Chapter 7

The grand high-ranking alchemist, Dan Shi, issued a challenge to a lowly alchemy practitioner, immediately igniting the scene.

"Dan Shi Zhou is about to become an alchemy master. His alchemy skills are absolutely far superior to Lu Chen."

"That's right. Lu Chen hasn't learned alchemy at the Alchemy Hall, not even a novice alchemist. Who knows who taught him his unorthodox alchemy skills? How can he possibly match Dan Shi Zhou's orthodox alchemy?"

"If it were me, I would definitely not accept the challenge. Fifty medium-grade Body Refinement Pills, a safe and sure profit."

"But the stakes Zhou Dan Shi offered are too tempting. If it were me, I would risk my life to accept."

One after another, the discussions arose.

In the hall, few people were optimistic about Lu Chen, while many were pessimistic.

Lu Chen hesitated for a moment, not yet responding, but Chen Yuanliang took the lead: "Alchemists, fearless in sparring!"

Lu Chen slightly frowned. What fearless sparring? Clearly, it was a ploy to trick him into accepting the challenge.

Chen Yuanliang, a cunning old fox!

However, the stakes of fifty low-grade Spirit Qi Pills were truly irresistible.

Spirit Qi Pills are unique among alchemical medicines, a special kind of pill.

Other alchemical medicines focus on medicinal power, using it to assist martial artists in cultivation.

But Spirit Qi Pills have no medicinal power; instead, they contain a large amount of pure spirit qi. When martial artists consume them, they directly absorb the spirit qi within.

The amount absorbed varies from person to person, depending on the martial artist's ability to absorb spirit qi.

Lu Chen, who cultivated the Nine Dragons Convergence Technique, was a major consumer of spirit qi. Spirit Qi Pills were practically divine pills tailor-made for him.

Low-grade Spirit Qi Pills were non-existent in Shuangmu City, and even in Dengzhou, they were rare. It was said that only some nobles in the capital possessed them, making them extremely precious.

Originally, Lu Chen had no intention of competing in alchemy with Zhou Hong. It would be a waste of time.

The alchemy knowledge Lu Chen inherited was incredibly powerful and profound, possibly from some great being.

Compared to Lu Chen, even a ninth-rank alchemy master would be considered mediocre.

For Zhou Hong to compete in alchemy with him was like an egg hitting a stone. What was there to compete about?

However, the fifty low-grade Spirit Qi Pills offered by Zhou Hong were something Lu Chen absolutely needed!

Just as Lu Chen was about to speak, Chen Yuanliang, fearing he might not accept, added: "I will add fifty medium-grade Body Refinement Pills as additional stakes. If you can defeat Zhou Hong, you can take them immediately."

"Deal!"

Lu Chen laughed heartily and immediately agreed.

Next, both sides decided on the type of alchemical pill to be used in the competition.

Zhou Hong requested the refinement of True Essence Pills!

Lu Chen agreed.

Many people at the scene shook their heads, feeling sorry for Lu Chen.

True Essence Pills are second-rank alchemical medicines, much more difficult to refine than first-rank Body Refinement Pills.

Zhou Hong is a high-ranking alchemist, almost a master, with a record of successfully refining True Essence Pills.

But you, Lu Chen, are an unorthodox alchemy practitioner. With materials that should yield nine Body Refinement Pills, you only managed to refine one. Your alchemy skills are no match for Zhou Hong; you are bound to lose!

Zhou Hong and Chen Yuanliang exchanged glances, both seeing joy in each other's eyes. Lu Chen, the fool, had finally fallen into the trap!

Lu Chen saw all of this but remained calm on the surface, secretly amused inside.

These two fools thought they were tricking him. Soon, they would realize they had dug their own graves.

Soon, two alchemy furnaces and two sets of materials for True Essence Pills were placed before Lu Chen and Zhou Hong.

The alchemy competition began!

Zhou Hong quickly lit the fire and began warming the furnace.

Zhou Hong's technique was proficient, strictly following the procedures for alchemy. Whether it was warming the furnace, selecting materials, or refining, he did everything meticulously, displaying the demeanor of a great alchemist.

In contrast, Lu Chen sat lazily, not even lighting the fire, appearing as if he were about to give up.

Chen Yuanliang couldn't help but laugh. Lu Chen had lost all confidence; he was bound to lose!

The next moment, a flame of alchemy fire rose, and Chen Yuanliang's smile instantly froze.

A foot-long flame rose from Lu Chen's palm, burning fiercely in the air.

"True Fire!"

The crowd burst into screams.

Zhou Hong's pupils contracted, his face changing.

Only alchemy masters can produce True Fire!

Could it be that this unorthodox alchemy practitioner, Lu Chen, is an alchemy master?

"Hong, focus on refining the pill!"

Seeing Zhou Hong distracted, Chen Yuanliang quickly reminded him, "Alchemy fire is just one means of refining pills. Even if Lu Chen has True Fire, it doesn't mean his alchemy skills are up to par. Your second-rank alchemy skills are exquisite; you will surely win him."

At this moment, the door on the top floor of the Alchemy Hall opened, and a beautiful woman hurried out of the room, rushing downstairs.

The woman wore a black alchemy robe, with a golden pill embroidered on it. Below the golden pill were seven long red stripes, looking very imposing.

"Strange, a small city's Alchemy Hall actually has the fluctuation of Soul Fire. Could it be that a Pill King has descended?"

Indeed, what Lu Chen had produced was not True Fire but the higher-level Soul Fire!

True Fire and Soul Fire may look similar, but they can be distinguished.

True Fire is red, while Soul Fire is purple, and the temperature of Soul Fire is much higher.

Most importantly, only Pill Kings can produce Soul Fire, not alchemy masters.

Chen Yuanliang was only a first-rank alchemy master and had no right to see a Pill King, so he had never seen real Soul Fire.

Therefore, Chen Yuanliang, Zhou Hong, and the others did not recognize the value and mistook Lu Chen's Soul Fire for True Fire.

Once the Soul Fire rose, Lu Chen quickly entered the state of refining pills.

Previously, when refining Body Refinement Pills, he was just going through the motions to humor Zhou Hong. Lu Chen casually refined them, even using his soul power to control the materials, and only produced one medium-grade Body Refinement Pill.

But this time, with the rich stakes, Lu Chen took it more seriously.

Lu Chen still poured all the materials into the alchemy furnace and refined them uniformly!

He skillfully controlled the fire and perfectly executed the three steps of liquefaction, fusion, and sealing the furnace.

Soon, the pill formation was complete!

At this time, Zhou Hong was still refining the materials one by one.

After a full hour, Zhou Hong finally completed the pill formation and could open the furnace.

"What's the use of refining quickly? You didn't strictly follow the selection and refinement processes. Even if you manage to form pills, their quality won't be high."

Zhou Hong sneered at Lu Chen and then decisively opened the furnace.

The fragrance of the pills filled the air, refreshing and invigorating.

Inside the furnace, there were six failed pills and three successful ones, one of which was round and full.

"Three successful pills, two low-grade and one medium-grade!"

Chen Yuanliang announced loudly.

"The failure rate of True Essence Pills is very high. It's common for a whole furnace to produce failed pills. Three successful pills in one furnace is a very high success rate."

"Dan Shi Zhou has even refined a medium-grade True Essence Pill, which is the level of an alchemy master, comparable to Hall Master Chen."

"Dan Shi Zhou is indeed the most talented alchemy practitioner in Shuangmu City!"

Praises echoed one after another.

The crowd looked at Zhou Hong with eyes full of respect.

"Hey, why don't you open your furnace? Is it full of failed pills, and you're afraid to show them?"

Seeing Lu Chen standing there in a daze, Zhou Hong thought he was afraid and couldn't help but feel smug.

"Just one medium-grade True Essence Pill, what's there to brag about?"

Lu Chen didn't even look at Zhou Hong and reached out to open the furnace.

The furnace opened, and a mist of pill energy spread out, the rich fragrance of the pills permeating the entire Alchemy Hall.

Once the pill energy dissipated, the situation inside the furnace became clear.

In an instant.

Zhou Hong was petrified.

Chen Yuanliang was petrified.

Everyone at the scene was petrified.

A furnace of nine pills, each round and full, with a lustrous color, better than Zhou Hong's medium-grade pills.

Chen Yuanliang's throat trembled, and he managed to utter a few words:

"High-grade True Essence Pills!"