Page 85: The 4th elder alchemist

*Elder alchemist Cai Household

"Speak, what happened inside that world? Why is Yusheng in such state and what has that something to do with you? After I broke your arm, why can't you speak? Do you want me to break that mouth of yours too? Listen carefully. You need to understand that I need to do this or else the sect leader will do it himself. "

Cuifen endured the pain from both of his arm being broken. Now that he is in such state, he won't be able to continue the test but worst, he won't be able to practice alchemy for nearly 2 months. It was still a better punishment than death. Cuifen took the pain reliever and fix his stature.

"Master, it was a mistake. While both of us were searching for an herb, we happen to come across a beast. At first, I thought it was an earth rank beast but when I tried to confront it, my punches and skills can't even scratch it. When I planned to run away from it, I forgot about Yusheng. When Yusheng attacked the beast, I saw him taking a slam from the beast. So I thought he was dead and I ran away from it. However, the beast kept following me until I reached the gate area. There, the rest ganged on the beast together and they were able to defeat it. I saw the core crystal taken from the beast, it was color yellow. Master, I really didn't mean to make that happen."

Of course, Cuifen did not go to the specifics and just went through a summary of what transpired. If he will tell everything, his master might trully kill him.

"What did you say? Did you just say yellow core? A heaven rank, middle grade beast? Are you sure?"

"M..master, yes. I saw that Long Bai pull it out from the beast."

"Sh**t, a bunch of visceral tempering was able to defeat a heaven rank, middle grade beast, are you kidding me? This is not normal. Even for me, I would have a difficulty in defeating it. How did they do it. Have you seen how it was defeated?"

Elder alchemist Cai was more concerned on how the beast was defeated compared to what happened with his disciple. If a bunch of kids were able to defeat such heaven rank beast, there must be more to it.

"Forgive this useless disciple. I wasn't able to watch the whole fight but there were four of them who fought the beast. Among the four, I find the one with the name Long Bai the most mysterious. That lad was the 3rd disciple of elder Wei. It was him who lead the fight against the beast. What's more, I think he must have taken a treasure from the tomb that we discovered."

"Tomb? Tell me more."

Cuifen was actually not sure that it was Long Bai who entered the tomb but he had his speculations. Another thing, he need someone to pass on his anger as to appease his feelings and the person he thought was the young lad who was always with Zhang Li.

"A tomb we found mysteriously opened. When we reached that place, someone have entered it already. I managed to enter the first chamber but we suffered from a certain type of parasite that paralyzes anything living it come in contact with. I heard from Yusheng that it was a tomb for a king."

"Fool! Why did you not wait outside and ambushed whoever entered it first?"

Cuifen was lost of words. He can't just admit that he did such thing but failed at the end. That would be more of a let down than admitting that he was an imbecile. So instead of admitting that he did such thing, he just kept apologizing.

"Never mind. If that brat found some treasure, we can just take it from him. Not just now. We can have other chances when you'll regain your strength. For now, you will just stay here and keep a low profile.

Tsk. Bribing the examiner to leak the contents of the first test came to be useless now that you can't join the competition. Useless!"

*Current time, Alchemy grounds, 3RD TEST

"Everyone, Attention! The sect leader has something to announce!"

As the third day of the competition was officially opened, the stadium was in full capacity. Since it was the final test, it would be able to provide enough entertainment for these people who doesn't even have any background in alchemy. The 3rd day if alchemy test, the pill refining stage which any kind of spectator will be able to appreciate rather than the previous tests which was about picking herbs and the sort.

"Good day! As the sect leader, I would like to make an additional announcement. This time, the top 3 of this alchemy test will be attending the exhibition match that would be held a month from now. The match will be held during the interschool gathering that will take place at the Cup Island. Although this is more like a healthy interaction between the five union sects, the winners would still receive unimaginable benefits. But that's not all. The five martial winners will be joined by the three alchemists during the 10 month excursion that will be held at an independent world which would be opened by the five sect leaders of the union islands. Two months from now on, you will be able to enter an independent world that would be greatly beneficial to martial cultivators and alchemists. You'll be able to cultivate twice the rate of a regular routine and as for alchemists, this independent world has not been visited for more than 50 years. This mean that you'll be able to find abundant and rare herbs in there to improve your alchemy. That is why, to our participants, do your best!"

The crowd became hyped from the announcement. The benefits listed were really enviable. Whoever will win would enjoy these chances and improve themselves. Even thought the sect leader did not spoke about it, many understood what he was trying to impose, 'become stronger and get the attention of the mainlanders to let you enter their sect'. All of these competitions were designed by the leaders to bring out the maximum potential of their disciples and bring honor ti their sect by receiving support from a higher ranked sect.

If the crowd was hyped, most of the participants were already feeling elated due to the prospect of those identified benefits. On the other hand, the top five of the martial competition were smiling from ear to ear since they were sure to enter it. On the bleacher close to the sect leader, Ah Mu and Ling Tian together with Mo lan and Yue were having a lively chat discussing about how exited they were about the incoming meet with other martial cultivators from other sects. Only Chen Weimin was the one without any person to talk to.

On the stage, four pill furnace were prepared. One furnace for each participant while on the middle was a large table where bunch of herbs were laid. The final four participants; Yusheng, Tan Zhong, Zhang Li, and Long Bai took their designated positions and readied their minds. When the presiding elder saw that all the four participants were in position, he made the announcement of the rules and requirements.

"Participants, listen well. In today's test, you are tasked to create the highest pill grade you can make. When there will be the same pill grade, the difference of their quality will decide the winner. Take note, only the top 3 will be getting its recognition.

Now, look at the table on the middle of the arena. Here are herbs that you may use in making the pill of your own choice. However, there are ordinary herbs or we call it weeds mixed in there. If you are not careful, your pill making will definitely fail. You may use as much as you can but you are only given two hours. Except Long Bai, you are not allowed to use any herb from your pocket. Now then, let's begin the test."

Dong!

The sound of the monotonous gong was heard. It was the signal of the test to start.

Except Long Bai, the rest of the participants were already certified grade 3 alchemist. In this competition, these three alchemists; Tan Zhong, Zhang Li, and Yusheng would be aiming to make a grade 3 pill of the highest quality. As for Long Bai, he would need to make a grade 4 pill according to what was discussed with the sect leader.

The night just after the 2nd test, Long Bai was called to visit the sect leader's receiving hall. In there, Long Bai was met with the six council elders and the sect leader who were still trying to scrutinize him. That night the sect leader discussed with him what it meant to refine a grade 4 pill. For someone to make a grade 4 pill, they would already be legible for the title senior master alchemist of the sect. Currently, there are only three in the sect who have such title, and one of them was Ling Bai's master. During the meeting, the majority of the council have agreed that if he would be successful in refining a grade 4 pill, they would give him the title honorary elder alchemist of the sect but only in name. Since he is still too young, it might attract a lot of attention and criticism from other places if he would be given the 4th elder alchemist. Although it was just in name, the sect leader cleared out that he would still enjoy the benefits of such title and in addition, he can have his own apprentices.

While on the competition, Long Bai's thought wandered off on those thoughts for a moment. He have already decided that having such title would be beneficial to him since he would need resources for his cultivation to steadily rise. After learning that in a years time, a second rate sect from the mainland will be arriving to recruit disciples into their sect, he wanted to get stronger quickly as possible. Knowing that an unknown force which may come with lots of troubles would be opening their doors, he can't allow himself to be bullied and suffer after entering it. The event was supposed to be in two years time however, it seemed that they were rushing it for a reason. It might have been the reason also as to why the six star sect conducted the awakening ceremony earlier than usual.

While the other three participants were rushing to get their ingredients, Long Bai took his time scanning the herbs as to update his library. In addition, he doesn't need two hours to make the pill since the system will assist him which would manimize the time needed to its shortest. With the hundreds of herbs laid on the wide table, Long Bai was also able to recognize the weeds that were added. They were nearly identical with the other herbs that if one did not carefully examine them, the refining process would definitely fail. This is why they gave two hours to refine a grade 3 pill.

On the sect leader's viewing platform, he was focused on observing Long Bai. From that distance, he can clearly see all his actions, even the minute ones. For such detailed observation, he must be trying to see any of Long Bai's secrets that may appear during the test. If he can tell which part of the mainland forces he belonged, he might be able to curry favor from such force by taking care of him. The prospect of huge rewards were just too tempting for him that he would go to such lengths.