Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
The words of Young Master Zuo echoed throughout the venue, resonating with authority. Most of the cultivators in the audience believed he was merely making excuses for his failure. Only a few elders exchanged wry smiles among themselves.
Xie Furen's expression darkened instantly. With the Heart-Resolving Pill nearly complete, his mood had soared—yet he realized a troubling fact: none of the observing elders were focusing their attention on him.
In an attempt to draw their gaze, he let out a long, triumphant shout, genuinely pleased but also hoping to capture their interest. However, the atmosphere he had carefully crafted was shattered by Zuo Dao's casual remark.
At that moment, Young Master Zuo was in good spirits as well; three Heart-Resolving Pills spun energetically within the Dan Furnace, just a step away from completion.
Zuo Dao saw through Xie Furen's tricks immediately. A person who is arrogant and domineering is not truly frightening; Xie Furen's earlier demeanor was a true reflection of himself, but his current behavior revealed that he was also someone with hidden depths.
Zuo Dao's words were blunt, yet Xie Furen found it difficult to retort. He believed that circumstances favored him and that he stood on solid ground while Zuo Dao merely attracted the elders' attention with some flashy antics. Considering himself a victor, he felt compelled to display the composure of one.
He remained silent, simply watching Zuo Dao.
As the pills were completed, Zuo Dao gestured, and one by one, the Heart-Resolving Pills appeared before the cultivators.
"What kind of pill is this? Isn't it supposed to be a Heart-Resolving Pill?"
"These three pills look inferior compared to Senior Brother Xie's."
"The records state that Heart-Resolving Pills are pure white with hints of red; why are these three blood-red?"
The audience buzzed with speculation, and even the elders furrowed their brows, questioning whether Zuo Dao had failed in refining the Heart-Resolving Pill.
Meanwhile, Zuo Dao remained unfazed by the surrounding chatter. He suspended the three pills in mid-air using Celestial Essence, choosing not to store them in jade vials but allowing them to hover before everyone's eyes.
"Examine the pills."
The voice of the Ninth Elder rang out from the stage. Two circular Jade Pillars rose gracefully on the Dueling Platform, leaving only one spot at the top for holding the pills.
Xie Furen quickly stepped forward as soon as the Jade Pillars appeared. He placed his own refined Heart-Resolving Pill into the recess of the Jade Pillar before him.
Zuo Dao stood on the Dueling Platform for the first time, witnessing its grandeur. Observing Xie Furen's actions, he decided to follow suit and placed his three Heart-Resolving Pills into the designated slot.
As soon as the pills entered the Jade Pillar's groove, the entire pillar underwent a transformation. Countless lights flickered on its surface, resembling stars twinkling in the night sky.
The first results emerged from Xie Furen's side. After a few moments of shimmering, a light screen appeared above the Jade Pillar.
Heart-Resolving Pill.
Vitality Value - Sixty.
Dao Contract Value - One.
Perfection Value: Three.
As these numbers were revealed, the crowd of Cultivators erupted in excitement. Although the values were not particularly high, this did not imply that Xie Furen's Heart-Resolving Pill was inferior. On the contrary, given Xie Furen's expertise in Alchemical Path, this pill could be considered exceptional.
It was important to note that this was Xie Furen's first successful refinement of a Heart-Resolving Pill. While the Dao Contract Value was only one, achieving it on the first attempt indicated that this Heart-Resolving Pill not only replenished vitality but also enhanced a Cultivator's understanding of the Dao.
The Dao Contract Value referred to the compatibility with the Dao. This time, Xie Furen had truly excelled; even Kun Ru Tao couldn't help but admire him upon seeing the results.
Xie Furen himself was incredulous that his Heart-Resolving Pill had manifested a Dao Contract Value. Upon seeing those three words, his vitality surged, and his breathing intensified with excitement.
With this Heart-Resolving Pill as a foundation, he believed he would soon be ready to take on the Silver Alchemy Emblem assessment. What did that mean? The eager gazes of the surrounding Cultivators made it clear.
Meanwhile, Zuo Dao was once again overlooked by the crowd of Cultivators below.
“Senior Brother Xie, you look so impressive!” A female alchemist gazed at Xie Furen on stage, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
“It seems we have a new star rising in Xuming Hall.”
No matter what, this time during the Dueling Elixirs, Xie Furen had truly stolen the spotlight. The outcome was already a foregone conclusion in everyone's eyes. Hadn't they seen that the other contestant's results were still pending?
Although Elder Seven had gone into seclusion, everything discovered on the Dueling Platform was clearly visible to him. This was one of the privileges of being an elder; as long as he remained within Xuming Hall, he could grasp everything happening on the Dueling Platform.
He couldn't believe it—this disciple he had little faith in had actually managed to refine a Heart-Resolving Pill, and it even displayed a contract value. He was well aware of Xie Furen's previous attempts; each time he had observed the refining process, it had ended in failure.
He had thought that this time, at most, Xie Furen would produce a standard Heart-Resolving Pill, but to his surprise, he had truly reached that level. His attention shifted to Zuo Dao, the one who had exerted immense pressure on Xie Furen, leading to this remarkable scene.
Xie Furen might not be exceptionally talented, but he did possess some gifts. At that moment, Elder Seven couldn't help but wonder if he had made a mistake this time.
Regardless of his thoughts, events had already unfolded. He trusted his judgment; he would not be mistaken. Although Zuo Dao's results were still unknown, he believed it would be a truly extraordinary moment.
Under the eager gazes of the crowd, Zuo Dao's Identification Pillar finally displayed a Light Screen. Just as the Light Screen flickered and everyone anticipated the results, it suddenly dimmed.
Even the Elders began to feel something was amiss. Unlike the cultivators below, they understood what the Dueling Platform represented. This artifact had existed in Xuming Hall for countless years without ever experiencing such an occurrence.
At that moment, Ninth Elder's lips moved slightly, causing several elders on stage to change color simultaneously.
"What? The consumption of the Dueling Platform has increased?"
Several elders communicated with Ninth Elder at once.
"That's right. Just now, the Dueling Platform's demand for Celestial Stone has surged and is currently increasing at a terrifying rate," Ninth Elder replied through their connection.
"It’s impossible; it’s just a few Heart-Resolving Pills. We all know very well the consumption of Celestial Stones on the Dueling Platform," the Four Elders could hardly believe the Ninth Elder's words. If it weren't for the fact that the Ninth Elder was in control of the Dueling Platform, they would have thought he was trying to absolve Zuo Dao.
Su Ziqing hesitated, wanting to say something but ultimately remained silent. He knew that if this were true, the problem must lie with the three pills refined by Zuo Dao.
None of the elders present were easy to fool, and they quickly pinpointed the crux of the issue.
Tian Yuan pondered for a moment before stepping forward.
"Because there has been a problem with the Dueling Elixirs. The Dueling Elixirs will be temporarily suspended. All managers should lead their disciples back to their respective places; no one is to step out of this hall without summons. The Dueling Elixirs are now closed."
Upon hearing Elder Tian's words, all the Cultivators felt a surge of doubt in their hearts, but no one dared to voice it. After receiving Elder Tian Yuan's message, each manager began to take action, and soon the venue was empty.
Xie Furen stood foolishly on the platform, unable to believe that there could be an issue with the Dueling Platform. However, with Tian Yuan stepping forward, he felt like a fool.
When he caught Tian Yuan's gaze, he sensed a hint of pity in it. He considered himself a clever person and quickly formed a guess in his mind. When he looked back at Zuo Dao, his eyes were filled with regret and apprehension.
Whether it was due to the pills or personal reasons, he knew that Zuo Dao was not someone he could offend. If it were due to the pills, then the response from the Identification Pillar already indicated something significant; how could a pill that took so long for even the Identification Pillar to analyze be inferior to his own?
If it were personal, only the elders from Xuming Hall could control the Dueling Platform, and they would need a majority consensus among them to exert any pressure on it. What did this mean? It meant that at least five or more elders stood behind Zuo Dao.
Regardless of the reason, Xie Furen felt despair. How had he managed to provoke such a person?
Zuo Dao also sensed something strange about the changes discovered on the Dueling Platform. The Identification Pillar was a magical artifact that he recognized at first glance. It was akin to an analytical device from his previous life, capable of providing comprehensive analysis on pills and giving an objective value.
The prolonged absence of an answer led Zuo Dao to conclude that this Identification Pillar had become outdated.
At that moment, Xie Furen suddenly realized that if he remained on this platform any longer, a tragic end awaited him. If Zuo Dao's Alchemical Path was truly that formidable, as a failure, he would not escape punishment.
If Zuo Dao had conspired with several elders, then staying any longer would only lead him down a path of no return.
"Esteemed Elders, I take my leave," Xie Furen said, bowing deeply. He knew he could no longer remain on the Dueling Platform; at least until the results were revealed, he had to be absent.
The Ninth Elder remained silent, his mind fully immersed in the Dueling Platform, sensing the changes within. Only Tian Yuan spoke softly.
"Go."
Watching Xie Furen's retreating figure, which seemed to be a hasty escape, the Elders exchanged disdainful glances. They could easily guess what was on Xie Furen's mind.
At this moment, the Ninth Elder had already sealed off the Dueling Platform. Apart from the four Elders and Zuo Dao, there was no one left inside or outside. His expression was grave; the consumption of energy from the Dueling Platform was increasing to a point where he had to tap into his reserve of Celestial Stones.
The cause of all this was the calm figure standing on the platform. The Ninth Elder understood the reason behind it all. All energy was being directed toward the Identification Pillar. The situation on the Dueling Platform had made everything clear: Zuo Dao's three pills were definitely not ordinary items.
The waiting felt interminable. The Elders, seasoned by long years, were feeling a sense of oppression that they hadn't experienced in ages. How long had it been since they felt such pressure? In their perception, time was merely something to be squandered.
Yet at this moment, they found themselves wishing for time to pass quickly.
Finally, under the anxious and hopeful gazes of the Elders, the Dueling Platform returned to normal. A blinding light suddenly erupted from the Light Screen in front of Zuo Dao, revealing several lines of text.
Heart-Resolving Pill!!!
Vitality Value - One Hundred Twenty.
Dao Contract Value - Ten.
Perfection Value - Twelve.
Seeing these figures left the Elders stunned; their first thought was that the Dueling Platform must truly be malfunctioning.
It should be noted that for these three metrics, aside from a maximum vitality value of one hundred, both Dao Contract Value and Perfection Value were capped at ten.
The three pills presented by Zuo Dao had appraisal values that surprisingly exceeded the highest limits. What did this mean?
The elders looked at Zuo Dao with expressions of disbelief, as if he were a monster. Was this still a human? Was this still an alchemist? In their memories, the highest values they had seen were merely ninety for vitality, nine for Dao contract, and nine for perfection. And that was produced by one of the palace masters from Doushuai Palace.
Star Diamond!?
Could this terrifying young cultivator actually be a Star Diamond Level alchemist?
The elders shook their heads simultaneously, dismissing the thought from their minds. Even Su Ziqing found it hard to believe. What would happen if the Main Palace learned of this? None of the elders felt secure about it. This could spark a new wave of power struggles within Doushuai Palace.
This was something they absolutely did not want to see.
There were only three palace masters in Doushuai Palace; it was an ironclad rule. The ascension of any palace master brought either bloodshed or an end to their reign. Including the most recent ascension, that had happened a millennium ago. That time, the new master had taken over only because the previous one voluntarily stepped down. It was the most peaceful transition they had ever witnessed.
Doushuai Palace was far from the peaceful image portrayed to the outside world; the waters within were very deep. The elders gasped in shock; this matter was already beyond their control.
After exchanging glances, the elders nodded in tacit agreement. No matter how reluctant they were, the Four Elders took to the skies, knowing they had urgent matters to attend to. This information absolutely could not be leaked; otherwise, they would face a bloody world ahead.
Zuo Dao sensed a hint of unease from the elders' sudden change in demeanor. Although he didn't know what was happening, he realized that he might have truly gone too far this time.
Once the Four Elders departed, the remaining elders descended from the clouds one after another.
"Master." Though reluctant, Zuo Dao stepped forward to greet Su Ziqing upon seeing him arrive. He completely ignored the other elders, not even bothering to acknowledge them.
Zuo Dao's behavior relieved several of the elders. If someone of his silver status had bowed to Zuo Dao, it would have been quite a scandal.
"Zuo Dao, I don't want anyone else to know about this matter besides us," Su Ziqing said with a serious expression.
"Understood." Zuo Dao didn't ask why; the expressions of the elders had already betrayed them, and he was too lazy to inquire further.
"By the way, I've refined the Heart-Resolving Pill. This is for you, Ninth Elder." Amidst the astonished gazes of the other elders, Zuo Dao handed one of the Heart-Resolving Pills to the Ninth Elder.
"And what should I call this elder?" Zuo Dao asked, looking at Tian Yuan, and offered him a pill as well.
Tian Yuan accepted it with slightly trembling hands. "Hello, just call me Tian Yuan."
Receiving a Star Diamond Level pill, he felt an overwhelming urge to cry, much like the Ninth Elder.
"Master, you don't get one this time." Zuo Dao said as he handed the last Heart-Resolving Pill to the final elder on stage, ignoring Su Ziqing's resentful gaze.
Elder Five was so excited that he didn't know what to say.
Seeing the looks from the others, Elder Five quickly tucked the pill away, fearing it might be snatched from him. A Star Diamond Level pill! The several elders who received the pills silently shouted in their hearts.
"You all better consume it within an hour; otherwise, don't blame me," Zuo Dao teased.
Upon hearing this, the elders reluctantly took out their pills. Under Su Ziqing's deadly glare, they nervously swallowed them.
"Quickly refine it!"
Before they could fully grasp the experience, Zuo Dao's voice echoed in their minds. Immediately, the Three Elders sat cross-legged and began to refine the pills with all their might.
They couldn't help but go all out; as soon as the pills entered their mouths, they transformed into a refreshing stream that coursed through their bodies, and in an instant, the medicinal power erupted within them like a volcano.
At the same time, they felt their blood and energy boiling like magma.
Power, power, power.
At that moment, they sensed nothing but power within themselves. The one feeling it most deeply was Su Ziqing standing aside.
He watched as the Three Elders began to change after consuming the pills. The Ninth Elder's white hair started to turn jet black, while Elder Five's bark-like skin became smooth and glossy. Tian Yuan's figure was also transforming; his previously hunched back began to straighten.
"Old Su, don't blame me for not preparing anything for you. When I have time, I'll refine a batch for you, but you'll need to provide the materials!" Zuo Dao communicated, noticing Su Ziqing's envious gaze.
Upon hearing Zuo Dao's words, Su Ziqing couldn't help but beam with joy—one batch!
He was a Silver Dan cultivator, and he could fully sense the power of Zuo Dao's pills. Moreover, he felt a trace of Dao within the three of them, continuously drawing from the external Dao and growing stronger.
Reverse—besides reverse, Su Ziqing couldn't think of any other words to describe the Heart-Resolving Pill.
"Did you notice something off between me and Elder Five?" Su Ziqing suddenly thought as he looked at the three Comrades refining Transmutation pills.
"Hehe," Zuo Dao chuckled without replying.
"Sigh, this matter is too significant. I think you should give the others a little incentive as well," Su Ziqing said, surprised by Zuo Dao's sensitivity in interpersonal matters after experiencing his Alchemical Path.
"Is this matter serious?" Zuo Dao frowned upon hearing Su Ziqing's words.
"Sigh." Su Ziqing sighed and replied, "Let's wait until everyone gathers before discussing it with you. If anyone has ideas this time, bloodshed is inevitable."
At this point, a surge of killing intent erupted from Su Ziqing's body.
"Old Su, what are you planning?" Just as this killing intent rose, Elder Five rushed over, standing protectively in front of Zuo Dao as if facing a formidable enemy.
Comment 0 Comment Count