"You little pharmacist are truly arrogant. How our grand sect recruits disciples is not something an outsider like you can casually criticize."
Li Tianhai took a few steps and was there in the blink of an eye.
"Matters of the world can be discussed by everyone. Can't the truth be spoken?"
Bai Jingliang tried to hold him back, but Han Yu pushed him aside, stepped forward, and spoke aloud.
Such a rogue, defaulting on a bet, abusing power for personal gain, and narrow-minded, Han Yu could not accept this.
Li Tianhai's gaze grew colder, and he spoke mockingly, "Don't overestimate yourself just because of those ghostly tricks from yesterday."
"In the Cultivator Realm, strength reigns supreme. You, a mere pharmacist with no cultivation at all, probably acquired those pills from some random opportunity and ultimately can't make it to the stage,"
Li Tianhai sneered disdainfully, "Your so-called righteous indignation is just resentment over my refusal to let you participate in the assessment."
Han Yu's face turned blue and then red, but it was not from shame, it was from anger.
Most of the people present were unaware, and at this moment, they looked at Han Yu with some strange expressions.
In the whispers, Han Yu's image of having nowhere to turn and being cynical was vividly portrayed.
Han Yu remained eerily quiet, and after a long silence, he finally looked up and smiled.
"You speak of ghostly tricks, you say I'm not worthy of the stage, how about we bet again?"
The Night-blooming Cereus Pill was something Han Yu had never found an appropriate place to use, primarily because the side effects were too terrifying, equivalent to two extremes.
If it could really be used here, why not trick your entire sect!
Li Tianhai's hand, which was stroking his long beard, suddenly tugged, pulling out several strands. The events of yesterday were still vivid in his mind.
This little pharmacist had roped him into a bet this same way.
He suddenly hesitated, frowned, and asked.
"What trick are you trying to pull this time?"
Han Yu chuckled and looked at him, pointing to all the candidates present, "Let's bet that I can make every one of the hundred candidates here achieve a top-grade spirit root. Do you dare?"
"How is this possible?"
"This little pharmacist must be drunk! How dare he talk such nonsense."
"This is simply a pipe dream."
Han Yu quietly watched him, waiting to see if he had the courage to accept.
On the other hand, Li Tianhai looked at Han Yu's confident demeanor and hesitated.
Could it be that he really had some strange medicine?
Impossible, being able to improve the aptitude of a hundred people to top-grade, such a thing would be called a divine medicine.
While Li Tianhai was still hesitating, Han Yu laughed and mockingly repeated Li Tianhai's own words.
"What? Are you afraid of a little ghostly trick from a pharmacist who can't make it to the stage?"
Li Tianhai was caught by his words, unable to respond either way.
The onlookers began to gossip once more, catching on to some of the situation.
"Could he really have this ability?"
"I was there yesterday, and I saw this little pharmacist turn a grown man into a dainty young lady with just one pill. That figure, that appearance, tut tut."
"To think such a marvel of the ages happened without me present."
Li Tianhai was indeed hesitating, and Han Yu decided to add more pressure.
"If you're truly afraid, then if I lose, I'll crawl back from the foot of the mountain. If you lose, allow me to inscribe three characters on the cliff at the mountain's base, how about it?"
It's merely an inscription, what is there to be afraid of? Li Tianhai thought for a moment and felt a little reassured, glaring as he said, "Then bet it is. An old man like me isn't afraid of you."
Han Yu, seeing him agree, was secretly overjoyed. He looked around and asked, "Does anyone have a vessel for water, enough for a hundred people to take a sip?"
An overweight man squeezed out of the crowd with difficulty, raising a water pouch in his hand, loudly asking, "How about this?"
Han Yu glanced at it and found it roughly suitable, so he stepped forward to take it. Shaking it, he found it still full of water, which was perfect.
He took out a pill from his bosom and threw it in under the eyes of the crowd, then lifted the water pouch, turned to the candidates, especially those who were just resentful, and loudly spoke.
"You all have remarkable character, yet you're blocked by your spirit roots. Heaven denies you the opportunity; I can give it. Didn't you say you were just lacking a chance? This is your chance."
There was instant chaos among the candidates, with everyone staring intently at the water pouch in Han Yu's hand, their eyes fervent.
"However!"
Han Yu paused in his tone, then continued.
"Anyone who wants to drink my medicine, those with weak minds, best not come. This medicine can seize fortune, but it also has tremendous side effects. Everyone, ask yourselves, can you put it all on the line?"
This remark poured cold water on everyone, and the crowd quieted slightly, glancing at each other.
The previously complaining top-three candidate stepped forward, his face conflicted, asking, "Will the side effects be fatal?"
Han Yu shook his head with a smile, "Rest assured, you won't die or be crippled."
That candidate contemplated for a moment, his face already showing a decided intent. He bit his lip, "Will it truly improve my spirit root?"
Han Yu nodded with confidence, "I keep my word. If you dare to risk it all, I dare to make your dreams come true."
"Alright, I'll drink it now."
The candidate resolutely clenched their fist and then reached out their hand.
Han Yu hurriedly slapped their hand away, looked up at the sky, and said, "No rush, I'll give you all another two-hour period to think it over."
At this moment, the setting sun dyed half the sky red, but there was still a two-hour period before nightfall. Drinking it now would expose the secret.
"Why wait another two-hour period, what a waste of time."
Li Tianhai, looking impatient, said angrily.
"There are no great miracles in this world; gains come with losses. I'll give you another two-hour period to think it through. Remember! Once you start, there's no turning back, and there's no chance to regret after taking the pill."
Han Yu, too lazy to engage further, deliberately warned the candidates.
Time passed slowly, Li Tianhai sat aside angrily while Han Yu seemed relaxed, holding a water pouch, and the candidates whispered among themselves.
Most candidates who hadn't yet tested their Spirit Root didn't want to take the risk. If their own Spirit Root was already good, taking the pill would be a huge loss.
Those with poor Spirit Root aptitude appeared contemplative, especially those trapped by their qualifications who had the most conflicted expressions, struggling between determination and hesitation.
"Hey, we're acquaintances, right? How about letting me have a sip first!"
Suddenly, someone tugged Han Yu's sleeve. Looking back, it was Bai Jingliang with a hopeful look.
"Isn't your Spirit Root not bad?" Han Yu asked curiously.
"Of course, I'm a Single Attribute Wood Spirit Root."
Bai Jingliang said proudly.
This left Han Yu both amused and exasperated. Clearly already with an upper-grade aptitude, still wanting to take the pill; it's hard to tell if it's out of ambition or just plain greed.
Drinking it was certainly not an option. If they ended up sending a hundred "geniuses" to the Star Sect, how could he ever be satisfied?
The sky gradually darkened, and a faint full moon slowly rose.
"Time's up."
Han Yu slowly spoke. The candidate who had been steadfast didn't say a word, took the water pouch.
"I, Ma Zhou, leap over the Dragon Gate today."
He shouted while holding up the water pouch, and then drank it down, everyone's eyes tightly fixed on him.
Moments later, there was no sign of any change in Ma Zhou.
Someone started to murmur if it was a failure. Li Tianhai was overjoyed, saying a mere pharmacist couldn't possibly defy the heavens like this.
Just as everyone was feeling disappointed, Ma Zhou suddenly let out a strange cry. Everyone turned to look, seeing him suddenly bent over, biting his jaw tightly, looking just like a boiled shrimp.
"He's smoking." Someone exclaimed.
Ma Zhou endured the pain throughout his body; he seemed to be in a steamer, smoking all over. Then sweat poured down like rain, soaking him completely, and the discharged black impurities from his pores made him look like a mud person.
As the pain subsided, Ma Zhou's mind grew clear. He turned his head to look at the Spirit Testing Pillar, suddenly striding over.
Everyone held their breath as they watched him slowly place his hand on it. A blinding golden light shot straight into the sky.
"Gold... Upper-Grade Metal Attribute Single Spirit Root!" The recorder beside him fell to the ground, as if seeing a ghost.
Li Tianhai stood up abruptly, looking at it in disbelief, his mouth twitching.
"I, Xu You, leap over the Dragon Gate today."
It seemed Ma Zhou's words were too passionate, igniting a fire in the hearts of many candidates. Another candidate gritted their teeth, rushed out, grabbed the water pouch, shouted, and drank.
Before there was time to return it to Han Yu, another candidate grabbed it, and then one after another scrambled forward, the water pouch passing among them.
The sounds of roars echoed through the Cyan Cloud Mountain stream.
"I... leap over the Dragon today!"
"Leap the Dragon Gate!"
The most interesting part was when a candidate ran up to that rich kid, speaking with a complex expression, "I really can't stand losing to people like you."
After saying that, they joined the passing of the water pouch. Some candidates with somewhat inferior Spirit Roots began to be moved. When a candidate with Medium Upper Dual Spirit Roots stepped forth, a small group of those who were originally qualified also began to join in.
The radiance from the Spirit Testing Pillar never ceased, one candidate after another stepped forward, various Single Attribute dazzling lights burst like fireworks in the night sky.
The quota of a hundred people was soon entirely consumed, leaving those who hadn't made a decision regretting deeply.
Those who missed the opportunity wanted to ask Han Yu for another pill, but looking back, the spot where Han Yu stood was already empty.
Since the moment the water pouch was being seized frantically, Han Yu had already slipped away.
Li Tianhai watched the entire scene. He even watched as Han Yu scribbled against the cliff before leaving and did not stop him.
Those motley scrawls only formed three characters.
Pursue the Dao?
Li Tianhai's chest felt pain once again...
The event where a hundred candidates manifested Upper-Grade Spirit Roots was too significant. A disciple quickly mounted a Flying Sword, soared towards the peak like their life depended on it.
In just a moment, dozens of rainbows simultaneously rose from Cyan Cloud Peak, with the Star Sect's Sect Leader personally leading all the Elders down...