Chapter 436

Luwu Platform

A man and a woman faced each other, gazing; in the middle, the medicinal pill's glaze spun, beginning to turn multicolored.

The tightly packed spectators around were so nervous their breathing grew faint, fearing to affect the Pill Ghost's judgment!

Yet the Pill Ghost fell into a long silence.

The pill floating before him seemed to possess an indescribable power!

Another half incense stick's time passed……

"Pill Ghost Sir, guess!"

"Correct! The last one—if you guess it right, it's a draw!"

Finally someone couldn't help but shout.

Sweat began to appear on Lu Congli's forehead.

Ye Xingruo's face also showed beads of sweat.

Han Fuyou lightly laughed: "Mr. Lu, feel free to guess; this pill is quite common, but it may not enter your discerning eye!"

Lu Congli's breathing grew ragged; finally he clasped his hands and conceded: "I... cannot guess it!"

Saying this, he dejectedly jumped down from the Luwu Platform.

The nobles and officials watching from all directions, upon seeing this, were filled with indignation.

The Pill Ghost, who a dozen years ago defeated the Imperial Capital's pill‑crafting elite, is this? Can't even recognize thirty pills??

Ye Xingruo's face turned even paler, as if all hope had vanished; she took a few steps toward Lu Congli: "Sir, why is this?"

Lu Congli gave a bitter smile and shook his head: "Actually these years... I've lived in the Imperial Capital, rarely leaving; the Great Zhou's Imperial Capital has no Pill Refining Alliance, and is monopolized by the two great academies and the Fèngtiān Jiàn, leaving us no contact with the outside! Identifying pills is our weakness! Moreover, this Miss Han is the daughter of a major figure in the Pill Refining Alliance, traveling the four great regions of the Eastern Continent—ordinary people can't compare to her!"

Ye Xingruo seemed to have lost all her strength!

Then someone couldn't help but ask the platform's Han Fuyou: "Miss, please tell us, what pill was that just now?"

Lu Congli and Ye Xingruo also looked over.

Han Fuyou lightly laughed: "Female Physician's Return‑Spring Pill! Among third‑grade pills, it chiefly treats female cultivators' menstrual irregularities!"

All around fell silent.

Lu Congli froze instantly—treating female cultivators' essence blood? When in his life had he ever paid attention to such a thing??

"Marvelous! Marvelous!" Ying Zhihou clapped and laughed loudly.

Ji Qian and Ji Yifan, a pair of unfortunate brothers, had unspeakable bitterness.

Then Han Fuyou stepped forward two paces: "Does Great Zhou have any more skilled pill refiners?"

All around was nothing but silence.

The pill‑crafting masters of the two academies, the bureau, and the office had all been defeated before; yet some senior pill refiners are very strong—unfortunately, skill in making pills doesn't equal skill in identifying them, and even with age and frailty their senses aren't keen.

Then someone couldn't help but say: "Miss Han, right? Since you're well‑versed and even know the Pill Ghost, tell us who in our Great Zhou could defeat you—just say it outright!"

"That's a shameless tactic; we won't play with you—just say it yourself, thick‑skinned, go ahead and claim you're invincible!"

"To claim invincibility and then come compete in 'pill identification'—how boring!"

Han Fuyou smiled and said: "I am unworthy, but having surveyed the Imperial Capital, only one person can stand against me on equal footing!"

"Who?"

The crowd instantly became excited.

Ji Qian, Ji Yifan, including Ye Xingruo, Li Jingfeng, and countless others all leaned in to listen closely.

Then Han Fuyou said: "This morning the Great Zhou enfeoffed that Champion Marquis, Heng Xian!"

"Heng Xian?"

"Poetry Sage?"

"Again him?"

People all around glanced at each other in bewilderment.

Crown Prince Ji Qian also looked at Ji Yifan: "Your brother‑in‑law also knows pill refining?"

Ji Yifan was dazed: "I don't know—how does he know everything?"

"How does he know everything!!"

At this moment Ye Xingruo's face was extremely ferocious.

Beside him, Li Jingfeng and Situ Le and a few others were also very curious.

On the palace wall road, imperial ladies and consorts had been stopping to watch; seeing Great Zhou's defeat, they held back a stifled anger, and upon hearing this they grew curious, all turning their gazes toward Ji Yaoyue.

The Empress, mother of the realm, also asked: "Yaoyue, does Heng Xian also know pill refining?"

Ji Yaoyue's face bore a hint of joy at her husband being acknowledged: "Replying to the Empress, Heng Xian is also a pill refiner!"

"What a fine child!" Though the Empress's impression of Heng Xian wasn't good, she could only praise him now.

"Does the Poetry Sage Sir also know pill refining?"

Beneath the Luwu Platform, someone shouted loudly, after all poetry and chess belong to the scholar‑gentleman's six arts, while pill refining is entirely different!

"Heng Xian is a pill refiner; at fifteen he entered the Pill Refining Alliance as a second‑grade pill refiner, and back then he even directed ordinary people in pill making, in pill‑refining contests he utterly bested the whole city—truly a genius pill refiner!"

Han Fuyou explained earnestly.

At this moment, the more seriously she spoke, the more she elevated Heng Xian's name; later, after defeating him, she could raise herself even higher, and afterward the Pill Refining Alliance taking root in the Great Zhou Imperial Capital would be all but certain.

Indeed!

All around rose a clamor—fifteen‑year‑old second‑grade pill refiner? Many at fifteen can't even recognize a few spiritual herbs!

Truly there are geniuses in the world, such as the Poetry Sage Heng Xian.

Han Fuyou gave a light laugh, glancing faintly toward the Princess of Peace's residence: "Where is Heng Xian? Dare you accept the challenge?"

Whoosh—

Everyone looked toward the surroundings and the gate direction!

Especially the outsiders who had never seen Heng Xian were dying of curiosity!

The noble young ladies were full of anticipation! The young lords were full of rivalry!

However, Heng Xian did not appear; only……

We're here!

Four voices, full of pride and confidence, came from the direction of the palace garden gate.

Everyone hurriedly looked over, unable to help feeling greatly disappointed!

Only four people had arrived—exactly the capital's four great young masters——

BoYang Prince Heir Wu Sitian, DongXiang Prince Heir Wu Sidi, Chang Gongzhu's legitimate son Xu Youzhi, and Prime Minister's legitimate eldest grandson Cao Wei!

In the capital, these four were notorious for doing all kinds of evil and having nothing to do!

These four hadn't made a name for themselves today; each dressed more flamboyantly than the next, looking at first glance like anything but respectable people.

Everyone simply ignored the four, who were in the midst of breaking the siege, anxious—what trouble are they stirring up!

However, facing the crowd's disregard, the four were not discouraged, and rushed straight to beneath Lu Wu Terrace: 'Make way! We're about to show off!!!'

The term 'showing off'—everyone could barely understand it, but it wasn't as vulgar and deliberate as Heng Xian's past life; on the contrary, it was a kind of confidence, an alternative expression of mastery!

The crowd made way, full of contempt: 'What are you showing off for! Do you even have the ability?'

Ying Zihou couldn't help but look at Ji Gan and Ji Yao Fan brothers, laughing: 'Where did these four pretty boys get stepped on?'

Crown Prince Ji Gan couldn't help but pinch his brow, paying no attention!

However, Xu Youzhi and the others paid no heed, directly leaping onto Lu Wu Terrace, and slightly bowed to Han Fuyao: 'We four are not alchemists, but we have some superficial knowledge; we wish to identify pills together—may I ask what the lady thinks?'

Han Fuyao slightly frowned: 'Alright! Let's begin!'

Immediately, she lightly waved her hand, flicking out a pill that landed two zhang away from the four, giving them a chance!

Upon seeing it, they first sniffed, then only saw Xu Youzhi take out a bamboo slip from his bosom; the four gathered close, pointing and discussing in low voices: 'It smells like horse urine, the pill aura is one and a half layers, revealing a hint of green; here, the elder brother's annotation is clear—this is the Minor Formless Pill……'

What are these sneaky guys researching?

The dense crowd below all looked at the four, unable to help but be curious.

Han Fuyao on the stage was also curious, instinctively looking at the bamboo slip in the four's hands.

The four immediately put away the bamboo slip, not letting them see; Xu Youzhi narrowed his eyes slightly: 'The Minor Formless Pill, lower fourth grade, has the effect of healing the damaged dantian of Qi Sea Realm cultivators; the main and auxiliary ingredients are Mirror Flower Grass and Eagle Mystic Mushroom……'

All around fell silent.

Then saw Han Fuyao hesitate a moment, then nod: 'Correct!'

The reason for the hesitation was that Xu Youzhi was stammering, as if reciting from memory.

Huh……

The crowd below erupted in shouts.

I've had too much to drink, can't transmit, I miss you—will update tomorrow! Wish everyone a happy new year!

(End of chapter)