People fight and become emperors in advance

End of Chapter 303 (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival)
When alchemists refine pills, whether they are of grade one, seven, or eight, the steps are actually quite similar.

Not to mention the veterans in the arena, even those who are not alchemists can say a thing or two.

Therefore, after the alchemists brought out their cauldrons and flames and officially entered the alchemy stage, the atmosphere in the square cooled down slightly.

Above the sky, numerous stone platforms floated, and within them, all the contestants were focused on controlling the heat and refining the pills in their respective cauldrons. The entire area and the plaza were quite quiet, and countless gazes were focused on the busy figures in the sky.

They were waiting, waiting for that final day to arrive.

Because that day will be the climax of the Dan Conference!
And the champion of the Dan competition will emerge on that day!
The wait may be tedious, but for what may be the most wonderful moment of one's life, it's all worth it!
And so, under the watchful eyes of countless expectant gazes, time passed day by day. Five days flew by in the blink of an eye, and gradually, some alchemists began to finish their alchemy first.

Of course, everyone knew very well that these pills, which were refined in just a few days, were at most at the sixth grade. According to past practice, pills of this level would never be qualified to compete for the top 100 in the Pill Gathering.

Time flies, and after half a month, more than two-thirds of the contestants had successfully refined the pills. As a result, the area was almost filled with an intensely rich and pervasive fragrance of pills, the aroma of which was invigorating and refreshing.

"boom!"

Suddenly, in the slightly scorching heat of the world, a deep, muffled rumble of thunder resounded across the sky.

Chen Xiao, who was resting with his eyes closed, opened them and looked up. He saw that dark clouds had gathered in the sky, and a low rumble of thunder could be heard from them.

"Huh, Dan Lei? A seventh-grade pill has appeared so quickly?"

Zi Yan appeared quietly, carrying Chen Xi, and landed in the seat next to Chen Xiao.

Refining high-grade pills takes a considerable amount of time; those without patience simply cannot sit still.

The same applies to the crowds in the square; although it is still packed with people, a large number of people move in and out every day.

Zi Yan did the same. As early as the second day after the alchemists started making medicine, she made up an excuse and slipped away.

"Don't worry too much about it. Those that are successfully refined at this time are almost not competitive."

Chen Xiao picked up his daughter, briefly replied "Zi Yan," and simultaneously asked telepathically, "How many people are there?"

Zi Yan held up three fingers, as if making an oath, "It's strange, there are only three people, and their quality is uneven. Apart from Hun Miesheng, the other two haven't even reached the level of a half-saint. They are probably at the level of a heavenly venerable."

The current Zi Yan is not like before. Now she is strong enough that even when she is out having fun with Chen Xi, she can still quietly take care of important matters.

"Hun Miesheng came to keep an eye on us so that Elder Mu Gu could act more conveniently in the Pill Realm. I didn't expect that even though Mu Gu and Gu You have been dead for so long, he still hasn't left. It seems that his resentment towards us is growing day by day."

Chen Xiao shook his head slightly, replied with a telepathic message, and then paid no further attention.

Hun Miesheng believed that outsiders did not know he was alive, and even if he showed himself, others would not know that he had been hiding his strength.

Either of these two moves would normally be enough to catch Danta off guard.

Little did he know, his little schemes had already been seen through.

Moreover, Hun Miesheng would never have imagined that Zi Yan, whose aura was fluctuating between one and two-star Dou Sheng, was actually a stronger person who was hiding even more deeply than him!
Therefore, this Soul Palace operation poses no threat and can be ignored; we can continue playing music and dancing.

Sky Stone Platform.

Just half an hour after the first appearance of thunder, thunderclouds began to gather in the sky again.

This time, the thunderclouds covered a larger area than before, and were so dark they were terrifying. Clearly, one of the contestants had refined a pill of even higher quality than the previous one.

...

The following days became extremely lively, with five or six instances of Dan Lei occurring almost every day.

The concentration of these pill lightnings varies, but the highest grade pills produced from them are only at the mid-grade of the seventh rank.

The atmosphere in the huge square gradually warmed up and became more and more exciting due to the occasional appearance of pill lightning. The slight gloom of the past few days had completely dissipated at this moment. Every appearance of a seventh-grade pill would attract many covetous eyes.

This level of pill is very attractive to ordinary strong individuals, except for those above the Dou Zun level and those with considerable wealth.

Boom boom boom!
The thunderclaps in the sky were frequent and spectacular.

As time passed, the number of stone platforms in the square where the cinnabar fire rose gradually decreased, until finally less than fifty remained.

Those who are still refining pills are all top experts in the alchemy world of the Dou Qi Continent, and the champion of the Pill Refining Competition will surely be born from among them.

As the flames danced on the dozens of stone platforms, the atmosphere in the sky grew increasingly heavy. Everyone knew that the most intense showdown of the Alchemy Gathering was about to begin.

Day 24 of the alchemy competition.

boom!
Dark clouds loomed overhead, and thunder rumbled incessantly.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning, like a silver snake, struck down from the clouds, but the old man on the stone platform easily dealt with it.

Instantly, a rich fragrance of cinnamon filled the air.

"Haha, it's done! I've succeeded!"

An elderly man with white hair held up a pill the size of a longan, laughed heartily under the gaze of countless people, tears streaming down his face.

This is a high-grade seventh-rank elixir!
Seeing this, no one blamed him for his loss of composure; instead, their gazes were filled with fervor.

Alchemy masters of this caliber are honored guests wherever they go, except for those ancient races!
"It's Old Monster Kun. I didn't expect him to still be alive. He even managed to conceal his identity and participate in the Pill Gathering again. This old guy's talent in all aspects is actually not bad. It's just a pity that he almost died while exploring the ruins. He had no choice but to use a secret technique with great aftereffects, which stopped him from reaching the Nine-Star Dou Zong level for life. His soul could never enter the Spirit Realm again. If it weren't for that, he would definitely not be worse than Old Monster Qinghua now."

Xuan Kongzi, standing beside Chen Xiao, sighed, seemingly having a very deep impression of this person.

Tian Leizi and Xuan Yi, who were standing to the side, had similar expressions.

Seeing their expressions, Chen Xiao also glanced at Old Monster Kun.

He also obtained two of these eighth-grade pill formulas from the Tianbei Ruins, which can repair damaged souls and eliminate hidden dangers.

Soul-Gathering and Spirit-Condensing Pill, Heavenly Rejuvenating Pill!
After carefully recalling the effects of the two pills, Chen Xiao estimated that there was a 60-70% chance of solving Old Monster Kun's problem.

However, whether it's worth investing in remains to be seen.

"We can ask Dan after the meeting. If he's willing to risk his life, it wouldn't hurt to take him back with us."

Before Chen Xiao could speak, Zi Yan had already guessed his thoughts.

If this person resolves the aftereffects, there is a high probability that he will be able to advance to the Dou Zun realm and reach the Spirit Realm Soul realm.

Two Grade 8 pills in exchange for a Grade 8 alchemist of Dou Zun level who swears to serve him to the death – this deal is an absolute steal.

Even if Old Monster Kun fails to break through, he can still recoup his investment by continuing to refine seventh-grade pills.

“That’s feasible.” Chen Xiao nodded in agreement.

On the twenty-eighth day, the alchemical fire still rose on the stone platform, but upon careful counting, only five flames remained.

These five people were Cao Ying, Dan Chen, Xiao Yan, the Qinghua Old Monster who was hiding his identity, and a middle-aged man with a stiff expression who was clearly not his true face.

If the five of them have managed to hold on until now without forming a pill, then the pill they are trying to refine must undoubtedly be of the eighth grade.

If we also include Elder Mu Gu, who perished in the alchemy world, this year's alchemy conference has already produced six eighth-grade alchemy masters!

"Who is this person? Why can't I find anyone whose situation matches this?" Xuan Kongzi looked at the middle-aged man with suspicion.

"I don't know, none of them match up, but it's definitely an old guy." Tian Leizi and Xuan Yi also shook their heads.

Only Yao Chen frowned slightly.

He sensed a hint of familiarity from the middle-aged man, as well as an almost instinctive sense of rejection and disgust.

But this feeling was different from when he met the experts of the Soul Palace. It was indescribable and difficult for Yao Chen to put into words.

Memories flashed wildly through his mind. After a long, long time, Yao Chen paused, finally having a suspect in mind.

"It's him?"

Yao Chen's hoarse voice was barely audible, but everyone present was at least at the peak of the Dou Zun realm, so how could they not hear his murmur?

(Except for Chen Xi, who was being held by Chen Xiao and not sitting.)

The man in black robes, who was closest to Yao Chen, noticed that Yao Chen's expression was off and frowned as well. "Yao Chen, do you know this person?"

After a moment of silence, Yao Chen lowered his eyes and shook his head slightly: "His aura reminds me of an opponent from many years ago... but so many years have passed, I can't be sure if it is him or not."

"The Medicine Clan?" Chen Xiao became somewhat interested.

Watching the spectacle firsthand is much more interesting than observing the alchemy process.

Yao Chen raised his eyes and glanced at Chen Xiao, then slowly nodded.

"In the Medicine Clan, there are regular Medicine Gatherings, which are similar in nature to Pill Gatherings, except that there are many restrictions on participants. When I was in the Medicine Clan, I had a chance to win the Medicine Gathering championship, but my medicinal materials were switched in the most crucial final. My opponent at that time was Yao Feng, who also had another identity: Yao Wangui's younger brother!"

Xuan Kongzi and the others were taken aback. This was the first time they had heard such detailed accounts of Yao Chen's hidden past.

Chen Xiao then looked at the person Yao Chen had mentioned, who resembled Yao Feng.

With the strength of a Dou Zun and the soul of a Ling Jing, refining eighth-grade pills is definitely not a problem. I just don't know how many colors of pill lightning he can refine.

"Xun'er once told me about the situation of the eight ancient races. The Medicine Clan is the most arrogant and does not recognize the first alchemist selected by the Central Continent Alchemy Conference. Normally, they are unlikely to participate in the Alchemy Conference."

Yao Chen nodded slightly: "What the Pavilion Master said is correct, but the Yao Clan is no longer normal. In the battle of the Nine Netherworld Heavenly Palace, the Yao Clan suffered heavy losses, especially Yao Wangui. As the person in charge, even if he has high power and position, he will inevitably be punished after returning to the Yao Clan. I know him quite well. Yao Wangui may not dare to disobey the clan order on the surface, but if he doesn't do something in private, he won't be Yao Wangui."

"I can make a bold guess: Yao Wangui was unwilling to be punished, so he sent Yao Feng to secretly investigate the truth of that day. It was during this process that Yao Feng heard about the Pill Gathering and became interested in the Qiankun Creation Pill that the Pavilion Master had taken out. That's why he came to participate while concealing his identity."

"After all, it's difficult for Yao Feng to break through to the Dou Sheng level. The Qiankun Creation Pill is said to be able to break through the limitations of talent and tap into deeper potential, which is extremely suitable for him. At the same time, if he brings this pill back to the Yao Clan, perhaps the Yao Clan can also study some tricks from it, which would be a great achievement."

These are all speculations by Yao Chen without any evidence.

However, it is reasonable.

Since the filter of ancient races has been removed, no one present finds anything they do surprising.

"This Medicine Clan is truly a bunch of hypocrites. They're everywhere. If the Purple Cloud Pavilion isn't strong enough, they'll probably be the ones targeting it."

Zi Yan couldn't help but complain, and then added, "Yao Chen, I wasn't talking about you."

Yao Chen shook his head, indicating that he didn't care.

He has no feelings for the Medicine Clan anymore.

Chen Xiao smiled and reassured Zi Yan, "It's alright. Among eighth-grade alchemists, there are very few who can surpass Ying'er's current alchemy skills. Even if Yao Feng really wins first place, it's still a question whether he can leave Saint Pill City."

Chen Xiao had little interest in attacking Yao Feng, but with Hun Miesheng and others lurking in the shadows, it wasn't surprising that these top alchemists were being targeted.

Time flies like sand through one's fingers, and five more days have passed in the blink of an eye. The remaining five alchemists have been holding on for more than a month.

That day, Dan Chen changed his hand seals, his face suddenly turned crimson, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, which merged into the medicine cauldron.

In an instant, a dazzling light erupted from the medicine cauldron, and a terrifying energy wave exploded, causing the medicine cauldron, which was of a high grade, to shatter instantly.

Immediately following, a massive green beam, ten feet in size, shot into the sky, startling the silver lightning in the air and causing the thunderclouds to shrink back.

The beam of light pierced the sky and almost instantly condensed into a hundred-meter-long thundercloud, leaving everyone in awe.

Moreover, what is most shocking is that the thunderclouds formed this time actually have two colors: blue and silver!

"Two-colored thunder clouds?"

The first Grade 8 pill has been produced!
Xuan Kongzi and the others looked at the two-colored thunderclouds from the high platform, exchanged glances and nodded, and exclaimed, "This girl from the Dan family is quite good. Among her generation, she can be ranked in the top three."

The difference between an eighth-grade pill and a seventh-grade pill, though only one grade, is worlds apart.

It not only possesses spirituality and intelligence, but can even be considered to have entered the realm of living beings.

The quality of eighth-grade pills is determined by the color of the pill lightning; the more colors, the higher the quality. If one can attract nine-colored pill lightning, it is a 'ninth-grade divine pill' with the power of creation!
Dan Chen drew upon two-colored thunderclouds, which meant that she had refined an eighth-grade pill with two-colored thunderclouds.

On the stone platform, Dan Chen wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, smiled as she looked at the two-colored thunderclouds, and struggled to her feet.

Although she was petite and slender, even powerful Dou Zun experts dared not underestimate her.

After today, the Dan family will surely be famous throughout the Central Plains because of her!
"Oh!"

Like a powder keg ignited, before Dan Chen's pill lightning even landed, everyone saw a huge beam of light burst forth from the medicine cauldron in front of Xiao Yan, shooting straight into the sky!
A beam of light streaked across the sky, and thunderclouds rapidly gathered. Then, amidst countless shocked gazes, two colors appeared. However, those with keen eyes could notice that beneath the blue and green hues, there seemed to be a very faint hint of pale red!

Xiao Yan stood up, his gaze meeting Yao Chen's on the high platform, who nodded slightly.

Chen Xiao took in the exchange of glances between the two, and a hint of curiosity rose in his heart.

It's unclear how the master and disciple came up with this plan, but the three-colored pill lightning doesn't seem to be Xiao Yan's limit.

Could it be that he knew he couldn't compete with Cao Ying, so he decided to conserve his strength?

It's not impossible.

After all, apart from the champion of the Dan Tournament, anyone who makes it into the top ten has the opportunity to subdue the Three Thousand Burning Flames.

"Oh!"

With a loud bang, another Rank 8 pill was born.

This time, it was the old monster Qinghua who had concealed his appearance.

The elixirs he refined also triggered three-colored thunderclouds.

However, the color of the thunderclouds was much more intense than that caused by Xiao Yan.

Just as the three of them used their respective skills to receive the thunder, two booming sounds seamlessly connected.

"Hahaha, alchemists from Central Plains, so this is all you've got! If this is all you've got, then I'll accept this year's champion of the Alchemy Competition!"

The middle-aged man flicked his finger, and an extremely terrifying beam of light, like a laser piercing through the heavens and earth, swept into the sky, bringing with it a vast wave of energy.

Seeing that Cao Ying's pills also finished at the same time, he guessed that the grade of the pills Cao Ying refined was almost the same as his own, which greatly boosted the middle-aged man's confidence.

A vast pillar of light shot into the sky, and the man's loud laughter abruptly stopped after only a few seconds.

Above the sky, two thunderclouds, each hundreds of feet tall, churned wildly, their colors beginning to change.

Before long, the thunderclouds surrounding the middle-aged man froze in six colors, startling the crowd in the square who gasped in surprise.

However, this call lasted only a few breaths.

Because the thunderclouds above Cao Ying's head were even more dazzling!
Red, orange, crimson, green, cyan, blue, purple, gold…

A total of eight colors!

"Eight-colored thunderclouds!"

Looking at the thunderclouds that had stopped churning, even Xuan Kongzi and the others on the high platform had their eyes shining with undisguised amazement.

Even if they were to do it themselves, that would be about the best they could do, maybe add one more color.

And Cao Ying's age...

Only Chen Xiao and Zi Yan were not surprised, as they had seen this scene many times before.

"The young phoenix sings a clear and melodious voice, and the old kite is suppressed by the blue clouds. Master Xuan Kong has taught a good disciple."

High in the sky, Qinghua Old Monster seemed to realize that the Pill Tower would not hold him accountable for participating in the Pill Gathering again. Looking at the eight-colored thunderclouds in the sky, he couldn't help but sigh.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Cao Ying slowly stood up. Her alluring face was slightly pale, but even so, the smile on her beautiful face was still as charming as ever.

Alchemy has always been a source of pride for Cao Ying.

The reputation of Cao family's enchantress is not without reason. Her talent in alchemy will be fully displayed today under the spotlight!

(End of this chapter)