The speed at which Lou Mu Yan refined pills not only shocked the alchemists of the Alchemy Pagoda, but also dumbfounded the people watching.
Although the Deputy Pagoda Master was very excited, but now wasn’t the time to reveal his emotions and chat.
After refining the pills, Lou Mu Yan retreated to the side, closed her eyes, and began to cultivate without any scruples by absorbing the spiritual force of heaven and earth. Judging by the speed of other alchemists, it’d take at least another two hours to complete the competition.
It took longer than Lou Mu Yan expected. Everyone’s pills were refined after four hours.
The Deputy Pagoda Master and the elegant deacon personally inspected the pills made by the twenty alchemists, and the results were announced after an incense stick of time.
“This old man announces that Lou Mu Yan is the champion of the Northern State Alchemy Pagoda branch venue this time. She refined eight peak-quality grade 6 pills. Whether in terms of alchemy skills, fire control ability, or pill yield rate, all is perfect.”
Immediately afterwards, the Deputy Pagoda Master announced the names of the next nine alchemists and presented the championship award to Lou Mu Yan in an interspatial ring.
After the competition, Lou Mu Yan was telepathically called by the Deputy Pagoda Master to remain behind.
When Lou Mu Yan walked to the Alchemy Pagoda’s private room, she saw an elderly man with white hair and a ruddy complexion sitting in it with an elegant man.
“Little girl’s arrived, take a seat.” The Deputy Pagoda Master smiled and casually pointed to the seat opposite him.
Lou Mu Yan walked over, sat down without restraint and asked with a respectful smile: “I wonder what Senior wanted to call this Junior here?”
“Little girl, your true strength in alchemy should be at grade 7 right.” The Deputy Pagoda Master smiled kindly.
“Senior’s eyes are as clear as a mirror, my alchemy level is indeed grade 7.” Lou Mu Yan nodded.
The Deputy Pagoda Master remained kind, “Your talent for alchemy is very good, especially the skill of consolidating your mental energy to refine pills, it’s very proficient. Not only are the quality of the pills very high, but also the yield rate of pills. It’s too wasteful to be wandering outside like this.”
“Senior, just say what you want.” Lou Mu Yan naturally knew the reason why the other party came to her—what else could it be but for her to join the Alchemy Pagoda.
As Lou Mu Yan expected, the Deputy Pagoda Master stroked his beard and asked: “Little girl, our Alchemy Pagoda is the origin and concentration place of alchemists in the entire Guang’ling World. Alchemists added together in the other three Realms aren’t even as many as those in our Alchemy Pagoda, are you interested in joining us?
“Of course, as long as you’re willing to join the Alchemy Pagoda, whether it’s the Northern State’s branch pagoda, or the Central State’s headquarters, I can let you directly enter the Central Hall of the Alchemy Pagoda to cultivate, and there won’t be a shortage of resources, as well as spiritual herbs to advance your alchemy grade.” Then he added again.
“I’m sorry Senior, I don’t want to join any organisation right now. I’ll think about it after the alchemy competition finals.” Lou Mu Yan declined with a faint smile.
Her refusal was also expected by the Deputy Pagoda Master. After thinking about it, he said: “Alright, let’s talk about it after the alchemy finals.”
He also wanted to see what Lou Mu Yan’s true strength was. If she could obtain the top ten in the Central State finals, then he could also apply to the headquarters for more resources and conditions for recruitment.
“Sure!” Lou Mu Yan still had a good impression of this respectable-looking elderly man.
One’s appearance was affected by the heart. This elderly man had a broad mind and an extraordinary temperament. He was a respectable senior.
“I heard that you formed a mercenary party and also serves as the leader of the party?” The Deputy Pagoda Master asked.
“Mm, I prefer an adventurous and thrilling life.” Lou Mu Yan nodded.
The Deputy Pagoda Master thought a bit, then still reminded: “Your alchemy talent is really good, don’t delay it.”
A profession like the mercenaries spent their entire life on missions and adventures, which was actually not suitable for long-term development for an alchemist. He still hoped that Lou Mu Yan could see further than that.
Lou Mu Yan didn’t explain further either and accepted the other party’s kindness humbly, “Thank you for the reminder, Senior, Junior will pay attention.”
The Deputy Pagoda Master took out a palm-sized silver token engraved with a pill cauldron and handed it to Lou Mu Yan, saying: “This is a token of our Alchemy Pagoda. In the future, if you want to buy rare spiritual herbs, you can go to the Alchemy Pagoda and use this token’s rights to purchase.
“Of course, if you have something to ask this old man, you can also use this token to go to the Alchemy Pagoda to send me a message.”
The Deputy Pagoda Master smiled expectantly and kindly, saying: “This old man is Lu1 Feng, the Northern State’s branch pagoda’s Pagoda Master. You’re welcome to join the Alchemy Pagoda at any time.”
“Yes, thank you Senior.”
“By the way, do you need to go to the Central State now?” The Deputy Pagoda Master continued: “Our Alchemy Pagoda will apply to the Bei’yuan Imperial Family for an opportunity to use the Teleportation Array in ten days. If you want to go to the Central State, you can follow along.”
The distance between Bei’yuan Kingdom and Central State was very far, and it would take at least three months to get there using the normal route, which also included the continuous teleportation at transfer stations each time.
If one had to go on their own, it’d take at least a year for someone at Core Elemental Realm like Lou Mu Yan.
The Bei’yuan Imperial Family’s Teleportation Array could directly reach the Central State, although the cost was also very high. It required at least a hundred high-quality spiritual stones, and tens of thousands of middle-quality spiritual stones.
Therefore, the Alchemy Pagoda gave a separate benefit to the top ten finalists, which was to use the Teleportation Array to teleport to Central State Continent for free.
“Thank you, Senior, for your kindness. I still have some things to take care of so I can’t go to the Central State yet.” Lou Mu Yan refused with a smile.
She didn’t want to go directly and enter the deep waters of the Central State. She needed to spend the half a year sharpening herself to suppress the pure spiritual energy and advance to Earth Elemental Realm—and she also wanted to travel around to see more.
The Central State Continent was where she would develop in the future. She wasn’t in a hurry to unveil it so soon.
“Since this is the case, I won’t force you, but you must arrive at the set time for the finals in half a year.” The Deputy Pagoda Master didn’t want such a good seedling to give up the alchemy competition that occured every fifty years for whatever reason.
“Yes, this Junior will definitely live up to Senior’s expectations.”
After leaving the Alchemy Pagoda’s private room, Lou Mu Yan returned to Emperor Bei’yuan’s private room.
“Mu Yan, do the people of the Alchemy Pagoda want you to join them?” Fei Yan Chen asked with a meaningful smile.
He knew that An Yu Qian and the investigators were here to win over Lou Mu Yan this time, so he asked this question in order to make her more valuable.
Lou Mu Yan praised Fei Yan Chen inwardly, and replied: “Mm, the Deputy Pagoda Master wants to invite me to join the Alchemy Pagoda’s Central Hall to cultivate.”
“Young Miss Lou didn’t agree, did you?” An Yu Qian looked calm, and his emotions were restrained, what his feelings couldn’t be seen clearly.
Based on his recent understanding of this little fox, she definitely wouldn’t agree to any recruitment right now.
“Young Sir An understands me.” Lou Mu Yan chuckled.
“That means we still have a good chance to be senior brothers and junior sister with Young Miss Lou.” An Yu Qian said with a half-smile.
Lou Mu Yan smiled faintly and didn’t answer.
“Do you have any plans for these days, Young Miss Lou?”
Xia Xuan Ye asked: “Are you going to the Central State with the other alchemists of the Alchemy Pagoda?”
1Same 陆 (lù) as the Lu Clan twins that’re friends with Lou Mu Ting. Coincidence? Honestly, maybe. I genuinely don’t know hahahahaha
Note: HMMM I think I’ll end the update here for today. I can’t wait to upload the next few chapters, things are gonna speed up soon… Not yet, at least another five more chapters and then… oh, I just can’t wait to publish the next dozen+ chapters hehehehe