66: Chapter 66 The Alchemy Competition, Now Begins

Jiang Changge picked up the teacup on the stone table in the tea pavilion and took a light sip.

The tea was a special spirit tea from Medicine King Valley; it was sweet and mellow on the tongue, rich in Spiritual Qi, and truly an extraordinary item.

He set down the teacup, his gaze falling on Ancestor Zhou Huaixu, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly with a somewhat helpless smile.

"I have said that those words were realized by Tianchen himself; they have nothing to do with me."

Jiang Changge shook his head, his tone flat.

"I truly do not understand Alchemy."

These words were spoken sincerely; he really did not understand Alchemy.

The words from earlier were merely because Zhou Tianchen had grasped the true essence of the Scripture of Alchemy.

Ancestor Zhou Huaixu straightened up, smiling without saying a word.

He simply took it as the Senior being modest and didn't take it to heart.

Who would believe that a being capable of teaching a Disciple like Zhou Tianchen didn't understand Alchemy?

Yao Li stood behind Ancestor Zhou Huaixu, wanting to step forward and ask for guidance, yet fearing he might offend the Senior.

He had been suppressing a belly full of questions since earlier: what other profound meanings were hidden in those four sentences?

How could Alchemy and cultivation truly become one?

These questions had troubled him for hundreds of years, and now that he finally saw a glimmer of hope for answers, he didn't dare to speak.

Yao Li's gaze swept over Jiang Changge and then fell upon Zhou Tianchen.

He had taught Zhou Tianchen in the past, but after not seeing him for over half a year, the boy could already speak of alchemical truths that were far beyond his reach.

Was this the fortune of becoming a Disciple under the Senior?

Yao Li's heart was a whirlpool of emotions; in the end, he only sighed softly, took a step back, and stopped overthinking.

Jiang Changge leaned back against his chair, his gaze drifting toward the sky outside the tea pavilion.

The peaks of Medicine King Valley were faintly visible in the rosy light of dawn, and in the distance, immortal cranes glided by, letting out clear, resonant cries.

"How are your preparations for tomorrow's Alchemy competition?"

Jiang Changge suddenly spoke, his eyes resting on Zhou Tianchen.

Zhou Tianchen bowed slightly, his tone steady: "This Disciple has already comprehended the fourth layer of the first volume of the Scripture of Alchemy. I have an eighty percent certainty in refining Profound Rank Advanced Medicinal Pills."

Jiang Changge nodded slightly.

Profound Rank Advanced was already considered top-tier among the young generation of Alchemists in the Southern Wilderness.

Combined with the foundation of the Scripture of Alchemy, even if Zhou Tianchen didn't take first place, the top three should not be a problem.

Ancestor Zhou Huaixu, hearing this from the side, felt a flash of joy in his eyes, which he quickly suppressed.

His gaze inadvertently swept over Yao Li; seeing the complex expression of this imperial enshriner, he understood clearly.

Yao Li's Alchemy level was undeniably the best in the Zhouwu Dynasty.

But at this moment, he was likely starting to doubt whether his thousands of years of research had been on the right path.

The next day, during the Hour of the Dragon.

Everyone gathered once more at the Hundred Herbs Altar.

In the center of the altar, dozens of bluestone pill platforms were lined up in order, each engraved with mysterious runes.

Those were Spirit Gathering Formations laid down by the past sages of Medicine King Valley, capable of converging Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to assist in Alchemy.

The pill platforms were separated by several Zhang, ensuring no mutual interference.

Dan Qingzi stood beneath the Myriad Spirit Tree, his grey-white Daoist robe fluttering slightly in the morning breeze.

His gaze swept across the increasing number of figures on the altar; he nodded slightly and waved his hand.

"Dong—!"

A melodious bell chimed from deep within Medicine King Valley, echoing through the valley and suppressing all the clamor.

The Hundred Herbs Altar instantly fell silent.

"The centennial Alchemy competition begins now."

Dan Qingzi spoke; his voice was not loud, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly.

"The rules are the same as previous years, so I shall not say more."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the young faces on the altar.

"The competition will last for twelve days, and the final results will be based on the rank and quality of the Medicinal Pills."

"The top five will receive generous rewards from Medicine King Valley."

In the altar, the eyes of the many Alchemists burned with a raging fire.

"The competition begins. Everyone, please take your places at the pill platforms."

As soon as he finished speaking, dozens of figures soared from the spectator stands and landed on the bluestone pill platforms in the center of the altar.

Zhou Tianchen stood up, straightened his robes, his gaze steady.

"Go."

Jiang Changge leaned back in his chair, his tone casual.

Zhou Tianchen bowed, then turned and walked toward the altar.

Ancestor Zhou Huaixu sat beside Jiang Changge, his eyes following Zhou Tianchen's back with a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

Yao Li's gaze also fell on Zhou Tianchen, his expression complex.

Zhou Tianchen's pill platform was the fifth one on the east side; the location was neither prominent nor remote.

Just as he stood still before the pill platform, a familiar figure walked over from the side.

Shen Cihui stood on the pill platform adjacent to Zhou Tianchen's, cupped his hands toward him, and smiled: "Fellow Daoist Tianchen, I didn't expect us to be next to each other."

Zhou Tianchen smiled slightly and returned the gesture.

"Fellow Daoist Cihui, we've known each other for so long, and finally, we can have a formal competition."

Hearing this, Shen Cihui was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"You say that as if we haven't competed before."

Zhou Tianchen shook his head, his tone serious: "We have competed before, but you never gave your all. Today is different; it's a formal competition."

Shen Cihui's smile faded, and his gaze on Zhou Tianchen became more solemn.

He nodded: "You're right. Today is different."

Although Zhou Tianchen had profound insights and understanding of the Dao of Alchemy...

...he was currently only at the Early Stage of the Nascent Soul Stage. At most, he could refine Profound Rank Low-level Medicinal Pills, so he still had a chance to surpass him.

Zhou Tianchen was seen taking his Pill Furnace out of his Storage Pouch and placing it on the pill platform.

The Pill Furnace was the size of a palm, bronze-colored throughout, with its body covered in mysterious runes and faint spiritual light flowing over it.

It was precisely the qiankun furnace that Jiang Changge had bestowed upon him.

Shen Cihui's gaze fell upon the qiankun furnace, and his pupils contracted slightly.

He had seen many top-tier Pill Furnaces in Medicine King Valley, but this palm-sized furnace before him gave him a completely different feeling.

The faintly emanating aura told him that this Pill Furnace was by no means an ordinary object.

Shen Cihui took a deep breath, suppressed the shock in his heart, and also took out his own Pill Furnace.

An Earth Rank Intermediate Pill Furnace bestowed by his Revered Master, Dan Qingzi—the Azure Flame Tripod.

It was dark green and black all over, with three legs and two ears. The furnace body was carved with flame patterns, and faint green flames seemed to flow within them.

Although it was not as good as Zhou Tianchen's qiankun furnace, it was still considered top-tier among the younger generation.

Both of them set up their respective Pill Furnaces and began taking out various Spirit Medicines from their Storage Pouches.

The Spirit Medicines Zhou Tianchen took out were mostly picked from the Purple Bamboo Forest, with many also bestowed by Jiang Changge.

Every single one was of excellent quality and rich in Spiritual Qi; one could tell at a glance that they were not ordinary items.

Seeing this, Shen Cihui was shocked once again.

The quality of Zhou Tianchen's Spirit Medicines was actually several degrees better than his own.

He was the Disciple of the Grand Elder of Medicine King Valley, and the Spirit Medicines he usually used were already considered the best in the valley.

Yet the ones Zhou Tianchen brought out were even better than his.

Shen Cihui took a deep breath and suppressed the stray thoughts in his mind.

No matter what, he believed in himself.