The Shenwu Sect ranking competition continued until the next morning, and although the battles of other elite disciples were exciting after the intense fight between Lin Chen and Liao Jianhua, they still paled in comparison.
However, what most people were looking forward to even more was the unprecedented alchemy competition in the history of the Shenwu Sect!
In the simple dormitory of the Outer Sect;
Lin Chen sat cross-legged and opened the status bar of the system.
[Host: Lin Chen
Cultivation: First Level of Qi Refining
Max Strength: 1253 tiger strength.
Qi and Blood Energy: 55,884 points.
Cultivation Law Essence: 552 points.
Battle Qi Essence: 15,465 points.
Spiritual Power: 1,799 points.
Heart Law: None.
Learned Battle Skills: Split Wind Leg (Consummation Level), Gentle Breeze Dust Traversal (Consummation Level), Star Fire Spear Technique (Consummation Level), Myriad Thunder Heavy Strike Sword Technique (Consummation Level)
Owned Items (Secret Manuals): Windrunning Shoes, Heavenly Pill Transformation Manual, True Water Reversion Secret Art (10%)
Bloodline: Azure Dragon Bloodline (45 points)
Elemental Energies: Fire 2,995 points, Earth 1,871 points, Wood 2,242 points, Gold 3,156 points, Water 2,462 points.]
After making sure no one was monitoring him, Lin Chen took a Qi Replenishing Pill and activated the True Water Reversion Secret Art, quickly recovering from his injuries!
"The injury recovery speed of this True Water Reversion Secret Art is extraordinary. Its value is probably even higher than my Heavenly Pill Transformation finger technique."
Lin Chen’s injuries recovered in the blink of an eye with the astounding effects of the True Water Reversion Secret Art. He had never dared to activate such a miraculous secret manual openly.
"The battle qi essence this time is enough for me to break through another realm. I should focus on cultivation first."
Lin Chen took a deep breath, rapidly absorbing all the attribute battle qi spheres stored in the system space. His dantian trembled, and the second level of his qi sea began to evolve and split.
In the blink of an eye, two days passed. Lin Chen forcefully stepped into the second level of Qi Refining, and also cultivated the True Water Reversion Secret Art to a higher level...
Morning; Shenwu Sect Ranking Competition Grounds
Same as before, almost all the disciples of the Shenwu Sect filled the stands, no one willing to miss this unprecedented, once-in-a-lifetime alchemy competition!
Today, one of the two peerless geniuses who rose against the heavens in the Shenwu Sect would fall here!
On the No.7 stage, seven or eight rare medicinal materials were laid out on two jade platforms, along with an ancient bronze alchemy cauldron, and a pill formula sealed in a jade scroll.
Liao Jianhua stood tall and straight, defiant against the wind. Arrogant and unyielding, his attitude was one of complete disdain!
His talent in alchemy even surpassed his sword mastery!
Lin Chen stepped onto the stage calmly and steadily.
"For today's alchemy competition, you will be refining the Void Spirit Pill, a second-order low-grade pill of our Shenwu Sect’s heritage. Both sides have three sets of medicinal materials. Running out of materials will count as losing the match. If both produce finished pills, then quality will determine the winner. If quality is equal, then the faster refining time will determine the victor. Time limit: three days."
Elder Qi personally presided over this alchemy competition, announcing loudly from the center of the fighting stage.
"Now, let the competition begin!"
The three words ‘Void Spirit Pill’ immediately sparked excited discussions among the disciples when spoken! Even the expressions of the elders changed slightly!
On the Nine Provinces Continent, pills were extremely precious resources. Even the most basic first-order pill required at least the strength of Qi Refining to consume.
Those at the Tempering stage were unable to truly refine the energy contained in a pill. Tempering stage disciples could only use discarded dregs from failed pills for their cultivation.
Second-order pills were already in the realm of Lingering Spirit stage powerhouses. This was clearly meant to make Lin Chen lose!
Lin Chen's eyes narrowed. Although it was not apparent on the surface, his spiritual sense was very keen. He could identify the medicinal materials’ aromas and energy undulations, and determine that the materials prepared for him were all subpar!
"This old dog wants to play dirty. For a second-order pill he still gave me these subpar materials, clearly trying to sabotage me."
Seeing through Elder Qi’s true intentions, a cold smile appeared on Lin Chen's lips.
On the other side, Liao Jianhua had already picked up the pill formula and started reading it with his spiritual power, looking refreshed and radiant. He had clearly consumed some temporary spiritual power boosting pill.
"It looks like the cauldron is useless too. I only have three chances with the materials, I can't take reckless risks."
Lin Chen glanced at the alchemy cauldron, already giving up on relying on it. Left with no choice, he could only use alchemy without a cauldron!
Unfurling the formula, Lin Chen channeled his spiritual power into it to read the contents.
In less than fifteen minutes, Liao Jianhua had already finished reading the Void Spirit Pill formula. His expression clearly showed that he knew the competition's content beforehand.
Liao Jianhua adeptly grabbed a handful of medicinal materials and started refining.
He looked cold and arrogant, completely nonchalant, putting on the airs of a grandmaster. Attracting many gazes when he formed hand seals and activated the alchemy seals.
Throwing a Green Jade Vine into the cauldron, his hands rapidly flashed through the Eight-Section Brocade Hand seal, delicately controlling the refinement of the Green Jade Vine.
"The Yellow Order top-tier alchemy hand seal, Eight-Section Brocade Hand! Such fast speed!"
"Isn't that the second ranked alchemy hand seal in our Shenwu Sect?"
"Liao Jianhua is only in his early twenties, yet already possesses such talent, no less skilled than our two alchemy elders!"
Many disciples could only gaze up in admiration after witnessing Liao Jianhua’s alchemy hand seals.
On the other side, it took Lin Chen twice as long just to finish reading the entire pill formula. He also picked up the first medicinal material, Green Jade Vine. His ten fingers formed seals as pure white battle qi and spiritual power gushed out, enveloping the Green Jade Vine.
Seeing this scene, many disciples were stunned!
What was this Lin Chen doing, using alchemy hand seals without an alchemy cauldron?
Su Qing'er stared fixedly at Lin Chen, refusing to believe that a vulgar commoner could suddenly transform into a respected alchemist!
Fingers swiftly sliding, as Lin Chen's hand seals and spiritual power changed, the impurities in the Green Jade Vine began to be purified!
No longer bothering with the surrounding gazes, Lin Chen also entered into the alchemy process, completely focused.
"How is this possible? This lad is actually a real alchemist, and clearly no novice based on how he looks! The alchemy hand seals he's using don't match any in our sect!"
The Shenwu Sect elders looked at Lin Chen with new respect, nodding in approval. But Elder Qi's expression darkened somewhat.
He had specially taken out his collection of premium pills that could temporarily increase spiritual power for Liao Jianhua to consume today.
In less than an hour, both of them added in the second medicinal material at almost the same time!
The time taken was identical!
"That Outer Sect disciple Lin Chen actually kept up with Senior Brother Liao Jianhua?"
"Don't call him Outer Sect disciple anymore. Based on combat strength he has already defeated Liao Jianhua. He is the strongest of all us current Shenwu Sect disciples!"
"Matching Liao Jianhua's speed without an alchemy cauldron, his alchemy hand seals are at least top-tier Yellow Order! No, very likely even Green Order!"
Some disciples and elders were shocked in their hearts. At this moment, not a single person dared to look down on Lin Chen's strength and potential!
Everyone could see that Lin Chen was clearly superior, because he kept up with Liao Jianhua without even using an alchemy cauldron!
His alchemy hand seals and talent were absolutely not inferior to Liao Jianhua's!
The actual situation was even worse, because the medicinal materials prepared for Lin Chen were inferior to Liao Jianhua's by at least double!
Hiss... Hiss...
After the fourth hour passed, both Lin Chen and Liao Jianhua made mistakes in refining the fourth material, failing in alchemy!
Liao Jianhua's success rate for refining Void Spirit Pill was less than 30%. Even after consuming premium pills to temporarily boost his spiritual power, his success rate was at most 60%.
Liao Jianhua let out a deep breath, then swiftly pulled himself together and threw in another Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to start refining again.
Lin Chen also discovered the difficulty with this pill, frowning slightly as beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.
Unlike the well prepared Liao Jianhua, this was Lin Chen's first time encountering a second-order pill formula. The difficulty was even more severe. Moreover, he could not use an alchemy cauldron, consuming far more spiritual power than Liao Jianhua!
Just as Lin Chen was preparing to start the second batch of medicinal materials, betting it all, he looked towards Liao Jianhua's direction and suddenly his eyes lit up!
Around Liao Jianhua's body, the ground was covered with attribute light balls!
"These attribute light balls are all mental power attribute light balls!"