Kamimine

Chapter 48 No Need for a Foot-Washing Maid

The gambling date arrived as scheduled, causing a sensation in the capital and sparking much discussion.

Many people, including some of the royal family’s disciples, believe that Liu Chengfeng has no right to represent the royal family.

On this day, people from all sides gathered outside the ancestral hall.

In addition to the participants, nobles and members of the royal family also came to watch the spectacle.

In terms of the number of attendees, the Grandmaster's Mansion had the largest presence, with many powerful figures, the Three Hu leaders, and Ye Ziyang all in attendance.

Their vigor and power were awe-inspiring, and with the Grandmaster's Mansion firmly in charge, no one dared to act recklessly.

The Nangong family and the Denglong Holy Sect both had many powerful figures present, but their presence was still three points weaker than that of the Grandmaster's Mansion.

Outside the ancestral hall, many powerful figures gathered to watch the spectacle, yet the scene remained quiet.

With three great figures from the Great Dao Divine Treasury presiding over the place, the might of the Great Dao pressed down on everyone like a mountain, and no one made a loud noise.

The three important figures, with Nangong Zheng reclining on the divine carriage, appearing as if high in the clouds.

Ye Ziyang and Wu Yuanqing sat side by side, their imposing presence commanding respect and preventing anyone from making a sound.

The time was approaching, and everyone waited.

Liu Chengfeng arrived in a dragon carriage, escorted by imperial guards, and accompanied by Nangong Renshe and others.

Having obtained a branch of the spiritual vein, many disciples of the Qiyun Sect have already moved here.

Today, Liu Chengfeng accepted the challenge, and all the disciples of Qiyun Sect came to cheer him on.

Seeing Liu Chengfeng riding in the dragon carriage, accompanied by imperial guards, the royal disciples and nobles, unaware of the situation, whispered among themselves.

What right does an outsider have to enjoy such treatment, and what right does he have to represent the royal family?

Some royal disciples were secretly indignant. The ancestral hall belonged to their Qiuchi Kingdom, so why should outsiders be allowed to interfere?

The descendants of the Grandmaster's Mansion and the nobility remained silent; if the Grandmaster's Mansion won, the benefits would be even greater.

Empress Qiuchi did not appear.

Ye Ziyang and Wu Yuanqing exchanged a glance, their unspoken understanding unspoken.

"Today, we will use alchemy as our game. Each side will send one disciple. Whoever refines the second-level mountain pill and fills the most thunder and fire eyes first will win and be able to claim the turtle head!"

It is unknown what methods Nangong Zheng used, but Wu Yuanqing of the Guli Royal Court was put in charge.

The gambling began, with the Grandmaster's Mansion sending Cheng Nan and Nangong Zheng sending his eldest disciple.

The Holy Sect of Ascending Dragon sent a female disciple named Golden Phoenix, who was dispatched from the Holy Sect overnight.

All three parties sent alchemists, leaving only the royal family.

"I've just learned a bit about alchemy these past few days, so I'll reluctantly play along with you guys."

Liu Chengfeng stepped forward lazily.

"You really just started learning alchemy?"

Wu Yuanqing stared at Liu Chengfeng, finding it hard to believe.

"Senior Nangong insisted on betting with our royal family on alchemy, so I had no choice but to cram at the last minute to learn it."

Ye Ziyang, Nangong Zheng and the others focused their gazes. After inquiring, they found out that Liu Chengfeng had indeed just started learning alchemy.

Nangong was suspicious; he simply couldn't believe that someone who had just learned alchemy could compete with his eldest disciple.

"To represent the royal family after only learning alchemy is outrageous. Replace him."

Some members of the royal family were outraged, saying that the fate of the royal family and the nation was at stake, and how could it be treated so lightly?

Many royal disciples were dissatisfied and shouted for a replacement.

The disciples of the Grandmaster's Mansion sneered, pleased with the outcome.

The Grandmaster's Mansion and the Royal Family jointly govern Qiuchi Kingdom. If the Royal Family loses face, the Grandmaster's Mansion will be the winner.

“A mere novice, a disgrace to the royal family.”

Cheng Nan sneered, arrogant, and didn't even look Liu Chengfeng in the eye.

Although he suffered a loss at Liu Chengfeng's hands, he was a genius in alchemy and the strongest alchemist in Qiuchi Kingdom. Only he was qualified to represent Qiuchi Kingdom.

This alchemy genius wanted to shine in front of Ye Yiqing.

"You knelt down and kowtowed, almost calling me 'father,' and that's how you disgraced the Grandmaster's Mansion?"

Liu Chengfeng laughed loudly, retaliating in kind.

"Little bastard—"

Cheng Nan's face turned ashen, filled with shame and anger.

"If you lose today, you will be sentenced to death for a serious crime."

"Want to play another round? If you lose, kneel down and call me 'Dad.' Although I don't want such a good-for-nothing son, I'll be happy to see you make a fool of yourself."

"you--"

Cheng Nan was so angry that he vomited blood, his eyes blazing with fury, wishing he could tear Liu Chengfeng to pieces.

"This is not something to be taken lightly; the overall situation must be prioritized."

Ye Ziyang's voice was like a morning bell, reminding Cheng Nan not to lose his composure.

Cheng Nan regained his senses, composed himself, and stared at Liu Chengfeng with a malicious gaze.

"Are you really a beginner?"

The Golden Phoenix of the Ascending Dragon Holy Sect interrogated Liu Chengfeng.

What a magnificent golden phoenix! Dressed in a red skirt adorned with gold, tall and voluptuous, with a jeweled phoenix-shaped hairpin, she exudes the fiery aura of an alchemist, like a fire phoenix.

Jin Fenghuang, also known as Shen Jinfeng, is a mid-grade alchemist of the second level, an alchemy genius of the Denglong Holy Sect, and a personal disciple of the vice sect leader Yi Yuzhou.

The fact that the royal family of Qiuchi Kingdom sent a novice alchemist to participate in the competition is like child's play, and it's hard to believe.

"Cramming at the last minute, practicing haphazardly."

Liu Chengfeng's words displeased the royal family members; such a momentous matter was being treated so lightly.

"Changing the person means handing over the ancestral hall to someone else?"

"We are bound to lose, we will lose face for the royal family, we must replace them."

Some royal disciples are clamoring for a replacement.

Ye Ziyang gave a deep shout, and the power of the Great Dao swept down, instantly silencing everyone.

"Indeed, I'm just starting out."

Nangong Zheng found out the details, and Ye Ziyang confirmed it as well.

They also had doubts in their hearts: how could Empress Qiuchi be so heartless as to allow a novice alchemist to participate in the competition? This was tantamount to ruining her kingdom.

Beneath the silence, many royal disciples harbored resentment. This time, the royal family had lost all face and was on the verge of ruin. His Majesty was truly foolish.

“You’re no match for a beginner alchemist. You can simply concede defeat, and the three of us will settle the score.”

Shen Jinfeng disdained to compete with Liu Chengfeng on the same stage; she was a mid-grade alchemist of the second level, a genius in alchemy.

A novice alchemist is not qualified to compare with her.

"You take yourself too seriously, you little alchemist."

These words enraged Shen Jinfeng, her chest heaving with anger. When had she, a genius alchemist, ever been looked down upon? "You ignorant fool, you will surely be defeated!"

What if you lose?

Liu Chengfeng sneered and looked down at Shen Jinfeng.

"It's a pity I don't have the hobby of having a foot-washing maid, otherwise, you would have washed my feet if you lost."

"Seeking their own death—"

Shen Jinfeng's beautiful eyes flashed with anger, and murderous intent arose.

"Don't just rely on your words; let's see who's truly capable on stage. If you don't have the skills, don't spout nonsense!"

Cheng Nan sneered.

"Sigh, is this what a genius is? Such a limited perspective. Fine, I'll show you what a true genius is."

Liu Chengfeng surveyed the crowd with an air of disdain.

How can we give each other a handicap?

Nangong Zhengda's disciple, who had always been composed, couldn't help but ask upon hearing this.

"How many days will it take you to complete the pill, and how many days to fill the Thunderfire Eye?"

Nangong Zheng and the others exchanged glances and finally reached a consensus.

"Three days to refine the pill. Those who fail to succeed lose. Those who succeed will be the ones who fill the most Thunderfire Eyes with the pill."

"Three days is a bit long. Fine, I'll give you two days. The early bird catches the worm."

"What? Have you gone mad?"

Liu Chengfeng's words caused an uproar, with the royal disciples all thinking they had misheard.

Nangong Zheng and Ye Ziyang were dumbfounded.

"This is impossible; we are bound to lose."

Nangong thought this was impossible. One day was not enough time to refine pills, let alone fill the Eye of Thunderfire.

“Child's play, child's play, how can it be so childish?”

The royal family members couldn't help but curse loudly.

"It's a deal?"

Ye Ziyang and his group were overjoyed. Since the royal family had lost this round, they would have to hand over the ancestral temple token.

The rest is a matter between him and the Denglong Holy Sect and the Nangong family; he holds the initiative.

"It's a word."

"Are you crazy?"

Even Ye Yiqing couldn't stand it; this was ruining the fate of the royal family, like child's play.

"On behalf of the Royal Family, I hereby declare the Ancestral Hall open and the ceremony officially begins."

"Begin the alchemy!"

After Liu Chengfeng made the announcement, Wu Qingyuan also announced the start of the competition.

Cheng Nan, Shen Jinfeng, and Nangong's eldest disciple stepped onto the stage and stood before Lei Huozhi.

In front of the ancestral hall, there are four eyes of thunder and fire, and the well goes deep into the ground, with no bottom visible.

The Eyes of Thunder and Fire connect directly to the spiritual veins and earth fire. Only when all four Eyes of Thunder and Fire are filled with magma and earth fire can the entrance to the ancestral hall be opened.

Cheng Nan and the other two each took one eye, took out the spirit stove, and placed it on the eye of thunder and fire.

He circulates his inner energy, controls the spirit stove, and commands the stove fire.

The spirit stove spewed out orange flames, which, driven by the blood energy, connected with the earth fire, drawing the spiritual vein's earth fire magma into the eye of thunder and fire.

This is an ancestral hall, where the spiritual veins and earth fire are suppressed by the temple. Even if the alchemist is skilled in fire control, the spiritual stove can still draw in earth fire and magma.

However, the absorption of the magma from the Eye of Thunder and Fire was still slow.

This increases the difficulty of alchemy.

Cheng Nan and his team went all out, urging their blood and qi to guide the earth fire into the eye of thunder and fire. The stove fire was thus restrained, slowing down the alchemy process.

Despite the difficulties, Cheng Nan and his team were quite capable. They used medicinal herbs, controlled the fire to quench the medicine, and the process went very smoothly.

Seeing Cheng Nan and his team controlling the fire to quench the medicine, all the powerful figures present nodded in approval.

Grandmaster-level forces can only cultivate alchemists at the second level of alchemy, but the Nangong family is an exception.

Cheng Nan and his team are already on par with the older generation of alchemists; how could they not be geniuses?
Who will win?

Seeing that Cheng Nan, Shen Jinfeng, and the eldest disciple were all focused on refining pills, many people whispered and speculated.

Most people believe that Nangong's eldest disciple will win because he is a second-grade high-level cultivator, and his success rate in elixirs is higher than that of Shen Jinfeng and Cheng Nan.

Some people believe that Cheng Nan has a great chance of winning because the ancestral hall belongs to Qiuchi Kingdom, and Cheng Nan is a descendant of a noble family and is close to the spiritual vein and earth fire.

He can fill the Thunderfire Eye faster, freeing up more time for alchemy.

"Who will win is unknown, but the one surnamed Liu is bound to lose."

The outcome is still uncertain, but everyone agrees that Liu Chengfeng will definitely lose.

The royal family's disciples harbored deep resentment towards Liu Chengfeng, believing that this incompetent man had brought ruin to the royal family.

They blamed His Majesty for being foolish, but none of them dared to say such things to Empress Qiuchi.

Some people also bet on Shen Jinfeng to win, for a simple reason: she is beautiful, and such a beautiful alchemist is rare.

Looking at Liu Chengfeng, who was already asleep on the imperial carriage, Nangong Zheng was suspicious. He didn't know what Liu Chengfeng was up to.

Can he really win?
Nangong Zheng did not believe it.

Ye Ziyang smiled. He didn't care what Liu Chengfeng was up to. As long as Liu Chengfeng lost, the royal family would have no choice but to hand over the ancestral temple token.

The stove fire leaped and the heat rolled in as everyone watched Cheng Nan and Shen Jinfeng refine pills.

Two days later, it showed signs of forming a pill. The heat wave intensified, and the aroma of medicine filled the air. A lot of magma and fire was also added to the Eye of Thunder and Fire.

"It's not finished yet?"

Liu Chengfeng, who had been sleeping, woke up, went up on the stage, and glanced at Cheng Nan and the others.

Cheng Nan was indeed the one with the most accumulated lava, and the eldest brother was the first to achieve the Core Formation stage. Shen Jinfeng was not bad either, both were quite steady.

Until the very last moment, who dares to claim victory? After all, none of them are innate alchemists, and it's impossible for them to achieve a 100% success rate in creating the pill.

"Two days, and you haven't filled the Thunderfire Eye or refined the Mountain Pill. Is this the level of a genius?"

Liu Chengfeng shook his head.

These words provoked the crowd's anger, and everyone glared at Liu Chengfeng, even the royal family members.

"What do you have? A cold stove and an empty hearth, all you do is boast!"

Cheng Nan sneered.

"Those who ruin the nation's destiny are traitors to the country."

Many people secretly cursed Liu Chengfeng.

(End of this chapter)