Chapter 2123 — Forfeit

"Exactly. The rules of the contest haven't even been announced yet—do you really think you're some kind of all-rounder?" You Panhu curled his lip.

Old Master You nodded, signaling that Old Master Zhao could now declare the new rules.

"Very well. As everyone already knows, this contest is an alchemy tournament. Now, I shall announce the rules!" Old Master Zhao said. "The rules for this alchemy contest are as follows: whoever, within the allotted time, refines a tier-three elixir in the shortest time shall be the victor, with second and third place following in like order. There is no restriction on the type of elixir—so long as it is a tier-three elixir, it conforms to the rules! Now, will the contestants from each family and sect please take their places and prepare to refine..."

"Tier-three?" Wei Zhao was taken aback. Who had set these rules? Had they lost their minds? Was there anyone here who could refine a tier-three elixir? If tier-three elixirs were so easy to refine, Bingtang would not have worn such a bitter, worried face!

"Indeed, tier-three!" Seeing Wei Zhao's puzzled look, Old Master Zhao nodded smugly. Just as expected—Wei Zhao could not refine one!

"Is there anyone here who can refine a tier-three elixir?" Wei Zhao asked in return.

"Never mind anyone else. If you can refine one, then refine it!" You Panhu said with a cold laugh.

"Oh, I can't," Wei Zhao said mildly. "Never mind a tier-three elixir—I couldn't refine even a tier-one elixir. So I forfeit. I said before that I would forfeit one match, and now I am making good on my word!"

"Huh?" You Panhu was stunned. Wei Zhao forfeiting was no surprise—after all, he had long since judged it impossible for Wei Zhao to refine a tier-three elixir. What startled him was Wei Zhao's words: he couldn't refine even a tier-one elixir?

How could that be? Was Wei Zhao not an alchemist? How could he fail to refine even a tier-one elixir? At that thought, You Panhu cast a doubtful look at Old Master You.

"Wei Zhao, spare us the nonsense. You're an alchemist—everyone knows it. Claiming you can't even refine a tier-one elixir—who are you trying to fool? Do you think I'd believe that?" Old Master You gave a cold snort. "I know. You saw how high the rules were set, knew you couldn't manage it, and so deliberately tried to provoke me. It doesn't matter—I am not angry, and I don't believe it! Had you said you were injured this morning and lacked true qi to refine elixirs, I might have believed you. But to use such a clumsy excuse to declare your forfeit—truly... tsk, tsk..."

"..." Wei Zhao stared at Old Master You, speechless, and shook his head. He could only sigh. "These days, no one believes the truth anymore. I truly grieve for your intelligence!"

"Hah, you think I'd believe a word you say?" Old Master You curled his lip. "Wei Zhao, if you're forfeiting, then forfeit. Don't go hunting for so many excuses."

"I'm not hunting for excuses!" Wei Zhao said, then turned to Old Master Pi. "Old Man Pi, I said before that if I voluntarily gave up a match, you would lose a bottle of body-tempering potion to me, correct? Well, I've given up now. Hand over the body-tempering potion!"

"This..." Old Master Pi had forgotten all about that. Reminded by Wei Zhao, he recalled the wager at once, and his face darkened. He rather blamed Old Master You for recklessly tampering with the contest rules. So what if Wei Zhao won? Let him win! But with the rules changed, Wei Zhao had forfeited, and he had lost a bottle of body-tempering potion for nothing.

"You can't blame me for this. Blame the alchemy contest—if not for this alchemy contest, I might not have forfeited at all!" Wei Zhao said.

"Hmph. Fine, what if I give it to you?" Old Master Pi did not dare to cheat Wei Zhao of his due at this point. Old Master Pi was only an early Heaven Rank expert of the external school, and he knew he lacked the strength to challenge Wei Zhao. Originally, an early Heaven Rank of the external school, unless possessed of some special skill, could only match a peak late Earth Rank expert of the internal school one tier below. And even though the martial arts of Old Master Pi's family emphasized the divine fist, he could at best equal an early Heaven Rank expert of the internal school. But Wei Zhao had taken a full-power strike from an early Heaven Rank expert and emerged unharmed—Old Master Pi could not be sure of handling Wei Zhao, so he could only back down and honor the bet.

"Wonderful. Forfeit and still get a reward—not a bad deal at all!" Wei Zhao nodded in satisfaction, then nodded to You Panhu. "You all carry on with the alchemy contest. There's nothing more for me here..."

"I... forfeit as well..." You Panhu felt something was off. Seeing the contest rules, Wei Zhao seemed not in the least like a man who had been played for a fool, furious and humiliated—rather, he seemed to find it all perfectly natural, even to be gloating over it!

But You Panhu could not figure out where exactly the problem lay. And Old Master You, too, felt that something had gone wrong—only where, he could not yet work out.

With You Panhu declaring his withdrawal, there was naturally even less chance that anyone else could refine a tier-three elixir. Never mind these hidden families—even the ancient sects would find it well-nigh impossible to refine a tier-three elixir. This contest was, one might say, an impossible mission.

"Since everyone has forfeited, the contest is over. There is no victor. Will each family and sect please collect their stakes!" Old Master You announced.

Beaming, Wei Zhao took the body-tempering potion that Old Master You had sent for, along with the stakes he had wagered and now reclaimed, and departed cheerfully with Han Tianba and Han Xiaopo, leaving behind a crowd of people staring at one another.

"Grandfather, why does Wei Zhao look not the least bit sullen? He seems actually delighted by this outcome?" You Panhu could not shake the feeling that something was wrong.

"I feel the same. But that brat Wei Zhao is a cunning one—even if he were unhappy inside, he would never show it. His aim is to make the rest of us unhappy, so don't fall for it!" Old Master You said after a moment's thought.

"True enough. That brat is a master of playacting—otherwise he could never have swindled me out of both my elixir cauldrons!" You Panhu nodded.

"Old Master You, because of your one change to the rules, our hidden Pi family has lost a bottle of body-tempering potion. Surely this account can't be charged to us?" Old Master Pi said, rather displeased. He dared not wrestle with Wei Zhao, but he meant to seek compensation from Old Master You.

"It's only a bottle of body-tempering potion. No matter—I'll give you some ingredients later, guaranteed to be worth more than that potion!" The hidden You family had no shortage of spirit herbs, so Old Master You spoke with full confidence. And since it was indeed because of them that Wei Zhao had forfeited, he was generous enough.

For the fastest updates, please read without pop-ups.