The clamor of the banquet faded like a receding tide, and the night over Yunlan Mountain returned to tranquility.
Chen Sheng and Chen Xihua stood side by side at the edge of the Observation Cloud Platform, gazing at the gradually extinguishing lights below the mountain.
Soon, two streams of golden light suddenly leaped from their spot, streaking through the night sky like shooting stars, swiftly heading towards Nine Cloud Peak.
The stone door of the cave mansion on Nine Cloud Peak slowly opened in the golden light, the rotating door axle emitting a dull sound.
Inside the cave, the Luminous Bead still emitted a gentle light, illuminating the stone chamber like daylight.
Chen Xihua expertly lit the incense burner first, the aroma of purple sandalwood rising in spirals and quickly perating the entire cave mansion.
He then retrieved a set of gleaming white Jade Tea Set from his Storage Pouch.
Inside the pot was fresh water drawn from the Spiritual Spring, rapidly boiling under the stimulus of Spiritual Power. Water droplets condensed into mist at the pot’s mouth, which he skillfully guided into the teacup.
Soon enough, a cup of fragrant tea with a green hue was presented, its surface covered with a layer of fine bubbles; the tea fragrance carried a slight bitterness, yet left a sweet aftertaste.
"Father, please have so tea."
Chen Xihua held the teacup with both hands, bowing slightly as he presented it to Chen Sheng.
Chen Sheng received the teacup, his fingertips touching the slightly cool jade rim, and took a gentle sip. The tea traversed his throat smoothly, a warm Spiritual Power flowing gently through his ridians.
He set the teacup down, his gaze falling on Chen Xihua. Although the Five Elents Pill Qi around him was restrained, the vigorous energy of a newly-ford Golden Core could still be sensed.
"Since you’ve ford your core, what plans do you have next?"
Chen Sheng’s voice resonated in the quiet cave mansion, carrying a trace of inquiry.
Chen Xihua straightened up, contemplating briefly before speaking:
"I plan to take on so external rotations and garrison duties. Firstly, to serve the sect, and secondly, to travel and broaden my experiences."
Chen Sheng nodded lightly upon hearing this.
Chen Xihua’s talent in Sword Dao and Body Refining surpassed the norm, yet his aptitude in Alchemy Dao and Arrays was ordinary; even with personal guidance from Chen Sheng, improvent was hard.
Moreover, practical combat is paramount in Sword Dao and Body Refining — shutting oneself away would only lead to stagnation.
"Since you have decided, then go ahead," Chen Sheng picked up the teacup and sipped again. "However, there’s no need to rush. At least complete the refinent of your Lifebound Flying Sword and nurture your Sword Pill."
Chen Xihua’s Lifebound Flying Sword was crafted from Tier Three Top Grade West Sea Profound Iron — of excellent quality.
Currently, it’s rely a Quasi-Tier Three Spiritual Artifact, requiring the nurturing of one’s own Pill Qi day and night to advance into a Tier Three Magical Treasure, then rge with the Golden Core, transforming into a Sword Pill.
Chen Xihua quickly nodded:
"I understand, Father. I will prepare properly and not disappoint your expectations."
After Chen Xihua bowed and withdrew, silence returned to the cave mansion.
Chen Sheng sat alone on the Cold Jade Bed, gazing at his reflection in the Bronze Mirror, yet his thoughts involuntarily drifted back to a previous lifeti.
The visage of Chen Yuquan gradually took shape in his mind.
Sadly, among the active Tier Three Cultivators in Yue Country, there wasn’t any trace — he most likely had fallen, perhaps along the perilous journey across the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range.
"The quest for Dao is arduous indeed!"
Chen Sheng sighed lightly in his heart; only with the mory of Hundred Generations of Reincarnation and countless opportunities for redo could he painstakingly reach his current mid-stage Golden Core.
But what of ordinary cultivators?
Perhaps on one expedition they might confront a High Tier Demon Beast; perhaps in one altercation over a Spiritual Object, they might incur enmity; or perhaps in one minor error during cultivation, they might face death and the dissolution of Dao, vanishing completely from this world.
...
Another twenty years flew by like a snap of the fingers.
Three Elents Immortal City!
The City Defense Array outside the city walls exuded a faint purple glow throughout the year, while inside the city’s streets bustled like a dragon; robes of the cultivators flitted, now and then flashing with colorful Spirit Light.
The Gathering Pill Square, situated in the city’s southeast corner, was paved with Cyan Ink Jade. Twelve Dragon Coiling Stone Pillars stood around the square, with pill furnace engravings atop each pillar glimring like tal under the sunlight.
Today, the plaza thrumd with human voices as an Alchemy Conference hosted by the Pill Vein of the Daoist Sect took place here.
The purpose of this Alchemy Conference — also to welco talents from all pools!
If one’s performance stood out, they would have a chance to be enlisted into the Pill Vein, thus entering Three Elents Dao Sect.
At this mont, over a hundred cultivators clad in various Alchemist Robes were neatly aligned, each with a White Jade Pill Platform before them.
Prior rounds of competition had ensued, with thousands of alchemists participating and gradually being whittled down to the current hundred slots!
Those who made it this far were the cream of the crop among Tier Two Alchemists.
On the high platform located at the plaza’s north, five purple sandalwood chairs were arranged in a row, the chair backs engraved with Pill Patterns subtly flickering with Spirit Light.
Chen Sheng sat second from the left, the black alchemist robe with gold trim bearing the unique Fla Cloud Pattern of a Tier Three Alchemist.
As his gaze swept over the crowd below, the surrounding murmurs instinctively hushed slightly.
"Grandmaster Dust Transformation and Micro-Image Grandmaster, both are emblematic figures in their respective domains — who would’ve thought they’d attend."
"It seems the Dao Sect holds this conference in high regard indeed."
"Micro-Image Grandmaster is so young!"
"I heard he improved a High Grade Tier Three Pill Formula — the Dust-Reduction and Barrier-Breaking Pill — which even Han Lou True Monarch personally praised."
"Among the five judges, he’s the youngest, yet seated second to the left, his stature speaks volus."
In Yue Country, the left side is honored, so the position where Chen Sheng sits represents his second place among the five.
The first in rank is Master Dust Transformation, sitting at the center. As a Tier Three Top Level Alchemist and a direct disciple of Han Lou True Monarch who represented him here, he is most deserving of this spot.
The whispers from the audience flowed like a tide, but nobody dared to discuss loudly.
Nowadays, the influence that Chen Sheng holds within the Dan Vein of the Three Elents Dao Sect is no longer like before—not only is he an Inner Sect Elder, but he also manages several top-tier Spirit Plant Gardens and a top-tier Pill Workshop within the Dan Vein, making him a figure of real authority.
On the high platform, Master Dust Transformation, sitting in the central position, gently stroked his beard. Dressed in a Moon White Daoist Robe, with the hem embroidered with lifelike Immortal Cranes, he exuded an aura of grace.
"Fellow Daoist Micro-Image, it’s been a long ti, I fear your alchemy skills have improved once again?"
He spoke with a smile, his tone carrying a sense of familiarity.
Chen Sheng shook his head:
"I cannot claim improvent; the further one goes, the more difficult progress becos. Do several fellow Daoists also feel the sa?"
The other three judges nodded in agreent. Although they were also Tier Three High Grade Alchemists, none dared to act overly confident in front of Chen Sheng.
Everyone knew that this Micro-Image Grandmaster not only had superb alchemy skills and was on the verge of becoming a Tier Four Grandmaster
but was also adept at improving pill formulas. In the realm-breaking field, he was second to none, and perhaps soday they would co to seek his help.
Master Dust Transformation laughed heartily, then turned to the other three:
"Next month, Danqing Hall will open a course; I wonder if the three fellow Daoists have the ti?"
The three judges imdiately agreed when they heard this, showing Master Dust Transformation a lot of respect.
Chen Sheng also gently nodded and slowly spoke:
"One or two sessions is feasible."
Nowadays, the cultivators asking him to refine elixirs could line up from Nine Cloud Peak down to the mountain’s foot, so he really didn’t have ti for daily lectures.
Master Dust Transformation had a look of understanding flash in his eyes and laughed loudly:
"That’s enough!"
"In those days, when Fellow Daoist Micro-Image lectured on ’The Path of Inference Fire’ at Danqing Hall, the rushing students broke the threshold, and many disciples listened through the windows outside."
"This ti will surely stir up another wave!"
As he was speaking, a clear voice ca from the center of the square.
An Outer Sect Elder dressed in a Golden Core Cultivator’s Robe ca onto the platform, swung the duster in hand, and his voice resounded across the square like a loud bell:
"Today’s competition is not limited by pill formulas; each may refine the pill they are skilled in! The five Grandmasters will score, the top twenty will enter the Outer Sect, and the top five will enter the Inner Sect!"
"The competition begins!"
Before the voice had died away, the crackling sound of Pill Furnaces being lit erupted from below the stage.
Over a hundred alchemists acted simultaneously, with blue wood fire, purple earth fire, and white celestial fire dancing beneath the Pill Furnaces. Various Spiritual Materials were swept up by Spiritual Power and placed into furnaces in an intricate order.
For a mont, the square was steaming with Spiritual Mist, and Pill Fragrance wafted everywhere, as if it were an ocean woven from flas and aroma.
Five vast Divine Senses enveloped the entire square like an invisible net.
When Chen Sheng’s Divine Sense swept over the cultivators, it was as if it carried a magnifying glass, clearly observing even the smallest fire control gestures.
His gaze lingered slightly on a certain alchemist—that was Chen Xihuo.
At this mont, Chen Xihuo was controlling his breath and concentrating, refining a "Condensed Water Lotus." The Pill Furnace in front of him glowed with a faint blue light. The Water Spirit Pill being refined ranked as Tier Two Top Level.
Chen Xihuo’s fingers ford a seal, with Spiritual Power flowing into the Pill Furnace like water, controlling the fire with not the slightest error, clearly putting in significant effort.
Chen Sheng also nodded slightly; he had personally guided this pill formula, and Xihuo’s performance today was very stable.
Actually, if it weren’t for Chen Xihuo participating in the event, Chen Sheng wouldn’t bother to serve as a judge. For him, it was a complete waste of ti; he would rather refine a furnace of elixirs.
"Is this the offspring of Fellow Daoist Micro-Image?"
Master Dust Transformation’s Divine Sense also focused on Chen Xihuo, his tone carrying a touch of approval: "His fire control technique indeed has the style of your Dao."
Chen Sheng nodded subtly: "This is my son Xihuo; his aptitude is decent."
The other three judges, upon hearing this, all laughed:
"Fellow Daoist truly has many outstanding children, much to be admired!"
Their words were half flattery, half truth.
Among Chen Sheng’s nurous children, five were rely Inner Sect disciples, and other offspring also achieved various accomplishnts. Over the years, the Chen Clan was very prominent in Three Elents Immortal City.
Even the families of several Nascent Soul True Monarchs had begun to intermarry with the Chen Clan, showing great favor towards Chen Sheng’s lineage.
A judge with a goatee stroked his beard:
"Judging by his technique, entering the top twenty is assured."
Another judge chid in: "I think the top five is possible."
Chen Sheng, however, shook his head:
"It’s enough if he enters the Outer Sect; he’s still too young."
In the field, nearly ten alchemists were on the brink of becoming Tier Three Alchemists, currently refining Quasi-Tier Three Elixirs. Forcibly pushing Chen Xihuo into the top five could spark criticism.
With Chen Sheng’s current status, as long as Chen Xihuo enters the Outer Sect and gradually progresses, advancing to the Inner Sect would be effortless.
There is absolutely no need for behind-the-scenes manipulation; Chen Sheng’s presence here is solely to ensure Chen Xihuo receives a fair environnt.
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