Chapter 13: The Night Before the Final Battle
Storage Rings were not considered uncommon in the Yao clan, and even in Yao Chen’s poor family they were not hard to obtain. However, a Storage Ring with such a large space was still quite rare.
Liao Yuntu’s heart was actually bleeding inside. Even within the Liao family, there would not be more than five Storage Rings with such a huge space inside. It was quite obvious that the Violet Flame Pill, despite its value, was not worth using such a huge Storage Ring to exchange for. However only big bait could attract a big fish. Yao Chen had managed to enter into the final eight, so no matter his performance or what he obtained in the final battle, it would definitely be worth making a big investment to pull him closer.
Yao Chen smiled as he swept his consciousness over the Storage Ring’s interior. Other than the medicinal ingredients, there was also a medicinal cauldron whose grade matched his alchemist tier. Now Yao Chen took out the cauldron and medicinal ingredients, arranging them in the courtyard. With a wave of his hand and with a booming noise, the Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique’s Dou Qi appeared between his hands, in a split second becoming a blazing serpent which wound around the medicinal cauldron. Yao Chen quickly focused his entire spirit on refining, entering a mysterious alchemy state.
At this moment, no one noticed that a shadow had quietly appeared in the corner. That shadow was the punishment hall’s chief Yao Wangui. Who knew whether it was simply due to his quiet nature or because he trained in some kind of Dou Technique, but it was very easy for him to sneak around. No one would even notice him standing there. Even if by chance you were to look over to where he was, you still wouldn’t be able to notice his existence.
Yao Wangui narrowed his eyes, looking at the refining Yao Chen. The undulations of the fire serpent gave him a kind of mysterious subtle feeling. From what he knew, that was simply a foundation building cultivation technique, the Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique, and yet Yao Chen had already trained it to a level where Yao Wangui was unable to understand it, and in addition….
Dou Shi class!
This kid’s strength was definitely not some nine star Dou Zhe, but was a three star Dou Shi!
Was he constantly hiding his strength before?
Yao Wangui was silently observing him, taking in Yao Chen’s every movement and every detail. The more he watched, the more amazed he became. Yao Chen had entered a kind of ‘no self, only alchemy’ state. In this kind of state, he could completely ignore the outside world’s disturbance and focus one hundred percent on the refining. In addition, his Spiritual Perception’s ability to control the medicinal cauldron’s ingredients in this kind of ‘no self’ state would make it refining higher tier medicinal pills several times more easier. For an experienced alchemist, entering this kind of state made it many times more likely for them to refine a top grade medicinal pill.
Time flew by quickly, and this time’s refinement of the Violet Flame Pill proceeded exceptionally well due to the Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique’s breakthrough. His Spiritual Perception had risen by another level, increasing the amount of control Yao Chen had when refining by several times. Under this kind of control, even though his Dou Qi couldn’t compare to when he exploded out with a Da Dou Shi’s strength during the Great Competition, it was still enough to perfectly control the various medicinal ingredients, perfectly merging them to form the pill.
It was in this manner that in just three hours, Yao Chen let out a deep breath and used a pill collecting art. Three bright lights flew out of the medicinal cauldron, throwing themselves into the pill bottle in Yao Chen’s hand.
After watching Yao Chen collect the three pills into his hand, Yao Wangui’s figure faintly twisted and faded away.
Yao Wangui returned home quickly where his brother Yao Feng was in the middle of examining a couple of medicinal ingredients in front of him. These medicinal ingredients were all rarely seen and were top grade medicinal ingredients. Yao Feng carefully selected a couple, placing them into his storage. Although he was proud and arrogant and didn’t believe anyone could compete against him at the Medicine Competition, he still wouldn’t act like a stupid person. The more something seemed like a sure win, the more you had to do to be make it even more certain. After all, even if there were only a couple things to take care of, they all had to be meticulously attended to.
“Big brother, you’ve returned?”
“Yao Feng, that clan school kid who always follows you, where is he?”
“Yao Yun? Big brother, you have something you need to find him for?”
Yao Feng became distracted, not understanding why his big brother would want to find such an unremarkable character. Yao Yun might be ranked in the top of the clan school, but in the eyes of the main bloodline’s talented Yao Feng, he was just a footman and nothing more. If he muddled along with him, the only good thing was being seen as a model example.
“I have something to ask him.”
“Oh, I’ll go find someone to get him to come over.”
In a short while, Yao Yun arrived at the Second Elder’s estate. Originally he had already been planning on coming over anyways, and just as he had arrived in front of the estate he was informed that Yao Wangui was looking for him.
“Yao Punishment Chief, brother Feng.” Yao Yun lowered his head. Yao Wangui was the chief of the punishment hall, so he naturally had the title of Punishment Chief.
“This Yao Chen, just how much do you know about him?”
“He’s a…-”
“I know you have some enmity with him. Do not intentionally belittle him and just tell me the whole truth pertaining to everything about him. As long as it’s something you know, tell me no matter how small or trivial it is. Tell me without holding anything back.”
Yao Wangui’s gaze focused on him, and in a split second his originally ordinary air that would cause people to overlook him changed to become an endlessly terrifying aura like being closely stalked by a savage devil.
Yao Yun swallowed a couple mouthfuls of saliva and a cold feeling came from his throat. “Yes. Yao Chen was never worth paying attention to in the clan school, but what everyone failed to notice, and what I only found out after he got first place at the clan school’s Great Competition, was that Yao Chen had already become a nine star Dou Zhe one and a half years ago. For the whole remaining time he stagnated as a nine star Dou Zhe….”
Facing Yao Wangui’s gaze, Yao Yun didn’t dare to make up fake details. He told him what he knew for sure in a systematic and detailed way. From time to time Yao Wangui would ask for a couple more details about a subject. In the end, under all of Yao Wangui’s encouragement and digging, Yao Yun’s face became pale as a skilled and unfamiliar Yao Chen appeared in his mind.
That Yao Chen who had never entered the top twenty in the clan school was clearly not so simple as everyone thought. A lot of details ended up being revealed, such as Yao Chen’s Spiritual Perception, his incredible talent as an alchemist, and in the end the image of him was… simply terrifying! In Yao Yun’s mind, only these two words could he describe how talented Yao Chen was as an alchemist. Merely, most people only noticed that Yao Chen practiced the Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique, a foundation building technique that no one else would select. Looking at Yao Chen’s Dou Qi, he seemed to be only a nine star Dou Zhe. That was considered extremely low when everyone else had already advanced to Dou Shi. Very few people would pay attention to someone who was merely a trifling Dou Zhe!
Yao Wangui slowly reformed his imposing manner as he asked his questions, once again regaining his cold aura.
Yao Feng bit his lip, saying, “Big brother, you don’t actually think this Yao Chen can be a threat to me? Although he might be gifted, but as a nine star Dou Zhe he’s nothing to be worried about.”
“Don’t forget, he can borrow the power of the Violet Flame Pill and boost himself for a short period to release the power of a Da Dou Shi. In addition, he has already advanced to be a three star Dou Shi.” Yao Wangui coldly replied. “The Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique… while its Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame is difficult to advance in, once you advance you would directly be promoted to three star. With this strength, he isn’t that far behind. Before he had a kind of seal putting pressure on him, but now that that seal is broken….”
What Yao Wangui didn’t say was that if Yao Chen was already a three star Dou Shi today, just what level would he be after three days?
Yao Wangui’s intuition told him that with just the short three days of recuperation before the final battle of the Medicine Competition, Yao Chen might not just reach his peak state. His purpose in practicing his refining right now might be because the seal had been placed on him for too long, and by practicing his refining he wanted to persevere and continue to increase his strength. Three days later, Yao Chen might even become a four star… or it might even be possible for him to become a five star Dou Shi. As for the three star Dou Shi Yao Feng, could he even compete him then?
…
News that Yao Chen had refined the Violet Flame Pill for Liao Yuntu spread, and a crowd immediately formed outside Yao Chen’s family’s courtyard. Members from various sects and families with close relationships or blood ties to the Yao clan all came over. However since Yao Chen was in the Medicine Competition’s final eight, they wouldn’t dare to bother him before the Medicine Competition ended. Because they didn’t dare bother him, the Luo family ended up being the focus of everybody.
However, the only one present was little fatty Luo….
Luo Bing couldn’t return home, and the eldest son Luo Shan had received a mission from the clan and had to immediately leave. As for Luo Shu, it could be said he was suffering as he was in a tangle of people who wanted him to help talk to Yao Chen to buy the Violet Flame Pill. But saying he was bursting with happiness was also not incorrect; many people were inviting him to have a meal with them. In Luo Shu’s entire life, the one thing he was most interested in was the pleasure of eating.
But after Yao Chen helped Liao Yuntu refine three Violet Flame Pills, he ended up going back into seclusion. While Luo Shu was eating, he couldn’t help but to worry that he would end up like he did the last time when he secluded himself for the whole month without anyone seeing even his shadow.
Tomorrow was the Medicine Competition’s final battle. At noon, Luo Shu had just finished eating his lunch when he anxiously walked over to Yao Chen’s home. Looking at the hurriedly locked front door, Luo Shu patted his stomach, becoming increasingly worried. At the Medicine Competition’s opening ceremony, Yao Chen had only barely managed to arrive on time with a weak complexion. If tomorrow he also came that way… just as Luo Shu was hesitating as to whether or not he should enter and remind Yao Chen, the door opened.
“Aunt Qing! You came back home!”
Luo Shu eyes bulged with surprise as he joyously cried, “Aunt Qing, brother Chen entered into the Medicine Competitions final eight, tomorrow is the final battle, and also, aunt Qing, brother Chen he….”
Yao Qing chuckled, “I already know. You came to look for Yao Chen right? You can come in. He should be coming out of seclusion soon.
“Ha, great! I was actually just worried that he wouldn’t be able to make it to the final battle tomorrow.” Luo Shu scratched his head in embarrassment. “Uh, aunt Qing, over the past two days, there were a couple of people who invited me to go eat, uh….”
Yao Qing faintly smiled, saying “It should be for the Violet Flame Pill right? Of course it’s no problem; it’s just that everything will have to wait until after the Medicine Competition before we discuss it.” Yao Chen was already a Dou Shi, and he was one of the members of the Medicine Competitions final eight; naturally he didn’t have to be worried about his future training resources. However if he wanted to rely just on that status to be a towering figure within the clan then it would not be sufficient as a foundation. That’s why the Violet Flame Pill still presented an opportunity.
Fatty Luo sighed in relief. “I’ll go find brother Chen, hehe.”
Luo Shu rushed over to Yao Chen’s bedroom and saw Yao Chen arranging a pile of medicinal ingredients. He was making his final preparations for tomorrow’s final battle.
“Brother Chen, these medicinal ingredients…” When Luo Shu saw the medicinal ingredients he couldn’t help but to be shocked. Most of these medicinal ingredients were ones he had only ever heard the names of or seen pictures of. He had never before personally seen these precious ingredients.
“These are two years worth of preparations.” Yao Chen raised his head as he laughed at Luo Shu, but his heart felt slightly sour. Of these medicinal ingredients, less than half were acquired by him trading medicinal pills or trading merit points in the clan treasury. Most of them were all obtained by his mother’s gathering skill outside the clan. Who knew just how much his mother had to suffer. All this, just for his once chance to win the Medicine Competition!
“Brother Chen… what are you planning on refining for the final battle? Not a fifth tier pill right?”
Looking at the pile of rare medicinal ingredients, Luo Shu didn’t think they were for a fourth tier pill. But how was it possible for a nine star Dou Zhe to refine a fifth tier pill? Just refining a third tier pill would be difficult, and refining a fourth tier pill would be a miracle… in his opinion, the reason Yao Wanhuo didn’t give Yao Chen an alchemist title was because Yao Chen’s Dou Qi level was too low.
Yao Chen laughed, shaking his head.
Looking at Yao Chen shaking his head, Luo Shu became relieved, smiling, “Don’t overexert yourself. Refining another fourth tier pill is enough.”
Yao Chen narrowed his piercing eyes, “What fourth tier pill? I’m going to refine the Seven Pith Pill.”
“WHAT! Seven Pith Pill?”
Luo Shu mouth opened wide. Looking at Yao Chen’s serious expression, he was totally unable to collect himself.
The Seven Pith Pill was a genuine sixth tier medicinal pill!
“Who!?”
Just at this moment, Yao Qing’s cry came from outside, and a gust of wind blew by.
Yao Chen’s expression changed. Waving his hand he collected the table’s medicinal ingredients into his Storage Ring and rushed out. Arriving at the courtyard, he saw his mother who had stopped just outside.
“Mother, what happened? Nothing’s wrong right?” Yao Chen anxiously asked.
“Nothing’s wrong, it’s just a little thief.” Yao Qing shook her head slightly.
A thief? Yao Chen’s eyebrows knit together… since when did the Yao clan’s territory have thieves? And even if there were, his family was so poor that they had nothing that a thief would be attracted to.
Was it for the Violet Flame Pill? Not possible; they were already too late, so why would they rush in?
Yao Chen analyzed it from every angle, but he couldn’t find one reasonable answer.
However, Yao Chen didn’t notice that Yao Qing’s expression from the beginning to end was extremely solemn. “Chen-er, you must be extremely careful for the final battle.”
Yao Chen laughed, “Don’t worry mother. While the Seven Pith Pill might be difficult for other people, for me it isn’t a problem.”
The most difficult part of refining a Seven Pith Pill was in the control of the merger; all the different medicinal ingredients required a different temperature. The Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique along with Yao Chen’s tyrannically strong Spiritual Perception were perfectly suited for the needed control.
Yao Qing shook her head in a way that no one noticed. She wanted to say something more to Yao Chen, but in the end she just lightly laughed, “Fine, I might just be thinking too much.”
In the Yao clan, if clansmen had disputes they would simply go to the clan’s ancestral hall for judging. Even if it was an enmity that couldn’t be resolved without one of them dying, it would be settled in a duel. It would be unlikely for someone to take action in the dark. If they ended up crossing the clan’s bottom line, once they did then they would end up severely punished by the punishment hall. Therefore no one would dare to cross over this line.
However, Yao Qing seemed to forget that there were some people who weren’t afraid of the punishment hall… such as the punishment hall’s chief.
The day of the final battle, tens of thousands of people came to watch the arena. Of the people that came from outside the clan to watch, only a couple thousand were in this crowd.
Fatty Luo scanned the crowd and was disappointed to see that the little princess of the demon clan didn’t show up. The only representative of the demon clan was the Sacred Daughter.
However right now wasn’t the time for him to be thinking about the little princess. Instead, Luo Shu’s entire attention was on the arena for the final battle.
The final eight disciples attending this time were already standing in their places on the arena. Yao Chen’s position was arranged to be right next to Yao Feng. Yao Chen and Yao Feng; one came from a declining branch family; one was a main bloodline genius. There had never before been any interaction between the two of them.
At this moment Yao Chen was extremely calm and collected. Tens of thousands of gazes were staring at him, but they only felt like gentle breezes sweeping past him. Two years ago, his mother had been forcefully kicked out the doors of the main bloodlines. This memory made Yao Chen’s determination even more resolute.
The sixth tier Seven Pith Pill… after taking it, for two hours it would immensely increase flame attribute Dou Qi’s sensitivity, and moreover it would increase the Spiritual Perception by a large amount. This kind of increase would weaken after a certain time period, but it would only decrease to a certain level before stabilizing. If you trained properly, your Spiritual Perception would be permanently raised to the stabilized level.
In the entire Yao clan, medicinal pills that could permanently increase Spiritual Perception were few in number, and when it came to pills like the Seven Pith Pill that did it in a safe and secure way, there were even fewer.
However, even a nine star Da Dou Shi would find refining the Seven Pith Pill extremely difficult. The failure rate was very high, and it would be more worthwhile to use the medicinal ingredients for a higher level medicinal pill with a greater effect.
It was precisely due to how difficult the Seven Pith Pill was to refine that Yao Chen had spent two years preparing. He had collected its ingredients and also suffered through the pain of the medicinal bath hundreds of times. All of this was for today. Today he would refine a perfect Seven Pith Pill. Once he did he would truly have amazed everyone.
As for failure….
Yao Chen didn’t bother thinking about it. Dwelling on thoughts of failure before a battle would just weaken your spirit. The main bloodline’s geniuses might become calmer if they thought about the consequences of failure.... but Yao Chen had been born in a declining branch family. Only by sharpening his mind and charging forward courageously could he have the chance to win. After all, what he was after wasn’t the clan’s resources or attention, but it was….
Leaving his name on the Clan Monument!
He wanted to seize the title of the Medicine Competition’s first place!
Yao Chen’s eyes were like burning torches as he stared at the distant enormous stone monument. Each named carved on top of it was something people yearned for, each with a legendary story that would move and thrill people. In addition, after each name were the names of their mother and father, so this honor and glory included them as well.
The final wish of his father was something Yao Chen would never forget.
What Yao Chen didn’t notice at all was that Yao Feng’s expression was a bit different today and he would occasionally doubtingly look over at Yao Chen in a hesitant manner.
Outside the arena, Yao Qing was distantly watching her son. Yao Chen had grown up to look more and more like his father, however it was certain that her son’s future prospects would definitely be better than his father’s. Over these two years, everything that Yao Chen had suffered through was for refining the Seven Pith Pill. Everything, all his preparations, all of it was for today. Today he would shine.
He was already prepared to make his name during this fight.
Clan head Yao Dan now stood up. He merely said a few perfunctory words to announce the start of the final battle before sitting back down.
Outside the arena, the representatives of the various clans and powers were all somewhat flabbergasted. They had all expected a long speech about the history of the Yao clan. But instead he had just barely spoken a few meaningless words.
The demon clan’s Sacred Daughter laughed merrily. “Look, that’s how a clan head should act.”
As for what she was referring to, it immediately caused the granny who followed her to scold, “Exalted Sacred Daughter, this time I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything….”
Obviously the mighty leader of this particular demon clan was someone who often made long speeches.
The Sacred Daughter simply rolled her eyes as she cheerfully turned to look a Yao Chen in the arena. She didn’t have very much interest in Yao Feng. Someone born in a high position would never lack resources, so standing on top this stage was nothing unusual. If someone who was nurtured like that was still unable to stand out, then they would simply be trash in the demon clan!
But Yao Chen was clearly someone without that any support. She had already heard about him. He was born in a poor branch family and his family only had his mother to support it. It could be said that he basically had no status.
“Granny, I think that if we had the opportunity, we could take him back to the clan… yeah, looking at his age, it’s right at the time of his first awakenings of love… maybe little Qing would sacrifice herself for him?”
“Sacre-… exalted Sacred Daughter, I…” Behind her, a beautiful tender servant girl expression drastically changed.
“Aiya, the human race’s alchemists have such high prospects…” The Sacred Daughter actually wanted to trick her own servant. Amongst her four servants, little Qing was the only one who was perfectly beautiful. As for herself, how could she do it herself? She was the Sacred Daughter!
“Exalted Sacred Daughter!”
The Dou Qi on granny’s body was subtly fluctuating. It was like an enormous mountain had fallen into a calm lake.
“Ok, ok, no more joking around. However if he should end up failing during the Medicine Competition, it might just be our demon clan’s opportunity.”
“That kind of matter will be dealt with by other people. Exalted Sacred Daughter, please pay more attention to your words. Keep them within line of your status as the Sacred Daughter.”
“It’s not like I wanted to be the Sacred Daughter.”
The Sacred Daughter indifferently shrugged her shoulders. However, sensing granny’s tyrannical breath, she also restrained herself.
At this time, the final battle had already begun. However no one immediately began refining. Instead they started checking their medicinal ingredients and their medicinal cauldron’s condition. This was a huge battle that could affect their life’s destiny. Everyone had to do all they could and use all their strength in order to compete, while also ruling out any unexpected accidents.
Other than Yao Chen, the other seven were not using the gold essence medicinal cauldron provided by the clan, but using high grade medicinal cauldrons they had already prepared. A good medicinal cauldron had a large increase on the efficiency of refining.
But Yao Chen naturally could only use the Medicine Competition’s gold essence medicinal cauldron. This gold essence medicinal cauldron was already the best cauldron he had ever used.
Feeling the medicinal cauldron, he almost fell in love with it so much that he didn’t want to part with it. As for Yao Feng who was beside him, he was using the Green Dragon Soul Cauldron. Yao Chen didn’t even bother looking at it, as this ancient dragon cauldron was elder Yao Wuhuang’s possession.
“Haha, Yao Chen, how about I lend you this ancient Preserving Fire Cauldron for you to use.”
At this moment, Yao Feng suddenly turned to talk to Yao Chen.
Yao Chen was startled. The Preserving Fire Cauldron was the Yao clan’s standard high grade medicinal cauldron. Following in line with the Yao clan’s Medicinal Cauldron House’s supervision, each ancient cauldron had the manufacturer’s symbol on it. Although it was a standard cauldron, it naturally would not be something a declining branch family was able to buy.
“Many thanks, but the Preserving Fire Cauldron is a bit too high tier for me so I might not be able to use it very well.” Yao Chen smiled, tactfully turning it down. In his heart he couldn’t help but to form a good opinion of Yao Feng. Looking at his smiling face, although he was a talented main bloodline disciple, he still had such a magnanimous and generous air.
However this battle was too important for him, so there was no way he would let this good opinion hold him back. Not only would this battle completely change his future’s destiny, but it was also for his father!
Yao Feng’s eyes flashed. He laughed, “The gold essence medicinal cauldron is not bad, however I still feel like the Preserving Fire Cauldron would still be better. How about this: since I’m not using it I’ll just place it here to your side. If you feel like you need it, then feel free to take it over and use it.
Saying this, Yao Feng walked over beside Yao Chen, and waving his hand he took out an ancient, blazingly glorious medicinal cauldron from his Storage Ring and he placed it beside Yao Chen.
Boom… Yao Chen only saw a red light. The Preserving Fire Cauldron’s innate fire cloud dazzled and bewildered him.
“Haha, I’ll just place it here. As for whether or not you want to use it, it’s up to you.”
Yao Feng silently and stealthily placed his hand on Yao Chen’s arranged medicinal ingredients. Gently pressing down, he once again laughed before returning back to his position.
Yao Chen shook his head. He was already decided that he would just use the golden essence medicinal cauldron. He didn’t know whether he could bring out the Preserving Fire Cauldron’s incredibly high nature, so it was better to not overextend his abilities.
At this time there was already someone who had finished their preparations. Their Dou Qi ignited their medicinal cauldron’s flame to officially begin their refinement.
Almost as if by arrangement, everyone else almost immediately also started their pill refinements.
The Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame puffed into existence from Yao Chen’s hand. Pairing with the medicinal cauldron, a three-colored flame ignited at the bottom of the cauldron, causing the furnace’s temperature to rise to a certain temperature. Yao Chen took a deep breath suddenly grabbing a set of medicinal ingredients he had arranged on the table. Casting them into the medicinal cauldron, Yao Chen’s Spiritual Perception suddenly exploded out, giving him a precise awareness. Pairing perfectly with his Dou Qi, the interior’s temperature which had changed due to the opening of the lid as well as the reactions of different medicinal ingredients’ properties interacting were all controlled in a perfect and complete manner. The medicinal strength was slowly being extracted out before being collected together. Once again the medicinal ingredients’ essences began to react with another, but the Dou Qi separated and controlled them. They couldn’t be allowed to react together immediately. Instead he had to wait for specific medicinal ingredients to be thrown in before advancing in the merger.
Every single step was performed by Yao Chen in a completely perfect manner. His condition today seemed to be assisted by a god. Not even a bit of his Spiritual Perception was wasted, and his Dou Qi paired with it perfectly, allowing it to perform everything required.
Rumble.... Inside the medicinal cauldron, an explosive rumbling noise rang out. This was an unavoidable reaction when refining a high tier medicinal pill. A sixth tier medicinal pill was already outside the category of ordinary pills. Heaven and earth would fear its refinement, and when it was born, a lightning tribulation would occur.
The ability to handle the lightning tribulation was an important test of the alchemist’s calibre. How well you handled the lightning tribulation reflected whether your strength was strong or weak, if your abilities were high or low.
Strong experts could transform the tribulation’s energy to become a part of the pill’s energy. As for comparatively weaker people, they could split apart the lightning tribulation. One part would be eliminated with by Dou Qi, while the other portion would be transformed into pill calamity, and using a kind of mysterious method they would let the pill experience the calamity, and thus increase the medicinal pill’s quality.
Obviously Yao Chen was incapable of either of these methods. His Dou Qi was not strong enough to eliminate lightning tribulation, and as for transforming the calamity’s energy, that was something that required a Dou Wang class Dou Qi.
The method Yao Chen decided on was a third technique that he had found within the clan. It required splitting your attention in two to refine dual pills in the furnace. The second pill used Transforming Calamity Grass and Cross Calamity Grass. Doing so had a certain chance of letting the pill not suffer the lightning calamity’s influence. Of course, this kind of refinement meant that the quality of the pill would lack spiritual nature so at most it would be middle grade.
But the precise technique Yao Chen was using was somewhat different from the technique that existed in the clan. Other than the Transforming Calamity Grass and the Crossing Calamity Grass, he also used a large amount of Tiger Flame Grass. The Tiger Flame Grass’ special properties when paired with his Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique’s Dou Qi could overbearingly control the Transforming Calamity Grass and Crossing Calamity Grass’ medicinal nature, allowing them to form a second pill embryo within the medicinal cauldron. When the Seven Pith Pill’s lightning tribulation was at its peak, he would cast the embryo into the lightning tribulation. This would expend some of its energy and then would transfer the remaining lightning tribulation energy into the Seven Pith Pill, raising its pill quality.
The thunder tribulation was just starting at this time, and Yao Chen had already thrown the Transforming Calamity Grass and Crossing Calamity Grass into the cauldron along with the Tiger Flame Grass. The formation of this second pill required him to split his attention in two and took up a third of his flame attribute Dou Qi.
In just an extremely short time Yao Chen’s forehead was covered in sweat and his eyes had turned red. This was a sign he had pushed himself to his limit.
However it wasn’t just Yao Chen. The other seven people had also reached critical moments in their refinements and they each had to make an absolute all-out effort.
But if asked who was most eye-catching, it was of course Yao Chen. The rumbling and booming noises coming from the pill in his cauldron revealed the lightning tribulation. It caused people to be fascinated and shocked. That meant he was refining was a sixth tier medicinal pill!
Barely fifteen years old yet he dared to refine a sixth tier pill! Was he simply reckless or was he actually at such a high skill level?
“No matter what happens, the fact is that this child managed to refine to the point of lightning tribulation. Even if in the end he fails, he stills counts as a talented genius. As expected of someone from a branch family whose ancestor carved his name into the Clan Monument. That talent had been passed onto this generation and it looks like it’s now time for them to rise up as well.” The clan school’s elder Yao Lan faintly smiled. He knew that not anyone who was refining a sixth tier pill could cause lightning tribulation. Perhaps the medicinal essence would yet to even begin to merge before they would receive the judgement of heaven and earth, often causing a cauldron explosion.
On the other side representing the punishment hall’s stage, Yao Wangui’s eyes bulged slightly. It was out of his expectations that Yao Chen’s refining skills were at such a level. However looking at his appearance, Yao Chen’s energy was already maxed out, and it seemed clear that it wasn’t enough to let him complete his refinement.
“What a shame; if this kid was a Dou Shi he might actually have shocked everyone here with his performance.” Yao Wanhuo warmly said, shaking his head. To have branch family disciples rise up was not a bad thing in his opinion. The main bloodline’s disciples had already taken such a large share of the resources that some of them had started to slack off. Having one or two branch family talents appear to compete with them was definitely something that needed to be done.
“Haha, Wanhuo, his performance right now is already not bad, and in the future we can let Yao Lan….” clan head Yao Dan had been dimly smiling, however he suddenly stopped.
An explosive sound suddenly came out from Yao Chen’s body. The roaring sounds were like the sound of chains that were smashing against each other.
CRACK!
Seal! Broken!
The seal that his mother had placed on his body at this moment completely disintegrated!
BOOMBOOMBOOM!!! The Dou Qi on Yao Chen’s body explosively broke out, suddenly reaching the level of a three star Dou Shi.
“Open!”
Yao Chen gently shouted, and the Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame’s Dou Qi which had increased by about twenty times rushed into the medicinal cauldron, quickly urging on the reaction between the Transforming Calamity Grass, Crossing Calamity Grass, and the Tiger Flame Grass. Under the control of his Spiritual Perception, a light purple-colored pill embryo slowly started to form.
Just as this pill embryo formed, the thunder tribulation which had been becoming stronger and stronger started to fade away. At this time, Yao Chen let out a couple of relaxed breaths. All he had to do now was follow a set procedure. His mother’s seal on his body’s Dou Qi had finally been broken, giving him an unprecedented carefree feeling, making him feel more relaxed than he ever had before. Under this kind of state, it was practically guaranteed that there would be no more problems.
Moreover, the thing that made him the most relaxed was that the potential that had been burned two years ago had already been recovered. The two years of bitterness from the medicinal baths was apparently not a waste.
This kind of feeling was fantastic, and Yao Chen’s face had a faint smile on it, until his hand suddenly felt a piece of Stardust Grass….
His smile all of sudden fell and hardened.
Impossible!
How could it be Stardust Grass!
It should be Starry Heavens Grass!
Stardust Grass and Starry Heavens Grass were born the same, but their medicinal properties were completely opposite! Stardust Grass’ nature was cold, while Starry Heavens Grass was heat natured!
Two years worth of preparation as well as hundreds of times checking... Yao Chen was absolutely sure that Stardust Grass was not amongst his medicinal ingredients!
Actually, the Seven Pith Pill was a completely heat natured medicinal pill, so over the two years Yao Chen had never collected any cold natured medicinal ingredients. This Stardust Grass… just where could it have come from?
Yao Chen quickly scanned the table’s arranged medicinal ingredients, but amongst them… there was no Starry Heavens Grass.
“Impossible, impossible, how could it be like this, impossible….”
Yao Chen’s entire person was completely dumbfounded. Without the Starry Heavens Grass, the Seven Pith Pill would never take shape.
It was already a critical moment at this time. Delaying any further would cause the Seven Pith Pill’s medicinal nature’s crucial point to pass, and it would be a complete failure.
“Impossible.”
Yao Chen blankly stared, not knowing what to do. Suddenly his gaze passed over Yao Feng’s table which had a large amount of Starry Heavens Grass.
Yao Chen’s face abruptly whitened, recalling how Yao Feng had suddenly come over to his table….
“It was you!”
Yao Chen shouted loudly, and was about to throw himself onto Yao Feng.
“Stop!”
Just at this moment, a figure suddenly blocked Yao Chen, a Da Dou Shi Iron Guard of the clan. Creasing his brows, he said, “Please do not interfere with other people’s refining.”
A secret soft sound passed over to Yao Chen, “Yao Chen, what are you doing? Hurry up and return to refine; don’t break the clan rules!”
Chapter 13: The Night Before the Final Battle
Storage Rings were not considered uncommon in the Yao clan, and even in Yao Chen’s poor family they were not hard to obtain. However, a Storage Ring with such a large space was still quite rare.
Liao Yuntu’s heart was actually bleeding inside. Even within the Liao family, there would not be more than five Storage Rings with such a huge space inside. It was quite obvious that the Violet Flame Pill, despite its value, was not worth using such a huge Storage Ring to exchange for. However only big bait could attract a big fish. Yao Chen had managed to enter into the final eight, so no matter his performance or what he obtained in the final battle, it would definitely be worth making a big investment to pull him closer.
Yao Chen smiled as he swept his consciousness over the Storage Ring’s interior. Other than the medicinal ingredients, there was also a medicinal cauldron whose grade matched his alchemist tier. Now Yao Chen took out the cauldron and medicinal ingredients, arranging them in the courtyard. With a wave of his hand and with a booming noise, the Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique’s Dou Qi appeared between his hands, in a split second becoming a blazing serpent which wound around the medicinal cauldron. Yao Chen quickly focused his entire spirit on refining, entering a mysterious alchemy state.
At this moment, no one noticed that a shadow had quietly appeared in the corner. That shadow was the punishment hall’s chief Yao Wangui. Who knew whether it was simply due to his quiet nature or because he trained in some kind of Dou Technique, but it was very easy for him to sneak around. No one would even notice him standing there. Even if by chance you were to look over to where he was, you still wouldn’t be able to notice his existence.
Yao Wangui narrowed his eyes, looking at the refining Yao Chen. The undulations of the fire serpent gave him a kind of mysterious subtle feeling. From what he knew, that was simply a foundation building cultivation technique, the Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique, and yet Yao Chen had already trained it to a level where Yao Wangui was unable to understand it, and in addition….
Dou Shi class!
This kid’s strength was definitely not some nine star Dou Zhe, but was a three star Dou Shi!
Was he constantly hiding his strength before?
Yao Wangui was silently observing him, taking in Yao Chen’s every movement and every detail. The more he watched, the more amazed he became. Yao Chen had entered a kind of ‘no self, only alchemy’ state. In this kind of state, he could completely ignore the outside world’s disturbance and focus one hundred percent on the refining. In addition, his Spiritual Perception’s ability to control the medicinal cauldron’s ingredients in this kind of ‘no self’ state would make it refining higher tier medicinal pills several times more easier. For an experienced alchemist, entering this kind of state made it many times more likely for them to refine a top grade medicinal pill.
Time flew by quickly, and this time’s refinement of the Violet Flame Pill proceeded exceptionally well due to the Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique’s breakthrough. His Spiritual Perception had risen by another level, increasing the amount of control Yao Chen had when refining by several times. Under this kind of control, even though his Dou Qi couldn’t compare to when he exploded out with a Da Dou Shi’s strength during the Great Competition, it was still enough to perfectly control the various medicinal ingredients, perfectly merging them to form the pill.
It was in this manner that in just three hours, Yao Chen let out a deep breath and used a pill collecting art. Three bright lights flew out of the medicinal cauldron, throwing themselves into the pill bottle in Yao Chen’s hand.
After watching Yao Chen collect the three pills into his hand, Yao Wangui’s figure faintly twisted and faded away.
Yao Wangui returned home quickly where his brother Yao Feng was in the middle of examining a couple of medicinal ingredients in front of him. These medicinal ingredients were all rarely seen and were top grade medicinal ingredients. Yao Feng carefully selected a couple, placing them into his storage. Although he was proud and arrogant and didn’t believe anyone could compete against him at the Medicine Competition, he still wouldn’t act like a stupid person. The more something seemed like a sure win, the more you had to do to be make it even more certain. After all, even if there were only a couple things to take care of, they all had to be meticulously attended to.
“Big brother, you’ve returned?”
“Yao Feng, that clan school kid who always follows you, where is he?”
“Yao Yun? Big brother, you have something you need to find him for?”
Yao Feng became distracted, not understanding why his big brother would want to find such an unremarkable character. Yao Yun might be ranked in the top of the clan school, but in the eyes of the main bloodline’s talented Yao Feng, he was just a footman and nothing more. If he muddled along with him, the only good thing was being seen as a model example.
“I have something to ask him.”
“Oh, I’ll go find someone to get him to come over.”
In a short while, Yao Yun arrived at the Second Elder’s estate. Originally he had already been planning on coming over anyways, and just as he had arrived in front of the estate he was informed that Yao Wangui was looking for him.
“Yao Punishment Chief, brother Feng.” Yao Yun lowered his head. Yao Wangui was the chief of the punishment hall, so he naturally had the title of Punishment Chief.
“This Yao Chen, just how much do you know about him?”
“He’s a…-”
“I know you have some enmity with him. Do not intentionally belittle him and just tell me the whole truth pertaining to everything about him. As long as it’s something you know, tell me no matter how small or trivial it is. Tell me without holding anything back.”
Yao Wangui’s gaze focused on him, and in a split second his originally ordinary air that would cause people to overlook him changed to become an endlessly terrifying aura like being closely stalked by a savage devil.
Yao Yun swallowed a couple mouthfuls of saliva and a cold feeling came from his throat. “Yes. Yao Chen was never worth paying attention to in the clan school, but what everyone failed to notice, and what I only found out after he got first place at the clan school’s Great Competition, was that Yao Chen had already become a nine star Dou Zhe one and a half years ago. For the whole remaining time he stagnated as a nine star Dou Zhe….”
Facing Yao Wangui’s gaze, Yao Yun didn’t dare to make up fake details. He told him what he knew for sure in a systematic and detailed way. From time to time Yao Wangui would ask for a couple more details about a subject. In the end, under all of Yao Wangui’s encouragement and digging, Yao Yun’s face became pale as a skilled and unfamiliar Yao Chen appeared in his mind.
That Yao Chen who had never entered the top twenty in the clan school was clearly not so simple as everyone thought. A lot of details ended up being revealed, such as Yao Chen’s Spiritual Perception, his incredible talent as an alchemist, and in the end the image of him was… simply terrifying! In Yao Yun’s mind, only these two words could he describe how talented Yao Chen was as an alchemist. Merely, most people only noticed that Yao Chen practiced the Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique, a foundation building technique that no one else would select. Looking at Yao Chen’s Dou Qi, he seemed to be only a nine star Dou Zhe. That was considered extremely low when everyone else had already advanced to Dou Shi. Very few people would pay attention to someone who was merely a trifling Dou Zhe!
Yao Wangui slowly reformed his imposing manner as he asked his questions, once again regaining his cold aura.
Yao Feng bit his lip, saying, “Big brother, you don’t actually think this Yao Chen can be a threat to me? Although he might be gifted, but as a nine star Dou Zhe he’s nothing to be worried about.”
“Don’t forget, he can borrow the power of the Violet Flame Pill and boost himself for a short period to release the power of a Da Dou Shi. In addition, he has already advanced to be a three star Dou Shi.” Yao Wangui coldly replied. “The Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique… while its Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame is difficult to advance in, once you advance you would directly be promoted to three star. With this strength, he isn’t that far behind. Before he had a kind of seal putting pressure on him, but now that that seal is broken….”
What Yao Wangui didn’t say was that if Yao Chen was already a three star Dou Shi today, just what level would he be after three days?
Yao Wangui’s intuition told him that with just the short three days of recuperation before the final battle of the Medicine Competition, Yao Chen might not just reach his peak state. His purpose in practicing his refining right now might be because the seal had been placed on him for too long, and by practicing his refining he wanted to persevere and continue to increase his strength. Three days later, Yao Chen might even become a four star… or it might even be possible for him to become a five star Dou Shi. As for the three star Dou Shi Yao Feng, could he even compete him then?
…
News that Yao Chen had refined the Violet Flame Pill for Liao Yuntu spread, and a crowd immediately formed outside Yao Chen’s family’s courtyard. Members from various sects and families with close relationships or blood ties to the Yao clan all came over. However since Yao Chen was in the Medicine Competition’s final eight, they wouldn’t dare to bother him before the Medicine Competition ended. Because they didn’t dare bother him, the Luo family ended up being the focus of everybody.
However, the only one present was little fatty Luo….
Luo Bing couldn’t return home, and the eldest son Luo Shan had received a mission from the clan and had to immediately leave. As for Luo Shu, it could be said he was suffering as he was in a tangle of people who wanted him to help talk to Yao Chen to buy the Violet Flame Pill. But saying he was bursting with happiness was also not incorrect; many people were inviting him to have a meal with them. In Luo Shu’s entire life, the one thing he was most interested in was the pleasure of eating.
But after Yao Chen helped Liao Yuntu refine three Violet Flame Pills, he ended up going back into seclusion. While Luo Shu was eating, he couldn’t help but to worry that he would end up like he did the last time when he secluded himself for the whole month without anyone seeing even his shadow.
Tomorrow was the Medicine Competition’s final battle. At noon, Luo Shu had just finished eating his lunch when he anxiously walked over to Yao Chen’s home. Looking at the hurriedly locked front door, Luo Shu patted his stomach, becoming increasingly worried. At the Medicine Competition’s opening ceremony, Yao Chen had only barely managed to arrive on time with a weak complexion. If tomorrow he also came that way… just as Luo Shu was hesitating as to whether or not he should enter and remind Yao Chen, the door opened.
“Aunt Qing! You came back home!”
Luo Shu eyes bulged with surprise as he joyously cried, “Aunt Qing, brother Chen entered into the Medicine Competitions final eight, tomorrow is the final battle, and also, aunt Qing, brother Chen he….”
Yao Qing chuckled, “I already know. You came to look for Yao Chen right? You can come in. He should be coming out of seclusion soon.
“Ha, great! I was actually just worried that he wouldn’t be able to make it to the final battle tomorrow.” Luo Shu scratched his head in embarrassment. “Uh, aunt Qing, over the past two days, there were a couple of people who invited me to go eat, uh….”
Yao Qing faintly smiled, saying “It should be for the Violet Flame Pill right? Of course it’s no problem; it’s just that everything will have to wait until after the Medicine Competition before we discuss it.” Yao Chen was already a Dou Shi, and he was one of the members of the Medicine Competitions final eight; naturally he didn’t have to be worried about his future training resources. However if he wanted to rely just on that status to be a towering figure within the clan then it would not be sufficient as a foundation. That’s why the Violet Flame Pill still presented an opportunity.
Fatty Luo sighed in relief. “I’ll go find brother Chen, hehe.”
Luo Shu rushed over to Yao Chen’s bedroom and saw Yao Chen arranging a pile of medicinal ingredients. He was making his final preparations for tomorrow’s final battle.
“Brother Chen, these medicinal ingredients…” When Luo Shu saw the medicinal ingredients he couldn’t help but to be shocked. Most of these medicinal ingredients were ones he had only ever heard the names of or seen pictures of. He had never before personally seen these precious ingredients.
“These are two years worth of preparations.” Yao Chen raised his head as he laughed at Luo Shu, but his heart felt slightly sour. Of these medicinal ingredients, less than half were acquired by him trading medicinal pills or trading merit points in the clan treasury. Most of them were all obtained by his mother’s gathering skill outside the clan. Who knew just how much his mother had to suffer. All this, just for his once chance to win the Medicine Competition!
“Brother Chen… what are you planning on refining for the final battle? Not a fifth tier pill right?”
Looking at the pile of rare medicinal ingredients, Luo Shu didn’t think they were for a fourth tier pill. But how was it possible for a nine star Dou Zhe to refine a fifth tier pill? Just refining a third tier pill would be difficult, and refining a fourth tier pill would be a miracle… in his opinion, the reason Yao Wanhuo didn’t give Yao Chen an alchemist title was because Yao Chen’s Dou Qi level was too low.
Yao Chen laughed, shaking his head.
Looking at Yao Chen shaking his head, Luo Shu became relieved, smiling, “Don’t overexert yourself. Refining another fourth tier pill is enough.”
Yao Chen narrowed his piercing eyes, “What fourth tier pill? I’m going to refine the Seven Pith Pill.”
“WHAT! Seven Pith Pill?”
Luo Shu mouth opened wide. Looking at Yao Chen’s serious expression, he was totally unable to collect himself.
The Seven Pith Pill was a genuine sixth tier medicinal pill!
“Who!?”
Just at this moment, Yao Qing’s cry came from outside, and a gust of wind blew by.
Yao Chen’s expression changed. Waving his hand he collected the table’s medicinal ingredients into his Storage Ring and rushed out. Arriving at the courtyard, he saw his mother who had stopped just outside.
“Mother, what happened? Nothing’s wrong right?” Yao Chen anxiously asked.
“Nothing’s wrong, it’s just a little thief.” Yao Qing shook her head slightly.
A thief? Yao Chen’s eyebrows knit together… since when did the Yao clan’s territory have thieves? And even if there were, his family was so poor that they had nothing that a thief would be attracted to.
Was it for the Violet Flame Pill? Not possible; they were already too late, so why would they rush in?
Yao Chen analyzed it from every angle, but he couldn’t find one reasonable answer.
However, Yao Chen didn’t notice that Yao Qing’s expression from the beginning to end was extremely solemn. “Chen-er, you must be extremely careful for the final battle.”
Yao Chen laughed, “Don’t worry mother. While the Seven Pith Pill might be difficult for other people, for me it isn’t a problem.”
The most difficult part of refining a Seven Pith Pill was in the control of the merger; all the different medicinal ingredients required a different temperature. The Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique along with Yao Chen’s tyrannically strong Spiritual Perception were perfectly suited for the needed control.
Yao Qing shook her head in a way that no one noticed. She wanted to say something more to Yao Chen, but in the end she just lightly laughed, “Fine, I might just be thinking too much.”
In the Yao clan, if clansmen had disputes they would simply go to the clan’s ancestral hall for judging. Even if it was an enmity that couldn’t be resolved without one of them dying, it would be settled in a duel. It would be unlikely for someone to take action in the dark. If they ended up crossing the clan’s bottom line, once they did then they would end up severely punished by the punishment hall. Therefore no one would dare to cross over this line.
However, Yao Qing seemed to forget that there were some people who weren’t afraid of the punishment hall… such as the punishment hall’s chief.
The day of the final battle, tens of thousands of people came to watch the arena. Of the people that came from outside the clan to watch, only a couple thousand were in this crowd.
Fatty Luo scanned the crowd and was disappointed to see that the little princess of the demon clan didn’t show up. The only representative of the demon clan was the Sacred Daughter.
However right now wasn’t the time for him to be thinking about the little princess. Instead, Luo Shu’s entire attention was on the arena for the final battle.
The final eight disciples attending this time were already standing in their places on the arena. Yao Chen’s position was arranged to be right next to Yao Feng. Yao Chen and Yao Feng; one came from a declining branch family; one was a main bloodline genius. There had never before been any interaction between the two of them.
At this moment Yao Chen was extremely calm and collected. Tens of thousands of gazes were staring at him, but they only felt like gentle breezes sweeping past him. Two years ago, his mother had been forcefully kicked out the doors of the main bloodlines. This memory made Yao Chen’s determination even more resolute.
The sixth tier Seven Pith Pill… after taking it, for two hours it would immensely increase flame attribute Dou Qi’s sensitivity, and moreover it would increase the Spiritual Perception by a large amount. This kind of increase would weaken after a certain time period, but it would only decrease to a certain level before stabilizing. If you trained properly, your Spiritual Perception would be permanently raised to the stabilized level.
In the entire Yao clan, medicinal pills that could permanently increase Spiritual Perception were few in number, and when it came to pills like the Seven Pith Pill that did it in a safe and secure way, there were even fewer.
However, even a nine star Da Dou Shi would find refining the Seven Pith Pill extremely difficult. The failure rate was very high, and it would be more worthwhile to use the medicinal ingredients for a higher level medicinal pill with a greater effect.
It was precisely due to how difficult the Seven Pith Pill was to refine that Yao Chen had spent two years preparing. He had collected its ingredients and also suffered through the pain of the medicinal bath hundreds of times. All of this was for today. Today he would refine a perfect Seven Pith Pill. Once he did he would truly have amazed everyone.
As for failure….
Yao Chen didn’t bother thinking about it. Dwelling on thoughts of failure before a battle would just weaken your spirit. The main bloodline’s geniuses might become calmer if they thought about the consequences of failure.... but Yao Chen had been born in a declining branch family. Only by sharpening his mind and charging forward courageously could he have the chance to win. After all, what he was after wasn’t the clan’s resources or attention, but it was….
Leaving his name on the Clan Monument!
He wanted to seize the title of the Medicine Competition’s first place!
Yao Chen’s eyes were like burning torches as he stared at the distant enormous stone monument. Each named carved on top of it was something people yearned for, each with a legendary story that would move and thrill people. In addition, after each name were the names of their mother and father, so this honor and glory included them as well.
The final wish of his father was something Yao Chen would never forget.
What Yao Chen didn’t notice at all was that Yao Feng’s expression was a bit different today and he would occasionally doubtingly look over at Yao Chen in a hesitant manner.
Outside the arena, Yao Qing was distantly watching her son. Yao Chen had grown up to look more and more like his father, however it was certain that her son’s future prospects would definitely be better than his father’s. Over these two years, everything that Yao Chen had suffered through was for refining the Seven Pith Pill. Everything, all his preparations, all of it was for today. Today he would shine.
He was already prepared to make his name during this fight.
Clan head Yao Dan now stood up. He merely said a few perfunctory words to announce the start of the final battle before sitting back down.
Outside the arena, the representatives of the various clans and powers were all somewhat flabbergasted. They had all expected a long speech about the history of the Yao clan. But instead he had just barely spoken a few meaningless words.
The demon clan’s Sacred Daughter laughed merrily. “Look, that’s how a clan head should act.”
As for what she was referring to, it immediately caused the granny who followed her to scold, “Exalted Sacred Daughter, this time I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything….”
Obviously the mighty leader of this particular demon clan was someone who often made long speeches.
The Sacred Daughter simply rolled her eyes as she cheerfully turned to look a Yao Chen in the arena. She didn’t have very much interest in Yao Feng. Someone born in a high position would never lack resources, so standing on top this stage was nothing unusual. If someone who was nurtured like that was still unable to stand out, then they would simply be trash in the demon clan!
But Yao Chen was clearly someone without that any support. She had already heard about him. He was born in a poor branch family and his family only had his mother to support it. It could be said that he basically had no status.
“Granny, I think that if we had the opportunity, we could take him back to the clan… yeah, looking at his age, it’s right at the time of his first awakenings of love… maybe little Qing would sacrifice herself for him?”
“Sacre-… exalted Sacred Daughter, I…” Behind her, a beautiful tender servant girl expression drastically changed.
“Aiya, the human race’s alchemists have such high prospects…” The Sacred Daughter actually wanted to trick her own servant. Amongst her four servants, little Qing was the only one who was perfectly beautiful. As for herself, how could she do it herself? She was the Sacred Daughter!
“Exalted Sacred Daughter!”
The Dou Qi on granny’s body was subtly fluctuating. It was like an enormous mountain had fallen into a calm lake.
“Ok, ok, no more joking around. However if he should end up failing during the Medicine Competition, it might just be our demon clan’s opportunity.”
“That kind of matter will be dealt with by other people. Exalted Sacred Daughter, please pay more attention to your words. Keep them within line of your status as the Sacred Daughter.”
“It’s not like I wanted to be the Sacred Daughter.”
The Sacred Daughter indifferently shrugged her shoulders. However, sensing granny’s tyrannical breath, she also restrained herself.
At this time, the final battle had already begun. However no one immediately began refining. Instead they started checking their medicinal ingredients and their medicinal cauldron’s condition. This was a huge battle that could affect their life’s destiny. Everyone had to do all they could and use all their strength in order to compete, while also ruling out any unexpected accidents.
Other than Yao Chen, the other seven were not using the gold essence medicinal cauldron provided by the clan, but using high grade medicinal cauldrons they had already prepared. A good medicinal cauldron had a large increase on the efficiency of refining.
But Yao Chen naturally could only use the Medicine Competition’s gold essence medicinal cauldron. This gold essence medicinal cauldron was already the best cauldron he had ever used.
Feeling the medicinal cauldron, he almost fell in love with it so much that he didn’t want to part with it. As for Yao Feng who was beside him, he was using the Green Dragon Soul Cauldron. Yao Chen didn’t even bother looking at it, as this ancient dragon cauldron was elder Yao Wuhuang’s possession.
“Haha, Yao Chen, how about I lend you this ancient Preserving Fire Cauldron for you to use.”
At this moment, Yao Feng suddenly turned to talk to Yao Chen.
Yao Chen was startled. The Preserving Fire Cauldron was the Yao clan’s standard high grade medicinal cauldron. Following in line with the Yao clan’s Medicinal Cauldron House’s supervision, each ancient cauldron had the manufacturer’s symbol on it. Although it was a standard cauldron, it naturally would not be something a declining branch family was able to buy.
“Many thanks, but the Preserving Fire Cauldron is a bit too high tier for me so I might not be able to use it very well.” Yao Chen smiled, tactfully turning it down. In his heart he couldn’t help but to form a good opinion of Yao Feng. Looking at his smiling face, although he was a talented main bloodline disciple, he still had such a magnanimous and generous air.
However this battle was too important for him, so there was no way he would let this good opinion hold him back. Not only would this battle completely change his future’s destiny, but it was also for his father!
Yao Feng’s eyes flashed. He laughed, “The gold essence medicinal cauldron is not bad, however I still feel like the Preserving Fire Cauldron would still be better. How about this: since I’m not using it I’ll just place it here to your side. If you feel like you need it, then feel free to take it over and use it.
Saying this, Yao Feng walked over beside Yao Chen, and waving his hand he took out an ancient, blazingly glorious medicinal cauldron from his Storage Ring and he placed it beside Yao Chen.
Boom… Yao Chen only saw a red light. The Preserving Fire Cauldron’s innate fire cloud dazzled and bewildered him.
“Haha, I’ll just place it here. As for whether or not you want to use it, it’s up to you.”
Yao Feng silently and stealthily placed his hand on Yao Chen’s arranged medicinal ingredients. Gently pressing down, he once again laughed before returning back to his position.
Yao Chen shook his head. He was already decided that he would just use the golden essence medicinal cauldron. He didn’t know whether he could bring out the Preserving Fire Cauldron’s incredibly high nature, so it was better to not overextend his abilities.
At this time there was already someone who had finished their preparations. Their Dou Qi ignited their medicinal cauldron’s flame to officially begin their refinement.
Almost as if by arrangement, everyone else almost immediately also started their pill refinements.
The Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame puffed into existence from Yao Chen’s hand. Pairing with the medicinal cauldron, a three-colored flame ignited at the bottom of the cauldron, causing the furnace’s temperature to rise to a certain temperature. Yao Chen took a deep breath suddenly grabbing a set of medicinal ingredients he had arranged on the table. Casting them into the medicinal cauldron, Yao Chen’s Spiritual Perception suddenly exploded out, giving him a precise awareness. Pairing perfectly with his Dou Qi, the interior’s temperature which had changed due to the opening of the lid as well as the reactions of different medicinal ingredients’ properties interacting were all controlled in a perfect and complete manner. The medicinal strength was slowly being extracted out before being collected together. Once again the medicinal ingredients’ essences began to react with another, but the Dou Qi separated and controlled them. They couldn’t be allowed to react together immediately. Instead he had to wait for specific medicinal ingredients to be thrown in before advancing in the merger.
Every single step was performed by Yao Chen in a completely perfect manner. His condition today seemed to be assisted by a god. Not even a bit of his Spiritual Perception was wasted, and his Dou Qi paired with it perfectly, allowing it to perform everything required.
Rumble.... Inside the medicinal cauldron, an explosive rumbling noise rang out. This was an unavoidable reaction when refining a high tier medicinal pill. A sixth tier medicinal pill was already outside the category of ordinary pills. Heaven and earth would fear its refinement, and when it was born, a lightning tribulation would occur.
The ability to handle the lightning tribulation was an important test of the alchemist’s calibre. How well you handled the lightning tribulation reflected whether your strength was strong or weak, if your abilities were high or low.
Strong experts could transform the tribulation’s energy to become a part of the pill’s energy. As for comparatively weaker people, they could split apart the lightning tribulation. One part would be eliminated with by Dou Qi, while the other portion would be transformed into pill calamity, and using a kind of mysterious method they would let the pill experience the calamity, and thus increase the medicinal pill’s quality.
Obviously Yao Chen was incapable of either of these methods. His Dou Qi was not strong enough to eliminate lightning tribulation, and as for transforming the calamity’s energy, that was something that required a Dou Wang class Dou Qi.
The method Yao Chen decided on was a third technique that he had found within the clan. It required splitting your attention in two to refine dual pills in the furnace. The second pill used Transforming Calamity Grass and Cross Calamity Grass. Doing so had a certain chance of letting the pill not suffer the lightning calamity’s influence. Of course, this kind of refinement meant that the quality of the pill would lack spiritual nature so at most it would be middle grade.
But the precise technique Yao Chen was using was somewhat different from the technique that existed in the clan. Other than the Transforming Calamity Grass and the Crossing Calamity Grass, he also used a large amount of Tiger Flame Grass. The Tiger Flame Grass’ special properties when paired with his Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame Technique’s Dou Qi could overbearingly control the Transforming Calamity Grass and Crossing Calamity Grass’ medicinal nature, allowing them to form a second pill embryo within the medicinal cauldron. When the Seven Pith Pill’s lightning tribulation was at its peak, he would cast the embryo into the lightning tribulation. This would expend some of its energy and then would transfer the remaining lightning tribulation energy into the Seven Pith Pill, raising its pill quality.
The thunder tribulation was just starting at this time, and Yao Chen had already thrown the Transforming Calamity Grass and Crossing Calamity Grass into the cauldron along with the Tiger Flame Grass. The formation of this second pill required him to split his attention in two and took up a third of his flame attribute Dou Qi.
In just an extremely short time Yao Chen’s forehead was covered in sweat and his eyes had turned red. This was a sign he had pushed himself to his limit.
However it wasn’t just Yao Chen. The other seven people had also reached critical moments in their refinements and they each had to make an absolute all-out effort.
But if asked who was most eye-catching, it was of course Yao Chen. The rumbling and booming noises coming from the pill in his cauldron revealed the lightning tribulation. It caused people to be fascinated and shocked. That meant he was refining was a sixth tier medicinal pill!
Barely fifteen years old yet he dared to refine a sixth tier pill! Was he simply reckless or was he actually at such a high skill level?
“No matter what happens, the fact is that this child managed to refine to the point of lightning tribulation. Even if in the end he fails, he stills counts as a talented genius. As expected of someone from a branch family whose ancestor carved his name into the Clan Monument. That talent had been passed onto this generation and it looks like it’s now time for them to rise up as well.” The clan school’s elder Yao Lan faintly smiled. He knew that not anyone who was refining a sixth tier pill could cause lightning tribulation. Perhaps the medicinal essence would yet to even begin to merge before they would receive the judgement of heaven and earth, often causing a cauldron explosion.
On the other side representing the punishment hall’s stage, Yao Wangui’s eyes bulged slightly. It was out of his expectations that Yao Chen’s refining skills were at such a level. However looking at his appearance, Yao Chen’s energy was already maxed out, and it seemed clear that it wasn’t enough to let him complete his refinement.
“What a shame; if this kid was a Dou Shi he might actually have shocked everyone here with his performance.” Yao Wanhuo warmly said, shaking his head. To have branch family disciples rise up was not a bad thing in his opinion. The main bloodline’s disciples had already taken such a large share of the resources that some of them had started to slack off. Having one or two branch family talents appear to compete with them was definitely something that needed to be done.
“Haha, Wanhuo, his performance right now is already not bad, and in the future we can let Yao Lan….” clan head Yao Dan had been dimly smiling, however he suddenly stopped.
An explosive sound suddenly came out from Yao Chen’s body. The roaring sounds were like the sound of chains that were smashing against each other.
CRACK!
Seal! Broken!
The seal that his mother had placed on his body at this moment completely disintegrated!
BOOMBOOMBOOM!!! The Dou Qi on Yao Chen’s body explosively broke out, suddenly reaching the level of a three star Dou Shi.
“Open!”
Yao Chen gently shouted, and the Triple Flower Agglomerating Flame’s Dou Qi which had increased by about twenty times rushed into the medicinal cauldron, quickly urging on the reaction between the Transforming Calamity Grass, Crossing Calamity Grass, and the Tiger Flame Grass. Under the control of his Spiritual Perception, a light purple-colored pill embryo slowly started to form.
Just as this pill embryo formed, the thunder tribulation which had been becoming stronger and stronger started to fade away. At this time, Yao Chen let out a couple of relaxed breaths. All he had to do now was follow a set procedure. His mother’s seal on his body’s Dou Qi had finally been broken, giving him an unprecedented carefree feeling, making him feel more relaxed than he ever had before. Under this kind of state, it was practically guaranteed that there would be no more problems.
Moreover, the thing that made him the most relaxed was that the potential that had been burned two years ago had already been recovered. The two years of bitterness from the medicinal baths was apparently not a waste.
This kind of feeling was fantastic, and Yao Chen’s face had a faint smile on it, until his hand suddenly felt a piece of Stardust Grass….
His smile all of sudden fell and hardened.
Impossible!
How could it be Stardust Grass!
It should be Starry Heavens Grass!
Stardust Grass and Starry Heavens Grass were born the same, but their medicinal properties were completely opposite! Stardust Grass’ nature was cold, while Starry Heavens Grass was heat natured!
Two years worth of preparation as well as hundreds of times checking... Yao Chen was absolutely sure that Stardust Grass was not amongst his medicinal ingredients!
Actually, the Seven Pith Pill was a completely heat natured medicinal pill, so over the two years Yao Chen had never collected any cold natured medicinal ingredients. This Stardust Grass… just where could it have come from?
Yao Chen quickly scanned the table’s arranged medicinal ingredients, but amongst them… there was no Starry Heavens Grass.
“Impossible, impossible, how could it be like this, impossible….”
Yao Chen’s entire person was completely dumbfounded. Without the Starry Heavens Grass, the Seven Pith Pill would never take shape.
It was already a critical moment at this time. Delaying any further would cause the Seven Pith Pill’s medicinal nature’s crucial point to pass, and it would be a complete failure.
“Impossible.”
Yao Chen blankly stared, not knowing what to do. Suddenly his gaze passed over Yao Feng’s table which had a large amount of Starry Heavens Grass.
Yao Chen’s face abruptly whitened, recalling how Yao Feng had suddenly come over to his table….
“It was you!”
Yao Chen shouted loudly, and was about to throw himself onto Yao Feng.
“Stop!”
Just at this moment, a figure suddenly blocked Yao Chen, a Da Dou Shi Iron Guard of the clan. Creasing his brows, he said, “Please do not interfere with other people’s refining.”
A secret soft sound passed over to Yao Chen, “Yao Chen, what are you doing? Hurry up and return to refine; don’t break the clan rules!”
