My equipment is designed for cultivation; I started by slaughtering my way through a small world.

Someone shouted, and the surrounding cultivators who were watching the drama all looked towards the direction of Qingdi City.

In the Yang family's group, only Yang Xiuyuan, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, was seen.

In an instant.

The onlookers at the entrance of the mountain path stared in disbelief at Gu Qing and his companions.

"Which of the three is the alchemist?"

"Could it be that Yang Xiuyuan himself is going to do it?"

"How is that possible? Yang Xiuyuan specializes in water-attribute Daoist arts; how could he possibly refine pills..."

"I am excited," said a rogue cultivator who knew about the Yang Family Chamber of Commerce.

"I heard that the alchemist whom the Yang Family Chamber of Commerce had been training for many years was intercepted and killed by the Tiger Fiend Sect halfway."

"what!"

"The Tiger Fiend Sect and the Azure Emperor Sword Sect have broken ties. They actually dared to intercept and kill the alchemist invited by the Azure Emperor Sword Sect."

"Don't you know that the Tiger Fiend Sect has been keeping an eye on the Azure Emperor Sword Sect?"

"Those two families are practically fighting tooth and nail over the spirit stone mine..."

"Alas, the Yang family is really unlucky. They were caught in the conflict between the two major sects and lost a Foundation Establishment alchemist they had trained for many years. It's a huge loss."

"In my opinion, the Yang family doesn't need to participate in this alchemy gathering at all."

"Brother, you're right."

"If the Yang family wins, I'll go to Meixiang Tower tonight, flip Liu Ruyan's and Su Youxue's cards at the same time, and order ten jugs of Xianbuzui..."

"You little brat..."

As Gu Qing and the Yang father and daughter walked down the street, they heard some commotion around them. Gu Qing shook his head slightly.

The Qi Refining Realm cultivators lining both sides of the street looked at Gu Qing with a mixture of suspicion, provocation, and disdain.

The world is foolish; how can they not know that I have come here today to win!

As for Grand Alchemists at the Golden Core Realm...

You'll need to practice more before you can face me.

The three of them walked through the streets of Qingdi City, stepped onto the mountain path paved with jade, and slowly headed towards the top of the mountain.

When Gu Qing and his two companions reached the mountaintop and passed through the mountain gate, the scene before them suddenly changed, and they could no longer hear any of the hustle and bustle of Qingdi City below.

In front of Gu Qing was a mountain range stretching for hundreds of miles, with trees reaching straight to the sky, and various exotic beasts and birds moving about in the forest, seemingly unafraid of people at all.

Upon arriving at the Qingdi Sword Sect's mountain gate, it felt rather deserted, with almost no sect disciples in sight.

Yang Xiuyuan led Gu Qing and Yang Xi through the sect for a while before finally encountering a living person.

When Yang Xiuyuan saw the man, a look of joy appeared in his eyes.

"Meng Yu".

"Old Yang—"

The two had a good relationship, and when they met again, they were both taken aback.

The sect elder named Meng Yu looked at Gu Qing and Yang Xi, a hint of apology flashing in his eyes, "Old Yang, I didn't expect that inviting you here would cause your Yang family such heavy losses."

"I'm so sorry..."

"Old Meng, how can I blame you? You invited me out of kindness. As for the risks..."

"There's no business without risk."

Yang Xiuyuan interrupted Meng Yu and shook his head.

"Sigh, let's not talk about that for now. The Pill Gathering is about to begin. The venue is over at the sect square. Let's go there first."

"Young alchemist, you'd better step up your game!"

Looking at Gu Qing, Meng Yu offered a slight word of encouragement.

In fact, Meng Yu did not think highly of Gu Qing. Wasn't it ridiculous for a Qi Refining Realm cultivator to refine a Grade 3 pill?

Encouraging Gu Qing was merely out of consideration for his friend's feelings.

"hehe!"

"I will do my best."

Gu Qing smiled slightly, without explaining anything further; strength is the most weighty word.

Once he finishes refining the elixir, the others will naturally shut up.

The four hurried toward the plaza. During their journey, Meng Yu explained the rules of the upcoming alchemy gathering to Gu Qing and the other two:

"Old Yang, and this young alchemist."

"This alchemy competition is divided into three rounds. Each round will assess the alchemists' abilities, and those who remain will be the ones who can meet the sect leader's requirements."

"Okay, let's go!"

Not long after.

Gu Qing and his group arrived near the plaza of the Azure Emperor Sword Sect. Looking up, they saw that the plaza was built by cutting off a mountain peak and leaving half of it as the plaza.

A suspended corridor connects the surrounding area, and from this place, one can vaguely see the imposing presence of thousands upon thousands of people.

At the entrances to the various suspended corridors leading to the plaza, disciples of the Azure Emperor Sword Sect are on duty.

With Meng Yu leading the way, Gu Qing and the Yang family father and daughters entered the square smoothly.

Gu Qing looked at the plaza setup.

There is a high platform in front of the square, which is shimmering with spiritual light and decorated with great splendor. Presumably, the sect leader of the Azure Emperor Sword Sect and other invited guests are watching the alchemy gathering from that position.

But at present, there is no one on the platform.

Below the platform was a flat plaza, with a designated area in front of it. No Qingdi Sword Sect disciples were lingering in that area at the moment.

On both sides of this special area, thousands upon thousands of disciples of the Azure Emperor Sword Sect were active.

Meng Yu, who was walking ahead, turned to Yang Xiuyuan and said, "Old Yang, the sect leader and several distinguished guests haven't arrived yet. There's still some time before the Pill Gathering begins. Let me take you to the rest room!"

"You're the landlord, you make the arrangements."

Yang Xiuyuan joked with a smile.

The group arrived at a makeshift rest area near the high platform. As soon as they entered, Meng Yu quietly introduced the area:

"That is Wen Xingjian, a Foundation Establishment Realm Grand Alchemist from the Jin Kingdom."

"This person has mastered more than twenty methods of refining grade three pills. I heard that he is about to enter the level of a grade four alchemist. In the alchemist circle of Jin Kingdom, many Golden Core Realm alchemists also avoid his sharp edge."

Following the direction Meng Yu pointed, Gu Qing saw a middle-aged man wearing a red robe.

Da Hong Pao?

What an eye-catching bag!

Someone dressed so provocatively must be either a genius or a madman.

The arrival of Gu Qing and the others seemed to attract the attention of others, with some noticing Yang Xiuyuan standing next to Meng Yu.

As members of the merchant families in the same area, someone immediately came over and tentatively asked, "Clan Chief Yang, it's been a few years since we last met, and your Yang family has produced so many outstanding talents!"

"The Azure Emperor Sword Sect is hosting the Alchemy Conference, and you've actually sent a genius alchemist at the Qi Refining Realm to participate. This young man must be exceptionally talented."

The moment those words were spoken, the lounge fell silent, as if everyone had been frozen in place.

Even Wen Xingjian, who was wearing a bright red robe, couldn't help but look over at Gu Qing out of curiosity.

"Young alchemist, I don't recall ever hearing your name before?"

This Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Liang family spoke, bypassing Yang Xiuyuan.

When he spoke to Gu Qing, he deliberately dragged out the word "small," then looked at Gu Qing with a smile, waiting for her to make a fool of herself.

"It's normal not to have heard of it."

"After the Dan Conference, you'll definitely avoid me whenever you hear my name!!"

Gu Qing glanced at the Foundation Establishment cultivator and said indifferently.

If this weren't the Azure Emperor Sword Sect, this guy would be asking for death for daring to provoke me like this.

"Hahaha……"

"A mere Qi Refining Realm ant, yet so arrogant. You should thank the Azure Emperor Sword Sect; if it were outside..."

What a coincidence! Gu Qing thought the same thing.