A corner of the Alchemy Tournament grounds.
Aside from Chen Yuyang, another person was also the center of attention.
This was the favorite to win the tournament—Mu Qianxi.
At that moment, Mu Qianxi was fully focused on controlling his alchemical fire.
Beads of sweat dotted his forehead, and his sharp gaze was locked onto the cauldron before him, observing its every minute change.
He had chosen the “Nine Revolutions Returning Soul Pill,” a high-level Rank 4 pill.
The difficulty was immense; a single slip-up could lead to the destruction of the medicinal ingredients and the explosion of the cauldron.
“Phew…”
He slowly exhaled a mouthful of turbid air.
His fingers moved in a blur as he changed his hand seals, causing the color of the furnace fire to shift from crimson to a deep blue.
The temperature was precisely controlled at a delicate point of balance.
Furthermore, he had the “Demon Soul Pearl” that his master had specifically given him before his departure.
Once crushed and integrated into the medicinal liquid, it could greatly enhance the pill’s efficacy and quality.
‘I must take the top spot in this tournament. I won’t disappoint Master!’
Just then, from the corner of his eye, Mu Qianxi caught sight of a young man in green robes.
The youth had his hands tucked behind his back and was leisurely walking toward him.
His pace was casual, as if he weren’t participating in a grand alchemy tournament but was instead strolling through his own back garden.
‘It’s him… Chen Yuyang!’
Mu Qianxi’s pupils constricted slightly as a complex surge of emotion rose in his heart.
He had naturally heard Chen Yuyang’s name and had seen him from a distance outside the venue of the second round.
Although Mu Qianxi had secured a solid first place in both the first and second rounds while Chen Yuyang was only third, for some reason, the public’s discussion of Chen Yuyang far exceeded their talk of him, the consecutive leader of the rankings.
Was it simply because Chen was younger, more talented, and knew that so-called “cauldronless refining”?
A cold sneer curled at the corner of Mu Qianxi’s mouth.
‘What’s so great about cauldronless refining?’
‘It’s nothing more than flashy tricks meant to please the crowd!’
‘A true alchemist focuses on the understanding of herbs and the control of the fire. A steady, solid foundation is the only true way!’
In his mind, the only reason Chen Yuyang had processed the herbs so quickly in the second round was by relying on his “Wuyang Body,” which possessed naturally powerful flames.
When it came to actual refining techniques and pharmacological knowledge, Mu Qianxi was certain he was the superior one.
At this thought, Mu Qianxi’s indignation flared.
The fingers holding the hand seal tightened slightly.
He deliberately ignored Chen Yuyang’s gaze and poured all his focus back into the cauldron.
Chen Yuyang did not approach.
He stopped a few steps away from Mu Qianxi’s refining platform, his gaze casually scanning the cauldron.
The furnace was dark green, engraved with intricate flame patterns.
One look was enough to tell it was a high-quality cauldron.
The color of the fire escaping the gaps of the lid was pure and the temperature stable.
It was clear that Mu Qianxi indeed had a solid foundation in fire control.
Currently, Mu Qianxi was injecting a medicinal extract into the cauldron to mix it with the other liquids already inside.
Within that newly injected liquid, there was a faint flow of radiance.
Chen Yuyang inwardly approved.
The purification level of the liquid was quite high, almost reaching the limit of what a Rank 4 alchemist could achieve.
Mu Qianxi felt Chen Yuyang’s gaze lingering on his cauldron and felt a surge of secret displeasure.
However, the speed of his hands increased, becoming even more fluid, as if he were putting on a display or showing off.
‘This kid is actually showing off for me.’
‘His technique is indeed seasoned, and it’s clear his basic skills are very solid. However, young people are ultimately too impulsive.’
‘By speeding up like that, isn’t your original rhythm getting a bit messy?’
Alchemy—especially conventional alchemy—was very particular about rhythm.
Every step needed to be performed with robotic precision.
When to process which material and when to add them were matters of great significance.
Certain medicinal herbs could not be left sitting for long after being processed.
For every moment they sat, their medicinal power would dissipate to some degree, affecting the final result.
Although there was no verbal interaction, Chen Yuyang could sense from these small actions that the person before him seemed to harbor a bit of hostility or perhaps a lack of surrender toward him.
‘Well, he’s young. It’s normal to be a bit arrogant.’
‘Especially since he was the champion of the first two rounds. He indeed has the right to be proud.’
‘Besides, he and I aren’t exactly on a level playing field. If we were the same age, I would likely fall short.’
Thinking this, Chen Yuyang was about to leave when the furnace fire suddenly flickered unnaturally.
Mu Qianxi’s brows furrowed as he quickly immersed his focus.
Spiritual energy circulated, and the cauldron trembled slightly.
Chen Yuyang’s pupils constricted instantly, and a sense of confusion rose in his heart.
‘The cauldron was controlled perfectly, so why did a disturbance suddenly occur?’
This unnatural fluctuation didn’t seem like a conflict between merging herbs.
It felt more like… something inside was restless, as if it wanted to break out?
Chen Yuyang paused his footsteps, and that sliver of doubt resurfaced.
There seemed to be something off about Mu Qianxi as well.
….
He didn’t turn back but continued to walk forward slowly, his mind secretly pondering.
This alchemy tournament did not seem as simple as it appeared on the surface.
Something seemed to be happening silently.
Just as Chen Yuyang was about to think deeply and observe the venue further, a voice that was slightly aged yet still full of vigor came from behind him.
“Little friend Chen, aren’t you going to watch your own cauldron?”
Turning around, he saw Zhu Tian stroking his gray beard.
He walked over unhurriedly, a gentle smile gracing the corners of his mouth.
“Although you have entered a stable refining stage, in alchemy, a miss is as good as a mile. It is better to constantly observe the fire and the changes within the furnace,” Zhu Tian reminded as he reached the youth.
Chen Yuyang smiled faintly, his tone relaxed.
“Thank you for your concern, Senior. I will check it periodically with my divine sense.”
Zhu Tian nodded before his tone shifted.
“Little brat, aren’t you nervous at all?”
“A grand event like this gathers genius alchemists from all sides. Everyone is going all out just for a chance to stand out.”
“But you are here strolling around leisurely, seemingly indifferent to the final ranking. You must know that the final rank will determine the level of support you receive from the Northern Region’s cultivation world and the amount of resources you can obtain. Do you really not care?”
Chen Yuyang raised his eyebrows, maintaining his indifferent demeanor.
He smiled slightly.
“I naturally care, Senior.”
“It’s just that I don’t think there’s anything to be nervous about. I’ll do my best and have a clear conscience. That’s enough.”
“Forcing things often doesn’t lead to the desired outcome. I’m used to following my whims and don’t want to give myself too much pressure.”
Hearing this, a flash of surprise crossed Zhu Tian’s eyes.
He couldn’t help but take a deep look at Chen Yuyang, inwardly praising him.
Setting aside everything else, just this youth’s temperament—staying calm in the face of events and being unmoved by honor or disgrace—was extremely rare.
To have such a state of mind at such an age meant his future achievements would surely be limitless.
However, if Chen Yuyang knew what Zhu Tian thought of him, he would likely feel ashamed.
With hundreds of thousands of years of experience, if he still acted like a child, those years would have truly been lived for nothing.
Just then, another figure approached with a faint, invisible pressure.
It was the patriarch of the Yan family, Yan Dangmo.
Yan Dangmo first glanced at Chen Yuyang, then looked at Zhu Tian with a hint of vigilance.
He leaned in and asked, “Old Zhu, what are you saying to him?”
Zhu Tian inwardly rolled his eyes.
He didn’t even need to think to know that Yan Dangmo was worried he was trying to poach the kid.
After all, who wouldn’t be envious of a talent like Chen Yuyang?
While he did indeed have the thought of taking him as a disciple, he was at least not as blatant as Yan Dangmo.
However, it was precisely because Yan Dangmo was so obvious that the other sects and families who had originally thought about approaching Chen Yuyang in secret had all backed off.
It simply wasn’t worth offending a colossus like the Yan family for the sake of a junior who hadn’t fully grown yet.
“Senior Yan has arrived as well.”
Seeing the newcomer, Chen Yuyang took the initiative to cup his hands in greeting.
He felt quite helpless about being the center of so much attention.
Fortunately, although these seniors were enthusiastic, they were all sensible people.
They understood the basic principle that if they couldn’t form a deep bond, it was best not to offend a high-potential individual.
They didn’t engage in endless pestering or use their status to oppress him.
Chen Yuyang thought for a moment.
Since Zhu Tian, the Sect Master of the Alchemist Sect, was present, he decided to mention his earlier discovery.
“Speaking of which, while I was observing just now, I noticed that many people seem to add items other than medicinal herbs to their cauldrons during refining.”
“Oh? You mean that.”
Hearing this, Zhu Tian stroked his beard and laughed.
“The path of alchemy has a thousand methods for a thousand people. Some have secret recipes passed down through their families or sects, or perhaps certain secret techniques or treasures used to boost the pill’s power, improve its quality, or give it special effects. Therefore, as long as it isn’t some forbidden evil art, the rules do not prohibit it.”
Chen Yuyang nodded in understanding.
“I see. It seems I am ill-informed.”
He truly didn’t know much about this.
It appeared to be a new technique developed over the last few centuries—a supplement and extension of traditional alchemy.
Chen Yuyang hadn’t joined any major factions during these last few hundred years and had mostly lived as a rogue cultivator, so his understanding of such matters was limited.
“However, how do you determine if those added items originate from forbidden evil arts?”
Chen Yuyang’s brow furrowed slightly as he pressed for an answer.
“Simple. All things in the world are entwined in Cause and Effect,” Zhu Tian explained with a nod.
“Evil things are mostly obtained through sinister means, such as harming living beings or plundering luck. The threads of Cause and Effect they contain are twisted and gloomy, carrying an aura of blood or resentment. On the other hand, if an object is refined using righteous methods, its Cause and Effect is upright and pure.”
‘Distinguishing through Cause and Effect…’ Chen Yuyang understood.
After reaching the Great Transcendence Realm, those with profound cultivation and sensitive souls could indeed vaguely perceive the aura of Cause and Effect attached to objects.
They could even see some shallow threads of karma.
Using this to judge whether an object was tainted by evil was indeed a simple and efficient method.
Reflecting on it, this wasn’t something he should be concerned with in the end.
And so, Chen Yuyang let the matter drop.