Chương 85: The Peerless Pill Venerable (Part 13)

Outside the arena. The explosion of Su Chen's furnace sent a jolt through every heart present. A furnace explosion meant failure in refinement. Failure meant elimination. Yet as the dust and smoke slowly cleared, revealing Su Chen's actions, astonishment swept across the crowd. A faint smile curved Ghost Valley Pill Sovereign's lips.

"I knew this boy wouldn't fall so easily… It's the Eight Desolations Alchemy Method. Junior brother, did you see? Your Eight Desolations Alchemy Method will resound across the Central Continent on this day. This was your lifelong wish—and our master's wish as well. At last, it is coming true!" Song Wanqing's beautiful eyes shimmered as she gazed at the dazzling figure. A thousand complex emotions swirled in her heart. From the direction of Prison-Suppressing Sacred Land came wave after wave of excited cheers.

Over at Yang Pill Sacred Land, Yan Zhaoxi let out a cold snort.

"The only one worthy of defeating me, Yan Zhaoxi, is the champion of this alchemy conference. Su Chen, don't you dare disappoint me!" As time passed, days later, earth-shaking phenomena tore through the sky as though they would pierce the very fabric of space. One pill-dao monster after another successfully refined a seventh-grade pill. Each one brimmed with absolute confidence in their creation.

"Hm? That guy actually hasn't been eliminated yet?" The crowd noticed Su Chen still persisting. Pillars of light erupted across the platform, whipping up fierce winds and gathering tides of spiritual Qi. Metal, wood, water, fire, earth. The dense power of the five elements converged into a massive, multicolored halo of radiant splendor. Su Chen opened his eyes, surprise flickering within them. The Five Elements Creation Pill… had formed! In that same instant, blood streamed from his eyes, nose, and ears.

The injuries he had been suppressing finally erupted. The Five Elements Creation Pill was already extraordinarily difficult to refine. Combined with the Eight Desolations Alchemy Method, Su Chen had pushed his cultivation to the absolute limit, sustaining himself through sheer willpower until this moment. He collapsed into unconsciousness. When Su Chen awoke again, seven full days had passed. He found himself soaking in a medicinal bath, his body drenched. The surroundings were completely unfamiliar.

Su Chen changed into fresh robes and left the medicine hall. The moment he stepped outside, he saw an eighth-grade alchemist clad in purple robes waiting at the entrance. When the man saw Su Chen emerge, a warm smile spread across his face.

"You're awake. The Pill Saints have been waiting for you for quite some time." Su Chen followed the purple-robed alchemist to a grand hall. Inside stood several proud young figures. Yet the moment they saw Su Chen enter, the arrogance in their eyes transformed into genuine respect. An elderly man with snow-white hair wore simple robes, yet a golden badge gleamed on his chest, bearing the image of a blazing sun. His gaze fell upon Su Chen, filled with admiration.

"Young Su, congratulations. You have claimed first place in this grand alchemy conference. From this day forward, no alchemist across the five domains will fail to recognize your name. Are you willing to become an honorary elder of Pill God Hall?" Faced with an invitation from a Pill Saint, Su Chen bowed slightly.

"This junior is deeply honored." A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. An honorary elder needed only to lend his name to Pill God Hall—the benefits were tangible and immense. What truly surprised Su Chen was that he had actually won first place in the entire conference! He had emerged victorious among thousands of prodigies! Even with his tempered state of mind, ripples of emotion stirred within him. First place in the alchemy conference.

The rewards were naturally generous: the right to enter Pill God Hall and select one ancient secret art, along with unrestricted access to study the refinement techniques of every great pill-dao master within the hall. Su Chen remained for three full years. During that time, he refined and perfected the Eight Desolations Alchemy Method. From time to time, Pill Saints lectured on the dao of pills, advancing his skill even further.

Though he had yet to step into eighth grade, he could now refine seventh-grade pills without the slightest chance of failure.

"It's time to return to the Eastern Wasteland." Pill God Hall was excellent. But it was not his home. When news spread that Su Chen intended to leave for the Eastern Wasteland, numerous elders and prodigies of Pill God Hall came to see him off.

"Su Chen, are you truly returning to Prison-Suppressing Sacred Land? With your alchemy talent, remaining in Pill God Hall would bring far greater achievements and a brighter future!" Song Wanqing spoke up, trying to persuade him to stay. Su Chen shook his head.

"Prison-Suppressing Sacred Land treated me well. The sacred land is still in its growth phase and sorely lacks alchemists. How could I turn a blind eye and hide away cultivating in the Central Continent? This skill in alchemy—I must repay it to the sacred land… Everyone, the roads of the cultivation world are long. Until we meet again." Su Chen departed, traveling back to the Eastern Wasteland together with the Prison-Suppressing delegation.

The people of Pill God Hall watched him leave alongside the others from Prison-Suppressing Sacred Land, their hearts filled with complicated emotions. They could not understand why Su Chen would give up the chance to deepen his cultivation in Pill God Hall and choose instead to return to the Eastern Wasteland, where the pill dao lagged far behind. Yet they respected his decision. Perhaps that very bearing… was the mark of a true alchemist. Su Chen left the Central Continent.

But in the Central Continent, he left behind a legend… … One month later. Inside the spatial tunnel, Myriad Forms Pill Venerable's expression remained complicated, filled with a thousand emotions. He had never imagined that the champion of this grand alchemy conference would come from their Eastern Wasteland… His original intention had been simple: bring Su Chen to the Central Continent to witness the golden age of pill dao and meet the various geniuses.

What delighted him most was that even after achieving fame across the Central Continent, even when facing recruitment offers from every major pill-dao sacred land, Su Chen had remained steadfast in his gratitude toward the sacred land. Without hesitation, he chose to return to the Eastern Wasteland and to the sect.

"To have such a disciple in Prison-Suppressing Sacred Land is truly a blessing accumulated over three lifetimes. The ancestral founder must be watching over us!" Myriad Forms Pill Venerable murmured to himself. Boom! Suddenly, the spatial tunnel shook violently, lurching with terrifying force. Myriad Forms Pill Venerable sensed the danger at once and shouted to everyone aboard, "Enemy attack! We are under assault!" Terrifying auras awakened one after another from the vessel.

A pair of enormous hands tore the spatial tunnel apart. A pair of dreadful eyes peered through the rift at the people on the ship, as though regarding a swarm of insignificant ants.

"A saint… It's a saint!" Su Chen lifted his head and looked toward that horrifying figure. His heart trembled. That overwhelming aura was all too familiar. A saint—an existence who had stepped into the saint realm, capable of ripping open void tunnels with bare hands.

"Hand over the Su Clan bloodline. Out of respect for the Undefeated Saint King's face, this seat will spare your lives. Otherwise…" A terrifying killing intent shredded the spatial tunnel. Thunderous words boomed across heaven and earth.

"Today, this place becomes your burial ground!" Myriad Forms Pill Venerable's expression changed drastically. He roared in response, "Insolent fool! Su Chen is a disciple of the Prison-Suppressing Sacred Land. No matter who you are, do not dream of forcing our sacred land to hand over one of our own! Summon the saint artifact!" At his furious command, the elders stationed around the vessel acted in unison. Mysterious runes flared to life.

A crescent longbow wreathed in holy radiance materialized in Myriad Forms Pill Venerable's grasp.

"The Radiant Holy Bow—if the Radiant Saint were still alive in the flesh, this old man might retreat three steps. But now it is merely a damaged saint artifact!" A giant hand rose casually and crushed the holy arrow that tore through space. The saint's cold gaze swept across the people of Prison-Suppressing Sacred Land.

"Since you refuse to hand over the Su Clan bloodline… then perish together!"