Chapter 116: Impossible to Win

Chapter 116: Impossible to Win

Master Zhang glared at Mu Feng with gritted teeth.

He refused to believe that a mere seventeen-year-old could truly refine a second-tier pill.

"Why? Are you so eager to lose your hands?" Mu Feng sneered.

"Hah! Better prepare your family's 100,000 gold coins," Zhang Quandan mocked. Then, turning to the audience, he declared loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen, this young fool challenged me to a contest of alchemy. I trust you'll bear witness. If he loses, the Mu family will compensate me with 100,000 gold coins."

"Wait a minute, Master Zhang. Aren't you the Mu family's alchemy consultant? What's going on here?" one alchemist asked, puzzled.

Zhang hesitated, unsure how to explain.

Mu Feng stepped forward, his tone icy. "This dog, whom the Mu family nurtured, decided to betray us and seek favor with traitors. I, Feng Ye, as a member of the Mu family, am here to challenge this traitor. If he loses, he will forfeit his hands!"

"You dare call us traitors!" a furious voice rang out.

Lu Chuxue, a stunning but formidable woman, stepped forward, her eyes filled with murderous intent.

"Who the traitors are should be clear to all," Mu Feng replied with a cutting smile.

"You're courting death!" Lu Chuxue snapped, her fiery energy surging, ready to strike.

"Stand down!"

Mu Chen, the Mu family patriarch, stepped between them, his own powerful aura clashing with hers. Flanked by Mu Ye and Mu Hua, also powerful warriors, the odds quickly shifted.

Lu Chuxue clenched her fists, her fiery energy dissipating as she retreated. She turned to Zhang Quandan with a cold glare. "Master Zhang, show them your true capabilities. Prove your worth to the Northern King's estate."

"Don't worry, Elder Lu. They'll see how the Mu family loses face today," Zhang sneered.

The Contest Begins

Mu Feng walked calmly to one furnace while Zhang Quandan took another.

The gathered crowd buzzed with speculation.

"Interesting! The Mu family raised this alchemist, only for him to turn against them and join the Northern King's faction."

"Shows you how weak the Mu family has become. Even their talents don't stick around."

"True. The Northern King's faction grows stronger by the day. It's only a matter of time before they overturn the current order."

As the two sat before their furnaces, they began by igniting their elemental fires to warm the vessels.

Zhang Quandan worked with practiced precision, refining the first herb into a liquid essence and setting it aside before moving on to the second herb.

Mu Feng, on the other hand, appeared unhurried, following a similarly methodical process but lacking the speed of his opponent.

"Uncle Sun, do you think this boy can actually refine a second-tier pill?" Xiao Ziyu asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Impossible," scoffed a yellow-robed youth nearby. "Being able to refine a first-tier pill at his age is already extraordinary. There's no way he can handle a second-tier one."

"I agree," added another alchemist.

But Master Sun narrowed his eyes. "Not necessarily. The boy's earlier feat of refining three pills simultaneously shows he possesses exceptional control. It wouldn't surprise me if he could manage a second-tier pill."

"Even so," the yellow-robed youth countered, "Master Zhang is nearing the third-tier level. His pills are consistently second-tier top-grade. This boy might manage a second-tier pill, but it will likely be low-grade at best."

"True. The boy might succeed, but beating Zhang Quandan? That's unlikely," Sun admitted.

Testing Their Skills

Both alchemists reached the critical stage of blending their herbal essences. Zhang maintained a calm demeanor, carefully combining the essences with flawless precision.

Mu Feng also moved into the blending phase. His every motion was steady and deliberate, his focus unwavering.

Drawing the alchemical runes was the next step. Zhang's movements were fluid and practiced, his pen gliding effortlessly as he etched the intricate patterns.

Mu Feng, despite his young age, displayed equal confidence, his strokes graceful and precise.

Ten minutes passed. Both alchemists showed signs of strain, their foreheads beaded with sweat. The complexity of second-tier runes demanded intense concentration and skill; a single mistake could ruin the entire batch.

Finally, Zhang Quandan finished first. With a triumphant gesture, he tapped his furnace.

Boom!

A brilliant yellow pill shot out, landing in Zhang's palm. Its surface glowed with two intricate lines—a perfect second-tier top-grade pill.

He smirked, raising the pill for all to see. "Boy, you've already lost!"

A Shocking Outcome

Mu Feng, however, remained calm. He meticulously completed his rune work, taking an additional moment before tapping his furnace.

Boom!

A pill of pure emerald green burst forth, its surface glistening with light. As it hovered in midair, a faint hum resonated, the mark of extraordinary quality.

Master Sun rushed forward, inspecting both pills closely.

"This... This is a second-tier supreme-grade pill!" Sun exclaimed, his voice trembling with astonishment.

The crowd gasped.

"Supreme-grade? But that's even rarer than top-grade!"

"It's unheard of for someone his age to refine such a pill!"

Zhang Quandan's face turned ashen. He snatched Mu Feng's pill and examined it himself. His hands trembled as he confirmed Sun's assessment.

"Impossible!" Zhang bellowed. "How could a mere boy...?"

Mu Feng stepped forward, his calm demeanor unshaken. "Who's the fool now? Your so-called talent is no match for me."

Defeat and Consequences

"Admit defeat," Mu Feng demanded, his voice sharp as steel.

Zhang Quandan gritted his teeth, his pride shattered. He looked to Lu Chuxue for support, but even she seemed at a loss for words.

Mu Chen stepped forward, his voice cold and commanding. "Zhang Quandan, you've lost. Honor the wager. Or are you planning to renege on your word, like the coward you've already proven yourself to be?"

Zhang's face contorted in humiliation and rage.

Lu Chuxue intervened, her tone icy. "Enough, Zhang. You've embarrassed yourself enough for one day. The Northern King's estate has no place for weaklings who can't uphold their promises. Do as you agreed."

Zhang Quandan paled, realizing his position was now even more precarious.

Mu Feng's lips curled into a victorious smile. "I believe you owe me your hands."

The room fell silent, tension thick as a blade. Zhang Quandan's fate was sealed.