Ch. 1116 - Doubt & Trial

“I…” Green Cloud opened his mouth. It felt as if countless words surged within him, but when they reached his lips, he couldn’t say a thing.

He had always believed that Pill Tribulation existed to destroy pills.

Now, with Xu Zimo’s words, that belief was shattered, told instead that Pill Tribulation was a baptism for pills. His thoughts tangled into a chaotic knot.

Watching Xu Zimo’s departing figure, Green Cloud felt that back was incomparably grand, like the setting sun stretching a shadow infinitely long.

“Referee, aren’t you going to announce the verdict?” Xu Zimo asked, looking at the Alchemy Sage.

“Ah… oh, oh!” The Alchemy Sage snapped back to reality, hurrying forward.

Ghost Buddha and Progenitor Thousand-Slaughters quickly followed, and people from the Buddha and Demon factions crowded around.

The Alchemy Sage examined the results carefully. The other contestants had produced eighth-grade pills, which he dismissed immediately.

He looked at Green Cloud’s pill and declared, “Ninth-grade pill, Nine Ghost Soul-Devouring Pill.”

Then he stepped before Xu Zimo. He reached out to take the pill, but it resisted his hand, pushing him away.

Xu Zimo flicked his finger lightly, sending the pill into the elder’s palm.

The Alchemy Sage carefully cradled it before his eyes, scrutinizing every detail.

“Elder, make sure you examine it properly,” Ghost Buddha pressed. “Is it truly a Pseudo-Imperial Pill, or merely a ninth-grade pill?”

“In all my years of pill appraisal, I have never once been wrong,” the Alchemy Sage replied calmly.

The pill in his hands was flawless, like crystalline amber, yet within it flowed countless strange visions. The pill had spirit. Its aura surged like a river, immortal essence drifted like endless smoke.

“It is indeed a Pseudo-Imperial Pill,” the Alchemy Sage nodded. He turned to Xu Zimo. “May I ask, young friend, was the method you used from the Primordial Alchemy God-Scripture?”

“You’ve got some eye for detail,” Xu Zimo nodded.

“It was your prologue that awakened me,” the elder admitted, shaking his head. “Could you tell me, what is your connection to the Wang God-Clan?”

The Wang God-Clan was one of the Ten Primordial Bloodlines, the ones who held the Primordial Alchemy God-Scripture.

“If I don’t say, don’t bother asking,” Xu Zimo smiled.

The elder inclined his head. Since Xu Zimo didn’t want to answer, he wouldn’t pry.

“In that case, this match has no suspense left. The winner is...”

“Wait!” The elder’s words were cut off.

Ghost Buddha stepped forward.

“I have an objection.”

“What are you trying to do?” Progenitor Thousand-Slaughters frowned.

“He refined some so-called Immortal Dragon Pill, but who knows if it actually works? I’ve never even heard of it,” Ghost Buddha said coldly.

“Are you questioning my judgment?” the Alchemy Sage turned his gaze on him.

“No, no, don’t misunderstand,” Ghost Buddha waved quickly. “I simply mean, I don’t understand what effects this pill has.”

“The Nine-Lives Immortal Dragon Pill,” Xu Zimo lifted the pill with a smile. “As its name suggests, it can transform into a Dragon God, that is its external use. Internally, if consumed, it grants nine lives.”

“Nine lives?” Ghost Buddha chuckled mockingly.

“What a joke.”

“Just because you haven’t seen it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Don’t use your shallow vision to judge all things under heaven,” Xu Zimo replied flatly.

“These nine lives refer to unnatural deaths. If one dies of old age, not even nine lives can save them.”

“I don’t believe it, unless you prove it,” Ghost Buddha pressed stubbornly.

“Then take the pill yourself. I’ll kill you nine times. Want to try it?” Xu Zimo asked.

“I’ll have a disciple test it,” Ghost Buddha said.

He waved, and a young man in golden kasaya strode forward.

The youth offered a Buddhist salute, then said, “Disciple is willing to test the pill.”

“This is a Pseudo-Imperial Pill, something unseen for a thousand years in the Mortal Ascension Heaven! Fool, you’d waste it like this?!” the Alchemy Sage barked angrily.

“If he doesn’t test it, how can we prove its effects?” Ghost Buddha countered. “This so-called Nine-Lives Immortal Dragon Pill, I’ve never once heard of it.”

“Let him test it,” Xu Zimo waved casually. “It’s just a pill. I can make more anytime. Seems the Brahma Monarch God Realm has fallen so far, they’ve never even heard of a Pseudo-Imperial Pill.”

He handed the pill to the kasaya youth.

The youth swallowed it in one gulp. Instantly, immortal qi surged from his body, and a dragon’s shadow shimmered faintly at his brow.

“How does it feel?” Ghost Buddha asked.

The youth shook his head slightly.

“Try it,” Xu Zimo said.

Ghost Buddha frowned, then struck out with his palm. His force was fierce, directly obliterating the youth in one blow.

But before his soul could disperse, a celestial dragon coiled down, seizing his soul, forcing it back into his body.

Immortal essence surged, filling the area.

The youth’s body floated into the air.

A moment later, his eyes snapped open, confused, yet alive again.

Ghost Buddha’s face darkened.

“Still want to test further?” Xu Zimo asked.

“One time means nothing,” Ghost Buddha snorted.

He struck again.

The result was the same.

Again, and again, he killed the youth two times, three times… up to nine times.

Even then, he raised his sword to strike once more.

“Enough, Ghost Buddha,” the blue-robed youth, the silent leader of the Buddha Faction delegation, finally spoke.

“Do you mean to kill him?”

Ghost Buddha snapped out of his frenzy, sweat pouring down his face.

“Forgive me, Lord Cheng,” he said hurriedly.

The youth waved a hand.

“Losing a contest isn’t the end. Win it back three years from now. Don’t ruin yourself over this.”

“I understand,” Ghost Buddha nodded, still shaken.

He had overseen this Myriad Alchemy Gathering, and could not accept defeat so easily.

The blue-robed youth turned to Xu Zimo, smiling.

“I am Cheng of the Buddha Faction. A pleasure to meet you.”

“Xu Zimo,” Xu Zimo nodded lightly.

“I know. We’ll meet again,” Cheng said with a faint smile, then departed with Ghost Buddha and the Buddha Faction retinue.

Watching him leave, Xu Zimo frowned slightly.

That one had the air of a smiling tiger.

“Don’t worry. With our Demon Faction here, they won’t dare act recklessly,” Progenitor Thousand-Slaughters said cheerfully. His mood was excellent.

“Just remember our agreement,” Xu Zimo reminded him.

“Rest assured. Tomorrow, I’ll arrange for you to enter Heaven's End, Ocean's Edge,” Progenitor Thousand-Slaughters replied.

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