Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Wen Qiao and Ning Yuzhou spent three days browsing the market in the Heavenly Pill Valley. Once again, they nearly depleted their supply of Yuanjing and spirit pills. When they judged that the time was right, they returned to the high-end cave dwelling they had rented.

Qin Hongdao and his sister were already waiting for them. Upon seeing their arrival, they hurried over to greet them.

The water in the bathtub was much lighter in color than during the previous treatments, and its smell was more tolerable. Most of the blemishes on Sheng Yunshen's face had faded, leaving only faint traces. Now, even without wearing a hood, he wouldn't draw unwanted attention.

"Great progress. Only thirty percent of the poison remains," Ning Yuzhou said with a smile. "It can be suppressed for another six months."

Qin Hongdao was delighted. Six months might not be a long time, but it was enough for the sect to search for an antidote, instead of constantly living on the edge as before.

After dressing, Sheng Yunshen eagerly asked, "Young Master Ning, am I allowed to practice martial arts now?"

"It's best if you don't," Ning Yuzhou replied. "Activating your Essence Spirit Energy could stimulate the spread of the poison within your body. For now, I've only managed to suppress the remaining thirty percent with medicine. If it were to spread again due to the influence of Essence Spirit Energy, it would become a much more difficult problem to solve."

Sheng Yunshen looked utterly disappointed.

What was the difference between a cultivator who couldn't use their Essence Spirit Energy and a good-for-nothing?

As the pride of the Crimson Sky Sect, Sheng Yunshen was accustomed to taking the lead in everything and rarely needed protection. The current state he was in dealt him a severe blow.

Qin Hongdao promptly reassured, "Don't worry, Mister Ning. I'll keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't act recklessly." Then, he glared threateningly at his junior brother and said with a fake smile, "Junior Brother, you'd better behave yourself and not force Senior Sister to intervene."

Sheng Yunshen let out a miserable cry, realizing that the next six months would be torturous.

With his junior brother temporarily out of harm's way, Qin Hongdao finally had the mind to focus on other matters. "I've heard that the Alchemy Congress has already begun. Are Mister Ning and Miss Min planning to attend?"

Although they had come to the Heavenly Pill Valley for the purpose of collecting healing spirit medicines, they wouldn't leave right away since they were already there.

Qin Hongdao felt that time was still ample and suggested, "We could wait until after the Alchemy Congress before returning to our sect."

Ning Yuzhou replied, "We were actually planning to go take a look tomorrow."

Considering Ning Yuzhou's alchemy skills, Qin Hongdao asked, "Does Mister Ning intend to participate in the competition during the Alchemy Congress?"

Sheng Yunshen's eyes lit up as he echoed, "Yes, Mister Ning is quite skilled in alchemy. He's even better than many alchemists. Naturally, he should register for the competition. If he can secure one of the top three positions, I've heard that there will be rewards."

The Danmeng held the Alchemy Congress every five years. To attract more alchemists to the Heavenly Pill Valley, the organization offered different rewards for the top three positions among Yellow Rank, Dark Rank, Earth Rank, and Heaven Rank Alchemists.

Of course, some come for the rewards, but many more seek fame. If one could make a name for themselves in the Alchemy Gathering, would they still have to worry about lack of cultivators seeking their services for pill refinement? Pill refinement was an expensive occupation; money came in quickly, but it was spent just as fast. To afford the various ingredients needed for alchemy, an alchemist had to establish a good reputation to attract cultivators bearing yuanjing.

Thus, many alchemists with specific goals participated in each Five Cities Alchemy Gathering.

Ning Yuzhou chuckled. "Although I'm currently a Yellow Rank Alchemist, it wouldn't be fair to others if I were to compete against them in that category."

Qin Hongdao and Sheng Yunshen agreed upon reflection. Ning Yuzhou's proficiency in refining Yellow Rank pills allowed him to produce top-grade ones consistently, a level that most Yellow Rank Alchemists couldn't reach. This was due to their limited amount of spiritual energy, inadequate control over it, and insufficient mastery of pill refinement techniques, making it difficult to create top-grade pills.

When these alchemists eventually advanced to the Mystic Rank, they would disdain refining low-level Yellow Rank Spirit Pills, focusing instead on higher-grade ones. Thus, they would no longer refine Yellow Rank pills, let alone strive to perfect the art of crafting their top-grade counterparts.

After some thought, Qin Hongdao asked, "May I ask, Mister Ning, if you're capable of refining Mystic Rank pills now?"

"I can manage a few," Ning Yuzhou replied modestly.

Sheng Yunshen's eyes gleamed. "Can Mister Ning refine ten types of Mystic Rank pills?"

To assess an alchemist's rank, one looked at their ability to refine ten common spirit pills of a particular grade. An alchemist like Ning Yuzhou, who had mastered all aspects of Yellow Rank pills, could attempt Mystic Rank pill refinement. If they could successfully refine more than ten types of Mystic Rank pills, they could truly be considered a Mystic Rank Alchemist.

"Not yet."

Upon hearing this, Sheng Yunshen expressed his regret, "If Mister Ning could refine ten Profound Rank pills, he would have the qualifications to participate in the Profound Rank Alchemist competition."

Ning Yuzhou smiled but didn't respond to that.

On the other hand, Wen Qiao couldn't help but steal another glance at her husband.

Having often witnessed him refining pills, she was well aware that Ning Yuzhou had long been capable of refining over ten types of Profound Rank pills even before coming to the Heavenly Pill Valley. However, he found those pills insufficiently perfect, so he never showcased them to others.

In his mind, only when a pill reached the peak of perfection did it qualify him to call himself a Profound Rank Alchemist.

One could only say that in every aspect, Ning Yuzhou was a man relentlessly pursuing perfection, meticulous to an extreme degree.

Although he had decided not to participate in the alchemy competition, Ning Yuzhou still planned to watch the contest.

The next day, the four of them emerged from their cave dwellings and headed towards the competition venue of the Pill Gathering.

When the Danmeng first established the Heavenly Pill Valley, they deliberately chose a flat area in the valley's center to build an arena. To provide better views for the spectators, they constructed tiered stands around the arena. Moreover, at the top, there were box seats, which were built for the Danmeng's five cities and other prominent sects. Access to these boxes required connections and influence.

Upon arriving, they found the stepped stands packed with cultivators. A glance revealed a dense sea of people, making it challenging to squeeze through the crowd.

Amidst the bustling crowd and cacophony, one couldn't help but feel a natural aversion to it.

Qin Hongdao took a glance around and promptly decided, "Let's find a private box to watch from."

Sheng Yunshen also had no desire to jostle with the masses. He was very obedient to his senior sister and hurriedly followed her lead.

Ning Yuzhou held Wen Qiao's hand, sensing the activity of the telepathic talisman. He retrieved it and, upon hearing the message, informed Qin Hongdao and company, "Miss Qin, Young Master Sheng, there's a private box over here."

The Qin siblings looked at them in confusion.

Ning Yuzhou then led them to an entrance that led to the private boxes, where they found Shang Honglang and his sister waiting.

"Lord Ning, Miss Min, you've arrived," the siblings said cheerfully. Just as they were about to guide them to the Shang family's box, their gazes fell upon Qin Hongdao and Sheng Yunshen, who were standing together. They hesitated and asked, "These two are...?"

"We're friends of Lord Ning," Qin Hongdao replied with a smile on her face.

On this day, Qin Hongdao hadn't donned her signature red attire, nor had she brought her large saber. She appeared as an ordinary, spirited female cultivator, without the airs of a disciple from a prominent sect. This was her disguise when traveling, a way to conceal her identity. Although being a Scarlet Heaven Sect disciple was advantageous, it could also invite unnecessary trouble at times.

Not everyone enjoyed parading around with their sect's prestige.

Seeing his senior sister lower her stance, Sheng Yunshen dared not act formally either and also adopted the appearance of an ordinary cultivator.

Upon seeing Ning Yuzhou's lack of objections, a smile graced Shang Honglang's face as he said, "Mr. Ning's friends are also our friends. Let's go together."

Right away, the Shang siblings led them to an empty private room, which Shang Honglang had specifically requested from their family for the purpose of entertaining their saviors. Concerned that they might feel uncomfortable, he even prevented other members of the Shang family from disturbing them.

Ning Yuzhou was indeed very satisfied.

Their acquaintance with the Shang siblings didn't mean they wanted to get to know the entire Shang family. It had to be said that the Shang siblings were meticulous and thoughtful in their actions.

Once they arrived at the private room, Wen Qiao sat beside Ning Yuzhou, while Qin Hongdao and Sheng Yunshen took seats next to each other. The Shang siblings, as hosts, sat on the opposite side.

As the competition outside had yet to commence, Wen Qiao took out spirit melon seeds and spirit tea from her storage bag, placing them on the small table in front of them. Then, she started munching on the seeds alongside Wen Tuttu, sipping spirit wine.

It was sheer indulgence.

Wen Tuttu was a master at cracking seeds. With its claws, it scooped up a handful of seeds, tossing them into its mouth one by one. Its three-parted lips moved swiftly, spitting out a pile of seed shells in no time. Each shell was perfectly split into two halves without damaging the flesh inside. As the shells were discarded, the seed meat was swallowed.

This display of skill from the pet and its owner drew curious glances from the others in the private room.

Wen Qiao noticed their attention and suggested, "You can eat too, there's plenty."

Qin Hongdao and the others looked at her with a peculiar feeling in their hearts.

Practitioners rarely paid attention to such unrelated snacks, but seeing Wen Qiao and Wen Tuttu enjoying them so much, especially Wen Tuttu's amusing way of cracking sunflower seeds, they couldn't help but develop some interest. They each grabbed a handful of spirit melon seeds, munching away while keeping an eye on the ongoing competition outside.

They weren't greedy for the young girl's treats; it was simply that she was too adorable, making them unable to resist indulging her wishes.

After snacking for a while, Wen Qiao noticed Ning Yuzhou hadn't touched any, so she grabbed a handful of seeds, carefully extracting the kernels for him. Once she had a decent pile, she passed them to him.

In Wen Qiao's mind, her husband was a refined person and would never engage in something as mundane as cracking seeds and spitting out shells. So, she decided to do it for him.

Ning Yuzhou glanced at the earnest little girl cracking seeds and smiled warmly, appreciating her kindness.

For a moment, everyone in the box was engrossed in cracking seeds, creating a lively atmosphere.

Shang Honglang accompanied them for a short while before leaving due to other matters, leaving Shang Hongyue behind to keep them company.

As a member of the Shang family from Huaiyin City, Shang Hongyue was well-versed in the procedures of the Pill Gathering. He explained the proceedings to the group and updated them on the situation in the competition arena outside.

Yesterday's competition concluded with the Yellow Rank Alchemists; today, it was the turn of the Black Rank Alchemists.

The match promptly began. The first round was a elimination contest. Participants were required to refine three Black Rank pills as specified by the Danmeng. Success would secure their advancement to the next round, while failure meant immediate elimination.

Approximately five thousand Black Rank Alchemists stepped onto the stage today, a significant decrease from the nearly thirty thousand Yellow Rank Alchemists who had competed yesterday. And this was merely the first round – more would be eliminated after this.

Sure enough, following the first round, almost three thousand were cut, leaving only two thousand contestants remaining.

"The first round wasn't particularly challenging and didn't carry much weight. Those who remained have proven themselves worthy of being Black Rank Alchemists. Starting from the second round, we'll truly test their abilities."

With Shang Hongyue's commentary, the second round began.

The alchemists examined the materials laid out on tables beside them. The Danmeng provided all necessary ingredients, presenting a uniform selection of numerous and diverse substances. It was up to the alchemists to determine which Black Rank pill they could craft with the given resources.

Competent alchemists swiftly identified the pill they intended to refine. After preparing their materials, they ignited talisman fires to preheat their pill furnaces.

After an hour, the scent of medicinal pills gradually permeated the competition grounds.

Soon, a humming sound emerged from one of the furnaces, followed by the lid flying off. Ten Spirit Pills emerged from within, captured by a slender, fair hand before being stowed away in a pill bottle.

This was the first alchemist to successfully refine a pill, and instantly, all eyes in the venue fell upon them.

Upon recognizing the alchemist, Shang Hongyue's expression immediately took a turn for the worse.

This was because the alchemist in question happened to be Wang Qirong, who had vied with her for the Linggu fruit just a few days prior. As a Profound Rank Alchemist, it wasn't unusual for Wang Qirong to be present here.

"Ah, that woman is remarkable. She was the first to finish. Judging from the number of pills she harvested just now, it seems to be a full yield," Sheng Yunshen remarked.

Despite his profound disdain for certain actions of Wang Qirong, Shang Hongyue had to admit that when it came to alchemy, she was a genius.

Wang Qirong is not very old, just twenty-six this year, yet she has already attained the rank of Profound Alchemist. In the Holy Martial Continent, she is considered an exceptionally talented young alchemist. Moreover, her mastery of alchemy is highly esteemed, and the Wang family holds great expectations for her. It is rumored that she is the one with the potential to become a Celestial Alchemist within a century in the Wang family, and perhaps even ascend to the rank of a Royal Alchemist in the future.

Royal Alchemists are the highest-ranking alchemists on the Holy Martial Continent, with no alchemist having reached the Sacred level as of yet.

"Is that so? Could it be that Wang Qirong is a newly acclaimed genius alchemist from the Danmeng?" Sheng Yunshen inquired.

While the Danmeng holds some influence in the Holy Martial Continent, it still lags behind the major sects and factions.

Moreover, within the Danmeng, there are five cities, each with its own ambitions, giving the alliance an appearance of harmony while concealing constant internal strife. To alter this situation, the Danmeng would need to unify all five city forces, but each city belongs to a different family, and none of them would willingly sacrifice their interests. As a result, the Danmeng remains in a stagnant middle ground, its development progressing at a sluggish pace.

The Danmeng has been making great efforts to enhance its influence on the Holy Martial Continent and compete with prominent sects. Launching a prodigious alchemist at regular intervals is one of their unique moves to attract more alchemists to join their ranks.

These strategies of the Danmeng might deceive ordinary cultivators, but not the super sects.

Sure enough, Shang Hongyue blushed slightly upon hearing Sheng Yunshen's words. She hesitated but failed to come up with a rebuttal.

Wang Qirong was indeed the genius alchemist that the Danmeng had promoted for this event. This Alchemy Gathering would be her first step towards fame.

In the second round, Wang Qirong completed ten perfect pills, four superior-grade ones, and six middle-grade pills, with no inferior-grade pills. As a result, she took first place in that round.

In the third round, Wang Qirong was once again the first to finish. After placing her refined spirit pills into an alchemy bottle, she calmly sat there. Her excessively exquisite appearance drew the attention of countless cultivators present.

"She's so fast at alchemy, and she produced full yield again," Sheng Yunshen exclaimed. "Seems like the genius the Danmeng is promoting this time is quite formidable."

Shang Hongyue remained silent.

While the Shang family was part of the Danmeng, she couldn't bring herself to praise Wang Qirong insincerely. It was better to say nothing at all.

Ning Yuzhou spoke up at this moment, "That alchemy furnace isn't ordinary."

"What?" Everyone present turned to look at him.

Even Wen Qiao and Wen Tuttu, who were busy munching on melon seeds, raised their heads to give him their attention.

Ning Yuzhou continued, "Look closely at the alchemy furnace she's using. It's not an ordinary one."

Upon hearing his words, all eyes fell upon the bronze alchemy furnace before Wang Qirong.

In the Alchemy Convention, the furnaces used by alchemists were their own personal possessions.

For an alchemist, the quality of the furnace played a significant role in determining the quality of the spirit pills. Thus, most alchemists paid great attention when choosing their furnaces. High-quality furnaces were hard to come by, and during the process of alchemy, using a superior furnace naturally resulted in better quality spirit pills compared to using an ordinary one.