Chương 78: The Alchemy Assessment – First Glimmer of Brilliance (Part 4)

Inside the Great Hall, a cacophony of whispers erupted among the representatives of the smaller sects. Their voices were thick with envy and a deep-seated reverence for the display they had just witnessed. However, at the head of the hall, the expressions of Xuan Wuqing, Bai Sha, and the three Elders of the Xuan Clan were far from celebratory. A shadow of apprehension flickered in their eyes; the Xuanxiao Sect's foundations were proving to be far more formidable than they had anticipated.

If this momentum continued, their own influence in the region would surely be stifled.

"Haha! Junior Brother, you have truly outdone yourself in your teachings," Qingxiaozi remarked, his face beaming with a wide, satisfied grin. He looked toward the restrictive barrier where Ji Yueli stood, his eyes brimming with approval.

"For this young lady to successfully refine the Dragon-Tiger Pill proves that your legacy has found a worthy successor. I must offer my heartiest congratulations!" Dan Chenzi, however, still wore a look of lingering shock. Hearing his Senior Brother's praise, he let out a self-deprecating chuckle and shook his head.

"Senior Brother, you mock me. Ever since Yueli entered the sect, I have been in secluded cultivation, desperately striking at the gates of the Golden Core Realm. I have barely offered her a single day of guidance. To say I have taught her well would be a lie." Despite his words, his eyes shone with an undeniable sense of pride and relief.

Every cultivator dreamed of passing down their mantle, and for a man who had dedicated his life to the Alchemical Dao, finding a disciple of such caliber was the ultimate fulfillment.

"Condense!" Ji Yueli's voice, cold and crystalline, pierced through the murmurs. Above her head, within the swirling vortex of medicinal mist, the phantasms of a dragon and a tiger suddenly snapped into sharp focus. A miniature dragon, several feet long and clad in shimmering azure scales, tumbled through the clouds. It possessed two majestic horns and five sharp claws beneath its belly, exhaling plumes of ethereal vapor.

Beneath the dragon, a great tiger with snow-white fur and massive wings let out a silent, earth-shaking roar. The character for 'King' was etched clearly upon its brow as it leaped and bounded with predatory grace.

"Collect!" With that single command, the dragon and tiger let out one final, synchronized roar toward the heavens before diving straight down into the cauldron. The surrounding mist was sucked inward, vanishing instantly. As the restrictive barrier dissipated, a flash of white silk appeared. Ji Yueli stepped forward, her face slightly pale from the exertion, her lotus-like steps carrying her out of the testing area.

"The Dragon-Tiger Pill is complete. Master, please inspect it." She opened her slender hand, revealing a pill the size of a walnut. Its surface was covered in intricate, naturally formed patterns that pulsed with a faint light. From within the pill, the faint, haunting echoes of dragon cries and tiger roars could still be heard, marking it as a treasure of extraordinary quality.

"Excellent. The veins are naturally formed, and the resonance is strong. Though there are trace impurities, this pill is firmly within the Tier 3 Low-grade rank. Good! Truly good!" Dan Chenzi stood up abruptly, waving his hand to send a gentle wave of spiritual energy to support Ji Yueli. His gaze was filled with genuine affection.

"Congratulations, Daoist Dan Chenzi, on acquiring such a brilliant disciple. With the Xuanxiao Sect's younger generation being so talented, its future prosperity is guaranteed," Xuan Wuqing said, though his tone carried a subtle, sharp edge of jealousy. Bai Sha of the Earth Fiend Sect remained silent, his face darkening as a heavy sense of worry settled in his chest. As for the three Elders of the Xuan Clan, they felt a bitter taste in their mouths.

With two Golden Core masters already leading the sect and a younger generation this capable, the days ahead for their Qingyan Sect were looking increasingly grim.

"Congratulations, Senior Dan Chenzi!" The leaders of the various smaller sects and their disciples stepped forward in unison, their voices raised in a chorus of flattery.

"Haha, my thanks to you all!" Dan Chenzi cupped his hands in return, choosing to ignore the sour expressions of Xuan Wuqing and the others. He knew all too well that if their positions were reversed, he wouldn't be in a celebratory mood either. Of the six participants in the alchemy assessment, five had now succeeded, bringing immense prestige to the Xuanxiao Sect. However, as the crowd's attention shifted toward the final remaining barrier, their expressions turned mocking.

Knowing that Reyn was attempting to refine the Tier 3 High-grade Ten-Thousand Swallows Returning Spring Pill, many couldn't help but sneer. What an arrogant, delusional brat who doesn't know his place!

"We came today to celebrate Senior Dan Chenzi's Golden Core ascension and have been graced with the sight of his disciples' incredible skills. It has truly been an eye-opening experience," a small-scale clan leader said, standing up after receiving a subtle nod from Duan Zhonghua. He looked toward the last un-retracted barrier with a look of pure disdain.

"However, as cultivators, though our lifespans are long, we cannot afford to squander our time here indefinitely. I wonder, when will the Sect Grand Tournament officially begin?" Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. His meaning was clear: they were tired of waiting for a failure.

"Indeed! Senior Dan Chenzi, please announce the start of the tournament. Waiting for this junior to finish a Ten-Thousand Swallows Returning Spring Pill is a waste of everyone's time."

"The boy is arrogant and lacks any sense of propriety. What use is there in keeping such a person? He should be expelled from the mountain gates immediately!"

"Well said! We are unwilling to wait any longer. Please, Senior, cast him out." The hall grew loud with the voices of those disgruntled by Reyn's perceived hubris. The contempt in their eyes was palpable as they stared at the barrier.

"This..." Dan Chenzi hesitated, a flicker of doubt crossing his features. Qingxiaozi looked equally displeased. He swept his gaze across the hall and said coldly, "Even if Junior Brother were to attempt that pill himself, the success rate would not exceed thirty percent. Do you truly believe this boy can refine a Tier 3 High-grade pill? Since failure is inevitable, what does it matter if we interrupt him now?" Dan Chenzi let out a quiet sigh and nodded.

He raised his hand, preparing to strike the barrier and terminate Reyn's refinement process.

"Master, please wait!" Ji Yueli stepped forward, her lips trembling slightly. A look of urgent concern flashed in her eyes as she looked at Reyn's barrier.

"The Hundred Herb Valley's alchemy assessment has always had a two-hour limit. There is still a quarter-hour remaining. I beg Master to give Junior Brother Reyn at least half that time. Furthermore, there is no scent of burning or charcoal coming from the barrier, which means the herbs are still intact. He might be at the critical stage of pill formation. If you interrupt him now and expel him, he will never be truly convinced of his failure. Master, please reconsider!"

Having just refined a Tier 3 pill, Ji Yueli's status was now arguably higher than most Foundation Establishment cultivators. In the Xuanxiao Sect, her word carried weight second only to the two Golden Core ancestors, especially given her terrifying potential. Dan Chenzi paused, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he gave a slow nod and cleared his throat.

"Fellow Daoists, please remain calm. The Hundred Herb Valley does indeed have its rules. We shall wait a few moments longer." He then closed his eyes, clearly having no real hope that Reyn would succeed. Ji Yueli breathed a small sigh of relief and stepped back, her beautiful eyes fixed intensely on the barrier, refusing to look away for even a second.

"Hmph!" Beside her, Duan Zhonghua's eyes flashed with a dark, venomous light. He let out a low, cold snort of irritation. The restless cultivators in the hall quieted down after Dan Chenzi spoke. No one dared to openly challenge the decision of a Golden Core master. A quarter-hour was but a blink of an eye to a cultivator, so they simply closed their eyes to meditate, unwilling to cause trouble.

"Heh, it seems Junior Brother Reyn was indeed too reckless," Duan Zhonghua said as the time neared its end, his voice dripping with mock pity.

"If one cannot refine such a pill, why make such grand boasts? Not only has he made himself a laughingstock, but he has also tarnished the reputation of our Xuanxiao Sect. To think he will be expelled and lose his only chance at the Great Dao... it is truly a tragedy." Internally, however, Duan Zhonghua was ecstatic. To cross me, Duan Zhonghua, is to court death! Once you are kicked out of the sect, I have a thousand ways to make your life a living hell! Ji Yueli's eyes dimmed. The time was almost up.

Did I misjudge you? she wondered silently. The cultivators in the hall opened their eyes one by one, their faces wearing 'I told you so' smirks. The air was thick with silent ridicule. Duan Zhonghua felt a surge of triumph, as if a thorn had finally been pulled from his side. He stepped forward and bowed.

"Master, Reyn has failed. According to our prior agreement, I am willing to take responsibility for escorting him out of the sect." Dan Chenzi nodded slowly, a trace of melancholy in his eyes. He had personally brought Reyn into the sect. Although Reyn was only a registered disciple, he had treated him with the same resources as a True Inheritance disciple, showing how much he had initially appreciated the boy. But the Heavens were cruel; the boy was born without spiritual roots.

"Very well. Let him return to the mortal world. Perhaps a peaceful, ordinary life is what was meant for him after all." Duan Zhonghua was overjoyed.

"Thank you, Master!" He turned immediately toward Reyn's barrier, his heart cold with malice.

"Wait! There is still one minute left! You cannot go in yet!" Ji Yueli bit her lip, her eyes filled with stubborn defiance as she blocked his path. Duan Zhonghua put on a mask of sincerity.

"Sister Yueli, Reyn is but a mere mortal. Why do you continue to defend him? If you are willing, I would spend my entire life by your side, never leaving you." He then turned to the crowd, cupping his hands.

"To be honest with the seniors and fellow Daoists here, this Reyn has no spiritual roots. He is a commoner who was lucky enough to be taken in by my Master. Yet, he did not cherish this blessing. He was lazy in his training and arrogant toward his seniors. Today, he even dared to humiliate the sect with his boasts. Expelling such a person is a mercy to the sect!" As Duan Zhonghua ranted with righteous indignation, he felt the eyes of the entire hall focusing on him.

He began to feel a sense of self-importance, a floating sensation of pride. But suddenly, he noticed the atmosphere in the hall shift. The gazes of the crowd were no longer on him; they were looking past him, their eyes widening with absolute shock. At the same time, a faint, ethereal fragrance drifted into his nostrils, causing a sudden, sharp spike of unease in his heart. Duan Zhonghua slowly turned around. As his eyes fell upon Reyn's barrier, his pupils contracted violently.

His face twisted in sheer disbelief as he gasped, "How... how is this possible?!" Ji Yueli's lips curled into a breathtaking, triumphant smile.

"Senior Brother Duan, I appreciate your 'concern,' but it seems Junior Brother Reyn isn't quite as incompetent as you claimed." From within Reyn's restrictive barrier, plumes of cloud-like mist began to seep out, carrying a dense, intoxicating medicinal aroma. The mist swirled and tumbled, releasing waves of vibrant life energy. Those who inhaled the scent felt a sudden lightness in their limbs, as if their very vitality had been replenished.