Chapter 1109: The Final Battle at Step Eight of the Pill King Steps

Ye Mo wasn't sure if this was Jiu Qian's first time concocting the Break Spirit Pill, but it was his. Although he possessed the Spirit Recovery Pill to restore his spirit sense, he dared not be overconfident. Concocting a heaven-grade level five pill was a monumental challenge. He was certain of success, but carelessness was unacceptable. He refrained from using the Mist Lotus Heart fire; its importance was too great. As a third-ranked heaven flame, its unveiling would undoubtedly attract unwanted attention. Fortunately, he possessed the Purple Eye Soul Sever; otherwise, defeat would have been inevitable.

Ye Mo sat, retrieved the Shen Nong cauldron, and focused his mind on it and the Purple Flower fire. He believed both he and Jiu Qian could concoct the heaven-grade level five pill, and that Jiu Qian wouldn't stop at step eight. Had he been incapable of reaching step eight, he wouldn't have uttered those earlier, condescending remarks. Jiu Qian didn't strike him as unintelligent.

Therefore, Ye Mo understood that simply concocting heaven-grade level five pills wasn't enough to defeat Jiu Qian. He needed enlightenment during the Break Spirit Pill's creation, a breakthrough to the ability to concoct heaven-grade level six pills.

For a level five pill king to reach level six could take years, even decades. Some level six pill kings never reached level seven in their lifetimes. Even with the Three Birth Chant, Ye Mo couldn't guarantee a breakthrough to level six immediately after concocting a heaven-grade level five pill; however, the Chant offered the possibility. His previous attainment of level four pill king stemmed from assisting Su Jingwen with a Rainbow Spirit Pill.

Ye Mo knew that even without this shortcut to level six, he would eventually reach it. But now, he couldn't afford to wait. Previously, he'd intentionally avoided higher pill king levels, believing that as a Nascent Soul cultivator, he only needed level one or two pills, and lacking heaven-grade level five spirit herbs. Now, he realized that even without needing heaven-grade level six pills, there was no disadvantage to reaching that level.

Ye Mo became oblivious to his surroundings. This wasn't mere pill concoction; as he refined the spirit herbs, he meticulously analyzed them, utilizing the Three Birth Chant to find the rhythm—a process mirroring his rapid spirit herb refinement and pill formation.

Fifteen minutes passed, then thirty, then several hours. Ji Youting and Qiu Niansheng were eliminated at step seven, and Xu Banchang, unable to concoct a heaven-grade level five pill at step eight, was also eliminated. Only Ye Mo and Jiu Qian remained on the twelve pill king steps. Ye Mo was still refining spirit herbs, yet to begin pill concoction.

Unexpectedly, after completing his pill, Jiu Qian didn't proceed to step nine, instead sitting with closed eyes, seemingly awaiting Ye Mo.

“What are these two doing?” Level four pill king judge Gao He asked, perplexed. One spent over several hours refining herbs and was still unfinished, while the other, having finished step eight, sat instead of moving to step nine.

Shen Guanqing frowned, completely baffled by both Ye Mo and Jiu Qian. Jiu Qian's speed and challenging words indicated a serious commitment to winning; so why wait for Ye Mo? Ye Mo's actions were even more puzzling. Previously, his spirit herb refining, pill formation, refining, and pulling had all been flawlessly executed, with both speed and quality exceptional. While heaven-grade level five pills were significantly more difficult than level four, spirit herb refining shouldn't take this long.

He glanced at Yue Qichao, who mirrored his confusion. Neither understood the contestants' actions.

Though the stage largely featured Ye Mo refining herbs, the audience remained captivated. With only two remaining, and Jiu Qian having already completed his pill, he appeared superior to Luo Xiaomo. However, the prolonged wait revealed a massive disparity, disappointing those anticipating an exciting contest.

After another fifteen minutes, Jiu Qian sneered and rose, his patience exhausted. He felt he'd overestimated Luo Xiaomo. If this much time was needed for a heaven-grade level five pill, what would it take for a level six? This man wasn't in his league.

Unaware of Jiu Qian's wait, Ye Mo, through repeated mental simulations of the Break Spirit Pill and restructuring its composition, had made significant progress. He discovered that the transition from level five to level six pill king was, in fact, easier than from level three to four.

Following his refinement and simulation of the spirit herbs, Ye Mo experienced a sudden enlightenment, his pill concoction accelerating dramatically. Pill chants flowed into the cauldron, the refined herbs swiftly transforming into a herbal liquid brimming with astonishing spiritual energy.

Jiu Qian, witnessing this, halted. He couldn't comprehend Ye Mo's initial slowness followed by sudden speed; it was abnormal.

Nevertheless, the Break Spirit Pill rapidly formed. In under seven minutes, Ye Mo extracted six special-grade Break Spirit Pills, placing them in a jade bottle.

The judges, too, were puzzled by the drastic time difference. Typically, the ratio of time spent on spirit herb refining to pill formation was 4:6. No one knew that while concocting the heaven-grade level five pill, Ye Mo was simultaneously contemplating the creation of heaven-grade level six pills.

Ye Mo put away the cauldron and stood, only then noticing Jiu Qian. He realized the considerable time elapsed and that Jiu Qian remained, waiting for him. However, Ye Mo didn't believe this wait was benevolent.

As expected, Jiu Qian sneered again. “Your Break Spirit Pill concoction speed is disappointing. To utterly defeat you, I waited nearly eight hours. Remember, the person who defeated you on the twelve pill king steps is called Jiu Qian. I beat you with true skill, not through cheating.”

Ye Mo calmly replied, “Remember this as well: if you possess even a modicum of ability, I shall return that time to you.”

Ye Mo was confident he would surpass Jiu Qian's speed. He'd gained a solid foundation while concocting the Break Spirit Pill. No one comprehended the Three Birth Chant's power; it could even yield a heaven-grade cultivation method, let alone a heaven-grade level six pill.

“There seems to be some friction between these two,” Lu Wuhu observed, smiling.

The judges smiled wryly; they certainly recognized the tension. They even conveniently overlooked the contestants' rule-breaking conversation on stage.

When the audience saw both pill masters simultaneously ascend to step nine, their enthusiasm exploded.