Nigati glanced at Ye Yu, observing the pill that was gradually emerging from his cauldron.


    The pill had nine distinct patterns. As it appeared, the surrounding Spiritual Energy was drawn towards it.


    Ye Yu glanced at the pill still within Nigati’s cauldron. Feeling the weight of everyone’s gazes upon him, he smiled faintly. “It seems the outcome is already decided.”


    “Oh?”


    However, Nigati suddenly sneered. With a wave of his hand, he forcefully redirected the Spiritual Energy that was converging towards Ye Yu’s pill towards his own.


    At the same time, a perfectly round pill slowly emerged from Nigati’s cauldron. The purified Spiritual Energy that Ye Yu had gathered moments ago surged into Nigati’s Nine Cauldrons Pill.


    Ye Yu’s eyes widened in anger. “You—”


    “When refining the Nine Cauldrons Pill, one needs to purify the surrounding Spiritual Energy and infuse it into the pill. The platform has limited Spiritual Energy, Young Master Ye. This is something you should have considered from the beginning,” Nigati sneered.


    He waved his hand again, and the purified Spiritual Energy surged into his Nine Cauldrons Pill.


    Boom!


    A thunderclap echoed through the air.


    The Nine Cauldrons Pill’s tribulation had descended!


    Everything happened so quickly that no one could react.


    They had thought Ye Yu would win since he had refined the pill first, but Nigati had forcefully seized the surrounding Spiritual Energy.


    By the time Ye Yu managed to gather more Spiritual Energy for his pill, Nigati’s tribulation had already ended.


    A deathly silence fell over the pavilion.


    “The Two Polarities Sect’s disciples do have some skills, but it seems their minds aren’t very flexible, hahaha,” Nigati laughed heartily, looking at Ye Yu’s unfinished pill.


    Even those who were simply watching the spectacle felt a pang of discomfort, their brows furrowing slightly.


    After all, Ye Yu represented the Two Polarities Sect. Although this was a personal grudge, and Nigati had won through trickery, his laughter still felt disrespectful.


    “Nigati, I challenge you to a competition,” a disciple from the Eastern Realm couldn’t hold back any longer, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.


    However, the handsome but sinister-looking young man simply grinned. “I’ve exhausted my energy refining pills today. Perhaps another time. If I’m in a good mood, I might give you a chance.”


    His words frustrated the disciples, who felt powerless to do anything.


    The pill refining competition between Ye Yu and Nigati had been fair. No matter how much they disliked Nigati, they couldn’t attack him now.


    Ye Yu glared at the smug Nigati, his fists clenched tightly, his eyes filled with anger.


    If it weren’t for Nigati’s trickery, he would have been the one to refine the perfect Nine Cauldrons Pill first… But now…


    “You lost, Young Master Ye,” Nigati said with a cold smile, his gaze fixed on Ye Yu.


    He had to admit that Ye Yu was quite skilled. However, he was still the victor.


    Seizing Spiritual Energy during pill refining was a crucial skill for a Pill Emperor. Ye Yu had been sheltered for too long and hadn’t prepared for such a tactic.


    Having fulfilled the terms of the wager, Nigati confidently walked towards the private rooms within the sky pavilion under everyone’s gazes.


    “Nigati, do you dare to fight me?!” Another disciple couldn’t hold back and challenged him, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.


    Nigati clasped his hands behind his back and sneered. “If you truly want to fight, wait for the Ascension Ceremony. Sparring with you would be a waste of my time.”


    His words were filled with arrogance and disdain, infuriating the disciples. However, they ultimately restrained themselves.


    After all, this was originally a personal grudge between Ye Yu and Nigati. If they attacked him now, it would escalate the situation.


    He was clearly trying to provoke them with his ‘trash talk’, but they couldn’t do anything about it. They could only watch as he entered a private room, seemingly to meet someone.


    Meanwhile, Regina, sitting in the private room, frowned slightly, a cold glint in her eyes.


    “That idiot…”


    The pill refining competition had been fair, but Nigati had resorted to underhanded tactics to win, even angering some of the Eastern Realm’s cultivators… That was why he had been so smug earlier.


    But his actions had ruined her plan.


    “The Great Dao didn’t resonate, which means our wager is invalid,” Mu Zhi’an said with a helpless smile, setting down his teacup. “I didn’t expect Mr. Nigati to win that way.”


    Regina frowned, then looked up at Mu Zhi’an, about to speak.


    At that moment, a knock came from the door.


    “Miss, I’m back.”


    Regina glanced at Mu Zhi’an, then said calmly, “Come in.”


    The door opened, and many gazes in the pavilion turned towards Nigati, whose eyes were fixed on Regina.


    He had expected to see admiration or praise on her face, but when he looked at her, he saw only a cold expression, clearly displeased.


    Something’s wrong… Nigati frowned and noticed the young man sitting opposite Regina. He asked calmly, “What are you doing here, Young Master Mu?”


    Mu Zhi’an didn’t answer. He took a sip of tea and looked at Regina. “Miss Regina, isn’t it inappropriate to discuss our private matters with a servant?”


    He meant… the wager was still on…? Regina looked at him in surprise.


    “Miss—”


    Nigati was about to speak, but Regina’s voice cut him off.


    “You may leave. Young Master Mu and I have some things to discuss privately.”


    Nigati was stunned. He looked at the two of them, then, after a moment of silence, his expression darkened.


    He turned to Mu Zhi’an, forcing a smile. “What did you tell Miss Regina?”


    Although his tone was calm, even an outsider could sense his anger.


    He had only been away for a short while, refining pills, and upon returning, he discovered that the Holy Maiden he admired and respected was favoring a cultivator from the Eastern Realm… The thought alone filled him with rage.


    Why is he acting as if I seduced his precious Miss Regina and committed some heinous crime… Mu Zhi’an ignored him and looked at Regina hesitantly.


    “Miss Regina, perhaps we should talk another time? Your subordinate seems quite angry…”


    A cold glint flashed in Nigati’s eyes. “Mu Zhi’an—” sea??h thё ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, before he could finish speaking, Regina looked up and said calmly, “Leave.”


    Nigati glared at Mu Zhi’an. “Mu Zhi’an, do you dare to fight me on the platform?” he challenged.


    His voice wasn’t concealed, so many in the pavilion heard the commotion coming from the private room. They began to whisper amongst themselves.


    Although they didn’t know what had happened, seeing the usually smug Nigati so enraged was satisfying.


    “Or are the Two Polarities Sect’s disciples afraid to accept a challenge from the Southern Wilderness?” His voice wasn’t loud, but it echoed throughout the pavilion, causing many to frown.


    This guy was a hypocrite. He could refuse others’ challenges, but when he challenged someone, they had to accept.


    If Mu Zhi’an refused, Nigati would likely accuse the Two Polarities Sect disciples of being cowards…


    But if he accepted… Could a third-grade Core Formation cultivator defeat a sixth-grade Core Formation cultivator?


    Under everyone’s gazes, Mu Zhi’an shook his head slowly.


    “I refuse.”


    A smug smile appeared on Nigati’s face. “Are the Two Polarities Sect’s disciples planning to avoid a fight?”


    Mu Zhi’an shook his head and chuckled. “The Ascension Ceremony is approaching. There will be plenty of opportunities to spar later. But this important matter with your Miss Regina can only be handled now.”


    As Nigati’s expression darkened, Mu Zhi’an maintained his gentle smile.


    “If it were you, which would you choose?”