Three Rounds, a Draw! Zhiwei Arrives at Night!

Very soon, the pill masters had finished examining all the pills. The five masters sat around a long table, upon which dozens of pills were laid out, their разно-colored glows intertwining as medicinal fragrance filled the air.

They spoke in low voices, nodding or shaking their heads from time to time. Everyone in the audience held their breath, waiting for the final result.

However, a problem arose when it came time to decide the champion, because another person's pill was no inferior to Li Bufan's.

The Spirit-Nourishing Pill that person had refined likewise bore four Cloud Patterns and was likewise upper-tier fourth grade. Its quality was on par with Li Bufan's. Placed together, the two pills shone like twin stars, impossible to rank above one another.

Yet the pill masters held differing opinions. Because what decided victory and defeat was not the refining time, but the quality of the finished pill.

Since the two were equal in quality, they could perhaps be declared joint first.

But another person said, "No! Since the Pill Combat Tournament was founded, there has never been a joint first place. Rules are rules—how could we dare break them?" His voice was resolute, without the slightest concession.

Gu Qingyang said, "Then what should we do? If you ask me, Li Bufan should be first. Their pills are equal in quality, so isn't the only thing left to compare the speed at which they finished them? What is there to fuss over? Li Bufan took less time, his technique was smoother, and his fire control more precise. Why can't he be first?"

"No! Old Gu, that's not right. The speed of completing a pill is certainly important, but a pill's quality is fundamental. If their quality is the same, you cannot judge superiority by speed."

The four