Druid Fairy

Chapter 168 Famous in the Capital
On the day of the Grand Alchemy Competition in the capital, the sun shone high in the sky, and a canopy of flowers gathered.

The entire imperial city was deserted, and the clamor of voices almost blew away the clouds on the horizon.

In the center of the arena, on a high platform, sat an elderly man with white hair, a youthful face, and an air of otherworldly wisdom.

He wore a simple gray alchemist's robe, his eyes slightly closed, as if all the noise and commotion outside had nothing to do with him.

All the alchemists present, regardless of their noble birth, put aside their arrogance and bowed respectfully upon seeing this old man.

This old man is Zhou Hua, one of the leading figures in alchemy in the Great Yu Dynasty and the chief examiner of this competition.

Zhou Hua was obsessed with alchemy throughout his life. He was rigid in character, disliked the powerful and wealthy, and valued only true talent and character above all else.

Unlike the examiner's composure, the atmosphere on the most prestigious seat reserved for royalty was icy cold.

Princess Wei Ling'er of Qingyang County was dressed in a magnificent robe with golden phoenix patterns and a seven-jeweled glass crown. She was graceful and exuded an air of nobility.

What she wanted was no longer just a victory.

She wanted to break the spine of this so-called "prodigy of alchemy" in front of the whole world, drag him down from his pedestal, and ruin his reputation.

The mere light of a firefly dares to dream of vying with the brilliance of the moon.

…………

Rewind to a few days ago, deep within the palace.

Inside the magnificent Zhaoyang Palace, incense smoke curled gently.

The third princess of the dynasty, Wei Ling'er's mother, was lounging lazily on a soft couch, carefully examining her stunningly beautiful face in front of a glass mirror.

She was born with bright eyes and white teeth, and skin as smooth as jade. Although she was already a mother, she still had undiminished charm, and there was a sense of grace and pride between her brows as a descendant of royalty.

"Your Majesty, what brings you to my humble abode?"

Upon seeing the Emperor of Dayu enter surrounded by a group of eunuchs and palace maids, Princess Zhaoyang lazily rose and spoke with a hint of coquettishness.

"Come and see your sister, whom I have spoiled rotten."

The Emperor of Da Yu dismissed the servants, sat down beside her, and spoke with the doting affection of an elder brother for his younger sister.

"I heard that Ling'er suffered some injustice at the prefectural academy?"

"Your Majesty, you must do justice for Ling'er!"

Princess Zhaoyang's eyes immediately welled up with tears, and she tugged at the emperor's sleeve, acting coquettishly.

"How dare a mere country bumpkin insult my royal bloodline and cause Ling'er to lose face in public! I cannot swallow this insult, and Ling'er cannot swallow it either!"

"OK OK."

The emperor patted her hand and laughed, "It's just a petty squabble between juniors, why get so angry?"

"not enough!"

Princess Zhaoyang's attitude was resolute: "The Grand Alchemy Competition is imminent. I, your humble sister, will make that brat named Li Mengze suffer a complete disgrace in front of the whole world, never to rise again! Let him know the consequences of offending my royal family!"

The emperor looked into her phoenix eyes, which were burning with anger, and finally sighed helplessly.

"Fine, fine, do as you please. As long as no one dies, I'll pretend I know nothing."

His younger sister was pampered by him since she was little, which fostered her unruly nature.

For an alchemist of mortal origin, since he had displeased her, he might as well destroy it; to him, it was nothing more than brushing off the dust from a garment.

With the emperor's tacit approval, Princess Zhaoyang wore a satisfied smile.

After the emperor left, the coquettishness and grievance on her face vanished instantly, replaced by a cold and ruthless expression.

"Someone is coming."

A trusted eunuch knelt down silently before her.

"Go and take care of two things."

Princess Zhaoyang's voice was calm, yet it carried a chilling undertone.

"First, in the final round of the Alchemy Competition, we need to find a way to give Li Mengze the lost ancient formula for the 'Reverse Dust Pill'."

"Second, bribe the steward of the Pill Mansion to replace all the Dragon Beard Fruits in his medicine with dead fruits that have been corroded by Yin Sha Qi, and then mix 'Spirit Transformation Powder' into the Tranquil Heart Orchid."

"Remember, do it cleanly and efficiently, leaving no room for doubt."

"Your servant obeys the decree."

…………

The bells rang for the grand competition.

When Li Mengze received the yellowed animal skin scroll from the deacon, the surrounding contestants let out gloating chuckles.

That was an ancient elixir formula that had long been lost—"Reversing Dust Pill".

The reason this elixir formula was lost is not because it was particularly mysterious.

Rather, it is because it has a fatal flaw in itself.

Among the dozens of medicinal materials recorded, many have strong and conflicting properties, such as water, fire, ice, and charcoal.

There is only one consequence of forced fusion—the furnace explodes.

In the vast archives of the Danfu (丹府), countless alchemy masters over the past century have attempted to improve this method, but without exception, all have failed.

This is no longer a test.

This is a trap from which defeat is inevitable.

Among the medicinal herbs that Li Mengze received, several of the most essential main ingredients had undergone careful "processing".

Those seemingly plump and round "dragon beard fruits" brimming with spiritual energy had long been eroded inside by extremely insidious Yin energy, their vitality severed, leaving only empty shells that were merely outward appearances.

Meanwhile, the few "Tranquil Orchids" used to harmonize the domineering medicinal power in the elixir were secretly mixed with an almost invisible amount of "Spirit Transformation Powder" powder.

This powder is colorless and odorless, but once it is heated by fire, it not only fails to calm the medicinal effects, but instead acts like a death warrant, instantly catalyzing all the medicinal effects, making them violent and disorderly, and triggering a cataclysmic change.

Rumors and whispers quickly spread across the field.

"Have you heard? That Li Mengze is of questionable character. He only succeeded by relying on some shady, evil magic!"

"I knew it! How could a country bumpkin like him possibly refine a Nine-Pattern Divine Pill? He must have cheated!"

"Now that they're facing the real ancient elixir formula, they're probably going to be exposed for what they really are! Just wait and see!"

Under Wei Ling'er's deliberate instigation, the surrounding contestants cast contemptuous, distant, or gloating glances at Li Mengze.

He was completely isolated in the center of the arena, as if he were a sinner destined to be publicly executed.

Despite feeling the malice coming from all directions, Li Mengze did not feel panic or fear.

It was an anger that was chilling to the extreme.

He remembered his father's earnest instructions under the lamp.

She also recalled the undisguised, vicious look in Wei Ling'er's eyes on the high platform, as if she were watching her prey's final struggle.

In today's battle, there is no turning back.

This is not just about vindicating oneself.

It was all for the unique qualification to enter the "Royal Treasury".

In order to uncover the secret of the "Blood Maple Forest" that his father spoke of, and to touch the deepest truth of this world.

My state of mind is like the sea before a storm.

After a violent surge, it suddenly fell silent. Li Mengze ignored the commotion outside.

All that remained before him was the ancient alchemy furnace and the ancient alchemy formula that countless people had declared "impossible."

He quietly examined the incomplete prescription.

In my mind, the image of "the realm of a hundred herbs" quietly emerged.

There, there are countless exotic flowers and rare herbs, opportunities to experiment at will, and countless experiences of alchemy, including repeated failures and restarts.

At this moment, it surged into his mind like a tidal wave.

Although this prescription is risky, it is not without a solution.

Its core, as its name suggests, lies in "reversal" rather than "integration".

He slowly closed his eyes and channeled his spiritual power.

My fingertips gently caressed each of the medicinal herbs in front of me, inch by inch.

In an instant, the "emotions" of these medicinal herbs in his perceived world became crystal clear.

He could clearly perceive the lifeless "wailing" of the dragon's beard fruit and the malicious "shriek" hidden within the tranquil orchid.

Wei Ling'er thought she was flawless, but she was completely exposed in the face of his innate druidic talent, which was so ridiculous.

Li Mengze slowly opened his eyes and took out the bronze alchemy furnace that his father had personally modified for him from his storage ring.

Stroking the warm, heavy array patterns carved by his father on the stove, a familiar warmth slowly rose from the bottom of his heart.

It was as if his father's broad, warm hand was gently resting on his shoulder.

The tension that had been building up due to anger completely subsided at that moment.

"Get the furnace going!"

Li Mengze gave a low shout, and a gentle yet lively pale blue flame rose from his palm, which he poured into the alchemy furnace.

Then, he did something that left everyone in the room speechless.

Faced with those highly poisonous medicinal herbs that everyone would avoid at all costs, he did not choose to discard them.

Instead, they took it as the first step to break the deadlock!
Using his divine sense as a thread, he precisely guided the dragon's beard fruit, which contained yin energy, and threw it into the furnace first.

Immediately afterwards, he activated the Tranquil Orchid mixed with "Spirit Transformation Powder" in a mysterious rhythm, stimulating its medicinal properties.

"He's gone mad! He's really gone mad!"

"Is this a suicide mission?!"

Even Zhou Hua, the chief examiner on the high platform, suddenly stood up, and Elder Zhao almost couldn't help but try to stop him.

Wei Ling'er was overjoyed, her beautiful face flushed slightly with excitement.

'Fool! Die! Blow yourself to pieces right before the eyes of the world!'

However, the expected explosion did not occur.

Under Li Mengze's terrifying control of his divine sense, the violent spiritual power catalyzed by the "Spirit Transformation Powder" was forcibly restrained at the bottom of the alchemy furnace.

It collided violently with the Yin energy within the Dragon Beard Fruit, triggering a controllable "mini spiritual energy storm" within the alchemy furnace!
This storm, far from destroying the alchemy furnace, actually acted as a highly efficient filter.

The impurities in the other medicinal materials that are subsequently added are all swept away, purified, and refined during the rotation and counter-flushing process!
This brilliant move of "fighting poison with poison" and "using someone else's strength against them" left Zhou Hua, who was on the high platform, completely stunned.

He then sat back down heavily, clapped his hands and laughed, his eyes sparkling with excitement, and muttered to himself.

"Good lad! Good lad! This isn't alchemy, it's clearly a demonstration of magic! A discussion of the Dao!"

The storm subsided, and all impurities in the furnace were removed, leaving only the purest medicinal essence.

The alchemists were dumbfounded by Li Mengze's next move.

He no longer adhered to the records in the prescriptions and boldly discarded several medicinal materials with conflicting properties.

Instead, he added several substitutes from his spare materials that he had learned from his experience in the "Hundred Herbs Spirit Realm," which could have a similar neutralizing effect but were milder in nature.

This is no longer alchemy, this is "creating a formula"!
Every movement he makes is filled with the rhythm of following the natural way.

Sometimes it is like a spring breeze and gentle rain, nourishing things silently.

Sometimes it flows like a gentle stream, adapting to the circumstances.

This is completely different from Wei Ling'er's approach, which relies entirely on the top-tier "Crimson Phoenix Furnace" and "Heart-Protecting Jade" to forcefully suppress the violent medicinal power with brute force.

One is a child of nature who communicates and dances with all things.

The other is a tyrant who tries to enslave everything with money and power.

High judgment.

When the last bit of medicinal power was perfectly guided back to its proper place, an extraordinary phenomenon occurred!

There were no towering flames, no overwhelming fragrance of cinnabar.

From Li Mengze's ancient bronze alchemy furnace, a vast expanse of misty blue light emerged.

In the glow of the sunset, it seemed as if countless plants were taking root and sprouting, and hundreds of flowers were quietly blooming, filled with endless vitality!
Everyone present felt refreshed and invigorated after just one breath, as if their very souls had been cleansed.

"The elixir of life manifests! It's a phenomenon of life itself! Heavens! In my lifetime, I have actually witnessed such a celestial phenomenon that only exists in ancient texts!"

A highly respected old alchemist was so excited that he trembled all over and tears streamed down his face.

Li Mengze remained calm and gently tapped the alchemy furnace.

"Ding!"

With a clear, crisp sound, a crystal-clear pill, as perfect as a flawless elixir, slowly flew out.

It floated quietly above his palm.

On the pill, ten incomparably profound and seemingly naturally formed golden divine patterns flowed!

"Ten-pattern... Divine Pill!"

There was a deathly silence.

Ten pill patterns—those are legendary pills, completely exceeding the conventional understanding of all alchemists. If one hadn't personally witnessed Li Mengze refining pills, they would have thought this kid had drawn them on!
Against all odds, this young alchemist won the championship of the Alchemy Grand Competition with undeniable strength!

On his throne, the Emperor of Great Yu's eyes gleamed with a strange light. The Ten-Patterned Divine Pill was an auspicious omen, and it was no mere toy to amuse his younger sister.

After a moment's thought, the emperor was delighted and personally issued an edict praising Li Mengze as the "Top Dan Master of the Great Yu Dynasty."

He was also granted a pure gold token, which allowed him to enter the "Royal Treasury," a place previously reserved for emperors, and to browse and select items at will for three days!
Wei Ling'er stood there, stunned.

She looked at the seven-patterned pill in her alchemy furnace, which she had painstakingly refined with the help of two magical treasures.

Then look at the "Reverse Dust Pill" with ten patterns in Li Mengze's hand, which is like a work of art and has triggered strange phenomena in heaven and earth.

I felt a sudden dizziness, and my vision went black.

Those glaring divine patterns were like the loudest slaps in the face.

He slapped her face repeatedly and hard, the pain burning intensely.

"puff--"

A mouthful of blood suddenly spurted from her mouth, splattering all over the gorgeous dress in front of her.

…………

Holding the gold token that led to the "Royal Treasury," Li Mengze felt Wei Ling'er's gaze, which seemed to want to devour him alive, and a murderous intent arose in his heart.

(End of this chapter)