Chapter 210: Improving The Alchemy Skill
Within the Beast King Sect, giant eagles flew back and forth.
Not only Su Yan received the summoning message; most inner disciples received the news.
Even if they had no chance of making the ranking themselves, there were plenty who wanted to watch the fights for fun and accumulate experience.
On the Nine Tablet Spirit Platform, disciples came and went continuously, with familiar groups of three or five already gathered together, their gazes occasionally falling on the Tiger Ranking disciple names displayed on the Nine Tablets.
The several disciples responsible for guarding the Spirit Platform were already discussing it.
“Three hundred Tiger Ranking disciples, at least seven-tenths have come this time. It will probably take at least ten days or half a month to finish all the fights.”
“The longer they fight, the better for us. We have no hope of getting on the Tiger Ranking, but seeing them spar is surely a good thing. Shattered Moon Peak’s Senior Brother Yuan Yi, White Python Peak’s Lan Yunyue, Azure Dragon Peak’s Qiao Panyan, Suo Yunyi, Guizang Valley’s Lin Mingcheng… I really wonder who will fight for first place this time.”
The top ten Tiger Ranking disciples were almost all at the perfection of True Intent Realm Divine Union Stage. With their combat power, crushing some half-step Dan Qiao was no big deal.
But when it really came down to it, their respective strengths might not match the rankings from one to ten exactly; a little progress could reverse the order.
This was also the part everyone was most curious about every year.
However, among the crowd, an unusual person had a slight smile at the corner of his mouth and said, “I’m rather curious about that new disciple from Guizang Valley, who is known as the highest talent in the sect in a hundred years.”
As soon as these words came out, several people were quite displeased. A disciple from Shattered Moon Peak said, “What big words. Highest talent in a hundred years, and yet he’s not even first place.”
“He entered the sect just a year ago and rushed to fifty-seventh on the Tiger Ranking. Everyone says he didn’t use his full strength. How is that not the highest talent?”
Where there were those who looked down on him, there were naturally fans. A slightly older disciple, Zhao Han, said, “Why argue? The sect’s rewards this time are generous, and it’s a time when manpower is needed. Are you afraid they won’t compete to decide a top one or two?”
Several people looked stern, their expressions slightly darkening. The Hundred Peaks Barrier was in constant conflict. Although accurate news hadn’t come yet, the mobilization of the Mountain Guard alone showed that the Demonic Path martial artists’ offensive up front was not weak.
Although the crowd was still in the inner sect, if it was a time when manpower was needed, no one would be polite to you.
Suddenly, a commotion came from the Nine Tablet Spirit Platform. Several disciples looked up and were slightly startled in their hearts.
It was Su Yan!
The figure of the Six-Winged Blood Centipede had already been remembered by many people. This ferocious beast had crushed Su Yan’s opponent right in front of many people.
Seeing it now, they naturally realized Su Yan had arrived.
Su Yan leaped down and put away the Six-Winged Blood Centipede.
Zhao Han’s eyes were solemn. After he left, he said in a low voice, “He’s gotten stronger again. His aura is completely different.”
Zhao Han could serve as a Spirit Platform guard disciple because he himself was an inner disciple nearing the end of his ten-year term.
He had once been on the Tiger Ranking, and his cultivation was not weak.
The moment he saw Su Yan, he knew that person was very dangerous.
The people nearby were quite skeptical and muttered, “How long ago was the fight at Azure Dragon Peak? Less than two months, how much stronger could he have gotten?”
Su Yan’s gaze swept over the Tiger Ranking, and the top ten names on the list caught his eye.
His expression was calm, while discussions continued around him, all about the rankings.
“The top ten on the Tiger Ranking do have some prestige…”
He was different from other Tiger Ranking disciples. Others climbed up step by step, and their fame spread gradually.
But he was different. Every time, he shot up a huge chunk, and in a short time too. Not to mention people from other peaks, even those from Guizang Valley might not know much about him.
“Two hundred fifty-seventh place. Senior Sister’s progress isn’t slow.”
He had seen Bai Yun’s ranking. Although not as exaggerated as his, rising nearly twenty places in two months meant she had put in hard work on her cultivation and martial skills.
Beast King Mountain’s ten-thousand-level stone steps, with majestic mountain shapes on both sides, clouds and mist swirling, exotic flowers and grasses scattered about, presented an extraordinary sight.
Su Yan climbed the steps and followed the mountain path to the front of the Pill Refining Pavilion.
He still had sixty thousand contribution points in the sect, which was no small amount.
Now that he was back, he naturally wanted to convert these contribution points into resources.
His primary target was the Pill Refining Pavilion.
Su Yan entered the Pill Refining Pavilion. As soon as he went up to the second floor, he was noticed by Deng Rongqiu.
“Good kid, not even a few months, and your energy has grown much stronger.”
Deng Rongqiu’s high nose twitched, and his dark face scrutinized Su Yan up and down, as if trying to see through him.
“Disciple greets Elder Deng.”
Su Yan cupped his hands slightly, but Deng Rongqiu just waved casually.
Ordinary disciples were one thing, but with Su Yan, he couldn’t put on airs.
Su Yan wasn’t in the Beast King Sect, but his legends were everywhere inside.
The highest talent in a hundred years—whether it was false praise or genuine praise—anyone bearing that title was no simple person.
“Here for pills or pill prescriptions?”
He knew Su Yan could refine pills and was curious about how the kid’s Five Elements Alchemy Technique had progressed.
“Seeking some pill refining notes and alchemy skills.”
Deng Rongqiu narrowed his eyes. “The Five Elements Alchemy Technique you exchanged for last time was second-order low-grade. How far have you practiced it?”
Su Yan smiled at the corner of his mouth and pointed at the alchemy furnace next to the counter. Instantly, the fire crow inside the furnace activated, countless firelights burst out, and waves of heat assaulted them.
With practiced ease, he demonstrated the Transformation Realm mastery of the Five Elements Alchemy Technique. The flame control was exquisite, subtly incorporating Gu Pill Manual fire control techniques. In just a quarter of an hour, all eighteen metals were separated.
Deng Rongqiu tugged at his beard and hurried to Su Yan’s side in two or three steps.
“Transformation Realm?!”
Deng Rongqiu was a third-order Pill Master. How could he not know the level of sophistication in this technique? It faintly transcended the Five Elements Alchemy Technique itself—only Transformation Realm could produce such effects.
“Elder overpraises me.”
Deng Rongqiu’s eyes flickered as he pondered. “Your skill is impressive. Separating eighteen metals in less than a quarter of an hour—at least a second-order high-grade Pill Master, right? Are you aiming to break through to third-order?”
Su Yan nodded. “I hope Elder will approve.”
“Take the token. You can go up to the fourth floor. Notes from successive Pill Masters of the Beast King Sect, miscellaneous alchemy writings—all are there, but they require contribution points now. Alchemy skills and pill prescriptions are also on the fourth floor and above. If you select anything, exchange it yourself with contribution points.”
Su Yan received the token, a hint of joy in his expression. He thanked him and strode toward the fourth floor.
“Fighting above his level, cultivation talent already so amazing, and now this level of alchemy talent too…”
Deng Rongqiu muttered to himself as he took out his sect token and sent a brief message with his divine sense.
At the top of Beast King Mountain in the sect main hall, an old Daoist in a cyan-white robe, with a jade-like face and steady aura, opened his eyes, revealing a look of surprise.
“True Intent Realm Third Stage cultivation, defeating Fourth Realm, suspected second-order high-grade Pill Master, preparing to break through to third-order… Good, good, good.”
Chu Qidao smiled faintly. “Called Su Yan, huh? Junior Brother Gu’s lineage truly produces talents one after another.”
As sect leader, how could he not be happy to see such a talented disciple?
But his expression sobered slightly as he thought of something, then snorted coldly. “Those Demonic Path guys, do they really think the Beast King Sect has no successors?”
——
For most disciples, the Pill Refining Pavilion was open at most to the third floor.
Below the third floor, pill trading, consignment of pill refining materials, and other transactions were the most common. The rest were on the second and third floors: pill refining notes, medicine classics, pill prescriptions, alchemy skills, and so on.
The classics were vast as a sea. For ordinary disciples, mastering them was already difficult; even second-order Pill Masters might not grasp much.
The fourth and fifth floors were open only to the sect’s true alchemy masters—third-order and above Pill Masters.
Every third-order pill carried a bit of creation merit. Advancing cultivation was secondary; pills for rebirth, breaking miasma to condense the pill, and such were the true treasures.
For a force, having third-order Pill Masters meant converting ample resources into their subordinates’ power.
That was the foundation.
Su Yan had proven his strength to step onto the fourth floor.
“The classics are one-tenth less. Even in the sect, third-order Pill Masters are probably not that many.”
He walked past the bookshelves, his gaze slashing across notebook after notebook. Each was the crystallization of a Pill Master’s wisdom.
“Alchemy skill emphasizes absorbing from all sources and integrating them thoroughly. If breaking through to third-order, many pills can probably be mastered more finely, allowing refinement of more pills.”
Su Yan had heavenly materials and earthly treasures, quite a few, all first and second-order items.
But without pill prescriptions, he couldn’t fully create them, so some materials were set aside for now.
Su Yan took out two notebooks to browse: third-order Pill Master Yu Wenwu.
“Thunderfire pill refining, extraordinarily potent medicinal effects, but also specialized…”
He went through them one by one, from pill refining techniques to material usage… Before he knew it, an hour had passed.
In the end, from the notebooks, he selected the pill refining insights of Liu Qianyun and Li Zhao.
The former started from Two Forms Four Images, Five Elements, and other alchemy skill basics, breaking through all the way to third-order Pill Master. Her refined pills were upright and balanced, the most stable.
Unfortunately, a hundred years ago, seeking opportunity for Third Heaven breakthrough in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, she was ambushed and killed by the wrath toad old demon of Three Flames Divine Palace.
Li Zhao refined half-gu half-worm pills, cultivating the Five Worm Pill Seal Technique. His worm and gu pill refining was no worse than that of the Hundred Caves Witch Sect.
He was over a hundred years older than Liu Qianyun and died of lifespan exhaustion, leaving his insights in this pavilion.
One orthodox, one unusual—perfectly matching Su Yan’s needs.
With the insights selected, the rest was the alchemy skill.
Su Yan’s Five Elements Alchemy Technique was already at Transformation Realm, and he had a grasp on how to connect to the next.
Without much selection, he directly took out the Nine Dragon Pill Seal that Deng Rongqiu had mentioned last time.
“And pill prescriptions…”
Su Yan fixed his gaze on the pill prescriptions. Yuan Aperture Pills for increasing cultivation, Soul Nurturing Pills, and others were all premium third-order pills.
Third-order Barrier Breaking Pills were the best among them. Placed anywhere, they could drive half-step Dan Qiao or even some third-order martial artists mad.
Yet Su Yan didn’t focus on these pills. Instead, he concentrated on a special pill prescription.
“Seed Aperture Pill”
Su Yan took down the pill prescription and handed it to Deng Rongqiu along with the insights.
“Good kid, bold choice with one orthodox and one unusual.”
Deng Rongqiu’s eyes flashed sharply, implying something. “But Li Zhao’s path is dangerous. Be careful yourself.”
“Thank you for the reminder, Elder.”
Deng Rongqiu continued looking at what Su Yan wanted to exchange. The Nine Dragon Pill Seal was a good pick, but when he saw the Seed Aperture Pill, his pupils contracted sharply, revealing a pained expression.
“Do you know what the Seed Aperture Pill is?”
Su Yan nodded. “Using apertures in the pill, before the fourth layer of Dan Qiao Realm All Stars Heaven, to open acupoints and hold more true essence.”
“Not bad.” Deng Rongqiu took over. “Opening Dan Qiao to store true essence lets martial artists have even stronger combat power. But the seeding process is extremely painful, not to mention the materials needed could empty many people’s savings—let alone the refining difficulty.”
“The Seed Aperture Pill fits perfectly with my Star Constellation Profound Beast Skill.”
Just this one sentence outweighed a thousand words.
The more beast spirit true intent gathered in the Star Constellation Profound Beast Skill, the more unimaginable the consumption when using full true intent.
If true essence capacity increased further, the boost to Su Yan’s combat power would be more than a little.
One person forming a formation would be no issue.
“Fine.” Deng Rongqiu shook his head. “You geniuses have your own decisions. Two insight books, one Nine Dragon Pill Seal, one third-order pill prescription—thirty thousand contribution points total.”
Su Yan readily paid the contribution points, halving his savings in an instant.
Leaving the Pill Refining Pavilion, he headed straight toward the Artifact Refining Pavilion.
Called the Artifact Refining Pavilion, it was more like a mountain valley opened at the foot of Beast King Mountain.
Before Su Yan even entered the valley, he saw clusters of buildings, no more than two or three stories high, stretching continuously.
After entering the valley, the heat from the earth vein flames permeated the surroundings.
He entered the valley and waited slightly at the valley entrance. Soon, quick footsteps came. “Junior Brother Su.”
Su Yan looked over and saw the newcomer—graceful and poised, long hair tied up. It was Ye Chenyao, who had gone with Xiang Ge to recruit that day.
“Senior Sister Ye.”
Su Yan greeted her. Ye Chenyao smiled. “Sorry to keep you waiting. I’ll take you into the Artifact Refining Pavilion. If you want to learn artifact refining technique, it’ll take some effort and contribution points.”
Though Ye Chenyao was introducing it, her sidelong glance at Su Yan still couldn’t help but show envy.
This junior brother from the same town was incredibly talented. In just a short year, he had fought to fifty-seventh on the Tiger Ranking, while she, after three or four years, had only just reached True Intent Realm As Desired Stage.
“Senior Sister Ye, are all these houses part of the Artifact Refining Pavilion?”
“They are forging workshops and quiet rooms.”
Ye Chenyao pointed. The large buildings were all the same style—spacious, sturdy, clearly very soundproof. Faint spiritual energy surges could be seen, probably from formations or spirit infusion.
“Artifact refining is similar to pill refining; low-order is fine, but forging second-order sharp weapons and above requires investing essence, energy, spirit, even true intent to temper the weapon. Thus, sufficient firepower and quiet are needed.”
Ye Chenyao said, “The center of the forging workshops is where the Artifact Refining Pavilion is.”
The central Artifact Refining Pavilion was only three stories, but the building footprint was huge and majestic, with a tough, hard-edged style.
Su Yan went in with Ye Chenyao, straight to the third floor, and found a sturdy old man.
“What is it?”
The old man was half-reclining in his taishi chair, eyes hazy, half-asleep.
Ye Chenyao was respectful. “Reporting to Elder, Junior Brother Su Yan from Guizang Valley wants to learn spirit tool refining technique.”
“Hm?”
Long Hongwen opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing past as he sized up Su Yan. “You’re that disciple claimed to have the strongest talent in a hundred years?”
