Chapter 268 No pebbles, bro.

The eighth day of the month.

Holy Pill City, East District, Holy Pill Square.

This square was usually a place where Alchemist Disciples from the Pill Tower would spar with Dou Techniques and exchange Alchemy insights, but today it was packed to the point that not even a drop of water could trickle through.

Two temporary Alchemy platforms had been set up in the center of the square, thirty feet apart, fully equipped with cauldrons, medicinal ingredients, and fire sources.

The platforms were surrounded by layers upon layers of people.

There were Alchemists from the Pill Tower, scions of various Families, Loose Cultivators who had rushed over upon hearing the news, and even a few figures wearing bamboo hats with obscure auras—no one knew which power's spies they were.

On the outskirts of the crowd, the private rooms on the second floors of the tea houses and restaurants had long been fully booked, their windows wide open as gaze after gaze was cast toward the center of the square.

“They're here, they're here!”

A commotion broke out among the crowd.

At the eastern entrance of the square, a group of people approached slowly.

Leading them was Cao Xiu.

Today, he wore a dark cyan robe, and the Seventh-Rank Alchemist badge on his chest shimmered brilliantly under the sunlight.

Behind him followed seven or eight young members of the Cao Family, each holding their heads high with a touch of arrogance in their eyes as they scanned the onlookers.

“Young Revered Master Cao Xiu is here!”

“I heard he’s been traveling abroad for many years, specializing in the Dao of same-rank Medicinal Pills. He came back this time specifically to compete with Shen Wen.”

“Tsk tsk, there’s a good show to watch.”

Cao Xiu’s steps were steady and his expression calm, turning a deaf ear to the surrounding discussions. He stopped in front of the eastern Alchemy platform, his gaze sweeping over the empty platform opposite him as the corners of his mouth curled slightly.

“Shen Wen hasn't arrived yet?” he asked someone behind him.

“Replying to Young Revered Master, there's no sign of him yet.”

Cao Xiu smiled and said no more, simply standing with his hands behind his back, waiting quietly.

Time passed minute by minute.

The sun gradually rose higher.

Whispers began to emerge from the crowd of onlookers.

“It’s almost the Hour of Si, why hasn’t Shen Wen arrived yet?”

“Could he really be afraid?”

“Afraid of what? He’s a Grade 8 Alchemist, while Cao Xiu is only Seventh-Rank. Why would he fear him?”

“You can’t put it like that. They aren't comparing rank, but same-rank pills. Cao Xiu has specialized in this path for many years. Shen Wen is young; he might not necessarily win for sure.”

“Even so, it shouldn't be to the point of not daring to show up...”

The discussions grew louder, gradually turning into a noisy hum.

In the crowd, several figures dressed in gray robes glanced at each other, imperceptible smiles appearing at the corners of their mouths.

They were people sent by the Bai Family and the Qiu Family.

For the past half-month, these two families had been fanning the flames in the shadows, hyping up this competition until it was the talk of the town.

The more extreme the public opinion, the better—all for when Shen Wen lost.

Even if he just didn't win 'beautifully enough.'

They would have plenty of material to work with.

As for whether Shen Wen would lose?

The original words of the Bai Family Elder were:

No matter how mediocre Cao Xiu might be, he is still a Seventh-Rank Intermediate who has specialized in same-rank pills for many years.

No matter how formidable Shen Wen is, he became famous for high-rank pills.

In a same-rank competition, the outcome is unpredictable.

Even if he wins, we must make sure his victory is unpleasant.

Just as the public fervor was about to reach its peak—

At the western entrance of the square, a figure in black robes stepped down the stairs.

Shen Wen.

He didn't bring anyone with him; he was alone, his pace leisurely and his expression calm, as if he were merely attending an ordinary appointment.

The originally noisy square fell silent instantly.

Everyone's eyes fell upon him.

Shen Wen acted as if these gazes were invisible, walking straight to the western Alchemy platform. His gaze crossed the thirty-foot distance and landed on Cao Xiu's face.

Cao Xiu was also looking at him.

As their eyes met, it felt as if sparks were flying in the air.

“Grandmaster Shen sure puts on a grand air,” Cao Xiu was the first to speak, his voice not loud but clearly reaching everyone's ears. “Making a lowly Seventh-Rank like me wait for half an hour.”

Shen Wen glanced at him and spoke in a flat tone: “Young Revered Master Cao arriving early is your own business. The agreed time was the Hour of Si, and I am not late.”

Hearing this, a sarcastic arc curled on Cao Xiu's lips: “Grandmaster Shen is right. I’m just a bit curious. ”

“For Grandmaster Shen to reach Grade 8 at the age of twenty, your talent must be extraordinary.”

“I just wonder, how much of this talent is your own, and how much relies on that Old Ancestor Lin of the Little Pill Tower?”

The moment these words were spoken, the square fell silent once more.

This was spoken far too bluntly.

You, Shen Wen, were only able to become a Grade 8 because you took a good Revered Master.

In the crowd, the several gray-robed men looked at each other, excitement showing in their eyes.

Here it comes, the good show is starting.

Hearing this, Shen Wen’s face showed no expression, he only slightly raised an eyebrow.

He looked at Cao Xiu and suddenly asked, “Is the Old Ancestor Lin that Young Revered Master Cao mentioned a Grade 8 Alchemist?”

Cao Xiu was taken aback, not knowing why he was asking this, but he still replied, “Naturally.”

Shen Wen nodded and asked again, “Then do you know how many years Old Ancestor Lin has been immersed in the Grade 8 Realm?”

Cao Xiu’s brow furrowed slightly, and he did not speak.

Shen Wen continued, “Old Ancestor Lin is Grade 8, my Revered Master is Grade 8. Your grandfather, Cao Tianxiong, is also Grade 8.”

He paused, his gaze looking directly at Cao Xiu, his tone as flat as if he were saying the weather was nice today:

“So, what Young Revered Master Cao means is...”

“Being a personal Disciple of a Grade 8 Alchemist means relying on background?”

“Then may I ask, Young Revered Master Cao, your grandfather has taught you for so many years, so why are you still only Seventh-Rank?”

Cao Xiu’s face instantly turned red.

He opened his mouth, but found he couldn't counter those words at all.

Cao Tianxiong was his biological grandfather and also a Grade 8 Alchemist. If one were to talk about relying on background, he himself was the biggest 'beneficiary of background.'

Shen Wen’s question directly roasted him over the fire.

A few suppressed snickers sounded from the crowd.

The expressions of the Cao Family Disciples behind Cao Xiu also became quite colorful.

Seeing him like this, Shen Wen suddenly shook his head. His gaze swept over the smooth bluestone ground of the square and then fell back onto Cao Xiu's face.

“Young Revered Master Cao, do you know why this Alchemy Square is so flat?”

Cao Xiu was stunned again.

What kind of question was this?

He subconsciously followed Shen Wen’s gaze to the ground, then looked back up at Shen Wen, his eyes full of confusion.

The corners of Shen Wen’s mouth curled slightly, revealing a half-smile:

“Because there are No Stone Grains, brother.”

As the words fell, the square was silent for a moment.

Then—

“Pfft—”

Someone couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.

Immediately after, the laughter spread like a plague, rising one after another, impossible to suppress.

“No Stone Grains... no strength... Hahahahaha!”

“Holy crap, Grandmaster Shen’s mouth...”

“I’m impressed, I’m truly impressed!”

In the crowd, those onlookers who were originally watching the show were now doubled over with laughter.

The gray-robed men looked at each other, the excitement on their faces frozen, not knowing how to react for a moment.

Cao Xiu’s face turned from red to green, from green to white, and finally flushed the color of pig liver.

He stared fixedly at Shen Wen, his chest heaving violently and his fingers trembling slightly, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Shen Wen withdrew his gaze and added a sentence in a flat tone:

“When your own talent is poor, you blame your background. Young Revered Master Cao, with this mindset of yours, let alone Seventh-Rank, I’d even find Sixth-Rank to be too much for you.”

“You—!”

Cao Xiu suddenly took a step forward, but found he had no way to refute it.

What could he say?

Say that Shen Wen was insulting him?

But every sentence Shen Wen said was the truth.

Say that Shen Wen was going too far?

But clearly, he was the one who started it.

A breath was stuck in his chest, neither going up nor down, making his eyes turn red with frustration.

Behind him, a Cao Family Disciple whispered a warning: “Young Revered Master, don’t get into a war of words with him...”

Cao Xiu took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his churning emotions, and said coldly:

“Glib-tongued.”

He flicked his sleeve, turned, and walked toward the Alchemy platform. “Let the results speak for themselves!”