stjorthotic Chapter 179 Serious Cultivation
Chapter 179 Serious Cultivation
Chapter 179: Serious Cultivation
After half an hour, the elders of Dao Court announced the results of the first round of competition. Senior Sister Xue Bingxuan easily took first place, with a clear advantage over the second place.
Although there were still nine rounds of competition to go, unless she made a major mistake, it would be difficult for anyone to catch up to her. It was almost certain that she would take first place overall.
At the same time, the results of the first round from Cheng Yulan and Luo Huan's side also came in. They both emerged victorious, surpassing their opponents.
This result was obviously unexpected for many cultivators in the spectator stands. Some who had confidence in their own sects couldn't help but feel discouraged:
"...What's going on? Did the female cultivators from Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace defeat us again? I thought our senior brother Yun would show off his skills. He has been preparing for this event for a long time!"
"It's strange. Hasn't Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace been in decline for a long time? How come so many powerful individuals suddenly appeared this time? Xue Bingxuan winning in the Sword Tournament is one thing, but I didn't expect her alchemy skills to be equally terrifying!"
"Don't be too happy yet. This is only the first round. There are still nine more rounds to go. I don't believe she won't make any mistakes!"
"Forget it, don't you see what cultivation realm she is in now? Peak Origin Immortal. Can any of your senior brothers and sisters compare to her? The difference is too great!"
"What a pity! That Acquired Spiritual Treasure-level pill furnace and the three volumes of ancient pill scriptures will all belong to Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace. They have gained so many benefits this time."
Qin Muling calmly sipped her spiritual wine, waiting for the next round to begin. Her Divine Ability quietly activated, and she couldn't help but hear the discussions of the surrounding cultivators.
Not everyone was willing to accept the results. Complaints, mockery, doubts, and curses filled the air, especially from the forces bordering Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace. Their words were full of malice.
But it didn't matter. They had lost, so shouldn't they be allowed to vent a little?
However, the performance of the senior sisters did indeed attract a lot of attention. In previous Immortal Conferences, no Daoist sect had ever stood out like Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace. It was inevitable that people would be jealous.
After thinking for a moment, Qin Muling communicated with Yu Lingzhou through her divine sense: "We should inform the Sect Master in advance and send more elders over. I'm afraid some forces won't be able to restrain themselves and will cause trouble, especially on the way back after the Immortal Conference. That will be the most dangerous time for us."
Yu Lingzhou's expression slightly changed, and he nodded slightly. "That's necessary. We should not only send more people, but also bring Falling Phoenix Nebula Tower. It will definitely prevent them from taking advantage!"
In fact, it wasn't difficult to guess. Seeing the disciples of Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace gain such great benefits, those forces who had grudges against them and didn't want to see the resurgence of this Daoist sect would definitely take advantage of this critical time. Otherwise, it would be even harder for them to find an opportunity in the future.
During their exchange, the second round of alchemy began. This time, the elders set the task of refining Pure Yuan Life Snow Pills, which were one grade higher in difficulty than Qi Replenishing Pills.
The rules were the same. The one who produced the most pills with the best quality would win.
Qin Muling leisurely savored her spiritual wine, occasionally accepting the snowflakes peeled by Yu Binghua. Fine wine, delicious food, and beautiful women—she was enjoying the three greatest pleasures in life.
In the distance, in the area where the Divine Maiden Sect cultivators were located, a pair of slightly melancholic eyes gazed at the silhouette of the beautiful youth from afar, silent and speechless.
Princess Long Yi was wrapped in a green robe, her face hidden by a hood and veil. Therefore, no one knew her true identity and simply thought she was a trusted maid accompanying Su Yuanzhen.
Su Yuanzhen sat beside her, raising his cup frequently to toast with the elders of the Divine Maiden Sect, laughing and chatting.
Letting out a sigh, the princess picked up the wine bottle in front of her and silently drank. She really wanted to go over and talk to the young man, just like before. But when she remembered her mother's admonition, she ultimately didn't dare to take action.
If Qin Muling is really that legendary thing, the cause and effect would be too great, and it's definitely not something to be involved in. Even Emperor Qing Huan is somewhat wary of her, and certain plans had to be put on hold.
So, if there is no opportunity, perhaps the future me and him will never have any connection again?
Upon careful consideration, there is still a sense of unwillingness in my heart, as if I have missed the most important thing in my life's journey.
"Your Highness..."
Su Yuanzhen slightly tilted her head, just by looking at Princess Long Yi's reaction, how could she not guess her thoughts? So she quietly said with her divine sense, "If Your Highness really wants to, it's actually possible, as long as you don't antagonize him and maintain a good relationship, there may still be a chance in the future."
Princess Long Yi seemed to be somewhat moved, and after thinking for a moment, she responded, "No rush, let's see first. If my guess is correct, when the mysterious Dao Venerable's Cave Mansion opens this time, he will definitely have some unexpected performance."
Su Yuanzhen had no objections to this, she turned her head and stared deeply at the young man. Not to mention the princess, she herself also had intentions. Such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, it would be foolish not to try to seize it. Even if she couldn't grasp it, being able to get a taste of it would be great.
Time quietly passed, and after several hours, the second round of competition came to an end. Senior Sister Xue Bingxuan successfully completed her alchemy, producing more than 150 pills of excellent quality, surpassing other cultivators. Naturally, she was ranked first by the elders of the Dao Court.
Round after round, with the difficulty of the questions increasing, many cultivators found it difficult to continue and were eliminated after failing to refine pills.
But with Xue Bingxuan's cultivation level, it was a piece of cake. She successfully completed every question, leaving everyone far behind.
Until ten days and ten nights later, the alchemy competition finally reached its final stage.
The last question was to refine the Origin Seeping Spiritual Divine Pill. According to the grading standards of pills in this world, there were seven levels: Mortal, Human, Earth, Spirit, True, Heaven, and Immortal. Each level had three grades: Upper, Middle, and Lower. The Origin Seeping Spiritual Divine Pill belonged to the upper grade of the Spirit level.
By this time, most of the cultivators in the field had already dropped out, and there were less than six hundred cultivators who were still persevering.
Alchemy required both skill and strength. Although the participating cultivators had some rest time after each round and were provided with pills to replenish their mana, it was not easy to quickly recover their spiritual energy. Coupled with the immense pressure, it was not surprising to have such a result.
Only Xue Bingxuan remained calm and composed, her Innate Primordial Spirit Root allowed her to maintain her peak state at all times, so her performance so far was perfect.
Due to the increased difficulty, this round took longer, and the results were only determined after three days and three nights.
As the time to refine the pills approached, the bright and translucent blue flames beneath the pill furnace surged and rolled, emitting intense heat.
Xue Bingxuan sat in front of the pill furnace, her deep and clear beautiful eyes filled with concentration, carefully performing the final few hand seals, delicately controlling the changes in the temperature.
After a while, accompanied by a low buzzing sound, billowing mist continuously emerged and gathered into a large cloud above the pill furnace, spreading a captivating medicinal fragrance.
Xue Bingxuan silently performed the final hand seal, and the heavy lid of the pill furnace slowly lifted. More than twenty thumb-sized pale golden pills appeared, floating in the mist.
This kind of pill had good healing effects and was commonly used by mid-level cultivators. It had a high demand in the market and was relatively expensive. It was one of the essential cultivation resources for core disciples of major sects and forces.
The attendants beside immediately approached and carefully collected these pills into jade bottles, then presented them to the elders of the Dao Court for evaluation.
Xue Bingxuan looked around with her bright eyes and found that less than half of the cultivators who reached this final stage successfully refined pills. The rest either ran out of mana midway and had to quit, or they accidentally exploded the pill furnace due to control errors, or their medicinal herbs were completely destroyed.
Even among those who successfully refined pills, the quantity and quality of their pills were not comparable. The best results were only ten or so pills, and their quality was average compared to Xue Bingxuan's.
After a moment, the Dao Court elder who presided over the event announced the results publicly, and Xue Bingxuan unsurprisingly won first place.
The rewards were then distributed, including an Acquired Spiritual Treasure-level pill furnace, three volumes of ancient pill scriptures from the Dao Court's secret library, three hundred Divine Medicines, and seven Taiyi Dual-Yi Pills.
The effect of these Heavenly Rank High Grade pills is to extend one's lifespan. Each pill can increase one's lifespan by ten thousand years and can be used multiple times. Even for a True Immortal, seventy thousand years of lifespan is not a small number.
At this moment, good news also came from Cheng Yulan and Luo Huan's side, as they both achieved first place in their respective group events.
Second Senior Sister Cheng Yulan received a reward of an Acquired Spiritual Treasure-level formation flag, three volumes of the Dao Court's secret formation scriptures, a pile of heavenly materials and earthly treasures for refining formations, and seven Taiyi Dual-Yi Pills. Fifth Senior Sister Luo Huan received a set of Acquired Spiritual Treasure-level talismans, three volumes of ancient talisman scriptures from the Dao Court's secret library, and the same other rewards.
Finally, the Dao Court's special envoy announced a ten-day break, followed by the most important part of the grand gathering: the opening of the ancient and mysterious Dao Venerable's Cave Mansion for cultivators from all walks of life to explore and seek opportunities. Whatever they obtain inside can be kept for themselves, and the Dao Court will not take a single cent.
"I can finally participate in it," Qin Muling sighed slightly. Since the grand gathering began, he had only been a spectator, and now he finally had the opportunity to show himself.
Xue Bingxuan smiled and said, "There's no rush for this matter. Let's discuss it slowly after we return."
So everyone returned to their residence. During this time, there were cultivators from other sects who tried to strike up a conversation, but they were all stopped by Yue Yi Tianjun's people.
At this time, it was naturally not suitable to get involved in unnecessary trouble. Regardless of whether the other party had good or bad intentions, there was no need to pay attention to them.
In the inner room, Xue Bingxuan's women and Qin Muling began to study the map of the Dao Venerable's Cave Mansion. This map was naturally issued by the Dao Court, but it was not complete. It was only limited to the peripheral area of the secret realm and was relatively rough. It could barely be used as a reference, but when they were inside, they would mainly rely on themselves.
"It's quite dangerous. It feels no less dangerous than the Illusory Mist Secret Realm!" Qi Yalan pondered, and the women agreed. In fact, this was a relatively euphemistic way of saying it. After countless years of exploration by generations of cultivators, the rules of the Illusory Mist Secret Realm and information about many regions were quite complete. Therefore, the difficulty of survival inside was not as exaggerated as imagined.
But this Dao Venerable's Cave Mansion was being opened for the first time, and who knew what deadly things were inside? It wouldn't be surprising if they were wiped out because they provoked some powerful creature inside.
Especially due to the limitations of the rules of the place, all cultivators could only maintain their cultivation at the peak of the Immortal Transformation realm while inside. Once they exceeded this level, they might be killed by the mysterious existence inside without a chance to escape.
"It's not a problem actually. As long as we meet up with Junior Brother as soon as we enter, with his supreme luck protecting us, nothing will happen," Luo Wanqing said.
Qin Muling nodded and said, "That's not a problem. Even if we get separated, my strength now is enough to protect myself. Even if I can't win, I can still escape safely."
With the experience from the previous Illusory Mist Secret Realm and his current cultivation, he indeed had much more confidence.
"Alright, since there are still ten days until the secret realm opens, let's continue cultivating!" Cheng Yulan said, eager to not waste any time with Junior Brother's Spiritual Light of Enlightenment.
The other senior sisters had no objections. Yu Binghua looked at Qin Muling and said, "Since we're cultivating, why not do it together?"
Luo Wanqing frowned involuntarily, and Xue Bingxuan calmly tugged at her sleeve and turned his head to say, "Sure, come with us to change clothes."
"Change clothes?"
Yu Binghua was a little confused. She didn't know that she needed to change clothes specifically when practicing with her junior martial brother. Could this be her junior martial brother's special preference?
When she entered the room and saw the pile of colorful and strange clothes that her senior martial sister took out, this newly arrived senior martial sister was instantly stunned.
Especially some of the clothes, they were so revealing that they couldn't cover any part of the body. There were also some strange props that she couldn't recognize what they were used for.
"Don't hesitate, hurry up and change. If you want to 'practice' with your junior martial brother, you'll have to dress like this every day from now on," Luo Huan said with a suppressed smile. Yu Binghua hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly took off her inner and outer skirts under the urging of her senior martial sisters, revealing her flawless and beautiful body.
Luo Huan skillfully took off her own skirt and put on a golden necklace adorned with gemstones. The necklace was connected to a thin chain, followed by a blood drop-shaped accessory and a pure black lace suspender silk stocking. Yu Binghua felt somewhat embarrassed and ashamed when she saw her senior martial sisters' bold and daring style of dressing up.
But when she thought about getting close to her junior martial brother, her resistance diminished, and she felt a shy and eager anticipation.
Then, her senior martial sisters followed the same routine and dressed her up in this embarrassing and exciting attire. Finally, she was half-pushed and half-pulled onto the luxurious bed, where Qin Muling was already sitting.
However, the scene that Yu Binghua was most eagerly anticipating did not happen. Her junior martial brother did not make any inappropriate moves towards her. The practice was still a serious practice.
It wasn't until the profound and lonely Spiritual Light of Enlightenment appeared from her junior martial brother that Yu Binghua understood the reason behind it. In addition to being shocked, she also felt inexplicably angry.
No wonder these few unruly girls had always been secretive, guarding against other senior martial sisters like thieves. No wonder their cultivation progressed so rapidly, it turned out to be because of her junior martial brother.
"You understand the benefits yourself, don't talk about it outside. If you don't want those seductive foxes outside to come and snatch your junior martial brother!" Xue Bingxuan warned.
"Okay," Yu Binghua nodded vigorously, sitting beside Qin Muling, and entered the state of cultivation with an extremely excited mood.
Ten days passed in the blink of an eye. When Qin Muling and his senior martial sisters finished their practice, a maid came to report that Princess Long Yi had come to visit and specifically requested to see him.
"What is she here for again?" Qi Yalan's tone was clearly wary, and the other senior martial sisters were no exception.
Qin Muling didn't mind, "I'll go talk to her. You can stay in the inner room. I don't think she has any ulterior motives."
In the reception hall, Princess Long Yi stood by the window, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. She wore a gorgeous bright yellow palace dress, with a figure as enchanting as mist and a beautiful face.
"Your Highness," Qin Muling's magnetic and gentle voice sounded from behind.
Princess Long Yi slightly turned her body, a hint of smile appearing in her clear and beautiful eyes, "Tomorrow is the day when the Cave Mansion secret realm opens, so I came to see you..."
End of the chapter.