Chapter 2850: Talent Poaching

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Whether it was Guan Qi Fei, the prominent Celestial Alchemist from the Supporting Sun Celestial Sect, or Tan Zheng Ye, the Vice Sect Leader of the Thousand Leaves Celestial Sect, both of them had extended their Divine Consciousness as soon as the three pills shot out of the cauldron into Duan Ling Tian’s hand. Before the pills landed in Duan Ling Tian’s hand, they had thoroughly determined that the three pills were, indeed, Overarching Heaven Pills. Based on the fact that Duan Ling Tian managed to refine three pills, it showed that his success rate of refining pills was not very high. Nevertheless, even if he had only successfully refined one pill, it was enough to prove he was capable of refining the prominent Celestial Pill, the Overarching Heaven Pill.

Meanwhile, the expressions of Lian Cheng Yi and Xiao Teng, the Sect Leaders of the Supporting Sun Celestial Sect and the Thousand Leaves Celestial Sect respectively, were grim. Just a moment ago, they were thoroughly convinced of their victory. How could their mood not flip like a switch? A moment ago, they were still in heaven. In just a blink of an eye, they were plunged into hell. It was, naturally, difficult for them to accept this. It made no sense at all!

“Overarching Heaven Pills!”

“H-he actually managed to refine Overarching Heaven Pills?”

The crowd outside of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect’s shop was in shock and disbelief when they saw Duan Ling Tian had refined three Overarching Heaven Pills. Most of them were puzzled by how he managed to refine the pills when his skills and techniques were mediocre, at best.

“It’s true… He managed to refine it!”

“His refining skills are terrible, and yet, he managed to refine a top prominent Celestial Pill like the Overarching Heaven Pill? Is this a joke?”

“Well, maybe it’s because he possesses an extraordinary prominent Celestial Fire? I tried to extend my Divine Consciousness into his cauldron earlier. After all, I’m a Celestial Duke, but I still can’t probe his cauldron with my Divine Consciousness!”

“An extraordinary prominent Celestial Fire? Impossible! If his prominent Celestial Fire is extraordinary, he wouldn’t have taken eleven hours just to heat the cauldron. Moreover, he’s visibly exhausted after refining the pills. It’s obvious the process has taken a toll on him.”

At this moment, it did not occur to anyone that Duan Ling Tian had deliberately hidden his skills. After all, he was young, not even 100 years old. It was already amazing that he could refine the Overarching Heaven Pill at this age. Apart from that, there was no reason for him to hide his skills at all.

While everyone’s attention was focused on Duan Ling Tian, Duan Ling Tian sighed inwardly as he thought to himself, ‘Such a shame that the remaining Overarching Heaven Pills have to go to waste.’

In truth, Duan Ling Tian had refined seven Overarching Heaven Pills even though he had deliberately refined it with mediocre skills and techniques. However, he only collected three of the pills. He left the remaining four pills in the cauldron, and they were destroyed by the third form of the Chaos Divine Flame. It was not only the Chaos Divine Flame, but pills that were not collected from a cauldron would be destroyed by a Celestial Fire as well.

‘I hope the four Overarching Heaven Pills that I sacrificed will help me during the Alchemy Conference. I have to do this so people would think my success rate of forming pills is low even if they know I can refine the Overarching Heaven Pill,’ Duan Ling Tian thought to himself. He had to downplay his strength because he did not want to expose his true alchemy skills.

The news of Duan Ling Tian successfully refining three Overarching Heaven Pills would undoubtedly spread throughout Alchemy City in due time. He had to keep his skills hidden so he could still lure other prominent Celestial Alchemists into betting with him during the Alchemy Conference. For example, he could use his seemingly low success rate to lure people to compete with him on the success rate of refining pills. Situ Ming had told him that during the Alchemy Conference, people would compete on many different things such as heating speed and success rate of refining pills. The possibilities were endless. As such, it was better for him to downplay his skills.

When Duan Ling Tian regained his senses, he looked at Lian Cheng Yi and Xiao Teng before he said with a faint smile on his face, “Sect Leader Lian, Sect Leader Xiao, thank you for the Celestial Method and Divine Ability.”

Upon hearing Duan Ling Tian’s words, a murderous rage rose in Lian Cheng Yi and Xiao Teng’s hearts. Alas, they had to suppress it. They were wary of He Shan, the Old Ancestor of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect, after all. Although their cultivation bases were similar to He Shan in which they were all Eight Trigrams Celestial Duke, He Shan who was older than them was still stronger than them. Even if both of them joined forces, they were not sure if they could defeat He Shan. Apart from that, they could not bear to humiliate themselves by going back on their words and dishonoring the bet they had agreed to.

Before Lian Cheng Yi regained his senses, Xiao Teng looked at Duan Ling Tian intently and said, “Master Duan, you finally revealed your hidden skills. Senior He Shan is right. You’re truly worthy of being the Tai Yi Celestial Sect’s Chief Celestial Alchemist!” At the same time, he took a Memory Celestial Talisman out and tossed it over to Duan Ling Tian.

The Memory Celestial Talisman clearly contained the double-trait offensive-movement Duke Grade Divine Ability from the Thousand Leaves Celestial Sect.

As Duan Ling Tian reached out to retrieve it, Xiao Teng turned around and said to Tan Zheng Ye tonelessly, “Vice Sect Leader Tan, let’s go.” Although he had tried his best to suppress his anger, one could still detect a hint of coldness in his seemingly apathetic tone.

“Yes, sect leader,” Tan Zheng Ye hastily replied. He could, naturally, sensed Xiao Teng’s fury. Xiao Teng who rarely got angry was thoroughly infuriated at this moment. He quickly followed after Xiao Teng who had begun to walk away.

Now that Tan Zheng Ye had made a move to leave, his male and female disciples, naturally, followed suit. The male disciple, Cheng Da Gang, looked at Duan Ling Tian before he left. The disdain in his eyes had completely vanished as he looked at Duan Ling Tian warily and fearfully. After all, it did not matter if a prominent Celestial Alchemist who could refine the Overarching Heaven Pill was strong or weak. As long the prominent Celestial Alchemist wished to kill someone, there would be many powerhouses clamoring to gain favor and kill for him.

‘He… Is he really younger than 100 years old?’ Cheng Da Gang was perplexed. It was difficult for him to accept a brat who was not even 100 years old was a prominent Celestial Alchemist capable of refining the Overarching Heaven Pill.

The crowd obediently parted to the sides to make way for the people from the Thousand Leaves Celestial Sect. They fell silent for a moment and only resumed their conversations once the people from the Thousand Leaves Celestial Sect faded from view.

“Those from the Thousand Leaves Celestial Sect truly have gone out for wool but went home shorn… Not only did they fail to acquire Tai Yi Celestial Sect’s Duke Grade Celestial Method and Divine Abilities, but they even lost their Duke Grade Divine Ability!”

“Although it’s just a Divine Ability, the Thousand Leaves Celestial Sect lost an extraordinary Divine Ability. It’s a double-trait Duke Grade Divine Ability after all! It contains both offensive and defensive Divine Abilities.”

“Leave that aside for now. Look at the Supporting Sun Celestial Sect… I think Sect Leader Lian must feel like killing Master Guan now, right?”

“If you ask me, I don’t think he should blame Master Guan. After all, no one expected that a young man who’s not even 100 years old is capable of refining the Overarching Heaven Pill!”

Guan Qi Fei felt everyone’s gaze trained on him and Lian Cheng Yi. He, naturally, heard their words as well. He cautiously looked at Lian Cheng Yi only to be met with Lian Cheng Yi’s cold eyes. His heart skipped a beat, and he hastily sent a Voice Transmission to Lian Cheng Yi to explain himself. “Sect Leader, I apologize! I really don’t know how he managed to refine the Overarching Heaven Pills when he hasn’t even reached the age of 100.” Contrary to his words to Lian Cheng Yi, inwardly, he grumbled, annoyed by Lian Cheng Yi’s gaze, ‘I can’t be held solely responsible for this matter. If you didn’t want to bet, I wouldn’t have been able to force you no matter how hard I try. It seems like I should leave the Sun Supporting Celestial Sect after the Alchemy Conference.’

Fortunately, Lian Cheng Yi could not read Guan Qi Fei’s mind. Otherwise, he might have killed Guan Qi Fei in a fit of rage. He was aware that his anger at Guan Qi Fei was not entirely justified. Therefore, he replied through Voice Transmission, “Master Guan, there’s no need to apologize. You’re not the only one to blame her.”

Alas, Guan Qi Fei remained annoyed and ignored Lian Cheng Yi’s good intentions and did not take Liang Cheng Yi’s words to heart.

After a short moment, Lian Cheng Yi said, “Master Duan, you’re too humble.” Then, he passed a Memory Celestial Talisman that contained the Supporting Sun Celestial Sect’s offensive-defensive Duke Grade Celestial Method to Duan Ling Tian. At the same time, he sent a Voice Transmission to Duan Ling Tian, “Master Duan, why don’t you consider joining the Supporting Sun Celestial Sect after the Alchemy Conference? The Supporting Sun Celestial Sect is much stronger than the Tai Yi Celestial Sect… We even have a Nine Palaces Celestial Duke! If you’re willing to join us, the Supporting Sun Celestial Sect is also willing to make you our Chief Celestial Alchemist. In fact, we’ll fulfill your every wish as long as it’s within our means!”

Upon hearing Lian Cheng Yi’s words, Duan Ling Tian did not reply through Voice Transmission. Instead, he openly said, “Sect Leader Lian, you said if I join the Supporting Sun Celestial Sect, the sect will fulfill every demand I make as long as it’s within the sect’s means?”

“Master Duan, you…” Lian Cheng Yi, naturally, did not expect Duan Ling Tian to reveal everything. His face flushed red from embarrassment, and his expression soured. At the same time, he keenly felt He Shan’s pointed gaze.