Chapter 1094: Pill King Tournament

Although various auctions and trade socials had taken place in Pill City, Ye Mo remained secluded, focusing on refining and mastering the purple flower fire. Five days passed swiftly, and the tournament's first day arrived. The entire square overflowed with people; countless cultivators had rushed to the event. Fortunately, the square was immense, comfortably accommodating the several hundred thousand individuals gathered there. Larger sects even possessed their own private viewing areas. Many cultivators who preferred not to attend in person had already set up various viewing formations.

Xin Zhida was seated in the front row, while Gu Wenqian escorted Ye Mo to the contestant area. While significantly fewer contestants participated compared to the Pill Concoction Hall of Fame tournament, the audience was many times larger. Ye Mo observed approximately 500 participants, likely representing the highest-level pill concocters in the South Peace State. Gu Wenqian, intimately familiar with each contestant, began introducing those with a strong chance of winning to Ye Mo. Among them were level-four Pill King Ji Youting; Qiu Niansheng, a level-four Pill King from the seven-star Green Pill Sect; Xu Banchang, a level-five Pill King from Pill City; level-four Pill King Wang Mao; solo cultivator, level-three Pill King Zong Shidao; and Qing Die, a level-four Pill King from the Clear Dream Mosque.

While Ye Mo wasn't concerned about the participation of level-five Pill Kings, he acknowledged that securing a top-three position wouldn't be simple. However, when Gu Wenqian introduced Pill King Qing Die, Ye Mo paid particular attention. This nun, despite her youthful appearance, already possessed Hollow Spirit State power and was a level-four Pill King. Ye Mo couldn't help but marvel at the sheer number of prodigies in the South Peace State.

As Ye Mo observed Pill King Qing Die, he sensed someone watching him. Turning casually, he saw a light blue-robed female cultivator gazing at him with joyful eyes—Qing Muxin. Ye Mo felt a surge of elation; they shared a common origin and were acquainted.

Approaching her, Ye Mo said, "Martial Sister Muxin, I never expected to see you here. This is my communication bead; we can converse at my residence after the tournament." Ye Mo was eager to learn how she had become a Pill King at the Golden Core State level and her journey to the South Peace State, ultimately joining the Heartless Valley.

Qin Muxin was about to accept the communication bead when a cold voice interrupted, "Piss off." A hand, white as jade, swept the bead aside before Ye Mo could react. Retrieving his communication bead, Ye Mo felt a burning pain in his hand. He glared coldly at the female cultivator who had struck him. She, too, wore the Heartless Valley uniform, but her power was at the Hollow Spirit State, tertiary stage. The slap had nearly broken his wrist. This cultivator possessed exceptional power and beauty comparable to Qin Muxin, yet her expression was bleak, as if Ye Mo had deeply offended her.

"Martial Uncle Hen Yu, what are you...?" Qin Muxin, though displeased, hesitated to speak out.

"Muxin, you're too young to speak with random males. Remember, we are from the Heartless Valley," the female cultivator stated.

Qin Muxin, unable to directly rebuke her, hesitantly replied, "But before Pill King Hu Wen came to our valley, and..."

The female cultivator understood; Pill King Hu Wen seemed to know Ye Mo, and they had recently been together.

Ignoring the cultivator, Ye Mo smiled at Qin Muxin. "Martial Sister Muxin, if you're unhappy, feel free to seek me out anytime." He then departed, finding Hen Yu repulsive. Qin Muxin, as a Pill King, would be welcomed anywhere; if unhappy at the Heartless Valley, she could join him in Mo Yue City.

Unexpectedly, as Ye Mo turned, Hen Yu stopped him, her tone intensely angry and cold, as if she would kill him if he didn't provide an explanation.

Ye Mo responded plainly, "What does that have to do with you? Piss off."

"You're asking to die..." The cultivator's face turned green. Unhesitatingly, she unleashed her flying sword, preparing to attack.

"How dare you..." A deep voice boomed, and a massive cultivation essence hand appeared, swiftly removing her from the contestant area. Hen Yu stumbled to the ground, her face flushed, yet she dared not approach Ye Mo again. The Heartless Valley, an eight-star sect, was powerful, but its influence didn't extend to absolute control within Pill City.

Ye Mo bowed to the old man who had expelled her. Hen Yu was at the Hollow Spirit State, level eight, easily capable of killing him, yet she was discarded like trash. In the cultivation realm, power reigned supreme. The old man clearly possessed Truth Realization State power.

The old man nodded to Ye Mo and announced loudly, "Today marks the Pill City Pill King Tournament, held every fifty years. Pill Kings and Pill Masters, please enter the contestant area. All others, leave now."

The accompanying cultivators promptly departed, clearing the area. Most listened intently, but Ning Qingxue did not. She persistently scanned the square using her spirit sense, growing increasingly worried. While an ordinary person would have received warnings, her status as a cultivator from the Ethereal Immortal Pond meant little interference, especially as people recognized her. Her face paled; if she couldn't locate Ye Mo today, finding him again would be extremely difficult.

"Martial Sister Ning?" Huang Ping noticed Ning Qingxue's distress.

"I'm fine," Ning Qingxue forced a calm demeanor.

"...Although we in the South Peace State hold pill masters in high regard, the path of pill concoction is arduous. It demands exceptional talent, cultivation resources, wealth, and good fortune. Therefore, over the past few hundred years, we have had very few high-level pill masters and Pill Kings. Now, more than half of the current Pill Kings and Pill Masters are gathered in Pill City."

"The value of a Pill King needs no explanation. The top ten Pill Kings of this tournament will receive significant rewards from Pill City. I will not disclose them now, but I believe everyone anticipates them greatly. Furthermore, Pill City will request the top ten Pill Kings to concoct pills free of charge for three days. The top fifty will also be required to do the same," the Truth Realization State old man declared.

The square erupted in joy; many cultivators sought to find or befriend pill concoction masters. This news was immensely fortunate. Numerous cultivators began gathering spirit herbs in preparation.

The Truth Realization State old man quelled the noise and announced, "Now, let us invite Pill City's level-seven Pill King, Guan Tian, also our Vice City Lord, to announce the contestants and judges."

Gu Wenqian sound-transmitted to Ye Mo, "Pill King Guan Tian is a peak Disaster Transformation State cultivator and one of only two level-seven Pill Kings in Pill City."

Ye Mo watched as the grey-robed middle-aged man emerged. It was no wonder he held such a high position in a ten-star city.