The Zhao Patriarch's lips curved into a thin smile as he stared at Xu Tian.
Gone was the explosive rage from moments ago. In its place lingered something far colder — a patience sharpened by malice, like a blade waiting for the perfect moment to fall.
To those who knew him well, this expression was far more dangerous.
Beside him, Zhao Feng stepped closer, his voice lowered to a whisper meant only for Zhao Qingtian's ears. His eyes gleamed with venomous anticipation.
> "After the Lin Clan loses and is forced to leave the city…"
"We'll join hands with the Ghost Pavilion and erase every last one of them."
His lips curled upward.
> "Let them think exile is mercy."
"We'll give them oblivion instead."
Zhao Qingtian's expression softened further.
The fury in his gaze melted away, replaced by quiet, chilling delight. He let out a low chuckle — restrained, controlled — the sound thin and sharp, like metal sliding against stone.
> "Good," he said softly.
"Very good…"
To Zhao Qingtian, the Lin Clan was already dead. The only question was how long they would be allowed to breathe.
Then his eyes shifted.
They locked onto Lin Xian.
The smile vanished.
What replaced it was naked challenge.
> "I agree to the bet," Zhao Qingtian said aloud, voice ringing clearly across the courtyard.
"But what about you, Lin brat?"
His gaze was sharp, disdainful.
> "Do you dare accept?"
"Or will you hide behind your father… and your pet beast?"
A ripple of murmurs passed through the crowd.
Some Lin disciples stiffened. Others clenched their fists.
Lin Xian, however, did not react immediately.
He raised his hand slowly, brushing imaginary dust from his shoulder, as if the insult hadn't even reached his ears. Only then did a faint smirk curve his lips.
> "A pill competition?" he said lazily, tone light.
"Heh."
His eyes lifted, calm and unwavering.
> "I've never lost one before."
"And I don't plan to start now."
For a brief moment, the Zhao Patriarch felt something twist unpleasantly in his chest.
At Lin Xian's feet, Xiao Jian flicked his tail.
The little beast's golden eyes narrowed with the same dismissive disdain as his master's. He puffed out a small breath of smoke, then stomped one paw against the stone — a childish, unmistakable declaration of agreement.
Me neither.
A few Lin disciples couldn't help themselves.
Soft chuckles broke out.
The tension of imminent slaughter loosened, replaced by a growing, contagious confidence.
From the perspective of the crowd, the scene was absurd — a young man and a small beast standing before one of the city's most powerful clans, utterly unshaken.
And somehow…
It was the Zhao Clan who looked uncertain.
---
With both sides finally restraining themselves, Xu Tian stepped forward.
The moment he moved, the atmosphere shifted.
His presence carried weight — not through brute force, but authority forged by decades of mastery and reputation. Even the Zhao elders instinctively straightened.
> "Enough blood for one day," Xu Tian said, voice calm yet absolute.
"Since both sides have agreed, we will now speak of the competition's terms."
The courtyard fell silent.
Lantern flames flickered gently in the night breeze. Broken tiles and dried blood remained as silent witnesses to how close the city had come to disaster.
> "There are no rules for this round of alchemy." Xu Tian continued.
"No restrictions on technique, method, furnace, or element."
Several Zhao elders frowned instantly.
No rules meant innovation, insight, and true skill mattered most — there would be no loopholes to exploit.
> "The one who refines the most flawless pill," Xu Tian concluded,
"shall claim victory."
A pause.
Then he added evenly,
> "To ensure fairness, I will invite two fellow Grandmasters from Stormrift State to act as neutral judges."
Three Grandmasters.
No bias.
No excuses.
Xu Tian's lips curled faintly.
Those closest to him noticed it.
He had already seen through Zhao Qingtian's calculations — and allowed them anyway.
> "Then it is settled," Xu Tian declared.
"One month from now, in the central plaza of Azure Cloud City."
Zhao Qingtian clasped his hands behind his back.
> "Fine," he said coolly.
"One month."
His gaze flicked once more toward Lin Xian.
> "Let us see which clan truly deserves to stay."
With a sharp turn, he left.
The Zhao clan followed, boots striking stone in unison. Their retreat faded into the night, leaving behind shattered ground, damaged lanterns, and a courtyard heavy with unspoken promises.
---
For several heartbeats after the Zhao clan departed, silence lingered.
Then—
Cheers erupted.
> "Patriarch Lin Yuan!"
"Long live the Lin Clan!"
"The heavens favor us!"
The Lin estate burst back into life.
Lanterns were relit. Drums sounded once more. Music and laughter flooded the courtyard as tension dissolved into joy.
To many disciples, this night felt unreal — a narrow escape from annihilation, transformed into celebration.
Lin Xue'er ran toward her brother, eyes shining brighter than the lanterns overhead.
> "Big brother!" she exclaimed.
"You were so cool just now!"
She reenacted the fight with exaggerated gestures.
> "When you vanished and appeared behind that Zhao guy—bam! His arm flew off! Wah!"
She nearly spilled her fruit wine in excitement.
Lin Xian chuckled, gently ruffling her hair.
> "Careful," he said.
"You'll soak your dress."
Xue'er puffed her cheeks.
> "Hmph! I'm not a child anymore!"
Beside her, Xiao Jian tilted his head.
Then, slowly, deliberately, he crossed his paws and mimicked her pout.
Xue'er stared.
> "You too?!" she protested.
Laughter erupted around them.
----------
As the Zhao Clan's retreated, Xu Tian remained standing where he was.
To the crowd, he appeared calm — composed as ever, the unshakable Grandmaster of the Pill Academy who had mediated countless disputes.
But inside, his thoughts were anything but tranquil.
On the surface, the Pill Competition was fair.
Xu Tian slowly exhaled, fingers tightening around the wine cup in his hand.
He had proposed the terms deliberately — not to favor the Lin Clan, nor to restrain the Zhao Clan, but to strip away all excuses.
Yet the unease in his chest refused to fade.
His gaze drifted toward Lin Xian.
The young man stood amidst laughter and celebration, white robes untouched, posture relaxed — as though tonight's near-war had been nothing more than an inconvenience.
That boy… Xu Tian thought grimly.
He's too calm.
Xu Tian had spent his entire life among alchemists.
Geniuses. Monsters. Madmen obsessed with perfection.
And Lin Xian did not resemble any of them.
There was no hunger in his eyes.
No desperation.
No need to prove himself.
Only certainty.
That is what unsettles him the most.
Xu Tian had personally witnessed Lin Xian's methods — unconventional, precise, bordering on heretical. Pills refined without wasted motion. Techniques that ignored established dogma yet achieved flawless results.
And yet…
I have never seen him truly serious.
That realization sent a chill down Xu Tian's spine.
The Zhao Clan believed this was a contest of life and death.
They believed the Lin Clan had one month to scramble, prepare, and pray that they won't get kill.
But...
Xu Tian knew better.
If Lin Xian wanted to win…
One month is not preparation.
It was mercy.
Qingtian… you are gambling your entire clan against something you do not understand.
Xu Tian tightened his grip on the cup, the wine trembling slightly.
And worse…
If Lin Xian truly revealed the depth of his alchemical path in front of three Grandmasters—
Stormrift State will no longer be able to ignore Azure Cloud City.
The political repercussions alone could redraw alliances.
Xu Tian closed his eyes briefly.
This wager is not just about pills.
It is about exposure.
When he opened them again, his gaze returned to Lin Xian — now laughing softly as his sister argued with the small beast at his feet.
The contrast was absurd.
And terrifying.
Xu Tian drained his cup in one swallow.
One month, he thought.
We will finally see what kind of existence you truly are, Lin Xian.
---
Xu Tian, then approached with a cup of wine, couldn't suppress a quiet chuckle.
> "Lin brat," he said dryly,
"you have an interesting family."
His gaze dropped to Xiao Jian.
> "And a ridiculous pet."
Lin Xian clinked his cup lightly against Xu Tian's.
Their eyes met for a brief moment, and everything that needed to be understood passed between them in silence.
The Bai Family soon joined the festivities. Yue Lan and Yue Mo offered formal congratulations. Bai Yusheng spoke with Lin Yuan at length, admiration clear in her eyes.
Nearby, Bai Rou and Lin Xue'er argued fiercely over who got to feed Xiao Jian spirit fruit first.
The night bloomed with warmth.
Laughter echoed.
For now, the storm had passed.
Yet beneath the celebration, every powerful figure present understood the truth:
The real battlefield awaited them in one month.
And the Pill Competition would decide the fate of Azure Cloud City.
---