128: First round of the Alchemy Conference

His movements were smooth and decisive, and coupled with his confident posture and demeanor, he immediately attracted many gazes.

After all, the reputation of the Tianyan Divine Son had become resounding among the younger generation across the Realms following the battle in the Sword Soul Secret Realm.

He had forcefully defeated Xiao Wuqing, thwarted the Demon Realm's schemes within the Sword Soul Secret Realm, and destroyed that demon sword broken hilt that had Awakened a slaughter obsession!

This had caused his fame to spread rapidly throughout the Cloud Heaven Realm, and many people recognized him.

"That's... Lu Yu from the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Sect? Why is he going down?"

"Did he sign up for the Alchemy Convention too? I never heard he knew Alchemy."

"Could it be another hidden trick? This guy never plays by the rules."

"Indeed, not long ago on the way to the Heavenly Sword Divine Sect, no one knew Lu Yu had such high achievements in the Sword Dao, to the point that even the Heavenly Sword Sword Son, who had comprehended a top-tier Sword Intent and reached the Sword Heart Illuminating Clarity Realm, was no match for him."

"Perhaps his participation in this Alchemy Convention will give us another huge surprise?"

The buzz of discussion rose from all around.

On the high platform, the Fentian Sacred Lord and several Elders also noticed, their gazes lingering on Lu Yu for a moment. Their expressions remained normal, and they did not intervene.

As long as one met the age and grade requirements, they were naturally eligible to participate.

Xiao Yan naturally saw Lu Yu entering as well, and his brows imperceptibly furrowed slightly.

Looking at Lu Yu now stirred a trace of doubt in his heart, because he felt the sub-flame on his person reacting, sensing a familiar aura from Lu Yu!

This made him frown slightly. Could it be that Lu Yu was the one who snatched the Opportunity for the Pure Lotus Heavenly Clear Fire?!

But even if Lu Yu really was the one who snatched it, there was little he could do. The other party's background was formidable; even the Pill Tower was like a little brother before the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Sect!

However, if the other party truly had stolen his Opportunity, Xiao Yan would not let it go easily!

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. What harm is there in enduring for a while?!"

But why is he dabbling in Alchemy too? Could he also be proficient in the Pill Dao?

A sliver of vigilance and faint displeasure flashed through his heart.

But he quickly collected his thoughts. His goal today was clear: to represent the Pill Tower, seize first place, and thoroughly deflate the arrogance of Fentian Sacred Valley, especially Yan Linger's!

In the Pill Tower area, a white-robed Elder with a thin face and piercing eyes also noticed Lu Yu. He spoke softly to a middle-aged Alchemist beside him:

"Is that young man the recently famous Lu Yu? Does he also know the Pill Dao?"

The middle-aged Alchemist shook his head: "I haven't heard of it. Perhaps the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Sect registered him to broaden his horizons."

They didn't pay it much mind.

The Pill Dao requires time and accumulation. A young man in his early twenties, no matter how Heaven-Defying his Sword Dao talent, how strong could his Pill Dao possibly be?

Cultivating and comprehending the Sword Dao likely consumed all his energy, leaving him with no time to grasp the Pill Dao.

Soon, all participants entered their respective areas, separated by transparent light barriers.

A rough glance revealed nearly several thousand people, hailing from the Seven Realms, the Yao Race, the Demon Realm, and the Pill Tower. It was truly a gathering of heroes, an unprecedented grand occasion.

After all, prodigies under fifty years old with Alchemy techniques reaching the fourth-grade Alchemist level were exceedingly rare in any region. Yet here, there were several thousand of them!

Once everyone was in place, an Elder wearing Crimson Alchemy Robes, his aura steady as a mountain, stepped forward from the high platform.

He was precisely Yan Mo, the Valley Master of the Pill Valley of Fentian Sacred Valley, a renowned Eighth-grade Alchemy Great Master, and one of the main judges for this convention.

Yan Mo's gaze swept over the young, vibrant faces below. His voice, loud and clear, resonated throughout the venue:

"Esteemed young talents, welcome to this Alchemy Convention. The first round of the competition — Material Identification and Purification!"

With a wave of his sleeve, patterns flashed on the ground in front of each Alchemy area, and a stone platform about half a person's height rose up.

On the stone platform, ten sealed jade boxes were neatly arranged, alongside a small crystal stele for detecting purity.

"Each jade box contains a sealed medicinal Material, which could be a Spiritual Plant, a mineral, or Yao Beast Material."

"Some look similar but have vastly different medicinal properties; some have been processed to conceal their Origin; some even contain Impurities or carry subtle, foreign auras."

Yan Mo explained slowly.

"You have half an hour to open the jade boxes. Using your Divine Sense, experience, and the flames you control, you must accomplish two things!"

He raised two fingers: "First, accurately identify the name, age, primary medicinal properties, and potential flaws of the Material in each box! Inscribe your answers using Divine Thought onto the identity jade token before you."

"Second, select any five of these Materials and perform on-the-spot purification! Inject the purified medicinal liquid or powder into the adjacent detection crystal stele. The stele will display your identification accuracy and purification purity. The combined score is your result for the first round!"

"Remember, time is limited, and the Materials are complex. This tests not only your knowledge reserves and observational skills but also your ability to control fire with extreme precision under pressure! Now... the first round begins!"

The moment his words fell, a thick, crimson incense stick, as thick as an arm, was lit in the air above the plaza, its smoke rising straight up.

The tip of the incense glowed faintly as it began to burn slowly. When this stick of incense burned out, the half-hour would be over.

Buzz!

The light barriers around all competition areas glowed slightly, completely isolating the inside from the outside to prevent interference.

Almost simultaneously, the several thousand young Alchemists sprang into action!

Some eagerly opened the first jade box, probing with their Divine Sense, their brows furrowing tightly.

Some proceeded cautiously, first observing the jade box's appearance and any residual aura.

Others directly conjured flames in their palms, beginning preliminary inspections by scorching the jade box's surface.

Instantly, flames flickered across the plaza, faint medicinal fragrances wafted, and the atmosphere tensed.

In the Pill Tower area, the white-robed Alchemists moved the fastest and most steadily.

They often merely picked up a jade box, gave it a slight sensing—sometimes without even opening it—and then, with an expression of understanding, quickly inscribed the identification results onto their jade tokens. Following that, flames—some blazing, some gentle, some peculiar—sprang from their palms as they began purifying their chosen Materials.

Their movements flowed like clouds and water, exuding a confidence and composure born of long training.

Xiao Yan was among them. His expression was focused, a cluster of deep purple flame dancing at his fingertips. The flame was exceptionally agile, expanding and contracting, precisely scorching a piece of dark red Ore to eliminate its Impurities.

His speed was not fast, but it was extremely steady, his gaze sharp.

Over at the Fentian Sacred Valley side, Yan Linger lightly raised her fair hand. A cluster of pure, pale golden flame bloomed in her palm. Within the flame, the phantom of a Golden Crow seemed to flow. The temperature was extremely high, yet controlled with exquisite finesse.

This was an exotic fire named 'Golden Crow Vermilion Flame', a powerful exotic fire at the heavenly grade level! (Yellow, Black, Earth, Heaven)

With almost a single glance at a jade box, she accurately stated the Material's information. Then, with a swirl of her flame, she enveloped the chosen Material. Her purification process was as pleasing to watch as an art form.

This drew cheers from many Fentian Valley Disciples on the viewing stands.