I am in Yellow Maple Valley, and I have a demonic beast clone!

three days later.

The morning sun shone on the Taiyue Mountains, dispelling the thin mist in the mountains.

The mountains appeared exceptionally verdant under the sunlight, and the waterfalls and streams shimmered with crystal-clear light. Occasionally, a few birds would flit by, emitting clear and melodious calls.

The air is filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees, mixed with a faint spiritual energy, which makes people feel relaxed and happy.

Several people had already gathered on an open space outside Green Wave Cave.

This open space is about several tens of feet square, with a flat surface paved with fine bluestone slabs, clearly having been carefully prepared.

Several ancient pine trees are planted around the area, their gnarled branches blocking out the sun, adding to the tranquility of this open space.

Several blue stones are placed under the pine trees, providing a place for people to rest. In the center of the open space, there is a long table made of rosewood, on which are placed teacups, spiritual fruits, and several plates of exquisite snacks.

Li Huayuan stood with his hands behind his back, wearing a blue Taoist robe, looking relaxed.

The morning sunlight shone on him, giving him a golden halo and making him appear even more otherworldly.

Behind him stood a group of disciples including Yu Kun, Liu Jing, Song Meng, Wu Xuan, and Zhong Weiniang, who were whispering among themselves.

Han Li stood to the side, his expression calm, but a thoughtful look flashed in his eyes.

He looked around but didn't see Zhou Ding, which made him a little puzzled.

Why hasn't Senior Brother Zhou arrived yet?

Yu Kun asked Li Huayuan in a low voice, "Master, Junior Brother Zhou hasn't arrived yet. Should we send someone to urge him?"

Li Huayuan shook his head, his expression calm.

"No rush, that old Taoist priest Fuyunzi hasn't arrived yet."

His voice was calm, revealing no emotion.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a whooshing sound came from the horizon.

A white streak of light rushed over at great speed, arriving in an instant and landing steadily on the open ground.

It was the Divine Wind Boat.

Zhou Ding stood at the bow of the boat, dressed in a blue robe, exuding composure.

The morning sunlight shone on him, giving him a golden halo that made him appear even more extraordinary.

Standing behind him was Xin Ruyin, dressed in a light blue dress, her long hair simply tied back with a white jade hairpin in her hair, and her face lightly made up, making her look dignified and elegant.

The two jumped off the flying boat. Zhou Ding put away the Divine Wind Boat and walked forward with Xin Ruyin.

"Disciple greets Master."

Zhou Ding bowed respectfully to Li Huayuan, his voice clear and firm.

Xin Ruyin quickly followed suit, her voice soft and slightly nervous: "Xin Ruyin greets Master."

Her voice, though soft, reached everyone's ears clearly.

Li Huayuan's gaze fell on Xin Ruyin, a scrutinizing glint in his eyes.

He had never seen this woman before.

He carefully examined Xin Ruyin.

This woman has delicate features, a gentle temperament, and dignified manners; she is quite nice.

But cultivation level...

Although his aura was relatively stable, he was still only a Qi Refining stage cultivator.

He frowned slightly.

Zhou Ding is his disciple, with a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation level. He has good talent and a solid foundation, and is expected to form his core in the future.

Such a disciple should find a female cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage as his Daoist partner, to support each other and progress together.

What use is it to find a woman who is at the Qi Refining stage?

What else can I do besides holding others back?

However, this was Zhou Ding's private matter, and he had no interest in interfering too much.

Each disciple has their own destiny, and as the master, he will not interfere as long as the disciple does not do anything to disgrace the sect.

Moreover, this woman doesn't seem to be the frivolous type. Since Zhou Ding chose her, he must have his reasons.

He hummed in response and then looked at Xin Ruyin again.

Xin Ruyin sensed Li Huayuan's faint aloofness, her heart tightened slightly, and the smile on her face stiffened.

She knew that as a Qi Refining cultivator, she was nothing in the eyes of a Core Formation cultivator.

To receive even a response is already a favor, given Zhou Ding's influence.

She took a deep breath, suppressed her disappointment, and stepped back behind Zhou Ding, standing quietly.

Zhou Ding noticed her emotions and quietly reached out to shake her hand.

Those palms were warm and dry, offering a silent comfort.

Xin Ruyin felt a warmth in her heart, and the smile on her face became more natural.

Han Li nodded slightly when he saw Xin Ruyin.

He had met Xin Ruyin before and knew that she was Zhou Ding's Daoist partner. However, he was puzzled as to why Senior Brother Zhou had brought his sister-in-law to the competition today.

But he didn't ask any further questions.

Senior Brother Zhou has his own reasons for doing things.

Yu Kun and the others also looked at Xin Ruyin with curiosity, their eyes filled with a hint of inquiry.

……

Half an hour later, another whooshing sound came from the horizon.

A blue flying boat soared through the air at an astonishing speed and landed steadily on the open ground.

Several people jumped off the flying boat; it was Fuyunzi and his disciples.

Fu Yunzi still had the same white hair and youthful face, with snow-white hair and a ruddy complexion like a middle-aged man.

He was dressed in a gray Taoist robe, with a gourd of wine hanging from his waist. He walked forward in a swagger, his steps steady, showing no signs of being an old man.

He was followed by the woman in red and three other male disciples.

"Haha, Li Huayuan, this humble Taoist has arrived!"

Fu Yunzi walked forward with a loud laugh, his voice so loud that the pine needles on the surrounding pine trees fell in a rustling sound.

His gaze swept over the disciples behind Li Huayuan, then lingered for a moment on Xin Ruyin beside Zhou Ding, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

Who is this woman in the Qi Refining stage?

But without asking any further questions, he shouted, "Alright, now that everyone's here, let's begin the competition!"

Li Huayuan nodded without saying anything more.

"Let's start the first round with a test of pills."

He looked at Han Li, his eyes filled with expectation.

"Han Li, it's your turn to refine the pills."

Han Li stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Yes, Master."

His voice was calm, without the slightest hint of tension, as if this were just an ordinary alchemy practice.

Fu Yunzi also looked at the woman in red.

"Zixi, go ahead."

Zixi nodded and walked forward expressionlessly.

She remained aloof, her red dress standing out in the sunlight, highlighting her snow-white skin and delicate features, yet she remained as cold as ice.

She walked to the center of the open space, took out a purplish-red alchemy furnace from her storage bag, and placed it on the ground.

The alchemy furnace had three legs and two handles, and its body was engraved with intricate cloud patterns, with a faint spiritual light flowing around it. It was clearly a magic artifact of good quality.

The lid of the stove is carved with a phoenix spreading its wings as if about to take flight, lifelike and exquisitely crafted.

Han Li didn't waste any words. He took out a bluish-gray alchemy furnace from his storage bag and placed it on the ground as well.

His alchemy furnace looked much more ordinary, with a bluish-gray body, no decorations, and a smooth surface with a faint, warm luster, clearly an old object that had been used countless times.

The two alchemy furnaces placed side by side present a striking contrast.

Zixi's alchemy furnace was magnificent and exquisite, while Hanli's alchemy furnace was simple and unadorned.

Zi Xi looked at Han Li's alchemy furnace, a hint of disdain flashing through her mind.

What good pills can be refined from this broken furnace?

Li Huayuan glanced at the two of them and said, "Let's refine the Rejuvenation Pill."

The Spirit Restoration Pill is a commonly used elixir among Foundation Establishment cultivators, used to quickly restore their mana.

The formula is simple, the ingredients are common, and most Foundation Establishment stage alchemists can make it.

It would be suitable to use it as the first round of the competition.

Han Li nodded.

Zixi nodded as well.

The two simultaneously took out the elixirs from their storage bags and began refining them.

Han Li's movements were extremely skillful.

He picked up a resurrection plant, gently plucked a leaf, his movements were light and precise, and each leaf was intact.

Then other auxiliary materials are added, and the amount of each ingredient is measured with absolute precision, as if it had been measured with a ruler.

Every movement was fluid and seamless, without the slightest superfluity, as if it had been rehearsed hundreds of times.

He has refined the Rejuvenation Pill so many times that he has lost count.

With the existence of the little green bottle, he has no shortage of elixirs and is not afraid of trying and making mistakes.

Over the years, he has relied on consuming large quantities of spiritual herbs to develop extremely skilled alchemy techniques.

He had refined every type of elixir he could make at least a hundred times.

Every failure is a learning experience.

Every success is an accumulation of experience.

His failures taught him where he was prone to making mistakes.

His successful experiences taught him how to do better.

Now, his alchemy skills far surpass those of other cultivators of the same level.

Fu Yunzi watched Han Li's actions, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"This kid... his technique is so skilled."

Although he was a Core Formation cultivator, he was not skilled in alchemy. He could only see that Han Li's movements were smooth, but he could not see anything deeper.

However, the disciple he brought, Zixi, was the most skilled alchemist among the younger generation of the Qingxu Sect, and he believed that Zixi would not lose.

Zi Xi's movements were equally skillful, but she was still a little less adept than Han Li.

She paused slightly each time she added ingredients, as if calculating something.

His brows were slightly furrowed, his lips were lightly pursed, and his expression was focused and serious.

Han Li, on the other hand, didn't need to calculate anything; everything was under his control.

His movements were as fluid as water, as if these steps were etched into his very bones.

Time passed by, second by second.

The open space was silent, save for the occasional hissing sound from the alchemy furnace and the distant chirping of birds.

Everyone held their breath, watching the two's movements.

Li Huayuan stood with his hands behind his back, his face calm, but a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

Han Li's performance was even better than he had expected.

Fu Yunzi frowned slightly, a vague unease creeping into his heart.

How come this kid is so skilled?

Seeing this, Zixi's forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat. She gritted her teeth and sped up.

But Han Li's movements remained unhurried, as if everything was under control.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn—

Han Li was the first to stop moving.

He raised his hand and waved it open, causing the lid of the alchemy furnace to burst open, instantly filling the entire open space with a rich medicinal fragrance.

The aroma of the medicine was rich and pure, invigorating anyone who smelled it.

Inside the alchemy furnace, eight round...