Donghua's fingertips intertwined and circled inside the Medicine Cauldron, the air around the entire alchemy platform seemed to solidify for a moment.

The previously noisy discussions gradually subsided, replaced by the sound of people drawing sharp breaths.

"This... this control over Soul Power is as natural as breathing!"

A Third-Grade Alchemist stared intently at Jiang Donghua's movements, his voice trembling slightly.

The nine threads of fire moved like living things, precisely separating the medicinal liquid inside the cauldron. The temperature of every wisp of flame was accurate to the fraction, and one could even clearly see the liquid gradually becoming translucent under the flame's refinement, impurities being stripped away thread by thread, dissolving into blue smoke.

This near-artistic refining technique had gone beyond the scope of mere skill, becoming an almost instinctive control. It was as if every detail of refining the fire spirit pill had long been imprinted deep within his soul.

"Just how many times has he refined the fire spirit pill?"

Someone muttered to himself.

Below the platform, Red Silk folded her arms, a proud curve lifting the corner of her mouth, and whispered to Bai Xiaofeng.

"See that? This guy used to refine ten batches of fire spirit pill a day back in Heavenly Serpent City. Eventually, he could form a pill pattern with his eyes closed."

A trace of shock flashed in Bai Xiaofeng's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and laughed.

"No wonder he dared to accept the wager. It turns out he was already in an unbeatable position."

High up in the viewing stands, several Fifth-Grade Alchemists who had originally been watching casually now straightened their bodies, their gazes serious.

One of the elders, whose hair and beard were completely white, slowly shook his head and sighed.

"That kid from the Yao Family is definitely going to lose."

"Oh? How can you tell?"

Someone nearby asked.

The elder narrowed his eyes and pointed in Jiang Donghua's direction.

"Look at his Soul Power controlling the nine flames to separate and flow without any disorder. The temperature of every wisp of flame is extremely precise. This shows that his Soul Power is not only powerful but also delicate as silk, far exceeding the standard of an ordinary Fourth-Grade Alchemist."

He paused, then looked toward Yao Long and shook his head.

"In contrast, that kid from the Yao Family, although relying on the terrifying might of the Scarlet Flame Demonic Phoenix Beast Fire, the flame is ultimately an external object, and his Soul Power is clearly unable to keep up with the flame's ferocity. He is already starting to show subtle signs of sluggishness."

Sure enough, Yao Long's face was already faintly pale.

Although the crimson-gold flame remained fierce, controlling it became increasingly strenuous, and fine beads of sweat even seeped from his forehead.

He had originally thought that relying on the sixth grade beast fire would be enough to crush Jiang Donghua, but he never expected the opponent's Soul Power to be so terrifying. Those nine threads of fire, each one seemed to exist independently yet were perfectly coordinated, as if nine Jiang Donghuas were controlling them simultaneously!

"How is that possible? How can he be so proficient?!"

A tumultuous wave surged in Yao Long's heart.

He prided himself on his exceptional talent and had refined the fire spirit pill hundreds of times, yet he had never seen anyone proceed as smoothly and effortlessly as Jiang Donghua.

Just then, a clear ringing hum suddenly came from Jiang Donghua's Medicine Cauldron, followed immediately by a faint medicinal fragrance wafting out.

"Pill fragrance?! How long has it been? He's already about to condense the pill?!"

Someone below the stage cried out in surprise.

Upon hearing this, Yao Long's concentration wavered, and the flame in his hand instantly went out of control for a moment. The medicinal liquid inside the cauldron churned violently, almost causing an explosion.

He hurriedly stabilized his mind, but his expression was already extremely grim.

The gap was already clear at a glance.

Jiang Donghua's expression remained calm, as if everything was within his expectations. He lightly tapped his finger, the nine threads of fire suddenly merged into one, and the medicinal liquid inside the cauldron instantly condensed, forming a perfectly round pill.

The moment the pill formed, a faint golden pattern quietly appeared on the body of the pill.

pill pattern!

The entire venue fell silent.

Yao Long's face was completely pale. He had already lost.

Moreover, he had lost thoroughly.

Yao Long's movements suddenly slowed down.

He no longer rushed to keep up with Jiang Donghua's pace. Instead, he deliberately slowed down the speed of pill condensation. The flame was restrained, and the medicinal liquid in the Medicine Cauldron rotated slowly, appearing steady and composed.

The crowd below had initially expected him to panic because of Jiang Donghua's pill pattern, but they saw that his expression was normal, and he even wore a faint, subtle smile on his lips, as if everything was under control.

"Huh? Why isn't Yao Long suddenly rushing anymore?"

Someone whispered in confusion.

"Does he have another move up his sleeve?"

Even Jiang Donghua glanced sideways, his gaze falling upon Yao Long's Medicine Cauldron, a flicker of thought crossing his eyes.

Finally, Yao Long's pill also slowly took shape.

Although the pill fragrance was not as rich as Jiang Donghua's, the quality was absolutely superior.

He flipped his palm, and the pill landed in his hand. He then lightly coughed twice, a perfectly appropriate look of shame appearing on his face.

"Master Jiang's fire spirit pill is indeed superior to mine."

He cupped his hands, his tone sincere, even carrying a hint of admiration.

"This fire spirit pill, according to our agreement, is presented to Master Jiang."

Saying this, he flicked his finger, and the pill floated lightly toward Jiang Donghua.

Jiang Donghua raised his hand to catch it, his gaze sweeping over the pill. After confirming it was fine, he smiled faintly.

"Young Master Yao is too polite. The Dao of Alchemy is sometimes just about who is slightly more proficient."

Yao Long shook his head with a wry smile, truly convinced.

"Today's battle truly taught me a lesson! Master Jiang's fire control technique is truly admirable."

After speaking, he flicked his Alchemist robe and turned to leave.

Several Yao Family guards immediately stepped forward, surrounding him as he quickly left the alchemy platform. His retreating figure carried a hint of flair, completely unlike someone who had just lost.

The crowd below exchanged glances, momentarily unable to process the situation.

"Yao Long just conceded like that?"

"He's certainly decisive. Worthy of being a Yao Family disciple—he can afford to lose!"

"But Master Jiang is genuinely powerful. Not everyone can refine that pill pattern!"

Amidst the discussions, Bai Xiaofeng was happily starting to collect his money.

He hooked his finger, and his storage ring flashed. The million gold coins he had wagered, principal and interest, all fell into his hands. By a rough estimate, the sum was over a million!

"Hahaha, I struck it rich!"

Bai Xiaofeng patted his storage ring, grinning widely.

"Master Jiang, I'm treating tonight! Let's go to the best private room in the Myriad Medicine Tower and drink until we drop!"

Red Silk curled her lips and muttered.

Jiang Donghua shook his head, noncommittal about Bai Xiaofeng's excitement.

He lowered his head and looked at the two fire spirit pills in his hand: one was his own pill pattern fire spirit pill, and the other was the high-grade fire spirit pill gifted by Yao Long. The smile at the corner of his mouth deepened slightly.

"This Yao Long is quite a smart person. I wonder what he's up to?"

He murmured softly to himself.

"Hmm?"

Red Silk, with her sharp ears, immediately leaned closer.

"What do you mean?"

Jiang Donghua did not explain. He simply spun Yao Long's fire spirit pill between his fingers and said lightly.

"Let's go. Didn't we say we were going to the Myriad Medicine Tower?"

Bai Xiaofeng waved his hand grandly.

"Go, go, go! We must celebrate today!"

The crowd gradually dispersed, but the discussion about the match was far from over.

Everyone remembered Jiang Donghua's name, and Yao Long's candid concession became a topic of conversation for many after dinner.

However, no one noticed that as Yao Long left, the hand hidden in his sleeve had clenched tightly for a moment.

In the main hall of the Yao Family, blue smoke curled up from a bronze incense burner. Several elders wearing dark green robes sat around a long obsidian table.

The light inside the room was dim. Only the moonstones embedded in the walls emitted a cold glow, illuminating their solemn expressions.

"Has the message been confirmed?"

The First Elder, seated at the head, spoke slowly, his voice raspy like sandpaper.

A deacon below bowed and recounted everything that had just happened in detail.

The Third Elder tapped the table with his withered fingers and suddenly let out a cold laugh.

"Under a great reputation, there are no ordinary people. Heavenly Serpent City has stumbled upon a treasure this time."

The hall door creaked softly, and Yao Long entered with his head lowered.

He had already changed out of his Alchemist robe and into a simple plain outfit, appearing exceptionally low-key, completely lacking the arrogance he displayed on the alchemy platform.

"Long'er, did you manage to leave a mark on the pill?"

The Second Elder asked, narrowing his eyes.

Yao Long gave a wry smile and pulled out a crimson jade slip from his robes.

"Your grandson concealed a wisp of spirit guide inside the fire spirit pill."

He lightly tapped the jade slip with his fingertip. A faint Red Light appeared on the slip, but it was unable to condense into a complete message.

"Jiang Donghua seemed to have noticed. After he put that pill into his storage ring, the spirit guide was immediately isolated."

The Fourth Elder slammed the table fiercely.

"What a sharp young man!"

The First Elder remained silent for a long time, then suddenly spoke.

"This young man, despite his age, can refine a pill pattern on a fire spirit pill. Do you know what this implies?"

The Fifth Elder stroked his beard thoughtfully.

"It is lucky for an ordinary Fourth-Grade Alchemist to produce one pill pattern out of a hundred batches of fire spirit pill. Yet he did it with such ease. He has probably already stepped halfway into the Fifth-Grade threshold."

A collective sound of sharp intakes of breath echoed in the dark room.