<strong>Chapter 905: nt and Vegetation Throwdown!</strong>


    Alchemist Lodge Peak #7191 was now surrounded by tens of thousands of apprentice alchemists, all of whom were staring fixedly at Meng Hao and Fang Xuzhong on the tform.


    It was especially interesting that there was a wager between the two of them, and the apprentice alchemists couldn’t wait to see what happened. Many could read between the lines, and knew that Fang Xuzhong had intentionallye here to stir up trouble with Meng Hao. However, considering that it didn’t affect them personally, those people were even more excited than the others. They wanted to see who exactly was better when it came to knowledge of nts and vegetation.


    If Meng Hao hadn’t just given a three-day lecture on the subject, the apprentice alchemists would not have hesitated even a moment to say that Fang Xuzhong would prevail. Now, however... it was hard to say.


    Meng Hao looked extremely bashful as he embarrassedly scanned Fang Xhuzhong’s bag of holding with divine sense. Then he licked his lips and looked back over at Fang Xuzhong. He felt luckier with every minute that passed. He had never imagined that, having only been in the Dao of Alchemy Division for a few days, there would already be someone who came looking to deliver up spirit stones.


    When he realized what he was thinking, he suddenly felt a bit more embarrassed.


    Seeing all the eyes focused on him, Fang Xuzhong snorted coldly. He had been immersed in the Dao of alchemy for many years, and was highly proficient when it came to skill with nts and vegetation. As the saying went, his proverbial pill furnace glowed with the bright green of perfection. Actually, he was already qualified to be promoted to a tier 3 alchemist, and as such, was absolutely confident in being able to win the bet.


    Were it not for the fact that he was badly in need of alchemy resources, he would never havee here. After all, participating in something like this was really beneath his status.


    His expression proud and lofty, Fang Xuzhong raised his hand high and then smacked his bag of holding. Instantly, a medicinal nt appeared in his hand. It was green, and looked no different from an ordinary de of grass. He waved his hand, sending it flying through the air to hover in front of Meng Hao.


    “I won’t make things hard for you,” he said coolly. “I’ll show you three medicinal nts. You simply have to tell me their names and properties. This is the first one.” From his perspective, this nt in and of itself was enough to stump his opponent. He nned to show this Fang Hao the height of the Heavens and the depths of the Earth. He would help Fang Hao to know exactly how vastly separated the two of them were in terms of qualifications.


    As a tier 2 alchemist, he wanted to ensure a quick victory. Considering his status in the Dao of Alchemy Division, knocking his opponent out of thepetition with a single blow would be the most suitable result.


    Fang Xuzhong smiled coldly, swished his sleeve, then sped his hands behind his back and looked arrogantly at Meng Hao. “Forget about this guy,” he thought. “Not even a tier 1 alchemist would recognize this medicinal nt.”


    Meng Hao was smiling just as before as he looked at the medicinal nt.


    All of the apprentice alchemists were also staring at it, trying to guess what it was. The tier 1 alchemists in the area were also digging through their memories, and yet, none of them could recall even the slightest scrap of information about a nt like this.


    Immediately, a buzz of conversation rose up.


    “This can’t be right. That medicinal nt doesn’t look special at all. It doesn’t even look like a medicinal nt! Is it just an ordinary nt from the mortal world?”


    “I might not have incredible skill when ites to nts and vegetation, but I know a bit. However, this nt... is something I’ve never seen before.”


    “He definitely deserves to be a tier 2 alchemist. He pulled out a medicinal nt that nobody even recognizes!”


    Fang Xuzhong looked haughtily over at Meng Hao.


    “If you don’t recognize it, then kneel upon this mountain peak for three days, and then screw off.” Almost as soon as the words left his mouth, however, Meng Hao suddenly looked up at him and chuckled.


    “Alchemist Fang, I never imagined that you would actually possess this type of Wind Spirit Grass. Such a nt is useless for medicinal purposes. However, when struck by a strong wind, it will blossom with a Spirit Flower. That flower can bloom with up to seven colors, with seven being the optimal number. That medicinal flower is one of the most important ingredients used when concocting wind-type medicinal pills.


    “Unfortunately, Alchemist Fang, this particr nt of yours has a lot of imperfections. It will only produce a three-colored flower.”


    Meng Hao’s words left the surrounding apprentice alchemists in shock. Even the tier 1 alchemists were astonished. They had never even heard of Wind Spirit Grass, although many knew of Wind Spirit Flower. At this point, they suddenly had an epiphany, and realized the origin of Wind Spirit Flowers.


    It was at this point that Meng Hao blew onto the de of grass. Because of the level of his cultivation base, that breath was like a gale force wind. A rumbling sound filled the area, and then the de of grass began to wriggle and sway back and forth. Everyone watched as a three-colored flower bloomed at the tip of the de, and a medicinal aroma filled the area.


    “It really has three colors!”


    “Fang Hao’s skill with nts and vegetation is astonishing after all! He didn’t just recognize that nt, he was able to judge its nature entirely!”


    The surrounding crowds were in an uproar. The tier 1 alchemists were now looking at Meng Hao withplete and utter respect. In the Fang n’s Dao of Alchemy Division, powerful alchemists were treated with fervor and veneration.


    Fang Xuzhong’s eyes widened, then he stared dead at Meng Hao, and a serious look spread out across his face. The Wind Spirit Grass might seem like an ordinary medicinal nt, but it was actually a line of demarcation when it came to determining skill with nts and vegetation. Even many tier 2 alchemists wouldn’t know much about it. Even more shocking to him was how his opponent had identified how many colors the flower would bloom in. That was something that only tier 3 alchemists should be able to do.


    “So, this guy has some skill after all,” he thought. “It seems I need to take things a bit more seriously.” Fang Xuzhong waved his hand to pull the Wind Spirit Grass back into his bag of holding, from which he then produced another medicinal nt.


    This nt had more than one hundred leaves, which formed the shape of a triangle. The stamen of the nt’s flowers were long and almost looked like tentacles as they drifted back and forth.


    A single look at this medicinal nt, and it was clear that it was beyond ordinary. Everyone looking at it also felt a faint sense of danger.


    “In order to avoid any usations of bullying,” said Fang Xuzhong, “I will not require you to exin the properties of this nt. Merely telling me its name will suffice.” He stared icily at Meng Hao. Although he didn’t say anything further, inside, he wasughing coldly. In his opinion, he had underestimated his opponent a bit when it came to the first medicinal nt. However, with this second one, he waspletely confident that he could secure victory.


    “When I first got this medicinal nt,” he thought, “I didn’t have any idea what it was. It was personally grown by one of the tier 5 alchemists, and I had to spend a small fortune to acquire it.


    “It’spletely one-of-a-kind. Not a single manual of nts and vegetation will contain a description of it. It was grafted together from a variety of other medicinal nts, using the top-secret technique of a tier 5 alchemist.


    “I simply can’t believe that an inconsequential apprentice alchemist will be able to identify it!” Smiling coldly, Fan Xuzhong lifted his chin and stood there, hands sped behind his back as he looked at Meng Hao.


    He could visualize his opponent with tears streaming down his cheeks, racking his brains as he tried to identify the nt. He would probably spout a bunch of nonsense, for which Fan Xuzhong had already prepared appropriate words of response.


    Everything waspletely quiet. All eyes were focused on the medicinal nt. Because of the vague sense of danger it emanated, everyone was now paying close attention to it. Gradually, the medicinal aroma wafting out from the nt vitalized the minds of all present.


    “What medicinal nt is that!?!?”


    “I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen it before, although something about it seems familiar. How strange!”


    Even the tier 1 alchemists were all frowning and trying desperately to recall what this nt was. Some people even pulled out jade slips containing information about nts and vegetation, which they began to search through for clues.


    “That nt is even more mysterious than the Wind Spirit Grass from before!!” As the members of the audience began to specte further about the nt, Meng Hao looked at it, and his eyes began to shine.


    “I never imagined that the Fang n’s Dao of Alchemy Division would be so skilled with nts and vegetation,” he said. Immediately, the audience went silent, and everyone looked at Meng Hao.


    Fang Xuzhongughed coldly.


    “Can you identify it, or not? There’s no need to be deliberately cryptic.”


    Meng Hao chuckled in response.


    “This medicinal nt is something I doubt you could grow,” he said. When the onlookers heard this, they didn’t think too much of it. However, Fang Xuzhong’s heart began to thump.


    “It has no name,” Meng Hao continued slowly. “Or, perhaps you could say... the only person qualified to name it, is the alchemist who created it.”


    When Fan Xuzhong heard this, his face flickered. Meng Hao’s two sentences were like lightning bolts striking his brain. How could he ever have imagined that his opponent would be able to pick up on the clues with just a nce? He quickly prepared to retrieve the nt and put it away, since Meng Hao’s first two sentences had already revealed the truth regarding the name of the nt.


    He recalled how the first time he had everid eyes on this nt years ago, he had stared in shock. To him, it had seemed like some strange and miraculous item. It wasn’t until the tier 5 alchemist exined the nt to him that he understood the truth, and prostrated himself in admiration.


    “Just how skilled is this Fang Hao?” he thought. “He actually recognized the nt! Dammit! No, I really have to pull a fast one!” Feeling more on guard than ever, he immediately had the urge to nder his opponent. However, in the Dao of Alchemy Division, reputation was extremely important, and with so many people looking on, word would spread quickly.


    Fang Xuzhong gritted his teeth, and was just about to retrieve the medicinal nt and put it away when suddenly, Meng Hao started talking again.


    “This is a medicinal nt produced by a grafting technique. Let me see.... It seems to be grafted from neen different medicinal nts. Those neen nts consist of Watershed Root, Spiritdream Grass, Mount Heaven Leaf, Mortality Bloom....” Meng Hao calmly listed all neen varieties of nts.


    Fang Xuzhong’s eyes widened, and he began to pant. He subconsciously staggered backward several steps, his expression one of disbelief. As for the next nt he had nned to pull out, Meng Hao had just mentioned it in the list he had rattled off, so Fang Xuzhong had no choice but to abandon any idea of using it. How could he have ever imagined that this person could possibly...


    Could possibly name all of the nts that made up the graft! Fang Xuzhong’s mind was spinning. Of course, he couldn’t be absolutely certain as to whether what Meng Hao had said waspletely correct or not, because only the tier 5 alchemist who created it would be able to verify it.


    After all, this was... a top secret technique!


    Eventually Meng Hao reached his conclusiion and said, “...afterwards, use the magic of the four seasons, invert Yin and Yang, graft three nts simultaneously. Combine all neen medicinal nts, do not allow them to be touched by the sun, allow the Yin qi to coalesce, whichpletes the process.


    “Because this medical nt was created by grafting neen other nts together, if it is used in pill concocting, there are many possible transformations. An ordinary alchemist would probably be incapable of using it to concoct anything at all. Presumably, the alchemist who gave you this medicinal nt also gave you a pill form specifically designed to be used with it.


    “Tell me, Alchemist Fang, am I correct?” Meng Hao smiled and looked at Fang Xuzhong.


    Meng Hao’s words were followed by deathly silence. Everyone was looking at Fang Xuzhong, whose face flickered back and forth between various emotions. He felt like lightning was crashing around in his head, and without realizing it, he stepped backward. He was now looking at Meng Hao with wide eyes, as if he were some type of evil spirit.