Druid Fairy

Chapter 191 Death Pill Battle

The atmosphere in the capital has become somewhat delicate in the past few days.

Ordinary people continued with their lives as usual, but their topics of conversation quietly shifted to the upcoming visit of the Great Qian Dynasty delegation.

Just when everything was going smoothly and peacefully, the bullying neighbor next door suddenly showed up with a smile, carrying gifts, saying he wanted to "have a little sparring" with your child.

Everyone knows that this "sparring" is a pretense; the real purpose is to humiliate them.

"Tsk tsk, look at that guy riding the red-haired monster, his chin is practically pointing to the sky. If you didn't know better, you'd think he was here to ascend the throne."

On the city tower, Han Youwei, who was in charge of "accompanying the audience to observe the ceremony," leaned close to Li Mengjin's ear and whispered, "And that big oaf carrying a spiked club, acting like he's afraid people won't know how strong he is. Do you think he has to carry that thing to the outhouse too?"

Li Mengjin's gaze, however, fell on the white-robed alchemist, Sikong Jin.

He could sense that the man possessed a herbal aura similar to, yet distinctly different from, that of his elder brother, Li Mengze. However, while Li Mengze's aura was gentle and peaceful, this man's aura was filled with domineering and aggressive power.

Besides the Great Qian Dynasty, this "Immortal Martial Arts Exchange" also attracted the attention of many other forces. Under the guise of "observation and learning," they actually wanted to see for themselves the true strengths and weaknesses of the two dynasties.

On the other side of the crowd, a caravan from the "Ancient Kingdom of Jinsha" stood out conspicuously.

They were all adorned with jewels, and leading them was Sha Qianli, the most beloved youngest son of the King of Jinsha, known as the "Smiling Buddha." Sha Qianli was fair-skinned and chubby, with a kind and honest smile that seemed to bring him good fortune, but his small, slit-like eyes always gleamed with a calculating glint.

"Interesting, really interesting."

Sha Qianli waved a pure gold folding fan and said with a smile to the guard beside him, "The Great Yu and Great Qian have been fighting for several years. Everyone knows they don't have much of a foundation left, yet they still have the leisure to put on this show. Don't you think they're like two fighting roosters who have almost lost all their feathers but still insist on showing off their most vibrant plumage to others?"

The guards dared not speak, but Sha Qianli chuckled to himself: "However, the fiercer they fight, the better our business will be. Pass down the order, let our men seize the opportunity, the prices of the pills of Da Yu and the weapons of Da Qian... it's time to make a move."

In an inconspicuous corner, there was an even more peculiar group of people. They were the Baiyue people from the "Ten Thousand Poison Swamp" in the far south. Leading them was an old priest dressed in colorful feathered robes, with strange totems painted on his face, and leaning on a wooden staff with a snake's head.

Behind the old priest followed a girl of about seventeen or eighteen years old, with healthy wheat-colored skin and a lithe figure like a cheetah.

A small, live, emerald-green snake was coiled around the girl's waist. Her wild eyes surveyed the bustling scene before her with a mixture of curiosity and disdain.

"Master, is this the capital of the Central Plains people? It looks... so fragile."

The girl pouted. "Their men have skin even whiter than the women in our tribe. Can people like that really fight?"

The old priest's withered lips moved, uttering a hoarse voice: "Aman, don't underestimate them. The people of the Central Plains are not good at using their fists, but at using their brains. Their schemes and tricks are more powerful than the most poisonous Gu worms in our swamp. Look at those two dynasties, they seem to be fighting, but in reality... they are holding a grand blood sacrifice in a way we can't understand. That's what we need to learn."

A chilling glint flashed in the old priest's cloudy eyes.

In an instant, various factions, each with their own ulterior motives, gathered in the capital.

What appeared to be a peaceful "exchange" was, under the turbulent atmosphere, like a powder keg about to be ignited.

…………

According to etiquette, the Dayu Dynasty was required to send officials to accompany guests from all sides on a tour of the capital, in order to demonstrate the grandeur of the Celestial Empire.

The person in charge of receiving us was an old vice minister from the Ministry of Rites, surnamed Qian, who was very particular about etiquette and extremely shrewd.

But today he's met his match.

"Lord Qian, is this the most bustling Zhuque Street in your Great Yu capital?"

Tuoba Xiong, carrying his precious spiked club, looked at the dazzling array of shops on both sides of the street with disdain. "The place is too filled with the smell of perfume and the sounds of decadent music. Staying here for too long will wear down the warriors' fighting spirit! We, the warriors of Daqian, would never stoop to visiting such a place!"

Minister Qian maintained a polite smile on his face, but inwardly he was cursing, "You uncivilized barbarian, what do you know about elegance!"

He patiently explained, "General Tuoba is joking. This is a scene of peace and prosperity. Our Great Yu values ​​civil administration, and the people live and work in peace and contentment, so it is naturally a peaceful and harmonious place."

"Peaceful? I think it's cowardice!" Tuoba Xiong sneered. He happened to see a patrol of the Imperial Guards passing by. The soldiers were all gleaming in their armor and stood tall, but they couldn't hide their pampered air.

"Look! Look at your soldiers from the Great Yu!"

Tuoba Xiong pointed with his spiked club, his voice so loud it could be heard halfway down the street, "They're all so delicate and soft, like women! These aren't wolves protecting the country, they're clearly a pack of caged lapdogs! I dare say, I could crush all three of them with one hand!"

These words are tantamount to a public slap in the face!
The captain of the Imperial Guard was so angry that his face turned a deep purplish-red, and his fists clenched so tightly they cracked, but he dared not retaliate because he was bound by military orders.

The surrounding people were even more enraged, glaring angrily at each other.

"That barbarian is too arrogant!"

"That's right! They've come to our doorstep and are causing trouble!"

Minister Qian broke out in a cold sweat and quickly tried to smooth things over: "General Tuoba is really joking, haha, just kidding..."

"I'm not joking!"

Tuoba Xiong slammed his spiked club heavily on the ground. With a loud "boom," a large crater was smashed into the hard bluestone pavement. "What? Is there not a single man in your Great Yu who dares to breathe? If anyone is not satisfied, step forward now and have a go at me!"

He looked around, and no one dared to meet his gaze.

This wasn't fear, but rather the oppression of class. What ordinary person would dare to fight a general from a foreign mission?

Upon seeing this, the Third Prince of the Great Qian Dynasty, Qian Tianyi, not only did not stop it, but instead curled up a playful smile on his lips, as if he were enjoying a good show.

Sikong Jin of Medicine King Valley stepped directly out of his carriage. He didn't even bother to look at the mortals, but instead turned his gaze to the most famous elixir shop in the capital—Bai Cao Tang—located on the street corner.

"Hehe, I've long heard that the Great Yu's alchemy is unparalleled in the world, but seeing it today, it's nothing special."

Sikong Jin's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a subtle yet penetrating power, "This Hundred Herbs Hall claims to be for royal use, but what's displayed at the entrance are nothing but second-rate, low-quality pills, not even worthy of carrying the shoes of my Medicine King Valley disciples. How dare they put such things up for sale?"

He casually picked up a Qi and Blood Pill, smelled it, then threw it on the ground like trash and crushed it with his toe.

"Too many impurities, improper preparation, and weak medicinal properties. Such inferior pills, if consumed by ordinary people, will at best cause disordered qi and blood, and at worst damage to the meridians. This is not saving lives, it is clearly harming them!"

This not only slapped the face of the military general, but also slapped the face of the alchemist!

The manager of Baicaotang was an elderly man in his sixties, trembling with rage. He pointed at Sikong Jin and shouted, "You...you dare to spout nonsense! The pills of Baicaotang are based on formulas personally improved by the chief alchemist of the palace, Lord Li Mengze. We are honest and trustworthy, and you, a mere child, are not allowed to slander us!" "Li Mengze?" Upon hearing this name, Sikong Jin's disdain deepened. "Oh, so he's the lucky guy who made a name for himself by relying on his sister's 'auspicious' reputation? I thought he was some kind of master, but he's just a nepotism operative. The pills he refines are just like him—showy but ineffective."

These words can be described as extremely malicious!

Minister Qian was almost in tears; the situation was completely out of control!

Just as he was about to swallow his pride and try to dissuade them, a clear voice rang out from behind the crowd.

"The general is right."

Everyone was taken aback by what they heard and turned around to look. They saw two young men walking out side by side.

One was a young swordsman with a cool and aloof demeanor, dressed in a moon-white brocade robe.

The other was a young alchemist dressed in a light blue official robe, with a gentle and refined demeanor.

The one who spoke was none other than the young alchemist, Li Mengze.

Beside him was a fat man, Han Youwei, who had just "stolen" some wine from home and was planning to drink with his brother Qing.

"Brother Li!" Han Youwei waved excitedly.

Li Mengze ignored him, walked to the center of the field, and smiled slightly at the astonished Tuoba Xiong.

"The soldiers of my Great Yu are loyal dogs protecting the lights of every household; to the outside world, they are vicious dogs tearing apart any invading enemy."

Li Mengze's voice was gentle, yet every word was clear: "Only those who have never seen a real battlefield would misunderstand 'peace' as 'cowardice'."

"What did you say?!" Tuoba Xiong's bull-like eyes widened. He hated it most when people said he had never been on the battlefield!

Li Mengze ignored him and continued, "A true beast knows how to restrain its claws and teeth. Only a wild dog on a chain will bite anyone it catches and bark incessantly, as if afraid others won't know how ferocious it is."

"puff!"

In the crowd, Sha Qianli, the "Smiling Buddha" of the ancient Jinsha Kingdom, spat out a mouthful of tea. He quickly wiped his mouth with a gold-threaded handkerchief, his squinting eyes filled with excitement at the prospect of a good show.

"Well said! Well said!" he thought to himself. "This alchemist from the Great Yu Dynasty is even more skilled with words than with his pills!"

"You're asking for it!" Tuoba Xiong's face flushed red with rage at those words; he felt like his lungs were about to explode. He was most skilled at reasoning with his fists; he had never been treated with such humiliation!
He swung his spiked club, about to smash it at Li Mengze.

But Li Mengjin only took one step forward, and an invisible sword intent, like a mountain, instantly locked onto Tuoba Xiong.

Tuoba Xiong's raised spiked club froze in mid-air for a moment.

He was horrified to discover that he seemed to be targeted by an ancient ferocious beast. If he dared to move, that seemingly ordinary iron sword would instantly pierce his throat!
What terrifying sword intent this is!

"Tuoba, step back."

The Third Prince, Qian Tianyi, who had been watching the show, finally spoke. He gave Li Mengjin a deep look, his heart filled with turmoil.

Is this young man the "Sword Immortal Li Jin" who broke through three levels and won first place in the intelligence report?
It really lives up to its reputation!

Tuoba Xiong reluctantly withdrew his spiked club, but his bull-like eyes remained fixed on Li Mengjin, filled with fierce fighting spirit.

A wave of unrest, a wave of up again.

Having dealt with the troublesome "martial" Tuoba Xiong, the "literary" challenger Sikong Jin stepped forward.

"You are Li Mengze?"

Sikong Jin looked Li Mengze up and down with his dead fish-like eyes, his tone full of contempt, "Your eloquent words just now were more interesting than the pills you refined."

Li Mengze turned around and smiled gently: "I dare not accept such praise. I was merely speaking the truth. On the contrary, you, as a master alchemist, wantonly trample on the possessions of your fellow practitioners. Such a heart is truly unworthy of the title of 'master alchemist'."

"Hmph, in the path of alchemy, those who have mastered it come first! The alchemy techniques of my Medicine King Valley are a hundred years ahead of your Great Yu! I am merely stating a fact!"

Sikong Jin said arrogantly, "If you are not convinced, do you dare to fight me in the street?"

This is the opportunity he has been waiting for!
He wanted to crush this so-called "genius alchemist" who had been touted as a genius by the Great Yu Dynasty right under everyone's feet in the world of alchemy!

"Brother Li, don't agree to him! That bastard is clearly up to no good!" Han Youwei hurriedly advised.

Li Mengze waved his hand, looking at Sikong Jin with his usual nonchalant expression: "Compare? How? Is it a competition of who has the loudest voice, or a competition of who can better distort the truth?"

"You!" Sikong Jin was speechless with anger.

"Oh, I see." Li Mengze suddenly realized, "You want to compete in alchemy?"

He shook his head. "That won't work either."

"Why not? Are you afraid?" Sikong Jin sneered.

"No."

Li Mengze sighed and looked at him with an expression as if he were an idiot. "Comparing myself to you in alchemy would only lower my status. The way of alchemy is to save lives and heal the sick, to help the world. But your way of alchemy is nothing more than a tool for competing and showing off. Our paths are different, so we cannot work together."

These words are absolutely scathing!

They directly belittled the other party's "way" to the point of being worthless!
Sikong Jin's already pale face instantly turned a deep purplish-red.

He prides himself on being a genius; he has never suffered such humiliation before!

"Fine! What a sharp-tongued Li Mengze!" Sikong Jin laughed angrily. "If you dare not compete, why bother with so many high-sounding excuses! I'll put my words on the table today!"

He pointed at Li Mengze and said, word by word, "Three days from now, right here on Zhuque Street, I will fight you to the death in a battle of elixirs, in the name of my Medicine King Valley!"

The moment the words "Death Battle" were uttered, the entire audience was shocked!

(End of this chapter)