Chapter 132 Qingxuan Sect's Difficulties, Breaking the Deadlock in Alchemy

The next morning, the crowd before the lot-drawing result board in the center of Tianyan City's martial arts arena was even denser than in the first round.

When the names of the Qingyun Sect and the Qingxuan Sect appeared side-by-side on the second-round matchup list, the surrounding discussions suddenly grew louder, no longer low whispers but a clamor filled with fear and excitement.

"It's actually the Qingyun Sect against the Qingxuan Sect! This is going to be a good show!"

"Qingxuanzi is notoriously ruthless. In the Sect Competition three years ago, he used the 'Bone-Eroding Pill Talisman' to cripple a Core Disciple of the Lingzhi Sect, and that person is still bedridden today!"

"I heard he's not only a distant relative of Mo Renxing but also the closed-door Disciple of the Qingxuan Sect's Grand Elder. He holds three 'Seven Deadly Poison Pills' in his hands; he's a ruthless character capable of poisoning even a Golden Core Cultivator!"

"The Qingyun Sect has hit a brick wall. Lin Yue looks like just an ordinary old man. Although Su Qingyuan and Luo Ningshuang have talent, Qingxuanzi is accompanied by two followers at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, both of whom are experts in using poison!"

Amidst the discussions, Qingxuanzi slowly stepped out of the crowd. He wore a green robe embroidered with Nether Alchemical Patterns, and three black poison sacs hung from his waist. The Alchemical Spirit Pen in his hand was no longer entirely white; beside the three Explosive Flame Pills embedded in the handle, there were now two more poison pills glowing with a faint green luster—the legendary Seven Deadly Poison Pills.

Behind him followed two Cultivators also dressed in green robes. One held a poison cauldron, while the other had poison vines wrapped around his waist. Their auras were heavy and settled, both possessing Late Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation.

"A battle of life and death, until one is no more!" Qingxuanzi raised his hand and pointed at the result board, his voice carrying an unquestionable dominance. "Qingyun Sect, do you dare to accept? If not, get out of Tianyan City as soon as possible and stop making a fool of yourselves here!"

The gazes of the Disciples from various Sects instantly focused on the members of the Qingyun Sect, many waiting to see them shrink back. Su Qingyuan was about to step forward, but Lin Yue raised his hand to stop her. Lin Yue slowly walked out, lightly waving his horsetail whisk, his expression indifferent. "A life-and-death duel it is. However, I have a rule: one-on-one, a duel between you and me, and no one else may interfere."

"Hahaha!" Qingxuanzi burst into wild laughter. "You old geezer are quite arrogant. Fine, I shall personally cripple you and have the Qingyun Sect's name completely wiped out!"

Within the Abandoned Ancient Alchemical Garden of the Secret Realm battlefield, the concentration of alchemical poison was even higher than before, and the broken cauldrons on the ground were faintly oozing black-purple poisonous juice. Once both sides were in position, the referee announced loudly, "The life-and-death duel begins now!"

As soon as the words were spoken, Qingxuanzi summoned his Alchemical Spirit Pen. The tip of the pen dipped into both the Explosive Flame Pills and the Seven Deadly Poison Pills as he rapidly sketched in the air. Runes of interwoven green and crimson instantly took shape, transforming into dozens of poison fire Talismans that swept toward Lin Yue.

Simultaneously, his two followers quietly activated the poison cauldron and poison vines, attempting a sneak attack. The poison vines were covered in barbs, and a pungent poison mist rose from the cauldron, forming a three-sided pincer movement.

"Child's play." Lin Yue chuckled softly, his Divine Sense suddenly sinking into the Hongmeng Space. Unlike before when he relied on Luo Ningshuang's alchemical power, this time he directly channeled the Grandmist Origin power within the space, condensing a wisp of pale golden spiritual power at his fingertips.

He did not set up any defenses; instead, he strode directly toward Qingxuanzi. As he stepped on the poisonous juice on the ground, he was not corroded at all. Wherever he passed, the black-purple poisonous juice instantly transformed into pure Spiritual Qi and merged into his body.

"Seeking death!" Seeing this, a flash of wild joy crossed Qingxuanzi's eyes. He swung his Alchemical Spirit Pen violently, and dozens of poison fire Talismans exploded simultaneously, forming a Poison Fire Domain that covered a range of ten zhang.

Within the Domain, alchemical poison and flames intertwined, causing even the space to ripple—this was clearly Qingxuanzi's trump card, the 'Poison Fire Heaven-Burning Array'.

But just as the poison fire was about to touch Lin Yue, he gave his horsetail whisk a light flick. The pale golden Grandmist spiritual power transformed into a light screen. When the poison fire hit the screen, it instantly dissolved like snow meeting the morning sun.

Lin Yue's speed did not decrease in the slightest. In the blink of an eye, he had rushed in front of Qingxuanzi. He tapped out with his whisk; it seemed slow, yet it contained an unrivaled Dao Rhyme.

Qingxuanzi's pupils constricted. He tried to activate his Alchemical Spirit Pen for defense, only to find that the spiritual power within his body was imprisoned by an invisible force, leaving him unable to move. The whisk lightly tapped his forehead, and Qingxuanzi felt a gentle yet domineering power flood his body. The power of his poison pills was instantly disintegrated, and his Foundation Establishment Peak cultivation actually began to dissipate at this moment.

"You... who exactly are you?" Qingxuanzi's face was filled with horror, his voice trembling.

Lin Yue smiled faintly. "Just a seeker of the Dao." As he finished speaking, he waved his hand. The two followers behind Qingxuanzi only felt their vision blur before being sent flying by a massive force, crashing heavily into a distant cauldron and losing consciousness. Meanwhile, Qingxuanzi collapsed weakly on the ground, his cultivation completely destroyed, without a single shred of strength left to resist.

[System Prompt: Lin Yue has used the Grandmist Origin power, triggering [Dao Rhyme Suppression]! Directly disintegrated the enemy's poison pill core, crushing a Foundation Establishment Peak Cultivator! Hongmeng Space Spiritual Qi consumption: 5%. Unlocked the [Spiritual Power Purification] ability, allowing for the instantaneous purification of all types of evil and heterodox spiritual power!]

The surrounding Disciples watching the battle were already dumbstruck. No one expected this life-and-death duel to end so quickly. From beginning to end, Lin Yue had only used three moves to easily subdue Qingxuanzi's group. This kind of overwhelming victory completely overturned everyone's understanding.

"What is the background of this Lin Yue? A Foundation Establishment Peak Cultivator was actually so powerless before him!"

"That pale golden spiritual power just now... could it be the legendary Origin power?"

"The Qingyun Sect is truly a place of crouching tigers and hidden dragons this time!"

Lin Yue ignored the crowd's discussions and simply said to the collapsed Qingxuanzi, "The Dao of Alchemy was originally meant to save the world, yet you used it to harm others. Destroying your cultivation today is already a light punishment." After saying that, he led Su Qingyuan and Luo Ningshuang away.

The Qingyun Sect's path to advancement through the next few rounds of competition could be described as entirely smooth sailing:

Against a strong Body Cultivator from the Black Wind Sect whose Physical Body was as hard as iron and could withstand attacks from a Golden Core Cultivator, Lin Yue simply raised his hand and released a burst of spiritual power. It shattered the opponent's Protective Aura and directly struck their Physical Body Origin; the opponent surrendered and left the field without even having a chance to strike back.

Facing a Genius Sword Cultivator from the Heaven Sword Gate whose swordsmanship was superb and whose Sword Intent was sharp—having once slain three Foundation Establishment Cultivators with a single strike—Lin Yue used only his Divine Sense to interfere, causing the opponent's Sword Intent to become disordered. Then, with a wave of his whisk, he sent the opponent's long sword flying, winning easily.

In the duel against an array master from the Array Talisman Sect, the opponent laid out the 'Nine Netherworld Evil Array'. Within the Formation, cold winds howled and Evil Qi flowed, capable of corroding a Cultivator's Divine Soul.

Lin Yue activated his 'Spiritual Power Purification' ability and stepped into the Formation. Wherever he went, the dark Evil Qi instantly dissipated, and the Formation collapsed on its own. In his horror, the array master forfeited directly.

One overwhelming victory after another caused the Qingyun Sect to rise to fame in Tianyan City. When the Disciples of various Sects looked at Lin Yue and the others again, the initial contempt in their eyes was gone, replaced by deep reverence and awe.

Lin Yue's mystic demeanor was spread as something miraculous. No matter how strong the opponent was, he could always win in the simplest and most direct way, striking straight at the heart and settling the battle in a single stroke.

The members of the Qingyun Sect advanced triumphantly, successfully reaching the semi-finals. Lin Yue gazed at the mist-shrouded Tianyan City Main Peak in the distance, knowing that the truly powerful experts were yet to come, but there was no fear in his eyes, only a yearning for a higher Realm.

Although the spiritual power within the Hongmeng Space had been consumed, his cultivation was also steadily improving through continuous combat and insight, and Su Qingyuan and Luo Ningshuang also benefited greatly from these victories, their strength constantly achieving Breakthroughs.

Their opponent in the semi-finals would be the Myriad Beast Sect, ranked second among the seven great Sects. Rumor had it that the Disciple leading their team already possessed Half-step Golden Core cultivation and was accompanied by several Ancient Exotic Beasts, whose strength was unfathomable. A more intense clash was about to begin.