Chapter 435: Ye Xingruo's Dan Gui Guest

Li Jingfeng and Situ Le looked toward Ye Xingruo, slightly bowing: "It turns out to be General Ye; I don't know what advice the General has?"

"I dare not offer advice!"

Ye Xingruo calmly glanced toward the inner court of the palace: "I have a guest who can identify myriad elixirs!"

"Oh?" Situ Le was somewhat surprised: "In that case, please have the General invite this expert out!"

"No rush!"

Ye Xingruo looked at the platform, slightly narrowing his eyes.

Li Jingfeng and Situ Le exchanged a glance, somewhat puzzled.

At this time, the crowd around Deer-Wu Platform grew larger and larger.

Royalty and nobles, officials and dignitaries brought their families and vassal envoys in small groups, plus high-ranking officials and the lecturers of the two great academies leading their wives and children.

Each wore bright, splendid attire, originally bearing the poise of high society and nobility.

But at this moment, everyone frowned, feeling stifled by the Qin envoy's "Elixir Identification Bureau."

At this moment another person jumped down from Deer-Wu Platform, having identified only seven elixirs!

This was already the sixty-third loser!

On a table west of Deer-Wu Platform, Crown Prince Ji Gan and Prince Wu Ji Yifan brothers stood together unusually, expressionless.

Ying Zihou happened to step down from Deer-Wu Platform, then stood nearby with his retinue; at this moment he glanced at the two brothers and said: "Great Zhou has always been called the Land of Rites, where a hundred schools contend, closest to the ancient fairyland—it seems the saying is not true!"

Ji Gan chuckled: "Qin came prepared; I don't know how long they've prepared—three months? A year? To let Great Zhou lose the platform in haste seems rather difficult even for the strong!"

Ying Zihou laughed: "For the Great Zhou Empress's birthday, experts from all over the country have gathered here, which is precisely to be prepared for sudden events; that no one has broken the platform for so long can only prove that Great Zhou…… lacks capable people!"

Ji Gan's face looked somewhat unnatural as he was about to speak, when Prince Wu Ji Yifan interjected: "Yesterday, a naked child from Great Zhou utterly crushed your state's sage; I wonder what the envoy thinks?"

The smile and confidence on Ying Zihou's face vanished completely; he coldly said: "It's merely the work of one person!"

Ji Gan sighed: "Just one person's work? But is he a subject of Great Zhou?"

Ying Zihou said: "As far as I know, Heng Xian is a person of Chu!"

Ji Yifan said: "Chu is a vassal of Great Zhou; Heng Xian is my Great Zhou son-in-law, so serving is natural!"

Ying Zihou shook his head: "A vassal state is not Great Zhou; Heng Xian…… has not become a Great Zhou son-in-law, as far as I know he and Her Highness the Princess Taiping have not yet married!"

"I am unworthy, but I wish to marry Princess Taiping with utmost sincerity and all means!"

"You……" Ji Yifan flew into a rage.

At that moment, a group of consorts, princesses, princes, dukes, and royal ladies slowly approached from the palace towers and city walls in the distance, presenting a vision of dignified grace and jade-like beauty.

Especially prominent was Ji Yaoyue, standing forward in a white princess robe, hair coiled high, bearing graceful poise like a fairy descending to the mortal realm.

People from all directions couldn't help but glance and then bowed in salute.

Ying Zihou's eyes shone as he murmured: "In Great Qin I had heard that the Great Zhou Emperor has an unmarried daughter, about twenty, with extraordinary cultivation talent and beauty; having seen her these days, she is indeed as I have rarely seen in my life! Princess Taiping…… I must marry her!"

In the distance, the composed Ye Xingruo also gazed at Ji Yaoyue on the palace wall road, as if waiting for this very moment; his face lit up with an unusual radiance, even his body trembling slightly. Seeing an Imperial Academy lecturer fall from Deer-Wu Platform, he immediately shouted: "Mr. Lu Congli, please step up to face the Qin envoy in combat!"

Clearly it was just "Elixir Identification," but saying it as "combat" adds a gunpowder flavor and stirs excitement!

Sure enough! As soon as the words fell, it attracted the gaze of everyone from all directions.

As the words finished, from the crowd behind him stepped out a middle-aged man of ordinary appearance with an eight-fork beard.

Yet upon seeing this ordinary middle-aged man, those who had been around for about four years were instantly shocked, and an uproar broke out:

"Dan Gui Lu Congli!!!"

"He's back again!"

"Dan Gui set up an elixir platform in the capital sixteen years ago, defeating seven hundred twenty elixir masters, and even heavily injuring the renowned Imperial Academy Mr. Li, Mr. Zhang of the State and Ancestral Temple Academy, and the Inspector of the Fengtian Supervision!"

"It is said that many years ago he already was a fourth-rank elixir master!"

"Although he has been away for many years, the capital still holds his legend!"

"General Ye Xingruo really has the means; he actually managed to invite him!"

"This must be a coincidence, since no one knows what the Great Qin's second platform is; thus, Ye Xingruo and Dan Gui must be friends, or he has subdued Dan Gui??"

Hearing the surrounding chatter, Ye Xingruo straightened his back considerably, his composure unperturbed; it seems the dejection from failing to assassinate Heng Xian a few days ago and being whipped by Princess Taiping has vanished! Moreover, he is about to match his reputation against Heng Xian's!

And the middle-aged man known as Dan Gui stepped up onto Deer-Wu Platform under the gaze of all.

Han Fuyou, upon seeing him, lightly chuckled: "So it's Mr. Lu Congli; we haven't seen each other in a while!"

Lu Congli's face showed a hint of desolation: "I didn't expect to meet the young lady here; truly a coincidence. It seems the Pill Refining Alliance does not intend to let go of the Great Zhou capital!"

Han Fuyou feigned ignorance: "I don't know what Mr. Lu is saying!"

Lu Congli said: "Then there's no need for more talk; let's begin!"

Han Fuyou chuckled: "Although Mr. Lu's elixir cultivation rank is higher than mine, he doesn't necessarily know all elixirs!"

Speaking, he lightly pointed at the illusory arrangement of the "Blessing Longevity Health Peace" elixir.

"Hum——"

One hundred elixirs rapidly spun; for a moment, rosy light shone with varied colors, glazed glass swirled, and the elixir's fragrance surged in all directions.

For a moment it drew exclamations from all around.

However Lu Congli's expression grew solemn, because the rotation of the one hundred elixirs this time made the fragrance even more chaotic.

"Elixir Identification" is based on elixir scent, color, aura, and momentum; at this moment they all became utterly confused.

"Begin, Senior Mr. Lu!"

Han Fuyou, in a red robe fluttering in the wind, appeared utterly confident and light.

And the elixir, flying on its own, drifted out one piece, at a distance of three zhang from Lu Congli.

Lu Congli glanced, then fell silent briefly: "Lesser Ink Residue Elixir, upper third grade; it has the effect of tranquil mind and concentrated spirit, soothing blood and qi rising; its main and auxiliary ingredients are Ink Spirit Beast Elixir."

The elixir flashed and was taken back.

Han Fuyou nodded: "Indeed, no wonder he's Dan Gui Lu Congli!"

The onlookers from all sides nodded repeatedly, saying, "You got one right!"

Next, the second pill shot out.

"Soul-Returning Blood-Congealing Pill..."

Lu Congli blurted out.

He also guessed the second correctly!

Then came the third, fourth, fifth...

More than twenty in a row, all guessed correctly!

Below, a wave of cheers erupted.

And Ye Xingruo occasionally glanced at Ji Yaoyue on the palace wall path, a faint confidence appearing on his face, especially after the group beside him—Li Jingfeng and Situ Le—lightly laughed and said a few words, "General Ye truly is extraordinary,"

Ye Xingruo suddenly felt that Heng Xian was nothing special; he had merely focused on cultivation and hadn't paid much attention to these 'tricks and frills'!

On the Deer Wu Platform, Lu Congli had already hit twenty-nine in a row; seeing the thirtieth, he could tie with his opponent, thus avoiding too much embarrassment for the Great Zhou!

However, at this very moment, the Pill Ghost fell into a prolonged silence……

(End of chapter)