Pretty awesome?
The smile on Su Tongyue's face slowly stiffened. Before she could say anything, the man in blue on the side flapped the folding fan in his hand and spoke first.
"Junior sister, please be patient. Maybe Brother Chu has never seen a sixth-grade alchemist in Tianyan Sect, so it is normal for him to be short-sighted."
"You know, a sixth-grade alchemist is the watershed for alchemists."
"After the breakthrough, not only can you understand the mystery of adding a fourth elixir pattern to the elixir, but you can even give the elixir wisdom and let it evolve on its own."
"So, it will be extremely difficult to be promoted from the fifth level to the sixth level alchemist."
"Thanks for letting me know, passerby."
Chu Ming said with a smile, but the teasing meaning in his words added a bit of gloom to the depths of the young man's originally indifferent eyes.
"My name is Tian Feng, not Passerby A. Please clarify, Brother Chu."
"I know, I know, licking a dog."
Chu Ming glanced at Tian Ming, who was standing with Su Tongyue, and the corner of his mouth curved into a smile that was not a smile.
"Brother Tian Feng may not know something. From ancient times to the present, licking a dog will lead to a good death.
"you!
Although Chu Ming's words were vague, Tian Feng could clearly hear the sarcasm in them. The elegant smile on his face suddenly couldn't be stretched anymore. He closed the paper fan, glared angrily, and rolled up his sleeves to make a gesture. He had to fight hard, but was finally pulled back by Su Tongyue on the side so as not to cause unnecessary commotion.
"Senior brother, don't pay attention. Tianyan Sect disciples never have anything good to say."
"call--!"
Tian Mo took several deep breaths to calm down the restlessness in his heart, and then smiled slightly at Su Tongyue beside him, with deep love and attachment floating in the depths of his eyes.
"Junior sister is indeed as gentle and gentle as jade. She won't be angry with such a person."
"Since you admonish me like this, I won't argue with him."
"Tsk, tsk."
Chu Ming clicked his tongue twice, crossed his arms across his chest, and looked like he was just watching the fun and not taking it too seriously.
"Tian Feng, your junior sister doesn't want to talk to you, so why are you still licking her? How sad!"
"..."
Now Tian Fang got smarter and closed his ears, stopped listening to Chu Ming's nonsense, and glared at him fiercely.
OK!
Let me see how long your clever speech can last!
If you participate in the finals, if I don’t blow your head off, my surname will not be Tian!
Facing Tian Feng's gaze, Chu Ming sneered and then found an ancient tree to lean on, cross-legged, close his eyes and rest, waiting for the start of the qualifying round.
The fourth pill pattern?
When I was a fourth-level alchemist, I was able to refine elixirs with four elixir lines. I don't know how proud I am.
However, a sixth-grade alchemist can give the elixir intelligence and the ability to evolve on its own, which feels similar to my true child elixir.
Chu Ming couldn't help but think carefully.
Because his strength increased dramatically during this period, he kept the Zhenzi Dan at the bottom of the space bag and didn't use it much.
Perhaps we can delve deeper into the secrets of the pill pattern to make the strength of Zhen Zi Dan even higher.
Although I feel very unhappy, I have to admit that regarding alchemy and elixir research, the level of the Hanhai Alchemy Sect is indeed far ahead of other sects.
But when it comes to other sects... what about their people?
I can't be the only participating alchemist other than the Hanhai Alchemy Sect in venue No. 8, right?
While waiting for the game to start, alchemists came to the No. 8 venue one after another.
However, when they saw Su Tongyue, their expressions couldn't help but show deep annoyance and disappointment.
Why are you on the same playing field with this guy?
Tough luck!
As the strongest disciple of the Hanhai Alchemy Sect, the only sixth-grade alchemist among all the contestants, and the seed contestant of the alchemy competition, everyone prayed in their hearts the night before that they would not be in the same competition venue as Su Tongyue .
Because being assigned to a venue with only one quota for her means elimination, and there is absolutely no other possibility.
But some people are lucky and some are unlucky.
When they saw Su Tongyue on court No. 8, most of them, without any hope of advancement, took the initiative to leave the competition in despair. Of course, there were also a small number of people who were unwilling to admit defeat and planned to try their luck.
What if Su Tongyue comes there today and feels unwell and withdraws from the competition?
What if there was a ferocious monster in the mountains and she got injured and retired from the competition after being provoked?
The future is uncertain, and no one can guarantee that there will be no surprises.
Every alchemist who planned to stay and continue competing saw Chu Ming sitting on the ground and wanted to go over and recruit him to deal with the team of the Vast Sea Alchemy Sect.
After all, if you fight alone, you definitely have no chance.
However, as soon as they took a step forward, Tian Feng stopped in front of them, chatting with their parents for a while and greeting them cordially. He even took the initiative to put their arms around each other and gave them pills and crystal stones to make them give up the game.
"You are a disciple of Wanhua Palace, right! How is your master?"
"Hey! Brothers from Qinglin Palace! You're welcome and safe!"
…
In this way, everyone who stayed with solemn expressions finally received the gifts from Tian Fang and left the competition with a smile.
If you stay here and you can't advance, if you take the initiative to withdraw from the competition, you can not only get gifts, but also build a relationship with the Vast Sea Alchemy Sect.
Wouldn't it be more convenient if you want to change jobs in the future?
Therefore, just before the start of the game, Chu Ming, the only person from any sect other than the Hanhai Dan Sect, was left on Site 8.
"You guys have been waiting for a long time."
At this time, the sound of cheerful male voices echoed throughout the mountains, causing all the alchemists participating in the alchemy competition to raise their heads and look up at the blue shadow that suddenly appeared in the sky.
"Because there was a little accident yesterday, today's finals will be hosted by me."
"???"
The leader of the Vast Sea Alchemy Sect personally presided over the alchemy competition?
Chu Ming opened his eyes and couldn't help but marvel in his heart.
It seems that Lotte Xing has really pushed Hanhai Danzong into a panic, and such a big scene has been arranged.
Now I estimate that not only will they not act rashly, they will not even dare to show up.
You know, with old man Sheng Ling's level of cultivation, he could suppress them with just a flip of his hands.
As the voice of Old Man Sheng Ling slowly dissipated, the thin film of spiritual energy that originally enveloped the ten mountains also gradually faded, and the originally silent peaks became noisy again.
"Come on! Hurry and find the materials for making the elixir. They'll all be robbed later!"
"Are you stupid! This mountain is so big, what good materials are there for refining elixirs? The most important thing is to find the elixir furnace first!"
"Then it's useless just guarding your broken pill furnace without the materials to refine the pill!"
"So, brothers, do you want to cooperate?"
"..."
Listening to the noise coming from other mountain peaks, Chu Ming looked calm and composed, holding the back of his head with both hands and relying on the tree trunk to recuperate.
I finally understand that this qualifying round does not rely on personal strength, but on human connections!
No matter how strong you are, two fists can't beat four hands.
But since you are testing the alchemist's ability to cooperate, why does only one person advance in each venue?
It's not obvious that he will have to backstab his companion in the end!
Of course, it is not ruled out that some people with deep pockets can use their personal assets and background to solve this problem.
Seeing Chu Ming's unmoved indifferent look, Tian Fang couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. He thought that he had planned to give up but was unwilling to withdraw from the competition in order not to lose face to the Tianyan Sect, so he could only sit there and wait for the competition. Finish.
"You know the truth."
Tian Feng sneered and immediately issued orders to the people around him.
"Now let me arrange the tasks."
"The three strongest of you look at that guy and don't let him interfere with our actions."
"The two of you are going to look for the alchemy furnace for Junior Sister Su. You want the highest-level magic weapon. When you find it, contact me with the teleportation order."
"The three of you are going to look for alchemy materials for Junior Sister Su. You want the high-grade water-attribute materials that Junior Sister Su is best at. Junior Sister Su plans to refine a sixth-grade elixir. When you find it, remember to contact me with the teleportation order."
After hearing Tian Fang's commanding arrangement, the other disciples of the Hanhai Dan Sect felt a little awkward, but they immediately disappeared after seeing Su Tongyue's gentle and beautiful smile.
"Thank you for your help."
"Junior Sister Su, you don't have to be polite. This is what we should do."
Seeing that Su Tongyue had such a high status and bowed to him, these disciples of the Hanhai Dan Sect who dared to say anything dissatisfied went up the mountain to complete their tasks.
"Junior Sister Su, if I arrange it this way, you will definitely break the previous record of Senior Sister Yun refining five fifth-grade elixirs."
Tian Feng claimed credit in front of Su Tongyue with a proud look on his face, which made her smile once again.
"Excuse me, senior brother."
"Don't bother! Don't bother!"
As if being stabbed into the heart by Su Tongyue's indifferent smile, Tian Meng couldn't help but sweat profusely, clenched the corners of his clothes with both hands, and hesitated for a long time before speaking softly with a blushing face.
"That Tongyue... why don't we go to the depths of this mountain together to take a look? I heard that there might be some rare alchemy materials inside."
"Then thank you, senior brother."
The smile on Su Tongyue's face seemed unchanged, but the highlights in her eyes were obviously a little colder.
"Senior brother, just call me Junior Sister Su."
"..."
Tian Ming's smile suddenly stiffened, and he licked his dry lips, with a helpless wry smile on his face.
"Junior sister Su, you know that I treat you..."
"Let's go."
Before Tian Mo finished speaking, Su Tongyue smiled softly and walked towards the depths of the forest, leaving him standing there in confusion, causing Chu Ming to burst out laughing. Extremely sarcastic and mean.
"You still call me Tong Yue? They don't pay attention to you at all."
"roll!"
Tian Feng's face turned red with anger, and after scolding him, he quickly chased after him, not forgetting to call out.
"Junior sister Su, wait for me!"
"..."
Poor Tom is played by the green tea lady.
How sad and deplorable!
Chu Ming suddenly felt sympathy for Tian Fang, shook his head and sighed softly before continuing to sit cross-legged. This act of inaction also made the disciples of the Hanhai Dan Sect next to him feel a little disdainful, and they mocked him.
"The people of Tianyan Sect are indeed a bunch of cowards!"
"..."
Chu Ming's cheeks twitched slightly, and he couldn't help but curse secretly in his heart.
I wonder if I haven't dug up your ancestral graves either?
Is there so much ill will between people?
I started attacking you personally without provoking you, right?
OK! Wait!
Chu Ming took a deep breath and meditated like this until the sunset. Then he slowly stood up, causing the two Vast Sea Dan Sect disciples to suddenly become wary.
"What do you want to do?"
"Just stretch your muscles."
Chu Ming chuckled, stretched out, gently turned his wrist and neck, and then held his right hand empty. In an instant, the dragon bone condensed in the palm of his hand, and the astonishing spiritual power fluctuations spread out instantly.
"My little brother is ignorant, can I ask you two for advice on alchemy?"
"Um?"
Before the disciples of the Vast Sea Alchemy Sect could react, they saw Chu Ming rushing in front of them like an arrow from a string, and the dragon bone in his hand suddenly swung down with a harsh sonic explosion in the air!
Are you asking for advice on alchemy?
No, wait!
Second level of foundation building realm?
The pupils of the two people suddenly shrank. While retreating to avoid Chu Ming's attack, they reached out and took out the long sword from the space bag to block the dragon bone that swung at them again.
"Crack!"
What they didn't expect was that the long sword, a magic weapon condensed with spiritual power, shattered like porcelain when touched in front of the dragon bone. Before the person could react, he received two sap blows on the head and lay on the ground unconscious.
"Tsk, you really don't need a beating!"
Chu Ming curled his lips in disdain. Although the other party's cultivation level was at the first level of Foundation Establishment Realm, he was obviously not very good at close combat.
"Do you know why I want to take action now?"
"Because that's the right way to win the game."
Chu Ming turned his gaze to the depths of the mountains, and then his eyes narrowed slightly, with a strong coldness shining in them, and he murmured to himself.
"She should have finished refining the elixir, right?"
…
"Crack——!"
Behind the mountains, on a boulder that juts out from the cliff, Su Tongyue is sitting cross-legged on the tip of the boulder, with green-purple flames burning in the alchemy furnace in front of her.
Different from other flame seedlings, these ignited spiritual fires seemed to have intelligence, constantly circling around the elixir materials in the center, until they melted and condensed into a round, crystal clear light blue elixir.
"Is this going to be successful?"
"It seems so. Junior sister Su is so strong! She successfully refined the sixth-grade elixir in just two furnaces."
The disciples of the Hanhai Dan Sect who were guarding the dense forest outside the cliff couldn't help but admired. This made Tian Fang proudly raise his head with a proud smile on his face.
"Tongyue is always a success. Maybe she was a little nervous today."
"But this does not affect the overall situation. As long as she successfully refines it, she will become the first alchemist in the history of the alchemy competition to successfully refine a sixth-grade elixir in the finals!"
"Amazing!"
An unknown person chuckled and sighed, which made Tian Feng slightly nod his head in agreement, and then he blinked slightly, feeling extremely confused in his heart.
Why do I always find this voice so annoying?
I seem to have heard it somewhere...
After searching for the owner of the voice from his memory, Tian Ming suddenly turned around with a look of horror on his face as if he had seen a ghost. He immediately found Chu Ming leaning on the tree trunk with a smile on his face and a leisurely look on his face.
"As expected of a sixth-grade alchemy master, he can successfully refine sixth-grade elixirs using only two furnaces of materials without using his own dedicated alchemy furnace."
"Why are you here?"
Tian Feng reacted from the shock and hurriedly used the divine command to contact the people guarding Chu Ming, only to find that they had no news, and immediately lost his voice in horror.
"You killed them?"
"Just letting them sleep for a while."
Chu Ming stood proudly with the dragon bone in hand. While performing the Ice Dragon Transformation, ice-blue dragon scales appeared on his cheeks again, and there was a hint of coldness in his eyes.
He backed away slowly, with a mocking smile on his lips.
"If you don't want to disturb your Junior Sister Su's alchemy making, then come with me."
"hehe."
Tian Feng sneered disdainfully, and together with the disciples of the Hanhai Dan Sect around him, he took out the long sword from the scabbard on his waist, his eyes dark and solemn.
Judging from the astonishing fluctuations of spiritual energy emanating from Chu Ming's body, his cultivation level is at least around the fourth level of the Foundation Establishment Realm, which is on par with his own.
However, the bloodthirsty and scarlet color in his eyes did not make him look like a good person.
Isn't he a Dan Xiu?
Why is his whole body filled with strong murderous intent that has been practiced for a long time?
"I didn't expect you to dare to come here alone to provoke."
Tian Fang slowly walked into the dense forest with the disciples of the Hanhai Dan Sect around him and surrounded Chu Ming, with a confident smile on his face as if he was in control of the whole place.
"I advise you to be wise and leave, lest you end up with some physical disability. When you go back, you will have to cry and find the master of the sect to come to our Vast Sea Alchemy Sect to ask for an explanation."
"No need to bother."
There was a deep coldness in Chu Ming's eyes, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curve up.
"I hope you don't become what you say."
"I think you are looking for death!"
Tian Fang could no longer hold back the anger in his heart, and directly called out to the disciples of the Vast Sea Alchemy Sect around him, and rushed towards Chu Ming with a long sword in hand! .
——
——
In Yancheng, five big and three thick men gathered on the first floor of the restaurant to talk. From time to time, patrol soldiers who had just finished their shift joined in their conversation.
"Hey! Ever since the decree was issued to impose heavy taxes on farmers, our lives have become worse day by day."
"No! Who knows what's wrong with the current emperor's brain? Even if there is a war on the border, he can't collect money from farmers! We have no money to buy seeds, so who will grow food for him to pay for the army?"
"Hush! Trouble comes from your mouth! Don't talk nonsense!"
"Isn't what I said the truth? Even if the King of Heaven comes, I have to pour out the bitter water in my belly!"
"We don't know the full story, so we won't comment. What's more, it's the Imperial Master who is making money, not the Emperor. I heard that she is just trying to consolidate her position in the Vast Sea Alchemy Sect."
"..."
At this time, a woman wearing a black brocade dress and a hat covering her face passed by them, quickly went up to the second floor of the restaurant, came to the innermost room and pushed the door open.
"your Highness!"
After closing the door tightly, she could no longer hold back her excitement, took off the bamboo hat, rushed forward, threw herself into An Muxi's arms, and cried bitterly.
"It's great that you're okay!"
"Xiaorou..."
Looking at the crying person in his arms, An Muxi, who was dressed in men's clothing, had slightly red eyes. He held her tightly in his arms and expressed his longing for her that he had not seen for several years.
After a long while, the two of them began to tell each other about their experiences in the past few years after their emotions gradually eased.
"It's great that both you and the little princess are fine!"
After hearing that An Muqing was fine, Xiaorou couldn't help crying with joy.
Seeing this, An Muxi had no choice but to wipe her tears with the black belt on her wrist and said softly.
"Thank you for helping us get rid of the pursuers. How is it now in the palace?"
"Alas, the emperor spends all his time pursuing pleasure, and now the Imperial Master alone controls the court."
Xiaorou couldn't help but sigh with a sad look on her face.
"And the Imperial Master has become more and more arrogant recently, almost emptying Anguo's treasury in order to develop his own power in the Vast Sea Dan Sect."
"I heard that some time ago, in order to compete for the position of the inner elder of the Vast Sea Alchemy Sect, he encouraged the emperor to issue many taxation laws to enrich his own pockets and use them to manage relationships."
"Knew it……"
An Muxi couldn't help but frown, and his expression was particularly heavy.
Because of her uncle's weak and cowardly character, she had long expected this situation.
Who would have known that the situation would turn out to be more severe than imagined, and the national advisors would no longer control Anguo secretly, but would directly stand in the open.
How courageous is this?
An Muxi couldn't help but sigh, which made Xiaorou, who was curled up in her arms, raise her eyelids and suddenly ask excitedly.
"Your Royal Highness, are you planning to regain control of Anguo's imperial power and oust the imperial master when you return this time?"
"I wish I could do that."
An Muxi couldn't help but smile bitterly, and after being silent for about a long while, he said softly.
"I came here this time because I want to meet my father and the queen."
"..."
Xiaorou blinked her beautiful eyes, and after a moment of silence, her expression suddenly became extremely lost.
"The Supreme Emperor has been sent to the border for several years, and I don't know the whereabouts of the Supreme Empress, and no one who has asked her knows very well."
"Is it……"
In fact, An Muxi didn't expect Xiaorou to find out the news about his mother, so he gently stroked her back and said softly.
"What I want to ask is, is General Chen still in the palace?"
"Here I am."
Xiaorou looked into An Muxi's deep eyes and said softly.
"Because the Emperor is guarding the border, General Chen was not sent."
"It's just that the treasury is empty recently and the border war situation is intensifying. I'm not sure whether the national division will send General Chen to support."
"It's good that he is in the palace."
An Muxi breathed an inexplicable sigh of relief, then took out a jade pendant from her arms and placed it in Xiaorou's palm. She wrapped it around her hand and put it away, then said solemnly.
"Give this jade pendant to General Chen and tell him that Mu Xi is back and you want to meet him."
"..."
Xiaorou was very smart and immediately understood the meaning of An Muxi's words.
"Your Highness Princess, do you want to know the current situation of the Supreme Emperor at the border?"
"Um."
An Muxi looked slightly helpless.
"He is the only one I can trust in my palace now."
——
——
"call--!"
The setting sun gradually set, and the deep orange afterglow hit Su Tongyue's tired face stained with sweat.
She breathed a long sigh of relief, and then slowly opened her eyes. She reached into the alchemy furnace with her trembling right hand and held a crystal-clear blue elixir tightly in her palm.
Spreading it open and looking at the four pill lines that exuded strong spiritual power fluctuations attached to its surface, Su Tongyue showed an excited smile for the first time in a long time.
"Did the refining succeed?"
Just when she was still immersed in the joy of successfully refining the sixth-grade elixir, a joking chuckle suddenly sounded from behind, which made her pupils shrink suddenly and the hairs on her body stood up.
Obviously, this is not Tian Fang’s voice!
Su Tongyue turned back slowly and stiffly, and immediately saw a horrifying scene that she would never forget in her life.
The blood-like setting sun clung to the faces of the group of Hanhai Danzong disciples who were tied to tree trunks and fell into coma with the red-red red afterglow.
Chu Ming, on the other hand, stood proudly with the dragon bone in his hand, the breeze blowing, his white clothes fluttering, his handsome and delicate face showing a bright smile, and he slowly stretched out his left hand.
"Now that you've finished refining it, give it to me."
(End of chapter)
