Chương 77: The Peerless Pill Venerable (Part 5)

Passing four grades in a single breath made perfect sense once everyone learned he was a Pill King's disciple. While the crowd busied themselves making excuses for him, Su Chen spoke up abruptly.

"Senior, I would also like to assess for a fifth-grade alchemist." The vice guild master studied Su Chen's face and saw no trace of jest. His expression grew solemn.

"You're certain? What are your odds?"

"More than fifty percent," Su Chen replied. In truth, it was closer to ninety-nine, but he saw no need to crush the black-haired elder's spirits. Fifty percent was already impressive in an alchemist assessment. Most candidates considered themselves fortunate to have even twenty or thirty percent confidence.

"The fifth-grade assessment is extremely rigorous. Under normal circumstances, one must apply to the Sacred Assembly for qualification… but our guild holds one emergency slot that bypasses that requirement. As a disciple of the Eight Desolations Pill King, you won't be denied it." Su Chen understood the implication and bowed slightly.

"Many thanks, senior." The vice guild master smiled warmly.

"I've already informed the guild master. He should return to the capital tomorrow. A fifth-grade assessment requires his personal supervision." Su Chen had no choice but to wait one more day. A bombshell spread throughout the imperial capital overnight. The long-vanished Eight Desolations Pill King's disciple appeared at the Alchemist Guild! In the entire Dragon Firmament Dynasty, Pill Kings could be counted on one hand. They stood at the absolute pinnacle of attention.

Somewhere in the dynasty, a silver-haired middle-aged man read the report and let a faint smile curve his lips.

"Junior brother… so this is the disciple you spoke of. Not yet twenty, and already challenging fifth-grade alchemist. Truly a heaven-defying talent… but Qing'er is no less gifted in the pill dao. Defeating her won't be so simple. I'm genuinely looking forward to it." A gentle breeze brushed his face, sending his white robes fluttering. Six gleaming stars adorned the alchemist badge on his chest. The number-one alchemist of the imperial family, the foremost Pill King of the contemporary Dragon Firmament Dynasty.

Ghost Valley Pill King! … The next day. Su Chen arrived at the Alchemist Guild for the fifth-grade assessment. He met the guild master—another sixth-grade Pill King. The man had narrow, smiling eyes, a round belly, and an affable appearance. This kindly-looking fat man was none other than the Blazing Embers Pill King. Facing a sixth-grade Pill King, Su Chen remained perfectly composed and unruffled. The Blazing Embers Pill King's regard for him rose another notch.

Few people could maintain such calm in the presence of a Pill King.

"So the old ghost Eight Desolations has finally taken on a promising disciple. That geezer's eye for talent was never wrong." If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it. The Blazing Embers Pill King spoke familiarly, as though he and the old man had known each other for decades, laughing heartily in praise. Su Chen accepted the compliment without much reaction. Sixth-grade alchemists held immense prestige in the Dragon Firmament Dynasty.

Yet he had personally witnessed eighth-grade alchemists—two of them, even within the ancient clan. A mere sixth-grade simply could not stir his emotions. The Blazing Embers Pill King did not dwell on it; after all, the youth already had a Pill King for a master. The assessment began swiftly. Though Su Chen's current cultivation stood only at the Spirit Sea Realm, refining a fifth-grade pill posed no difficulty.

Three days later, a crimson pill rested before him, wreathed in faint flames, its surface glossy and perfectly rounded.

"The younger generation truly surpasses the old!" The Blazing Embers Pill King sighed with genuine emotion and smiled.

"Congratulations. You have passed the fifth-grade alchemist assessment and become the youngest fifth-grade alchemist in the history of the Dragon Firmament Dynasty. Given time, you will surely eclipse us old fogies. You came to the capital this time to participate in the dynasty's grand alchemy conference, I presume?" Su Chen nodded. The Blazing Embers Pill King continued, "With you in the mix, those young ones are going to have headaches. Even I'm looking forward to seeing how the conference unfolds."

Su Chen registered for the conference at the guild. With half a month remaining until it began, he decided to stay in the capital for the time being. News of Su Chen spread like wildfire across the Dragon Firmament Dynasty: a fifth-grade alchemist not yet twenty, backed by a Pill King master. Major powers quickly took notice and dispatched envoys in attempts to recruit or befriend him. Su Chen, however, showed no interest. His ambitions had never been confined to the Dragon Firmament Dynasty.

"Strange… the old man's reputation carries this much weight?" Su Chen found it puzzling. He had not forgotten that the imperial family harbored the number-one alchemist who had once cost the old man everything. With such a powerful enemy still alive, how could so many forces dare approach him so openly and eagerly? There had to be something more to it. Unfortunately, no matter how much Su Chen investigated, he uncovered nothing concrete. Only by meeting that person face-to-face might the full truth come to light.

The good news was that no one had come looking for trouble, and he was spared the constant threat of being hunted. Soon, the day of the grand alchemy conference arrived. Su Chen finally laid eyes on the alchemy prodigies of the Dragon Firmament Dynasty. Most of them were third-grade alchemists, with only a rare few reaching fourth-grade. Then one figure appeared and instantly drew every gaze in the venue. The woman wore a moon-white silk skirt that flowed gracefully with her lithe figure.

Her features were exquisite, her skin fairer than snow, and the five-star badge on her chest outshone even her captivating curves. Song Wanqing approached Su Chen. She lifted a jade hairpin to secure her long, black hair, tilting her slender swan-like neck. A few stray strands fell against her skin, carrying an air of quiet arrogance.

"Su Chen, I've heard of your reputation—the youngest fifth-grade alchemist, disciple of the Eight Desolations Pill King.

"My master says you will be my greatest rival, that we will contend for first place at this conference.

"Su Chen, let me make this clear: I, Song Wanqing, will defeat you—just as my master once defeated the Eight Desolations Pill King."

"…" Su Chen barely registered her words. His attention had been captured by someone else. On the elevated platform, amid the gathered alchemists, sat a silver-haired middle-aged man. He too turned his gaze toward Su Chen and offered a gentle, kindly smile—the exact look one gave to a promising junior. Su Chen muttered inwardly, "So the old man really does have quite a story." Seeing Su Chen's distracted expression, Song Wanqing's delicate brows shot up, her chest rising and falling with indignation.

"Su Chen, are you even listening to me?" Su Chen glanced at the woman who had shifted in an instant from graceful composure to fierce temper.

"Mm-hmm, I'm listening. Go on." Song Wanqing: "…" She felt utterly humiliated. Ever since hearing of Su Chen, she had regarded him as her archenemy. She had spoken so many words, even issuing a formal challenge. Yet the person she cared about most had not paid the slightest attention to anything she said.

"Su Chen, I will definitely defeat you!" Song Wanqing stamped her foot and let out a cold snort. Su Chen: "Oh." That single word made her explode. Hair practically standing on end, she lunged straight at him.