Chapter 2871 - He Won’t Lose!
Chapter 2871: He Won’t Lose!
At the crucial moment, Li An finally agreed to Duan Ling Tian’s absurd request. However, Duan Ling Tian’s request was not completely unreasonable. After all, the Blissful Sect was the one that initiated the bet and seemed eager to compete. Therefore, Duan Ling Tian had the upper-hand during the negotiation.
Duan Ling Tian had clearly stated his request, and it was clear that he did not care if the Blissful Sect rejected it. He was very firm with his stance. However, if the Blissful Sect rejected his request, the sect would be indirectly admitting that their Chief Celestial Alchemist was inferior to Duan Ling Tian.
“Fine, we will do as you say!” Li An said in a deep voice.
Duan Ling Tian who had just taken a step forward stopped in his tracks. However, he did not turn around. With his back facing Li An, he asked, “Senior Li An, so you agree to use your sect’s triple-trait Duke Grade Celestial Method as a stake in the bet to see if Master Xiao or I have a higher success rate in refining Overarching Heaven Pills, right?”
“Yes,” Li An replied without any hesitation. When Duan Ling Tian did not turn back to look at him, he assumed Duan Ling Tian was feeling nervous and guilty. He said indifferently, “Master Duan, since the Blissful Sect has already shown its sincerity, I believe you have no more reason to refuse the bet, right? Otherwise, it just shows that you’re afraid to compete with our sect’s Master Xiao, not the other way around!”
“You…” Duan Ling Tian flicked his sleeves and finally turned around. He looked at Li An and calmly asked, “Are you sure you want me to compete with your Blissful Sect’s Master Xiao? It’s still not too late to regret it now… Do you want to reconsider your decision, Senior Li An?”
“There’s no need for that; I don’t need to reconsider my decision.” Although none of Duan Ling Tian’s actions revealed his inner thoughts, Li An was certain Duan Ling Tian was only feigning calmness and was panicking inwardly. He was sure that Duan Ling Tian only asked him to reconsider as a last-ditch attempt to make him back down! What a joke! Was he someone who was easily scared off? Duan Ling Tian was not even 100 years old while he had eaten more salt than Duan Ling Tian had eaten rice!
At this moment, the onlookers parted to make way for a group of people.
“It’s the people from the Compassionate Celestial Traveler Sect!”
“There are a few people from the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect as well!”
Nangong Xiu, the Sect Leader of the Compassionate Celestial Traveler Sect, led Murong Bing and the others from the sect over. A few people from the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect, including Zhou Shu Qiu, tagged along as well. They had come over to watch the show after they heard about what was happening.
At this moment, a woman sent a Voice Transmission to Duan Ling Tian. “Duan Ling Tian, sometimes we must know when to back down… I heard from the Sect Leader of the Compassionate Celestial Traveler Sect that the Blissful Sect’s Chief Celestial Alchemist managed to refine six Overarching Heaven Pills in a go for a few times now!”
Duan Ling Tian could tell the voice belonged to Zhou Shu Qiu. He knew she was concerned and was trying to dissuade him from betting with Xiao Gang Yu, the Chief Celestial Alchemist of the Blissful Sect. He briefly glanced at her as he replied, “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.” Then, he shifted his attention back to Li An, the Old Ancestor of the Blissful Sect, without waiting for her reply. He said to Li An, “Since Senior Li An insists that we compete, it’ll seem like I’m afraid if I refuse. Alright, I accept the bet!”
Everyone from the Blissful Sect, including Li An, was shocked that Duan Ling Tian had readily agreed to the bet. Li An, in particular, did not expect Duan Ling Tian to agree to the bet.
The people from the Blissful Sect were still flustered by Duan Ling Tian’s decision when he said, “There’s still time for you to change your mind before the masters from the Alliance of Celestial Masters arrive.” When he spoke, his eyes were trained on the two figures cutting a path across the crowd and making their way over. The two figures had identical appearances. They were Zhong Shang and Zhong Qi, the supreme Celestial Alchemists from the Alliance of Celestial Masters. Zhong Qi was also the only Ten Directions Celestial Duke present at the Alchemist Conference.
Upon hearing Duan Ling Tian’s words, the onlookers followed Duan Ling Tian’s line of sight and saw the twin brothers, Zhong Shang and Zhong Qi, as well.
Li An remained silent until Zhong Shang and Zhong Qi arrived at where they were standing.
“Master Zhong! Lord Zhong Qi!”
Zhong Shang and Zhong Qi had clearly learned about what happened.
Zhong Shang studied Duan Ling Tian and Xiao Gang Yu briefly before he asked with a faint smile on his face, “Since you’re going to bet, why don’t I be the witness? What do you think?”
Duan Ling Tian replied with a smile, “It would be the best if Master Zhong is willing to be our witness.”
On the contrary, Xiao Gang Yu did not respond immediately. Instead, he turned to look at Li An and asked through Voice Transmission, “What do you think, Old Ancestor?”
“Master Xiao, how confident are you?” Li An responded with a question instead.
“Old Ancestor, over the past decades, I managed to form six Overarching Heaven Pills in a go for a few times now… Generally, I can refine no less than 5 pills at once. I’m 80% certain that I’ll be able to refine 6 pills today.” Xiao Gang Yu sounded extremely confident when he spoke. “Unless he’s able to refine more than 6 Overarching Heaven Pills, he’ll definitely lose!”
“That means he has to refine 7 pills, at least. Master Xiao, do you really think someone who only managed to refine 3 pills a month ago can refine 7 pills today?” Li An’s words were brimming with disdain toward Duan Ling Tian.
When Duan Ling Tian saw Zhong Shang staring at Xiao Gang Yu who had yet to respond, he said, “Master Zhong, I’m afraid Master Xiao is not the one calling the shots today.”
With Duan Ling Tian’s reminder, Zhong Shang shifted his gaze to Li An. “Elder Li An, is the Blissful Sect really competing with the Tai Yi Celestial Sect on the success rate of refining the Overarching Heaven Pill? If it’s true, I will stay and watch as a witness.” A hint of impatience could be heard in his voice. It was only natural since he had been waiting for a response from the Blissful Sect for a while now.
When Li An regained his senses, he sensed Zhong Shang’s impatience and hastily replied, “Master Zhong, the Blissful Sect is, indeed, competing with the Tai Yi Celestial Sect.”
“Since that’s the case, let’s confirm the stakes again,” Zhong Shang nodded as he said, “I heard Master Duan will be using the double-trait Duke Grade Celestial Method and Divine Ability he won from the Supporting Sun Celestial Sect and the Thousand Leaves Celestial Sect as stakes while the Blissful Sect will use their sect’s triple-trait Duke Grade Celestial Method as a stake, is that right?” His eyes darted between Duan Ling Tian and Li An as he asked for confirmation from both of them.
“Yes.” Duan Ling Tian and Li An nodded.
Li An looked at Duan Ling Tian a few times and discovered Duan Ling Tian wearing an indifferent expression on his face. He sneered inwardly. ‘Go on and act all mysterious. I can’t wait to see how long you’ll be able to maintain your composure.” He was rather convinced Duan Ling Tian was only putting on a tough front to mislead them.
Zhong Shang nodded after receiving the confirmation. He looked at Duan Ling Tian and Xiao Gang Yu before he said, “In that case, the two masters can begin to heat their cauldrons.”
Duan Ling Tian and Xiao Gang Yu took two steps forward immediately. They brought out their prominent Pill Cauldron and began to heat them up.
‘He’s really going to compete with Master Xiao… Isn’t he afraid that he might lose the Duke Grade Celestial Method and Divine Ability that he just won?’ Zhou Shu Qiu could not help but frown as she watched Duan Ling Tian heating up his cauldron. After a moment, she discovered her best friend, Murong Bing, who was standing nearby seemed indifferent as she watched the proceedings. She could not help but ask Murong Bing through Voice Transmission, “Bing’er, aren’t you worried he might lose his Duke Grade Celestial Method and Divine Ability? Isn’t he being a little reckless?”
“He won’t lose.”
“He won’t lose?” Zhou Shu Qiu was stunned by Murong Bing’s reply, but she quickly regained her senses. She asked again, “When he refined the Overarching Heaven Pills a month ago, he merely managed to refine three pills. On the other hand, Xiao Gang Yu managed to refine at least five Overarching Heaven Pills in the past! In fact, if Xiao Gang Yu is lucky, he might even be able to refine six pills today!”