Chapter 382: Who Can't Laugh?

The third duel between Xiao Rufeng and Tong Wenshou began, drawing everyone's attention.

Naturally, no one noticed the suppressed rage burning in Ye Yuan's corner.

The two started alchemy, and Tong Wenshou's strength once again refreshed everyone's understanding!

His movements were completely fluid, completing the pill refinement almost in one go!

In contrast, Xiao Rufeng's refinement showed that he was indeed not in his best state. Even so, he still managed to complete it admirably.

When the two pills were presented to Yang Xiu, everyone held their breath again.

This match was the key battle determining victory or defeat between the Xiao and Tong families!

The seven Pill King elders examined them, and Yang Xiu finally spoke: "Xiao Rufeng's pill is of medium grade, Tong Wenshou's is... top grade! This round, the Tong family wins!"

Xiao Rufeng's head exploded with a buzz.

Lost just like that?

The Xiao family...

"Pfft!" Xiao Rufeng's emotions were too intense, triggering his old injury, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Brother!"

"Rufeng!"

Xiao Changfeng and Xiao Ruyan quickly supported Xiao Rufeng, whose face was as pale as paper, looking extremely weak.

"Father... Ruyan... I'm... sorry... it's... all... my... fault!" Xiao Rufeng's self-reproach was palpable.

"Don't talk. I'll send someone to take you back to rest properly!" said Xiao Changfeng.

"Brother, don't speak. You did your best!" Xiao Ruyan's tears streamed down.

But Xiao Rufeng stubbornly shook his head: "No... I won't go back. I... I want to see... the result!"

"But... but..." Xiao Ruyan's bond with her brother was clearly deep, and seeing him like this broke her heart.

Just then, a hand extended before her, holding a pill in its palm.

Xiao Ruyan turned to look—who else could it be but Ye Yuan?

"Give this to him," Ye Yuan said calmly.

Xiao Ruyan looked down and was startled: "A... a top-grade Haoling Peiyuan Pill! Ji Qing, where did you get this?"

"As a Xiao family guest elder, I have that authority, right? I got some herbs and refined it in my spare time over the past two days. Give it to him quickly; if this continues, he'll die," Ye Yuan said flatly.

"Oh, right, right." Xiao Ruyan quickly fed the pill to Xiao Rufeng.

Xiao Changfeng was also very surprised. The Haoling Peiyuan Pill was a unique formula of the Xiao family, and an incomplete one at that—how did Ye Yuan know it?

And this kid could actually refine a top-grade Haoling Peiyuan Pill? This...

When the Xiao family recruited Ye Yuan, he had refined the Yulong Jingxin Pill, and the difficulty of refining the Haoling Peiyuan Pill was far greater than that of the Yulong Jingxin Pill.

Given Xiao Ruyan's strength, she could only produce a low-grade pill, yet Ye Yuan could refine a top-grade one?

Perhaps... the Xiao family hasn't reached the end of its rope yet!

Xiao Changfeng settled his son and came before Ye Yuan, saying in a low voice, "Brother Ji..."

But Ye Yuan interrupted him, saying, "No need to promise me anything. In this battle, I will beat Tong Wenchang so badly that he'll never have the confidence to refine pills again."

Ye Yuan's words were very calm, not sounding like any grand declaration, yet Xiao Changfeng felt a chill rise within him.

He felt that Ye Yuan was not joking.

But... Ye Yuan was only a mid-level grand alchemist. Could he really beat the quasi-pill king Tong Wenchang to the point where he'd lose confidence in alchemy?

That sounded somewhat ridiculous.

Still, no matter what, Xiao Changfeng saw a last glimmer of hope, which was far better than despair!

Being able to refine a top-grade Haoling Peiyuan Pill, perhaps this Ji Qing really could contend with Tong Wenchang?

On the Xiao family's side, there was dead silence; everyone looked like frostbitten eggplants.

They had no confidence in Ye Yuan at all. A mid-level grand alchemist against a quasi-pill king? What a joke!

On the Tong family's side, there was jubilation, forming a stark contrast between the two sides.

"Haha, Wenshou, well done!" Tong Wenchang hugged Tong Wenshou, saying happily.

"Heh, just luck. Fortunately, Xiao Rufeng failed in his Chonghai breakthrough and is not in good form now," Tong Wenshou said modestly.

"Wenshou, don't sell yourself short! I know Xiao Rufeng's level too well. Even at his peak, he might not necessarily beat you. Even if he were stronger, it wouldn't be by much."

Tong Wenshou nodded and said, "Mm, now it's up to you, Wenchang!"

Tong Wenchang laughed at that: "Hehe, I can't wait to get on stage! I've had it with that kid for a long time. This time, I'll show him how pills are really refined!"

Tong Wenshou smiled and said, "I heard that kid is only a mid-level grand alchemist. With your strength, you can completely crush him! But Wenchang, you still need to be careful. The Xiao family isn't stupid; since they sent him out, he must have some exceptional qualities."

Tong Wenchang dismissed it, saying, "What exceptional qualities could he have? I've already found out; this kid can only refine Yulong Jingxin Pills. At most, he can refine pills above his level, nothing special. If he were at the same level as me, I'd have to be careful, but he's just a mid-level grand alchemist—too weak!"

Tong Wenshou smiled and didn't argue. He knew Tong Wenchang was right. He was well aware of Tong Wenchang's genius; there was no way he could lose to such a young mid-level grand alchemist.

Tong Wenshou's talent was not bad; in fact, it could be said to be very impressive.

But in the Tong family, he had always been overshadowed by Tong Wenchang, who was younger than him, showing the gap between them.

If Tong Wenchang couldn't even handle a kid like that, it would be a joke.

At that moment, Tong Fangshuo also came over and said to Tong Wenchang, "Wenchang, take down that kid in one go and make the Xiao family completely roll out of the royal city! We've prepared for so many years, and today is finally the day of harvest!"

Tong Wenchang smiled and said, "Father, rest assured. I'll be back in a moment!"

With that, he kicked aside Du Cheng beside him and walked into the arena.

This scene also fell into Ye Yuan's eyes!

Ye Yuan was very calm now, but the calmer he was, the greater his anger!

Tong Wenchang came before Ye Yuan, his face full of smiles, and said, "Kid, when you were outside, you probably never dreamed in your wildest imagination that your opponent would be me, right? Haha, don't be afraid. I won't spare you any face!"

Ye Yuan, however, said calmly, "I hope you can still laugh later."

"I can't laugh? Haha... that's a really funny joke! If you were just trying to amuse me, congratulations, you succeeded! But I want to see whether you can't laugh later, or I can't!" Tong Wenchang said smugly.