Chapter 31: Alchemy Contest

Chapter 30

BANG! Crack!

The sound of something breaking and crashing to the ground can be heard even from outside a simple but well-built house. Inside a room stood three people, the other one is kneeling on the ground with his body full of bandages.

"You imbecile, you can't even defeat that trash. And even shamed our school and me. I will skin you alive!" a young man shouted after breaking the black table made of hardwood.

The young man is Lo Bei Wang, as he was seething in anger after being shamed and his crony defeated by Qin Lou. His face has turned red in anger and his fist is clenched tightly.

"Young master Wang, it's not my fault that she has already reached the apex of spiritual sense. No matter how hard I attack she could see through them as if she can see my future moves, and she would leisurely evade." Chen Je said feeling indignant of his misfortune.

Lo Bei Wang didn't reply but just stayed quiet and stare right out the window.

"I will have my revenge, Qin Lou. You may have won today, but I will have my revenge. I will kill you." Lo Bei Wang swore to himself.

Meanwhile in another place…

"How did that bitch do that? This is impossible!" a young woman shouted within her as she clenched her fist tightly. She truly wanted to shout out her frustration and anger but is trying to control it as her body shuddered.

This young woman is Shan Su and right now she really wanted to throw a fit but is unable to as she is with the company of some beautiful young women along with a very handsome young man. Their topic of discussion is Qin Lou, as the girls although showed disdain still their words showed praises of Qin Lou's skills. Unbeknownst to them, right now the eyes of the young man, Xian Jian Feng is glowing with greed and interest. He is trying to form a scheme in his mind on how to take Qin Lou into his harem, albeit she is hideous. He is actually considering something as thinking about it, though her face is ugly, if she wears a mask it would not be that bad. Her body is great at most perfect in proportion, and of course, his goal is to get the secret of the skills that Qin Lou holds. He truly coveted them in his heart, which he could not imagine that if he could get his hands on them he would be undefeatable. His heart would always raise and greed can be seen in his eye upon seeing and remembering her performance on stage that day. And because of this, his resolve was strengthened.

The next day…

It is the start of the alchemy contest which would start first before the semi-finals of the martial arts tournament. At this time they used a single stage and arranged around 50 multiple tables. In each table, they put a basic alchemy furnace which every contestant would use to refine and concoct pills.

As the sun rose up bathing the sky with its golden gleam, a few alchemists are already heading towards the arena. Qin Lou along with Shin Jiao has already registered and both are now standing behind their alchemy table. Shin Jiao upon seeing the pill furnace became curious and started to inspect it. This gives ire to some alchemist as they didn't expect someone without knowledge on an alchemy furnace was allowed to enter, and the fact that it's also a mortal servant gives almost everyone a look of discontent in their eyes. But they are unable to voice out their complaint as Qin Lou is clearly being eyed by Elder Ao of the famous Floating Lotus Alchemist School. It would be bad if they get on the elder's bad side.

"Master, this alchemy furnace is truly baffling. I truly want one. Hehe" Shin Jiao said as he innocently said to Qin Lou.

"I don't know if this guy is just acting or truly innocent? I know he can make that thing if he wished it." Qin Lou said to herself as she just stayed quiet and didn't mind Shin Jiao.

When all contestant is already on stage and the time was up, an old man with a long beard stood up and went to the front of the judges' stage. He started with some pleasantries and began to explain the rules and the prize.

"… today's alchemy contest will be having 3 very strict rules. If you follow these rules, you may be able to win this contest. But if you do anything that's against any of these rules, you'll be out… Let's start with the first rule. It is a must that each pill you will create is either an original one which no other alchemist made or an improvement of any pills available, but it should be at least a stage with regards to efficacy. Now, the second rule is very crucial as it will merit your entry to our Floating Lotus alchemist school for those who are not a student yet, and for those students, will instead go up a rank. The level of refinement we want on any medicinal plant should be at least 85% in purity or above…" The old man explained.

"And the last but not the least is the grade and level of each pill concocted. Our alchemist judges on this stage would only be accepting a pill or any medicine with a level of not lesser than 4, and the pill should be a high grade or above." The old man continued with a smile.

The first two rules are easy to accept by most of the contestants. But the third one is truly a bomb that blew on their faces. Level 4 pills? What does that signify? It means the alchemist has the ability to concoct pills that can be used by gold core cultivators. If you are not an alchemist you would know how hard that rule is. A Level 4 pills are usually only concocted by infant soul cultivators, as they hold the minimum cultivation level to use the mind's eye for fire essence control, but there is always an exception. Plus there is the grade of the pill which should be high grade. Every alchemist knows that the pill grades are composed of 10 grades in total which are: low, middle, high, mortal, spirit, hybrid, sky, heaven, immortal, and deity.

After the announcement, everyone began to complain as these conditions are too absurd. They are just students and not official alchemist yet, how could the rule be that overbearing? This made them feel that there is something fishy going on about giving out these new rules for this tournament. It was as if it is being catered to test someone in particular.

But the old man ignored their protest and just waved his hands and continued on.

"The prizes for the winner of this competition is as followed. For the third prize, we are going to give that alchemist their very own level 2 pill furnace, a bottle of Qi gathering pill, and volume 2 of the compendium of medicinal plants. For the second prize winner, they will receive the same things that the third place have but with an additional item, the mind fruit. This fruit will be able to help a person increase in intelligence. And of course, for the first place, we are to give a fist-sized black ore, which is very useful for one's own cultivation."

"Everyone the first stage of the alchemy contest is to test your refining skills. You must refine any grade of medicinal plant or fruit to around 85% in purity. Those who can pass will be admitted immediately in our Floating Lotus Alchemy School as an inner-disciple. So do your best and good luck."

Boom!

It was like a bomb that blew up on everyone's mind. Although the rule was absurd, the prizes for the winners are too valuable. Anyone who could attain any of the 3 places would gain a lot. Not to mention that you can be an inner-disciple of the number 1 alchemy school in Er city. No matter how much one would work hard and dream to be an inner disciple of that school, but the reality is too harsh, it is truly not that easy. As it is widely known that there are only 5 inner disciples and 3 core disciples in the alchemy school. And these people can truly be considered as a monstrous individual in both alchemy and cultivation. If they could enter this group then the fame and fortune that awaits them are too frightening just thinking about it.

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It is not new to these people that alchemy is a really lucrative path. Upon looking at the stage only 48 people registered out of 50 tables. Which means that in this year there only 48 students of alchemy in the city of Er and the nearest towns and villages. With this, the status of an alchemist is truly high and not that common in the eyes of both mortals and cultivators alike.

"We will start the contest after a few minutes, please prepare until then." The old man with a long beard said as he waved his hand and went back to his seat.

Upon his signal, a group of people starts to walk forward carrying a bamboo woven tray with medicinal plants and started to put on the big table in the front. As this is happening, a young man slowly walks towards Qin Lou's table and stopped in front of her on the other side of the table.

"I'm truly surprised to see you here senior sister. I guess you're also going to try your luck in alchemy." The young man is very handsome which both Shin Jiao and Qin Lou know, it's Xian Jian Feng.

He is wearing a silver robe with flashy design signifying his status as a young master. And an insignia of a lotus in water can be seen on his left side. This means that Xian Jian Feng is a student of Floating Lotus Alchemy School.

"Senior sister Qin Lou, I would like to once again offer you the same thing. Be one of my women and I will give you status and protection. What do you say?" Xian Jian Feng said shamelessly, but he didn't mind it as his face is full of smug look.

"Xian Jian Feng! Shameless as usual I see." A young woman wearing a fitting white robe which insinuates her full figure.

She may not have a perfect body like Qin Lou but her body figure is enough to make men have their eyes glued on her, plus she has a really cute face and sparkling eyes which would make even some women blush upon seeing her.

"Oh, my… Why isn't this the young lady of the Ling's? Did your loser of a brother let you get out of your house?" Xian Jian Feng said with a sneer in his face.

"You… My brother is not a loser! Compared to him, you're nothing!" the young woman suddenly retorted in anger.

"Haha! That is the funniest joke in the world. Your brother may not be a loser… but that was before. Because of a woman he lost his cultivation. Isn't that what we call a loser?" Xian Jian Feng mocked.

"Humph, a womanizer, and a cheapskate. If you hadn't…" the young woman wanted to continue but she didn't, as tears started to well up in her eyes.

"Susu, I think you should mind your own business. Don't worry, if I became interested in you again, I would visit your clan once more." Xian Jian Feng said with a hint of disdain in his voice.

"Who's that?" Shin Jiao asked Qin Lou in a low voice.

As the two banters Qin Lou explained to Shin Jiao who the young woman is.

He now knows that her name is Susu Ling, and she is one of the heiresses of a large clan of merchants which is well-known in Er City, the Roc's eye merchant company. The largest merchant group not only in Er city but also in all the Empire under Xi. Although they are a great clan, they exert no dominance to others. The reason why the Roc's eye merchant company grew to such a great business empire is because of their credibility and rule within their clan. It is said that to enter this great clan is not easy, as they would not marry for profit or power as they already hold both. Even the imperial family supports them as they support the Empire. A give and take relationship base on respect and rules. Although in this world power rule supreme but in this clan this rule doesn't seem to exist.

The only thing that the clan value is the ability of a person to do business and increase or maintain the clan's prestige and profits. In front of money and benefit, power always follows.

Upon hearing her prestigious background, Shin Jiao was amazed at her character for not using her illustrious clan to suppress others. So he now has a good opinion about her. As Shin Jiao truly respects those people who rely on their own selves to get what they wanted.

"Anyway, what do you say about my offer senior Qin Lou? You know that I'm good with my women right? I would truly treat you in equal like them." Xian Jian Feng didn't give up as he still shamelessly flaunt himself.

But upon seeing that she is talking to her servant instead of listening to him, he became furious. His eyes became fiery as he looks at the two people talking to each other without looking at him.

At that time, Shin Jiao and Qin Lou are starting to plan what they should do. As Qin Lou is able to wield spiritual flame she will be the one refining. Shin Jiao told her that the glasses could assist her along with her spiritual sense. This way she could refine the medicinal plant better.

"I will make you submit to me and play you with my heart's content, you bitch! Just you wait, just you wait." Xian Jian Feng shouted within himself.

With an indignant look, Xian Jian Feng walks back to his table, while he grumbles and complains in his heart. But he cannot do anything as of now, because they are still under the supervision of the inter-school elders, and there are school protectors present. After a while the old man with a long white beard walks towards the front and stood there, his gaze began to scan every contestant as if looking for things that they could use to cheat or frame others. After a while, he smiled as if content on the result and then raised one hand.

"Okay! I hope that everyone is now ready. Now! let the alchemy contest begin!"

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