Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor-Chapter 978: You First or Me First?

"Next, we will conduct the final competition of this year's Refining Cloud Mountain disciple selection. The winner will be the first place in this year's selection. However, the method of the competition can be chosen by the challenger!"

Qian Sanyuan stood up, glanced at Yun Xiao and Li Gongnian in the middle of the square, and spoke words that made everyone thoughtful. The so-called challenger naturally referred to Li Gongnian.

The second genius of the Spirit Fighting Commerce, Li Gongnian, who is at the late stage of the Seeking Origin Realm, has now become the challenger. Probably, since his emergence in the Spirit Fighting Commerce, only that one who is said to be a once-in-several-centuries genius could make him qualify as a challenger, right?

And originally, Li Gongnian, who was determined to win the first place in this Refining Cloud Mountain disciple selection, had become the lower ranker challenging Yun Xiao. This was a significant blow to his pride.

However, in the next moment, when Li Gongnian heard the last sentence from Qian Sanyuan, the resentment in his heart diminished a bit, replaced by an alternative confidence.

Li Gongnian naturally wouldn't choose to compete in Poison Meridian Skill again. After all, the bones of Yao Tiansha, who was carried out, were not yet cold. He actually had no absolute certainty and even harbored an inexplicable fear of Yun Xiao's Poison Meridian Skill.

"Yun Xiao, I want to compete with you in recognizing medicinal herbs. Do you dare to accept it?"

After pondering in his heart, Li Gongnian finally found a method of competition he felt most confident about. After all, he was from the Spirit Fighting Commerce, and Yun Xiao was unknown, at least not from the four top forces. So in this aspect, it was impossible for Yun Xiao to be more knowledgeable or experienced than him.

Even though most of what the Spirit Fighting Commerce deals with involves Vein Demons and Meridian Spirits, as a commerce organization, they certainly have plenty of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

Especially considering Li Gongnian was an Earth Rank low-level peak Meridian Refining Master, who had collected countless strange items over the years. He assured himself that in this area, he could never lose to a bumpkin from who knows where.

"Oh? This Li Gongnian is quite clever!"

Upon hearing Li Gongnian's words, even Qian Sanyuan couldn't help but admire the quick wit of this guy, secretly noting that recognizing medicinal herbs carried no risk and allowed the genius of the Spirit Fighting Commerce to shine, truly killing two birds with one stone.

Qian Sanyuan knew that Yun Xiao came from the Hidden Dragon Continent, and although some of his exhibited abilities had amazed him, limited by age and origins, Yun Xiao was probably no match for Li Gongnian in recognizing herbs.

Moreover, since Li Gongnian proposed this method, it indicated that there might be some medicinal herbs in his Waist Storage that were uncommon in the Tenglong Continent.

The marvels created by nature are myriad. Even Qian Sanyuan, Vice President of the Meridian Refining Master Guild, doesn't dare claim to recognize every kind of herb, let alone Yun Xiao.

What Qian Sanyuan understood was soon realized by many of the spectators in the field upon reflection, and they couldn't help but show a slightly interested expression.

Earlier, everyone's thinking was too narrow, assuming the competition in Meridian Refining Technique would be none other than treatment, alchemy, or poison application and detoxification, never considering such a peaceful method.

In fact, for a Meridian Refining Master, whether a Medical Pulse Master or a Poison Vein Master, recognizing medicinal herbs is fundamental. Sometimes, herbs that look extremely similar might have completely opposite attributes, and if identified incorrectly, the consequences are unimaginable.

For example, a Poison Vein Master who misidentifies the toxicity of a poison could end up suffering a backlash unto death; similarly, a Medical Pulse Master who misidentifies herbs could cause a life that might have been cured to be lost, damaging their reputation when the patient is not healed.

Therefore, although the method proposed by Li Gongnian was unique, once people understood it, there was no objection. Competing to recognize medicinal herbs is actually a legitimate path for Meridian Refining Masters.

The crowd understood Li Gongnian's intention in proposing this method. Coming from a top force like the Spirit Fighting Commerce, his knowledge and experience would naturally surpass ordinary cultivators outside.

Yun Xiao seemed to be not even twenty years old. Even if his Meridian Refining Technique was enormously powerful, his experience would surely fall short. Thus, the contest for this Refining Cloud Mountain disciple selection's first place turned uncertain.

However, neither Li Gongnian nor the spectators noticed that when this method of competition was proposed, an odd smile involuntarily appeared on the face of the simple-clothed young man.

This smile was somewhat similar to when Yao Tiansha previously provoked Yun Xiao, saying he wanted to compete in Poison Meridian Skill. But no one realized this.

"Tsk tsk, who gave you this confidence to dare compete in recognizing medicinal herbs against the once Long Xiao Battle God?"

Yun Xiao was genuinely sighing in his heart. Although he appeared to be less than twenty years old, his soul was that of an old monster who had lived for countless years. In terms of knowledge alone, even if everyone here combined their insights, they might not rival him.

It's laughable that Li Gongnian, complacent with his Spirit Fighting Commerce background, thought his knowledge and experience far surpassed those of Yun Xiao. He completely failed to realize what sort of opponent he was facing.

If Li Gongnian had chosen to compete in Alchemy and Medicine Refining, Yun Xiao might have to exert more effort to win this final competition, but in simply recognizing medicinal herbs, he could already claim ten out of ten victories.

"Do you go first, or should I?"

Yun Xiao did not follow Li Gongnian's words with either acceptance or refusal. This straightforward response made everyone understand his intention: it seemed the final special competition was about to begin.

"Since I proposed the method of this competition, I won't take advantage of you. Let me start by identifying your herbs!"

Li Gongnian was full of confidence and pretended to be generous. After he finished speaking, Yun Xiao brushed his waist, and a flash of light appeared. A slightly frail-looking herb materialized in his palm. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Dark Luminous Grass, Earth Rank Low Level, grows in dark and moist places, emits a faint glow at night, and is an effective herb for expelling internal heat in some cultivators. Is my description correct?"

It must be said that this Meridian Refining genius from Spirit Fighting Commerce was indeed knowledgeable. Before the crowd could react, he was already eloquently explaining the details and origins of the herb in Yun Xiao's hand and its effects.

"Indeed, it is Dark Luminous Grass!"

Qian Sanyuan, seated in the northern section, stroked his beard and expressed his appreciation. He knew Li Gongnian was entirely correct, and his speed in identifying herbs was comparable to some of the top genius disciples at Lianyun Mountain.

"Impressive, now it's my turn!"

Yun Xiao casually acknowledged the remark. The fact that the opponent identified the herb he randomly picked was no surprise, so he waved his hand, indicating that the opponent could now take out a herb for him to identify.

"Having confidence is good, but if you can't recognize it, it will be quite amusing!"

Li Gongnian maintained a slight smile on his face. After his mocking words fell, he also brushed his waist, and an object materialized in his palm.

It looked like ordinary farm-grown rice, with yellow leaves and clusters of grains drooping softly, appearing rather ordinary.

But this was something taken from a Waist Storage of a genius from Spirit Fighting Commerce. Despite its ordinary appearance, no one in the field regarded it as mere rice.

"That is..."

Some knowledgeable individuals, such as Qian Sanyuan and Guan Rufeng, upon seeing the item resembling rice grains, suddenly felt a jolt and a gleam appeared in their eyes.

"Wow, Spirit Fighting Commerce is extraordinary. To find something like 'Golden Jade Tassel'!"

Beside them, Qingmu Wu's voice wasn't very loud, so Yun Xiao and Li Gongnian in the center of the square definitely couldn't hear it. But upon hearing his words, Qian Sanyuan and Guan Rufeng no longer doubted.

Only these top figures from the Meridian Refining Master Guild could immediately recognize the nature of the Golden Jade Tassel; even many elders from the same guild were left bewildered.

"Golden Jade Tassel is extremely rare. I wonder if Yun Xiao can recognize it?"

Qian Sanyuan glanced at the item in Li Gongnian's hand and then said to Guan Rufeng beside him, "Elder Guan, doesn't your grandson need this Golden Jade Tassel? After this event, perhaps you could ask Li Gongnian to purchase it and resolve your long-standing concern!"

Qian Sanyuan's pointed remarks caused Guan Rufeng to tremble all over. Thinking of his beloved grandson bedridden for years, who he sought the primary herb Golden Jade Tassel for without success, now found it unexpectedly in Li Gongnian's possession.

Guan Rufeng resolved that no matter the outcome of the final competition, he had to obtain the Golden Jade Tassel to save his grandson's life.

It was evident that even the dean of Lianyun Mountain's Heavenly Hospital, who searched for years without finding this Golden Jade Tassel, knew its preciousness and rarity. This was the reason for Li Gongnian's confidence.

This was something Li Gongnian painstakingly found somewhere. He believed only some knowledgeable older Meridian Refining Masters or elders from Lianyun Mountain might vaguely guess the nature of Golden Jade Tassel.

As for the young man before him, the chances of recognition were decidedly slim.

"Haha, Golden Jade Tassel, is it?"

However, just as Li Gongnian's triumphant smile appeared, wanting to suppress Yun Xiao with the first item, he heard a chuckle from the rough-clad youth opposite him; his face immediately turned gloomy.

Because at this moment, Yun Xiao's reaction was as quick as Li Gongnian's earlier instant recognition. But the rarity and preciousness of the two items couldn't be compared, as his Golden Jade Tassel was already Earth Rank Advanced.