Could I Truly Be Inferior to Danchenzi?

High atop the alchemy tournament's stage. With Luo Chen's successful processing of the Guiyuan Cicada Slough, an anxious atmosphere undeniably spread outward. The hearts of every alchemist grew heavy. Someone had already pulled ahead! Within the arena, none were more anxious than the three alchemists who had initially chosen to work from easiest to hardest, processing the Tier 1 ingredients first. They had already finished preparing the Azure Star Grass, Tianqing Aloe, and Scarlet Flame Lingzhi. Yet when faced with the two Tier 2 ingredients, they found themselves at an impasse. The blue smoke jade was manageable enough. However, how to process the Guiyuan Cicada Slough posed a colossal problem before them. Not everyone possessed the ability to multitask. Naturally, they could not manage their own herbs while continuously monitoring the refining processes of Luo Chen, Danyangzi, and the others. Even Xuan Yunzi had only realized he was on the wrong path by catching a glimpse of the tip of the iceberg during Luo Chen's process. Only then had he reanalyzed the pharmacology and adopted the same route as Luo Chen. The advantage of doing so was that his direction was correct, even if his pace was slightly slower. As for the others, they enjoyed no such fortune. They had already missed the critical moment when Luo Chen processed the Guiyuan Cicada Slough. Even if they wanted to learn, there was nowhere left to learn from. For a time, these three early birds were left frozen in place. Among the remaining few, the Fu clan's alchemist stared at the ruined Guiyuan Cicada Slough within his Glazed Child Cauldron, lost in deep thought. He looked first at Luo Chen, then at the unhurried Danyangzi, and finally at Xuan Yunzi. After a long while, he made his choice. With only three sets of materials in total, failing once already left him very little margin for error. He would first process the other four ingredients into their finished states. Only then would he use his final portion to attempt the Guiyuan Cicada Slough. As for the method, he had already gleaned a few insights from Xuan Yunzi. In a way, this too was learning from Luo Chen. Compared to his calm decision, another person was far less composed. Looking at Luo Chen, who was basking in the admiration of thousands, Huanghezi lowered his head once more to stare at his own processed Guiyuan Cicada Slough. The primordial qi was mostly preserved. However, the slough was nowhere near "clear as an azure sky." In other words, it still contained a massive amount of impurities! Undoubtedly, this was a failure. It could not be used in alchemy! "How could this happen?" "Pharmacologically speaking, my processing method was clearly not wrong!" "Where on earth did I err?" "Why could Danchenzi succeed? On what grounds should he succeed?!" "Judging by age, seniority, or background, he shouldn't be the first to succeed under any circumstance!" Beside himself with rage and dismay, Huanghezi stood there, his aged body trembling slightly. He was so shaken that he could not even bring himself to pivot his strategy and secure the other four ingredients first. The reason for such an unsightly loss of composure was, naturally, that in the Dao of Alchemy—the field he took the greatest pride in—he had suffered a crushing blow from Luo Chen, a rogue cultivator he looked down upon entirely. To Huanghezi, who had dedicated his entire life to alchemy, such a blow was utterly intolerable! Especially when Danyangzi finished processing the Guiyuan Cicada Slough, submitted it as the second to the elder, and was deemed qualified, Huanghezi's composure began to crumble entirely. "In this first trial, I believed myself inferior to no one and was aiming for first place." "Why have I fallen behind to this extent now?" No one gave him an answer. In this world, some possessed talent, some possessed "opportunities," and some possessed the resolve to make decisive cuts when needed. Without any of the three, one's lifelong achievements could be seen through at a single glance. The Grand Alchemy Court elder cast a glance at the distraught Huanghezi and could not help shaking his head almost imperceptibly. Though a Tier 2 alchemist, Huanghezi had only attained the Daoist title of the Seven Azure Pill Prodigies well past the age of two hundred. Truly exceptional alchemists at that age would have long been invited into the Grand Alchemy Court. This Huanghezi! He fell short, after all! "On the other hand, this Danchenzi—his alchemy fundamentals are simply terrifying!" In his eyes, and in the eyes of the over ten thousand observing cultivators of Azure Pill Valley, Luo Chen's hands moved through the remaining three ingredients with deceptive swiftness. At times, they fluttered like butterflies weaving through flowers. At other times, they were like a deft maiden washing silk by the stream, gently rinsing gossamer robes. His seemingly ethereal alchemy arts, when applied to the Scarlet Flame Lingzhi, became gentle and nurturing, as if casting spiritual incantations were like simmering a culinary delicacy amidst billowing clouds of steam. Processing the Guiyuan Cicada Slough had taken Luo Chen half a shichen. During that time, he had casually processed the Azure Star Grass alongside it with the Pure Heart Hand. Now, as he moved on to the remaining three ingredients, his speed soared in an instant. When all the processed ingredients were handed to the Grand Alchemy Court elder, only a single incense stick's worth of time had elapsed. "Azure Star Grass, flawless!" "Tianqing Aloe, flawless!" "Scarlet Flame Lingzhi, flawless!" "Blue smoke jade, flawless!" "Guiyuan Cicada Slough, flawless!" Looking at the serene and poised Luo Chen, the Grand Alchemy Court elder drew a deep breath. "All five materials are flawless finished products, and your total time ranks first!" "Tao clan Consecrated Elder Danchenzi takes first place in the alchemy arts trial!" The moment he delivered his immediate assessment, countless onlookers who had been holding their breath finally exhaled in an explosive rush. Standing atop the stage, Luo Chen's keen eyesight allowed him to clearly see the moving lips of myriad disciples below. Though blocked by a sound-isolating array, lip-reading was a trick most cultivators possessed. Even if he could not hear them, the clamor outside was surely boiling over, their cheers piercing the clouds! This was good! Only sufficient shock could establish the prestige of his name, Danchenzi. A mere Fire Spirit Lord could not even reign supreme at the Foundation Establishment stage. Only the Daoist title of Danchenzi could liberate him from the constraints of cultivation realm, allowing him to converse on equal footing with higher-tier figures as an esteemed master alchemist! And this was merely the beginning! "Now that you have finished, step down and rest! There are still two trials left, and they will be the most mentally taxing. You must be prepared," the Grand Alchemy Court elder said. Luo Chen clasped his hands and bowed slightly. "Thank you for the guidance, Master. This junior will go and prepare at once." Seeing how polite he was, the Grand Alchemy Court elder stroked his beard and revealed a genial smile. His initial distaste and irritation from earlier had long vanished without a trace! Reaching out to open the array, he said, "Keep up the momentum in the second trial!" Luo Chen nodded. *This old fellow is actually quite nice.* Even though Luo Chen wasn't an alchemist of Azure Pill Valley and had beaten one of their sect's own, the elder had shown no displeasure, instead offering warm words of encouragement. The instant he stepped out of the array, countless gazes fell upon him. An ordinary person might have felt pins and needles on their back. He, however, merely chuckled with easy grace. Gathering a cloud of spiritual qi beneath his feet, he floated serenely toward the Tao clan's platform. Everywhere he passed, countless eyes followed. The senior true disciples atop the other platforms looked at him with various expressions—surprise, scrutiny, curiosity, or disgust. Among them, not a few showed keen interest in him. Naturally, Luo Chen could also feel malicious glares charged with exasperation and humiliated fury. He paid them no heed. With his wide sleeves and sash fluttering, he stepped into a chorus of cheers and congratulations. Passing through the crowd, he saw the woman sitting in the high seat smile at him. Luo Chen gave a slight nod, then headed toward the quiet room at the rear. ... Not long after Luo Chen's departure, second place was decided on the alchemy stage. It was none other than Danyangzi. With his calm, balanced, and unhurried method, he had been the second to complete the processing of the Guiyuan Cicada Slough. With this most difficult step finished, the subsequent materials presented little challenge to him. Spending only slightly more time than Luo Chen, he presented his finished products. Upon receiving the materials, the Grand Alchemy Court elder looked at him with a complicated expression. "Why put yourself through this?" Danyangzi said nothing and walked straight down. His expression betrayed not the slightest vexation over finishing behind Luo Chen. "Next should be Xuan Yunzi, followed by Fu Huai, I suppose!" "As for this Huanghezi, he clearly possessed solid fundamentals, yet his flustered heart has dragged his pace all the way to last. One wonders where all his years of refining pills have gone." ... The outside turmoil had nothing to do with Luo Chen now. He looked curiously at a stick of spiritual incense specially delivered by Tao Yisheng. Carefree Incense! It was a variety of spiritual incense developed during his lifetime by Master Nanshan, the Tao clan's ancestor. It could rapidly relieve mental fatigue and bring about a pleasant mood. Moreover, when a cultivator meditated and regulated their breath, it allowed them to enter the state instantly. Though its effects sounded ordinary, it possessed miraculous efficacy in restoring a cultivator's condition. A faint fragrance of chrysanthemum lingered around his nose. *Tao Wan truly is thoughtful!* Luo Chen ceased paying attention to the Carefree Incense and turned his focus to the two pill formulas in his hands. The second and third trials both tested pill concoction. Neither pill was exceedingly difficult. Even the Tier 2 Jiangchen Pellet could easily be concocted by Luo Chen once he reached the Beginner level via the system. "Therefore, the subsequent two trials hold no real difficulty for me." "As for the others, even Danyangzi with his terrifying alchemy talent was exhausted from dealing with the gauntlet of battles over the past half-month and had barely any time to study the formulas; he cannot possibly be my match." "In that case, my only opponent is myself!" ... The rest time permitted in the second round of the alchemy tournament was very brief. However, because Luo Chen had finished first, he had rested for a full shichen. When he stepped onto the alchemy stage once more, completely refreshed and bursting with energy, he clearly noticed that nearly half of the alchemists in the arena were not in top form. *They didn't get enough rest!* While he took measure of the others, they naturally observed him as well. After all, he was the indisputable victor of the first trial! And a rogue alchemist without any prestigious lineage at that. To decisively crush them under such public scrutiny—how could he not draw all eyes? Danyangzi glanced at Luo Chen, then looked expressionlessly at the pile of materials before him. He had already prepared himself to refine alone. Xuan Yunzi remained unhurried, looking at Luo Chen and even nodding amicably. He appeared completely unfazed. He had finished third in the previous trial. After stepping down, he had not faced much reprimand from He Yuanqing. Facts had proven that his decision to discard his earlier mistaken ingredients and embark upon a new path was the correct one. He Yuanqing could hardly berate him too harshly in front of everyone. Huanghezi, on the other hand, kept his head lowered, a chest full of fury with nowhere to vent. In the last trial, he had only managed sixth place. After stepping down, although Shangguan Yan had not scolded him, the doubtful looks in the eyes of others felt far worse than a slap across the face. *This time, I must not lose!* *That Danchenzi is arrogant and conceit incarnate, actually refusing to enlist helpers for the refining. I will definitely surpass him!* *The humiliation of the last trial shall be repaid in full during this one!* Roaring in his heart, he whispered orders to the two beside him, "When refining begins shortly, assist me with all your strength. There must not be the slightest slip-up!" Looking somewhat nervous, the two hurriedly nodded. This scene was not unique to Huanghezi. Beside the other alchemists, there were more or less two or three support cultivators assisting in the refining. In the entire arena, only Luo Chen and Danyangzi stood completely alone, without a single soul beside them. The myriad cultivators outside naturally noticed this as well and buzzed with chatter. "It makes sense that Eldest Senior Brother cannot enlist medicine apprentices and fire stokers; after all, restrictions were placed on him for the second round." "Why is Danchenzi alone as well?" "Did the Tao clan offer him no support?" "Perhaps he is accustomed to refining behind closed doors on his own, used to solitary work?" "Both are possible. How else could he have honed such transcendent alchemy arts?" "Still, if that's the case, I'm afraid his concoction speed will fall behind the others!" Faced with these discussions, the nine competitors on the stage turned a deaf ear. All eyes fell upon the Grand Alchemy Court elder. Time was up! "Round Two, Trial Two: Refine Tier 1 Spirit-Nurturing Pellets. Each person receives ten sets of materials; the trial ends when they are depleted." "Pill quality requirement: at least low-grade. Defective products will be counted as failures!" "Now, let the competition begin!" With that command, everyone sprang into action. Among them, the two creating the greatest commotion were undeniably Danchenzi and Danyangzi. Neither had assistants; they relied entirely on themselves to process the semi-finished ingredients. Consequently, their movements were vigorous and conspicuous. And their execution once again stunned all who watched. "Such fluid processing of ingredients! Such masterful alchemy arts!" "Multitasking to process three portions simultaneously—that Danchenzi matches three people all by himself!" "Eldest Senior Brother is no less impressive! His flame control is truly formidable!" Luo Chen had no leisure to heed others. While processing the materials, he manipulated the earth fire to steadily heat the cauldron. Once the temperature reached a certain point, he began casting portions of the semi-finished ingredients into the cauldron one after another. This peculiar sight once again drew the attention of the Grand Alchemy Court elder. *Is he planning to process the herbs while refining at the same time?* *If he does that, the demands on his earth fire control become extraordinarily harsh. Where does he get such confidence?* The Grand Alchemy Court elder's brow furrowed slightly. Yet gradually, he began to see the method beneath it. "Merging qi with fire, commanding fire with qi!" "He isn't merely borrowing the earth fire to refine pills—he has clearly integrated the external earth fire via spiritual power, directing it as easily as his own limbs!" "Not only does this young man possess a terrifying proficiency in basic alchemy arts, but his control over pill fire has also reached an exceptionally profound realm." "At this rate, Danyangzi will be left behind." It seemed to unfold just as he had anticipated. If Danyangzi and Luo Chen had been roughly neck and neck earlier, then as the refining progressed, Luo Chen's practiced Fire Fusion techniques and multitasking gradually widened the gap. It was not that Danyangzi was inept. Rather, he was accustomed to refining with Purple Zenith Heavenly Fire; now forbidden from wielding that ultimate weapon, he was forced to rely on conventional means. As a result, his technique was not quite as well-oiled. Even so, he was only slightly slower than Luo Chen, and his speed still outpaced everyone else who had helpers! "Barring any accidents, the top three spots are practically reserved by Danchenzi and Danyangzi." "Of the top five victors across the three trials, adding a fine seed like Xuan Yunzi leaves only two spots for the rest to contest." To an elder of the Grand Alchemy Court with vast refining experience, a few subtle details were all it took to deduce the trajectory of victory and defeat. Sure enough. As a faint pill fragrance wafted from Luo Chen's cauldron, many things became self-evident. Huanghezi, being closest to him, naturally caught scent of that aroma. It did not come from his own cauldron, but from Luo Chen, whom he regarded as his bitter rival. In that instant, his mind drifted into a daze. *How can this be?* *I even have helpers, yet I still can't match him?* It was this very lapse in focus that caused a disastrous error. "Martial Uncle, something seems wrong with the pill condensation!" "We can't suppress the medicinal potency! Martial Uncle, take action quickly!" Jolted awake, Huanghezi reflexively cast spiritual incantations. Yet it was already too late. In silence, he stared at the pitch-black, formless slurry of wasted liquid within the Glazed Child Cauldron, his heart turning icy cold. An unbidden thought surfaced in his mind. *No wonder Tao Wan looked down on me.* *Could I truly be inferior to Danchenzi?*