Chương 76: Alchemy Assessment, First Glimpse of Brilliance (2)

Hiss! A collective sharp intake of breath hissed through the Great Hall, a visceral reaction to the audacity of the claim. Even the two Golden Core cultivators, Xuan Wuqing and Jingyuan, felt their pupils contract as a flicker of genuine shock crossed their weathered features.

"Good! Since you are so confident, you shall try it," Dan Chenzi declared, his eyes alight with an irrepressible joy. A thirty-percent success rate for a Dragon-Tiger Pill was not merely impressive; it was staggering.

"However, I did not prepare the specific ingredients for the Dragon-Tiger Pill beforehand. Wait a moment; I will have someone bring them to the hall immediately."

"Yes, Master," Ji Yueli replied with a graceful nod. As she moved with the fluid, ethereal steps of a celestial maiden, a wave of intoxicating fragrance drifted toward Reyn. Before he could even lift his gaze, she had already glided past him, but a silken thread of sound vibrated in his ears, a secret transmission meant for him alone.

"Junior Brother Reyn, why must you insist on hiding your light under a bushel? Today, you should reveal a fraction of your true capability. Let this flock of arrogant, short-sighted waste see clearly who is the true dragon among men." The fragrant wind dissipated as she walked away, leaving Reyn with a look of contemplative intrigue. He paused, his thoughts churning for a heartbeat, before he began to step forward toward his own station.

However, a grating, discordant voice suddenly erupted from behind him, shattering the momentary silence.

"Master! Junior Brother Reyn possesses no spiritual roots. It was already a Herculean task for him to reach the second level of Qi Condensation in a single year. I fear he has had no time to immerse himself in the complex art of alchemy. He likely cannot even refine the most rudimentary Heart-Clearing Powder. To avoid making us a laughingstock in front of our guests, perhaps it would be best to revoke his qualification for today's assessment?" The speaker was none other than Duan Zhonghua.

Reyn's expression shifted slightly, a cold, lethal glint flashing through his eyes before his face returned to a mask of indifferent stone.

"Little Brother Reyn, why act so timidly?" Yu Meiren's voice drifted lazily into his mind, smooth and mocking.

"Why not stun them all? Refine a high-grade pill and use the sect's influence to hunt for a method to reach Foundation Establishment. It beats crawling in the shadows." Reyn froze for a second, the logic of her words clicking into place like a well-oiled mechanism. A cold, predatory smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. Since someone was so eager to learn the definition of the word 'trash,' he didn't mind providing a very thorough education.

Throughout the hall, the gathered cultivators began to whisper, their voices a low hum as they dug for information on Reyn's identity. When they learned of his background, their gazes turned mocking, and those who envied the attention he received began to let out derisive jeers. Dan Chenzi's brow furrowed. He was torn. He had only accepted Reyn because he was moved by the boy's iron-willed tenacity, but he was painfully aware of his disciple's mediocre aptitude.

Reaching the second level of Qi Condensation must have required every waking second of Reyn's time; there was no way he could have practiced alchemy. If he failed spectacularly here, it would bring ridicule upon them both.

"Reyn, if you wish, you may abstain from this assessment. I will not impose any punishment. What say you?" Reyn raised his head. His eyes were as calm as an ancient well, devoid of any ripple. He first bowed with impeccable etiquette toward Dan Chenzi, then spoke, his voice steady and resonant.

"This disciple refuses."

"I was once a person of lowly status, and I am eternally grateful that Master did not discard me but took me under his wing. I have found no way to repay this kindness, and it weighs heavily on my heart. Today, on the occasion of Master's Golden Core Ascension Ceremony, I wish to refine a Ten-Thousand Swallows Returning Spring Pill as a gift to Master, to express my boundless gratitude." As the words fell, the Great Hall plunged into a deathly silence.

The Ten-Thousand Swallows Returning Spring Pill was a Grade 3 High-tier pill. It required precious spirit herbs like the Seven-Spirit Grass, the Undying Lotus, and the Ten-Thousand-Year Jade Vine. It was a legendary concoction that granted ten additional years of longevity upon the first consumption. Ten years of life. Though it seemed small to an immortal, it was enough to drive any cultivator into a frenzy.

After all, the ultimate pursuit of the Dao was nothing more than the quest for longevity that far exceeded the mortal coil.

"Hahaha! Did he truly say he would refine the Ten-Thousand Swallows Returning Spring Pill? A mere brat at the second level of Qi Condensation dares to boast so shamelessly?" A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Utterly absurd! Where did this madman come from? Kick him out before he wastes more of our time!"

"Aren't you afraid the wind will catch your tongue? If you can refine that pill, then I can refine the legendary Tribulation Transcendence Pill!"

"Young people these days... to satisfy a moment's ego, they speak without any restraint. Truly a joke."

"Get down from there! Stop embarrassing the Xuanxiao Sect!" After the brief silence, the hall erupted into a cacophony of cold mockery and biting sarcasm. The previous brilliance of the Xuanxiao Sect disciples had left many visiting cultivators feeling envious and bitter; now that they had an opening, they vented their frustration with venomous delight. Even Xuan Wuqing and Bai Sha shook their heads with wry smiles after their initial shock.

They considered the boy's claim to be nothing more than a preposterous fantasy. A Grade 3 High-tier pill? In the entire North Yue State, perhaps only Dan Chenzi himself could guarantee such a feat. This junior had indeed overplayed his hand. Qingxiaozi's eyes flashed with a hint of displeasure. Today was a grand celebration for the sect. If this became a recurring joke, the sect's reputation would suffer a grievous blow.

"Reyn, let us speak no more of the Ten-Thousand Swallows Returning Spring Pill. If you insist on participating, choose a set of materials from the standard list and proceed." Dan Chenzi also frowned, his gaze locked onto Reyn's calm eyes. For a long moment, he remained silent, searching for a sign of madness or deception, but found only absolute composure.

"Sect Master, I can guarantee that Junior Brother Reyn is not one for empty boasts. Since he has spoken, he must have some measure of confidence. Why not let him try?" Ji Yueli intervened, bowing respectfully. Her beautiful eyes sparkled with a strange light as she glanced at Reyn, her voice like the chime of a jade bell.

"This..." Qingxiaozi hesitated. He could ignore Reyn, but Ji Yueli was a once-in-a-century genius. At her current rate, she would likely form her Golden Core in less than a hundred years. Even though she hadn't reached Foundation Establishment yet, her opinion carried significant weight.

"Sect Master, Master, I also believe we should let Junior Brother Reyn try. Otherwise, his heart will surely be filled with resentment," Duan Zhonghua added, recovering from his initial surprise. His heart was cold with malice as he continued, "However, the ingredients for the Ten-Thousand Swallows Returning Spring Pill—the Seven-Spirit Grass, Undying Lotus, and Ten-Thousand-Year Jade Vine—are incredibly precious. I propose we give him only one set of materials.

If he fails and destroys these rare treasures, he should be expelled from the sect and never be readmitted. What do the Sect Master and Master think?" Qingxiaozi and Dan Chenzi exchanged a long look. Finally, Dan Chenzi gave a slow nod.

"Very well. Reyn, you have heard the conditions. Do you still insist on refining it? If you withdraw now, I will still hold no grudge against you."

"Thank you, Master. Please have the herbs brought forward. If I fail, I will descend the mountain immediately without a single word of complaint," Reyn said, bowing deeply. His gratitude toward Dan Chenzi was genuine; without the man's intervention a year ago, Reyn would never be standing here today.

"Go then," Dan Chenzi sighed softly, a trace of disappointment flickering in his eyes. He stopped trying to persuade him and waved his hand for Reyn to step back to his cauldron. Reyn bowed once more. As he walked past Duan Zhonghua, the latter sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.

"Junior Brother Reyn truly has 'great' talent. To be able to refine a Grade 3 High-tier pill... it truly puts your senior brother to shame." Reyn glanced at him sideways, his voice flat and indifferent.

"You have studied under Master for seven or eight years, yet you can only manage a Grade 2 High-tier Foundation Establishment Pill? You are indeed trash." Without waiting for a response, Reyn walked away, leaving Duan Zhonghua's face to turn a violent shade of purple. Reyn calmly took his place before his alchemy furnace.

"Since the materials are being gathered, the rest of you may begin," Dan Chenzi announced. He ignored the bickering and flicked his fingers, sending several streaks of light to form sound-isolating and Divine Sense-isolating restrictions around each furnace. Alchemy was a delicate process; the slightest disturbance could lead to a total loss. While Reyn and Ji Yueli waited for their specific ingredients to arrive from the treasury, Duan Zhonghua, Li Zidu, and the others began their work.

Billowing heat radiated from within the barriers, followed soon after by the faint, medicinal fragrance of melting herbs. Before long, a True Inheritance Disciple, his face flushed from the exertion of a hurried journey, delivered the Dragon-Tiger Pill ingredients to Ji Yueli. He then left the hall with unsteady steps.

"Junior Brother Reyn, since my herbs have arrived, I shall begin first," Ji Yueli said, giving him a deep, searching look. She stepped into her restricted area and began channeling her spiritual energy into the furnace. The refinement of the Dragon-Tiger Pill had officially begun. Reyn scanned the hall, completely ignoring the mocking glares directed at him. His Divine Sense, bolstered by the power of the Golden Seal, easily bypassed the restrictions Dan Chenzi had set.

This was a new function of the seal he had recently discovered: as long as the gap in cultivation was within one major realm, no Divine Sense barrier could block his sight. He watched Duan Zhonghua. Despite the man's loathsome personality, his alchemical skills were undeniably proficient. Every movement was fluid, carrying the grace of a budding master. Li Zidu, Hei Shi, and Liu Junru were also proceeding cautiously and methodically.

Except for a minor tremor in Hei Shi's control, the four of them were successfully extracting the medicinal essences, allowing the energies to intertwine. Barring any unforeseen accidents, they would all succeed.

"Senior Brother Reyn, the ingredients for the Ten-Thousand Swallows Returning Spring Pill have arrived. Please inspect them," a disciple said, placing a jade tray before him. Reyn's Divine Sense swept over the tray, confirming the quality of the twenty-one different herbs, then he nodded slightly. The disciple gave him a bizarre look before turning to leave. Seven-Spirit Grass, Undying Lotus, Ten-Thousand-Year Jade Vine, Fragrant Spring Grass... Reyn looked at the array of rare flora.

His gaze swept across the room one last time before he turned and stepped into the restriction. The furnace provided by Dan Chenzi was of excellent quality, likely a Mid-grade Spirit Tool. It was engraved with several Spirit-Gathering Arrays that automatically drew in ambient energy to bolster the flames. Reyn stood before the furnace, took a deep breath, and reached into his storage bag.

He pulled out a small jade bottle, and from it, he tipped a pebble-sized, emerald-green stone into his palm, which immediately began to emit a faint, ethereal aroma.