Chapter 2816: Gambler

“This is…” Duan Ling Tian’s words sobered up Situ Ming like a bucket of cold water. After a while, Situ Ming gritted his teeth and said, “Master Duan, at most, you can just use the sect’s Duke Grade Celestial Method and Divine Abilities as a wager… In any case, with your perverse cauldron heating speed, you’ll never lose! You’ll probably have to share your gains with the sect though. All in all, it’s a good thing for the sect!”

“That’s right!” Yang Chong nodded in agreement. “I believe that as long as Master Duan shows his heating speed to the sect leader, the sect leader wouldn’t be opposed to it! After all, even if you lose, at most, the sect’s Duke Grade Celestial Method and Divine Abilities would only be shared with outsiders. We still retain knowledge of the Duke Grade Celestial Method and Divine Abilities!”

In Devata Realms, as long as one had completely mastered a Celestial Method or Divine Ability, one would be able to inscribe it on a Memory Celestial Talisman to let others comprehend it.

In the Tai Yi Celestial Sect, Bai Ping, the sect leader, had many Memory Celestial Talismans that contained Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities, apart from the ones he had given to Duan Ling Tian. Even without the Memory Celestial Talisman, Bai Ping and the Eight Trigrams Celestial Duke in the sect had completely mastered many of the Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities. They could easily teach it to those who wanted to learn it or inscribe Memory Celestial Talismans.

“Most importantly, if you win, you might obtain a double-trait or triple-trait Celestial Method and Divine Ability!” Yang Chong said with a gleam in his eyes.

“If I’m afraid that for the other party to stake their double-trait Celestial Methods or Divine Abilities, I’ll have to use the sect’s Duke Grade Celestial Method and Divine Abilities at the same time as a wager, right?” Duan Ling Tian asked.

“That’s right!” Situ Ming nodded. “Nobody would use a double-trait Duke Grade Celestial Method or Divine Ability as a wager for two single-trait Duke Grade Celestial Methods or Divine Abilities. You’ll need to put out three single-trait Duke Grade Celestial Methods or Divine Abilities, at least!”

Duan Ling Tian gained a deeper insight into the bets and contests in the Alchemy Conference. It was easy to see why double-trait or triple-trait Celestial Methods or Divine Abilities were far superior to single-trait Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities.

For example, one would take double the time to master two Celestial Methods or Divine Abilities. However, that time would be halved if one mastered a double-trait Celestial Method or Divine Ability. The time would be shortened even more if one had a triple-trait Celestial Method or Divine Ability. For a shorter time, one would obtain the same result.

Yu Zhong Jing who was a straightforward person said, “Come! Let’s look for the sect leader again!”

The four, who had just left the sect leader’s residence, turned around and made their way to Bai Ping’s residence again.

“Masters, you’re all…” Bai Ping trailed off in confusion when he saw the four Celestial Alchemists again.

Situ Ming stepped forward and said, “Sect leader, it’s like this…” He explained that Duan Ling Tian was interested in attending the Alchemy Conference in two years and honestly laid out their intentions.

“Double-trait or triple-trait Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities?” Bai Ping’s breathing quickened when he heard Situ Ming’s words.

Although the Three Major Celestial Sects in the Wasteland possessed Duke Grade Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities, they were all single-trait Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities. There was no double-trait or triple-trait Duke Grade Celestial Method and Divine Ability in the Wasteland at all. How could Bai Ping not be moved when he heard there was a chance the Tai Yi Celestial Sect might obtain a double-trait or triple trait Celestial Method and Divine Ability?

Bai Ping solemnly asked, “Master Duan, are you confident?”

Before Duan Ling Tian could reply, Yang Chong said, “Sect leader, although you’re not a Celestial Alchemist, you ought to have a rough estimate of the time it takes a prominent Celestial Alchemist to heat the cauldron, right?”

“Yes.” Bai Ping nodded lightly. “In the Wasteland, Xiao Yu Chan, the prominent Celestial Alchemist from the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect, has the fastest speed in heating a cauldron. It takes him eight hours to heat a prominent Celestial Pill Cauldron…” He glanced at Yu Zhong Jing before he continued to say, “After that, Master Yu has the fastest speed. It takes you eight and a half hours to heat a cauldron, right?”

“Right.” Yu Zhong Jing faintly nodded. Before witnessing Duan Ling Tian’s speed in heating cauldrons, he was proud of his speed. However, at this moment, he no longer felt proud of his speed. After all, Duan Ling Tian was a freak who managed to heat a cauldron in just half an hour!

“Since the three masters are confident in Master Duan’s cauldron-heating speed, I assume Master Duan’s speed is less than six hours?” A hint of hope could be seen in Bai Ping’s eyes as he looked at Duan Ling Tian.

Xiao Yu Chan’s speed was only considered superior in the Wasteland. However, when placed among the Celestial Alchemists from other regions, his speed did not amount to much. For this reason, Bai Ping thought that Duan Ling Tian’s speed was less than six hours. Any more, Duan Ling Tian’s speed was not considered fast among the Celestial Alchemists in the other regions.

“Six hours?” Duan Ling Tian was taken aback when he heard Bai Ping’s words. ‘Is the sect leader cursing me?’

On the other hand, Situ Ming, Yang Chong, and Yu Zhong, the three prominent Celestial Alchemists in Tai Yi Celestial Sect, felt their mouths twitch when they heard Bai Ping’s words.

“What’s wrong? Does Master Duan take longer than six hours to heat a cauldron?” Upon seeing Duan Ling Tian and the three prominent Celestial Alchemists’ reactions, a disappointed expression briefly flitted across Bai Ping’s face. He did not wait for anyone’s reply as he continued to say, “Then… It has to be six and a half hours, at least, right?” He looked at Duan Ling Tian anxiously, waiting for a reply.

Whoosh!

Duan Ling Tian only moved his hand, taking out his prominent Celestial Pill Cauldron. He was going to refine the Overarching Heaven Pill on the spot.

Upon seeing this, Bai Ping, naturally, knew Duan Ling Tian intended to demonstrate his speed. For this reason, he no longer asked any more questions and watched Duan Ling Tian attentively.

“I’m starting…” Duan Ling Tian said as a grey flame appeared, and he began to heat the cauldron.

Half an hour later.

“Eh?” Bai Ping was momentarily confused when he discovered Duan Ling Tian had stopped heating the cauldron before he even took out the medicinal ingredients.

He thought to himself as he shook his head, ‘What’s going on? Half an hour? That’s impossible, right? Even if he wants to deceive me, stopping after half an hour is too much, right?”

After a while, Bai Ping’s expression froze when he saw Duan Ling Tian had successfully refined the prominent Celestial Pill, the Overarching Heaven Pill. He looked at Duan Ling Tian incredulously. He felt as though he was dreaming even though he had seen and experienced many things in his life. ‘This… How’s this possible?! Not only did he heat the cauldron in half an hour, but he even successfully refined the Overarching Heaven Pill! Heavens! Am I dreaming?’

After Bai Ping digested this fact, an elated expression appeared on his face. His eyes gleamed as he looked at Duan Ling Tian as though Duan Ling Tian was some rare and precious treasure. “Master Duan! You can freely use the Tai Yi Celestial Sect’s Duke Grade Celestial Method and Divine Abilities as a wager during the Alchemy Conference…”

“Many thanks, sect leader,” Duan Ling Tian said with a smile. Although he could use the King Grade Celestial Weapons he had obtained in the Little World as a stake, he would rather not expose the fact that he had King Grade Celestial Weapons in his possession, especially to the people from the Three Major Celestial Sects of the Wasteland. If this fact was made known, they would know he had lied about not obtaining anything of value in the Little World.

Upon hearing Bai Ping’s words, Situ Ming, Yang Chong, and Yu Zhong smiled. They were not surprised by this outcome.

“Master Duan, to boost your confidence, I’ll go and see the Old Ancestor now… I’ll ask for permission to use our sect’s King Grade Celestial Weapon to increase the stakes! I believe he’ll agree to this as well!” Bai Ping seemed to have gone crazy from the excitement and delight. He was like a gambling addict at this moment.