Chapter 60: Nangong Bai Xue doesn't believe it!

In a moment, everyone was discussing heatedly.

"Nangong Bai Xue and Ye Chen have called off their engagement; she is now the intended fiancée of Ancient Qin Clan's heir Qin Xiao. At first glance, Ye Chen is no ordinary person either. Tsk tsk tsk... there's a good show to watch!"

"If Ye Chen can make a stunning performance in the competition among the myriad genius alchemists, then he will surely seize this opportunity to make his name known throughout the various prefectures of Nan Huang."

"Ye Chen's loss is due to the Ye Clan being too weak—just a measly Qing Prefecture, a mere speck of land; the Green City Ye Clan is only a quasi-emperor-level force, utterly incomparable to the Ancient Qin Clan!"

"......"

Everyone eagerly awaits Ye Chen's performance tomorrow.

At the same time.

The pavilion where the Cloud Yang Alchemy Saint resides.

The Cloud Yang Alchemy Saint, clad in a gray robe, stood with hands behind his back, gazing at Nangong Bai Xue: "Bai Xue, you were overly impulsive today. In such a setting, you shouldn't have spoken."

Nangong Bai Xue's face flushed red: "Master, I was wrong."

The Cloud Yang Alchemy Saint nodded: "Knowing you're wrong is good. However, that old fiend Cang Li dared to strike you—I won't let this rest with him!"

Nangong Bai Xue muttered softly: "Master, I still think Ye Chen, that trash, is spouting nonsense."

The Cloud Yang Alchemy Saint frowned slightly: "Your eyes are now clouded by hatred. No matter whether Ye Chen's words are something he heard or memorized in advance, the weight of his speech completely surpasses the discourses of us Heavenly Tier Alchemists."

"Ah?"

Nangong Bai Xue's mouth opened wide into an "O" shape.

I never expected my master's evaluation to be so high!

The Cloud Yang Alchemy Saint continued: "Regarding Ye Chen, since the engagement is called off, don't dwell on it. If he truly is a genius, Qin Xiao won't let him go."

Nangong Bai Xue nodded.

"......"

The next day.

Everyone once again came to the square before Alchemy Peak.

Alchemy Peak's Peak Master, Gu Yuefang, stepped through the void and arrived upon the high platform, then spoke slowly.

"Over the next seven days, it will be the competition of the younger generation of alchemists!"

"The competition consists of two rounds."

"The first round is a contest of herbal mastery; one-tenth can advance!"

"The second round is an alchemy showdown; ranking will be based on the final pills you refine, deciding the top ten!"

The voice fell!

Everyone was extremely excited.

The myriad genius alchemists clenched their fists, eager to try.

Especially the geniuses of the Medicine Clan and the Alchemy Incense Sect!

Next, Gu Yuefang began announcing the rewards for the top ten.

"The rewards for the top ten are as follows!"

"First place: a quasi-emperor-tier alchemy furnace, a stalk of saint-king-tier beast fire, one million top-grade spirit stones, a hundred stalks of saint-tier spirit herbs..."

"Second place: a saint-king-tier alchemy furnace, a stalk of saint-tier beast fire, five hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones..."

"Third place..."

Many geniuses were somewhat shocked.

This time's rewards seem far higher than before!

A quasi-emperor-tier alchemy furnace!

A stalk of saint-king-tier beast fire!

This is the foundation of the Grand Dao Sect!

Ye Chen was slightly astonished, but his heart had no great turbulence.

After all, the first-place prize pales in comparison to what his master gave him—it's far, far inferior.

Thinking of this, Ye Chen blinked slightly.

At some point, under his master's influence, he came to look down upon all treasures below the emperor tier.

Ye Chen immediately muttered to himself, "Stay low-key, definitely stay low-key."

Yao Yan reminded him, "When the time comes to refine pills, remember not to expose the Bone-chilling Netherfire and the Heaven-devouring Crucible! If you bring out these two treasures, those Heavenly Tier Alchemists will likely go crazy!"

Ye Chen said, "Alright. But I have no other alchemy furnace or spiritual fire."

Yao Yan said, "Why not borrow one from Peak Master Gu Yuefang? After all, if you asked your master, he'd probably pull out some shocking treasure again!"

Ye Chen nodded.

Soon.

Alchemy Peak's Peak Master Gu Yuefang announced, "The herbal mastery competition begins now!"

As he spoke, Gu Yuefang flicked his sleeve, and an incomparably huge radiant barrier appeared in the square.

Gu Yuefang said, "After each person steps in, they will enter an independent space. This time's herbal mastery exam questions were jointly formulated by dozens of us Heavenly Tier Alchemists! There are five hundred questions in total, covering the medicinal properties and habits of spirit herbs, as well as their grafting..."

The voice fell!

Gu Yuefang, Dan Xiangzi, Yao Bai Li, and the dozens of Heavenly Tier Alchemists all acted together, radiant divine brilliance shooting into the barrier.

At that moment, each of their exam questions merged into one and were inscribed upon a jade slip.

Ye Chen looked at Lu Xuan and said, "Master, I will definitely take first place."

Lu Xuan gave a faint nod.

Several thousand alchemists stepped into the barrier.

Each person's area spans several zhang, containing a table, a chair, and a jade slip.

Forming its own space!

Before stepping into the barrier, Nangong Bailixue sent a mental transmission to Ye Chen: "Ye Chen, you had best pray you don't enter the second round, otherwise you'll die miserably…"

You should know that during the second round of pill refining, one can engage in soul combat.

Nangong Bailixue decided to cripple Ye Chen during the soul duel!

Ye Chen directly ignored Nangong Bailixue and stepped into the barrier.

Above the Void, Gu Yuefang, Yao Xiangzi, and others sat cross-legged, extending their divine sense to monitor every move of the alchemists within the barrier in full detail.

Gu Yuefang said, "This exam involves an enormous variety of spiritual herbs, posing a great test of these disciples' alchemical skill; it can be called the most difficult in hundreds of years."

Yao Xiangzi nodded, "Not bad. If anyone can answer over eighty percent of this exam correctly, their herbal knowledge below the Heavenly Tier will pass!"

Yao Bai Li turned his gaze toward the many talents of the Yao Clan.

Their answering speed was very fast!

Moments later.

Yao Xiangzi suddenly exclaimed, "Everyone, quickly look at Ye Chen!"

Everyone immediately directed their divine sense toward the space where Ye Chen was.

They all froze.

Ye Chen almost instinctively selected the answers.

Elder Canglao said faintly, "I fear that working quickly might mean all the answers are wrong."

Gu Yuefang: "……"

Now Ye Chen hasn't yet left the barrier, so they cannot check his answers.

Yao Bai Li said, "At Ye Chen's speed, he might finish in half a day."

Yao Xiangzi nodded, "About right."

Half a day later.

Ye Chen walked straight out of the barrier and returned to Lu Xuan's side.

Lu Xuan asked, "How did it go?"

Ye Chen said, "I got one question wrong; the rest I answered correctly."

Lu Xuan nodded, not surprised.

But everyone else looked shocked.

Did he really finish in just half a day?

Yao Bai Li looked at the Yao Clan's geniuses; the fastest among them had completed only a third of the questions.

Yao Xiangzi also silently shook her head; the disciples of the Yao Xiangzi Sect were still pondering hard.

Elder Canglao's face darkened, "Let's see how this kid's herbal knowledge measures up."

Yao Xiangzi and the others immediately took out Ye Chen's jade slip.

Moments later.

Everyone was stunned.

Aside from one question marked "this question is wrong," all the others were answered correctly.

Yao Xiangzi exclaimed in shock, "Ye Chen's herbal knowledge is terrifyingly profound!"

Canglao, with a cold face, said, "Let me see what's going on—this brat actually claims my question is flawed?"

Yao Bai Li and the others immediately examined Canglao's question on spiritual herb grafting.

"How to graft Dream Dew Flower, Three Star Grass, Flame Grass, Ghost Mushroom, Thorn Mud Moss… onto the Blood Thorn Branch?"

This question is extremely difficult, testing knowledge of the medicinal properties, habits, and mutual reactions of dozens of spiritual herbs.

Canglao beckoned to Ye Chen, saying, "You brat, come here."

Ye Chen immediately went over.

Canglao asked, "What is the error in this question?"

Ye Chen smiled and said, "Senior, when Dream Dew Flower, Flame Grass, and Three Star Grass are together, they produce a liquid called Star Dew Liquid; if Star Dew Liquid meets Ghost Mushroom, it will wither within three days."

Upon hearing this, everyone was slightly taken aback.

Canglao looked displeased, "Are you questioning my herbal expertise?"

Saying this, Canglao flicked his sleeve, and the Dream Dew Flower, Three Star Grass, Flame Grass, Ghost Mushroom, Thorn Mud Moss, and the Blood Thorn Branch all floated into the air.

Canglao's spiritual technique shifted, and he directly grafted all those spiritual herbs onto the Blood Thorn Branch.

Yao Xiangzi and the others gathered around.

Canglao mobilized his spiritual power to hasten the maturation of the Blood Thorn Branch.

In less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, this grafted spiritual herb seemed to have endured three days.

Instantly.

The Blood Thorn Branch blossomed, magnificently splendid.

Canglao scolded, "Look, there's no problem at all…"

Before he finished speaking, the Blood Thorn Branch blossomed fleetingly and then withered, exuding a white, viscous liquid from its stalk with a faint fishy odor.

Canglao was left stunned.

Yao Xiangzi, Yao Bai Li, and the others stared at Ye Chen in utter shock, "Ye Chen, how did you know this?"

You should know that the world of cultivation has countless spiritual herbs; the Yao Clan's 'Classic of Herbs' is vast and boundless, yet still hasn't recorded them all.

And when it comes to grafting spiritual herbs, the test isn't just about herbal knowledge; more often, one needs to personally experiment.

Therefore, just now Yao Xiangzi and the others couldn't determine whether that question was flawed.

But Ye Chen knew this!

Gu Yuefang smiled faintly, his satisfaction with Ye Chen growing.

Under everyone's gaze, Ye Chen said, "I once saw this in an ancient book."

Cang Li frowned. "Take out your ancient book; let me have a look."

Ye Chen was slightly taken aback.

This is the herbal expertise he gained from the Dan Emperor's memories—how can he take it out?

Seeing Ye Chen's difficulty, Gu Yuefang coughed. "Cough cough... Fellow Daoist Cang Li, this ancient book involves some secrets; let's leave it at that."

Elder Cang Li's expression wavered, but he ultimately did not press further.

Yao Bai Li smiled at Ye Chen. "Not bad. I very much look forward to your performance in alchemy."

Soon.

Ye Chen returned to Lu Xuan's side.

Two days later.

Disciples continued to emerge from the barrier.

Nangong Baxue also emerged early, wearing a simple elegant gown, her face glistening with sweat, and returned satisfied to the area of the Supreme Profound Sect.

She glanced to the side, frowning slightly. "How did this trash Ye Chen get out before me?"

Someone remarked, "Ye Chen walked out of the barrier in just half a day!"

Hearing this, Nangong Baxue pursed her lips and smiled. "Heh. Indeed trash—half a day, he probably can't even finish the exam questions! To him, it's likely as incomprehensible as heavenly script."

Someone said, "Ye Chen answered all the exam questions correctly and even pointed out Elder Cang Li's mistake."

Nangong Baxue's face filled with disbelief as she exclaimed, "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! How could this trash possibly do that?"

…