Ji Fuyao arrived, a vision in a fiery red gown. With an elegant sweep of her robes, she settled cross-legged beside Lu Xuan, immediately immersing herself in cultivation.
Yao Huanhuan turned to Ye Chen, a competitive glint in her eye. “Ye Chen, I conceded defeat last time, but this round, I’m absolutely going to win!”
Ye Chen simply chuckled, “May the best alchemist win!”
Soon, Ye Chen and the other young alchemists stepped into the designated refining zone. All eyes were on him. After the buzz of his profound alchemy theories yesterday, everyone was eager to see if his practical skills measured up to his lofty words.
Without delay, Ye Chen began his work. His target: a Heaven-tier Spirit Nurturing Beauty Pill. With a flick of his wrist, the Heaven-Devouring Cauldron materialized, followed by the ethereal glow of the Bone-Chilling Ghost Flame, its white tendrils dancing as they warmed the ancient vessel. He meticulously laid out his ingredients: Dragon Flame Branch, Nine-star Grass, Star Frost Leaf, Thorny Mud Moss—each herb radiating subtle energy.
The crowd watched, utterly stunned. Ye Chen’s movements were like flowing water, imbued with a profound Dao Rhyme. Forget the final pill; the sheer artistry of his technique was a revelation. “This isn’t a refining method from our world!” someone gasped. “Did he… did he find this in the Bronze Ancient Palace?” another whispered, awe-struck. Immediately, dozens of alchemists, from seasoned masters to eager apprentices, dropped into meditation, their eyes still fixed on Ye Chen. They mimicked his every subtle gesture, hoping to grasp even a fraction of his profound method. The scene was a synchronized ‘mass dance’ of enlightenment, a testament to Ye Chen’s unparalleled skill. “Just this technique alone puts Ye Chen leagues ahead of the rest!” an elder exclaimed. Even Yao Huanhuan, whose own technique was considered fluid, paled in comparison to Ye Chen’s transcendent grace.
Soon, Ye Chen began feeding the spirit herbs into the Heaven-Devouring Cauldron, meticulously extracting their essence. Three days later, a faint, ethereal mist began to curl from his cauldron, coalescing into a magnificent Pill Cloud above his head. It shimmered with brilliant, resplendent hues, a breathtaking spectacle in the sky. “What grade of pill is he refining to summon such a Pill Cloud?” gasps rippled through the crowd. A pure, invigorating fragrance wafted from the cauldron, instantly clearing minds and soothing souls. Even through the sealed lid, the rich aroma of the nascent pills permeated the air.
Meanwhile, other young alchemists began unveiling their own creations. A prodigy from the Pill Fragrance Sect smirked. “I’ve successfully refined a Heaven-tier Grade One Potent Dragon Pill!” he announced with a flourish. “Consume this, and your vitality will surge, your ‘spear’ will strike like a dragon, capable of piercing all things, allowing you to engage in… intimate activities for a full month without tiring! It will transform the user into an unparalleled ‘Potent Dragon’!” A few female alchemists in the audience flushed crimson. An old man in black robes twitched an eyebrow. “You rascal, if my memory serves, you refined an Earth-tier Dragon Guiding Pill at the Grand Dao Sect’s last alchemy exchange, didn’t you?” The genius merely chuckled, producing another red pill. “Naturally! The Dragon Guiding Pill and Potent Dragon Pill, taken together, offer an even more potent effect!” The crowd exchanged exasperated glances, a collective ‘Good grief!’ hanging in the air.
A Yao Family prodigy then presented his Heaven-tier Grade One Seven-turn Soul Nurturing Pill, claiming it could ‘strengthen the Divine Soul severalfold.’ All attention then shifted to Yao Huanhuan. She opened her cauldron to reveal nine perfectly formed pills, each shimmering with at least a Triple-layer minimum of Pill Halos. From his vantage point, Yao Feng Old Ancestor nodded, a smug smile playing on his lips. “The Yao Family will claim first place,” he declared under his breath.
Finally, Ye Chen opened his cauldron. Inside lay three perfect Heaven-tier Grade Six Spirit Nurturing Beauty Pills, each radiating with a magnificent Seven-layer Pill Halo. These were for his mother and senior sister, with one still awaiting a recipient. Such a pill could preserve youth and was infused with potent Dao Rhyme, making it an invaluable treasure for any woman. Yao Feng Old Ancestor, who had been observing intently, watched his face contort in a grotesque sneer. A Heaven-tier Grade Six pill? This would undoubtedly cost the Yao Family their coveted first place! He descended from the air, moving with deceptive speed, and slammed the cauldron lid shut. Then, with a ‘benevolent’ smile, he announced, “Ye Chen, your pill is truly heaven-defying. Allow me to open the cauldron for you.” As he lifted the lid, only three mangled, incomplete pills lay at the bottom. Yao Feng shook his head in feigned sorrow. “A Heaven-tier Grade Six pill, what a tragic shame! It seems it failed to coalesce.” The crowd murmured in disappointment. To see such a terrifying Pill Cloud, only for the pills to fail, was indeed a pity. But Ye Chen’s eyes narrowed, a cold fury simmering within them. “Yao Feng Old Ancestor,” he stated, his voice devoid of warmth, “you know exactly what you just did.” He hadn’t imagined the Yao Family’s Saint Son’s Lineage would stoop to such despicable tactics. In that fleeting moment of closing the lid, the old scoundrel had deliberately sabotaged his pills! “You accuse me of ruining your pills, boy?” Yao Feng scoffed, shrugging with a theatrical air of innocence. “One must accept defeat gracefully. Your talent is undeniable, Ye Chen, but refining a Heaven-tier Grade Six pill at your age was always a stretch.” The crowd, swayed by Yao Feng’s reputation and Ye Chen’s youth, nodded in agreement. A Heaven-tier Grade Six pill was an astronomical feat, surely beyond a mere seventeen-year-old.
Without further ado, Yao Feng Old Ancestor declared, “Ye Chen’s cauldron yielded no complete pills. Therefore, Yao Huanhuan is the victor of this alchemy competition!”
Ye Chen let out a contemptuous scoff. “Yao Feng Old Ancestor,” he said, his voice dripping with disdain, “you are a profound disappointment.”
Yao Feng Old Ancestor’s face instantly turned glacial, and he unleashed a terrifying wave of oppressive power. “Boy, what are you implying?” he snarled, ready to crush Ye Chen. Suddenly, Lu Xuan’s eyes, which had been lazily closed, snapped open. With a casual flick of his wrist, he crushed a One-rotation Quasi-Dao Supreme Experience Card. His cultivation surged, exploding through realms: Seven-star Great Emperor! Half-step Supreme! One-rotation Quasi-Dao Supreme!
“BOOM!” Clad in his pristine white robes, Lu Xuan effortlessly rose into the air, a Divine Arc forming beneath his feet. In a blink, he was before Yao Feng Old Ancestor, his hand swinging in a casual, yet devastating, slap. “SMACK!” Yao Feng Old Ancestor was sent careening thousands of yards, a pathetic ragdoll, before slamming into a distant spirit peak. The peak crumbled instantly, burying him beneath tons of rubble. The entire assembly froze, their jaws slack. “When did the White Robe Supreme appear?” someone finally stammered. His speed had been utterly imperceptible! A tidal wave of shock and awe swept through the crowd. The White Robe Supreme had indeed graced the Yao Family with his presence! No wonder the Demon Court, Dark Shadow Island, and Supreme Profound Sect had all been conspicuously absent from the event! This was the undisputed supreme magnate of the Southern Wilds!
The next instant, Lu Xuan merely waved a hand. A terrifying, unseen force surged forth, yanking Yao Feng Old Ancestor from the rubble as if he were a mere puppet. Lu Xuan’s gaze was cold, utterly devoid of warmth. “Trying your petty tricks in front of me?” he drawled, his voice a silken threat. Yao Feng Old Ancestor trembled uncontrollably, a pathetic sight. But with so many eyes on him, he couldn’t possibly admit his treachery. To do so would utterly destroy the Yao Family’s prestige and his own vaunted reputation as the Southern Wilds’ foremost alchemist. He had to deny it, even to his dying breath. His face contorted into a desperate, ferocious mask. “White Robe Daoist Friend,” he rasped, “I admit I am no match for you, but a loss is a loss! Everyone here witnessed it!”
Lu Xuan simply snorted, a sound of utter disdain. Without another word, his palm descended, swift and inescapable, towards Yao Feng Old Ancestor’s head.