"Here are ten Mortal Great Restoration Pills. Nine contain fire toxins. In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, if you can identify the one without toxins, you pass," came the voice from the void.
Xiao Yicfeng scanned the pills. Some low - quality pills with fire toxins might show black spots on the surface. But now, he saw no abnormalities.
He realized this was a trap set by Fang Qingzhi's mysterious senior. These pills were likely carefully disguised; ordinary people wouldn't see through them.
But was he ordinary?
A sneer curled Xiao Yicfeng's lips. Born with a Wood - attribute spiritual root, among the best for alchemy, he was highly attuned to spiritual herbs. For simple pills, he could smell ingredients and detect toxins with ease.
His taste was even sharper. He could spot toxins that even some Soul Transformation cultivators might miss.
"What if I can detect the toxin?" he asked the void behind Fang Qingzhi, neither humble nor arrogant. Today, he would stand up for Yun Zimo, Zhang Hanshao, and his junior sister, reclaiming honor for Chixiao Peak!
"Pass, and I'll let bygones be bygones regarding Qingzhi," the voice replied.
Xiao Yicfeng wanted to ask the senior's relationship to Fang Qingzhi, but wisdom held his tongue.
He bowed respectfully, yet with a steely edge: "If I identify the toxin, I ask you to heal my third and fourth senior brothers and intercede with Sect Leader Wu to lift the punishment on my third brother."
Wu Duan Tian's face twitched. Was Xiao Yicfeng courting death by bargaining with a mysterious powerhouse? Qingxuan Taoist, however, stroked his beard with approval. He trusted Xiao Yicfeng and was pleased with his performance.
This was the disciple he had trained.
Chen Ping An checked his phone, eyeing the probability of Xiao Yicfeng finding a normal pill.
Zero percent.
The game's assessment left him speechless and amused. Was Xiao Yicfeng courting doom? Had he lost his mind?
But if that was the case, so be it. Chen Ping An pressed the sound - transmitting talisman: "Fine, I'll give you three chances. If you fail, swallow all ten pills!"
On Qingyun Sect's square, all eyes were on the void, awaiting the mysterious cultivator's response.
Xiao Yicfeng appeared brave but was inwardly anxious. He could only hope the cultivator wouldn't mind his insolence.
"Agreed," came the reply.
"You have three chances. Fail, and you eat all the pills," the voice stated.
Xiao Yicfeng exhaled, relief washing over him. "Generous senior, I'll keep my word!"
He approached the brocade box, confidence oozing from him.
First, he smelled each pill, his nonchalance turning to seriousness. The olfactory information suggested the pills were identical in firing, structure, ingredient quantity, and age—like perfect copies.
But was this true?
What level of alchemy could achieve this?
Xiao Yicfeng's heart raced, sweat beading on his temples.
"Will Xiao Yicfeng make it?" Wu Duan Tian asked Qingxuan Taoist.
"Rest assured," Qingxuan replied with a dismissive snort. "My disciple has an innate Wood spiritual root. Testing him this way is futile!"
Wu Duan Tian nodded, recalling Xiao Yicfeng had initially sought to join his peak but was poached by Qingxuan Taoist.
Lu Changtian, hearing this, breathed easier.
If Xiao Yicfeng ingested all nine toxic pills, even if he didn't collapse on the spot, his cultivation would be half - ruined without proper rest and recovery.
"This old monster is truly malicious!" Lu Changtian glared at the void behind Fang Qingzhi. "Following such a malicious person, Fang Qingzhi might as well be a demon cultivator despite any future achievements."
Mu Bai Shuang, hidden behind Lu Changtian, rolled her eyes but held her tongue.
They likely hadn't seen a real demon cultivator. Unlike them, demon cultivators didn't bother with reason. If forced to, these ten pills would all be lethal!
Time ticked by.
Xiao Yicfeng moved beyond smelling the pills. He began tasting each one and scraping off bits to examine the cross - sections. His face grew paler, his eyes more confused.
"Aromatic time's up. Have you chosen?" a voice suddenly intoned.
Xiao Yicfeng froze, his throat bobbing.
His gaze locked onto one pill, his resolve hardening.
"I've chosen. This one!"