Kent sat on top of gathering with a divine pill in hand.
The excitement that had gripped the Pill Ascension Grounds slowly gave way to tension. A council of the Nine Elders stood behind their divine cauldron, their expressions unreadable—yet the air trembled faintly with restrained dissatisfaction.
The golden aurora screen hovered above the platform, displaying only one image now: Kent, the young man standing at the very top, holding the Sage Pill that had chosen him. Whispers had turned into full-blown debates among the millions present. Accusations, envy, curiosity—all began to swirl.
After a long silence, Elder Qing Hou stepped forward, his voice heavy with authority.
"Young man. We ask you to return the pill to the cauldron. It was born of our flames and techniques—it belongs to the elders."
Kent glanced down at the glowing pill resting in his hand. It pulsed weakly now, as though unsure. But Kent nodded.
