Chapter 547
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Chapter 547: Top-tier Alchemist?
“I, I understand, Dad.” Yu Shijie nodded.
Yu Nan looked at Yu Shijie and snorted contemptuously.
…
As time passed, fewer and fewer people remained in the square, as the vast majority had already entered through the stone gate.
“You two can go now,” two disciples said to Fang Yu and Lin Batian.
Only then did Fang Yu and Lin Batian slowly walk through the stone gate.
“To think that I, Supreme Lord Batian, haven’t been punished to stand for how many years? What a rare experience indeed.” Lin Batian sighed, looking up at the sky.
“You brought this on yourself and dragged me down with you, so stop complaining,” Fang Yu said.
The two walked to a bend in the mountain path ahead, where Qin Lang was waiting for them.
“The hall where the Alchemy Conference is being held is just ahead. Let’s go,” Qin Lang said.
The three walked together and soon arrived at the hall.
This was a large ancient tower building, and the hall was on the first floor of the tower.
Due to the earlier difficulties, Fang Yu’s group was the last batch to arrive at the hall.
At this time, the interior of the hall was packed with crowds of people.
In front of everyone was a platform made of stone.
More than twenty people stood on the platform.
These people all appeared to be in their fifties or sixties, most wearing black square hats and holding small furnaces about the size of a human face.
“Welcome everyone to the Alchemy Conference. This conference has a total of twenty-nine alchemists participating… the most alchemists in three sessions. This time, the alchemists will showcase their latest achievements to everyone…” On the stage, the Seventh Elder, whom they had met earlier, amplified his voice with true qi and announced.
“What’s the main purpose of the Alchemy Conference?” Fang Yu asked Qin Lang beside him.
“The alchemists display the pills they’ve refined, and if anyone in the audience is interested, they can place orders on the spot to purchase the pills in bulk,” Qin Lang said. “It’s actually quite similar to a product exhibition.”
“Oh,” Fang Yu nodded.
“These are the so-called alchemists?” Lin Batian asked in surprise.
“Yes, they should be the alchemists responsible for the demonstrations at this Alchemy Conference,” Qin Lang replied.
“Uh…” Lin Batian opened his mouth and looked at Fang Yu.
“Don’t make a fuss. It’s already impressive that the profession of alchemist still exists,” Fang Yu said.
“But these people don’t have a trace of furnace aura about them, and they probably haven’t cultivated pill fire either. And those furnaces in their hands are as tiny as rice bowls… isn’t this too ridiculous?” Lin Batian said.
Fang Yu remained silent.
Indeed, none of the people standing on the platform would have qualified as alchemists two thousand years ago.
But in the current era, with sparse spiritual energy and declining martial arts, one couldn’t expect too much.
Fang Yu was interested in seeing what level of pills today’s alchemists could produce.
Qin Lang looked embarrassed when he heard Lin Batian’s assessment of the alchemists on stage.
It was well known that alchemists held high status in the martial arts world, and the vast majority of martial artists respected them greatly.
Because very few people could master the art of alchemy.
But in Lin Batian’s words, the alchemists on stage seemed as laughable as clowns.
After thinking for a moment, Qin Lang said, “Mr. Lin, actually, the people on stage are not the top-tier alchemists.”
“See, I told you there must be more powerful ones. Those on stage can hardly be called alchemists,” Lin Batian said to Fang Yu with a smile.
“The top alchemists come from the Alchemy Branch of the Ten Thousand Herbs Sect. According to what was said earlier, they should send an Alchemy Elder to demonstrate shortly,” Qin Lang said.
“…Next, let’s welcome Elder Yuqing from our Alchemy Branch to the stage!” the Seventh Elder on stage announced loudly.
The entire venue erupted in enthusiastic applause.
“Elder Yuqing! I heard he’s very young, not even fifty years old!”
“Only fifty and already an elder of the Alchemy Branch!?”
“Yes, I heard his alchemy talent is quite extraordinary…”
A wave of exclamations rose from the crowd.
On the platform, an elder wearing a cyan robe with a flowing long beard on his chin walked to the front of everyone.
Like other alchemists, he wore a square hat and held a small furnace.
Seeing this person, Lin Batian was greatly disappointed.
“This is a top alchemist? Apart from having a slight pill fire aura, he’s no different from the others on stage,” Lin Batian said to Qin Lang.
Qin Lang rubbed his forehead and said, “Mr. Lin, please continue watching. The strength of the Alchemy Branch of the Ten Thousand Herbs Sect is recognized throughout the Nine States…”
“Don’t view current things with your old perspective, otherwise you’ll be shocked twenty-four hours a day,” Fang Yu said.
“Fine, from now on, I’ll try to speak less,” Lin Batian said.
With Elder Yuqing’s appearance, the Alchemy Conference officially began.
On both sides of the hall stood many disciples from the Ten Thousand Herbs Sect, including those from both the Medicine Branch and the Alchemy Branch.
The opportunity to witness an Alchemy Branch elder refining pills was rare, and they were all there to learn.
Yang Chuyu and Ke’er also stood among these disciples.
“Sister Yang, it’s Elder Yuqing! His developed Spiritual Return Pill was one of the hottest pills in the market last year! They say many elders in the sect tried to buy from him but couldn’t!” Ke’er said excitedly.
“Yes, I know,” Yang Chuyu said.
“Do you think he’ll demonstrate the process of refining the Spiritual Return Pill today?” Ke’er asked.
“Impossible. With so many alchemists present, he wouldn’t risk having his methods copied,” Yang Chuyu shook her head slightly and said.
“Then what will he demonstrate? I’m so excited,” Ke’er said.
On the second floor of the hall, several elders were also looking toward the platform.
For the Ten Thousand Herbs Sect, the Alchemy Branch received far more attention than the Medicine Branch.
“Next, Elder Yuqing will take the lead and demonstrate the process of refining the Minor Spirit Gathering Pill!” the Seventh Elder announced.
Hearing his words, many who understood alchemy showed disappointment.
The Minor Spirit Gathering Pill was the most common type of spirit pill, and any alchemist would know how to refine it.
Elder Yuqing saw the audience’s reaction and smiled contemptuously.
What he was about to refine was not an ordinary Minor Spirit Gathering Pill, but a high-grade one!
“Silence,” Elder Yuqing uttered two words.
The previously noisy hall immediately quieted down.
Elder Yuqing lightly tapped the small furnace in his hand.
The furnace flew directly in front of him, floating in mid-air.
Elder Yuqing moved his right hand slightly, and several medicinal materials appeared in his hand, all of which he threw into the furnace.
Then, he extended his left hand forward, palm facing the bottom of the small furnace.
“Whoosh!”
A blue flame ignited from his left palm!
“Wow…”
A wave of exclamations rose in the hall.
Pill fire!
This was pill fire!
Using one’s cultivated pill fire to refine pills was the highest realm of an alchemist!
Pills refined this way would definitely not be ordinary!
At this point, everyone present felt as if they had been slapped in the face.
They had originally thought that Elder Yuqing refining the Minor Spirit Gathering Pill wouldn’t be impressive.
But the sudden ignition of pill fire left them dumbfounded!
The alchemists on stage looked at Elder Yuqing with faces showing not only shock but also immense admiration.
This was the foundation of the Alchemy Branch of the Ten Thousand Herbs Sect!
Even an ordinary elder could use pill fire!
Only these alchemists truly understood how difficult it was to cultivate pill fire!
Shortly after the pill fire ignited, Elder Yuqing’s right hand trembled, and a lid appeared above the small medicine furnace.
Elder Yuqing’s expression was serious as his left hand moved slightly, with the pill fire burning around the edges of the small furnace.
After maintaining this for about ten seconds, Elder Yuqing suddenly shook his left hand.
The small furnace shook along with it.
The pill fire in Elder Yuqing’s hand extinguished.
He held the small furnace with one hand and, looking at the stunned faces below, said, “The Minor Spirit Gathering Pill has been refined.”
So fast!?
Another wave of exclamations erupted from below.
Although the Minor Spirit Gathering Pill was the most common spirit pill, refining it still required time, at least fifteen minutes.
But Elder Yuqing had done it in less than a minute!
This was a top alchemist!
Elder Yuqing opened the lid of the medicine furnace.
A fragrance of medicine began to spread from the platform, drifting to the nose of everyone below.
“Just a single Minor Spirit Gathering Pill, yet it has such a fragrance. Its quality must be very high…” some Medicine Branch disciples said.
“Correct, this is a high-grade Minor Spirit Gathering Pill,” Elder Yuqing stroked his chin beard and smiled.
A high-grade spirit pill!?
Refined in less than a minute!?
Whether on stage or below, everyone was plunged into unprecedented shock.
Lin Batian looked at the shocked gazes around him, bit his teeth, but still couldn’t hold back and laughed.
At this moment, the surroundings were quiet, making his laughter particularly noticeable.
Everyone in the entire hall looked toward the source of the laughter.