Ascending to Immortality by Slaying Spirits

Chapter 224 - The Grand Competition Begins

In June, the Inner Sect Grand Competition officially began. Unlike previous competitions that only involved magical combat, this time, in order to fully showcase the profound knowledge and skills of each sect, a variety of cultivation arts were added.

After all, some Daoist lineages are not good at fighting, and judging them solely by combat is unfair to those lineages.

In addition to the duel, Lin Le also signed up for four other events: alchemy, formation, weaponry, and talisman.

Unfortunately, this time the top spot isn't just based on the rankings in the matches, but on a comprehensive evaluation.

Lin Le is most skilled in alchemy and formations, while he only has a slight understanding of artifacts and talismans. He is just filling in the numbers for the registration, and one person can register for a maximum of five items.

The first to begin were the less popular crafts among the various skills, such as incense making, winemaking, and dance... The top scorer received thirty points.
Next are the projects with more applicants, such as spiritual cuisine, planting, puppet making, etc. The top scorer gets fifty points.

Finally, there are the four most prominent arts in cultivation: alchemy, talismans, artifact crafting, and formations, which are ranked first with a perfect score of 100.

Dan was the first to start.

In the first round of selection, you can pass if you can refine a ninth-grade elixir.

Lin Le glanced at the medicinal herbs in front of him, then reached out and grabbed them, placing many herbs into his hand.

Without using a furnace, they directly ignited a true fire and melted the medicinal herbs into five pills.

This scene stunned the proctor next to him; he had only ever seen such methods used by a sixth-grade alchemist.

After Lin Le finished refining the pill, he casually tossed it into the hand of the person in charge of proctoring the exam.

The proctor hurriedly caught it, glanced at it, and announced: "Number 134, Spirit Pearl True Inheritance, Precious Essence Pill."

Rare Essence Pills are not unusual; many people present can refine them. However, the fact that they are paired with the teachings of the recently prominent figure, Lingzhu Zhenren, makes them quite rare.

Everyone knows that he has already undergone the first stage of Nascent Soul transformation, or even more. Some people have already found out that Lin Le once exchanged for resources that could accelerate the transformation of his Nascent Soul.

At such a young age, with such a high level of cultivation, most people thought he was completely focused on cultivation.

But many people didn't expect that he was also skilled in alchemy. He could refine a rare ninth-grade pill in such a short time, so his alchemy skills must be at least seventh grade.

A seventh-grade alchemist under the age of twenty is not as prestigious as someone who has achieved the Nascent Soul stage at the age of twenty, but it is still far more valuable than someone who has achieved the Golden Core stage at the age of twenty.

In the second round, you can pass the test by successfully refining an eighth-grade pill.

This time, many people looked at Lin Le as he slowly approached the alchemy furnace.

Lin Le glanced at the medicinal herbs, then reached out and scooped them up into the air above his palm.

With the fire ignited, he began refining pills amidst the astonished gazes of many.

"No, doesn't he need to use a furnace to control the dissipating spiritual energy?" an alchemist couldn't help but ask in surprise.

It's one thing to directly refine a ninth-grade alchemist, but to directly refine an eighth-grade one? Does he think he's a fifth-grade alchemist?

But the fact is, Lin Le can be.

After the fire was extinguished, Lin Le casually tossed the ammunition to the proctor.

The proctor caught it, glanced at it, and announced, "Number 134, Spirit Pearl True Inheritance, Superior Grade Nine-Star Pill!"

His singing caused an uproar among the surrounding people. The leader of Tiandan Peak looked at Lin Le with eyes that were practically green with envy.

To concoct an eighth-grade superior pill with bare hands—what does that mean? It means Lin Le possesses at least sixth-grade alchemy skills, making him a definite seed for alchemy mastery.

It's such a waste that such a genius alchemist fell into the hands of those barbarians from Tianqing Peak!
He directly transmitted his voice to Lin Ledao: "Nephew Lingzhu, are you interested in switching to the Dao lineage? The price is negotiable!"

Lin Le calmly replied, "I have no intention of switching to another lineage, Uncle Zhenhai."

Tian Dan Peak Abbot Zhen Haizi, still unwilling to give up, said, "Can't we discuss this?"

"No," Lin Le replied coldly.

"That's such a pity!" Zhen Haizi said with great regret.

Jiu Lingzi and Yun Xiaozi were also paying attention to the inner sect competition, as it was a time to test the sect's development. After seeing Lin Le display his extraordinary alchemy skills, Jiu Lingzi sighed, "He is truly gifted. It's a pity that my Xuantian Sect is just a shallow pond and cannot nurture such a true dragon."

Yunxiaozi nodded in agreement. He had even considered replacing the current Daozi with Lingzhuzi.

But the thought was just a thought; he really didn't dare to let Lin Le become the Daoist.

Putting aside his loyalty to the sect, his bloodthirsty nature alone makes him unsuitable to be the leader of a sect.

Given his personality, the first step for him to become a sect leader would inevitably be to wage war against external forces.

This could elevate the Xuantian Sect to a higher level, but it could also plunge it into the abyss.

Compared to unpredictable risks, Yunxiaozi prefers to climb steadily upwards.

In the third round, you can pass the test by successfully refining a seventh-grade pill.

The news spread like wildfire, and soon it reached hundreds of people. Lin Le's alchemy skills were said to be at the sixth rank.

More people are focusing their attention on Lin Le, who is about to make his appearance.

Lin Le slowly stepped onto the stage, glanced at the medicinal herbs, and this time he did not start refining the pills with his bare hands, but instead used a pill furnace to begin refining the pills.

This is both disappointing and fortunate. If Lin Le can refine even seventh-grade pills with his bare hands, it would truly be extraordinary.

Moreover, this is too much of a blow to their morale.

Water refining, fire refining, spirit shaping, pill formation—Lin Le slapped the pill furnace, and the pill flew out, which he then collected in a pill bottle.

Lin Le casually tossed the elixir bottle to the proctor and turned to leave.

The proctor glanced at the pills and announced, "Number 134, Spirit Pearl True Inheritance, Superior Clear Mind Pill!"

Seven superior-grade pills made in one go!

This performance caused an uproar among the onlookers, confirming that Lin Le possessed the strength of a sixth-grade alchemist.

Some people's expressions immediately turned serious, because this meant that Lin Le now had the ability to threaten them.

The fourth and final round is a one-day event, with the winner being the one who produces the most valuable elixirs.

A total of thirty-six people entered this round.

Lin Le arrived at his alchemy room, moved the alchemy furnace provided by the sect with one hand, and placed the Rejuvenating Fire Gathering Cauldron at the outlet of the earth fire.

After glancing at the available medicinal herbs, Lin Le's eyes revealed a hint of regret. With his current skill level, he was about 50% confident in refining a fifth-grade pill.

Unfortunately, the main ingredients for refining fifth-grade pills are rare even within the Xuantian Sect, so they cannot be provided casually.

Otherwise, Lin Le wouldn't mind taking the opportunity to refine a few Rank 5 precious pills for himself.

When Lin Le started refining pills, he didn't choose to refine sixth-grade pills like the others, but instead chose seventh-grade pills.

He plans to win by sheer volume.

Refining sixth-grade pills is extremely time-consuming; an ordinary sixth-grade alchemist might not be able to refine a single batch in a day.

This also applies to Lin Le, since some medicinal herbs take time to dissolve, and even with all sorts of methods, it would still take at least half a day.

But seventh-grade pills are different; he can refine a batch in half an hour.

More importantly, the seventh rank was easily within Lin Le's grasp.

Lin Le started refining pills and directly put in three portions of medicinal herbs.

There are 24 furnaces in a day with 12 two-hour periods. Each furnace is divided into three portions, which makes 72 bottles.

Even if a sixth-grade pill is ten times more valuable than a seventh-grade pill, a difference of seventy-two times is enough to secure first place.

(End of this chapter)