The Extreme Alchemist of the Mighty Cauldron - Chapter 514
Chapter 514: Chapter 514: The Influence of Mo Ziming
Gazing at the black smoke that was rising from the Pill Furnace, the dozen or so young Pill Refiners glared angrily at Fang Lin, their gazes suggesting they wished they could rush over and fight with him.
Even those few who managed to save their pills couldn’t help but feel secretly relieved. Had they not reacted quickly and taken prompt measures, they would have ended up like the dozen others – the precious Purple Mystery Pills they had painstakingly refined would have been ruined.
“Failed in pill refining, leave this place.” Chen Yongnian said bluntly, immediately causing the young Pill Refiners to grimace in frustration.
What’s going on? While the chances of their surpassing the likes of Zhang Wenxuan and the other five geniuses were slim, this was an excellent opportunity to prove their potential and strength to the higher-ups of the Pill Alliance.
Even if they couldn’t get the Domination Pill, they sought to make their mark and earn the attention of the Xuan Country’s Pill Alliance leadership.
Previously, they hadn’t paid any attention to Fang Lin, a mere youth from one of the Lower Three Kingdoms. They had downright dismissed him.
Yet they never imagined that this man they’d dismissed would thwart their golden opportunity to showcase their talents.
If they could, they’d most likely throw caution to the wind, rush in, and brutally beat Fang Lin.
Zhang Wenxuan and his group of five also watched Fang Lin in shock and confusion. They weren’t affected by Shaking Three Mountains due to their strength, but they were still taken aback by Fang Lin’s display of the ancient alchemy skill.
“It’s just an old alchemy skill. It’s not worth making such a fuss about,” said Qi Sanxuan, who stood next to Chen Yongnian. He clearly showed disdain and rejection towards Fang Lin through his words.
Everyone knew that Master Qi had previously lost face in Qian Country while overseeing an open assessment for the Pill Alliance. It was said to be related to Fang Lin. Thus, no one was surprised when he targeted Fang Lin.
“Hmm, Master Qi, are you belittling Shaking Three Mountains? Do you have any superior and impressive pill refining method to show us then?” Mo Ziming retorted dissatisfiedly.
Qi Sanxuan glared at Mo Ziming, “Steward Mo, all I did was speak the truth. Shaking Three Mountains isn’t worth such a fuss. On the contrary, Fang Lin should be punished for using it to destroy others’ pills.”
His statement raised eyebrows, as it seemed that Qi Sanxuan was just using this as a chance for personal retribution against Fang Lin.
Even Chen Yongnian glanced at Qi Sanxuan with a hint of dissatisfaction in his eyes. He didn’t say anything, though. After all, Qi Sanxuan held a significant position in Xuan Country’s Pill Alliance, and Chen Yongnian had to give him some respect due to their tangled relationship.
“Ridiculous! Fang Lin uses Shaking Three Mountains once, and you want to punishing him for it? Is there such a thing in this world! Master Qi, aren’t you afraid of the world’s Pill Refiners laughing at you? If the forefather of alchemy Tao who created Shaking Three Mountains were still alive, he would probably be infuriated to death by you,” retorted Mo Ziming sharply, uttering his words with potent emphasis.
“Mo Ziming, as a steward, you have no right to criticize me!” Qi Sanxuan was outraged and pointed angrily at Mo Ziming.
Laughing sarcastically, Mo Ziming replied, “Qi Sanxuan, I’ve disliked you for a long time. You bully others with your slight advantage and make use of those behind you to swagger around. Now, when our Xuan Country’s Pill Alliance has a promising alchemy Tao genius to nurture, you not only fail to appreciate him but even want to suppress him! What are your intentions? Have you lost the heart that a Pill Refiner should have?”
Mo Ziming’s last comment was piercing, delivered with a firm voice that struck Qi Sanxuan like a sharp blade.
Infuriated beyond measure, Qi Sanxuan seethed with anger. He hadn’t been this mad in a long time; the last time was in Qian Country, and it was also because of damn Fang Lin.
The people in the hall were flabbergasted. No one expected the situation would escalate to become a direct conflict between two high-ranking figures of Xuan Country’s Pill Alliance.
Qi Sanxuan holds a high position in the Pill Alliance of Xuan Country. Though he ostensibly assists Chen Yongnian alongside the rest of the elders, everyone knows he has a higher position behind the scenes and is second only to Chen Yongnian.
Qi Sanxuan’s skills in alchemy Tao weren’t necessarily stronger than the other elders. His high position was due mainly to the powerful factions he was in favor with behind the scenes.
The Pill Alliance has thirty-two halls, each occupied by a Hall Master. They are the real power figures in the Pill Alliance, and any one of them can stir up a storm with their influence.
Qi Sanxuan had curried favor with one of these Hall Masters, or more precisely, a confidant of this Hall Master.
Given Qi Sanxuan’s status, he wasn’t influential enough to directly build relationships with a Hall Master. However, winning the favor of a Hall Master’s confidant was enough to prove the extraordinary ability of Qi Sanxuan.
Because of this relationship, Qi Sanxuan held a firm foothold in Xuan Country’s Pill Alliance. He controlled around 30% of the alliance’s power, subtly overpowering the other elders.
And Mo Ziming? Despite being just a steward of Xuan Country’s Pill Alliance, everyone who’d been in the alliance for more than three years knew that his alchemy skills were no less impressive than any elder’s. Although he didn’t have much power, Mo Ziming’s word alone would mobilize at least four or five sect masters and sect hierarchs in Xuan Country to support him.
These sect masters and hierarchs chose to stand behind Mo Ziming because they were all indebted to him.
During an accident in a secret place in Xuan Country, many powerful people were trapped to death, including several sect masters and hierarchs of Xuan Country. Mo Ziming was among the trapped and was the only Pill Refiner there.
Mo Ziming used his alchemy skills on the spot to refine many pills, enabling the sect masters and hierarchs to survive until they were rescued.
Out of gratitude for Mo Ziming, these sect masters and hierarchs greatly revered him and regarded him as their lifesaver.
Although Mo Ziming never used these relationships to ask for favors, anyone understood that with these relationships, not many people dared to provoke him, even though he didn’t flaunt his power.
When it came to backing, Mo Ziming was truly unafraid of Qi Sanxuan.
Chen Yongnian gave a cough, finally speaking, “Both of you, this is the time of the competition. Don’t disturb these young people.”
Mo Ziming instantly stopped speaking, leaving Qi Sanxuan feeling frustrated and without an outlet for his feelings.
Zhang Wenxuan glanced up at Qi Sanxuan, the latter’s face cold, and gave a barely perceptible nod of acknowledgment.
Zhang Wenxuan got the hint and immediately slapped his Pill Furnace in front of him, and a pillar of Skyfire shot out, bursting into a flower of fire.
But just then, the flower of fire exploded, with most of the fire streaking out like meteors, heading straight for Fang Lin.
