Dao of the World Walker (Xianxia) Book 2

Senior Brother Lin Yi presented a simple-looking greyish-blue pill to the judges. One of them took it in his hand and leaned closer.

”A high-grade Bone Shrinking Pill.” Another judge examined it and remarked, ”Impressive for a fledgling alchemist.”

Senior Brother Lin Yi bowed his head in thanks as the judges moved along to the other participants.

”A Bone Shrinking Pill. The things I could do with it, I can only imagine,” came Senior Brother Jiang Zhen Hao’s wistful voice, accompanied by a rather evil expression on his face.

”The things you could do with it, I can only fear,” came Senior Brother Xu Kai’s dry retort. Senior Sister Xing Fei let out a slight giggle.

Yang let out a slight shudder as he thought of the things Senior Brother Zhen Hao could do.

He knew what a Bone Shrinking Pill was. It was similar in vein to the Face Changing Pill. Where a Face Changing Pill could only alter one’s face, the Bone Shrinking Pill could alter the whole body. One could change their gender and, if desired, even species. But as the name indicated, only shrinking was possible. They could only shrink themselves into a smaller person or other being or animal. The bone only shrinks and that limits the choices one has with this pill.

The judges moved through a few more participants and looked happy with what they were seeing so far.

Soon they reached Senior Brother Liu Te, who passed his own pills to the judges. It looked like he had made more than one. The judges were quiet for a moment before they announced, ”A set of high-grade Molten Body Pills.”

The judges seemed a bit surprised as they each took one in their hands to check the quality.

”Good, good. This is very impressive,” one of the judges said.

Soon they passed on to the other contestants.

”Do any of you know what these pills are?” Senior Sister Shen Yue turned to ask all of them. Yang was sure she was only including him to be kind, but he shook his head anyway when Senior Brother Xu Kai’s voice came. ”It’s a toxin-cleansing pill. It’s taken as a series in lower realms and removes toxins from all layers of the body.”

”Really? Sounds useful. Are we low realm enough?” Senior Sister Xing Fei inquired.

”I don’t know. I just read about it. I’m no expert. Ask Brother Liu Te when he gets here.”

As they watched the judges examine the remaining participants, one arose interest from the whole crowd as well as the elders in the stands and on the stage.

It was a cultivator who had refined a high-grade Lightning Qi Pill. At the judge’s naming of the pill, almost the whole arena went quiet.

Even his senior brothers and sisters looked shocked as they leaned forward to see the cultivator who had made the pill.

”How did he manage to do that?” came from Senior Sister Xing Fei, and she was not the only one. Similar sentiments were being echoed all over the arena.

The judges examined the pill and rated it high-grade.

After that, there were no surprises. Or rather, people were still too shocked by the Lightning Qi Pill to care about anything else.

Yang asked the seniors around him, ”I know lightning is a rare element, but why is everyone so shocked?”

”Junior Brother, they wouldn’t have been shocked if it had been another rare element, even if it was more unique than lightning. But it’s the alchemist’s realm that is a surprise to everyone. He is still in Foundation Establishment. Those who haven’t felt the Heavenly Tribulation are unable to work with lightning. It’s an element of the heavens. Only those who have come across some treasure or opportunity can work with lightning,” came Senior Sister Shen Yue’s reply.

”That cultivator just announced to the whole sect that he has or had come across something special,” Senior Sister Xing Fei said, shaking her head.

”What does that pill do exactly?” Yang asked.

”It’s like a Qi Replenishing Pill. Only it replenishes lightning qi instead. Once cultivators find a natural affinity or develop one due to their technique, they sometimes prefer to take qi replenishing pills according to their affinity. It’s basically that. Perfectly useful at higher stages, but he is too low realm to have made a pill that is worth anything to higher-grade cultivators, and the younger ones wouldn’t dare touch it with a three-foot pole.” Then she turned to Yang and said, ”Before you ask, it’s because dabbling in lightning is said to worsen the tribulation you would face. We will face our first tribulation when trying to reach the Golden Core realm. No one wants to risk burning to a crisp as the heavens shower lightning bolts over them like confetti.”

”Thank you, Senior Sister,” Yang said with a grin.

”Any time, Junior Brother Yang,” Senior Sister Shen Yue grinned back.

Soon the judges were done judging all the participants, and the winners were announced.

”The top three rankers of this event are,” the head judge’s voice rang out across the arena.

”Third place: Disciple Ling Fei, for the mid-grade Meridian Repair Pill.”

It must have been a difficult pill to make if she managed to get third prize with just a mid-grade pill, Yang thought.

”Second place: Disciple Liu Te, for the high-grade Molten Body Pill.”

Yang, along with the seniors, burst into applause at Senior Brother Liu Te’s win. They were so joyful that they barely heard the announcement for the first rank.

”First place: Disciple Lin Fan, for the high-grade Lightning Qi Pill.”

”Like that’s a surprise. We all knew as soon as he unveiled the pill,” muttered Senior Sister Xing Fei.

Yang tried to find Senior Brother Lin Yi amongst the crowd. Among those here, he was closest to him, and he wanted to see if he was okay. After all, he hadn’t managed to reach top three.

The prizes were announced, the same spirit stones and cultivation chamber hours Yang had come to find were standard for the winners of each event, along with an alchemy-based treasure.

This time it was some rare ingredients: a ginseng, some root, and Senior Brother Liu Te got an ugly flower. To Yang’s inexperienced self, it sounded rather shabby compared to last event’s prizes, but the winners looked happy, and Yang was once again reminded of exactly how ignorant he was about alchemical treasures.

Yang also spotted Senior Brother Lin Yi, mostly because he was embracing Senior Brother Liu Te with a joyful look on his face. Soon they both turned to leave the stage with the others.

”Let’s remain seated. Let Liu Te and Lin Yi come. It will take them some time to reach here with the crowd trying to leave,” said Senior Sister Shen Yue.

They all agreed and settled down as they waited for the crowd to die down. Soon, in ten minutes, it seemed like the whole arena had emptied out, with only a few stragglers remaining who, like them, had probably decided to leave late to avoid the rush.

”Lin Yi! Liu Te!” exclaimed Senior Brother Jiang Zhen Hao loudly, and Yang and the rest of them turned toward where he was looking and saw Senior Brother Liu Te and Senior Brother Lin Yi making their way towards them with smiles on their faces.

Soon they were there, and Senior Brother Xu Kai and Senior Brother Jiang Zhen Hao were the first to congratulate them.

”Liu Te, Lin Yi. Impressive showing. You both did well,” came Senior Brother Zhen Hao’s boisterous voice as he placed his hand on one of each of their shoulders.

”Did we? I saw you all too busy arguing,” came Senior Brother Liu Te’s dry reply.

Senior Brother Jiang Zhen Hao let out a sheepish laugh.

The senior sisters also moved forward to congratulate them. Yang held back, knowing that he was not as close to them as the others.

Once it was his turn, he bowed. ”Senior Brother Lin Yi, Senior Brother Liu Te, congratulations. It was wonderful to watch you both refining pills.”

”Thank you, Junior Brother,” came Senior Brother Lin Yi’s voice. ”Out of all of them, I know it was only you who appreciates the craft.”

”Thank you, Junior Brother. Here, take this,” said Senior Brother Liu Te with a kind smile as he tossed him a small porcelain bottle.

”Senior Brother, what is this?” Yang asked curiously, slightly shaking the bottle as he heard small tinks like beads. Yang’s eyes widened. ”Are these pills?”

”Indeed, Junior Brother. You surely are becoming an expert in alchemy,” said Senior Brother Liu Te before continuing. ”These are the Molten Body Pills I created. There are six. You can take one at every minor qi condensation realm. They lose effectiveness after one establishes a foundation. I have no use for them. You take them.” Senior Brother Liu Te said it casually.

Yang was struck silent. If it had been Senior Brother Lin Yi, it would have been one thing, but while Senior Brother Liu Te had always been kind, they weren’t as close.

He must have seen uncertainty on his face. ”Don’t overthink it, Junior Brother. They’re just some pills. I can always make more,” Senior Brother Liu Te said.

”Thank you, Senior Brother,” Yang said as he placed the white porcelain bottle in his sleeve.

”What about me?” came Senior Sister Xing Fei’s voice as she pouted. ”Do I not get a gift?”

”You are not a junior, Sister Xing Fei,” said Senior Brother Liu Te.

Yang could see Senior Brother Liu Te was in high spirits, but Yang was more worried about Senior Brother Lin Yi. He was still smiling and talking with the others, but Yang didn’t know how he really felt.

It was suddenly decided they would all go out to the city to celebrate Senior Brother Liu Te’s win.

They were making their way outside the arena to the peak’s designated landing spot when Senior Brother Liu Te said, ”You all go first. I have to meet with my shifu. I will come a bit later.”

They all waved him off as he left, and all of them started making their way towards the exit closest to the spot where they could fly from.

Soon they were outside. ”Yang, come here. Let’s go.” Yang’s horror must have shown on his face because before he could say anything, Senior Brother Lin Yi intervened. ”Brother Zhen Hao, I will take Junior Brother Yang,” as he summoned out his sword.

Yang quickly climbed on it before Senior Brother Lin Yi could set his own foot on it, and he heard a feminine snicker from behind. No doubt Senior Sister Xing Fei taking joy in his misfortune.

Senior Brother Zhen Hao’s sword shot off and disappeared. Senior Brother Xu Kai’s soon followed.

Once the senior sisters were at a bit of a distance, Senior Brother Lin Yi said, ”I see you suffered much at Zhen Hao’s hands.”

”Don’t joke, Senior Brother. I am going to have nightmares about that experience,” Yang said as Senior Brother Lin Yi chuckled.

”Senior Brother, are you okay?” Yang asked cautiously. He had never been the best at social interaction and didn’t know what would be the appropriate words when your close friend wins and you don’t.

”Are you worried about me not achieving a rank?” came Senior Brother Lin Yi’s amused voice.

Yang went a bit red and didn’t know what to say.

”Don’t be nervous, Junior Brother. It’s hardly the first time I’ve lost a competition. Winning and losing are both parts of life, and as a cultivator, I intend to live a very long one. It’s inevitable that there will be wins and even more losses on the way.”

Yang said nothing. Senior Brother Lin Yi’s way of seeing it was straightforward. It was Yang who had been overthinking it.

”Don’t feel embarrassed, Junior Brother. It pleases me to know you cared enough to worry.”

Yang just gave a slight smile, unsure how to respond, and kept quiet. Soon they were at the base of the mountain, and all of them summoned back their swords into their storage.

”Did you all walk here?” came Senior Brother Zhen Hao’s mocking voice.

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