The Martial Saint Started from Scavenging

Today is the first day of the sect competition, and the area inside and outside the Qingyun Sword Sect's mountain gate is already bustling with activity. The white jade plaza leading to the main peak is even more crowded, with people jostling shoulder to shoulder.

They either chatted in small groups or stood by the railing in a place with a wide view, their clothes fluttering, exuding an air of otherworldly elegance. But they all shared the same goal: to witness the splendor of this top-level event in the cultivation world of the Eastern Region.

At this moment, Ye Sheng and Lin Qingxue walked together through the crowd heading to the White Jade Square. He concealed his aura, suppressing his Grandmaster-level cultivation to appear as if he were an ordinary martial artist.

However, his attire, which symbolized his status as a guest elder, still drew the attention of the surrounding disciples, who made way for the two of them.

"That's Ye Sheng, the old man? He looks so young."

"I heard that he won the championship at the alchemy competition with his superb alchemy skills."

"It's not just alchemy; have you forgotten about the outer disciple selection competition from a while back?"

"He killed 'Blood Hand' He Ping with his status as a new spiritual plant cultivator who had been in the sect for less than a year! The scene was chilling to even think about."

"Yes, it is said that he is a martial artist at the peak of the Meridian Opening Realm."

"Not only is he a martial artist at the Opening Meridian Realm, but he's also a genius at alchemy, and so young! How many years has it been since my Azure Cloud Sword Sect has produced such a talent?"

The surrounding chatter flooded Ye Sheng's ears like a tide, but he ignored it and calmly walked to the viewing area reserved for guest elders and sect dignitaries.

As soon as he and Lin Qingxue sat down, they felt several unfriendly gazes being cast at them from different directions.

One, from the area of ​​the Enforcement Hall.

Wu Fei sat upright on it, his sinister old face expressionless, but his eyes were like those of a venomous snake, fixed on Ye Sheng.

Behind him, Pang Fu looked coldly at Ye Sheng and the others, his eyes filled with resentment.

The other two were Du Tao from the sect disciples' viewing area and Zhu Zhang from the sect managers' viewing area.

When they saw Ye Sheng, both of them curled up with a cold smile, making no attempt to hide their hostility.

Ye Sheng ignored these gazes and calmly turned his attention to the tall white jade platform in the center of the square.

Above the platform, clouds and mist swirled, and spiritual energy filled the air. Representatives from the two sects were already lined up on either side, clearly separated.

On the Qingyun Sword Sect's side, Yang Zhao wore a black Daoist robe, exuding a gentle and refined air; Liu Qing, on the other hand, wore a moon-white long dress, appearing as aloof and ethereal as a fairy.

Behind the two of them stood a burly young man, as imposing as an iron tower, with an honest face but exceptionally sharp eyes.

This person should be Shi Meng from Beast Taming Peak.

Meanwhile, the lineup sent by Wanling Pavilion is equally formidable.

The leader was a young man dressed in a colorful feathered robe with an eerie appearance.

He always had a faint, wicked smile on his lips, and his captivating eyes scanned the room, seemingly interested in everything.

"This person should be Kong Xuan, the young master of the Myriad Spirits Pavilion."

The information from Shen Qingqiu's jade slip came to mind.

It is said that this person possesses the bloodline of the ancient demon race "Five-Colored Peacock," and is born with the ability to communicate with bird spirit beasts. His "Five-Colored Divine Light" spirit control technique is also superb.

Behind him were a man and a woman.

The man was tall and thin, with a pale face and a medicinal scent emanating from him. He was probably an alchemist representing the Myriad Spirits Pavilion in a pill-refining competition.

The woman, dressed in a fiery red outfit, had a voluptuous figure and was playing with two crimson spheres in her hands, her eyes blazing with fighting spirit.

"when--"

A melodious bell rang out, echoing through the sky.

On the main seat of the high platform, Master Xuan Yang, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them.

"The auspicious time has arrived." His voice was calm, yet it resonated throughout the entire plaza. "The triennial sect competition between the Azure Cloud Sword Sect and the Myriad Spirits Pavilion is now beginning."

"The first match is alchemy. Our sect's disciple Liu Qing will face off against Wanling Pavilion's disciple Lin Yi."

As he finished speaking, two figures emerged from their respective camps and gracefully landed in the center of the white jade platform.

It was Liu Qing, and Lin Yi, the pale-faced alchemist from Wanling Pavilion.

The two stood facing each other, and on the jade ground in front of them, a crystal-clear glass alchemy furnace slowly rose.

"This round of competition will not include any elixirs or ranks."

Master Xuan Yang's voice rang out again, "Before you two, there are thirty-six kinds of spiritual plants, eighteen of which have mild medicinal properties, while the other eighteen have strong medicinal properties and even conflict with each other."

"What you need to do is to select the herbs from these thirty-six kinds of spiritual plants and refine a batch of pills."

"Ultimately, the outcome will be determined by the grade and efficacy of the elixir."

This rule is similar to the final round of the original Daoist alchemy tournament, but it is much more difficult.

Looking at the thirty-six kinds of spiritual plants in front of her, Liu Qing frowned slightly and fell into deep thought.

Lin Yi, on the other hand, sneered and took out several spiritual plants with the most potent medicinal properties without hesitation.

"He wants to refine the 'Nine-Turn Explosive Flame Pill'?" An elder on the viewing platform exclaimed in surprise.

The Nine-Turn Explosive Flame Pill is an extremely domineering and aggressive pill. The refining process is extremely dangerous, and the slightest carelessness will result in the destruction of the pill and death.

However, once this pill is refined, its power is extremely astonishing, enough to severely injure a cultivator in the early stage of the Golden Core realm.

It seems that Lin Yi wanted to give the Qingyun Sword Sect a hard time right from the start.

Ye Sheng's gaze narrowed slightly as he observed the scene unfolding before him.

Although he had confidence in Liu Qing's alchemy skills, her risky actions made him a little worried.

Immediately, Ye Sheng pushed his "Initial Insight into Alchemy" talent to its limit, his gaze traversing a great distance to fall upon Lin Yi.

[Talent for alchemy has been activated at the initial stage... Analysis to begin...]

[Target: Lin Yi, a disciple of the Myriad Spirits Pavilion.]

[Cultivation Level: Late Foundation Establishment]

[Alchemy Realm: Proficient.]

[Refining a pill: Nine-Turn Explosive Flame Pill.]

Success rate analysis: 30%.

[Potential risk: There is a 70% probability that the furnace will explode during the elixir condensation stage due to conflicting medicinal properties.]

Seeing this, Ye Sheng's heart stirred, and he turned his gaze to Liu Qing.

[Target: Liu Qing, a disciple of the Qingyun Sword Sect.]

[Cultivation Level: Peak of Late Foundation Establishment]

[Alchemy Realm: Proficient.]

[Currently devising a formula: Ice Heart Concentration Pill.]

Success rate analysis: 80%.

The Ice Heart Concentration Pill is a type of pill that aids in cultivation. Although its grade is not as high as the Nine-Turn Blazing Flame Pill, it is more reliable and has extraordinary effects.

It seems that Liu Qing intends to win by playing it safe.

Just then, the skill panel in Ye Sheng's mind suddenly started flashing again.

[Optimization potential detected in the Liu Qing Dan formula...]

[Optimization plan under development...]

Option 1: Adding 'Purple Clover' can improve the quality of the pill by half a grade.

[Option Two: Adjusting the order in which 'Mystic Ice Grass' and 'Tranquil Lotus' are added can increase the success rate of pill formation by 10%.]

[Option 3 (Optimal Option): Abandon the 'Concentration Flower' and use the 'Seven-Star Begonia' as the main ingredient, adding three qian of 'Moonstone Powder' as a guide. This will produce a higher-grade 'Seven Aperture Exquisite Pill'! Success rate is 60%!]

The Seven-Aperture Exquisite Elixir!

Ye Sheng was shocked. This was a top-grade elixir that could cleanse the soul and enhance comprehension, and its value was far greater than that of the Ice Heart Condensing Spirit Pill.

But the problem is, how can he tell Liu Qing, who is far away in the center of the arena, about this optimization plan?

He can't just shout it out in front of so many people, can he?

Ye Sheng frowned, his eyes scanning the room rapidly.

Suddenly, his gaze sharpened and fell on a communication jade slip hanging from Liu Qing's waist.

Got it!