signingbooks #349 - Black sheep
#349 - Black sheep
As soon as these words came out, the entire place erupted in an uproar.
Everyone's gazes were drawn as if by a magnet, involuntarily turning towards Liang Jin, scrutinizing him from head to toe, their eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
Liang Jin actually won?
This… was simply too absurd, like a tale from the Arabian Nights!
If these words hadn't come from the mouth of Elder Qingnang, who had also participated in the bet, probably no one present would have dared to believe it.
Doubts couldn't help but arise in everyone's hearts. When did this kid actually gain such attainments in the art of Qihuang alchemy?
Even Yu Linglong, who was sitting on the throne, was greatly astonished.
She slowly lowered her raised leg, straightened her body, and stared at Liang Jin with suspicion in her eyes.
What tricks is this guy playing?
Why is it that every time she sends him to do tasks that seem like bad things, he always manages to turn them into good things in the end?
If this continues, is he really planning to push the Huolong Sect towards prosperity and glory?
Li Xueqing's eyes widened even more, her face full of disbelief, as if this result was like a heavy hammer, slamming fiercely into her heart, making it difficult for her to accept for a moment.
She subconsciously opened her mouth, wanting to question it.
However, Qihuang alchemy was not her area of expertise. Even though she was unwilling in her heart, she couldn't find suitable words to refute.
At this time, Elder Qingnang looked calm and said:
"I am willing to admit defeat."
"Xiongba, this Scarlet Blood Body Refining Pill is yours."
With that, he slowly took out an exquisite medicine box from his bosom.
The moment the medicine box was opened, a rich and mellow medicinal fragrance wafted out, instantly filling the entire hall.
In the medicine box, a blood-red pill lay quietly. The surface of the pill faintly had a fire-like luster flowing, revealing its extraordinary nature. It was clear at a glance that it was not a common object!
This Scarlet Blood Body Refining Pill was a divine pill that the Huolong Sect brought out from the Dayu Imperial Palace back then, and there was only one in the world.
After taking this pill, it can greatly enhance a person's physical body, making it like copper poured and iron cast, difficult to injure with knives and axes.
If combined with the cultivation of the 《Hundred Evils Body Technique》, it can make the physical body strong to a terrifying degree that is jaw-dropping.
Liang Jin stepped forward, grabbed the medicine box from Elder Qingnang's hand, and said:
"Thank you, Elder Qingnang."
Liang Jin had always had a special liking for the feeling of constantly strengthening his physical body. Now that he had obtained this divine pill, he could take this opportunity to experience it properly.
Although Elder Qingnang's face was full of heartache, he still let go of his hand.
He couldn't help but sigh:
"I heard that your cultivation of the 《Hundred Evils Body Technique》 is progressing rapidly. It seems that it is truly the will of heaven that this divine pill belongs to you."
"I lost the bet, so you don't need to thank me."
Liang Jin turned around and looked directly at Li Xueqing.
At this moment, Li Xueqing was still immersed in shock and did not notice Liang Jin's gaze at all.
Liang Jin spread out his palm and reminded:
"Elder Li, shouldn't your whip also be handed over?"
Li Xueqing woke up as if from a dream when she heard this.
Her eyes widened in anger, and she glared at Liang Jin fiercely, her eyes as fierce as if she wanted to tear Liang Jin into pieces.
This Thousand Dragon Divine Whip was a divine weapon created by many weapon masters and poison refining experts of the Huolong Sect over several generations, and it was extremely precious.
Now that she had to hand over this divine weapon to Liang Jin, how could she be willing?
She gritted her teeth and said:
"Xiongba, let's change the bet. I'll use something else to fulfill the bet."
"I can give you—"
Before she could finish speaking, Liang Jin interrupted her directly:
"Elder Li, admit defeat if you lose! You are a dignified elder and a senior, don't tell me you want to deceive a junior like me?"
"If you just deceive me, that's fine, but the bet was witnessed by all the elders and the sect master present. Don't tell me you want to deceive them too?"
Li Xueqing was so choked by Liang Jin's words that she almost vomited blood. Although she was furious, she was speechless for a moment because she was in the wrong and couldn't find suitable words to refute.
Liang Jin continued to stretch out his hand and spread out his palm:
"Elder Li, give it to me."
"Even if you lose, you should be as magnanimous and upright as Elder Qingnang. Don't let people look down on you for losing."
Everyone shook their heads secretly when they heard this.
This Liang Jin is really unforgiving. Does he have to ridicule and provoke Li Xueqing like this?
But then again, everyone knows that Liang Jin and Li Xueqing have a long-standing feud. The people present can only remain silent about their grievances and let them resolve it themselves.
After all, with the sect master present, it is expected that things will not get out of hand.
Li Xueqing was so angry that her face was almost distorted. She gritted her teeth and said fiercely:
"Xiongba! The Thousand Dragon Divine Whip, I can give it to you."
"But I want to bet with you again!"
"Let's have a martial arts competition. If I win, the Thousand Dragon Divine Whip will still be mine."
"If I lose—"
This time, she still couldn't finish her words and was interrupted by Liang Jin again:
"Sorry, I don't bet!"
Li Xueqing was so angry that smoke was almost coming out of her nose.
But if Liang Jin didn't agree to the bet, she couldn't force him.
So, she tried to provoke him:
"Xiongba! Could it be that you are as timid as a mouse, not even as good as a tortoise?"
Liang Jin laughed:
“Elder Li is right to lecture me; this disciple is indeed more timid than a mouse and no better than a shrinking turtle.”
“However, Elder Li is certainly much stronger than this disciple, and I am ashamed to be inferior. In that case, Elder Li must be as timid as a mouse and truly deserving of the title 'shrinking turtle'.”
Li Xueqing was now truly fuming, her eyes almost spitting fire.
She clenched the Thousand Dragon Divine Whip tightly. If they weren't in the main hall, she would have lashed out at this brat who dared to humiliate her!
Seeing this, the crowd shook their heads.
This Elder Li was becoming increasingly impatient.
As a dignified elder, she actually wanted to compete with a junior, especially since she was already at the Third Rank, while Liang Jin was only at the Fourth Rank.
Such a competition of bullying the weak would inevitably be ridiculed.
Just then.
Yu Linglong on the throne finally spoke:
“Enough!”
“Elder Li, since you've lost, just admit it. There's nothing shameful about it.”
Upon Yu Linglong's words, the others also urged Li Xueqing to accept her loss.
Li Xueqing was so anxious that she almost stomped her feet.
But Liang Jin once again held out his palm towards her, which almost drove Li Xueqing crazy.
“You… you…”
Li Xueqing pointed at Liang Jin, shouting sharply twice.
Then, she threw the Thousand Dragon Divine Whip in her hand to the ground, to show her humiliation.
She naturally couldn't obediently hand the Thousand Dragon Divine Whip to Liang Jin. If Liang Jin wanted it, he would have to pick it up himself.
Liang Jin smiled slightly, not minding at all.
He calmly picked up the Thousand Dragon Divine Whip from the ground, sighing:
“This whip is finally mine.”
“It's just a pity that I'm not skilled with soft weapons, so keeping this whip is useless.”
“That's right! My stove is short of firewood, and I think this whip must be durable. Why not throw it into the fire to burn for warmth?”
Upon hearing this, Li Xueqing was immediately enraged.
As long as the Thousand Dragon Divine Whip was still in Liang Jin's hands, she still had a chance to take back this divine weapon.
But if Liang Jin destroyed it, she would lose this natal divine weapon forever!
“You impudent fool! How dare you?!”
Li Xueqing was so excited that her face was flushed red, pointing at Liang Jin and scolding him. Due to excessive anger, her face was twisted, and her eyes were full of killing intent.
Liang Jin shrugged:
“What wouldn't I dare to do?”
“Am I not allowed to dispose of my own things, Elder Li?”
Liang Jin's words were like a sharp blade, constantly stimulating Li Xueqing, almost driving her to madness.
Just then, Yu Linglong spoke again in a deep voice:
“Enough! Stop arguing.”
“Elder Li, calm down. Xiong Ba, stop provoking her.”
Upon hearing these words, Liang Jin and Li Xueqing could only stop for the time being.
Seeing this dispute temporarily subside, everyone couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Li Xueqing was a veteran in the sect and had once served as the Enforcement Elder, so her status was undoubtedly high.
Liang Jin, as a rising star, had not been in the sect for long, but he was deeply favored by the sect leader, first becoming the chief disciple, then concurrently serving as the leader of the spies, and then as the supervisor, making him the number one person in the sect below the elders.
His ability was initially questioned, but in the end, it was proven that Liang Jin was indeed talented and had made great contributions to the development of the Dragon Transformation Sect.
Naturally, everyone cherished and admired such a talent.
Therefore, they all hoped that these two could resolve their conflicts and turn hostility into friendship.
Seeing this, Elder Qingnang quickly changed the subject:
“Sect Leader, Xiong Ba has made a great contribution by improving the Dragon Scale Pill.”
“I think it is necessary to reward Xiong Ba to encourage him to contribute more pill formulas and help our disciples improve their cultivation speed.”
At this moment, Elder Qingnang's mind was full of Cold Jade Ice Toad Ointment.
He wanted to take this opportunity to put pressure on the sect leader and force Liang Jin to hand over the Cold Jade Ice Toad Ointment formula.
However, Yu Linglong's jade face was full of fatigue, and she said listlessly:
“Xiong Ba's contribution will be recorded for now and discussed later.”
“Okay, let's end here today.”
With that, she got up and left the hall.
Everyone was stunned upon hearing this.
In the past, the sect leader had always been proactive in rewarding Liang Jin. Why was she so passive today?
Could it be…
Everyone couldn't help but turn their eyes to Liang Jin.
Could this kid have fallen out of favor?
Speaking of which, many rumors about Liang Jin had been circulating in the sect recently, most of which were unpleasant to the ear, saying that he was bisexual and disrupted the Supervision Hall.
Could it be because of these things that the sect leader was completely disappointed in him?
Everyone nodded secretly, thinking that this possibility was extremely high!
But Liang Jin had no time to care about everyone's thoughts and gazes.
He hurried out of the hall, eager to try out the effects of the Crimson Blood Body Refining Pill now that he had obtained it.
As Liang Jin left.
Li Xueqing suddenly stopped the people who were about to leave.
Everyone's heart sank, knowing that Li Xueqing was probably going to make trouble.
Sure enough!
Li Xueqing faced the crowd and said in a deep voice:
“Everyone, you must have heard the recent rumors about Xiong Ba.”
“The obscene content of those rumors is simply morally corrupt and no different from dogs and pigs!”
“How can our Dragon Transformation Sect tolerate such a disgusting and vile hypocrite?”
“I implore you to join me in advising the sect leader to abolish all of Xiong Ba's duties!”
“At the same time, expel this black sheep who damages the sect's reputation from the Dragon Transformation Sect!”