Third Round

Bing Lengxue didn't visit in the following days. Mu Yu couldn't evaluate whether Ku Mu was wrong or not in regards to his handling of his relationships. In a way, Ku Mu's situation resembled Tian Ran and Feng Haochen's.

Mu Yu couldn't be bothered checking out the second round. He, instead, had a joyous tour of Pill Cauldron Sect with Tian Ran. In the meantime, Ku Mu stayed with the dragon vine at the bamboo house to cultivate again.

Only ten disciples were graded a pass from the second round – the three top candidates still remaining.

Elder Leng changed the third round to completing an incomplete pill as Mu Yu suspected. The patriarch wasn't visibly quite annoyed about having to announce the round and cop the irate reactions. The task was deemed impossible, and nobody understood the reason for the abrupt change.

Eyes on Mu Yu, whether subconsciously or not, Daoist Yun Dan announced, "There will be a proctor watching over you as you work on the pill and score you based on your how far you get. Cherish this opportunity. If nobody succeeds, we will determine the winner of the two slots based on the cumulative scores in the first two rounds."

Elder Leng considered all possibilities when he conjured his plan. Mu Yu had no choice but to succeed if he was to come out a winner. The elder was watching from a distance. Mu Yu had a burning desire to flip the bird in response to Elder Leng's sly grin.

Xu Ziye and Bie Wenxuan felt a weight lift from their shoulders upon hearing they were graded on progress as opposed to failure and success. Xu Ziye and Shi Minghui never reached the top of Bamboo Peak or apologised. They made a dash for it as soon as nobody was around. Mu Yu's pinch, therefore, was music to Xu Ziye's ears. Xu Ziye was still unconvinced Mu Yu could complete a pill. He still clung to the belief Ku Mu assisted Mu Yu. Thus, he was confident Mu Yu's "lie" would be exposed.

"There are thirty incomplete pills for you to choose from. Let the third round commence."

Daoist Yun Dan's assistances carried the thirty preservation cauldrons over and placed them before four people. Elder Leng pretended to inspect the cauldrons. When he passed Mu Yu, he whispered, "Go get it. I have a suggestion. You can choose the nephrite healing pill. I reckon it's the easiest one to complete."

"Elder, did you forget I mastered Speed Alchemy Mental Cultivation."

Elder Leng raised the corner of his lips: "You won't fool me again. When I deliberated it, I realised Ku Mu knew the pros and cons of it better than I do. He wouldn't be stupid enough to screw you over."

Elder Leng moved along, pretending no words were ever changed, while Mu Yu could only feel vexed.

Three others standing by Mu Yu had chosen their pills. Mu Yu followed suit. He instantly discerned the nephrite healing pill healed broken limbs and regenerated organs. It consisted of a tad fewer ingredients than reversal pill. Out of nowhere, he wondered if it could regenerate a brain. Although Elder Leng said it was the easiest pill to tackle, which was probably true, knowing his experience, Mu Yu decided against it out of spite.

"You want the pill?" the only girl remaining in the third round asked Mu Yu.

"Still thinking," replied Mu Yu, looking up to be greeted with a cold countenance. "Is your shifu Leng Bingbing?"

"I'll be taking it, then." The girl took the nephrite recovery pill without a single wasted word.

Mu Yu scratched his face. Elder Leng reacted as if he had ants in his pants, signalling for Mu Yu to take the pill back using eye signals. Mu Yu shrugged. Elder Shou had so much pent up frustration that his heart thumped harder.

"That conniving old fart. He must've wanted me to work on that pill specifically," Mu Yu muttered under his breath.

"I'll be watching you embarrass yourself," jabbered Xu Ziye.

"Shall we bet again? Old rules? Shifu was asleep last time. I didn't wake him, and you didn't even apologise."

Anger burning his face, Xu Ziye fumed, "Your shifu won't be around to help you this time. You're screwed."

"Either take me up on the bet, or go back to playing in a sandpit," goaded Mu Yu, without looking up.

The pill labelled "death by injury" sounded horrific, yet it piqued his interest.

"I'll settle the score with you sooner or later."

In a loud voice, Mu Yu pointed at Xu Ziye. "Disciples of Pill Cauldron Sect are upright and honourable men. Who let this shameless one off his leash? Anyone own him? The deal was to climb up Bamboo Peak and kowtow to Ku Mu. Why did you run off before you were finished?"

"Haha."

"Brother Xu, honour the bet already."

"What a turd."

Cai Lie was the one fanning the fire that set Xu Ziye's face ablaze. Xu Ziye had stayed out of the public eye ever since he was forced to crawl up the mountain and tried to maintain a low profile at the contest.

Mu Yu ignored Xu Ziye's angry reaction and went to his spot with the death by injury pill.