I Became the Alchemy Master by Picking Up Trash-Chapter 99 - 98: Preliminary Round (Part 16)

The humans and birds were instantly plunged into chaos.

"Bao Luotian...! Oh my gosh—!"

Cui Tianxiao had only pulled his bow halfway, and before he could shoot the arrow, a gold-eating bird stretched its neck and swallowed the bow from the side.

This bow was the Cui Family’s heirloom; if it got eaten by a bird, that would be absurd.

Cui Tianxiao hurriedly stepped on the gold-eating bird’s neck, which was slender like a snake, and kicked and punched to pull it out. Finally retrieving the Thunder Bow, his palm, however, was sliced by the sharp feathers, leaving several wounds so deep the bone was visible, blood pouring out.

Cui Tianxiao’s situation wasn’t too bad. Qi Ming had run out of Blue Medicine and hadn’t replenished his spiritual power, leaving him weak. Moreover, he was of the gold element, so using Elemental Attacks would be like serving a dish to the gold-eating birds. So he could only hide behind Qian Xiaowu, waiting for a moment to throw stones at them.

Zhang Long’s hammer had already been eaten, and Wang Liang was in worse shape, not only empty-handed but with a piece of flesh cut off his thigh.

Qian Xiaowu’s weapon was a Water Rhinoceros Whip, temporarily safe. Despite his abdomen bleeding profusely, he loyally protected Qi Ming behind him.

Most infuriatingly, Liu Yuan, the initiator of all this, had, after the initial panic, already activated the Transmission Array to return to safety.

The scene was chaotic, and the spectators in the live stream were watching with boiling blood.

//To find this live stream, you’re really sharp-eyed. It’s worth every penny with Heaven Rank Water Beasts and gold-eating birds!//

//The gold-eating birds in mating season, driven insane by lust, even fear no fire attacks. They seem to have no weaknesses. This team that specializes in defiance has persisted so long, but it’s probably time to leave now.//

//Stop jinxing it, will you? It’s not easy to find such a tenacious team. We should pray for a miracle and hope they hold on.//

//Which year is that talisman master from Fierce Dragon Team? So weak and cowardly, disgracing talisman masters.//

//That kid looks strong but is weak inside, often bullying classmates relying on family power. After getting scolded by Sister Xing, he mellowed down a lot, but after this competition, I guess he’d be ashamed to stay in Harssas.//

...

Not wanting his precious Ice Sword to face the same fate as Zhang Long’s Jar Gold Hammer, Ye Qingting stood back-to-back with Li Xing, launching Elemental Attacks at the gold-eating birds with bare hands.

Without the weapon’s empowerment, the Elemental Attacks bounced off the mirror-smooth metallic feathers, unable to harm the gold-eating birds at all.

Li Xing was the only one among the two teams who could effectively output combat power. With a physique hard as refined gold, a punch knocked down a gold-eating bird. Grabbing another trying to ambush Qi Ming, she swung it like a discus and kicked away those getting close to Ye Qingting.

These gold-eating birds, boasting indestructible bodies and full of blades, were impossible for anyone to fight except Li Xing. The others collected more wounds, and the surrounding was filled with the heavy stench of blood.

The gold-eating birds, seemingly brainless, would persistently surround them after being driven away, akin to cockroaches. Finally, Li Xing was furious and shouted: "Everyone gather around me, Zhang Long, build an earth wall shelter, block them outside for a few minutes!"

Zhang Long responded instantly. His Heavenly Armor level Earth Elemental Spirit erupted, raising and enclosing four earth walls around them.

Wang Liang’s fingertips shone with sparks for lighting, as he watched everyone look like a bloody gourd. Li Xing’s rage kept rising.

Taking out a Jade Bottle from her Spiritual Pendant, Li Xing poured out many pills and summoned Qi Ming:

"Xiao Ming, coat these pills with metal, as thin and shiny as possible, but ensure they stand out!"

There were quite a few pills. Qi Ming quickly acted, operating his Golden Elemental Spirit to coat the pills with metal, making them look like little gold beans.

The food they had to their mouths hid in the soil clumps, driving the gold-eating birds mad, furiously attacking the earth walls. Zhang Long placed his hands on the ground, continuously releasing Elemental Power to reinforce the walls. Despite his Primordial Spirit rapidly depleting, he worried about his teammates.

"Xiao Wu, how are you holding up?"

"Brother Long, I... I can manage..."

Qian Xiaowu had been stabbed by flying feathers in the abdomen, potentially injuring his internal organs with ongoing bleeding, his lips void of color.

Wang Liang didn’t look much better. Seeing his teammates, Zhang Long felt both sorrow and guilt.

All problems stemmed from this jinx Liu Yuan. Were it not for being classmates, he’d have beaten him to death.

Zhang Long apologized to Ye Qingting: "Brother Ye, I originally promised to help you hold back the pursuers, but it seems I’m going to disappoint you again. I’ve used up all my Energy Stones, and when my Primordial Spirit is exhausted, the earth wall won’t withstand the gold-eating birds. My teammates are injured, and I must prioritize them, look after yourselves."

Naturally, their own team members were more important compared to outsiders. With the team members critically injured, Zhang Long needed to get them medical attention quickly.

Ye Qingting nodded, expressing understanding.

Li Xing had a good impression of these three, especially Qian Xiaowu, who, protecting Qi Ming, had his internal organs pierced.

Repaying kindness is her principle. Li Xing quickly took out two pills from her pocket and stuffed them into Qian Xiaowu’s and Wang Liang’s mouths.

The pills melted instantly, and the two immediately felt a warm current flowing to their Dantian, easing the pain on their bodies.

"What, what did you give them to eat?"

Zhang Long vaguely saw Li Xing feed them some strange pill. He didn’t believe she would harm them, but he feared she might have good intentions that lead to bad outcomes.

Having interned in the army for more than a year, Zhang Long had seen too many Elemental Spirits experiencing elemental chaos due to reckless medication, rendering them unable to use their Primordial Spirit again in life. Zhang Long absolutely did not wish for his teammates to face such consequences.

Cui Tianxiao took out his own bottle of Heavenly Essence Pill from his spatial button, poured out one and tossed it into his mouth. His blood-mangled, tendon-torn right hand was visibly healing before his eyes.

"Xing Er gave them an advanced Red Medicine for healing, something invaluable that can’t be bought even if you have money. Don’t be ungrateful!"

Ye Qingting wasn’t too badly injured, reluctant to use an elite Heavenly Essence Pill, taking an ordinary one sold in stores. The elite Heavenly Essence Pill was hard to refine and should be used wisely. His minor battle damage didn’t warrant wastage.

"Brother Long—" Xiao Wu’s exclamation put Zhang Long on edge, fearing he’d hear him say he was unwell.

"What’s wrong!"

"I... I’m healed?"

"What?"

Qian Xiaowu lifted his shirt. Where there had been bleeding wounds, smooth skin now covered. Zhang Long couldn’t believe it, forgetting to continue strengthening the earth wall, and reached out to touch Xiao Wu’s abdomen.

"Hahaha, Brother Long, it tickles—!"

There were still traces of blood on Xiao Wu’s abdomen, but his skin was smooth and intact, without any traces of injury.

Zhang Long was stunned. The highest-grade Healing Potion he’d ever taken was of Earth Rank, and it merely stopped bleeding and scabbed wounds. What was this situation with Xiao Wu, rapidly healing the wound? Could it be... Heaven Rank?

"Brother Long, I’m healed too!" Wang Liang touched his thigh, stood up, and walked a couple of steps. Apart from some post-blood-loss dizziness, everything was normal, and Wang Liang looked at Li Xing in disbelief.