The First Alchemical Trial

The next morning, Li Tian awoke to the faint rustling of leaves and the gentle touch of the morning sun filtering through the canopy above him. His body felt slightly better, though the lingering soreness from the battle with the Spirit Beast remained. Despite the physical toll, his spirit was stronger than ever. The Spirit Gathering Realm coursed through his veins, and his connection to spiritual energy felt much deeper.

As he stood, stretching his stiff muscles, his mind was drawn back to the black shard in his pouch. He had barely had time to think about it before falling asleep. Retrieving it, he held it up again, feeling the strange, unsettling energy pulsing within it. This was no ordinary artifact, and while he couldn't fully grasp its purpose yet, he knew it was somehow connected to his future.

But there was no time to ponder it for too long. His journey was far from over, and his mission—to master the art of alchemy and reclaim his destiny—was just beginning.

Li Tian packed up his things and headed east, toward the nearest town, where he could gather more supplies and hopefully find clues to guide him on his path. His ultimate goal was still to reach the famed Mountain of Alchemical Flames, where it was said the greatest alchemists of the realm trained and unlocked the secrets of divine flames. But first, he needed to find a teacher.

As the day wore on, Li Tian arrived at the outskirts of a small town nestled at the foot of the Green Pine Mountain. The village, known as Lanxiang, was a modest place, but it was a hub for cultivators and alchemists alike due to its proximity to rare herbs and spiritual plants found in the mountains. A bustling market filled the air with the scent of medicinal herbs and the sounds of traders haggling over rare ingredients.

Li Tian made his way through the market, observing the vendors selling everything from spirit stones to alchemical materials. As he passed a stall selling various herbs, his attention was caught by a group of cultivators huddled around a notice board in the center of the square.

Curious, he approached, weaving through the crowd to get a better look at the notice. His eyes widened as he read the bold words:

"Alchemical Competition in Lanxiang! Test your skills in pill refinement! The winner will receive a rare Earth-grade flame essence and entry into the exclusive Silver Ember Sect's alchemy program!"

Li Tian's heart raced. This was exactly the opportunity he had been waiting for. The Silver Ember Sect was renowned for its mastery of flame manipulation and alchemy, and the chance to compete for an Earth-grade flame essence could be the key to advancing his alchemical skills. Not to mention the possibility of gaining access to higher levels of alchemy training.

The competition was scheduled for the following morning, giving Li Tian little time to prepare. But he was no stranger to pressure. If he could just secure a place in the competition and prove himself, it would be his first step toward unlocking the secrets of the Primordial Ember and mastering divine flames.

Determined, he immediately set off to gather the materials he would need. His time in the Spirit Well had granted him some valuable experience in the refinement of pills, but the competition was sure to attract seasoned alchemists, some of whom would have been training for years. He would need to be at his best if he hoped to compete.

That night, Li Tian rented a small room at a nearby inn and began his preparations. He laid out his alchemical furnace, a modest piece of equipment he had carried with him since his previous life. Though it wasn't the most advanced tool, it had served him well in the past, and he trusted it to see him through the competition.

The rules were simple: each participant would have to refine a pill using only the ingredients provided by the competition organizers. The quality and grade of the pill would determine the winner.

Li Tian closed his eyes and began to meditate, clearing his mind and centering his spirit. The Primordial Ember flickered within him, a dangerous and powerful flame that had not yet fully revealed its potential. But tonight, he couldn't afford to rely solely on the ember. He would need precision, skill, and control, traits that had served him well in his past life as an alchemist.

As he meditated, the black shard once again tugged at his consciousness, its eerie energy casting a shadow over his thoughts. Li Tian had no idea what its significance was, but one thing was certain: the shard was no ordinary artifact. For now, though, it would remain a mystery he would have to unravel another day.

The morning of the competition arrived, and Li Tian made his way to the central square, where a large platform had been set up. Dozens of alchemists had already gathered, their robes a mix of colors and styles, each representing different sects and schools. Li Tian kept his head low, not wanting to draw unnecessary attention to himself. He wasn't affiliated with any sect yet, and his goal was to win the competition, not to engage in rivalries.

The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as the participants lined up, and the judges, respected alchemists from the Silver Ember Sect took their seats on an elevated platform. The head judge, an elderly man with a long white beard and sharp eyes, stood and addressed the crowd.

"Welcome to the annual Lanxiang Alchemical Competition," he began, his voice carrying authority. "Today, you will test your skills in pill refinement. You will be given one hour to refine a pill using the ingredients provided. The quality of your pill, as well as the efficiency of your technique, will determine your score. The winner will be granted an Earth-grade flame essence and entry into the Silver Ember Sect's alchemy program."

A murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd. Li Tian clenched his fists, his heart pounding. This was it. His first real test as an alchemist since his reincarnation.

The judges handed out the ingredients to each participant: a bundle of Spirit Grass, a Red Flame Flower, and a small vial of Azure Dew. These were common ingredients used in refining a Qi Gathering Pill, a basic yet essential pill for cultivators in the early stages of their journey.

Li Tian studied the ingredients carefully. The Qi Gathering Pill was a low-level pill, but perfecting it required precise control of spiritual energy and flame manipulation. The challenge would be in creating a pill of high purity and potency.

As the signal to begin sounded, the participants quickly got to work, lighting their furnaces and channeling their spiritual energy into the flames. Li Tian followed suit, igniting a small fire within his furnace, careful to keep it steady and controlled.

He placed the Spirit Grass into the furnace first, watching as it began to break down into its most basic form. His hands moved with practiced precision, guiding the flame with just the right amount of intensity. Too much, and the herbs would burn; too little, and the essence wouldn't be extracted properly.

Next came the Red Flame Flower, a tricky ingredient due to its volatile nature. Li Tian narrowed his focus, his brow furrowing in concentration as he carefully introduced the flower to the flame. It crackled and sparked, but he remained calm, controlling the fire with an experienced hand.

Finally, he added the Azure Dew, a cooling agent that would balance the heat of the other ingredients and help form the pill. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he maintained the delicate balance between heat and coolness, his spiritual energy flowing smoothly into the furnace.

Around him, he could hear the occasional explosion or hiss of failure as other participants lost control of their flames or overcooked their ingredients. But Li Tian remained steady, his movements fluid and confident. He could feel the pill forming within the furnace, the ingredients merging together into a harmonious whole.

Time ticked by, and as the final moments of the competition approached, Li Tian carefully retrieved the pill from the furnace. It was small and round, with a faint blue glow, a sign of high purity.

The judges began inspecting the pills, moving from one participant to the next. Li Tian watched as they scrutinized each pill, their expressions giving nothing away.

When they reached him, the head judge picked up Li Tian's pill and examined it closely. A moment of silence passed before the judge nodded slightly, a glint of approval in his eyes.

As the final results were announced, Li Tian's heart raced. His name was called, he had placed among the top three, securing his position in the next round and catching the attention of the Silver Ember Sect.

But this was only the beginning. The true test of his alchemical skills was yet to come, and the path ahead was fraught with danger and opportunity. With the Earth-grade flame essence within his grasp, Li Tian knew that his journey to master the divine flames was about to take a monumental step forward.