Chapter 1096: God-like Cultivator

“Qingxue, you already know Young Master Fang from Lightning Cloud Sect. This is his master, Lei Luo qian bei. You need to…” Before the woman finished, Ning Qingxue rose and interrupted. “Sorry, Master, I already have a husband. Knowing other people isn't important to me.”

Ning Qingxue respected her master and knew she wouldn't be where she was without her, but her master's words crossed a line. The middle-aged woman's face fell; she was about to erupt, but seeing the Ethereal Immortal Pond elders nearby, she restrained herself. Her disciple had always been quiet, but this was the first time she’d openly defied her. Perhaps she'd been too lenient. Ning Qingxue’s talent was good, but not exceptional within the Ethereal Immortal Pond; her fame stemmed from her inclusion in the South Peace State Ten Beauties.

Qiu Xue of the Green Pill Sect watched Ye Mo intently. She recognized him instantly—he had given her and her martial sister several Blue Wen pills in the herb plain. Now, at the Pill King tournament, she saw he was a level seven spirit pill master and a Nascent Soul state cultivator.

In a corner of the square, three Cultivation Cauldron Sect cultivators stared at Ye Mo with surprise and delight. “Martial Brother Guo, I see Brother Ye! He’s actually a level seven spirit pill master…” Ding Ling exclaimed joyfully.

Guo Qifan nodded. His Nascent Soul state cultivation was thanks to Ye Mo. He mused, I knew someone like Brother Ye wouldn't die in the Truth Fall Palace.

“But Big Brother Ye killed Earth Demon Sect’s Chai Kong, and Chai Kong’s master is here,” Yan Qi worried. “If he recognizes Big Brother Ye, he’s finished.”

Indeed, a Hollow Spirit state tertiary stage cultivator from the Earth Demon Sect spotted Ye Mo, glanced at a jade slip, and cursed, “You killed my disciple Chai Kong and sect member Gu Yicheng! I’ve finally found you; let’s see where you run.”

“If I let you leave Pill City, I’m an animal!” Mo Youshen snarled, eyes fixed on Ye Mo. “So what if you’re a spirit pill master? I’ll crush you like an insect.” He focused solely on killing Ye Mo, not on his tournament ranking.

A similar scene unfolded at the Lightning Forgery Sect. A Golden Core state peak stage cultivator glared at Ye Mo and told a Hollow Spirit state elder, “Martial Uncle, that’s him. He stole two of my three five-color lotuses. He’s from North Far State! I never expected him to be in South Peace State, let alone at the Pill King tournament. He’s too arrogant.”

The Hollow Spirit state cultivator scanned Ye Mo coldly. “Yushan, be quiet. The five-color lotus is no trifle. We’ll find a secluded spot and deal with him.”

A Pillar Sea Sect cultivator looked gratefully at Ye Mo. “Master, that’s the man who saved me. I didn’t know his name, but he’s a level seven spirit pill master!” Had Ye Mo not intervened, Huang Huo and Cai Shizhang would have killed him in the herb plain. Ye Mo had only stopped them to inquire about Luo Susu, one of the South Peace State Ten Beauties.

Ye Mo knew many would recognize him today.

The Vice City Lord reached the final names: “Rain Pill Sect, level two Gu Xi Pill King Lao Xi; solo cultivator, level three You Yu Pill King Zong Shidao… Heaven Herb Lake, level four Sheng Ting Pill King Ji Youting; Clear Dream Mosque, level four Qing Die Pill King Wang Qingdie… Pill City, level five Half Immortal Pill King Xu Banchang.”

Shen Guanqing paused. “These are the 561 contestants, representing the pinnacle of pill concoction in South Peace State. Now, I’ll invite City Lord Yue to announce the first question.”

Ye Mo felt relieved. The highest-ranking contestant was only a level five pill king, Xu Banchang. Even if he didn’t win, second place was assured.

Yue Qichao appeared younger than Shen Guanqing, clad in grey robes. Short and slender, he seemed more approachable. But Ye Mo knew appearances could deceive.

As Yue Qichao approached, the cultivators applauded. He represented the highest level of pill concoction known to South Peace State cultivators. Higher-ranked Pill Kings might exist, but Yue Qichao and Shen Guanqing were the most prominent.

Yue Qichao spoke calmly, fist-saluting. “We South Peace State cultivators know our cultivation level is at the peak of Luo Yue Continent. Theoretically, our pill concoction should be number one, yet North Far State, whose cultivation level is far inferior, achieved something that shocked the pill concoction world.”

“As you know, before forming our essence spirit, spirit sense is paramount, not dan tian. Luo Yue Continent lacks pills for spirit sense recovery below Nascent Soul state. We rely on spirit attraction grass and similar herbs, but their efficiency is abysmal—only 10% utilization, resulting in massive waste and minimal results.”

“For countless years, countless pill masters attempted to incorporate spirit attraction grass into a pill, without success. But…” Yue Qichao’s voice boomed. “North Far State has a genius pill master who created a level four pill—the Spirit Weaving Pill—that recovers spirit sense and soul. Its materials are inexpensive, making it accessible to all cultivators. This is a respectable achievement, benefiting the entire Luo Yue Continent cultivation realm. He filled a critical gap in low-level spirit sense recovery pills. Countless cultivators, from Golden Core to Nascent Soul state, are stalled by spirit sense injuries, their immortal dreams shattered. To this prodigy, I, Yue Qichao, bow.”

Yue Qichao bowed to the north. The contestants and judges followed suit, as did many spectators. Ye Mo bowed reluctantly, ashamed at his profit-driven motive compared to City Lord Yue Qichao’s noble ideals. Yue Qichao was a true master.

Gu Wenqian and Xin Zhida trembled with excitement; even Jing Yingli, watching from afar, was moved. They hadn't expected such heartfelt acknowledgment from Yue Qichao. Qin Muxin looked at Ye Mo with pride.

Murmurs filled the square: “The spirit attraction herb was really put into a pill?” “How come I never heard of it? Oh, by the way, Hu Wen Pill King showed a Spirit Weaving Pill recipe last time.” “Who is that guy? He’s a core disciple of a big sect, right?” “If only I knew such a prodigy…”

Everyone yearned to know the cultivator's identity.

Yue Qichao continued, “I’m sure you want to know who this cultivator is. I don't know if he was a Pill King when he created the recipe, but he was a Foundation Establishment state cultivator, a solo cultivator, at the time. He achieved this completely on his own. Even more astounding, he created the Spirit Weaving Pill in a pill concoction tournament, using foundation chi fire. I invited this prodigy to Pill City, but haven't received a reply…”

The crowd roared. A Foundation Establishment state cultivator, using foundation chi fire… was there truly such a god-like cultivator?

“Who is he?” “What’s his name?” The crowd demanded to know the identity of this remarkable individual.