Heh, You Think You Deserve It?

The moment those words were spoken, the surrounding Yun Lan Sect disciples looked utterly displeased. In their hearts, Yun Shenwei had always been an imposing figure. Now, this arrogant man was mocking him—wasn't that indirectly mocking the Yun Lan Sect disciples for being incompetent?

Many of them glared furiously. If Ge Ye, the Steward, had not been present, they would have rushed forward and beaten Liu Wen senseless.

Ge Ye's old face darkened, but he was an elder after all. Naturally, he could not lower himself to make trouble for a junior. Besides, this junior was Pill King Gu He's newly accepted disciple, and he had reason on his side. If this truly escalated, it would damage the Yun Lan Sect's reputation no matter what. Ge Ye understood which mattered more, so he could only pretend not to have heard.

"I originally thought Pill King Gu He was highly accomplished in the art of alchemy, so his eye for disciples could not possibly be poor. But now that I see it, that does not seem to be the case. It really makes one wonder whether Senior Gu He was blinded by deception. Otherwise, why would he take in a useless braggart who only knows how to shout?"

Yun Shenwei wore a faintly mocking smile and deliberately sighed. "It seems everyone has flaws. Even Pill King Gu He is no exception."

"You're truly arrogant, using veiled words to mock my master."

Liu Wen was young and hot-blooded, and he desperately wanted to curse. Still, he was not entirely lacking in brains. After suppressing his anger, a scheme came to mind. He said darkly, "Yun Shenwei, I will not waste words with you. What your two junior brothers burned was the formula for the Azure Profound Pill, something my master spent years developing. Senior Ge Ye is widely experienced, so I trust you can estimate the value of that formula?"

As Liu Wen spoke, he deliberately turned to look at Ge Ye beside him. The implication behind his words could not have been clearer.

"The formula for the Azure Profound Pill?"

Ge Ye had always assumed it was merely an ordinary pill formula. The instant he heard the words "Azure Profound Pill," he could no longer remain calm and cried out in surprise. As a steward of the Yun Lan Sect, how could he not know of the famed Azure Profound Pill?

The Azure Profound Pill was a second-tier medicinal pill with extremely potent effects. Although its side effects were obvious, it could raise a Dou Master's cultivation by one star. When a cultivator was making a breakthrough, it could even grant an additional one-star increase, for a total of two stars!

Moreover, the formula had been personally created by Pill King Gu He, the Gama Empire's Number One Alchemist. It was practically known to everyone, from eighty-year-old elders to three-year-old children.

Since the Azure Profound Pill had been created by Pill King Gu He, only he and his disciples knew the formula. Other alchemists simply could not refine it. As a result, the Azure Profound Pill was scarce despite its price, and was even more valuable than many fourth-tier medicinal pills!

One of the rewards for this Yun Lan Sect disciple tournament was the Azure Profound Pill, and that was precisely why Pill King Gu He had been invited.

At that thought, Ge Ye's anger flared. His eyes widened like bronze bells as he fiercely swept his gaze over Xin Daorong and Niu Xuante. If this were not an inconvenient place to act, he truly wanted to slap these two oddball disciples to death.

"My heavens, I never expected it to be the formula for the Azure Profound Pill. This has become a huge matter..."

"It's over, it's over. Even if Senior Apprentice Brother really can produce a second-tier pill formula, it won't be enough. The Azure Profound Pill is far too valuable."

"Niu Xuante and Xin Daorong can only blame themselves for courting death. It would have been one thing if they merely caused trouble everywhere as usual, but they actually messed with Pill King Senior's disciple and even burned his pill formula."

"Ah, what misfortune for the sect. If I were Senior Apprentice Brother, I would never help those two bastards."

For a time, the surrounding disciples discussed the matter heatedly. Quite a few of them came from wealthy families and had long heard of the Azure Profound Pill. Every one of them shook their heads and sighed with emotion.

After glancing around and seeing everyone's shocked expressions, Liu Wen grew even smugger. He thought his ability to make up lies and fool people was truly first-rate. Only then did he turn to Yun Shenwei and say, "Well? You should understand now just how serious this is, right? Are you sure you can produce a pill formula of equal value?"

The previously noisy discussion around them quieted considerably. Everyone's eyes fixed on Yun Shenwei, waiting for him to speak.

"The two of us caused this trouble, so the two of us should bear it. Senior Apprentice Brother, don't get dragged into this mess."

"Waaah... Though I, Xin Daorong, am no hero, I still understand that one must compensate for what one damages. We can't repay the pill formula. At worst, we'll use our lives to make up for it."

Knowing how serious the matter was, Niu Xuante and Xin Daorong began wailing. They did enjoy causing trouble in ordinary times, but they were not utterly wicked. They still had certain bottom lines as people.

Besides, the two had been in the Yun Lan Sect for quite some years. The Yun Lan Sect was highly renowned in the Gama Empire, yet because of this matter, they had offended Pill King Gu He. Would that not make them the Yun Lan Sect's sinners for all eternity?

Therefore, they did not intend to resist, nor did they want to make things difficult for Senior Apprentice Brother.

Liu Wen was smug, while everyone else sighed. Xin Daorong and Niu Xuante were consumed with regret. Just as everyone thought the matter was about to be settled, Yun Shenwei suddenly stepped forward. Before everyone's eyes, he tore off a corner of Xin Daorong's clothing, bit open his fingertip, and used blood as ink as he swiftly wrote.

"I thought it was some remarkable pill formula. So it was merely something as worthless as the Azure Profound Pill. Don't worry, I can afford to compensate you."

Yun Shenwei wrote with lightning speed and quickly finished. He casually tossed the scrap of cloth toward Liu Wen and said calmly, "All right, this matter ends here. You two, come with me."

"It's over?"

Niu Xuante and Xin Daorong froze. It was not that they did not believe Yun Shenwei, but what had just happened was simply too shocking.

Not only the two of them, but the other disciples watching and even Ge Ye, the Steward, wore utterly bewildered expressions.

Yun Shenwei could casually write down a pill formula comparable to the Azure Profound Pill? Had his brain malfunctioned, or was he deliberately playing Liu Wen for a fool?

"You bastard, how dare you toy with me? Yun Shenwei, even if you are the current Senior Apprentice Brother of the Yun Lan Sect, you have no right to do this."

Liu Wen sidestepped the flying scrap of cloth, then pointed at Yun Shenwei and cursed loudly, "Don't think you're impressive just because you have some talent for cultivation. Without an alchemist's help, you'll be no more than a Dou Spirit for the rest of your life. If you know what's good for you, call me Grandfather, and I'll let this matter go. Otherwise, even if the Heavenly King himself came, I'd still report this and let the other elders of your Yun Lan Sect judge who is right."

Liu Wen's words were venomous. He clearly wanted Yun Shenwei to lose all face. Naturally, he had absolute confidence to speak this way—his status as a disciple of Pill King Gu He of the Gama Empire was his greatest backing.

"Call you Grandfather? Heh, you think you deserve it?"

Yun Shenwei sneered. During all his years in the Yun Lan Sect, no one had ever dared mock him like this.

Liu Wen had only just arrived at the Yun Lan Sect, yet he repeatedly refused kindness when it was offered. Did he really think a little talent in alchemy made him the Pill King?

Yun Shenwei's figure flashed, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared beside Liu Wen. Amid Liu Wen's stunned gaze, he raised his hand and slapped him.

Smack!

As the crisp sound of the slap rang out, every disciple present panicked. They understood that after this slap, the matter would likely be impossible to settle...