readytorunbook Chapter 178 Alchemy Competition
Chapter 178 Alchemy Competition
Chapter 178: Alchemy Competition
Time quietly passed, and the second stage of the Daoist Assembly finally began. Compared to the intense and murderous atmosphere of the first stage, the content of the second stage was limited to the realm of "intellectual combat," which greatly reduced the tense atmosphere.
Alchemy, refining tools, talismans, formations, divination, puppetry... There were over a hundred categories in total. Any disciple who excelled in a certain field could choose to participate, and the winners would receive generous rewards.
For example, in the alchemy competition, there were a total of ten rounds. Each round was set by the elders of the sect, who provided alchemy furnaces and ten sets of herbal ingredients. As long as the cultivators could refine the specified pill within the given time, they would be considered qualified. The final winner would be determined based on the quantity and quality of the pills produced.
As for those unfortunate souls whose lack of skill led to exploding furnaces and failed alchemy, they would be eliminated from the competition.
Cultivators who did not participate also had the right to watch from the sidelines, cheering for their fellow disciples, but they were not allowed to interfere in any way.
Outside the arena for the alchemy competition, the spectator stands were already filled with thousands of golden sandalwood tables, filled with spiritual fruits, snacks, and drinks. Disciples from various sects and schools had gathered in groups, finding their seats and creating a lively atmosphere.
"... It seems like there aren't many people here."
At a nearby table, Qin Muling, wearing a golden crown and a luxurious purple robe with cloud patterns, curiously surveyed the neatly arranged three thousand alchemy furnaces in the arena. His clear eyes and perfectly sculpted facial features exuded a mysterious and noble aura, attracting the attention of countless female cultivators. Even the elders and disciples of female cultivation sects like the Goddess Sect and the Green Hill Palace couldn't help but glance at him.
"Compared to the previous competition a few days ago, there are indeed fewer participants this time," Yu Lingzhou explained with a smile. "These miscellaneous studies require a great deal of effort, time, and resources. Therefore, there can't be too many cultivators willing to invest in this area. Moreover, in order to achieve success, one must have sufficient talent and be guided by a renowned teacher. After multiple rounds of selection, there are even fewer people who can make it to the top."
"That makes sense," Qin Muling nodded slightly. As a technical talent like an alchemist, he was indispensable to any major sect or school. The number and level of alchemists were also key indicators of a sect's strength.
However, cultivating alchemists was extremely resource-intensive. Taking Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace as an example, to cultivate a qualified Perfected Being Realm alchemist, the cost incurred during the process would be enough to train more than thirty core disciples of the same level. Sects with insufficient economic strength simply couldn't afford to have too many alchemists.
The same situation applied to other technical talents.
Some forces would try to recruit people from outside, but the cost was even more extravagant, and it also depended on luck. After all, no one in charge of a sect was a fool and wouldn't allow their hard-trained talents to flow out freely.
Among the new disciples from Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace who came this time, there were five disciples who excelled in alchemy. However, only Senior Sister Xue Bingxuan's alchemy attainments could be considered outstanding, while the others were only at the level of ordinary alchemists and didn't have the confidence to show off in this Daoist Assembly.
"Younger Junior Brother, try this fine wine. How does it taste?"
On the left side of Qin Muling, a stunning beauty with crescent-shaped eyebrows and starry eyes, and a plump figure, gently lifted her white wrist and brought over an exquisite wine bottle, speaking in a gentle and soft manner.
He took a sip and nodded in satisfaction, expressing his approval of the taste of the wine. The Yu family had some secret techniques in brewing wine, to the point that even after drinking countless spirits and nectars, he still felt satisfied.
The beautiful woman smiled with curved eyebrows and eyes. She wore a gorgeous bright red dress, adorned with pearls and jade. Her lotus-like face had a faint blush, and her feather-like eyelashes blinked gently. Her sparkling eyes were as radiant as stars, filled with a burning passion as she looked at the handsome young man beside her.
This was Yu Binghua, the descendant of the elder Yu Lingzhou. She had always had a good relationship with Qi Shuyu, Su Yunmo, and the other girls. She was one of the senior core disciples of the sect and currently had a cultivation level of the initial stage of Immortal Transformation.
Speaking of which, their aptitude and talent were not inferior to the previous five daughters of Xue Bingxuan. They were considered the same level of outstanding talents back then, and even had the ambition to compete for the position of Dao Heir.
However, after Qin Muling entered the sect, the senior sister received his unparalleled luck and assistance, causing her cultivation to soar like it was on steroids. She left all her competitors far behind, forcing them to completely give up on competing with her.
The subsequent events followed naturally. In order to seize an opportunity to stay by Qin Muling's side, Yu Binghua and the other girls had put in a lot of effort. Elder Yu Lingzhou also supported her outstanding descendant in front of Mu Yinghua.
As long as she could achieve her wish, she could also soar to the sky in the future and catch up to the gap between her and the senior sister. Yu Binghua pondered in her heart.
Yu Lingzhou smiled and said, "I know that you, little junior brother, like to drink. This girl has brought out the best wines from our clan's cellar. From now on, you can come here and drink as much as you want."
Qin Muling agreed, even though there were more than ten generations between them in terms of seniority. However, based on appearance alone, Yu Lingzhou still looked like an eleven or twelve-year-old loli, while Yu Binghua seemed much more mature than this elder.
Of course, both women had extremely seductive and enchanting figures, and they were both rare beauties that were not inferior to Xue Bingxuan and her sisters.
The result of the last draw was that Yu Binghua was chosen. Therefore, she had been accompanying Qin Muling these past few days, cultivating their relationship. Yu Lingzhou was also quite concerned about this descendant of hers and would take the opportunity to come and have tea and discuss the Dao with them.
However, Qin Muling always felt that Yu Lingzhou's intentions were not so pure and that she was overly enthusiastic towards him.
As the time approached, on the high platform in the venue, thousands of outstanding talents from various sects registered their identities with the elders, received their tokens and medicinal herbs, and then, led by the disciples, entered the venue and each chose a pill furnace.
There were more than three thousand pill furnaces, all of the same specifications, all of them High Grade Law Treasure level, with small time acceleration arrays inside, which could greatly shorten the time it took to refine pills. Of course, this kind of pill furnace had stricter requirements for the cultivator's cultivation level, and ordinary cultivators usually didn't dare to try it easily.
From this, Qin Muling had a deeper understanding of the terrifying heritage of the sect. Compared to other Apex Level sects, Supreme Daoist sects, and Immortal Dynasty, they didn't have such a grand scale. They couldn't casually produce more than three thousand High Grade Law Treasure level pill furnaces.
Compared to other types of Law Treasures, the refining process of pill furnaces was more complex and difficult, and the cost was higher. Therefore, their value was also the highest among Law Treasures of the same level. For ordinary major sects, being able to have several High Grade Law Treasure level pill furnaces was already considered a good foundation.
Xue Bingxuan, dressed in a snowy white robe and holding a white jade dusting brush, had already received her things and sat in front of a pill furnace. With her high bun and exquisite and beautiful face, she calmly and leisurely performed her spiritual technique. The array around the base of the pill furnace was activated, and the intricate patterns lit up one after another, accompanied by a faint sound of wind and thunder.
After checking the status of the pill furnace and confirming that there were no problems, Xue Bingxuan stopped and waited quietly for the announcement of the start of the competition by the elders of the sect.
"With the help of my junior brother... the first place will still not fall into anyone else's hands."
Xue Bingxuan pondered silently, touching the luxurious dress on her body. It was taken from her junior brother and carried his aura. After being refined with secret techniques, it could share his terrifying luck, making it perfect for this occasion.
In preparation for this alchemy competition, Senior Sister had made thorough preparations. Her body was filled with the spiritual essence of the Innate Primordial Spirit Root, nourishing and moisturizing her. Her current state had reached an unprecedented peak, and performing beyond the norm was a given.
Slightly tilting her head, Xue Bingxuan's clear and watery eyes glanced at Qin Muling on the viewing platform, giving him a bright and charming smile before turning her head back.
"..."
Qin Muling furrowed his brows slightly and discreetly touched his waist. Last night, several senior sisters had used the excuse of needing to participate in the competition to exhaust him in various ways. Although it was hard to describe the exhilaration and stimulation, the feeling of being almost drained was truly unpleasant.
At this moment, Senior Sisters Cheng Yulan and Luo Huan had also gone to other venues to participate, while Qi Yalan and Luo Wanqing followed them to spectate.
"Can your Senior Sister win first place this time?" Yu Lingzhou asked.
"Of course, there is no doubt about it," Qin Muling replied. The reward for first place was an Acquired Spiritual Treasure-level pill furnace, a rare ancient alchemy scripture in three volumes, and three hundred Divine Medicines, all of which were valuable to Senior Sister. With these benefits, Xue Bingxuan's alchemy attainments would undoubtedly advance further, and even he would benefit greatly.
Yu Lingzhou pondered for a moment. "It seems that Luo Huan and Cheng Yulan can also win first place?"
Qin Muling thought to himself, isn't this obvious? Their cultivation had already reached the peak of the Origin Immortal level. No matter how talented their competitors were, they were rare to match them in terms of cultivation alone. Coupled with the difference in luck and destiny, it was not easy to surpass them.
Yu Binghua refilled his cup with spirit wine and gently held his arm, asking, "This is mostly thanks to your efforts, right?"
Qin Muling smiled but didn't say anything. In fact, this was not a secret within the sect. Any senior sister or junior sister who had a good relationship with him would receive some benefits, to a greater or lesser extent. Bai Qingyu was a prime example. She had already advanced to become a core disciple and her cultivation had progressed rapidly. Even the ten personal maids, such as Mu Xiner, had benefited greatly.
Of course, a group of elders, including Yu Lingzhou, had also relied on the Divine Medicine resources Qin Muling found in the Illusory Mist Secret Realm to recover. The Ice Swallow Celestial Lord had also been healed by him personally.
"Junior brother, if you have time in the future, can you help me as well?" Yu Lingzhou patted Qin Muling a few times and smiled, "My proficiency in the Dao of Artifact Refinement has been stagnant for many years, and I'm worried about it!"
This elder excelled in the Dao of Artifact Refinement. Most of the Law Treasures Qin Muling currently used were either made by her or co-refined with other elders under her leadership.
Qin Muling was somewhat speechless. "Your realm is too high. I'm afraid I can't help you now. If you want to make further progress, you can only break through to the next realm in cultivation."
Yu Lingzhou's eyes brightened slightly: "Then I still have to ask for your help, right? How about..."
Beside her, Yu Binghua coughed lightly and changed the topic: "Junior Brother, they have started."
Qin Muling's gaze returned to the stage, where the elders of the Daoist Court had already announced the first test question. All participating cultivators must refine a batch of Qi Replenishing Pills within three hours. The one with the highest quantity and best quality of pills will be the winner.
There are a total of ten such test questions, each one more difficult than the last. Only those who win all of them and achieve the best overall score can become the number one recognized by the elders of the Daoist Court.
In the arena, over three thousand cultivators were already in position. As the flames at the bottom of the pill furnaces rose, the protective array at the edge of the arena activated, preventing any accidents from harming the spectators outside.
Xue Bingxuan focused her mind and divided the medicinal materials into batches, then she calmly and methodically began her work, manipulating her spiritual energy and following the prescribed steps.
Qi Replenishing Pills are not high-grade pills; they can only be considered entry-level. Ordinary apprentice alchemists can attempt to refine them. However, it is not easy to refine these pills with excellent quality and as many as possible. The most challenging aspect is the alchemist's control.
Of course, for Xue Bingxuan, this was a piece of cake. She was well aware of every step and was skilled and experienced. The entire process of pill refinement went smoothly without any mistakes.
Time passed quietly, and the guests on the viewing platform enjoyed tasting fruits and snacks, discussing and drinking. As cultivators with long lifespans, patience was something they had in abundance.
"The pills will be ready soon!"
Yu Lingzhou said as she picked up a milky white fruit and peeled it, then handed it to Qin Muling: "How many pills do you think Senior Sister will refine this time?"
"Maybe three to five hundred?"
Qin Muling caught the fruit she fed him with his mouth and gently bit into it. The crisp and sweet juice burst on his tongue, giving him a feeling of extreme pleasure. The taste of this fruit from the elder was also irresistible.
In the arena, as Xue Bingxuan performed the final steps of her technique, the pill furnace emitted a pleasant hum. The heavy golden lid slowly rose, and a strong medicinal fragrance filled the air. Rolling mist rose into the air, gathering into a cloud-shaped Lingzhi.
Then, thousands of thumb-sized, flawless, and round emerald green pills appeared. The attendant disciples who were prepared in advance quickly stepped forward and collected them one by one, sealing them in pill bottles.
After a short while, all the cultivators had finished their work. The next step was for the elders to count the number of pills and assess their quality, and then determine the winner.
Xue Bingxuan was confident. She had refined over a thousand Qi Replenishing Pills this time, and the quality of the pills was outstanding. Therefore, the champion of this round would undoubtedly be herself.
Please vote for this chapter and recommend it.
(End of this chapter)