Chapter 396: One-time solution
The head of the Li family stepped forward confidently, holding an exquisite jade bottle in his hand, which contained several shining elixirs.
He announced loudly that this was the best elixir carefully refined by their Li family, and each pill contained powerful medicinal effects.
His words were full of pride, as if he had seen everyone's eyes of admiration and envy.
Immediately afterwards, the head of the Li family took out the elixir refined by the Ouyang family and showed it to everyone for comparison.
Although these elixirs were of high quality, they seemed a bit lackluster against the Li family's elixirs.
Everyone in the Ouyang family looked livid and gloomy, and everyone felt that the Ouyang family was about to explode.
However, just when the Li family leader was about to announce the start of the auction, the Ouyang family leader stood up and said directly.
"Master Li, if that's the case, let's explain today. I want to compete with you to see which of our elixirs is better?"
After the head of the Ouyang family finished speaking, the whole place fell into silence.
Everyone's eyes turned to him, with surprised expressions on their faces.
This move undoubtedly broke the originally calm atmosphere of the auction and made the atmosphere suddenly tense.
Patriarch Li's expression also changed. He didn't expect Patriarch Ouyang to propose a competition so directly.
But he quickly regained his composure, a glint of confidence flashing in his eyes.
He stood up and looked at the head of the Ouyang family with provocation in his tone.
"Oh? Master Ouyang wants to compete? Then come and let everyone present see whose elixir is better!"
The contest between the two seemed to have begun, and the atmosphere at the scene became increasingly tense.
Everyone is looking forward to the next competition and wants to witness this battle between pills.
The head of the Ouyang family said directly.
“The two of us each took out the same three elixirs to compete, with everyone present as witnesses.
As long as the elixir refined by the Li family is stronger than that of my Ouyang family, then my Ouyang family is willing to respect the Li family and obey their orders.
If our Ouyang family wins, and the conditions are equal, can the Li family dare to compete? "
When Patriarch Li heard what Patriarch Ouyang said, he laughed uproariously and agreed readily.
"Okay, in that case, let's solve all the problems at once, then let's do it"
Everyone focused their attention on the auction stage. The Ouyang family and the Li family each took out three pills of the same type.
The elixirs of these two families were carefully placed on exquisite jade plates, and for a while, the atmosphere in the auction house became extremely tense.
The Li family's elixirs are like crystal pearls, round and plump, exuding a faint light, and seem to contain infinite energy.
Although the Ouyang family's elixir also exudes a faint medicinal fragrance, it seems a bit lackluster in comparison.
Everyone present could not help but hold their breath, waiting for the next result.
A senior alchemist stepped forward. He was wearing a Taoist robe, with white beard and hair, and a serious expression on his face.
He first carefully observed the Li family's elixir, with a flash of surprise in his eyes, and then turned to the Ouyang family's elixir, frowning slightly.
When the old man saw the Ouyang family's elixir, he shook his head and announced directly.
"Judging from the quality and potency of the elixir, the Li family's elixir is superior. I declare..."
The head of the Ouyang family raised his hand to interrupt.
"Wait a minute, the appearance of the elixir is only one of the factors that determines the grade of the elixir.
The efficacy is the most fundamental existence of the elixir. No matter how good the appearance is, it cannot mean that the elixir is top-grade."
When everyone heard the words of the Ouyang family leader, they nodded seriously.
After the owner of the Ouyang family finished speaking, the atmosphere in the auction house became tense again.
What he said is indeed reasonable. The efficacy of the elixir is the most critical factor that determines its quality.
The senior alchemist nodded slightly, expressing his agreement with the Ouyang family leader's point of view.
He reached out and picked up an elixir from the Li family and an elixir from the Ouyang family respectively, preparing for further testing.
The alchemist closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and put the Ouyang family's elixir into his mouth.
His facial muscles trembled slightly, as if he was tasting the effects of the elixir.
The elixir melted immediately in his mouth, and the powerful medicinal power entered his body directly, like a surging sea, constantly washing through his body's meridians.
After a while, his eyes opened suddenly, a glint of light flashed in them, more of a shock.
Unexpectedly, the Ouyang family's elixir had such powerful medicinal power. The old man nodded slightly, showing an expression of praise.
He picked up Ouyang's elixir again and put it directly into his mouth. Likewise, the elixir melted quickly.
However, the violent medicinal power entered the old man's body and did not wash away the old man's meridians at all.
Instead, it was scurrying around like a headless fly, and all the medicinal power began to decompose.
In other words, when it first enters the mouth, it is the medicinal power of the elixir.
Once it is broken down, all the medicinal power is transformed into the medicinal power of the respective medicinal materials, just like a plate of loose sand, scattered everywhere.
Just like when refining an elixir, all the medicinal powers are blended together to form the elixir.
The elixir refined by the Li family seems to have only the power of medicinal materials and has not completed condensation at all.
After a while, the old man's brows became more and more gloomy, and he stared at the head of the Li family fiercely and said.
"Master Li, are you trying to amuse me? How dare you compete with unfinished elixirs?"
The proud expression on Li's head was suddenly hit in the head. He stared at the old man in front of him with wide eyes, full of doubts in his heart, and then asked.
"Senior Wang, what does this mean? Our elixir has been refined, why do you say this?"
The old man didn't talk nonsense and said directly in a deep voice.
"You'll know after you taste it yourself, hum!"
The head of the Li family turned pale instantly. He hurriedly picked up the elixir he had refined from the jade plate and put it into his mouth.
The elixir melted in his mouth, but the powerful medicine he expected did not appear.
On the contrary, he only felt a chaotic force spreading out in his mouth, as if it was dust in a strong wind that could not be condensed into a powerful force.
An unbelievable panic surged in his heart, and his eyes were filled with doubts and despair.
He looked at the old man in front of him with wide eyes and asked with a trembling voice.
"Senior Wang, this...how is this possible? Our elixir has obviously been refined, why is this happening?"
The old man gave him a cold look and did not answer his question. Instead, he turned to the head of the Ouyang family, nodded slightly and said.
"Master Ouyang, your Ouyang family's elixirs are powerful and truly top-quality elixirs.
I was almost confused by the appearance of the Li family elixir just now. Thank you, Master Ouyang, for your correction.
Now I declare that the Ouyang family’s elixir wins this competition.”
The old man explained the situation of the Li family's elixir to everyone.
Suddenly, everyone present took a breath, widened their eyes, and showed expressions of surprise.
No one expected that this would be the result, that the Li family's elixir would be like this.
The atmosphere in the auction house instantly became depressing, as if a huge boulder was pressing on everyone's chest.
The head of the Li family was as pale as paper, and his body was shaky, as if he would fall down at any time.
He stared at the pill in front of him with wide eyes, filled with unwillingness and anger.
The head of the Ouyang family looked calm, as if everything was as expected.
He glanced at the head of the Li family indifferently, then turned to everyone and said with a smile.
"Everyone, the art of alchemy is all about striving for perfection. The slightest mistake may cause the quality of the elixir to be greatly compromised.
I wonder why the Li family made such a serious mistake? Do you want to use this kind of elixir to deceive fellow Taoists? "
The words of the head of the Ouyang family pierced everyone's hearts, and they were like a sharp knife piercing the hearts of everyone in the Li family.
The head of the Li family roared angrily.
"Ouyang Ling, don't slander anyone here, my Li family has been making elixirs for generations.
The attainments in alchemy are comparable to those of your Ouyang family. How could we do something that would destroy our reputation?"
The head of the Ouyang family pointed at the elixir on the table and asked directly.
"Then what is this?"
The head of the Li family was immediately speechless and unable to refute. He could only suppress the anger in his heart and quickly think of countermeasures.