In the Pill Dispensary, all Outer Sect disciples drew in sharp breaths.
"Still thinking about pills when death's at your door?"
"Maybe he's like a broken pot - when you've got nothing left, you've got nothing to lose."
Zhou Shi snorted coldly. "Even if we gave you all the withheld pills, could you possibly advance to the Qi Gathering Realm?"
Qin Yang shrugged. "Whether I advance or not is no concern of yours. But..." He enunciated each word deliberately. "No one touches what's rightfully mine!"
"Give it to him." Elder Zhou's gaze lingered on Qin Yang before issuing the order.
Li Niu hastily produced a jade bottle and handed it over.
Qin Yang opened the container to find it brimming with Foundation Establishment Pills. He'd been shorted a mere dozen at most, yet here lay far more than that!
"My pills are settled," Qin Yang said, "but what about everyone else's?"
"Qin Yang, don't push your luck!" Zhou Shi growled.
"Push my luck? You call standing up for our rights 'pushing my luck'?" Qin Yang's laughter held no humor.
The Outer Sect disciples exchanged glances, their faces alight with hope.
If their pill rations were restored, they'd shine in the upcoming Outer Sect Competition!
Yet Elder Zhou and Zhou Shi's expressions made clear they had no intention of granting such mercy.
The disciples could only look to Qin Yang with desperate hope. He was their last chance! A few words from him might change their entire future!
Qin Yang, of course, didn't disappoint. He shook his head with a click of his tongue and said repeatedly, "What a pity. I'm afraid your death will come in a month."
His words left everyone utterly confused, unable to comprehend their meaning.
"Oh?" Elder Zhou's eyelid twitched. "What do you mean by this?"
Qin Yang replied with a playful tone, "A life-or-death duel is no trivial matter, especially when it's to be held during the Outer Sect Competition. Inner Sect elders, perhaps even the sect leader himself, might be present. Don't you think they'd be curious?"
At this point, Qin Yang paused briefly before continuing, "If they were to discover this duel was caused by your pill withholding, and that I stood up to oppose it..."
"Enough!" Elder Zhou roared in anger. "Distribute all the pills immediately!"
"Yes! Qin Yang, you're a hero!"
"You're the first person to make Elder Zhou yield in the Outer Sect!"
"From now on, I, Zhang Dazhuang, will follow Qin Yang's lead! If Qin Yang says one, I'll never say two!"
"Me too! Me too!"
The disciples' hearts swelled with admiration, completely won over by Qin Yang's stance.
Qin Yang could have chosen to protect only himself, but he didn't!
When the month came for the life-or-death duel, the Outer Sect disciples actually hoped Qin Yang would win.
"What a pity we only have this month left," someone sighed.
"Even if Qin Yang dies in battle, I'll burn incense for him every year!"
Qin Yang's head was swimming with black lines. Just moments ago, he'd been basking in the crowd's praise. How had they suddenly turned to burning incense for him?
Li Niu now stammered, his eyes darting about evasively.
Elder Zhou frowned. "What are you waiting for?"
"There... there aren't that many pills left," Li Niu mumbled.
"What?" Elder Zhou roared, his face darkening. "Did you eat them all like candy? Even a pig would have reached the Qi Gathering Realm by now!"
The quivering Li Niu blurted out, "The extra pills... were sold to buy cultivation manuals and martial techniques."
Elder Zhou's expression turned stormy. If they couldn't replenish the pills, the truth would be exposed in a month. But if they could, this mess might be smoothed over. He took a deep breath and declared, "Record everyone's pill allocations now. We'll distribute them gradually later."
"Unacceptable! What do you mean 'later'? After the Outer Sect Competition? You might as well dig your graves!"
"Exactly! We need to strengthen ourselves urgently! Every day's delay is catastrophic!"
"So you stole our pills for your own gain? Don't you fear divine retribution?"
Qin Yang watched with a smile. Today, he'd make Elder Zhou regurgitate every pill he'd withheld!
With the life-and-death duel set, Zhou Shi and his group would undoubtedly remain dormant for the next month. Qin Yang's objective was to prevent this respite, forcing them to continue harassing him!
Otherwise, how could he keep replicating cultivation techniques and martial arts? How could he advance to the Qi Gathering Realm? Was he supposed to wait a full month?
No, he needed to maintain relentless pressure.
"If there are no pills, we'll just refine some more!" Qin Yang chuckled. "As I recall, Elder Zhou, you're a master alchemist yourself, aren't you?"
He continued, "Even if the Pill Dispensary lacks finished products, it's well-stocked with raw herbs. With your expertise, Elder, couldn't you replenish the disciples' medicinal supplies within a day?"
Elder Zhou's face turned glacial. "You're ordering me to personally refine pills for these Outer Sect disciples? Who gave you the authority to command me?"
"Of course not, Elder," Qin Yang replied with deliberate slowness. "How could I presume to order you? I'm merely offering suggestions to help you navigate this situation."
Elder Zhou's fury burned. He regretted postponing the duel to a month later. How much simpler it would have been to eliminate this pest immediately!
Refine the pills, and he'd lose all dignity. Refuse, and who knew what further mischief Qin Yang might concoct?
Elder Zhou had originally believed he could control everything, but now found himself at a loss due to the insignificant Qin Yang.
"Since you're already a dying man, why should I bother with you?" Elder Zhou chuckled. "However, pill refining isn't something to be taken lightly. Even if it's just first-order Foundation Establishment Pills, refining so many couldn't possibly be completed in a single day."
Qin Yang blinked. "Is pill refining really that difficult?"
Elder Zhou snorted. "Ignorant brat, do you even understand pill refining?"
Qin Yang shrugged. "What's so special about first-order pills? I could refine them even with my eyes closed. And they'd definitely be better than yours!"
"What? Qin Yang can refine pills?"
"Impossible! While it's true that those in the Qi Refining Realm can refine first-order pills using special pill furnaces, people's energy is limited. At the beginning of cultivation, who would waste their energy on pill refining?"
"Judging by Qin Yang's cultivation, if he also knows pill refining... Could he be some kind of prodigy?"
Elder Zhou laughed as if hearing a joke.
Zhou Shi and the others also burst into laughter, doubling over with mirth.
"Qin Yang, don't let your big talk cut your tongue!" Zhou Shi sneered. "Are you relying on your remaining month of life to act so recklessly?"
Qin Yang's lips curled slightly as he said, "Don't measure me by your standards. I'm not like you at all."
"If you're so confident, why not compete with me?" Elder Zhou proposed. "I have a pill furnace specifically designed for Qi Refining Realm disciples. We'll both use one to refine first-grade Foundation Establishment Pills. What do you say?"
"Shameless!" someone protested. "Elder Zhou is a Qi Sea Realm cultivator. His true qi is as vast as an ocean, and his spiritual sense is incredibly strong. Qin Yang has nothing. How dare he challenge him in a pill refining contest?"
"Even though we're using special furnaces, it makes no difference to Elder Zhou!"
Elder Zhou's face flushed with embarrassment. "We'll refine pills simultaneously," he countered. "If you succeed, you win. I'll stay up day and night without eating or drinking until I complete everyone's pills. Is that fair?"
"Agreed!" Qin Yang smiled.
Elder Zhou's tone shifted. "And if you fail..."
Qin Yang interrupted, "I'll forfeit my own bottle of Foundation Establishment Pills! And I'll never link the death duel to this pill matter!"
"Excellent!" Elder Zhou's eyes gleamed.