Chương 79: The Peerless Pill Venerable (Part 7)

Ghost Valley Pill King asked, "What are your plans next, nephew?" Su Chen replied, "First, I want to defeat you, Martial Uncle. After that, I'll head to Prison-Suppressing Sacred Land." Ghost Valley Pill King showed no anger—only delighted laughter.

"Good. I'll be waiting for that day. Prison-Suppressing Sacred Land is a fine choice. I had even planned to secure you a spot for advanced training at the Central Continent's Pill God Hall. But it seems you already have your own path in mind." Su Chen nodded. The Pill God Hall was one of the premier alchemy sanctuaries in the Central Continent—technically more prestigious. Yet Su Chen placed greater faith in Prison-Suppressing Sacred Land.

Over the following three years, he remained in the imperial capital to cultivate. Thanks to his status as an alchemist, cultivation resources were never scarce. His realm advanced steadily until he broke through to the Spirit Soul Realm. At last, Su Chen sought out Ghost Valley Pill King once more. The older man was not surprised by his arrival. He smiled warmly.

"Are you ready?" Su Chen nodded. Only one spectator witnessed the contest. Song Wanqing watched as her master and the youth named Su Chen began refining pills at the same moment, competing head-to-head.

"Perhaps… this is what a true genius looks like." A bitter smile tugged at Song Wanqing's lips. She had heard her master say that real alchemy prodigies existed only in the great sacred lands—monsters far beyond her reach. She had once believed herself their equal. Now she realized she had been gazing at the sky from the bottom of a well. Su Chen successfully produced a sixth-grade pill. The technique he employed left even Ghost Valley Pill King in awe. Both pills were of superior quality.

Yet Ghost Valley Pill King smiled gently and said, "I have lost." Su Chen was far younger than he was. To reach such heights in the art of alchemy at his age meant his future was limitless.

"Su Chen, my nephew—will you truly not reconsider the Pill God Hall?" Ghost Valley Pill King spoke with genuine regret. With Su Chen's talent, the Pill God Hall could offer unparalleled nurturing. Prison-Suppressing Sacred Land was respectable, but when it came to the depth of alchemical heritage, it could not compare. Unfortunately, Su Chen's mind was made up. He could only decline.

When Su Chen departed the Dragon Firmament Dynasty, no one—except Song Wanqing—knew that a private alchemy duel had taken place, ending in the defeat of the dynasty's foremost alchemist, Ghost Valley Pill King.

"Master… I wish to go to the Central Continent!" Song Wanqing spoke with firm determination. She longed to see a broader world. Ghost Valley Pill King rose to his feet and lowered his gaze. Softly, he said, "Very well… it is time we left the Dragon Firmament Dynasty as well. This debt of gratitude—I no longer owe it to them." Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. …

Su Chen left the Dragon Firmament Dynasty and set out directly for the Prison-Suppressing Sacred Land. After a year and a half of travel, he finally arrived. The sacred land happened to be recruiting disciples.

"Age twenty-one? Sorry, our assessment requires applicants to be twenty or younger." The recruiting elder did not even lift his head.

"Well… actually, I am also an alchemist." The elder raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. When he looked up, he saw a white-robed youth casually polishing a badge on his chest with an indifferent expression. Six gleaming stars shone brightly in the sunlight. The elder's eyes widened. The stern face that rarely smiled suddenly bloomed into a radiant grin, as bright as a chrysanthemum in full bloom.

"A sixth-grade alchemist? You're a Pill King? Such a young Pill King?" Watching the elder beam like an idiot, Su Chen casually pinned the badge back to his chest and asked, "Elder, may I participate in the assessment?" The elder slapped the table.

"Assessment? Assess my foot! You're already a disciple of Prison-Suppressing Sacred Land—an inner disciple, no less! I'm reporting this to the sacred land right now. An elder will definitely come out of seclusion to take you as a true disciple!" The other applicants: "…" Noticing the stares, the elder waved a hand dismissively.

"What are you all looking at? If any of you were a sixth-grade alchemist, I'd accept you even if you were fifty!" Soon, an elder rushed off in a frenzy to notify the sacred land. Moments later, Su Chen was escorted inside. Compared to more than two thousand years ago, the Prison-Suppressing Sacred Land had changed dramatically. A rosy-cheeked, white-haired elder tore through space and appeared beside him in an instant. Without ceremony, the old man reached out and felt Su Chen's bones.

"Seven Apertures Exquisite Body… bone age truly twenty-one. A once-in-a-century alchemy prodigy!" Before long, the void trembled again. A black-robed man appeared, a sword case strapped to his back. The rosy-cheeked elder cursed the moment he saw him.

"Hey, kid! What is Sword-Hiding Peak doing here?" The black-robed man spoke slowly and calmly.

"This little fellow has the Seven Apertures Exquisite Body—cultivation will come twice as fast with half the effort. Sword-Hiding Peak is sorely lacking such talent."

"Little brother, would you like to practice the sword? Become a sword cultivator? Roam ten thousand li with a single swing, free and unfettered between heaven and earth?" The elder spat.

"Bullshit! You lot are so poor you have to buy spirit wine on credit. All you know is swindling and cheating. You want this alchemy genius to slave away for Sword-Hiding Peak? In your dreams!" He turned back to Su Chen.

"Join my Pill Hall, and every disciple of Sword-Hiding Peak will be your personal servant." The black-robed man's face darkened instantly, murderous aura leaking from him. The elder calmly produced a spirit contract. Seeing it, the black-robed man slunk away without another word. More powerhouses arrived in quick succession. The elder wasted no breath.

"Saber Hall? Have you paid back last month's spirit stones yet?"

"Law Enforcement Hall? Believe me or not, next month Pill Hall cancels all discounts for you!"

"Spirit Martial Peak? Don't even think about cooperating with Pill Hall for your next martial technique cultivation!"

"…"

"Sacred Lord? Doesn't matter. No spirit stones next time, don't come begging me!" The Prison-Suppressing Sacred Lord pinched his nose. He had only been passing by. He left as quietly as he had come. Su Chen watched the ferocious old man single-handedly chase off one powerhouse after another until they all slunk away dejected. A faint smile touched his lips. From Prison-Suppressing Sect to Prison-Suppressing Sacred Land—the Pill Hall's dominance had never changed. He formally took the old man as his master.

The elder was titled Myriad Forms Pill Venerable, Hall Master of Pill Hall, and the foremost alchemist of Prison-Suppressing Sacred Land. In a single day, Su Chen leaped three ranks and became a true disciple. When the young prodigies of the sacred land heard the news, most would have tested any other newcomer to see how much weight he carried—especially with so many inner disciples yearning for true disciple status. But the moment they learned he came from Pill Hall, every trace of dissatisfaction vanished.

Only one thought remained. Get close to him! What did they want true disciple status for, anyway? Better cultivation resources. And where did those resources come from? Pill Hall, of course! Who wouldn't want to hug such a thick thigh? Even the sacred land's ranked true disciples were alarmed. They personally arrived bearing gifts to congratulate the new true disciple. Su Chen suddenly realized something. In the cultivation world, having a bit of talent really did make all the difference.

Being an alchemist felt far more exhilarating than slogging it out as a crude martial brute.