Chương 81: The Peerless Pill Venerable (Part 9)

Back at Prison-Suppressing Sacred Land, Su Chen began refining the Nine Nether Profound Flame. True to its reputation as one of the most vicious Heavenly Fires, the process proved extremely perilous. Five full years passed in seclusion. After narrowly escaping death time and again, Su Chen finally succeeded in fully assimilating the flame. His cultivation surged as a result, breaking through to the fourth layer of the Profound Connection Realm.

When he emerged from seclusion, the sacred land had changed little in those five years. True to his word, Su Chen immediately set about refining the outstanding pills he owed others, settling every debt of gratitude.

"It's time to advance to a sequence true disciple." He was now a peak sixth-grade alchemist and a fourth-layer Profound Connection expert. Becoming a sequence true disciple would grant him far greater access to resources. Sequence true disciples were replaced only once every century. At present, Prison-Suppressing Sacred Land had exactly eight, each an undisputed young king in their generation.

After submitting his application, it did not take long for Myriad Forms Venerable to personally escort him to the assessment. Every sacred land had its own unique trial for sequence true disciples. For Prison-Suppressing Sacred Land, the test came from the Undefeated Tower left behind by the Undefeated Saint King himself. Only those recognized by the tower qualified to become sequence true disciples. The Undefeated Tower contained nine floors in total.

To become a sequence true disciple, one had to reach the fourth floor. Even that was extraordinarily difficult; few ever succeeded. In the thousand years since its establishment, only the current Sacred Lord had ever reached the seventh floor.

"Hey, handsome~ Come play with us~" The moment Su Chen stepped into the tower, a chorus of sweet, seductive voices greeted him. Graceful, breathtakingly beautiful women swayed toward him with serpentine waists, their voices dripping with invitation. With a mere shift of his thoughts, their faces changed to match whatever image crossed his mind. Su Chen: "…" So this was how Fang Bubai spent his time in the pleasure quarters. Expressionless, Su Chen strode past them and advanced to the next floor.

On the second floor, he suddenly found all his cultivation stripped away. A pack of terrifying demonic beasts surrounded him, ready to tear him limb from limb in the next instant. Su Chen casually picked up a long sword from one of the corpses scattered across the battlefield. Without the slightest fear, he charged into battle against the beasts. Soon, he stood alone amid the carnage, drenched in blood, and moved on to the next floor. … Outside the tower.

Su Chen's sequence assessment drew countless curious gazes from across the sacred land. Li Yichen watched the tower's indicator jump another level and clicked his tongue.

"Brother Su really keeps his cards hidden. I wonder how far he'll go." He remembered reaching only the fifth floor himself. Moments later, the tower jumped again. Su Chen had reached the fourth floor. Not long after, it moved once more—he had cleared the fifth. Shock rippled through the gathered crowd. Very few people in the entire sacred land had ever reached the fifth floor. He passed the fifth without pause and entered the sixth. The sixth floor failed to stop him as well.

Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators! Just as everyone began to marvel that the sacred land might soon have a second person to reach the seventh floor, a familiar figure suddenly stumbled out. Su Chen emerged disheveled, cursing under his breath. What the hell? Was Fang Bubai even human? Upon entering the seventh floor, a familiar voice called out to him. When he turned, he saw his former companions and loved ones from long ago. Then…

In an instant, they joined forces and struck him down together. What kind of trial was this? It was downright sinister! Fortunately, he had already set foot on the seventh floor.

"Brother Su, congratulations!" One true disciple after another stepped forward to offer their felicitations, congratulating Su Chen on becoming the newest sequence true disciple—and gaining eligibility to compete for the position of Holy Son. From that day forward, Prison-Suppressing Sacred Land gained one more sequence true disciple. Su Chen's residence was relocated to Sequence Disciple Peak.

Not only did he receive personal maids and guards, but an elder was assigned to serve as his dedicated guardian and protector. In a single leap, he had ascended to the heights. Three months later. Myriad Forms Pill Venerable summoned all the disciples of Pill Hall.

"One year from now, the ten greatest alchemy sacred lands will jointly host a grand alchemy conference. They are even offering an ancient soul secret art and primordial pill formulas as prizes. In the face of such a grand era, how could our Prison-Suppressing Pill Hall possibly stand by idly?" Myriad Forms Pill Venerable surveyed the elite disciples of Pill Hall with bold confidence.

"This old man will select ten of you to accompany me to the Central Continent for the conference. As long as you achieve a good ranking there, I will reward you handsomely!" The disciples exchanged glances. A grand alchemy conference jointly organized by the ten supreme alchemy sacred lands. It was bound to draw countless pill-dao geniuses from every corner. To stand among such a gathering of stars was an opportunity no one wanted to miss.

After a series of intense trials within Pill Hall, Su Chen ultimately secured one of the ten slots and set out alongside Myriad Forms Pill Venerable for the Central Continent. The Central Continent… the dreamland of countless martial cultivators. Even Su Chen felt a faint spark of anticipation in his heart. Among the five great domains of the Heavenly Profound Continent, only the Central Continent remained a place he had never set foot in. What would a true golden age of martial dao look like? …

Accompanying the sacred land delegation, the journey took nearly half a year before they finally arrived in the Central Continent. There was no denying it—the spiritual qi density here far surpassed that of the four outer domains. Even the second-ranked Northern Desert paled in comparison by several degrees. No wonder so many unparalleled geniuses were born here. The Central Continent teemed with powers. Sacred land-level orthodoxies gathered in abundance.

This time, the grand alchemy conference was hosted by one of the Central Continent's titans: the Pill God Hall. Geniuses converged from every direction. After verifying his alchemist identity, Su Chen entered the Pill God Hall together with the Prison-Suppressing delegation. Every person inside was an alchemist without exception. And among them, Su Chen spotted a familiar face. Bai Qingyu of Azure Jade Sacred Land glared at him with venomous hatred.

"Su Chen! You actually dare show your face at the alchemy conference!" The moment Su Chen stepped inside, Bai Qingyu had noticed him. The memory of being beaten black and blue still burned vividly in his mind. Su Chen also caught sight of Bai Qingyu. He paid no attention whatsoever to the other man's resentment. How could a pampered, honey-raised alchemist possibly understand the ruthless heart of a true martial cultivator?

"Su Chen, this time you won't escape. At the alchemy conference, I will defeat you personally through the Pill Dao! A person like you is utterly unworthy of calling himself an alchemist!" Noticing the Prison-Suppressing group subtly closing in around him, Bai Qingyu wisely chose not to press his luck. He spat out a few harsh parting words, then slunk away dejectedly. He still harbored deep resentment over the last time Su Chen had pummeled him using martial methods.

After Bai Qingyu left, new acquaintances approached.

"Martial Uncle Ghost Valley? Miss Song?" Su Chen was genuinely surprised to encounter old friends here. Ghost Valley Pill King—no, he should now be addressed as Ghost Valley Pill Sovereign. Seven brilliant stars gleamed on the badge pinned to the silver-haired middle-aged man's chest. Song Wanqing had also advanced to become a sixth-grade alchemist.

"Su Chen, this time at the alchemy conference, I will wash away my shame and defeat you with my own hands!" The moment Song Wanqing laid eyes on him, she issued her challenge. Ghost Valley Pill Sovereign shook his head helplessly.

"What a pair of destined rivals." Yet hidden beneath his exasperated expression was a trace of quiet amusement. …