The Martial Saint Started from Scavenging

At this moment, everyone's eyes were fixed on that cluster of golden flames.

For the cultivators present, this was no longer just a simple fire control technique, but a realm that was almost "the Dao".

Wang Teng stared intently at the cluster of flames, his eyes bloodshot, jealousy and resentment gnawing at his heart.

He couldn't understand why his "Li Huo Jue" technique, which he had painstakingly cultivated for twenty years, would lose to the "True Qi Fire" of a mortal martial artist.

"when--"

The bell rang again, and the time for an incense stick to burn was up.

The wind subsided, and the square returned to calm.

In the end, fewer than fifty people remained, and the flames in front of them were still burning.

Ye Sheng's cluster of golden flames never wavered, not even at the tip.

"Second round, fire control complete."

Xuan Yang Zhenren's voice rang out. He glanced at Ye Sheng, then at Wang Teng, whose face was deathly pale, and said nothing more.

The result is self-evident.

"Now, let's begin the third round: pill formation."

This is the final and most crucial round of the Daoist alchemy competition.

The first two rounds test the alchemist's basic skills.

This round, however, will truly test one's alchemy skills.

"The rules for the third round are different from those of previous rounds."

Master Xuan Yang's words put everyone to their senses.

"In previous years, the pill-making process was based on a specific formula, and the competition was about the quality and speed of pill production."

"But this time, no prescription will be provided."

As soon as he finished speaking, the audience erupted in uproar.

Without a formula, how can you refine pills?

"On each of the alchemy platforms before you, there are ten kinds of spiritual plants," Master Xuan Yang continued. "These ten kinds of spiritual plants have different medicinal properties, and some even conflict with each other."

"What you need to do is to select from these ten spiritual plants, formulate your own recipes, and refine a batch of pills."

"No restrictions on the type or grade of elixirs."

"Finally, the final ranking will be determined by comprehensively evaluating the quality of the pills, their efficacy, and the sophistication of the formula."

The atmosphere on the field instantly became tense upon hearing this.

This test is more than ten times harder than the prescribed formula!

This not only tests the alchemist's understanding of the properties of medicines, but also their creativity and adaptability.

If you're not careful, the conflicting effects of the medicines could cause an explosion, which would be the least of your worries.

Ye Sheng's gaze narrowed slightly as he looked at the ten kinds of spiritual plants that had been brought up by the attendant on the alchemy table in front of him.

A "Red Sun Flower" exuding a scorching aura.

A "Mysterious Ice Grass" that exudes a chilling aura.

A "Purple Lightning Vine" covered with lightning patterns.

There are also a few auxiliary spiritual plants with relatively mild medicinal properties, but there are subtle restraining relationships between them.

Fire, ice, and lightning—three completely different attributes, and even mutually restraining—putting these spiritual plants together would be a dead end.

Ye Sheng's heart stirred, and he glanced at Wu Fei on the high platform.

Wu Fei was looking at him with a cold gaze, a faint, sneer playing on his lips.

Ye Sheng instantly understood that this difficult question was most likely aimed at him.

Wu Fei clearly intended to exploit this problem of drug conflict to embarrass him in front of everyone, and even cause him injury.

"Interesting," Ye Sheng thought with a cold smile.

Unlike the others, he did not immediately begin processing the herbs, but instead closed his eyes again.

[Talent for alchemy has been activated... Beginning to analyze the properties of medicinal ingredients...]

【Crimson Sun Flower: Fire attribute, explosive medicinal properties, can be used to refine amplification-type pills.】

[Mystic Ice Grass: Water attribute, with a cold and yin nature, can be used to refine healing or freezing pills.]

[Purple Lightning Vine: Lightning attribute, extremely potent medicinal properties, can be used to refine body-tempering or attack-type pills.]

[Analysis of medicinal conflict: Crimson Sunflower and Mystic Ice Grass are incompatible; forcibly fusing them will almost certainly result in an explosion.]

[The medicinal properties of the Purple Lightning Vine are extremely potent and difficult to control. If it is combined with the other two main medicinal ingredients, it will exacerbate the conflict between their medicinal properties...]

[Optimization plan under development...]

[Option 1: Abandon the Purple Lightning Vine and use Agave as an auxiliary ingredient to neutralize water and fire, thus refining the Ice and Fire Tempering Pill, with a success rate of 30%.]

[Option Two: Abandon the Crimson Sun Flower, and use Moonstone Powder as a catalyst to blend ice and lightning, which can be used to refine the Mysterious Ice Thunder Pill, with a success rate of 20%.]

[Option Three (Optimal Solution): Use all three main ingredients, changing the refining order. First, refine the 'Purple Lightning Vine' with a gentle flame, using its violent lightning power to temper the furnace body; then, use the cold energy of the 'Mysterious Ice Grass' to envelop the fiery nature of the 'Crimson Sun Flower,' creating a balance of Yin and Yang; finally, activate the lightning power within the furnace body, instantly stimulating the properties of the three ingredients, allowing them to be reborn from the ashes amidst extreme conflict and destruction, condensing into a pill!]

[Deduced Elixir: Three-Stage Breakthrough Pill, which can help martial artists in the Meridian Opening Realm or Qi Refining Stage cultivators forcefully break through bottlenecks, with a 30% probability of breaking through a minor realm.]

Three-stage Breakthrough Pill!

Ye Sheng's heart skipped a beat when he saw those five words.

This is a genuine elixir! Although it's just a deduction, its value far surpasses that of low-grade pills!

"This is it!" Ye Sheng made a decision instantly.

He opened his eyes and began processing the medicinal herbs.

His actions once again drew everyone's attention.

Because he actually took out all three main ingredients with the most intense attribute conflicts.

"Is he crazy? He wants to refine all three medicinal herbs together?"

"Water, fire, and thunder—mixing these three medicinal properties together is bound to cause an explosion!"

"I think he's gotten carried away by the victories in the first two rounds and is trying to gain attention!"

Even the elders on the high platform frowned.

"Nonsense!" Wu Fei sneered. "This brat is arrogant and ignorant of his own limitations. He will surely suffer the consequences!"

Master Xuan Yang did not speak, but a hint of curiosity flashed in his deep eyes.

Wang Teng also saw Ye Sheng's actions. He was stunned at first, and then his face showed a look of ecstasy.

He chose the safest option, taking only the Crimson Sun Flower to prepare a batch of "Crimson Fire Pills".

Although its rank is not high, it is reliable.

In his view, Ye Sheng's suicidal behavior was utterly foolish.

"Kid, let's see how you die this time!" Wang Teng thought viciously to himself.

Ye Sheng ignored the surrounding chatter and stares.

He lit the alchemical fire, but instead of adding the medicine, he first threw the section of "Purple Lightning Vine" into the furnace.

Then, he closed his eyes, probed a wisp of true energy into the alchemy furnace, and carefully controlled the flames to scorch the vine.

"Sizzle..."

A faint crackling sound of electric arcs came from inside the alchemy furnace. Wisps of pale purple lightning were forced out from the vines and then slowly merged into the furnace wall.

This move caused the elders on the high platform to narrow their eyes.

"Using lightning to quench the furnace? This... this is a record only found in ancient alchemy techniques. Where did he learn it from?" an elder exclaimed in surprise.

An unprecedented light burst forth in Xuan Yang Zhenren's eyes.

What Ye Sheng did next was even more eye-opening for everyone.

He put the Mystic Ice Grass and the Crimson Sun Flower into the alchemy furnace at the same time, and then used a special fire control technique to create a delicate balance between the icy cold energy and the scorching heat energy inside the furnace.

Under Ye Sheng's control, the two completely opposite medicinal properties, like two yin-yang fish chasing each other, slowly rotated, merged with each other, yet did not annihilate each other.

Time passed slowly. On the field, some alchemists had already failed to control the fire, causing their furnaces to explode and forcing them to leave the field in a sorry state.

Wang Teng had also reached the crucial moment of condensing the elixir. He was completely focused, and his forehead was covered in sweat.

Ye Sheng remained calm. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, a glint of light flashing within them.

"Now!"

He formed a hand seal, and the true energy in his dantian poured into the alchemy furnace without reservation!

"Buzz—!"

The alchemy furnace emitted a loud hum, and the lightning power that had already been integrated into the furnace wall was instantly activated at this moment!

A violent burst of lightning erupted, colliding violently with the swirling ice and fire energies within the alchemy furnace!