CHAPTER 308: CHAPTER 308: CHALLENGE_1

HUH!

The two men and the wolf were astonished. Elder Lv had just left, and Shao Hong was already starting to cause trouble. It seems this was premeditated!

Qin Feiyang chuckled. "Let’s go. If someone’s asking for a beating, we shouldn’t hold back."

CLANG!

Stone doors lining both sides of the corridor ahead began to open one after another, and disciples in white robes emerged.

One of them grabbed Qin Feiyang’s arm. "Brother, could you tell me who Qin Feiyang is?"

Qin Feiyang smiled. "That would be me."

"You?" The disciples looked at him with instant doubt.

"Brother, where are you going?" one asked.

"Seeing you’re a newcomer, I’ll give you some friendly advice: it’s better not to go."

"Shao Hong is not to be trifled with. You should hide in your Alchemy Room."

"That’s right! As long as you don’t leave your Alchemy Room, he can’t do anything to you."

People crowded around, trying to dissuade him.

"Thank you for your concern," Qin Feiyang said with a smile. "If you aren’t busy, why don’t you come with me and enjoy the show?"

"Why won’t he listen to advice?"

"Forget it, let him be!"

"A newborn calf doesn’t fear the tiger, as they say. He’ll regret it soon enough."

"Let’s follow and see what happens."

Disciples from the first to the ninth floors had mostly come out, crowding the corridors around the central courtyard and discussing animatedly.

Meanwhile, 「On the tenth floor!」

Besides Alchemy Room Number One, six other Alchemy Rooms opened, and six young men and women emerged.

"Shao Hong, Dong Cheng, you two are truly shameless, bullying a newcomer again," one of the six said as they approached. There was a hint of contempt in their voices, yet their faces were all smiles, as if they were thrilled to see a new disciple being bullied.

Shao Hong replied, "Aren’t you aware? That ’fool’ has Level Ten spiritual power."

"What?"

"Level Ten spiritual power!"

The six were aghast.

Shao Hong shook his head. "It seems your information is outdated."

Dong Cheng smirked. "As long as he stays here, one of you will have to leave the tenth floor sooner or later."

The expressions of the six turned somber, a chill creeping onto their faces.

In the Holy Temple, there was one person with Level Eleven spiritual power: Murong Jing. There were three with Level Ten spiritual power: Lu Ziyuan, Shao Hong, and Dong Cheng. However, ten people possessed Ninth Level spiritual power, and these six were among them. For them to hold positions on the tenth floor meant they were the best of those ten.

With Qin Feiyang’s arrival, however, one of them was destined to leave the tenth floor—an outcome none of them desired. The tenth floor didn’t just represent a higher quality of Elixir Fire; it was also a symbol of status. Anyone who could stand on the tenth floor was among the top alchemists in the Elixir Palace. It was an ultimate honor, and honor was not to be trifled with!

Therefore, all six began to harbor a deep resentment for Qin Feiyang.

"It’s him!"

"He’s Qin Feiyang!"

"Level Ten spiritual power!"

"So young! He can’t be more than seventeen or eighteen!"

A commotion arose among the disciples on the nine floors below.

The six from the tenth floor looked down to see two people and a wolf emerge from a corridor and stand at the base of the courtyard.

"Is that them?" the six asked, looking towards Shao Hong and Dong Cheng.

"Yes," the pair nodded. They stood like arrogant emperors, looking down on Qin Feiyang from their perch.

At the same time, Qin Feiyang looked up. As their gazes met, invisible sparks flew.

Dong Cheng said, "Qin Feiyang, kneel immediately! Loudly tell everyone you’re our follower, and we’ll let you go."

Qin Feiyang smirked. "And what if I refuse?"

Dong Cheng sneered, "If you dare to say no, you’ll find it impossible to take a single step in the Elixir Palace!"

Shao Hong added, "That’s right! With just a word from us, every disciple in the Elixir Palace will become your enemy. The spit from each one of them alone would be enough to drown you!"

Qin Feiyang chuckled. "You certainly think highly of yourselves."

Shao Hong scoffed, "Good that you realize it. Now hurry up; don’t waste my time."

And who do they think they are? The two men and the wolf exchanged a glance, a trace of mockery in their eyes.

WHOOSH!

They leaped simultaneously, landing on the tenth floor in just a few bounds.

"How dare you barge onto the tenth floor?"

"Don’t you know the Elixir Palace’s rules?"

"Get down from here!" the six disciples yelled.

Qin Feiyang paused, then asked the wolf, "What rule?"

"The rule is you have to challenge them and win to earn the right to stand here," the wolf explained.

"I see!" Qin Feiyang smiled, then looked at Shao Hong and Dong Cheng. "Where is Lu Ziyuan?"

"Do you think you’re qualified to ask about him?" the two retorted with disdain.

Even asking about him requires qualification? Qin Feiyang touched his nose, looked at Shao Hong and Dong Cheng, and said with a smile, "Well then, it’ll have to be you two. Who wants to compete with me in alchemy?"

These words immediately stirred a huge commotion, throwing the entire Elixir Fire Palace into an uproar.

"What?" Shao Hong and Dong Cheng exclaimed, equally astonished. Each pointed at their own nose as they stared at Qin Feiyang. "You want to challenge *us*?"

Qin Feiyang asked, "Is that not acceptable?"

"Haha..." they burst out laughing. "Compete with *us* in alchemy? That’s hilarious!"

"Qin Feiyang, oh, Qin Feiyang, you really are a fool! Don’t you ever look in the mirror to see what you’re really made of?"

"How pitiful! How sad! Do you really think having Level Ten spiritual power means you can concoct elixirs superior to ours?"

"Let me tell you, don’t be so naive. We are experienced alchemists, not some novice rookie you can compare yourself to!"

Their laughter was hearty, their expressions filled with contempt.

Qin Feiyang smiled faintly. "Is that so? Well then, let’s have some fun."

"Alright," Shao Hong sneered. "If you want to play, we’ll play with you. But if you lose, you’ll have to kneel before us and kowtow. And from now on, whenever you see us, you must call us ’Grandpa.’ Do you dare?"

Lu Hong asked, "And what if you two lose?"

Shao Hong looked down at the crowd on the floors below and laughed. "Tell him, everyone! Will Dong Cheng and I lose?"

"NO!" everyone roared in unison.

Go ahead and be arrogant, Lu Hong murmured to herself. The more arrogant you are, the more humiliating your fall will be.

Shao Hong looked triumphantly at Qin Feiyang. "If we lose, we’ll call you Grandpa!"

The Wolf King chuckled. "That’s not interesting enough. Let’s add another condition: the loser must crawl between the winner’s legs."

"That works!"

"Senior Brother Shao Hong, Senior Brother Dong Cheng, we support you!" the crowd below roared.

Initially, Shao Hong and Dong Cheng looked slightly angered by the wolf’s suggestion. But upon hearing the supportive cheers, bright smiles immediately spread across their faces, and they nodded in agreement without hesitation.

Shao Hong looked down and said, "Someone go invite the two Steward Elders here. We need witnesses so they can’t deny their defeat later."

"I’ll go!" A skinny disciple quickly ran out.

Before long, the two middle-aged men who had been guarding the main door strode in.

WHOOSH!

Seeing the commotion, both frowned before leaping up and instantly landing on the tenth floor.

"Are you sure about this?" one of the Steward Elders asked Qin Feiyang.

Qin Feiyang nodded.

The two men exchanged a deep look, then nodded at him. "Alright, we will serve as witnesses."

Shao Hong grinned. "Qin Feiyang, let’s refine Battle Intent Pills!"

"Sorry," Qin Feiyang said. "I don’t know how to refine Battle Intent Pills at the moment." He had the Elixir Formula in the Elixir Scripture but hadn’t studied it carefully yet.

"You don’t?" Shao Hong was stunned, then burst out laughing. "You don’t even know how to refine Battle Intent Pills? What are you going to compete against us with?"

Qin Feiyang smiled. "Let’s refine Lifespan Extension Pills then. I believe you both know how to make those."

"Haha..." Dong Cheng laughed heartily. "Lifespan Extension Pills are of a higher grade than Battle Intent Pills. Do *you* know how to make them?" This guy is adorably foolish!

Qin Feiyang smiled faintly. "We’ll find out by trying, won’t we?"

Shao Hong declared, "Alright, I’ll let you witness firsthand what a genius’s Alchemy Room is truly like!"

Dong Cheng added, "I have no objections."

"Since none of you have objections, prepare the medicinal ingredients quickly," one of the Steward Elders announced. "If anyone ruins their medicinal ingredients, it will be considered a loss. Any objections?"

"No," Shao Hong and Dong Cheng replied, shaking their heads.

"I do," Qin Feiyang said. "If I win against both of them, do both their Alchemy Rooms belong to me?"

One of the Steward Elders responded, "In theory, yes. But you’re alone. What would you do with two Alchemy Rooms? Isn’t that a waste of one?"

"Who said I’m alone?" Qin Feiyang countered. "Isn’t Lu Hong right here beside me? She’s an alchemist too."

Lu Hong whispered, "Is that really necessary?"

"Don’t worry about it." Qin Feiyang glanced at her, then turned back to Shao Hong and Dong Cheng. "So, if I win, you both have to give up your Alchemy Rooms, correct?"

"Only if you have the ability," the two sneered.

Qin Feiyang smiled. "Alright then, you two can start. I’d like to take this opportunity to observe."

Observe? Shao Hong and Dong Cheng exchanged a look, their suspicion growing stronger that this man was merely bluffing. In reality, he probably doesn’t even know how to refine Lifespan Extension Pills at all.

"Fine," Shao Hong said, flicking his sleeve. "I’ll give you a chance to observe." He then walked into Alchemy Room Number Three with Dong Cheng.

Qin Feiyang, Lu Hong, and the wolf, along with the two Steward Elders, also followed them inside.

Now this is a place fit for people to stay! Seeing the luxurious Alchemy Room, the eyes of Qin Feiyang, Lu Hong, and the wolf filled with a hint of longing.

"Enjoy the view while you can," Shao Hong sneered. "Because soon, you’ll be rolling back to the first floor." He then turned to Dong Cheng. "I remember you have a set of medicinal ingredients on you, don’t you?"

"Yes, I do," Dong Cheng replied.

"Then you start refining first," Shao Hong said. "I’ll go to the Resource Hall to buy more ingredients. I’ll be back soon."

"Alright," Dong Cheng nodded.

Shao Hong looked at Qin Feiyang and sneered, "Do you have any medicinal ingredients? I bet you don’t. I suspect you don’t even know what ingredients are needed for Lifespan Extension Pills, do you? Kid, you’re going to lose miserably if you try to challenge us."

With a loud laugh, Shao Hong turned and strode away.

The six young men and women with Ninth Level spiritual power also entered the Alchemy Room, their eyes fixed on Qin Feiyang with open hostility.

Dong Cheng looked at the two Steward Elders. "Elders, please keep a close watch and ensure certain people don’t disturb my alchemy."

The two nodded.

Then, Dong Cheng walked over to the refining station inside the Alchemy Room, took out a set of medicinal ingredients, and placed them on the stone platform. After taking a moment to calm his mind, he ignited his Elixir Fire and began to refine the Spiritual Liquid in an unhurried, orderly manner.