Three Consecutive Triumphs, Danchen's Fame Soars

"Consecrated Elder, you are incredible!" "With Grandmaster Danchenzi here, our Tao clan will surely flourish!" "Did you see the look on that old scoundrel Huanghezi's face just now? He looked like his parents had just died—it was so satisfying!" "Serves him right! He brought it on himself. He's at such an advanced age, and everyone gave him face and respected his past contributions. Yet after clearly agreeing to help Senior Sister Tao Wan, he betrayed us at the very front line. Now that his performance is so pathetic, I doubt he'll have an easy time over with the Shangguan clan!" "Grandmaster Danchenzi, this way, please!" Once again, he had been the first to refine a Spirit-Nurturing Pellet, and once again, the first to finish the trial. From the moment Luo Chen stepped down from the high stage, he was met with unprecedented respect. If the first trial had brought pleasant surprise, then this second victory brought him boundless admiration and adulation among the Tao clan. Luo Chen responded with calm composure. Making his way forward, he arrived beside Tao Wan. "Thank you for your hard work," Tao Wan said, her eyes fixed on him, her tone noticeably gentler than before. Luo Chen smiled and shook his head. "It was merely a trivial effort." Merely a trivial effort? Tao Wan's gaze shifted toward the alchemists still struggling at their cauldrons on stage, leaving her momentarily speechless. After a long pause, she finally said, "Now that you have taken first place in two consecutive trials, regardless of your placement in the next round, I have a chance to advance forward from fourth place. In the third trial, you can afford to hold back a little." Her words did not stem from doubt, but from absolute trust! With his performance in the first two trials as proof, the alchemy skills Luo Chen demonstrated had thoroughly won her over. And yet... Hold back? Luo Chen was taken aback, puzzled by her suggestion. However, as his gaze swept past the members of the Tao clan toward the countless Azure Pill Valley disciples all around, he found his answer. On those faces, there was curiosity, astonishment, and admiration. Yet far more prevalent was resentment, indignation, and anger! *Right!* *This is Azure Pill Valley, after all, and most of the alchemists competing on stage are disciples of Azure Pill Valley.* *Among them are standout alchemists like Danyangzi and Huanghezi, who are counted among the Seven Azure Pill Prodigies.* *Though I won on behalf of the Tao clan, I don't hail from Azure Pill Valley.* *Their sect pride naturally aligns them with their own people, so they've begun to resent me.* *If I sweep first place in all three trials, it would certainly feel great, but it would completely steal the spotlight from all of Azure Pill Valley's alchemists.* Luo Chen was no fool. He quickly grasped the crux of the matter. He also understood why Tao Wan had made such a suggestion. However! There were times when one had to stand in the limelight. Otherwise, who would compensate him for the benefits he lost? With a shift in thought, Luo Chen chuckled and said, "A rise in ranking is inevitable. But I fear it would only be enough to displace Shangguan Yan in third place!" Tao Wan froze. Only then did she notice that up on the platform, Xuan Yunzi had raised his hand to signal that he had finished refining his Spirit-Nurturing Pellet. "Fellow Daoist Tao, the top three spots have consistently been held by me, Danyangzi, and Xuan Yunzi." "The two behind them represent first and second place respectively." "If my ranking in the third trial is too low, you will likely end up stuck in third place at best." "Do you truly wish to fight the fourth-ranked competitor, then the second-ranked, only to face the well-rested first-ranked contender at the end of the True Disciple Sword Contest?" Faced with Luo Chen's penetrating questions, Tao Wan fell silent. With the True Disciple Sword Contest looming and the Dao Seed contest imminent, she could not afford to forfeit the advantages that a higher ranking would bring—even if it meant climbing just one or two spots higher! Luo Chen's voice echoed beside her ear once more, as tempting as a devil's whisper. "Inviting external aid to compete is, in itself, one of the rules of the Dao Seed contest." "It displays your connections, your wealth, and your methods." "He Yuanqing holds the second spot because Chu Kui from Tianlan exerted immense effort. Chu Kui defeated many Foundation Establishment disciples from your Azure Pill Valley, yet I never saw He Yuanqing worry about tarnishing the sect's prestige." "And finally!" "As a consecrated elder of the Tao clan, am I not a part of Azure Pill Valley as well?" If his earlier points were merely weights on a camel's back, Luo Chen's final remark was the straw that broke it. Indeed! Even when the details of the Dao Seed contest spread in the future, people would only say that the Tao clan's consecrated elder, Danchenzi, had swept through the competition and bested the alchemists of Azure Pill Valley. The Tao clan was an established cultivation clan within Azure Pill Valley to begin with! How could there be any talk of harming the sect's reputation? She had no need to concern herself with the opinions of low-ranking disciples. What she needed to focus on was how to secure the Dao Seed position under the most advantageous circumstances! Having thought it through, a smile appeared on Tao Wan's face. "It seems I was overthinking things." Looking at Luo Chen, she could not help but ask, "Winning the first two trials has already proven your alchemy attainments. But the third trial involves refining Tier 2 pills. Are you just as confident?" She was not doubting him, but offering a well-intentioned reminder. "Those like the Seven Azure Pill Prodigies aren't best at Tier 1 pills. Their true strengths lie in Tier 2 pills and researching Tier 3 pill recipes." "The third trial is the most critical one!" How could Luo Chen not know this? If not for the constraints of making a living and earning spirit stones to purchase cultivation resources, he wouldn't have spent so much time repeatedly refining useless Tier 1 pills either. As an ambitious alchemist, he also wished to pour all his energy into studying Tier 2, Tier 3, and even Tier 4 pills. By comparison, the alchemists of Azure Pill Valley faced no pressure to survive, so they had undoubtedly taken that step long ago. Yet such an obstacle certainly could not stump Luo Chen. He smiled faintly. "Then let us wait and see!" *** Luo Chen's back-to-back triumphs placed immense pressure on the other competitors. Among them, none felt the impact more acutely than Huanghezi and his backer, the third-ranked Shangguan Yan. "I mobilized my clan uncle and brought in the formidable Nether Twin Fiends from outside just to secure third place." "Yet here you are, suffering defeat after defeat." "Huanghezi, do you no longer want that longevity-extending spiritual fruit?" Faced with her sharp rebuke, the elderly Huanghezi's face twitched violently. He gritted his teeth and said, "In the third trial, I definitely will not lose!" A sneer hung on Shangguan Yan's lips. "You claimed beforehand that you could place in the top three in all three trials. Now, aside from taking fifth in the second trial, you have no achievements to speak of. How can I believe you?" Unwilling to admit defeat, Huanghezi insisted, "It won't be like that in the third trial." "Oh?" "The third trial tests the refinement of Tier 2 pills. Rogue alchemists like Danchenzi have access to very few Tier 2 pill recipes, and they can never match those of us who hail from Azure Pill Valley. I am confident I can surpass him!" "I hope you don't disappoint me!" Shangguan Yan said coldly, glaring at Huanghezi as if he were already a dead man. The ranking advantage she had worked so hard to build up was being eroded again and again by Huanghezi's failures. She hardly dared to imagine where her overall true disciple ranking would stand once the second round concluded. By contrast, over on the He clan's side, while Xuan Yunzi received his share of reproaches, they were far less severe. "Eldest Senior Brother's foundation is simply too profound; the first round didn't deplete him as much as we expected." "On the other hand, that Luo Chen emerged out of nowhere. Who would have thought he possessed such superb alchemy skills, taking first place twice in a row?" He Yuanqing was somewhat disappointed. Looking at Xuan Yunzi, he was momentarily at a loss for words. He wanted to reprimand him for falling short, but anyone with eyes could see that Xuan Yunzi had given his all, achieving a respectable third place in both trials. Even the presiding elder from the Grand Alchemy Court showed open appreciation for him. Yet at the thought of Danchenzi taking first place again—with the terrifying record of sweeping all three trials in the second round—Tao Wan's current fourth-place ranking would soar drastically. Fourth place? No, it was highly likely she would displace his second-place standing. Amid the silence, Xuan Yunzi suddenly spoke up: "Actually, Brother Yuanqing, the effort you all made to exhaust Eldest Senior Brother was quite successful. Given his alchemy prowess, he shouldn't have trailed Luo Chen by that much." "The rest period between trials in the second round is very brief." "And refining Tier 2 pills is exceedingly laborious." "Therefore, in this next trial, I have a strong chance of achieving a better placement than before." He Yuanqing was taken aback. Staring at Xuan Yunzi, he could not help but ask, "You're confident in this?" "I am very confident in refining the Dust-Descending Pellet!" Xuan Yunzi declared with assurance. Since he had put it that way, He Yuanqing naturally would not dampen his spirits. "If you can secure an even better placement, I will definitely fight to get you a spot in the Grand Alchemy Court!" A look of delight surfaced on Xuan Yunzi's face, and he bowed respectfully. *** During the second round of the grand alchemy tournament, only brief pauses were permitted; there were no extended breaks. The three trials followed in rapid succession. For those who ranked lower, there was scarcely any breathing room at all. Even for someone like Luo Chen, who finished first, he gained at most an hour or two of extra rest. Two trials had passed. By the time the third trial was about to begin, Luo Chen noticed that many participants were already rubbing their brows. Processing ingredients, resolving pharmacological conflicts, and successfully refining an unfamiliar pill placed immense strain on an alchemist. When Luo Chen used to refine pills, he had to strictly limit his daily attempts. Now, with this tournament denying them sufficient rest, spiritual exhaustion posed a severe test to every alchemist present. *The one having it hardest isn't us, but Danyangzi!* Luo Chen gazed into the distance, looking at the man across from him. The purple pattern between Danyangzi's brows seemed to have dimmed. From the grueling gauntlet of the first round to the three consecutive trials of the second, his spiritual power, divine sense, and stamina had likely been drained to their absolute limits. *This next trial is even harder than the last. I wonder if he can hold on?* As his gaze drifted, he caught sight of Huanghezi not far away. Unexpectedly, the old man wasn't glaring at him with bitter resentment as before. Instead, he sat with his eyes closed, gathering his focus and calming his breath. *He managed to adjust his state quite well!* Luo Chen chuckled inwardly, paying them no mind. While he was observing others, they were naturally observing him. Seeing his calm, composed smile, everyone felt a chill in their hearts. They all realized that Danchenzi seemed determined to claim first place in the third trial as well. They did not have to wait long. Soon, vast quantities of medicinal ingredients were sorted and placed before each participant. Luo Chen looked over the materials in front of him. Red Scorpion Cinnabar, Hundred Spirit Grass, Seven-Color Stone, Fire Spirit Fruit... These were all common ingredients, many of which could even be found in the mortal realm. Combined, they formed the recipe for the Tier 2 Dust-Descending Pellet. Ordinary ingredients and clear pharmacological principles meant that the difficulty of refining this pill was not particularly high. The aged voice of the Grand Alchemy Court elder rang out beside their ears: "The rules remain the same as before." "Each of you has ten sets of raw materials. The first to successfully form the pills will be ranked accordingly." "If all ten sets are exhausted without success, it will be marked as a failure." "Now, begin!" With the order given, all nine alchemists on the stage sprang into action. The Qi Refinement disciples assigned to assist them grew visibly tense, busying themselves with preparing various ingredients for their respective masters. Luo Chen's relaxed expression also turned solemn. No matter how straightforward it seemed, this was still a Tier 2 pill. He had to give it his all! Without delaying, he began sorting and processing the various herbs. His consummate mastery of the basic alchemy arts once again drew countless eyes. Everyone wanted to know: would he succeed this time as well? Could he suppress the younger generation of Azure Pill Valley's alchemists and carve out a renowned name for himself? If he truly accomplished such a feat, the name Danchenzi would resound throughout the entire Jade Cauldron Domain! Even as a rogue cultivator, countless olive branches would be extended to him, and even Golden Core Masters would have to treat him with courtesy! Under the gaze of the crowd, Luo Chen remained unhurried. He spent two hours carefully preparing the various semi-processed ingredients before officially commencing the refinement of the Dust-Descending Pellet. *Use Red Scorpion Cinnabar as a foundation, coating the bottom of the cauldron evenly. Then add the Seven-Color Stone. This method is somewhat similar to the Jade Marrow Pill, falling under the category of mineral pills.* *Supplement it with the spirit-rich Hundred Spirit Grass and Fire Spirit Fruit...* Ever since he acquired the recipe, Luo Chen had attempted refining it at full power several times. Though he had not yet formed the pill, every step of the process was already etched into his mind. By his estimate, once the competition began, it would take him six or seven attempts at most to successfully produce the Dust-Descending Pellet. His overall success rate would still match his panel's baseline of roughly one in ten. However! As the refinement progressed step by step, Luo Chen faintly realized that every single action had been executed to absolute perfection! It seemed this very first batch had a tremendous chance of succeeding. *Success on the first attempt?* *Wouldn't that be far too shocking?* With so many eyes watching, Luo Chen hesitated for a split second. But sensing the piercing gaze of the Grand Alchemy Court elder, he abandoned the thought of deliberately sabotaging the batch. Crude tampering could never escape the divine sense of a Golden Core Master, and doing so would only arouse suspicion. In that case, he might as well see it through in one breath and display his terrifying alchemy attainments! *This was meant to be the place where I make my name!* All hesitation vanished, replaced by bold, relentless resolve. Luo Chen cast incantation gestures in rapid succession, catalyzing the fusion of medicinal properties within the cauldron. Under his masterful Fire Fusion technique, the surging earth fire swelled and shrank, always delivering precisely the right degree of heat required. Time ticked away slowly. Until— "If not now, then when!" Luo Chen laughed aloud and tossed in the final medicinal herb. As if catalyzed, the medicinal liquid inside the cauldron merged at breakneck speed, swiftly taking shape under the manipulation of his spiritual power to become round, smooth pellets. With a flick of his hand, the snow-white Dust-Descending Pellets flew toward the stunned Grand Alchemy Court elder. "Elder, please inspect them!" The Grand Alchemy Court elder caught all the Dust-Descending Pellets in one grasp, his expression frozen in utter shock. *He succeeded on the very first try?!* *What kind of terrifying alchemy is this?* Even if he had practiced countless times in private over the past half month, achieving such a result was still mind-boggling! The elder swallowed hard. "Low-grade Dust-Descending Pellets, completed in three hours. Pass!" "You..." Luo Chen offered a modest smile. "There was a bit of luck involved. I experienced many failures in private, but just now inspiration struck, and it succeeded in one go." *Luck?* The elder felt that made sense. After all, not even a Tier 3 alchemist could guarantee absolute success on every attempt. And yet... Looking at Luo Chen's poised, effortless demeanor, everything seemed to have gone entirely according to plan. Where was there any sign of mere luck? This youth had truly demonstrated his terrifying alchemy skill in every respect. How could such a talent be left as a pearl buried in the ocean? "Danchenzi, would you be willing to join the Grand Alchemy Court of my Azure Pill Valley?"