Chapter 259: It’s Hard to Compete!


    Chapter 259: It''s Hard to Compete!


    As Elders Qian and Bai casually spoke, the formidable Dan Thunder in the sky gradually came to an end.


    Seeing this, Su Qian and many other elders in the inner courtyard showed joyful expressions as they arrived at Gu He''s courtyard.


    "Congrattions to Elder Gu He for advancing to a seventh-grade alchemist!"


    "Congrattions to Elder Gu He for sessfully concocting a seventh-grade pill!"


    "Congrattions to Elder Gu He…"


    A series of congrattory messages were spoken by the inner courtyard elders.


    "It was purely by luck that I managed to concoct this seventh-grade pill," Gu He humbly replied to the many congrattions.


    After speaking, Gu He produced a transparent jade bottle, skillfully cing the seventh-grade pill from the cauldron into it.


    "Great Elder, the strengthpetition should being to an end, right?" Gu He''s gaze shifted to Su Qian, sentimentally saying, "This pill was specifically concocted by me as a reward for thepetition. I wonder who won first ce this time."


    A seventh-grade pill as a reward!


    Hearing Gu He''s words, the expressions of the gathered elders suddenly turned a bit awkward.


    The rewards for this strengthpetition were prepared by the elders through a drawing of lots, with many providing second or third-grade pills, or Xuan-level Dou Techniques. Gu He''s offering of a seventh-grade pill for the first-ce winner inadvertently made the other elders feel their contributions were somewhatcking.


    "It seems Elder Gu He, busy with pill concoction, is not aware that Zi Yan has already won the first ce in the strengthpetition." Although Su Qian maintained a smile on his face, he felt as if he was bleeding inside.


    Just as Gu He mentioned using a seventh-grade pill as a reward, Su Qian decisively upgraded the originally nned fifth-grade pill reward for the second ce to a sixth-grade pill.


    "Oh, that girl Zi Yan really did well!" Gu He''s face showed a gratified smile as he turned his gaze towards Zi Yan.


    Zi Yan, who was quite close to the two men, had heard their conversation clearly. Now, looking at the jade bottle in Gu He''s hand, she opened her mouth wide, almost drooling.


    "Hehe!"


    "Teacher, this pill is for me, right?" Zi Yan grinned.


    Knowing the prestige of the Dan Thunder she had just witnessed, Zi Yan understood the value of the pill in the jade bottle.


    "Yes, indeed, this pill is for you!" Gu He casually confirmed, not cing much importance on the seventh-grade pill.


    "Thank you, teacher!" Zi Yan smiled happily, reaching out to take it.


    Watching Zi Yan extend her fair little hand, Gu He gently tapped it.


    "What''s the rush? Wait for the other students to arrive, and then I, along with the other elders, will distribute this reward."


    "Alright then!" Zi Yan, a bit embarrassed, began to vigorously twirl her purple braid.


    ...


    Shortly after, the elders and students of the inner courtyard returned to the central za.


    The award ceremony of the strengthpetition officially began.


    "The top fifty of the strength leaderboard,e forward in order of your ranking to receive your rewards!" an elder announced loudly.


    "First ce, Zi Yan, is awarded a seventh-grade pill by Elder Gu He."


    Hearing her name, Zi Yan happily ran up to Gu He, who was seated among the elders, and extended her fair little hand.


    Seeing this, Gu He unhesitatingly handed the concocted seventh-grade pill to Zi Yan.


    The students below, seeing Zi Yan''s reward was indeed a seventh-grade pill, were green with envy.


    Even the many elders seated among the ranks showed envious nces.


    "Second ce, Han Yue, is awarded a sixth-grade pill by Great Elder Su Qian," the announcer continued.


    Hearing her name and the reward, Han Yue''s eyes sparkled with surprise.


    She was indeed lucky to receive a sixth-grade pill as a reward! Excitedly, she approached the elders'' seats, and after receiving the sixth-grade pill from Su Qian, her gaze shifted to Gu He sitting beside Su Qian.


    "Hehe, Elder Gu He, our previous agreement still stands, right?" Han Yueughed like tinkling bells.


    Chapter 259: Hard to Show Off!


    "Of course, it counts!" Gu He gently nodded in response.


    "Elder Gu He, do you have some agreement with Han Yue?" Curious about their conversation, Su Qian and some other elders nearby asked.


    "Han Yue wanted to be my disciple, just like Zi Yan. I told her if she could break through one star within a month, I would ept her as my disciple," Gu He exined.


    Hearing Gu He''s words, the Vice Dean of the Outer Court, Hu Gan, suddenly lit up with excitement, speaking eagerly to Gu He, "Elder Gu, my granddaughter Hu Jia also has decent talent. I wonder if you could consider taking her as your disciple!"


    "Elder Gu He, my grandson has a natural affinity for fire and wood, making him exceptionally suitable to inherit your mantle…"


    "Elder Gu He, my granddaughter can serve tea, doundry, cook…"


    Following Hu Gan, four or five other elders started speaking up for their grandchildren or granddaughters, hoping they could be disciples of Elder Gu He.


    Finally, without Gu He showing any particr reaction, Hu Gan, who had been the first to speak up, showed signs of impatience.


    "Enough, can you old folks wait a moment and let Elder Gu He answer my question first!" Hu Gan''s loud voice caused the elders around Gu He to quiet down.


    "Elders, I''m usually absorbed in alchemy and may not have much time to teach disciples. Besides, I tend to take disciples based on fate," Gu He said with a lightugh, politely declining everyone''s requests.


    ...


    "Third ce, Yan Hao, is awarded a fifth-grade pill by Elder Huo."


    "Thirty-eighth ce, Liu Qing, is awarded a second-grade pill by Elder Wang."


    "Forty-ninth ce, Lin Xiuya, is awarded a first-grade pill by Elder Hao."


    The announcer continued with the rankings of the strength leaderboard.


    "A first-grade pill, isn''t Elder Hao being too stingy?"


    "The second tost ce, what better reward were you expecting?"


    "Oh, it''s the second tost? Then never mind!"


    When the announcer read Lin Xiuya''s reward, many students couldn''t help butugh, but after theirughter, there were also sounds of pity.


    After all, if Lin Xiuya hadn''t been injured by Zi Yan, the reward that Han Yue received might have been his.


    At this moment, Lin Xiuya, who was clearly awake,y on a stretcher with his eyes closed for almost the entire time as he was carried to the elders'' seats.


    "Here, Lin Xiuya, this is your reward!" Elder Hao, with a smile on his face, ced a jade bottle on the table.


    Lin Xiuya kept his eyes shut the whole time, not saying a word. He slightly propped up his body with his left hand and groped for the jade bottle on the table with his right hand, theny back down as if he were dead.


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