Entering the Immortal Path, Cultivating a Hundred Arts: Chapter Forty-Seven - A Settled Matter

Mo Yurou did not expect him to be so impatient. Covering her mouth with a delicate smile, she explained, "Master Shan, for the Mo family's dual-cultivation technique to achieve its maximum effect, there are numerous conditional restrictions."

"Relying solely on a bed is hardly enough to satisfy you."

"The restrictions you speak of are surely things only your Mo family can resolve, aren't they?"

Li Feng saw right through her tactics, which were clearly meant to use this as leverage against him.

"Naturally. For the Mo family to have prospered until now, our dual-cultivation technique has contributed greatly."

Hearing that she only intended to offer empty verbal promises, Li Feng instantly lost interest. He pushed her away unceremoniously and assumed a solemn, upright expression.

Since she could not provide what he wanted right now, there was no point in wrangling further.

"Fellow Daoist Mo, let's discuss other matters once I officially take charge of the Pill Residence."

"It seems Master Shan still does not trust me. I said I would give up the subsequent matches, and naturally I will honor my word."

Mo Yurou felt a trace of displeasure in her heart. She had let him look, she had let him touch, yet simply because she could not deliver the benefits into his hands immediately, he was unwilling to show any commitment.

Such a realistic, ruthless, and cautious man was truly a rarity.

Li Feng chuckled softly and remained silent.

Mo Yurou understood that saying more was useless. Unless Li Feng could feel tangible benefits, the Mo family would never extract the slightest advantage from him.

"Master Shan can just watch. Whatever Yurou has promised, she will do her utmost to fulfill for you."

"Then I shall await the good news."

Li Feng stood up to show her out.

Before leaving, Mo Yurou remembered something and instructed, "Since Tian Wuqing has promised you a tier-two lower-grade pill recipe, you should ask him for the True Sun Pill recipe."

"Combining the True Sun Pill with the Mo family's dual-cultivation technique will be entirely beneficial and harmless to your future cultivation, Master Shan."

"Very well." Li Feng nodded in agreement.

The preliminary results were announced shortly after.

A total of six alchemists qualified for the next round.

Luo Hu called out the six names one by one.

Among them, there were only three tier-two lower-grade alchemists: Tian Wuqing, Mo Yurou, and Li Feng.

The remaining three were all tier-one upper-grade alchemists.

In the spectator stands, the cultivators had already roughly guessed the outcome in their hearts.

The winner of this competition for the Pill Residence would undoubtedly emerge from among the three tier-two lower-grade alchemists.

After finishing the name list, Luo Hu cleared his throat, clearly having more to say.

"We have just received news from the Mo family: Alchemist Mo, who is participating in this event, has chosen to forfeit!"

When these words were spoken, the entire arena erupted in an uproar.

Everyone was baffled. Clearly, Mo Yurou had a strong chance of securing the lease for the Pill Residence; why would she forfeit at such a crucial moment?

Yet, an even greater shock awaited them.

Unperturbed, Luo Hu continued his announcement, "Alchemist Tian from the Broken Sword Manor has likewise chosen to forfeit!"

The spectator stands could no longer remain calm.

Some perceived the undercurrents and spat out curses, "A rigged game! There's definitely something shady going on here!"

Those who reacted with public outrage had mostly placed bets in private gambling pools.

Hearing now that both major tier-two alchemists had successively forfeited, losing their stakes entirely, they flew into a rage out of frustration.

Li Feng calmly received the resentful glares from the crowd in the stands, his heart as still as ancient water.

He was not surprised by Mo Yurou's forfeit, but Tian Wuqing's action was beyond his comprehension.

After Luo Hu finished his announcement, Tian Wuqing approached Li Feng and cupped his fists in salute to offer an explanation.

"Master Shan, I have just informed my ancestor of the transaction between us."

"The Old Ancestor agreed to the other conditions, but simply could not grant that particular favor. Therefore, he acted first and reported later, using a forfeit as compensation. I hope you can understand."

The Broken Sword Manor felt that the conditions Li Feng offered did not rise to the level where they would trade a false-core cultivator's favor.

Although it was a slight pity to miss out on the favor of a false-core master, Li Feng was not overly distressed.

With all his strongest competitors forfeiting, the lease of the Pill Residence was already securely within his grasp.

To express his gratitude, Li Feng briskly handed over a list of the materials he needed.

"These are all the materials required to refine the Kunyuan Pill. Once your esteemed manor has prepared them, I am ready to start the furnace at any time."

Tian Wuqing was overjoyed, hurriedly taking the material list in an attempt to spy out the details of refining the Kunyuan Pill.

If they could master the method of refining the Kunyuan Pill, why would they need to pay such a heavy price?

Yet, very soon, Tian Wuqing's expression twisted into a knot of disappointment.

Li Feng had kept his guard up, intentionally adding a large number of deceptive materials to the list specifically to prevent the other party from prying into the secrets of the Kunyuan Pill.

Since Tian Wuqing was also an alchemist, he could tell at a glance which materials counteracted one another.

"Master Shan is truly cautious!"

Tian Wuqing sighed helplessly.

Li Feng's face did not flush nor his heart beat fast; he simply took it as a compliment.

The final round no longer tested the quantity of pills.

Luo Hu required each alchemist to refine a single pill of their specialty.

Their final victor would then be evaluated based on multiple aspects, including the pill's tier, quality, and value.

As soon as this rule was announced, the remaining three tier-one alchemists lost much of their fighting spirit.

This competition was practically tailor-made for Li Feng; who else could possibly refine a pill of a higher grade than the Kunyuan Pill?

After announcing the rules, Luo Hu came over to Li Feng and reminded him, "Master Shan, according to procedure, after the match concludes, you must make an appearance before the three inspectors. Just accompany me there when the time comes."

"Then I shall trouble you."

The two shared a tacit understanding and exchanged smiles.

With Luo Hu's words, the lease of the Pill Residence was essentially a done deal.

The four remaining alchemists each entered their assigned private alchemy chambers.

Though Li Feng already knew the outcome, he still had to go through the motions.

Upon entering the alchemy chamber, he did not ignite the furnace to refine pills; instead, he first destroyed the recording stones hidden in the shadows.

These items had been secretly placed by Luo Hu to clearly record the entire process of an alchemist refining pills.

Li Feng guessed that the chambers of the other alchemists likely had them as well.

Although Luo Hu was not an alchemist, he could sell the recorded footage at a high price to those in need.

Once the refinement process of such a precious pill as the Kunyuan Pill was leaked, his losses would be immeasurable.

Having finished this, he laid out his talisman-making materials and concentrated fully on crafting talismans.

Since no one could see what was happening inside the chamber, he could simply produce a Kunyuan Pill to muddle through when the time was right.

Currently, talismans were Li Feng's strongest means of self-preservation.

Increasing the number of talismans he possessed would provide an extra layer of safety assurance when facing danger.

Time ticked away second by second.

By the afternoon of the following day, Li Feng walked out of the alchemy chamber and handed a Kunyuan Pill to Luo Hu.

Unsurprisingly, this pill would ultimately end up in Luo Hu's pocket.

The illicit profits this fellow reaped from holding a single competition rivaled two years of income for a Foundation Establishment family.

After a night had passed, the spectators in the manor's stands had dwindled significantly.

With the two tier-two alchemists forfeiting, the match had lost its suspense, and many lacked the patience to keep watching.

The small fraction of cultivators who remained mostly intended to curry favor and forge connections, which was why they lingered without leaving.