The inspection of the refined pills by Dan Xiangzi, Yao Baili, and the other Heaven-tier Alchemists was swift. The verdict was unanimous: Ye Chen was the undisputed first-place winner!
The hearts of everyone present were shaken. This Pill Refining Exchange Conference would ensure Ye Chen’s name spread throughout the entire Southern Wilds.
Gu Yuefang stepped forward to announce the official results of the alchemy competition.
“First Place: Grand Dao Sect, Ye Chen!”
“Second Place: Yao Family, Yao Huanhuan!”
“Third Place: Yao Family…”
The Sect Master swept his sleeve, and the distribution of rewards began. As the first-place winner, Ye Chen received an immense haul. The assembled genius alchemists watched him with unconcealed envy.
The rewards included a Half-Emperor-tier Alchemy Furnace, a stalk of Saint King Tier Beast Fire, one million high-grade Spirit Stones, and one hundred Saint-tier Spirit Herbs—a truly massive gain!
Yet, Ye Chen wore a look of utter nonchalance. After all, his Master had already given him far better treasures.
The Sect Master leaned in and whispered, “Why does the boy look so utterly unbothered?”
Gu Yuefang offered a faint, knowing smile. “It’s an act. Ye Chen has picked up bad habits from Lu Xuan. He looks calm on the surface, but inside, he’s probably ecstatic.”
The Sect Master chuckled. “Ye Chen winning first place is a perfect outcome. The only fly in the ointment is that Ye Chen’s Master is Lu Xuan.”
Gu Yuefang’s face twitched. “Ye Chen is about to become famous across the Southern Wilds! A sixteen-year-old Earth-tier Alchemist is simply unheard of! But when the news gets out, Lu Xuan’s reputation will soar to new heights.”
The Sect Master nodded in resignation. “Indeed. For a long time, the other Overlord-level Powers have mocked Lu Xuan. After this, the mockery will only intensify.”
Gu Yuefang sighed helplessly. “Lu Xuan is going to be famous again. Infamous, that is.”
The Sect Master was speechless.
Elder Cang Li, Dan Xiangzi, and the others immediately swarmed Ye Chen. “Ye Chen, could you possibly invite that senior expert out for a meeting?”
Ye Chen frowned slightly. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible.” He knew Elder Yao Yan could not easily reveal himself.
Dan Xiangzi sighed. “Young man, you possess such immense fortune at such a young age. Your future achievements are truly immeasurable.”
Ye Chen glanced at Lu Xuan. “It is all thanks to my Master, Lu Xuan’s, excellent guidance.”
Lu Xuan smiled faintly. The kid never misses a chance to hype me up. Good boy, good boy!
The crowd looked at Lu Xuan’s expression with disdain.
Gu Yuefang scoffed playfully. “Lu Xuan, are you seriously claiming credit for this?”
Lu Xuan nodded casually. “I just lent a small hand.”
The surrounding alchemists burst into laughter. “Lu Xuan, don’t tell us you actually know how to refine pills?”
Lu Xuan replied nonchalantly, “I dabble, I dabble.” I’m only an Earth-tier Alchemist right now. Against a bunch of Heaven-tier guys, I should probably keep a low profile. Forget it.
Yao Baili smiled. “Peak Master Lu, why don’t you show us your skills?”
With a sweep of his sleeve, Yao Baili sent a Saint-tier alchemy furnace and a stalk of Saint-tier Beast Fire floating toward Lu Xuan.
Seeing this, Ye Chen’s body trembled with excitement. Could it be? Is Master finally going to reveal his true strength? Based on Elder Yao’s speculation, Master’s alchemy attainment is at least at the peak of Heaven-tier, if not beyond! Once he makes a move, it will surely trigger a Heaven and Earth Phenomenon, perhaps even a lightning tribulation to temper the pill!
Ye Chen gritted his teeth, barely containing himself. Is Master finally going to shock the entire Southern Wilds? Southern Wilds, are you ready? World, try not to be too shocked!
Lu Xuan smiled faintly and rolled up his sleeves.
But the next instant, the Sect Master immediately stepped in front of Lu Xuan, coughing violently to signal him. “Cough, cough, cough…”
Lu Xuan knows jack squat about alchemy! Yao Baili is setting a trap, and Lu Xuan is actually going to jump into it!
The Sect Master sent a frantic mental transmission to Lu Xuan. “We need to talk! Please, for the love of the Grand Dao Sect, don’t! I’m begging you!”
Lu Xuan was speechless.
Since the Sect Master put it that way, he had no choice but to back down. Besides, his Earth-tier alchemy skills really weren’t anything to brag about here. He decided to pass.
The Sect Master sighed in relief when Lu Xuan gave up.
Gu Yuefang’s face twitched. He glared at Yao Baili. “Fellow Daoist Baili, you’re a wicked one, aren’t you!” He knew Yao Baili was trying to make Lu Xuan look foolish.
Yao Baili laughed. “Haha! In that case, I’ll gift this Saint-tier alchemy furnace and Beast Fire to Ye Chen.”
Ye Chen was slightly stunned. “Thank you, Senior Yao!” He felt a faint sense of disappointment. Master still didn’t make a move! What a pity.
Yao Yan sighed. “It’s a shame I couldn’t witness Peak Master Lu refine a pill.”
“Perhaps there will be a chance in the future,” Ye Chen said.
The Sect Master looked at Ye Chen. “Ye Chen, take your Master back to Azure Mystery Peak for now.”
Ye Chen nodded, bowed to the crowd, and rose into the air on a divine rainbow with Lu Xuan, heading back to Azure Mystery Peak.
Watching Ye Chen’s receding figure, Elder Cang Li suddenly spoke. “Fellow Daoist Gu Yuefang, before I leave, I would like to speak with Ye Chen privately. What do you think?”
Gu Yuefang looked toward the Cangxuan Old Ancestor and the others.
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor nodded. “That is acceptable.”
Dan Xiangzi added, “I had the same thought.”
A sharp glint flashed in Yao Baili’s eyes. “As did I.”
Suddenly, dozens of Heaven-tier Alchemists wanted to speak with Ye Chen before departing.
The Sect Master couldn’t help but exclaim, “Ye Chen is truly going to make a name for himself across the Southern Wilds!”
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor smiled. “To be honest, having Lu Xuan as the Master of Ye Chen and Ji Fuyao has had an unexpected effect.”
The Sect Master gave a wry smile. “They clearly have guidance from someone else, and their talent is heaven-defying. What does that have to do with Lu Xuan?”
The others laughed. “That is also true.”
***
### Azure Mystery Peak
Ye Chen followed Lu Xuan back to the cave dwelling.
Ye Chen bowed to Lu Xuan, his face alight with excitement. “Master, thank you for your guidance. Without you and Elder Yao, I would never have won first place in the alchemy competition.”
Lu Xuan smiled. “Honestly, I didn’t do much.”
Yao Yan’s soul form emerged from the jade pendant on Ye Chen’s chest. “Peak Master Lu, it is truly a regret that I couldn’t witness you refine a pill. If the opportunity arises, might I be allowed to open my eyes to your skill?”
Lu Xuan replied smoothly, “Next time, definitely.” I’m only an Earth-tier Alchemist right now! Showing off in front of Yao Yan would be like teaching a fish to swim. I need to keep leveling up.
Ye Chen suddenly spoke. “Master, for the next period, I plan to focus primarily on martial cultivation. My main effort over the last three months was on alchemy, and I haven’t had enough time to cultivate the Desolate Heaven Art.”
Lu Xuan nodded. “Very well. You arrange your own schedule.”
“Thank you, Master!” Ye Chen said.
Just then, Yao Yan’s soul body retreated back into Ye Chen’s jade pendant. He quickly reminded Ye Chen, “Someone is coming.”
Boom!
A divine rainbow shot from the distance and landed instantly on Azure Mystery Peak.
Elder Cang Li, draped in a black robe, slowly walked into Lu Xuan’s cave dwelling. He pointed directly at Lu Xuan. “You, get out! I need to speak with Ye Chen alone.”
Lu Xuan’s eyes widened. What the hell? Isn’t this pure insubordination? Doesn’t this guy know who’s boss?!
Ye Chen immediately stepped forward. “Elder Cang Li, please speak here. This is my Master’s dwelling.”
Elder Cang Li replied coolly, “Then we shall speak outside.”
Lu Xuan was speechless. He realized that this Elder Cang Li harbored a deep prejudice against him. He’s looking down on me!
Ye Chen stood his ground, his expression serious. “Elder Cang Li, I hope you will show my Master some respect. My Master is far from being as simple as he appears on the surface.”
Cang Li merely snorted and sat down directly at Lu Xuan’s wooden table. He casually glanced at Lu Xuan’s calligraphy and paintings.
“The Jiang Taigong Electric Fishing Diagram!”
“Zhuge Liang Borrowing the East Wind!”
Cang Li burst into laughter. “Heh heh… how pretentious!”
Lu Xuan was unperturbed and gestured to Ye Chen. “Sit down and chat.”
Elder Cang Li produced a Transmission Jade Slip. His spirit seals shifted, and endless brilliant spiritual patterns emerged from the slip, quickly forming a projection in the air.
It was a detailed image of Ye Chen’s alchemy technique.
Ye Chen was slightly startled. He hadn’t expected Elder Cang Li to have recorded his technique with spiritual patterns.
Elder Cang Li cleared his throat. “Ahem, Ye Chen, I have a few questions I’d like to exchange with you.”
Ye Chen nodded. “Elder Cang Li, please ask.”
Elder Cang Li began to question Ye Chen about the ‘Dao and Essence’ contained within his alchemy technique.
Ye Chen frowned, looking at Lu Xuan. The questions touched upon the secrets of the Five-star Pill Emperor’s Memories, and he wasn’t sure if he should reveal them to Cang Li.
Lu Xuan spoke calmly. “You may answer Elder Cang Li, but the price is one million high-grade Spirit Stones per question! Or an equivalent treasure!”
He smiled faintly. “Elder Cang Li is a magnate of alchemy in Yunzhou. A few million high-grade Spirit Stones should be a trifle for him.”
Hearing this, Elder Cang Li erupted in fury, slamming his hand on the table and grinding out the words: “Lu! Xuan!”
Lu Xuan looked at Elder Cang Li with an utterly unperturbed expression.
This only infuriated Cang Li further. The atmosphere in the room fell into a dead silence. Cang Li didn’t speak, Ye Chen didn’t speak, and Lu Xuan didn’t speak. The situation was intensely awkward.
After a moment of silence, Elder Cang Li produced a Storage Ring and placed it on the wooden table. “Three million high-grade Spirit Stones! For three questions!”
Lu Xuan gestured for Ye Chen to accept it.
Ye Chen took the Storage Ring and began to answer Cang Li’s questions.
Several hours later, Elder Cang Li nodded, a faint divine radiance emanating from his body, as if he had gained a profound realization.
His voice trembled with excitement. “Excellent! Truly excellent! I can now confirm that you, Ye Chen, have a Pill Emperor backing you!”
Ye Chen gave a noncommittal nod.
A moment later, Elder Cang Li turned and walked away from Azure Mystery Peak.
His voice echoed across the peak as he left. “How could such a talented disciple end up with a waste of a Master like him?”
Lu Xuan was stunned. Seriously? The old geezer couldn’t leave without taking one last shot at me?
Ye Chen pushed the Storage Ring toward Lu Xuan. “Master, these high-grade Spirit Stones?”
Lu Xuan waved a hand dismissively. “Take them and use them. I have no need for Spirit Stones.”
Ye Chen hesitated for a moment, then put the ring away. “Thank you, Master.”
Lu Xuan’s lips curled into a slight smile. “The others will be here soon. Keep the standard: one question, one million high-grade Spirit Stones!”
Ye Chen’s mouth twitched. “Understood.”
Yao Yan sighed with emotion. “Chen’er, your Master is going through all this trouble for your cultivation resources! A man of his realm naturally doesn’t need Spirit Stones, so accept them, cultivate diligently, and that will be your repayment to him!”
Ye Chen nodded solemnly.
One by one, Dan Xiangzi and the other Heaven-tier Alchemists entered Lu Xuan’s cave dwelling.
As they left, Dan Xiangzi and the others couldn’t help but laugh and curse. “Where did that boy Ye Chen learn this trick? He’s only picking up bad habits!”