Chapter 68: How Many Longevity Pills Do You Have?
Last time Xu Zhengyang entered the Celestial Treasure Pavilion...
A single Longevity Pill that could extend life by fifteen years was auctioned off for the staggering price of seventy-six middle-grade spirit stones!
And now, this personal disciple of Master Tai Su, Yan Wuchen...
He was generous enough to offer a Longevity Pill that was twice as effective, extending life by thirty years, as a prize!
Without backing, how could he act so arrogantly?
So Xu Zhengyang asked Su Mo, “May I ask, Miss Su, since this personal disciple of Master Tai Su set up the challenge, has anyone managed to defeat him?”
Su Mo's face revealed a trace of admiration upon hearing this, and she said, “No matter who challenged him or what they competed in, no one has ever bested this personal disciple of Master Tai Su.”
“Oh?”
Xu Zhengyang raised his eyebrows in response, looking puzzled.
Even if Yan Wuchen was truly a peerless genius, how old could he possibly be right now?
Martial techniques, esoteric spells, even music, chess, calligraphy, and painting...
To be proficient in all these—he was practically a hexagonal cultivator!
Thus, Xu Zhengyang curiously asked Su Mo, “May I ask, Miss Su, who exactly is this Yan Wuchen?”
Su Mo didn’t hold back, and with a charming smile, said, “Our Pavilion Master had observed this young man in secret for many days.
If our guess is correct...
This Yan Wuchen is likely a mighty expert reincarnated with retained spiritual consciousness!”
“Reincarnated with retained consciousness?”
Xu Zhengyang was utterly shocked by Su Mo’s words.
Then, he sensed something was off and asked, “If that’s really the case, why wouldn’t Yan Wuchen just hide away and cultivate in seclusion?
Why make such a spectacle of himself?
Does he want the whole world to know?”
Su Mo pondered for a moment.
Then, as if deciding something, she leaned close to Xu Zhengyang and whispered, “According to our Pavilion Master...
The cultivation method Yan Wuchen practices requires him to gather fortune and merge it into himself.
That’s why...
He behaves so ostentatiously.”
“If that’s the case, then I would very much like to witness the demeanor of this Yan Wuchen for myself!”
Xu Zhengyang said, then turned to Su Mo, “Miss Su, please take me to the Jiazi Section.”
“At your command,” Su Mo replied.
…
The Celestial Treasure Pavilion was vast beyond measure.
Because of that...
The Pavilion Master divided the Celestial Treasure Pavilion into sixty different functional zones according to the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches.
Among these sixty zones...
The most grand and luxurious was undoubtedly the Jiazi Section of the Pavilion!
At this moment...
In the Jiazi Section of the Celestial Treasure Pavilion...
Yan Wuchen was surrounded by numerous talents from Qingzhou, like stars encircling the moon.
He stood tall and straight, his white robe fluttering in the wind, star-like eyes shining beneath sword-like brows—graceful and unrestrained in every move.
With profound cultivation and a distinguished background...
And such a striking appearance...
The female cultivators here all stared at him with glistening eyes, as if their gaze could melt into water.
【Good looks, at least.】
Seeing Yan Wuchen, Xu Zhengyang silently commented in his heart, then strode confidently toward him without hesitation.
In terms of looks and presence, Xu Zhengyang was in no way inferior to Yan Wuchen.
Because of that...
As Xu Zhengyang walked up to Yan Wuchen with composure, the young talents originally surrounding Yan Wuchen were awed by Xu Zhengyang’s aura.
Unconsciously, they parted to make way for him.
Thanks to this...
Xu Zhengyang walked straight up to Yan Wuchen, cupped his hands, and said, “You must be the personal disciple of Master Tai Su, Yan Wuchen from Medicine King Valley?”
“Yes.”
Yan Wuchen nodded slightly and calmly began to size Xu Zhengyang up.
Yan Wuchen had sharp eyes.
Just from the three Tier-2 magical treasures Xu Zhengyang carried, he could tell Xu Zhengyang was surely a direct disciple of some great sect.
He smiled and asked, “May I ask which sect you hail from?”
“Xu Zhengyang, from Divine Mechanism Peak of the True Essence Sect.”
After introducing himself, Xu Zhengyang got straight to the point, “Upon entering the Pavilion just now, I heard that Brother Yan made a proclamation.
That any cultivator of the same generation who could best you in martial arts, esoteric techniques, or even music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, would be awarded a pill that extends life by thirty years.
Is that true?”
“Of course it’s true.”
With a “swish,” Yan Wuchen unfolded his folding fan and sighed lightly, “I’ve set up this challenge at the Celestial Treasure Pavilion for days now.
Yet no one has managed to take this Longevity Pill from me—what a pity.”
As he spoke...
Yan Wuchen folded the fan again and looked at Xu Zhengyang, asking, “Since you’re a personal disciple of Divine Mechanism Peak...
Could it be you want to compete with me in the Dao of Formations?”
“There’s no rush. We can go one by one.”
Xu Zhengyang said, staring intently at Yan Wuchen, “I’m just wondering how many Longevity Pills Brother Yan brought with him...
Are there enough for me to win?”
“Oh?”
A flicker of intrigue appeared in Yan Wuchen’s eyes as he lightly tapped his palm with the fan, “Brother Xu, you certainly have confidence.
Don’t worry.
I have more than enough Longevity Pills here.
The question is, what method will you use to claim them?”
Xu Zhengyang had long been prepared and immediately said, “I have some expertise in Go. How about we start with a game of Go?”
Yan Wuchen had no objections.
He promptly took out a Go board and pieces from his storage pouch, used a spell to suspend them in mid-air, and invited, “Please, Brother Xu.”
“No rush.”
Xu Zhengyang waved his hand and didn’t move, smiling, “Playing directly is too dull. Why don’t we play a game of blindfold Go?”
“Blindfold Go?”
The spark in Yan Wuchen’s eyes grew stronger, but he didn’t refuse and said immediately, “Wonderful!
Brother Xu, you are a guest from afar. Please, take black and go first!”
In Go rules, going first is a definite advantage.
Xu Zhengyang had come precisely for the Longevity Pills Yan Wuchen held.
Since Yan Wuchen was so gracious, Xu Zhengyang didn’t stand on ceremony and replied smoothly, “In that case, I won’t hold back.”
As he spoke...
Xu Zhengyang said directly, “Column sixteen, row four, star point.”
His opening was standard. Yan Wuchen calmly responded, “Column four, row sixteen, star point.”
Seeing the two had begun placing moves...
Su Mo gracefully stepped forward.
She walked to the side of the board and slightly bowed to both, saying, “In that case, allow me to record the moves for both gentlemen.”
As she spoke...
Su Mo picked out one black and one white piece and placed them at the designated spots.
Xu Zhengyang and Yan Wuchen exchanged glances, then turned around simultaneously, facing away from the board.
As they turned...
Xu Zhengyang continued, “Row sixteen, column sixteen, star point.”
“Row four, column four, star point,” Yan Wuchen replied defiantly.
“Row three, column three—point three-three!”
Xu Zhengyang’s words had just fallen...
Yan Wuchen immediately looked speechless, with a face full of reluctance to speak.
A moment later...
The young talents from Qingzhou watching nearby grew restless, murmuring in disappointment:
“Point three-three? Seriously, this kind of amateur dares challenge Young Master Yan?”
“He was so aggressive just now—turns out he just wanted to use Young Master Yan to make a name for himself?”
“So much for the True Essence Sect!”
“If you ask me, Young Master Yan should set some entry criteria to avoid wasting his time on every random stray dog!”