Chapter 375: The Alchemy Competition, The Wonders of Heavenly Court Spiritual Energy p2


    Mu Zhian was curious. As he approached Ye Lingxuan, a faint fragrance wafted from her dress, mixed with the scent of papaya.


    “B-Brother Mu, what are you doing?” Ye Lingxuan blushed and turned her head away.


    Mu Zhian took her delicate hand, leaned down, and whispered in her ear, “Eating papaya isn’t as effective as letting me help you.”


    Although he had been staying at Dexin Courtyard these past few days, Ye Lingxuan hadn’t given him any chance to get close to her. Every night, after refining pills, when he wanted to be intimate, she would find an excuse to slip away.


    Mu Zhian was patient. Or rather, he hadn’t had a good rest lately, so taking this opportunity to relax wasn’t bad.


    He also wanted to see whether Lingxuan could endure longer, or if his patience would win out.


    He would make her beg for it!


    Hearing Mu Zhian’s offer to help, Ye Lingxuan blushed and lowered her head.


    “I was just eating some fruit. Brother Mu, you misunderstood.”


    Mu Zhian simply said, “Actually, you’re not that small, Lingxuan. It’s just right.”


    Although Ye Lingxuan wasn’t as well-endowed as Qian’er or Ruoxi, her development was certainly not lacking. It was just a matter of comparison.


    But she didn’t know that while big was good, small had its own advantages.


    Mu Zhian quickly dismissed his teasing thoughts. “Today is the alchemy competition. It’s been a while since we’ve been to Boundless Sea Peak. Let’s go early and take a look.”


    Ye Lingxuan nodded slightly, then seemed to remember something and handed a storage ring to Mu Zhian. “Here, Brother Mu, this is for you.”


    Mu Zhian scanned the storage ring with his consciousness and his expression turned subtle.


    “An Earth-grade cauldron…? If I remember correctly, this cauldron would cost at least 800,000 spirit stones at auction, and it’s usually unavailable, right?”


    Mu Zhian politely declined. “If I accept this cauldron, wouldn’t I be a kept man?”


    Ye Lingxuan frowned, displeased. “Brother Mu has helped me so much. What’s a cauldron compared to that?”


    “Instead of worrying about this, Brother Mu should think about spending more time with Qian’er and me…”


    Her voice trailed off, her peach blossom eyes flickering with shyness.


    Mu Zhian pondered for a moment, then accepted the storage ring, smiling. “Alright, after the alchemy competition, I’ll work hard to please you, Lingxuan.”


    He leaned close to Ye Lingxuan’s ear and whispered, “After we get back, I’ll replace the papaya and help you…”


    Ye Lingxuan glared at him. “Scram!”


    Mu Zhian paused. “Can you scold me a little more?”


    Ye Lingxuan: “…”


    She glared at him as if he were a pervert.


    “By the way, Brother Mu, have you decided what pill you’re going to refine?” Ye Lingxuan suddenly asked.


    “Of course.”


    Mu Zhian smiled mysteriously. “A formula I invented myself.”


    Even the elegant Miss Ye didn’t believe him and simply scoffed.


    Someone who had just started learning alchemy claiming to have invented a new pill… Hah.


    Mu Zhian maintained his mysterious smile, not bothering to explain.


    She would find out when they got to the alchemy platform on Boundless Sea Peak.


    …


    At the peak of Boundless Sea Peak was an alchemy platform.


    In fact, several of the nine main peaks had alchemy platforms. In the past, disciples and elders often used them for pill refinement.


    Luo Tan, dressed in a white dress, sat in a pavilion on the main peak, holding a cup of tea and casually observing the bustling crowd of cultivators near the alchemy platform.


    Many participants had already gathered on the platform, including the Holy Son of the Southern Wilderness, the Holy Maiden of the World Sea, and others.


    The pavilion was also filled with cultivators. Most cultivators weren’t suited for alchemy, but that didn’t diminish their interest in the competition.


    More importantly, even for ancient clans, alchemists were extremely rare.


    Most of the disciples participating in the competition, aside from those backed by powerful families, didn’t have much influence.


    This competition also allowed them to observe the performance of these alchemists and extend invitations to join their families or become guest alchemists.


    If it weren’t for Luo Tan’s influence, it would have been difficult to gather so many talented individuals.


    “Experts focus on the technique, while laymen watch the excitement. It’s the same everywhere. Your Majesty, who do you think will win this competition?”


    A maid refilled Luo Tan’s tea and looked at the elegant Empress.


    Luo Tan sat with her legs crossed, her luxurious white dress embroidered with gold thread and blooming flowers, further accentuating her noble aura.


    She toyed with her teacup. “The alchemy skills of cultivators at this age are generally similar. The highest rank they can refine is around Rank 6. Victory depends on the details. Those with better control and higher quality spiritual energy are more likely to win.”


    “Is that why Your Majesty favors the Holy Maiden of the Forbidden Zone?” the maid asked respectfully.


    “The Innate Spiritual Body has a natural affinity for spiritual energy. Ye Lingxuan’s constitution is suitable for both cultivation and alchemy. She’s also quite humble and composed, an excellent seedling.”


    Luo Tan held her teacup and looked towards the alchemy platform and the young cultivators gathered there. “However, it’s uncertain whether she will participate in the competition.”


    “The Holy Maiden of the Forbidden Zone doesn’t lack resources and doesn’t need anyone’s invitation… It’s true that she might not participate,” the maid said softly.


    “There have been a few Innate Spiritual Bodies in the Forbidden Zone in the past, but someone as perfect as her is a first, even for me.”


    Luo Tan glanced sideways. “However, it seems that although she doesn’t lack resources, she still wants to show off in front of her beloved.”


    The maid looked in the direction of the Empress’s gaze, a puzzled look in her eyes.


    The area below the pavilion was even more lively now. Many cultivators surrounded a handsome young man, chatting and laughing. Not far from him, a young woman in a purple dress stood elegantly by his side.


    Luo Tan smiled faintly. “He’s quite popular.”


    “With the Jade Empress as his Dao Companion, even the elders in seclusion within the ancient clans must treat him with respect. It’s no wonder he’s so sought after,” the maid said softly.


    Luo Tan gently rubbed the rim of her cup. “I’m more interested in what kind of pill someone who rarely practices alchemy can refine.”


    Someone new to alchemy couldn’t possibly refine a high-rank pill. Mu Zhian must know this.


    Yet he still came to participate in the competition.


    Was he just accompanying his sister, or did he have something up his sleeve?


    Regardless of whether Mu Zhian could win this competition, she was quite interested in this young cultivator.


    If he was willing, she wouldn’t mind having him stay by her side for a few years and providing him with cultivation resources.


    But then again, on the day he went to the Abyss, the will of the Heavenly Dao descended. Was it related to him?


    As Luo Tan’s thoughts raced, the pavilion became increasingly crowded.


    In a private room, Senior Sister Lan looked out the window at Mu Zhian, who had just arrived at the alchemy platform.


    Her expression was calm, her eyes clear.


    “Sister, you won the Ascension Ceremony matches in the end. Not only did you obtain three Emperor-grade herbs, but you also won the right to… use that guy. What are you planning to do with him?”


    Lan Feiying looked at her sister, her eyes coquettish and teasing.


    Lan Mulian, dressed in a white dress and a light, gauze-like green cloak, replied calmly, “The right to use Junior Brother… That was just Master’s playful joke. Don’t take it seriously.”


    Lan Feiying giggled, crossing her legs and dangling her foot in a sexy red embroidered shoe. “Heh, if Sister asks him, he will definitely abide by the rules.”


    “Not only will he do what you ask, but even if you ask him to clean your feet with his tongue, he probably wouldn’t refuse.”


    As she spoke, she saw a blush creep onto her usually calm and elegant sister’s face.


    Lan Mulian subconsciously tucked her foot away, glaring at her sister. “What nonsense are you talking about?” sea??h thё ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lan Feiying chuckled, then gently stroked the storage ring on her finger. “By the way, has the Enforcement Hall found anything about Ye Yu?”


    “Nothing yet,” Lan Mulian shook her head gently, a worried look in her eyes.


    A sect disciple had returned to the sect, only to be erased without a trace… Such methods were beyond even Nascent Soul experts.


    Lan Feiying hummed softly. “Well, he’s dead. Ye Yu colluded with demon cultivators. Even if he hadn’t died, he would have been sent to the Enforcement Hall.”


    Lan Mulian pondered for a moment. “This matter is quite strange. A demon cultivator from the Demon Realm accidentally revealed that Ye Yu had colluded with the Demonic Rhinoceros Clan on the border. And this news just happened to reach the sect… It feels like someone deliberately orchestrated it.”


    Lan Feiying lowered her eyes, her voice seductive. “Whether it was deliberate or not, the sect’s investigation confirmed that Ye Yu did collude with the Demonic Rhinoceros Clan and harmed fellow disciples. That’s enough, isn’t it?”


    Lan Mulian remained silent.


    After a moment, Lan Feiying suddenly said, “He’s on stage.”


    Lan Mulian snapped out of her thoughts and turned to look out the window. She saw Mu Zhian and Ye Lingxuan walking onto the stage with the other alchemists.


    However, Mu Zhian was clearly very cautious. Although he walked alongside Ye Lingxuan, he didn’t hold her hand.


    Dressed in black robes embroidered with gold and silver thread, he looked like a noble young master, his handsome appearance attracting the attention of countless female cultivators.


    “Sister, what rank pill do you think he can refine?” Lan Feiying asked.


    Lan Mulian pondered for a moment, then smiled brightly. “At most Rank 3.”


    A faint smile played on her lips.


    Someone who had never practiced alchemy before, how could they refine a high-rank pill?


    Even if Mu Zhian had been frequenting the Book Pavilion and Dexin Courtyard these past few days, it was impossible for him to refine a high-rank pill in such a short time.


    No matter how much she believed in Mu Zhian, she didn’t have high hopes for him.


    She wondered why he was even participating. Could it be that he also had his eyes on the Rank 8 pill offered by Luo Tan?


    “A Rank 8 pill, if used properly, can even grant a glimpse of Dao Rhyme, preparing one for the Dao Integration realm. It’s indeed tempting.”


    Lan Feiying looked at her sister meaningfully, resting her chin on her hand and smiling. “But Sister, you obtained an Emperor-grade herb from the Southern Wilderness and the Western Regions in the Ascension Ceremony matches, plus the one from the sect… Three Emperor-grade herbs are equivalent to three Rank 8 pills.”


    “If he asks you for one, will you give it to him, Sister?”


    Lan Mulian raised an eyebrow. “If he really wants one… I wouldn’t mind.”


    “But knowing his personality, if I simply give it to him, his pride might get in the way, and he might not accept it.”


    Lan Feiying smiled charmingly. “There’s no need to worry about pride. I’m afraid Sister is just too embarrassed to ask.”


    “Otherwise, an Emperor-grade herb is enough to buy him outright.”


    Lan Mulian scoffed. “If I really kept him by my side, I’m afraid someone would immediately become restless.”


    Not to mention Bai Ruoxi, even the Jade Empress might intervene.


    “It seems to be starting.”


    Lan Feiying’s words pulled Lan Mulian back to reality.


    She looked out the window and saw Mu Zhian and Ye Lingxuan walking onto the stage with the other alchemists.


    At the vast alchemy platform, the alchemists, following the instructions of an elder, took out their cauldrons and prepared the ingredients for their pills.


    Even those who didn’t understand alchemy could roughly guess the rank of the pill based on the ingredients.


    “What rank pill is he planning to refine…?”


    Lan Mulian wondered as she watched Mu Zhian take out a purple cauldron.


    At the same time, many cultivators in the pavilion, including Luo Tan, focused their attention on Mu Zhian.


    He was the Jade Empress’s Dao Companion, and his past actions had generated much discussion. Although he was only at Core Formation Rank 5, he was always in the spotlight.


    However, the forces behind him were so powerful that even those who disliked him secretly didn’t dare to act against him.


    The last time Mu Zhian ‘died,’ the Forbidden Zone had emerged. Most cultivators in the Eastern Continent didn’t know the reason, but those from ancient clans had deduced the truth based on the relationship between Ye Lingxuan and Mu Zhian.


    “An Earth-grade cauldron… As expected of the Jade Empress’s Dao Companion. He’s quite generous.”


    “An Earth-grade cauldron can even be used to refine Rank 8 pills without shattering. It seems Young Master Mu has been practicing alchemy in secret…”


    “Not only is he talented in cultivation, but also in alchemy. The Jade Empress has good taste…”


    Seeing the cauldron Mu Zhian took out, whispers arose from the crowd below. The maid beside Luo Tan was also surprised. “It seems Young Master Mu has been hiding his identity as an alchemist. He even has an Earth-grade cauldron prepared.”


    If he weren’t an alchemist, he wouldn’t carry such a valuable item with him.


    After all, there were probably less than a thousand Earth-grade cauldrons in the entire Nine Provinces.


    Only an alchemist would take such pains, as they cherished their cauldrons above all else.


    “I haven’t seen Mu Lang these past few days. I wonder what pill he has prepared.”


    Among the crowd below, Bai Ruoxi, dressed in a beautiful white dress, looked up at the young man on the alchemy platform.


    “He’s never practiced alchemy before. Even with his Innate Spiritual Body, he can only refine up to Rank 3 pills… Even with some miracle, Rank 4 would be his limit,” Wei Mengrou said softly.


    As his maid, she knew Mu Zhian’s character well.


    She had never seen him refine pills back in Tianxuan City. Cramming now wouldn’t allow him to refine any high-rank pills.


    Even with talent, Rank 4 was his limit.


    Just as Wei Mengrou thought this, she saw the ingredients Mu Zhian took out from his storage ring and froze.


    She blinked, as if unable to believe her eyes. She closed her eyes briefly, silently praying, then opened them again.


    “…”


    Wei Mengrou was speechless.


    Among the cultivators below, many had read books about alchemy and recognized the ingredients Mu Zhian had taken out.


    For a moment, the crowd fell silent, as if countless question marks appeared above their heads.


    Finally, someone murmured in disbelief,


    “Rank 2 pill ingredients…?”