The Gathering Hall erupted into a cacophony of excited voices as the reality of what they had just witnessed sank in. The successful creation of a Nine-Revolution Heart Pill—a feat challenging even for established masters—had been accomplished by a mysterious traveler through a technique most had dismissed as mere legend. The impossible had been made manifest before their eyes, and the implications were staggering.
Guests surged forward, their earlier restraint forgotten in the rush of excitement. Cultivators, merchants, and nobles alike pressed closer, each eager to offer congratulations and, perhaps more importantly, to establish a connection with this unexpected prodigy.
"Remarkable! Absolutely remarkable!" exclaimed an elderly cultivator, his long beard quivering with excitement. "In all my two hundred years, I have never witnessed such a display of alchemical mastery!"
"The control you demonstrated over the nine temperature cycles was nothing short of extraordinary," added another guest, a middle-aged woman whose jade pendant marked her as a member of the Alchemist Guild. "Such precision is rarely seen even among established masters."
The Li Family approached as a unified front, their earlier concerns about the wager now replaced by genuine admiration. Patriarch Li Zhengdao led the way, his authoritative presence parting the crowd as effectively as a blade through silk.
"Master Wudi," he said, his deep voice carrying easily over the excited murmurs, "you have honored our humble gathering with a display of true mastery. The Li Family acknowledges your exceptional talent."
The formal recognition from the city's most powerful family caused another ripple of excitement through the crowd. Such acknowledgment was not given lightly and carried significant weight in the social and political circles of Qinghe City.
Li Shenyuan and Li Mingze offered their own congratulations, their earlier diplomatic caution replaced by genuine respect. Li Haoran, the scholarly brother, seemed particularly affected, his eyes bright with intellectual curiosity as he regarded the pill still hovering above Wudi Egun's palm.
"The theoretical principles behind Heart Alchemy have been debated for centuries," he said, his voice betraying his excitement despite his attempt at scholarly detachment. "To see it performed with such mastery... there are so many questions I would ask, if you would be willing."
Li Ruoxue approached with graceful steps, her ethereal beauty enhanced by the genuine wonder in her expression. "You have given us all a glimpse of something thought lost to the ages, Master Wudi. Such a gift cannot be measured."
Even Li Meiyun, typically fiery and skeptical, seemed subdued in her admiration.
"I thought my sister had exaggerated your uniqueness," she admitted with unusual candor. "I see now that words could not do justice to your abilities."
Li Meixia herself moved through the crowd with practiced elegance, her white robes flowing around her like morning mist. When she reached Wudi Egun, her eyes met his with an intensity that spoke volumes beyond her measured words.
"I knew from our first meeting that you were extraordinary," she said softly, her voice carrying to him despite the surrounding clamor. "Though even I could not have imagined the true extent of your abilities."
The admiration in her gaze was unmistakable, tinged with something deeper that had begun during their journey and had now blossomed into genuine attraction. In the glow of his triumph, Wudi Egun's ordinary features seemed transformed, imbued with a charisma that transcended physical appearance.
As the congratulations continued, the more pragmatic guests began to see beyond the spectacle to the valuable treasure that had been created. A perfectly formed Nine-Revolution Heart Pill was a rarity even in the most prestigious alchemical circles, its value nearly incalculable to the right buyer.
"Master Wudi," called out a corpulent merchant, his fingers heavy with jade rings that marked his wealth, "I would offer ten thousand Second Grade Refined Jades for the pill you have created. Such a treasure deserves to be properly valued!"
Before Wudi Egun could respond, another voice cut through the crowd.
"Fifteen thousand!" declared a slender woman in the robes of a cultivation sect, her eyes sharp with determination. "Plus access to our sect's Spirit Stone mine for a full season!"
The bidding might have continued, escalating to ever more extravagant offers, but those nearest to Wudi Egun suddenly fell silent, their congratulations dying on their lips as they noticed his expression.
Throughout the flood of praise and offers, Wudi Egun had not shifted his attention from Shen Yang. His gaze remained fixed on the young alchemist, his eyes cold and predatory. The pill continued to hover above his palm, pulsing with that hypnotic heartbeat rhythm, but his focus was entirely on the architect of the wager that had led to this moment.
The contrast between his earlier calm and his current intensity was jarring. This was not the measured gaze of a scholar or the satisfied look of a victor—this was the unwavering stare of a predator that had cornered its prey and was savoring the moment before the kill.
Shen Yang, who had remained frozen in place since the completion of the pill, felt that gaze like a physical weight. His throat worked convulsively as he swallowed, his earlier arrogance completely evaporated in the face of undeniable defeat. Though he stood several paces away, he could feel the danger emanating from Wudi Egun as clearly as if a blade were pressed against his throat.
The terms of their wager hung in the air between them, unspoken yet impossible to ignore. The right hand of the loser—a price that had seemed abstract in the heat of the challenge but now loomed as a horrifyingly concrete reality.
Shen Yang opened his mouth, but no coherent words emerged—only a strangled murmur that betrayed his absolute terror. His legs, which had been trembling since the pill's completion, finally gave way entirely. He collapsed backward, landing ungracefully on the polished floor, his eyes rolling back as consciousness fled in the face of overwhelming fear.
The sudden collapse sent a shock through the gathered crowd. Exclamations of concern replaced the earlier congratulations as attention shifted to the fallen young man.
"Young Master Shen!"
"Someone help him!"
"He's fainted!"
Shen Haoran pushed through the crowd with frantic energy, his earlier composure abandoned at the sight of his collapsed son. Kneeling beside Shen Yang, he checked his pulse with practiced movements, his expression tight with concern.
"He lives," he announced, relief evident in his voice. "The shock was simply too great."
Only then did he look up at Wudi Egun, his eyes meeting that predatory gaze with a mixture of fear and desperate appeal. The proud alchemist, partner to the Li Family and respected throughout the province, now found himself in the position of a supplicant.
"Master Wudi," he began, his voice strained but dignified, "my son spoke rashly, driven by the foolishness of youth and pride. I beg you to show mercy in your victory."
The hall fell silent once more, all eyes turning to Wudi Egun. The moment stretched, taut with tension as everyone waited to see how he would respond to this plea.
When Wudi Egun finally spoke, his voice was low and measured, yet it carried to every corner of the silent hall.
"Your son challenged knowledge he did not understand and made wagers he could not afford to lose," he said, each word precise and cutting. "Such behavior typically carries consequences."
Shen Haoran's face paled, but he maintained his composure, one hand protectively on his unconscious son's shoulder.
Wudi Egun continued, his gaze never wavering.
"However, I will allow him to leave unharmed today." A pause, pregnant with implied threat. "But I will not tolerate such insolence a second time. Ensure he understands this when he awakens."
The relief that swept through the hall was palpable. Servants who had been holding their breath exhaled audibly, while guests exchanged glances of both relief and disappointment—the latter from those who had hoped to witness a more dramatic conclusion to the evening's entertainment.
Shen Haoran bowed deeply from his kneeling position, genuine gratitude in his voice. "Your mercy honors you, Master Wudi. The Shen Family will not forget this kindness."
With a gesture, he summoned servants who carefully lifted his unconscious son. As they carried Shen Yang from the hall, whispers followed in their wake—the young alchemist's reputation would never fully recover from this public humiliation, regardless of the physical mercy shown to him.
With the immediate drama resolved, the atmosphere in the hall gradually shifted back toward celebration, though now with Wudi Egun as the unquestioned center of attention. The mysterious traveler who had arrived as an unknown guest had transformed, in the space of a single evening, into the most intriguing figure in Qinghe City's social landscape.
As the evening progressed, Wudi Egun engaged with the guests who approached him, answering questions with that same measured cadence that revealed little while suggesting much. He spoke of distant lands and ancient knowledge, of forgotten techniques and lost wisdom, each statement carefully crafted to enhance the mystery surrounding him rather than dispel it.
To questions about his background, he offered cryptic smiles. To inquiries about his training, he provided philosophical observations rather than concrete details. To requests for instruction, he demurred with polite regret, suggesting that his methods were not easily taught or understood.
Throughout it all, he maintained that perfect balance between approachability and aloofness, creating the impression of one who walked among them by choice rather than necessity. His ordinary appearance, which might have been a disadvantage in another context, now served to enhance the contrast between his seemingly mundane exterior and his extraordinary abilities.
Li Meixia remained close throughout these exchanges, her presence beside him both a social endorsement and a subtle claim. Her intelligent eyes missed nothing—neither the political maneuvering of those seeking advantage through association with this new power, nor the calculating assessment of those trying to determine how best to exploit his abilities.
As the night deepened and the excitement gradually waned, Wudi Egun finally excused himself from the gathering. Despite numerous attempts to prolong his presence—offers of rare wines, promises of valuable information, hints of potential alliances—he remained firm in his decision to retire.
"The creation of the Nine-Revolution Heart Pill, while seemingly effortless, does require a certain expenditure of mental energy," he explained with a modest smile that somehow managed to suggest superiority rather than humility. "I must rest and reflect on tonight's events."
With gracious farewells to his hosts and the most influential guests, he departed the Gathering Hall, leaving behind a wake of speculation and wonder. Servants bowed deeply as he passed, their respect now tinged with awe. Guards straightened to attention, regarding him with new wariness despite his lack of obvious cultivation.
Li Meixia accompanied him to the entrance of the hall, their brief farewell watched by curious eyes from across the room.
"You have given us much to think about tonight, Master Wudi," she said, her voice pitched for his ears alone. "I look forward to continuing our conversations in the days to come."
"As do I, Young Lady Li," he replied with that same enigmatic smile. "Tonight has proven most... illuminating."
With that, he departed, walking with unhurried steps through the lantern-lit pathways of the Li Family estate. The night air was cool against his face, carrying the scent of lotus blossoms from the nearby lake. Stars glittered overhead, the same stars whose power he had channeled so effectively during his demonstration.
Servants guided him back to the Eastern Guest Pavilion, though he hardly needed their assistance—his sense of direction was unerring, another small detail that added to his mysterious persona. He dismissed them at the entrance to the pavilion with a gracious nod, preferring solitude after the social demands of the evening.
Once inside, with the doors firmly closed against potential observers, Wudi Egun moved to the center of the main room. For a long moment, he stood perfectly still, his expression unreadable as he reviewed the events of the evening.
Then, slowly, a smile spread across his face—not the measured, enigmatic smile he had displayed throughout the banquet, but something colder and more calculating. His eyes, no longer maintaining their benevolent facade, gleamed with satisfaction and ruthless intelligence.
Everything had proceeded exactly as he had anticipated. The challenge, the wager, the demonstration of his abilities—all had served to establish his position within Qinghe City's complex social hierarchy with remarkable efficiency. In a single evening, he had transformed from an unknown traveler to a figure of significant interest and influence.
The Nine-Revolution Heart Pill, still hovering above his palm, continued its hypnotic pulse. With a casual gesture, he directed it into a small jade box he withdrew from his pouch, sealing it carefully. Such a treasure would serve as valuable currency in the days to come, opening doors that might otherwise remain closed.
As he prepared for rest, Wudi Egun's thoughts turned to the future. The Li Family's resources, connections, and influence would be invaluable to his plans. Their trust, so carefully cultivated through this evening's performance, would provide access to information and opportunities that would otherwise remain beyond his reach.
And Li Meixia's growing attraction, while not part of his original calculation, presented additional possibilities worth exploring. Her position within the family and her own considerable talents made her a potentially valuable ally—or tool, depending on how events unfolded.
With these thoughts occupying his mind, Wudi Egun retired for the night, his outward appearance of an extraordinary but benevolent alchemist concealing the ruthless ambition that drove every action, every word, every calculated display of his abilities.