Chapter 1178: A Joint Trial
Yi Yuan Daoist Venerable was utterly heartbroken, and King Shi and Prince Yi nodded repeatedly.
They had firsthand experience with Jiang Cheng’s treacherous and cunning ways.
Wherever he goes, he deceives.
Even though passing the eighth-grade test sounds ridiculous, with absolutely no chance of success.
But with this guy, who knows what method he might use to achieve it?
Absolutely can’t fall for his tricks!
Unfortunately, Tian Lin and Beihe did not agree.
"You, the wicked scoundrel of the Yidan Stream, dare call others cunning?"
"We would believe anyone but you!"
"Besides, it’s impossible for him to pass the eighth-grade test!"
"If he actually passes, then it’s his skill."
They weren’t worried at all that Jiang Cheng would really succeed.
This kind of thing has never happened since the Celestial Pill Department was established.
"You, you guys..."
Yi Yuan Daoist Venerable felt deeply unable to manage these two ’pig teammates.’
He had to step in personally.
"In that case, I want to challenge him myself!"
"I’d like to see how he cheats under my watch!"
"What? You want to participate too?"
No one else had spoken, but Taiheng Daoist Venerable suddenly jumped up.
"That absolutely won’t do!"
"I don’t agree!"
This made Jiang Cheng curious.
Yi Yuan participating in the test, what’s it got to do with him?
If he wants to seek death, why stop him?
Liuyuan and Qing Huan quickly explained this to Brother Cheng.
The Immortal Furnace test has two modes.
One is like the previous test Jiang Cheng took, where the opponent is the Pill Origin.
The other involves two people entering together.
In this case, the Pill Origin doesn’t intervene but judges alongside the Heavenly Dao, determining the outcome of the competition between the two.
The competition would only have one winner!
If both pass the test, only the one who performed better would receive the Origin Certification from Pill Origin.
The other, even if they concocted the specified pill within the time limit, would still face defeat.
They’d even be punished by Heavenly Dao!
Undoubtedly cruel.
However, if both fail, if neither gets the Origin Certification, the one who performs relatively better would be exempt from punishment.
This competition-based test mode seems to have a loophole.
As long as one person lets the other win, the other wouldn’t be penalized and could repeatedly participate in the test without harm.
After multiple tests, they might succeed in obtaining the Origin Certification.
But since the Celestial Pill Department was founded, almost no one has done that.
On one hand, the probability of encountering a test they excel at is extremely low—it might take thousands of attempts without success.
On the other hand, who would risk damaging their foundation or even dying to help someone else?
"Absolutely not!"
Not only Taiheng Daoist Venerable, Liuyuan, and Qing Ling also strongly opposed it.
"This test belongs to Sect Leader Jiang, why are you meddling?"
"You’re just here to cause trouble!"
"This is unfair!"
They weren’t very confident in Brother Cheng either, afraid a mishap might occur due to disruptions.
Yi Yuan is, after all, a veteran eighth-grade Imperial Alchemist.
His participation means that even if Jiang Cheng succeeds, if he is slower than Yi Yuan, he would still be punished by Heavenly Dao.
If he fails, then there’s no need to mention it.
Seeing such opposition, Yi Yuan was even more determined.
"Hahaha, are you saying you don’t have faith in this kid either?"
"Isn’t he supposed to be the Chief?"
"Can’t even outperform me, yet he dares claim to be Chief?"
With this taunt, Yi Dan Stream’s followers began to echo him zealously.
"Exactly, he doesn’t dare to compete?"
"Go home and drink milk instead of dreaming big as Chief?"
"Told you he was cheating earlier."
"If he truly had skills, he’d dare any method, right?"
"Tian Lin, Beihe, what do you two say?"
Yi Yuan Daoist Venerable directly ignored Taiheng Daoist Venerable’s opinion.
Meanwhile, the two Purification Pill Stream leaders simply pondered for a few seconds before nodding simultaneously.
"We approve!"
"Either both of you take the test together, or Jiang Cheng can’t participate in the eighth-grade test!"
This Immortal Furnace belongs to the Celestial Pill Department; here, their word is final.
"Hahaha!"
Yi Yuan Daoist Venerable was ecstatic: "Well, with three approvals, the competitive test mode must be used."
"If you’re afraid of being exposed and don’t dare compete, then just back out early..."
"Who says I don’t dare?"
Brother Cheng almost couldn’t contain his expression, the smile was hard to hide.
Once he understood what the competitive test was really about, he nearly burst into laughter.
You, Yi Yuan Daoist Venerable, as capable as you may be, are not above the system’s prowess!
Trying to trap me intentionally, huh?
Competing against the system, you really aren’t just stubborn, are you!
Originally, the test was only his own business.
This guy insists on getting involved, actively seeking Heavenly Dao-level punishment—how could he not grant this indulgence?
"Let’s compete, then!"
He purposefully acted impulsive, like a reckless rookie.
Yi Yuan Daoist Venerable thought he was incited by his provocation technique and was gleeful.
"Haha, that’s what you said, no backing out now!"
Fan Lei Daoist Venerable immediately followed suit.
"Backing out now would make him the biggest coward in the Primordial Immortal Realm!"
Seeing Sect Leader Jiang agree on his own, Taiheng and Liuyuan, among others, stepped back without saying a word to dissuade him.
They were reassured.
If Sect Leader Jiang was confident, why worry unnecessarily?
His performance has always been rock-solid.
Unfortunately, their thoughts were guessable by no one else.
The Purification Pill Stream and Yidan Stream groups chattered loudly, with sarcastic and derisive voices filling the air.
"This is truly courting death."
"Such a person aims to be our superior?"
"Ridiculous, so easily provoked."
"Competing against Yi Yuan Daoist Venerable, he’ll face a horrible defeat."
The only ones in the arena worried about Jiang Cheng were Yue Zhi and Bai Yuan Yueyao.
"Brother Jiang, don’t act rashly."
"This is too dangerous; they seem to want to harm you..."
They hadn’t finished speaking when King Shi interrupted harshly.
"Where’s your place to speak here?"
"What are your statuses compared to theirs?"
"Such a significant matter isn’t for you low-level immortal officials to criticize?"
He didn’t want this competition to be canceled.
The smile on Brother Cheng’s face faded.
He slowly paced up to King Shi, pointed at his nose, and said flatly: "They are my friends, so what?"
For King Shi, this was the first time someone pointed at his nose.
This scene startled not just him but also everyone else present.
This was a Divine Monarch.
"What if they’re your friends? Do you really think you’re a big shot?"
Provoked, King Shi felt it ridiculous, as if a mere ant was challenging him.
"Just an empty title with no substance, how dare you disrespect me..."
Jiang Cheng interrupted him.
"Even if my title is empty, it’s equal to the Celestial Emperor, and you dare say disrespecting you? Are you attempting to surpass the Celestial Emperor?"
King Shi certainly dared not to surpass the Celestial Emperor; that would be truly disrespectful.
At the moment, he was both furious and anxious, yet couldn’t utter a single word.
"Mind your words; who do you think you are, to interfere in my affairs?" Jiang Cheng bluntly returned his earlier words.
Then he shoved him aside and glanced towards Yi Yuan Daoist Venerable not far away.
"Let’s head out."