Chapter Sixty-One: The Age of Turmoil Approaches, Monsters and Demons Run Rampant (2)

Below the training field, the expressions on the faces of those from the Medicine Court were exceedingly complex. Gormu, too, looked at Gorlan with a trace of annoyance. “Junior sister, what happened with your Great Nurturing Pill this time? By your level, you should have at least produced a Grade A authentic pill. How did it end up as Grade C?”

Gorlan and Gormu were the hidden trump cards of the Medicine Court. One was capable of refining perfect Grade A authentic pills; the other was an alchemist at the Core Formation stage. Both could be called the most outstanding alchemists in Jizhou. On ordinary days, they seldom revealed their true strength, so much so that even other members of the “Ten Sages of the Medicine Court” were unaware of their true capabilities. Perhaps only the Old Man Whitehead knew their real power, for a true ace always hides in the shadows to be most effective.

This time, the Medicine Court had no intention of letting them reveal too much, as winning the championship seemed but a trivial matter. Yet unexpectedly, a striking figure known as the Fairy Physician appeared, displaying overwhelming strength. Unless they revealed their own powers, it would be impossible to suppress her. After much deliberation, they chose to let Gorlan stand out, certain that her talent would easily overshadow the Fairy Physician.

Thus, in the second round, Gorlan no longer held back. Unleashing her full potential, she effortlessly refined a miraculous Grade A authentic pill of the Yellow Class, stunning both outsiders and her own peers. Even the other Sages could hardly believe Gorlan’s alchemy had reached such heights.

Yet fate is fickle. In Gormu and Old Man Whitehead’s eyes, Gorlan’s victory was assured. Even when Liu Lanzhi suddenly produced a Grade B Great Nurturing Pill, their faith in Gorlan was unshakable. They believed, as surely as they believed in themselves, that she would refine a Grade A authentic pill.

But reality proved harsh. Gorlan faltered at the finish, astonishingly producing a Grade C pill. If Gormu did not step forward then, the Medicine Court would be doomed to lose the championship, and Gorlan’s exposure would be for naught.

Gormu was proud by nature—he was, after all, staking everything in a wager against the Miao family for the championship. Unwilling to lose inexplicably when victory was within reach, he chose to reveal his own strength. But even then, reality was relentless. Despite laying bare his power, he was defeated by Che Wuyou, who unexpectedly crafted a Grade A authentic pill.

When Gorlan heard Gormu’s question, she stuck out her tongue—an uncharacteristic gesture. After a long pause, she replied shyly, “I saw you, Senior Brother, about to finish first, and I was afraid you’d beat me to it, so I hurried to complete my pill. But... but the timing wasn’t right, so I ended up with a Grade C.”

“You...” Gormu’s face darkened with frustration. Losing the contest for such a reason left him torn between amusement and exasperation. “Why are you always competing with me? Even if I finish first, your pill’s quality would still surpass mine, making me the loser. Ah... If I’d known, I would have let you finish first every round.”

He could not help but regret. Had he known his junior sister was so competitive, he would have let her finish first every time.

In truth, Gormu did not know that Gorlan produced a Grade C pill not out of rivalry, but because she did not want Miao Manor to lose. At the very least, she didn’t want her own actions to cause the downfall or suffering of Miao Manor. Gifted from childhood and passionate about medicine, Gorlan read countless medical texts and deeply understood the compassionate heart of a healer.

Seeing the Medicine Court continually press Miao Manor and witnessing the wager between Gormu and Yang Jian, her heart was no longer set on winning. She simply waited for the right moment to lose. Yet, she never expected her senior brother to take the contest so seriously, willing even to reveal his secrets for victory—nor did she imagine that even so, he would still fail.

This time, the Medicine Court left in disarray. Their two aces revealed, yet they fell to the relatively unknown Miao Manor. It was not just a matter of pride, but also of the wager’s outcome.

“Senior Gormu, does this mean my right arm can be spared for now?” Yang Jian glanced at the grim-faced Old Man Whitehead, then at the impassive Gormu, probing gently.

“Hmph...” Gormu snorted coldly but said nothing further. He had lost, and the victor held the moral ground. Even as a Core Formation master, he could not act out before so many peers.

“And what about your right arm, senior? Will you really let a mere junior take it? I’ve been waiting for your right arm...” Yang Jian left the words unfinished, but everyone knew what he meant. Han Feng had earlier threatened to feed Gormu’s right arm to the dogs. Now, with all cards laid bare, Han Feng could insult Gormu as he pleased, but dared not go too far. After all, Gormu was a real Core Formation expert, and if he lost all pretense, Miao Manor would ultimately suffer.

“You... you little brat, you'd better hope you never fall into my hands.” Gormu’s face took on a purple hue, but he held back in the end.

Turning to the Medicine Court crowd, Gormu barked, “Let’s go!” and strode out first. The blow he suffered today was immense—the first such defeat in his life. Like Han Feng, he could not bear to remain a moment longer.

But unlike Han Feng, Gormu’s strength commanded respect. Though people might sneer at Han Feng openly, none dared mock Gormu so lightly. Offending a Core Formation master was unwise for anyone—much less one who was also an alchemist, far more formidable than ordinary experts.

The Medicine Court left, taking nothing with them, not even the two rare and precious Great Nurturing Pills. They departed silently, only a faint glimpse of a snow-white figure turning back to glance at Che Wuyou before disappearing.

The Fairy Physician also left, taking nothing with her—not even a glance at the valuable herbs bestowed by Xuanqing Sect. She walked away, her figure lonely and desolate, her spirit weary and disheartened. Perhaps she should never have emerged from seclusion. Perhaps she should never have come to this place.

Above the training field, Master Zhang Wanli gazed at Che Wuyou, his eyes shining with a mysterious light. This child can refine the Great Nurturing Pill with his eyes closed—what if he opened them? Master Zhang dared not imagine. In his eyes, this child was a true treasure...

“What an outstanding and brilliant child,” Zhang thought suddenly. “I fear only my Qing’er could be a worthy match for him.”

Studying Che Wuyou carefully, Master Zhang nodded in satisfaction, instinctively turning to seek Zhang Yuan’s opinion. He was surprised to find Zhang Yuan’s eyes also shining, nodding as he stared at Che Wuyou. Seeing the look of utter approval on Zhang Yuan's face, Master Zhang grew puzzled and could not help transmitting a message, “Yuan’er, what are you doing?”

“Just observing people. I rather like this child—he’s honest, upright, resolute, far-sighted, and composed. In fact, he reminds me a bit of myself in my youth,” Zhang Yuan replied with a sidelong glance.

“Er...” Master Zhang almost wanted to scold him for his self-praise, but restrained himself, as there were more important matters at hand. “You also think this child is good—do you think he’s a match for our Qing’er? I feel he’s a shade beneath her, but still acceptable.”

Master Zhang spoke with feigned nonchalance, as if he were slightly aggrieved for his daughter.

“Well, father, when you put it that way, I suppose they do suit each other. But Qing’er has always been proud and ambitious. She once declared, ‘Unless a young genius reaches Core Formation before thirty, I will never marry.’ This child has many merits, but his aptitude for cultivation seems lacking. Not only will he fail to reach Core Formation by thirty; I doubt he’ll reach it by three hundred.”

“You know how stubborn Qing’er is. Once she’s made up her mind, it’s hard to change. If she doesn’t agree, everything else is in vain. Besides, if she succeeds in forming her core, their difference in status will grow even greater...”

“Troubled times are coming, and prodigies abound. If he’s already so gifted in alchemy, perhaps we cannot judge him by common measures,” Master Zhang said quietly, falling silent.

Zhang Yuan, noticing his father’s thoughtful look, also fell into contemplation. “Troubled times are coming, and prodigies abound—what does that mean?”

Thinking back on those who had refined the Great Nurturing Pill, Zhang Yuan felt a stir in his heart. Of the four pills, three were crafted by children. That could only be called prodigious. For so many monsters of talent to appear in a single era—such things were rare in all the thousands of years of Jizhou’s history. Could it be...