"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Lin, on advancing to third-grade Alchemy Saint," Huo Zhengxian said. He thought to himself that Lin Shiqing was indeed impressive. Despite his turbulent emotions, he had still managed to refine the pill against all odds. For now, he might not compare to that fellow Lu Xiaotian, but he certainly had his own exceptional qualities.
"What is there to celebrate about a defeated general? Thank you for your trouble, Fellow Daoist Huo." Lin Shiqing drew a deep breath. Under ordinary circumstances, advancing to third-grade Alchemy Saint would have brought him a measure of joy, since it brought him one step closer to his master's goal. But after suffering an unprecedented defeat today, his newly earned title of third-grade Alchemy Saint tasted bitter indeed.
"Junior Brother, victory and defeat are commonplace in war. A single win or loss means nothing. With your talent, you'll catch up and surpass him sooner or later," Meng Changzai comforted him from the side.
"Don't worry, Senior Brother Meng. I'm not going to lose my fighting spirit over a temporary setback."
Lin Shiqing shook his head. Yet when he recalled Lu Xiaotian's counterattack, that surging alchemical aura, vast as the tide and the sea, carried a profound, imposing force that seemed tempered by the passage of years.
Even after so much time had passed, Lin Shiqing still felt dazed when he thought back on it. Lu Xiaotian was only a third-grade Alchemy Saint, just like him, and on the surface they stood at the same level. But could the gap between them really be bridged so easily? At the rate his own alchemical aura was growing more refined, he had no idea how many years it would take to reach Lu Xiaotian's level. And while he made progress, who was to say his opponent