Chapter 793: The Alchemist from the Lower Realm

At this moment, Xiao Yan had already sealed the Fire God Mountain Cauldron, placed the elixir into a jade box, and casually tossed it to Elder Mu Chen.

Mu Chen originally chose a lower-grade elixir precisely because such pills are not precious, allowing one to personally experience their medicinal effect; no matter how sharp your eyesight or how high your perception, nothing compares to direct ingestion.

As Mu Chen took the jade box Xiao Yan tossed, even the major Ling Clan elders watching from the Ling Realm grew tense, all curious what kind of elixir Xiao Yan's alchemy technique would produce!

Mu Chen's gaze sharpened, his expression slightly grave, as he slowly opened the precious box.

When Mu Chen opened the box, everyone activated their spiritual energy perception, fixing their eyes on Xiao Yan's elixir—and upon seeing it, many were instantly stunned.

For the elixir inside was utterly ordinary: no strange phenomena, no aura, not even a faint pill fragrance.

If left on the roadside, no one would even bother to buy it.

"This… this is ridiculous! Even a pill forged by Black God Thunder shouldn't look like this!"

"Is this really a Supreme-grade spiritual pill? It's indistinguishable from an ordinary one."

Many who saw this elixir were utterly speechless.

"Hah, I thought he had some real skill—turns out he's just putting on a show."

"Even the pill fragrance is this weak—his alchemy technique must just look impressive but be hollow."

Many had seen Xiao Yan's golden dragon swallowing the heavens, drawing lightning into the pill, and assumed his alchemy technique was so powerful that the elixir must be surrounded by dazzling phenomena.

The pill's formation should have taken the shape of a golden dragon or divine phoenix, or at the very least, radiated blinding light with special effects.

Yet Xiao Yan's pill was now so utterly plain, its fragrance so faint, leaving many unable to accept it—this pill was as absurd as his medicinal material refinement.

"I feel something's off—Yan Zunzhe possesses a Heavenly Flame, so why didn't he use it?" someone frowned, sensing this wasn't simple.

"Possessing a Heavenly Flame doesn't guarantee control—it's a force of Heaven and Earth; even an Earth Supreme might not master it," others sneered, seeing Xiao Yan as a clown trying to impress, believing his acquisition of a Heavenly Flame and rise to upper Earth Supreme had made him arrogant.

Like some nouveau riche who, once wealthy, become utterly conceited.

Clearly, in the minds of those from the Great Thousand World, they saw Xiao Yan as exactly that: a nouveau riche who got lucky, acquiring a Heavenly Flame to boost his power.

But Mu Chen clearly didn't think so—he stared at the ordinary-looking elixir in his hand, as plain as a river pebble, and his expression grew even more solemn.

He was an Earth Supreme, so he understood Xiao Yan's alchemy technique was no mere spectacle; even if the pill were inferior, integrating storm clouds into the Pill Lightning was far superior to Cao Zi's use of a Supreme Form fused with Heaven and Earth spiritual power.

"Then I shall taste it," Mu Chen solemnly picked up the pill and slowly placed it in his mouth.

The instant the pill entered his throat, it instantly dissolved into a hot stream sliding downward—and the next second, all its effects exploded within him, as if Pill Lightning had detonated inside his body!

!!!!!!!??

"Huh!?"

Mu Chen's eyes suddenly widened, his body trembling as faint rays of light burst from his skin—each ray was real, tangible, and brimming with pure, radiant light.

"It's a Pill Ring!"

"The pill's power is internalized, concealed within the body! This is the legendary pill quality!" an elder alchemist exclaimed in shock upon seeing this.

"Legendary quality?!" Youths unfamiliar with it remained clueless, but elders from major factions instantly trembled with excitement—legendary quality was no small thing!

"Such pills negate drug resistance; their effects act directly on the body. Especially potency-boosting pills, which usually carry resistance—only one can be taken in a lifetime—but this kind of pill might bypass resistance entirely, allowing multiple doses of the same pill!"

Yet soon, the light on Mu Chen's body gradually faded. After all, no matter how high the quality, the rank was still limited.

"How is it? How is it? What's the pill's effect?" Several elder patriarchs from prestigious sects couldn't help asking.

"Yes! How does it compare to Cao Zi's pill?"

Mu Chen fell silent for a moment, then slowly walked before everyone and placed two empty brocade boxes on the table.

"Well?" A patriarch from a faction allied with the Heavenly Saint Sect eagerly asked, sensing Mu Chen had reached a conclusion.

Mu Chen glanced at the elder who asked, then said gravely: "After my evaluation, the quality of this pill is the pinnacle I've ever seen—even after consuming a Recovery Spirit Sovereign Pill just now, I felt virtually no drug resistance."

"What? That's impossible! Taking two identical pills consecutively always produces resistance!" A common alchemist protested, finding this absurd.

Elder Mu Chen paused, then said: "Generally speaking, yes. Even the most common healing pills grow weaker with repeated use—consecutive doses drastically reduce or even nullify their effect."

Here, the Wood Spirit Tribe elder paused, then looked toward Xiao Yan: "But this healing pill's alchemy technique is uniquely rare—it swallowed storm clouds into the pill, infusing it with a trace of Heaven and Earth power."

"Heaven and Earth power? Is this a Heaven Sovereign Pill?!" Some elder alchemists gasped in awe: "Impossible! Only a Grandmaster Alchemist can forge a Heaven Sovereign Pill containing Heaven and Earth power!"

Pills used by Heaven Supremes are called Heaven Pills or Heaven Sovereign Pills. It is widely known that breaking through to Heaven Supreme requires dimensional power—here meaning the will or force of Heaven and Earth.

Thus, after reaching Heaven Supreme, cultivation becomes further absorption of Heaven and Earth's will, and the quality of Heaven Supreme pills is judged by the amount of Heaven and Earth power they contain.

At this moment, all eyes turned to Xiao Yan, filled with shock and pale with astonishment.

A Grandmaster Alchemist this young?!

Xiao Yan calmly said: "How could I possibly be a Grandmaster Alchemist? This is merely a trace of Heaven and Earth power resulting from my alchemy technique—insignificant to a Heaven Supreme, useless even to an Earth Supreme."

Xiao Yan didn't hide it—this alchemy technique was an improvement on his Bodhi Hundred Lives Pill Refining Method. Since arriving in the Great Thousand World, Xiao Yan had relentlessly sought ancient texts and pill formulas related to alchemy.

Different paths lead to the same goal: no matter the world, the purpose of medicine is always for people, ultimately acting upon them—and pills act upon cultivators.

After understanding the Great Thousand World's cultivation system, Xiao Yan made adjustments and forged pills suitable for its cultivators.

Xiao Yan's greatest talent is his alchemy talent—he was self-taught, and since arriving in the Great Thousand World, given time to explore, he quickly reached the very essence of alchemy, even advancing beyond it.

Especially since his Inferno Scripture had evolved—through its evolution, Xiao Yan saw the Great Thousand World's cultivation system!

The Inferno Scripture evolves, and Xiao Yan had watched its evolution closely.

From Yellow Grade Low to Profound Class, Earth Rank, Heavenly Rank, Emperor Grade, and now—through the Inferno Scripture's evolution, Xiao Yan witnessed the development and evolution of the world and its cultivation system!

This is the true strength of the Inferno Scripture—it's not merely about devouring Heavenly Flames to evolve; it allows its wielder to witness the essence of cultivation. The scripture's evolution is like cultivation itself, constantly ascending to higher realms!

Xiao Yan used the Inferno Scripture's evolution to infer the whole from a part, to see the big picture through a narrow view!

"Now, who won and who lost?" Xiao Yan looked at Cao Zi, then glanced at Mu Chen.

"Sigh," Mu Chen sighed, pointing at Xiao Yan's box: "The victor is… the Soul Palace, Yan Zunzhe."

At this moment, Cao Zi's face was deathly pale—he could no longer maintain his lofty, peerless demeanor. He stood utterly shattered, his expression vacant.

For Cao Zi, this blow was too great—he had always prided himself on the ancient Wancao Grassland alchemy technique. Yet Xiao Yan had defeated him effortlessly, a result he could not bear.

To Cao Zi, he had always been a child of destiny, a prodigy of alchemy. Though not the strongest in the ancient Wancao Grassland, he still ranked among the top of the Young Generation—even within Wancao Grassland.

But today, he had been defeated by Xiao Yan—and utterly, catastrophically.

For a moment, heaven and earth fell silent; everyone's eyes widened, everyone's mouths gaped open, wanting to cry out—but not a sound came out.

Even after hearing the result, many stared blankly, unable to believe their own ears!

The Alchemist of the Ancient Myriad Grasslands had lost a Pill Alchemy contest!!!

And he lost to someone even younger than Cao Zi!

Xiao Yan was barely forty years old; among Upper Earth Supremes, he was not the youngest, but he was certainly young—far younger than many present.

Seeing this, no one could believe it, no one could accept this reality—because outside the Dan Shen Clan, no other Faction could surpass the Ancient Myriad Grasslands in the sophistication of Pill Refining Method when crafting Pills of the same Rank.

A young man, sprung from nowhere, had crafted a Pill the Ancient Myriad Grasslands could not—even if he told this story, no one would believe it.

"This, this, this can't be real."

"My god, what is the origin of the Soul Palace? How did they train such a powerful Alchemist?"

Some couldn't believe their eyes and pinched themselves hard; when sharp pain surged through them, they realized this was no illusion, no dream—it was real, an unbelievable truth unfolding before their eyes.

"This, this, how could this be?!" For many, even after witnessing it, it felt impossible, unimaginable.

"Could the Flame Lord's Pill Refining Method have reached Master level?!"

"Sssss! Master!"

In an instant, countless people speculated about Xiao Yan's origins and Pill Alchemy strength. No one had ever believed Xiao Yan could reach Master level, for all Masters in the Great Thousand World came from the Dan Shen Clan or the Ancient Myriad Grasslands.

These two Factions had monopolized Pill Refining Inheritance for fifty thousand years—ask anyone, who else could break through to Pill Master level? Others didn't even possess a single Pill Formula.

Of course, if Xiao Yan came from the Lower Plane, that would be even more unbelievable.

"No, no, this is absolutely impossible, this cannot be true! Our Ancient Myriad Grasslands' Pill Refining Method is the strongest!" The myth shattered—this blow was more painful than death for Cao Zi, who prided himself on the Ancient Myriad Grasslands.

In Cao Zi's heart, he would rather die a gruesome death than accept that the Ancient Myriad Grasslands' Pill Refining Method was inferior to some wild Cultivator Alchemists. This outcome was too unbearable, too cruel for him!

"Too bad—I'm the one who won." Xiao Yan smiled. "Enough. You've lost. According to our wager, you must hand over the Ancient Myriad Grasslands' Pill Refining Inheritance!"

Xiao Yan had dominated the Ning Tian Continent and acquired every Pill Refining Inheritance available there. To further elevate his Alchemy, he needed the experience of predecessors—that's why he set his sights on Cao Zi.

Xiao Yan's words instantly turned Cao Zi's face pale. He growled, "They say killing ends at the severing of the head—don't push too far. The Ancient Myriad Grasslands' Inheritance is a secret; no outsider may obtain it. Whoever gains our Pill Refining Method will be hunted down by the Ancient Myriad Grasslands—even if you're a Heavenly Supreme."

"So you're saying you lost and won't pay up?" Xiao Yan merely sneered coldly—he was used to such cheating. "Enough talk. I don't care about your 'killing ends at the head' nonsense or your Ancient Myriad Grasslands. You lost. That's final."

Xiao Yan's words turned Cao Zi's face livid with rage. He gritted his teeth, tore off his mask, and sneered, "You, a mere Upper Earth Supreme, dare oppose the Heavenly Saint Sect? Dare oppose the Ancient Myriad Grasslands? Have you thought of your fate? Even if I gave you our Pill Refining Method, the Ancient Myriad Grasslands would tear you to shreds, exterminate your nine clans, drown your bloodline in rivers of blood!"

Seeing Cao Zi turn hostile on a dime, many sneered—but Cao Zi's words held truth. Even if Xiao Yan were a Full Earth Supreme or a Heavenly Supreme, the Ancient Myriad Grasslands would never let this go—they would reclaim their Pill Refining Method.

A rational person, at this point, would spare Cao Zi and demand another reward.

"The Ancient Myriad Grasslands? What are they? Even if I kill you, what can they do?" Xiao Yan said lazily, utterly unconcerned by the threat.

What did he care about Ancient Myriad Grasslands or Poisoned Myriad Grasslands? If pushed too far, Xiao Yan would simply flee to the Domain Beyond—how could they chase him into the Domain Beyond's territory?

Since he'd already joined the Soul Palace, adding the Domain Beyond's allegiance wasn't much of a stretch—after all, he'd already obtained their Secret Treasure.

So Xiao Yan didn't care about the Ancient Myriad Grasslands—the Soul Palace and the Domain Beyond were one family.

Of course, the Domain Beyond had been defeated; the Great Thousand World still held dominance. Xiao Yan would not invoke the Domain Beyond's power unless absolutely necessary.

A mere Earth Supreme dared provoke and ignore the Ancient Myriad Grasslands like this—many exchanged glances. What was the true origin of the Soul Palace?

"You!" Cao Zi had assumed the Ancient Myriad Grasslands would frighten Xiao Yan—but Xiao Yan didn't care at all.

"Isn't it time you honored your wager?" Xiao Yan dismissed Cao Zi, saying.

"You—" Cornered by Xiao Yan, Cao Zi's face twisted in fury. He shouted, "Your Pill Refining Method is too advanced to come from the Great Thousand World! You must be from the Domain Beyond! How else could you surpass the Ancient Myriad Grasslands' technique?! You've conspired with the Domain Beyond demons!!"

Cao Zi's face flushed crimson then ashen; he made up his mind and hurled filth at Xiao Yan.

Others in the crowd shook their heads. Even the Ancestors of the Five Spirit Clans looked disdainful.

"Though the Flame Lord's Pill Refining Method is indeed mysterious, how could it possibly come from the Domain Beyond?"

"Exactly—people shouldn't be this shameless. You lost. Admit it."

"This is an Alchemist of the Ancient Myriad Grasslands? Accusing others like this?"

"Lying costs nothing, doesn't it?"

Many in the crowd now thought Cao Zi had gone mad—someone invented a superior Pill Refining Method, and he accused them of conspiring with the Domain Beyond.

Yet no one noticed Xiao Yixian, quietly watching beside them, suddenly avoiding eye contact. Xiao Yan still wore a smile—but a bead of sweat slid down his forehead; his throat moved as he swallowed hard.

This boy must not be allowed to live!

Beside him, Mu Chen glanced at Xiao Yan's "confident" smile and said calmly, "The Flame Lord's Pill Refining Method is not from the Great Thousand World. If I'm not mistaken, he's an Alchemist from the Lower Plane."

"Lower Plane!!!"

"Impossible! How could the Lower Plane produce such an advanced Pill Refining Method!"

"No wonder he looked confused studying the Fire God Mountain Cauldron, like he didn't know how to operate it—he's from the Lower Plane!"

"So the Lower Plane has Alchemists this powerful?"

"I am indeed from the Lower Plane." Xiao Yan smiled, but his heart was in chaos—he hastily changed the subject. "None of that matters. What matters is—you, Cao Zi of the Heavenly Saint Sect, have lost. According to our wager, hand over your Pill Formulas and Pill Refining Method!"

With a hum, Xiao Yan waved his hand—a gray Heavenly Flame surged toward Cao Zi, intending to seize him first.

Today only one chapter

(End of Chapter)