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Chapter 570: Alchemy

Nearly everyone\'s eyes widened, staring intently at the group in the northern plaza.

The Crown Prince Chongtian stood there, haughty and unrestrained! His eyes were sharp as he gazed at the Dragon and Tiger Alchemy Sage.

Initially, the Dragon and Tiger Alchemy Sage was enraged. However, his anger turned into a cold smile as he said, "I appreciate the kindness of His Majesty Taishui, but as a member of the Blue Flame Empire, I, Lan Longhu, will not switch allegiances. I will remain a consecrator of the Blue Flame Empire!"

After Lan Longhu finished speaking, the Blue Flame Emperor beside him straightened his posture, his courage bolstered!

"Is that so? I believe you will become a consecrator of the Taishui Empire\'s Alchemy Academy," Crown Prince Chongtian responded with a sinister smile, ceasing his argument with Lan Longhu.

"If you are here to participate in the Grand Alchemy Gathering, please take a seat. If you are here to cause trouble for this old man, then you are not welcome!" Lan Longhu said coldly.

"We are, of course, here to participate in the Grand Alchemy Gathering. We look forward to your guidance, Alchemy Sage!" Crown Prince Chongtian replied with an evil grin.

With that, he led his entourage and the alchemists of the Taishui Empire to seats next to Xu Fu.

The entire plaza was focused on the Taishui Empire\'s group, eyes filled with shock. The Taishui Empire was too arrogant! Too brazen!

Such arrogance! Forcibly inviting an Alchemy Sage? In front of the world\'s alchemy sects, acting so brazenly?

Of course, they had the credentials to back their arrogance. The mere mention of the Taishui Empire was enough to overshadow most present.

Lan Longhu cast a cold glance at Crown Prince Chongtian before turning to Zhong Shan\'s direction, noticing the Vermillion Bird eating, then looked at Zhong Shan, and finally nodded in gratitude towards him.

Zhong Shan returned the nod, but his mind was filled with thoughts.

What did Crown Prince Chongtian mean by his words? He was so certain that Lan Longhu would join the Taishui Empire? Why was he so sure? Lan Longhu was a royal relative of the Blue Flame Empire and would never leave it unless the Blue Flame Empire ceased to exist!

Thinking of this, Zhong Shan looked gravely at the Blue Flame Emperor, Lan Tianwei.

Lan Tianwei, an inheritor of the Imperial Realm, had traveled the world before ascending to the throne, living as a carefree wanderer. Could such a person maintain the Blue Flame Empire?

As for Crown Prince Chongtian, after taking his seat, he turned his gaze towards Zhong Shan. His eyes narrowed, and a hint of malice flashed within them.

It was this group that had foiled his plans and disrupted his scheme?

With a wave of his hand, an eunuch approached Crown Prince Chongtian.

"Who are those people?" Crown Prince Chongtian asked.

"They are representatives of the Grand Alchemy Sect!" the eunuch responded respectfully.

Others didn\'t find anything unusual, but Zhong Shan, not far away, noticed something odd. The eunuch was too obedient, too respectful, as if Crown Prince Chongtian was his true master.

Feeling a bit strange, Zhong Shan looked again at Lan Tianwei, with an unsettling feeling in his heart!

Previously, everyone had different expressions. The conflict had stirred everyone\'s emotions greatly, but one person seemed indifferent throughout.

Xu Fu! Xu Fu sat quietly, his emotions unaffected by the earlier events, showing only a hint of surprise when he saw the Vermillion Bird.

Everyone had arrived!

Despite Crown Prince Chongtian\'s actions causing some displeasure, the Grand Alchemy Gathering still needed to proceed.

The Grand Alchemy Gathering, initiated by the Dragon and Tiger Alchemy Sage, naturally presided over by him.

The Dragon and Tiger Alchemy Sage stepped forward, taking a few steps and turning in a circle, scanning the large plaza and all the people around it.

At this moment, the entire plaza was silent.

"A once-in-a-millennium event, the Grand Alchemy Gathering! I am pleased to once again meet with all the masters of alchemy. Many here are old friends who attended the last gathering, and there are also some new faces. Congratulations on becoming top alchemists of Shenzhou!" the Dragon and Tiger Alchemy Sage began.

The scene remained quiet. Who was the Alchemy Sage? And who were these people present? Naturally, they would not be so vulgar as to applaud the Alchemy Sage. It was akin to a court, where ministers would not clap after the emperor spoke.

Everyone listened silently. The Dragon and Tiger Alchemy Sage was the highest authority in the world of alchemy. The title of Alchemy Sage symbolized being the "number one." Moreover, the Dragon and Tiger Alchemy Sage had held the title for three consecutive terms, totaling three thousand years as the Alchemy Sage, unmatched by anyone.

"I believe the core of the Grand Alchemy Gathering lies in the possession of the \'Eternal Alchemy Platform.\' I think all 988 alchemy masters here would like to take the Eternal Alchemy Platform back with them," the Dragon and Tiger Alchemy Sage smiled.

Everyone stared at the Alchemy Sage. Indeed, without the lure of the Eternal Alchemy Platform, at least half of the people here would not have attended.

"The ownership of the Eternal Alchemy Platform can only be decided on the platform itself. At most, 81 alchemists can compete on the Eternal Alchemy Platform at the same time, but we have 988 alchemists here. According to tradition, 81 people will be selected to compete for the Eternal Alchemy Platform, and thus for the title of \'Alchemy Sage,\'" the Dragon and Tiger Alchemy Sage announced.

"How will the 81 people be selected?" asked an alchemist from the southern side, clearly attending the Grand Alchemy Gathering for the first time.

"Are you a newly ranked top alchemist?" the Dragon and Tiger Alchemy Sage asked with a smile.

"Yes, Alchemy Sage! I was not qualified to attend the last Grand Alchemy Gathering," the alchemist replied.

"Understood," the Dragon and Tiger Alchemy Sage nodded.

"The registration test requires creating a seventh-grade pill, but selecting participants will involve creating an eighth-grade pill!" the Dragon and Tiger Alchemy Sage explained.

"Uh? But there are definitely more than 81 alchemists here who can create eighth-grade pills!" the alchemist frowned.

"Indeed, there are many who can create eighth-grade pills. However, given specific materials, creating an eighth-grade pill becomes much more challenging. I have prepared 36 specific herbs, each weighing one jin, as a set, totaling 988 sets. Using the herbs I provide, create an eighth-grade pill! Aside from the formula, alchemists are not allowed to use anything else. Good luck to everyone!" the Dragon and Tiger Alchemy Sage smiled.

"Thank you for informing us, Alchemy Sage!" the alchemist said.

"No need to thank me. This is what I was going to say anyway. However, let me remind you once more: once the alchemy process begins, no one outside is allowed to disturb the alchemists, or they will be expelled from the Grand Alchemy Gathering!" the Dragon and Tiger Alchemy Sage said sternly.

"Understood, Alchemy Sage!" the alchemists responded.

Quickly, the servants brought 988 alchemy furnaces onto the plaza.

Everything was identical, even the furnaces were of the same specifications. Beside each furnace was a jade rack holding 36 different herbs, each weighing one jin. At each furnace stood a servant responsible for anything other than the herbs.

"Alchemists, please begin!" the Alchemy Sage gestured.

Upon the Alchemy Sage\'s command, alchemists from all directions entered the area, each choosing a furnace.

Bao\'er glanced at Zhong Shan, who gave her an encouraging nod. Bao\'er smiled and stepped forward.

Alchemy required true skill, and Bao\'er had just that. She was the top alchemist in the Grand Alchemy Sect. Her sensitivity to herbs far surpassed the three grand elders, which was why her master had taken her as a direct disciple even when she was a mortal.

Before Bao\'er stood a giant furnace three zhang high. She walked around it, smiling slightly, then moved to the jade rack to inspect the herbs. After confirming their components, Bao\'er, with just a thought, began to select the herbs and start the alchemy process.

With a wave of her hand, the lid of the alchemy furnace opened wide, and Bao\'er tossed in twelve types of herbs. Forming a hand seal, flames roared to life at the bottom of the furnace.

Bao\'er had begun her alchemy!

At that moment, fewer than ten people in the plaza had started their alchemy; the rest were still contemplating their herb combinations. Bao\'er led the charge, the first to begin alchemy!

"Bao\'er is amazing. She started right away. She\'ll definitely produce an eighth-grade pill," Ling\'er whispered.

"Of course!" Gu Qianyou replied with a smile.

Zhong Shan had no worries about Bao\'er producing an eighth-grade pill. Back at home, she had even produced ninth-grade pills. Despite the herb restrictions, Bao\'er\'s alchemical talent was extraordinary. She was sure to secure a spot on the Eternal Alchemy Platform.

As Bao\'er formed hand seals and chanted an incantation, a misty purple aura began to rise from the furnace.

Bao\'er continued her alchemy for a full day and night! By this time, nearly everyone had started their alchemy.

The grand alchemy gathering had officially begun with great momentum!

After a day, Bao\'er was slightly fatigued but persisted.

"Bring water!" Bao\'er instructed a nearby servant.

Water wasn\'t considered part of the herbs, so the servant quickly brought sixteen jade bottles of specific spring water. Bao\'er inspected a bottle and nodded, "Pour twelve bottles of this spring water into the furnace!"

"Yes!" The servant nodded and began pouring the water as Bao\'er continued to add twelve more types of herbs in sequence.

The furnace lid closed, and Bao\'er resumed her alchemy.

"Boom—"

A loud explosion echoed from a distance.

A furnace had exploded, leaving the alchemist standing there in shock.

"Failed," someone sighed.

"Wow, even the furnace exploded!" someone else exclaimed.

If the furnace exploded, the eighth-grade pill was as elusive as the moon in water.

That person was eliminated, and soon after, more failures followed. Though their furnaces didn\'t explode, they produced nothing but waste, consuming all the herbs.

These individuals left the plaza with a mix of confusion and frustration.

By the second, third, and fourth days, only about two hundred people remained in the plaza!

"Done!" someone suddenly shouted.

Everyone turned to look.

It was Xu Fu. As his furnace lid opened, a golden pill flew out. A servant quickly caught it on a jade plate and presented it to the Alchemy Sage.

The Alchemy Sage examined it, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

"Congratulations, fellow Daoist!" the Dragon and Tiger Alchemy Sage congratulated Xu Fu.

"Mm!" Xu Fu nodded indifferently, returning to his seat.

Xu Fu was the first to finish an eighth-grade pill!

Zhong Shan focused on Bao\'er. She was drenched in sweat, clearly exhausted from the days of alchemy.

"Fetch eighteen more bottles of water!" Bao\'er instructed the servant.

"Yes!" The servant left immediately.

Bao\'er picked up the last twelve types of herbs, using her spells to divide them, taking about one liang of each.

The servant returned with eighteen jade bottles filled with water.

Bao\'er waved her hand, opening the furnace lid.

"Add the water!" Bao\'er commanded.

The servant poured the water into the furnace while Bao\'er added the herbs in sequence.

She closed the lid and continued her alchemy.

Just then, Zhong Shan\'s eyes narrowed.

He had noticed that the servant who had just poured the water had given a subtle nod in a particular direction.

Zhong Shan followed the servant\'s gaze and saw Crown Prince Chongtian not far away.

The servant was reporting to Crown Prince Chongtian?

Sensing Zhong Shan\'s gaze, Crown Prince Chongtian turned and looked at him, a sinister smile and a hint of disdain in his eyes.

Damn! The servant had tampered with the water!