Chapter 896: Do You Have a Problem with That?

Yan Zheng watched the senior manager sit down silently, his face grim. He nodded. "Yes, that Ye Mo is the pill master I recommended. I didn't expect him to represent the Herb Pill Sect after we rejected him."

The senior manager's voice deepened. "Elder Yan, as an elder of the Immortal Treasure Tower, you don't even know the skill of the pill master you recommended. Do you understand the gravity of your negligence?"

Yan Zheng remained silent. Had he known Ye Mo's abilities, he would have championed him, but he hadn't. He didn't know Ye Mo's background. He resented the senior manager's accusation; if not for his intervention, Ye Mo would have represented the Immortal Treasure Tower. Now, the manager was shifting blame.

Yan Zheng stared, dumbfounded. He hadn't considered the manager so unreasonable. He had suggested Ye Mo; the manager's interference was the root cause. Yet, he blamed his uncle instead of Elder Feng.

The senior manager's gaze shifted coldly to Feng Jicheng. "Elder Feng, is our Immortal Treasure Tower a place for you to vie for power and profit? For personal gain, you dismissed a top-ten contender. Where is the pill master you recommended? The one who passed the first round for us appears to be one of our own!"

Feng Jicheng was aghast. He hadn't anticipated a pill master from the insignificant River State to be so skilled. He hadn't researched Ye Mo, yet he had not only reached the second round but also secured a top-ten position. Knowing Ye Mo's strength, he wished he could have eliminated him.

Though berated, Feng Jicheng dared not retort. In his heart, however, Ye Mo was as good as dead.

Yan Zheng, observing the senior manager's volatile reaction, shivered. The Immortal Treasure Tower's chief rarely interfered; the senior manager usually held the reins of power. Working under such a man was perilous.

He looked at his uncle and sighed. If not for his uncle, he wouldn't be there. The position seemed prestigious, but offending the senior manager could ruin one's life. He had established the River State Immortal Treasure Tower himself, only to have it undermined by the manager's words. His achievements were ignored, replaced by rebuke.

…

In the tournament arena, only 500 contestants remained. The top ten were surrounded by aspirants seeking connections or favor. Almost every top-ten pill master was renowned.

Ye Mo understood their motives. Networking with a top-ten master benefited their future and sect. The judges and Pill Association elders were mostly Hall of Fame members. Connecting with future pill kings was advantageous, especially Cheng Yejun, a three-time champion and Level 1 Pill King whose skills surpassed some judges. He could easily become a Pill Association elder.

Ye Mo was the dark horse, an unknown quantity.

"Hello, friend, I'm Ye Zhilong of the Demon Spirit Sect. I made it to the second round. How many points did you get?" a contestant approached, seeking camaraderie.

Ye Mo recognized the name; Ye Zhilong had barely made it with six points.

Ye Mo saluted. "I'm Ye Mo of the Herb Pill Sect. I also made it to the second round."

"Brother Ye, we share the same surname! I apologize; I've never heard of the Herb Pill Sect," Ye Zhilong said apologetically, seemingly unaware of Ye Mo's top-ten ranking.

Ye Mo smiled, unoffended. He hadn't heard of the Demon Spirit Sect either.

"So, it's the Ye Mo said to be a top-ten contender. You're good! I, Wan Guoping, want to see how you'll reach the Hall of Fame. But you seem unimpressive, clinging to a Demon Sect nobody," a contemptuous voice interrupted.

"You're the Herb Pill Sect's Ye Mo, a top-ten contender in the first round!" Ye Zhilong exclaimed, recognizing him.

Ye Mo, seeing Wan Guoping's hostility, stared coldly. "What does my ranking concern you? I'm speaking with someone from the Demon Sect. Do you have a problem with that?"

"Yes, does he have a problem with that, Wan Guoping? Hahaha! I, Zhuang Man, appreciate such directness—" a booming voice laughed.

Ye Mo saw a massive man, nearly two meters tall and powerfully built. He couldn't imagine such a person being a pill master. Then he realized: Zhuang Man, from All Beast Mountain, with 8.6 points. He sighed; appearances could be deceiving.

Wan Guoping's expression soured. "Zhuang, you're siding against me?"

"Against me? Do you deserve it? Let your Pill Cauldron Mountain's senior brother decide." Zhuang Man then approached Ye Mo, saluting. "I'm Zhuang Man of All Beast Mountain. I admire Brother Ye. Unlike me, who benefits from abundant resources and skilled teachers to achieve 8 points, Brother Ye achieved this through his own ability. I respect that."

Zhuang Man, despite his rough exterior, was shrewd. He had cleverly used Ye Mo to insult Wan Guoping, but Ye Mo didn't mind.

The examiner announced, "Contestants, the first round is over! The second round is about to begin! Please find a seat and listen to the instructions."