"I see."
After conversing with Ghost Valley Pill Sovereign, Su Chen finally understood why the pair had co to the Central Continent. Ever since he left the Dragon Firmant Dynasty, Ghost Valley Pill Sovereign had lost all attachnt to that place. Invited by an old friend, he had joined Pill God Hall and now served as one of its elders. The small Dragon Firmant Dynasty had ultimately limited his growth.
Su Chen quietly speculated in his heart. Perhaps Ghost Valley Pill Sovereign had never truly felt at ease about his junior brother. He feared that once Su Weichang left the dynasty's protection, the imperial family might act against him. After all, a single alchemist capable of rallying a host of powerful experts with a re wave of his hand—and one with a history of rebellion—was bound to arouse suspicion.
"Old man…"
A soft sigh rose in Su Chen's chest. By now, the old man had likely been laid to rest in so unknown corner of the world.
Ghost Valley Pill Sovereign gave Su Chen a great deal of advice about the customs and taboos of Pill God Hall. Only then did he depart with Song Wanqing in tow.
Before leaving, Song Wanqing once again issued her formal challenge to Su Chen. The grand alchemy conference of the Central Continent had not yet begun.
During this ti, Su Chen remained within Pill God Hall and encountered geniuses from every domain. He even saw pill-dao prodigies who had co from beyond the five great domains to participate in this grand event.
Among them were young alchemists who had already reached sixth grade. Su Chen also heard rumors of a true pill-dao monster who had erged and would attend this once-in-an-era gathering. A pill-dao monster of that caliber was certain to possess at least seventh-grade skill.
Though Su Chen had yet to encounter any martial prodigies of the Central Continent, the sheer number of pill-dao geniuses was staggering. Across all five domains of the Heavenly Profound Continent, this truly was a golden age of alchemy.
Su Chen entered seclusion. Before the conference began, he intended to refine a seventh-grade pill. Upon learning of his determination, Myriad Forms Pill Venerable spared no effort in supporting him. He personally guided Su Chen in using the Nine Nether Profound Fla to refine pills.
…
Half a year later, on the eve of the alchemy conference. Countless alchemists erged from seclusion.
Su Chen stepped out as well. The rules for this grand conference were finally announced by Pill God Hall. Unlike the event held in the Dragon Firmant Dynasty, this one—jointly organized by the ten supre alchemy sacred lands—was a montous occasion for the entire Heavenly Profound Continent.
Several saint-grade powerhouses had jointly created a separate space within which lay all manner of rare treasures, dicinal herbs, pill formulas, and even ancient secret arts. Every item was sealed behind restrictions. Alchemists would rely solely on their pill-dao attainnts to obtain them. Only after successfully acquiring enough could they advance to the final assessnt.
Su Chen read the final rule carefully.
[During the alchemy conference, all alchemists are strictly forbidden from using any martial power or cultivation! All items must be obtained through the Pill Dao skill alone!]
Noble alchemists had no need for violence or combat. Their role was to refine pills. Martial cultivators, on the other hand, had far more to consider.
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The prohibition on martial force left Su Chen with a faint sense of regret. Soon, everyone hurried toward the secret realm where the assessnt would take place.
As the mont approached, three figures whose faces could not be clearly seen appeared. Each radiated terrifying power, shining like great suns. On every chest hung a round badge that glowed with golden light.
Myriad Forms Pill Venerable explained in a low voice, "Those solar badges are the mark of ninth-grade Pill Saints. Each contains sealed power from an ancient saint and can be invoked at any ti. Every Pill Saint is a priceless treasure of the Heavenly Profound Continent—no harm must co to them!"
Su Chen marveled inwardly. Such thods, such heritage… worthy of the supre sacred land of the Pill Dao. A single Pill Saint badge was more precious than an ancient saint weapon.
Under the combined might of the three Pill Saints, the entrance to the Ancient Pill Domain was opened. Alchemists surged forward eagerly and plunged inside.
Su Chen entered alongside the other alchemists from the Prison-Suppressing Sacred Land.
Inside the Ancient Pill Domain, the world stretched endlessly in every direction—a perfectly self-contained small realm. dicinal herbs that were rare outside grew everywhere here, scattered across the landscape like common weeds. It was a pristine primordial world that no outsider had ever set foot in.
Su Chen noticed that none of the other Prison-Suppressing alchemists were nearby. He quickly realized the realm scattered entrants at random locations. His imdiate priority was to gather the dicinal ingredients required for the final battle. Without lingering, Su Chen began to explore the Ancient Pill Domain.
The grand alchemy conference jointly hosted by the ten supre sacred lands was naturally far from simple. It tested not only an alchemist's depth of knowledge regarding dicinal herbs but also their ability to adapt on the fly. No one could casually gather every ingredient needed to refine a pill.
After five full days of searching, Su Chen finally located a stalk of sixth-grade herb called Spirit Star Grass—the main ingredient for the sixth-grade Spirit Star Divine Pill. Just as he reached out to harvest it, a restriction triggered.
[Participant Su Chen, do you wish to undertake the sixth-grade herb Spirit Star Grass assessnt? Passing the assessnt grants you the Spirit Star Grass.]
Su Chen nodded. In the next instant, he found himself inside a sealed space containing a pill furnace and the Spirit Star Grass itself. The task required him to refine a pill using the herb. A sixth-grade pill posed no real difficulty for Su Chen. Pill God Hall possessed a record of the Spirit Star Divine Pill formula. In less than five days, he successfully produced one.
[Participant Su Chen has passed the assessnt and successfully obtained one stalk of Spirit Star Grass.]
The mysterious space vanished. The Spirit Star Grass now lay within easy reach. But sothing felt off. Su Chen's expression darkened. The Spirit Star Divine Pill he had painstakingly refined… had not co out with him. They were treating him like free labor?
"Indeed, those pill-dao sacred lands are not so benevolent. A single alchemy trial turns the world's geniuses into unpaid workers… what a ruthless tactic."
Su Chen inwardly admired their cunning. Even combining the cunning he had accumulated across several lifetis probably did not equal one-tenth of those ancient pill-dao monsters. Still, he glanced at the Spirit Star Grass before him. There were benefits to be gained.
He stored the herb away and continued his search for other ingredients. He intended to refine a very special seventh-grade pill—one stalk of sixth-grade material would not suffice.
Ti flew by. Three months passed.
The Ancient Pill Domain was vast; in three months, Su Chen had explored only the tip of the iceberg. During that ti, he encountered other alchemists and clashed over herbs. In every case, he erged victorious.
Following the intelligence he overheard from another alchemist, Su Chen arrived at a fla-filled canyon. The number of alchemists here was neither too few nor too many. Among them, Su Chen spotted a familiar face.
Bai Qingyu of Azure Jade Sacred Land.
At that mont, Bai Qingyu was locked in a standoff with another alchemist.
"Eastern Wasteland? Nothing but a bunch of barbarians from a backwater! You think you're worthy to compete with for the Fla Sun Flower? Let make this clear—the herbs of Blazing Valley all belong to my Yang Pill Sacred Land! If you know what's good for you, get lost right now. Otherwise, Yang Pill Sacred Land will make sure none of you even qualify for the final assessnt!"
Bai Qingyu's face flushed crimson with rage. The Eastern Wasteland alchemists standing behind him burned with fury. Yang Pill Sacred Land—one of the Central Continent's pill-dao giants, equal in status to Pill God Hall itself. The genius from the Yang Pill Sacred Land showed utter disdain for the entire Eastern Wasteland.
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