Alchemist's Garden

At the entrance of the cave, a fierce battle was in progress.

The disciples of the Gentle Snow sect were using hit and run tactics on the Yin Sea sect Disciples, trying to push them deep into the cave. The Luan gave them a tactical advantage in speed. Mu Liqin's ice spells were lethal to anyone who got hit and with other disciples of the Gentle Snow sect also raining Ice spells from the air, they were keeping the much more numerous Yin Sea Sect Disciples at bay.

It also helped that the Yin Sea sect's strongest cultivators were inside, futilely chasing after Sheng Zhen.

".... two, Stabbing Ice, Cracking World!"

~BOOOM~

Mu Liqin yelled, and a white Qi left her hand and struck near the cave's mouth like lightning before the entire ground erupted in ice and dirt.

The flayers and Cultivators near the explosion were struck with cold, sharp shards of Ice and ripped apart by the force of the explosion. Even those who survived were bleeding, thanks to ice that had ripped straight through the layers of Qi protecting their body. The frost qi leaking into their body made sure they were good as dead.

"Damn it, she is too powerful."

"Where is senior Yi?"

"Lay down the Locking Formatio...AAHHHHHhh"

Another explosion of ice and dirt wet off and the Yin Sea sect disciples retreated deeper.

"Senior Mu, take it easy." Contrary to what it seemed, the Gentle snow sect was also not having it easy. Mu Liqin was breathing heavily, having released Dozens of large-scale attacks in succession. The Gentle snow sect disciples were holding on but they were outnumbered one to thirty. But instead of retreating, they kept on pushing.

"We have to keep pushing. Don't give them time to lay Locking Formation. Keep Firing"

Frost and Ice Qi rained down on flayers and Black-robed cultivators, even Golden core cultivators who were able to fly were nothing in front of Luan's celerity.

"Just hold on till senior Yi returns!" a Golden core black-robed cultivator yelled.

Mu Liquin threw another spell and looked at her sisters. Everyone was overexerting themselves using spells. Even her Luna was slowing down.

Just then a transmission talisman appeared near her head and burned, delivering her the message.

Mu Liqin smiled, "Just hold on a few moments, help is arriving."

________________________________________

Sheng Zhen lightly knocked on the silver door.

"What?", Xuanwu snapped.

"I am done"

"Oh, you are...what done?"

Sheng Zhen nodded and raised the tome he had picked.

The Xuanwu narrowed his eyes and checked the manual, "Yes, this is it. You pass, huraay."

"Next Trial?"

"Humm yes, oh yes", Xuanwu exited the door and once again started to float in the sir, "Keep the Tome, you will need it."

Sheng Zhen lowered the tome and looked at the title, 'Soul, spirit and Body Reemergence Pill, never seen this one before.'

The pill formula though incomplete was of a Rank Three Pill, and a very special one at that. Sheng Zhen was sure there was no other pill like this one in the entire cosmos. This was a treatment of a very special, very unique condition.

"Follow me, the next round is waiting", Xuanwu moved towards the end of the room, where there was another long path made out of golden stones.

Sheng Zhen followed behind, keeping pace with the silver flying Xuanwu.

"What is next stage?"

"Just wait and see", Xuanwu smiled mysteriously.

Sheng Zhen shrugged and kept walking. Before long, he saw another silver door labeled Fourth Trial at a distance but this one was without any turtle head knocker.

The moment he reached the silver door, it opened on its own and Sheng Zhen stepped into an entirely difficult world.

"Wow", the floor was lush spirit grass instead of hard rock. Myriad of spiritual herbs and trees grew all around them, and the dense Essence Qi lingered in the air.

Elemental flowers bloomed in fields with fire and ice dancing around them, signaling their bloom, Golden sundrops fell like dew, wet despite containing purest fire qi, Red ripe vines slithered on the grass, manifested qi of spiritual herbs on verge of becoming demons, luring unasuming beings. If there was any Anchemist's paradise, this was it.

"The garden Yun Cang personally cared for ten millennia with all his heart, isn't it beautiful?"

"Yeah", Sheng Zhen answered, mesmerized. His inner alchemist was doing backflips in joy at the mere sight of such a wonder.

Even the common spirit grass below his feet was good enough to be used in Rank four Pills, much less other spiritual herbs.

"So the Fourth trial is simple", Xuanwu's words broke Sheng Zhen out of his trance, "Do you have the Tome, good. All you need to do is complete the formula and collect the ingredients you need. You will be making the pill in the next Trial."

"What?" Sheng Zhen was shocked, this was definitely not easy by any means.

"Oh, and did I tell, you couldn't leave until you complete it." Xuanwu laughed, "So long" and vanished.

Sheng Zhen shook his head in exasperation. Making a new pill was by no means an easy feat. It could take decades, centuries, and sometimes, even millennia and he had to complete it in a single trial.

He just shook his head and plopped down to read the Manual.

He had no idea just a few dozen miles off his location, there were hundreds of cultivators, all decked in inky black robes scoraging the paradise-like garden.