12dz Chapter 80 Alchemy Competition
Chapter 80 Alchemy Competition
Qinghe lay on the edge of the arena, gazing at the gradually darkening sky. The sky seemed to be gloomy because of this fierce battle, and thick dark clouds slowly gathered, as if mourning her defeat.
Her heart was filled with mixed feelings, and resentment surged like a tide. She had trained hard for many years, hoping to shine in this competition, but she did not expect to be defeated by Zhao Lin's decisive blow.
"Could it be that my daily cultivation has not been diligent enough? Or is my understanding of the Shuiyue Nunnery's magic still insufficient?" She kept blaming and reflecting on herself in her heart, the sound of spiritual energy colliding during the battle echoing in her ears, those booming sounds now turning into mockery of her.
Zhao Lin stood not far away, slightly out of breath. He looked at Qing He, a hint of admiration and guilt flashing in his eyes: "Miss Qing He, you are very strong. I did not win this battle easily."
Upon hearing this, Qinghe gave a soft, bitter smile: "I have nothing to say about my inferior skills; I can only blame myself for not being skilled enough." With that, she slowly stood up, and the light on her jade flute dimmed, just like her dejected mood.
The audience fell silent upon seeing Qinghe's defeat, and a somber atmosphere filled the air.
Looking at Qinghe on the stage, Xu Xiaoxiao said with heartache, "Although Qinghe lost, she was really brave."
Mu Zhusheng nodded gently: "This defeat may be a heavy blow to her, but it will definitely become a powerful driving force for her future cultivation path."
The sky darkened completely, and the thick, inky blackness spread rapidly across the entire sky like a tide, shrouding the square in gloom.
The runes surrounding the arena grew increasingly faint, like guardians exhausted after this fierce competition.
The audience gradually dispersed, leaving only an empty space and the lingering spiritual energy. A gentle breeze carried the coolness of the night, as if telling the story of today's fierce battle.
Xu Xiaoxiao, Mu Zhusheng, and the others returned to their residence.
Xu Xiaoxiao was still immersed in today's competition. While tidying her clothes, she said to Mu Zhusheng, "Second Senior Brother, today's competition was really exciting. Although Qinghe lost, I still think she's very impressive. I wonder what kind of program will be held tomorrow?"
Mu Zhusheng sat at the table, poured a cup of tea, took a sip, and said, "The arrangements for tomorrow's competition are still unknown, but I imagine that all the major sects will send out even more powerful disciples. Today we saw the spells and tactics of different sects, and tomorrow there may be even more unique techniques on display."
Yuan Mengyao walked in from outside and chimed in, "I heard that in addition to the competition among sect disciples, this grand event will also include a display of magical treasures. Maybe we'll see those legendary ancient magical treasures appear tomorrow."
Xu Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up: "Ancient magic treasure? Is that like the Spirit Void Cauldron or Star Radiance Sword recorded in ancient books? It would be amazing to see it in person!"
Tu Minglang laughed and said, "Don't just think about those magical artifacts. Tomorrow there might be a competition of skills like alchemy and talisman making, which will be quite interesting to watch."
Xu Xiaoxiao wrinkled her nose: "Alchemy and talisman making are not as interesting as magic competitions. But if I can see a skilled alchemist refine high-level pills, it will be an eye-opening experience. I think Second Senior Brother is also very good at alchemy. Second Senior Brother, why didn't you sign up?"
"I'm not interested in the competition," Mu Zhusheng said, her eyes shining as she looked at the group of people.
At this moment, the night outside the window was deep, with the occasional chirping of insects mingling with the sounds of discussion inside the room.
Mu Zhusheng stood up, walked to the window, looked at the night outside, and said, "No matter what the program is tomorrow, we can learn a lot from it. Everyone is tired today, so let's rest early and recharge so that we will have the energy to watch more exciting things tomorrow."
Everyone nodded and went back to their rooms to rest, gradually drifting off to sleep as they looked forward to tomorrow.
As dawn broke, a faint ray of light shone through the cracks in the window, gently illuminating the sleeping faces of the people.
Xu Xiaoxiao woke up first. She stretched and opened the window. Fresh air rushed in, carrying the unique moisture and coolness of the morning.
The flowers, plants, and leaves in the yard were covered with glistening dewdrops, which shimmered brilliantly in the dawn light, like fragments of last night's stars fallen to earth.
She turned around and woke everyone up, excitedly saying, "Everyone, get up quickly! A new day has begun. I wonder what surprises await us at today's grand event!"
Everyone got up one after another, washed up, and then went to the square together.
The square was already crowded with people, and the atmosphere was even more enthusiastic and full of anticipation than yesterday.
As the sun rose higher, it dispelled the last wisp of morning mist, illuminating the square brightly and expansively.
Mu Zhusheng looked up at the sky and said, "The weather is nice today; it should be a good day to watch the competition."
As they were talking, an elderly man dressed in a magnificent brocade robe slowly walked onto the arena. He cleared his throat and said in a loud voice, "Young talents, today's grand event will continue to present wonderful performances. First, we will begin the competition of alchemy skills. The outstanding alchemists from various sects will showcase their skills here and refine high-level pills."
Xu Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up: "Here it comes, the alchemy competition begins!"
Several alchemists floated in from different directions, each setting up their alchemy furnace in the center of the arena. The furnaces were of various styles, including ancient and heavy bronze furnaces and exquisite and beautiful crystal furnaces.
An elderly alchemist with white hair was the first to take out medicinal herbs. As he selected them, he muttered to himself, "This spiritual ginseng is still young. It needs to be paired with some mature spiritual fruits to bring out the spiritual energy of the elixir."
The young alchemist beside him said confidently, "My secret pill formula will definitely shine today."
While the alchemists were busy preparing, the audience below the stage was also having a lively discussion.
"Look at that old man. He is a senior member of the Dan Ding School and has extremely rich experience in alchemy. It is said that the pills he refines have the effect of bringing the dead back to life."
"However, that young alchemist should not be underestimated. I've heard that he's exceptionally talented and skilled at creating innovative pill formulas."
Xu Xiaoxiao asked Mu Zhusheng curiously, "Second Senior Brother, who do you think will win?"
Mu Zhusheng shook her head slightly: "The way of alchemy emphasizes the quality of medicinal materials, the control of the heat, and the state of mind of the alchemist. It is still difficult to judge at this time."
As the alchemists placed the medicinal herbs into the furnace one by one and began to ignite the fire, the temperature around the arena gradually rose.
Flames leaped beneath the furnace; some alchemists' flames were a deep blue, steady and restrained; others were crimson, burning fiercely with rolling heat waves.
A bead of sweat appeared on the forehead of an alchemist as he stared intently at the furnace, muttering to himself, "The heat must be controlled precisely; success or failure hinges on this."
The other remained calm, his hands constantly changing hand seals to adjust the intensity of the flames.
After a long while, the first alchemist finished first and shouted, "The pill is complete!" The furnace opened, and a pill emitting a rich fragrance slowly rose up. Strange patterns shimmered on the surface of the pill, indicating that it was of extraordinary quality.
Following closely behind, other alchemists also successfully created pills one after another. The light and aura of various pills intertwined in the air above the arena, drawing gasps of amazement from the audience below.
The referee stepped forward and carefully examined the quality and spiritual energy content of each pill. After evaluation, he announced loudly, "In this pill-refining competition, the pill refined by the elder of the Dan Ding Sect is of the best quality and wins!"
A burst of enthusiastic applause and cheers erupted from the audience. At this moment, the old man smiled and said, "Next is the magic weapon display segment. The magic weapons treasured by various sects will be revealed one by one."
"As expected of an elder of the Dan Ding Sect, his alchemy skills are truly unparalleled! The luster and spiritual energy of this pill clearly indicate that it is a peerless treasure," a middle-aged cultivator said with admiration.
“Yes, but those young alchemists are also quite good. Given time, they may very well surpass them,” the young cultivator beside him chimed in.
Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, the display of the magical artifacts began.
A cultivator dressed in a golden robe slowly walked onto the arena, carrying an exquisite wooden box.
He gently opened the wooden box, and a dazzling golden light shot into the sky. It turned out to be a small golden sword, the blade of which was engraved with ancient runes. As the runes flickered, it seemed as if the roar of a dragon could be heard.
"Could this be the legendary Golden Dragon Sword? It is said that this sword is an ancient divine weapon that can break all laws. I never thought I would be so fortunate as to see it today." An old man's eyes widened with excitement.
"Judging from the spiritual energy fluctuations of this sword, it should be genuine without a doubt. The appearance of such a magical treasure in the world is truly an eye-opener," a female cultivator exclaimed.
Then, another black-clad monk walked onto the stage carrying a huge black sphere. The surface of the sphere emitted a dark light, and black mist was faintly swirling around it.
"This is the treasure of my Demonic Nether Sect—the Shadow Demon Orb, which contains endless demonic power and can devour all spiritual energy attacks," the black-clad cultivator loudly introduced.
The audience gasped. "This magic orb has such a terrifying aura; in a battle, I'm afraid no one could defeat it," a young rogue cultivator said, his face showing fear.
“However, this magic weapon is too evil; using it might incur divine retribution,” a righteous cultivator said, frowning.
During the display of the magical artifacts, the audience was sometimes amazed and sometimes chattering, making the whole square lively and bustling.
Xu Xiaoxiao's eyes widened as she was deeply attracted by these magical treasures. She said to Mu Zhusheng, "Second Senior Brother, these magical treasures are so powerful. I wish I could have one too."
Mu Zhusheng smiled and said, "Most of these magical treasures are the most prized possessions of major sects, and they are not so easy to obtain. It is already a rare opportunity for us to witness them."
After the demonstration, the old man returned to the stage: "Next up is today's main event—the semi-final of the spell duel between elite disciples from various sects."
At this moment, the audience's enthusiasm was completely ignited, and they all looked forward to a new round of exciting competition.