Chapter 513: Then I, Too, Must Strive

Inside the Li family’s alchemy tower, the air was thick with the aged scent of elixirs, the faint spiciness of herbs, and a subtle hint of flame.

Lin Chen was not cultivating elixirs in the alchemy chamber; instead, he was immersed in a green jade slip, and on one side of the table lay nearly a hundred jade slips already read.

These slips were all he had finished reviewing in recent days, each recording notes on medicinal property transformations, the harmonization of sovereign, minister, assistant, and envoy herbs, and the balancing of extreme medicinal conflicts.

The jade slips glowed faintly, projecting abstract alchemical diagrams deep into Lin Chen’s mind.

His fingers tapped unconsciously on the purple sandalwood desk, pausing at times, brows furrowing—this was simulating medicinal flow with spiritual sense—then relaxing again, eyes flashing with sudden insight.

His powerful Level 7 comprehension was fully active, rapidly absorbing, deconstructing, and reassembling others’ experience into his own unique alchemy system, built upon his vast spiritual soul and peculiar flame.

At that moment, the array barrier below the tower rippled slightly, and a slender figure hurried in, rushing straight toward Lin Chen.

Li Qin’s face, usually calm and gentle, now bore an uncommon flush of excitement and urgency.

“Master Xiao!”

Lin Chen withdrew his spiritual sense from the jade slip, looked up at Li Qin, saw her agitation, and set the slip down with a solemn tone: “Miss Li, what’s the rush?”

Li Qin took a deep breath, her gaze fixed intently on Lin Chen, and said firmly: “The Thousand Mechanisms Sect just issued an announcement—the rewards for the Alchemy Competition have changed. Drastically.”

“Drastically? Good or bad?”

Lin Chen sat up slightly; if Li Qin called it a drastic change, it must be significant.

“The first-place winner of this alchemy competition will gain the opportunity to study the Thousand Mechanisms Sect’s Nine Revolutions Merged Primordial Scripture—and not just that, but also the Grand Yi Azure Spirit Record from the Medicine King Valley.”

“The Nine Revolutions Merged Primordial Scripture and the Grand Yi Azure Spirit Record?”

Lin Chen’s eyes flashed with sharp light; even before he began alchemy, he had heard of these two scriptures—renowned as the two most supreme alchemy techniques in the Yan Emperor Dynasty. But these weren’t merely alchemy methods; they were also top-tier cultivation scriptures.

The status of the Thousand Mechanisms Sect needed no explanation, and Lin Chen knew the Medicine King Valley well—among the few powerful factions mentioned in his master’s jade slips, the Medicine King Valley was one.

Although the Medicine King Valley had no experts of the Ten Thousand Manifestations realm, it was protected by an Alchemy Master—who might not possess Ten Thousand Manifestations power himself, yet could influence those who did.

The Medicine King Valley’s network of influence was not to be underestimated!

“Why would the Thousand Mechanisms Sect suddenly change the rewards?”

“I don’t know the reason, but the Thousand Mechanisms Sect’s official notice states that the alchemy competition, originally scheduled for the second round, has been moved to the final stage. Moreover, any alchemist under fifty who holds a Four-Star Alchemist certification from the Alchemy Guild—or who passes the Guild’s current examination—is now eligible to enter the final contest.”

Li Qin’s explanation made Lin Chen’s expression twist slightly—it sounded too much like a “radish pit” from his past life.

A reward created for someone specific?

The only difference was, this “radish pit” demanded real ability.

“Master Xiao, this alchemy competition will likely be dozens of times harder than before. Many alchemists didn’t enter for various reasons, but with the Thousand Mechanisms Sect’s reward on the table, they’ll all be tempted.”

Winning the alchemy competition could make an alchemist famous overnight, plus earn a reward—true fame and fortune.

But for top alchemy clans, it might not be worth the effort—if they had time, they’d come; if not, they’d skip it.

Now, faced with such an enticing reward, they’d definitely be tempted and rush to join.

Hearing Li Qin, Lin Chen understood: this competition would draw in many alchemy prodigies; alchemists who once barely made the top hundred might now struggle to enter the top two hundred.

“Have you heard of any powerful alchemists arriving in Thousand Mechanisms City?”

Li Qin shook her head, then her eyes flickered with sudden realization: “Master Xiao, you think the Thousand Mechanisms Sect suddenly raised the reward because of someone specific?”

“In my homeland, the empire needed talent to govern, and talent selection relied on examination results—only those who passed could be appointed and receive salary. But there was one exception: sometimes, the empire had no such official post, yet because a noble’s heir needed it, the bureau created a new position for selection.”

Lin Chen spoke with deep implication: “For years, the alchemy competition’s rewards never changed significantly. This sudden, massive shift can only mean someone needs this reward—and is using the competition as a pretext to obtain it.”

“I understand. You mean the Thousand Mechanisms Sect set this reward for someone specific—perhaps one of their own prodigious disciples?”

“Very likely. But it doesn’t affect your Li family unless you’re aiming for first place.”

“Master Xiao overestimates the Li family,” Li Qin smiled bitterly. “We’ve never dared to dream of first place…”

She didn’t voice the second half of her thought: she truly feared that with so many powerful alchemists joining, could Master Xiao still make the top ten?

But since Master Xiao himself showed no concern, she wouldn’t show doubt in him.

After delivering the news, Li Qin didn’t stay long—she had received Lin Chen’s warning and now needed to inform the Elders, to see if any extraordinary alchemists had arrived for this year’s competition.

…

Alchemy Tower.

Li Qin’s news had no effect on Lin Chen’s mood; after reviewing several more jade slips in the tower, he returned to the guest quarters.

“The Grand Yi Azure Spirit Record and the Nine Revolutions Merged Primordial Scripture—do you know anything about them, Yin Yue?”

Lin Chen recounted Li Qin’s news to Yin Yue, including his own speculation.

“Your guess is correct. The Thousand Mechanisms Sect raising the reward to this level—something that would drive every alchemist mad—must have a deeper reason. The Thousand Mechanisms Sect can afford to offer the Nine Revolutions Merged Primordial Scripture, but they cannot obtain the Grand Yi Azure Spirit Record. That scripture is the Medicine King Valley’s ultimate technique, accessible only to the current and future Valley Masters.”

Yin Yue paused, then gave the same conclusion as Lin Chen.

“The Thousand Mechanisms Sect might be willing, but the Medicine King Valley is a family clan—they’d never give it up. If there’s a special figure involved, it’s almost certainly someone from the Medicine King Valley participating in this competition.”

Yin Yue looked at Lin Chen and continued: “But the Medicine King Valley alone couldn’t compel the Thousand Mechanisms Sect to cooperate. This can only happen if…”

Yin Yue fell silent suddenly, as if realizing something. Lin Chen, seeing her stop mid-sentence, couldn’t help asking: “If what?”

“Nothing. Perhaps the Thousand Mechanisms Sect is also after the Medicine King Valley’s Grand Yi Azure Spirit Record—both sects have produced alchemy prodigies, both confident they can win first place, so they set this reward.”

Lin Chen thought for a moment, then nodded: “Your analysis makes sense. This alchemy competition is going to be lively.”

“Lin Chen, since both the Thousand Mechanisms Sect and the Medicine King Valley have arranged their own alchemists, you don’t need to compete for first place—you’re not on the alchemy path anyway. Just make the top ten.”

“You’re too generous with me. I’ve only been alchemizing for how long? I’m not even sure I’ll make the top ten—first place is out of the question. If either of these sects lacked confidence, they’d never offer such top-tier rewards.”

Lin Chen smiled, and Yin Yue, hearing his answer, exhaled in relief.

If her suspicion was right, and Lin Chen actually won first place, he’d disrupt that person’s plan—and under the current war between Canglan Sect and Bahuang Sect, offending that person could bring great trouble to Lin Chen, even to Canglan Sect.

…

…

Alchemy Tower.

Lin Chen continued as usual, reviewing the jade slips in the tower, but this time he was studying a comprehensive catalog of Yan Emperor Dynasty alchemy techniques.

【Already recorded: over three thousand alchemy techniques…】

【Nine Revolutions Merged Primordial Scripture: Created by the founding ancestor of the Thousand Mechanisms Sect. The “nine revolutions” refer to the elixir undergoing nine refining cycles, naturally purifying impurities—it is among the strongest alchemy techniques in the Yan Emperor Dynasty.】

【Grand Yi Azure Spirit Record: Origin unknown. First revealed to the world by the Medicine King Valley’s master, but rumors claim it was not created by them. All alchemical elixirs combine primary and auxiliary herbs, yet during fusion, medicinal efficacy is inevitably lost. The Grand Yi Azure Spirit Record, however, preserves the full potency of herbs—its elixirs are thirty percent more potent than those made by other methods…】

【I once had the fortune to enter the ruins of an Alchemy Master, who left behind a single jade slip containing this note: The Nine Revolutions Merged Primordial Scripture and the Grand Yi Azure Spirit Record are in fact one technique—the Nine Revolutions as the upper volume, the Grand Yi as the lower. If united, they may achieve a new pinnacle of alchemy.】

【This claim lacks evidence. I recorded it in my idle moments—future readers may take it as a curiosity…】

Seeing this content, Lin Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly: The Nine Revolutions Merged Primordial Scripture and the Grand Yi Azure Spirit Record are upper and lower volumes of the same scripture?

If true, this revelation would shock the entire alchemy world.