Chapter 23 - Pills

Ever since she closed herself to her own emotions, Li Moxue became more sensitive to that of others.

She felt as if Heaven and Earth somewhat kept a semblance of fairness with her: since she lost some thing, she gained another.

When Yu Weiyuan's Killing Intent erupted, she was the closest to him.

She could see.

His anger.

His rage.

But more than anything, she could see his grief.

She knew his Master had been killed by an ambush of the Myriad Demon Temple.

And she believed that for Yu Weiyuan, the presence of anyone of its members was a reminder of his Master's untimely death.

Maybe for the other bystanders, the angered Yu Weiyuan was akin to God of Slaughter, bringing death to all his ennemies, alighting his surroundings with a bloody red light like a Killing Star, but for Li Moxue, he looked different

'He is like a small child' she thought. Like a child who had just lost his father, unleashing his sadness upon the world.

And for this child, the cold Li Moxue felt a hint of distress.

So when no one could represent his Sect in a Alchemy Duel, she tugged at his sleeve.

A rare hint of concern alighted her bediviling phoenix eyes as she gazed at his sun-like golden irises.

"As your guest, Sect Master Yu, I am abilitated to represent you in this duel."

She could see a bit of nostalgia in Yu Weiyuan's eyes before he broke out of his daze and answered her lightly, a small smile upon his face.

"I will take you up on this offer, Eldest Daughter Li."

Thus, Li Moxue turned towards Shen Dingxiang, returning to her usual cold and aloof state, like a flower standing upon the highest peaks.

"Peach Blossom Young Master, I shall represent Sect Master Yu and the Profound Heaven Sect in this duel."

Shen Dingxiang shook his head in disdain as he turned towards Yu Weiyuan. "So you can not even find someone to face this Young Master in your very own sect, Sect Master Yu? How disappointing."

"Are words your only weapon, Young Master Shen?" Li Moxue asked, her voice flat. "It lets one think you may be lacking in other areas..."

"How dare?!" Shen Dingxiang blushed in anger in response to her implications, as he ragingly clenched his fist.

"Fine!!! I will indulge Eldest Daughter and let her recognize this Young Master's peerless alchemy!!!"

Li Moxue only nodded in response.

Both them, followed by their respective companions, walked through the Pill Fire Street until they reached a large plaza centered by an elevated platform.

On the platform, a cultivator stood before a flaming cauldron, medicinal essence flowing within, slowly aggregating to take the shape of a pill under the influence of the hand seals the cultivator made.

Shen Dingxiang jumped on the platform, still irritated by Li Moxue's earlier words. "Scram for this Young Master!!!"

BOOM!

Because of Shen Dingxiang shout, the cultivator was disturbed and a small explosion occured within the his cauldron, making the pill refinement fail and damaging the cauldron.

He turned his head with anger towards Shen Dingxiang but this anger turned into fawning as soon as he saw his face, cold sweat falling from his own brows.

"Of course, of course, Young Master Shen, this platform is yours to take."

He quickly left, his back somewhat desolate as he looked at the damage his cauldron had taken.

Shen Dingxiang ignored him as he turned back towards Li Moxue. "This Young Master will refine a pill first and let you fall to despair as you look at my immaculate skills!"

But Li Moxue had no care for his provocation. "What are the rules?"

"Rules?" Shen Dingxiang lowered his head as he fell into thought, rising it soon enough as soon as he found an idea. "Let us refine the easiest Profound-Rank Pill, the Qi Resplenishment Pill."

"The one who can refine the Pill with the highest quality wins the duel."

Pills were tonics for cultivators created out of spiritual plants through the art of Alchemy.

They were divided into five ranks, depending on the power of their effects, their efficacy, and the difficulty of their refinement: Profound, Earth, Sky, Heaven and Immortal.

But a completed pill has different grades of quality depending on their percentage of impurities: Low-Grade, Middle- Grade, High-Grade, Peak-Grade, and Perfect-Grade.

Low-Grade Pills have 40% or lower impurities.

Middle-Grade Pills have 30% or lower impurities.

High-Grade Pills have 20% or lower impurities.

Peak-Grade Pills have 10% or lower impurities.

And finally, Perfect-Grade Pills have 0% impurities.

Within the alchemist community, it is said that 'To be able to refine a pill of high rank is a testament of strength while refining a pill of high quality is a testament of skill'.

Thus, when Li Moxue heard Shen Dingxiang's rules, she agreed. Because between two alchemists, the better and most respected way of competing is through the evaluation of one's skills rather than through their realm of attainment.

"Three Yin Princess Li Moxue, I will show you the immensity of Heaven and Earth!!!" The Spatial Ring on his ring finger flashed and a golden cauldron with engravings of mighty Qilins running upon its surface appeared before him.

Attracted by the movement, some bystanders started to spectate and comment upon the happenings.

"Young Master Shen will show off his skills today!"

"It is said that he is an Earth-Rank Alchemist, soon to be Sky-Rank already..."

"Look at his cauldron, This is the Sky-Rank Artefact Soaring Qilin Cauldron!!!"

"How I dream of having someone as rich as the Market Head as a father... How could he afford such a great cauldron otherwise?"

Shen Dingxiang's earlier arrogant appearance completely disappeared, replaced by complete seriousness as he prepared his refinement.

He took out a set of spiritual herbs from his Spatial Ring and laid them out next to his cauldron before he said:

"Let us start!"