"The Grand Alchemy Court is the very quintessence of our Azure Pill Valley."
"The cultivators within are all veteran alchemists with abundant experience. It is overseen by three Tier 3 alchemists: Qingdan, Xingyun, and Chiding."
"The elder who just tried to recruit you as a guest consecrated elder was Master Chiding."
"Once you enter the Grand Alchemy Court, the violence of the outside world and the factional power struggles within the sect will have nothing to do with you. All you must do is dedicate your life to the Dao of alchemy."
"You would mass-produce pills to generate revenue for the sect, study ancient recipes, and innovate to create new formulas."
"Naturally, the perks are considerable. You wouldn't need to worry about cultivation resources; at the very least, you would receive at least one bottle of the high-grade Soaring Dragon Pills you desire every month."
At the Tao clan's high stage, Tao Wan enthusiastically explained the details of Azure Pill Valley's Grand Alchemy Court to Luo Chen.
From Tier 3 alchemists down to aging Tier 1 alchemists, she laid out the situation with utmost clarity, holding back nothing regarding the relevant rights and duties.
After hearing her out, Luo Chen furrowed his brow.
This Grand Alchemy Court did not seem quite as wonderful as he had imagined!
From everything she described, how was it any different from being a glorified tool?
Besides, only one bottle of Soaring Dragon Pills a month?
Then again, considering that joining the Grand Alchemy Court would grant him access to a vast sea of pill recipes for study and research, perhaps that small drawback was negligible. With those recipes in hand, he could refine the pills himself—that alone was arguably enough.
Luo Chen sank into deep thought, and the others dared not disturb him.
Several hours had passed since Luo Chen refined the Dust-Descending Pellet and forcefully seized victory in the third trial.
When faced with Elder Chiding's invitation earlier, Luo Chen had replied that he needed time to consider it. The elder, realizing he had been overly hasty, allowed him to step down and rest first.
Now, having listened to Tao Wan's explanation, Luo Chen found himself caught in a dilemma.
Joining the Grand Alchemy Court would grant him access to countless recipes for study, ensuring his cultivation would proceed without major hindrance. However, existing as a tool meant his actions would rarely be his own.
Furthermore, he knew his own aptitude better than anyone—he required a monstrous amount of resources to support his growth. If he were forbidden from engaging in outside business, he would have no way to look after the Luotian Association he had painstakingly fostered, severing a colossal stream of income.
That foundation had cost him boundless sweat and blood to build.
*Most importantly, does this even seem like a choice I'm allowed to make?*
Luo Chen lifted his head, gazing at the Heavenly Palace suspended high in the clouds.
Ever since the first alchemy trial began, a cold, detached gaze had remained fixed upon him from above.
Nominally, at least, he belonged to Ice Fort's Jueqing lineage!
Luo Chen glanced at Tao Wan, who could hardly contain her excitement, and quietly arrived at his decision.
He would pass on the Grand Alchemy Court!
Here in Azure Pill Valley, having the connections of a Grand True Disciple like Tao Wan was already enough. Rather than being bound by sect rules, he was far better off retaining his freedom outside.
Besides, sect disciples were not nearly as glamorous as they appeared on the surface.
They claimed to never lack resources, but that was just talk.
Azure Pill Valley possessed over a thousand Foundation Establishment True Cultivators, including over a hundred late-stage cultivators, not to mention more than a dozen Gold Core Masters. Such a massive cadre of high-tier cultivators required an astronomical amount of resources.
Even when distributed according to realm and status, the share that reached each individual was hardly abundant. This was abundantly evident from how figures like Tao Wan and Danyangzi had to step into the ring themselves, rolling up their sleeves to fight tooth and nail just to contest the Dao Seed position for greater resource allocations.
Even these direct-line descendants did not have enough.
How could an outsider like him expect to fare any better?
With his decision made, the heavy stone pressing down on Luo Chen's chest finally fell away. Only now did he have the leisure to turn his attention to the tense alchemy contest underway on the stage.
"True Disciple Tao, now that I have claimed first place in all three trials, where do you think your ranking will stand?"
Tao Wan pondered for a moment before replying uncertainly, "At the very least, I should rise to second! As for whether I can take first, that depends on Eldest Senior Brother's result in this final trial."
Luo Chen's sweep of all three victories carried immense impact.
Tao Wan, who had originally sat in fourth, could leverage his sweep to climb the ranks. Taking second or third was well within reach, and even first place was no longer an impossible dream.
If Danyangzi could secure second place in refining the Dust-Descending Pellet as he had in the previous trials, she naturally wouldn't have that chance.
Yet anyone with eyes could see that Danyangzi's refining process was anything but smooth.
"He failed again!" Tao Wan whispered, unable to conceal her excitement.
Luo Chen pulled Tao Yisheng aside and asked, "How many times has your Eldest Senior Brother failed now?"
"Since you stepped down, this is his third failure," Tao Yisheng replied, sounding both thrilled and somewhat disheartened.
There was inevitably a reason behind his conflicted demeanor, but Luo Chen couldn't be bothered to ponder it.
Watching Danyangzi struggle on the stage, Luo Chen shook his head with pity.
He could tell that the other man's comprehension of the Dust-Descending Pellet recipe had not reached full maturity. Certain fine details were handled quite roughly.
Above all, he was rusty! From start to finish, his technique lacked familiarity.
Of course! Over the preceding fortnight, Danyangzi had endured the brutal gauntlet of consecutive duels. Each day, he had to face a relentless stream of challengers while reserving time to meditate and recover; how could he possibly have had sufficient time to study two new recipes?
Furthermore, researching a recipe was merely the first step. To gain true refining experience, one had to personally concoct the pill dozens of times to acquire any real mastery.
All of that demanded time!
"I wonder what mistake your Eldest Senior Brother committed to not only be stripped of his Dao Seed title, but even be forbidden from using his Origin True Fire in the second round."
Faced with this question, Tao Yisheng had no answer.
Tao Wan said, "If I can secure the top true disciple position, perhaps I'll be able to find out."
Could she do it? The chances were high!
As the night deepened, the second person to refine a Dust-Descending Pellet emerged.
To everyone's surprise, it was neither Danyangzi nor Xuan Yunzi, who had shown such talent earlier.
It was the Fu clan's alchemist, Fu Huai!
For the second round of the tournament, Fu Huai had cleverly focused his efforts on the all-important third trial: the Tier 2 pill refining. With the Fu clan's full backing, he had researched this recipe down to the finest detail, even managing successful trial batches in private.
Now, his gamble had paid off, securing an excellent result for the Fu clan! Factor in his two fourth-place finishes in the earlier trials, and his final composite ranking was bound to be impressive.
At that moment, several people instinctively glanced toward Danyangzi.
He remained silent, still laboring intensely over his cauldron. It looked as though he were just a hair's breadth away from success, yet that single fraction seemed like an insurmountable chasm.
When dawn broke, Xuan Yunzi became the third to finish the Dust-Descending Pellet.
Time continued to slip by, and Huanghezi and Lingzhizi succeeded in turn.
With that, the top five victors were decided.
Of the remaining four contestants, three ceased their struggles and gave up outright.
Five victories, four defeats; the bottom four were all counted as failures and could provide no boost to their patrons' rankings.
Elder Chiding of the Grand Alchemy Court walked over to Danyangzi.
"Why put yourself through this?"
"With your heaven-sent talent, whether in cultivation, the Dao of alchemy, or governing the sect, you could reach the absolute pinnacle. Yet you insist on wanting it all."
"And the consequence is precisely what you face now."
"Across these three trials, had you simply made a choice and yielded one of them, you would have stood a tremendous chance of reaching the very end."
"Yet you still wanted it all."
"Danyang, can you accept this defeat?"
He received no response.
Danyangzi persisted in refining the pill within his Glazed Child Cauldron.
A trace of anger surfaced on Master Chiding's face.
"You inherited the moniker of your father, Master Danyang, and were destined to become the future peak master of Danyang Peak. Why plunge into these petty power struggles?"
"Those things have never mattered to us alchemists... Wait, what?"
Amid the elder's astonishment, a faint, delicate pill aroma wafted forth.
Danyangzi spoke in a hoarse voice:
"I request the elder to judge the pill's grade."
This time, Chiding fell silent.
***
Under the gaze of the countless onlookers, the Grand Alchemy Court elder announced the individual rankings for all three trials of the second round before delivering the composite standings.
First place: Danchenzi, indisputable!
Three trials, three victories, utterly dominant. Not a single person harbored any doubt.
Second place, however, caught many off guard.
It was neither Xuan Yunzi, who had placed third across all three trials, nor Danyangzi, who had taken two second-place finishes and a sixth.
It was Fu Huai of the Fu clan!
While many were astonished, just as many found it entirely reasonable.
"I told you, refining the Tier 2 pill in the third trial has always been the weightiest factor in determining the overall ranking!"
"He took fourth in the first two trials, but placing second in the final trial propelled him straight into second place overall."
"The Fu clan truly made a brilliant calculation!"
The instant the rankings were declared, the nine Grand True Disciples wore wildly different expressions, each displaying a vivid array of emotions.
Tao Wan and Fu Li exchanged glances and gave each other an understanding nod.
He Yuanqing and Shangguan Yan, who had previously occupied second and third place, watched their faces darken by the second.
Sure enough, as the rest of the second round's standings were announced, their worst fears materialized.
Third place went to Xuan Yunzi, who had placed in the top three across all three trials.
Fourth: Danyangzi.
Fifth: Huanghezi, who had one defeat, one fifth-place finish, and one fourth-place finish.
Everyone after that was counted as a defeated contestant, offering no momentum to alter their patrons' standing.
As a result, the top five rankings were about to undergo a seismic shift based on the second round's final results!
The next instant, Master Chiding waved his wide sleeve.
The nine high stages groaned with a thunderous rumble.
Some ascended; others descended!
Under countless anxious gazes, Danyangzi's platform, which had originally stood at the very top, slowly sank downward.
Taking its place at the highest point was Tao Wan, who had surged upward in one fell swoop!
At this moment, Tao Wan was first!
Danyangzi was second.
He Yuanqing was third.
Fu Li was fourth.
Shangguan Yan was fifth!
With this outcome revealed, Tao Wan naturally beamed with delight.
The others, however, were in foul moods.
"He Yun failed me!" He Yuanqing's expression twisted into a ferocious scowl. He had planned to enter the final round as the top seed; now he was relegated to third. That meant he would have to battle his way through at least three opponents to have any hope of seizing the Dao Seed position.
Fu Li appeared calm and indifferent.
Fourth place was a very respectable result. Although his chances of contending for the Dao Seed were virtually nonexistent, he had demonstrated his clan's value and rendered some assistance to his ally.
By contrast, Shangguan Yan, who had sat in third place earlier and now tumbled down to fifth, was likely suffering immensely.
He glanced toward Shangguan Yan with keen interest.
Her face was ash-gray, and she said nothing. But Huanghezi flicked his sleeves and stormed off with a sullen countenance, making it painfully obvious that their partnership had completely fractured.
***
With the conclusion of the second round came a brief interlude.
This respite was not granted for the Grand True Disciples to rest, but rather for Azure Pill Valley's elders to assemble the final sword contest arena.
Under the potent Dharmic powers of the Gold Core Masters, the nine platforms were slowly drawn together, coalescing into the rough outline of a massive sword arena measuring nearly a thousand zhang in both length and width.
Seizing this opportunity, the Grand True Disciples descended from their stages and gathered according to their allegiances, conferring in hushed tones on how to approach the impending True Disciple Sword Contest.
Many wore grim expressions, particularly those hovering in the middle ranks.
By contrast, the two ranked at the very bottom showed no lingering resentment. They were even chatting amiably with one another:
"It has been quite a while since I last sparred with you, Senior Brother. You must show some mercy in a moment!"
"You are too polite, Junior Brother. Let us stop at the first touch, shall we?"
"Splendid, splendid!"
Having secured their titles as Grand True Disciples was already sufficient proof of their capabilities. All they needed to do now was display a modest amount of their strength. The Dao Seed? They harbored no illusions about that. Holding the rank of a Grand True Disciple was already quite fine, granting them a generous share of sect resources.
Luo Chen stood beside the Fu clan's alchemist, conversing in low voices while his peripheral vision swept across the surrounding crowd.
Internally, he shook his head.
Azure Pill Valley's struggle for the Dao Seed carried tremendous fanfare, yet it lacked true ferocity. The infighting among sect disciples might involve intrigue, but there were ultimately boundaries they would not cross.
By comparison, when rogue cultivators who had clawed their way up from the mud clashed, it almost always ended in death. The cruelty of that reality far surpassed this sect tournament.
"Fellow Daoist Danchenzi, your alchemy skills truly fill me with reverence! Though I had some confidence in refining that Dust-Descending Pellet, I was still racked with apprehension. To think you succeeded on your very first try!"
Fu Huai's flattering praise sounded by his ear.
Luo Chen smiled faintly and waved his hand in modest deflection.
Fu Huai continued, "I fear that after today, many people will come to value you immensely. Becoming an honored guest of a major sect would hardly be an exaggeration!"
A clean sweep of three victories, crushing his peers into the dust—Danchenzi's alchemy had already made waves across Azure Pill Valley, and before long, his fame would resound throughout the entire Jade Cauldron Domain!
Warm invitations would likely flood in the moment the True Disciple Sword Contest concluded.
In fact, they were arriving before it had even ended—before it had even begun.
"Shangguan Yan, what do you think you're doing?"
At some point, Tao Wan had stepped forward, blocking Shangguan Yan's path toward Luo Chen. Behind her, Luo Chen and Fu Huai had ceased their conversation.
Shangguan Yan let out a coquettish chuckle. "What could I possibly be doing? Grandmaster Danchenzi is so formidable; this junior sister merely wished to consult him on a few points of alchemy."
"You are not welcome here!" Tao Wan said coldly.
Shangguan Yan's brow furrowed. "You are merely the top true disciple at present, not the Azure Pill Dao Seed. What an imposing display of authority!"
Tao Wan flashed a glimpse of pearly white teeth. "Indeed, I am not yet the Dao Seed. But as the fifth-ranked true disciple, whether you can even fight your way to stand before me during the sword contest remains to be seen. Coming over ahead of time—are you hoping to console yourself before the regret sets in?"
Shangguan Yan's face twisted, her teeth grinding together. Glaring at Tao Wan, she trembled with fury before whipping her sleeves around and stalking off.
Watching her retreating figure, Tao Wan breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
Yet as she scanned her surroundings, she noticed that many of the Grand True Disciples were letting their gazes drift toward Luo Chen from time to time.
Her heart tightened!
Luo Chen's significance was no longer that of a mere external helper. With his level of alchemy attainment, he was fully qualified to be an honored guest of a great sect.
The Tao clan alone naturally could not hold onto him.
Yet while the Tao clan could not, if she, Tao Wan, became the Azure Pill Dao Seed, she would possess the stature to keep him. At the very least, she could not let him fall into the hands of her rivals!
Shangguan Yan's probing was merely the first.
How was she to handle what was to come—or rather, how could she convince Luo Chen to stay?
Just as she was lost in thought, a disciple arrived to announce that the grounds were fully prepared and the True Disciple Sword Contest was about to commence.
The Grand True Disciples all stirred, making their way forward.
Luo Chen followed behind, intending to observe this third round of sword contests carefully. Yet before he had taken more than a few steps, someone intercepted him.
"Grandmaster Danchenzi, the Master requests your presence."
"Which Master?"
"The Master in the Heavenly Palace!"
Luo Chen paused briefly. He knew that what was destined to come would arrive eventually.
Yet this time, ascending the Heavenly Palace once more, he was no longer an obscure nobody.
Everyone would have to look upon him with respect!
Chapter 341