Chapter 422: Alchemy Grandmaster Jiang Li
Generally, heavenly tribulations grow stronger with more people within their range, and the same principle applies to Pill Tribulation Lightning. However, since Pill Tribulation Lightning strikes pills, its power increases with more pills present.
An overwhelming darkness descended, leaving the alchemists trembling and breathless. Under these two amplifying factors, the Pill Tribulation Lightning’s power reached unimaginable levels—though “unimaginable” might not be entirely accurate.
“Not intense enough—can’t compare to Ascension Tribulation,” Jiang Li quickly assessed the lightning’s strength, finding it barely ticklish.
When the world-destroying Pill Tribulation Lightning struck, Su Wei tried to intervene but was knocked aside by the Crimson Sun Cauldron. “Are you trying to die? Even Zhang Konghu couldn’t withstand this!” Reluctantly, Su Wei abandoned resistance.
The lightning had far exceeded what Unity Stage cultivators could endure. The sole comfort was that it only targeted pills, not people.
The thunderbolts illuminated varied expressions as they mercilessly struck Su Wei’s Changbai Nation-Preserving Pill and the Crimson Sun Cauldron’s Heaven-Transforming Spirit Pill. The mother-daughter growth-type pill ranked third. No pill could survive such fury.
“It’s over—completely over. This competition has no winner,” lamented the senior alchemists in despair. The impromptu alchemy convention had been for nothing—with all pills reduced to ashes, how could winners be determined?
“Mine first,” Jiang Li patted Su Wei’s shoulder, generously presenting his Life-Death-Fortune-Heaven Pill. Su Wei stared in shock.
“Look! That Jin Li’s pill is blocking the lightning!”
“How is his pill so durable?!”
The crowd couldn’t believe their eyes. Normally, alchemists had to defend their fragile pills—never had a pill resisted tribulation independently.
“Because of its density.” The explanation left everyone speechless. Indeed, compressing a small mountain into a pill would create unimaginable density—likely only breakable by Tribulation Transcendence Stage power.
“Did he anticipate this and prepare specifically for today?” someone speculated, finding the theory plausible.
“Absolutely! This Jin Li must be an extraordinary master who predicted Su Wei and the cauldron would draw tribulation lightning!”
“Thinking back, his unconventional methods always had purpose—even winning a previous round. This must all be part of his scheme!”
“Terrifying indeed—a true reclusive alchemy expert.”
“Wait! That Chen Jian’s Sword Pellets are also unharmed!”
To everyone’s astonishment, Sword Sovereign’s pellets shielded the cauldron’s pill by clashing with the lightning, their sword energy overwhelming the tribulation.
“In over a thousand years of alchemy, I’ve never witnessed such a spectacle.”
“No wonder these recluses are masters.”
“We alchemists are too conservative—we must innovate!” Inspired, some vowed to create entirely new pill philosophies.
“The Spirit Herb Sect Master’s creativity is exemplary—we should learn from it.”
“After this, I’ll seek their guidance.”
“Let’s go together.”
The two recluses’ unconventional defense demonstrated pill diversity’s potential. The third round’s outcome became indisputable—their victory unquestioned.
This round had tested pinnacle alchemy achievements, which required intact pills. Without these two, every pill present would have been annihilated—they’d essentially saved pill lives.
With two wins out of three, Jiang Li claimed first place and the title of Alchemy Grandmaster. Su Wei and Sword Sovereign tied for second with one win each, concluding the convention with alchemists triumphing over cauldrons.
Sword Sovereign never imagined his disguise to learn alchemy would earn him an Alchemy Master title—especially when he only knew how to make Qi Gathering Pills. “Thank goodness I used an alias,” he sighed, understanding why the Human Sovereign frequently changed names. Any embarrassment would fall on “Chen Jian,” not “Sword Sovereign Chen Jiannan.”
“My alchemy skills aren’t bad,” Jiang Li nodded mildly.
Su Wei side-eyed Jiang Li, recognizing him despite the disguise. Having known Jiang Li since his early cultivation days—and being familiar with his uniquely eccentric thinking mirroring Bai Hongtu’s—Su Wei saw through the act. He recalled hearing about Jiang Li and Bai Hongtu’s legendary antics during their candidacy, stories that sounded like tall tales.
He couldn’t comprehend how these two turned rule-abiding competitions into spectacles. One was manageable, but together they spelled disaster for anyone involved. Thankfully, only Jiang Li had attended this time—that “Chen Jian” clearly wasn’t Bai Hongtu in disguise.
Unaware of Su Wei’s thoughts, Jiang Li departed gracefully, leaving behind legends of reclusive alchemy masters.
…
[Congratulations, Host, for completing the mission to gain fame at the Nine Provinces Alchemy Convention. Claim rewards?]
“Claim.”
A celestial pill recipe materialized in Jiang Li’s hands. “Let’s see… ‘Heavenly Sun Calamity Poison Pill’—a lethal pill for defeating stronger opponents. Consuming it sends one’s soul to the underworld; failure to return within the time limit results in true death?!”
Jiang Li was surprised the system offered something actually useful. “From the description, it poisons enemies indirectly by separating soul from body. Prolonged separation causes death—perfect against Tribulation Transcendence cultivators whose danger sense would evade direct poisons.”
“Perhaps I could use this to visit the underworld.”
“Most ingredients are available—only missing this ‘Soul-Severing Water.'”
Jiang Li didn’t expect easy crafting. As a celestial pill, its components were likely from immortal realms—having most already was fortunate.
A wisp of black flame appeared in his palm. “Devouring Heaven Flame—forged from a black hole’s essence. Powerful enough to mimic a miniature black hole. Would’ve been useful during my Nascent Soul Stage, but now…” He sealed and stored it in his storage ring.
“As for this Primordial Yellow Qi…” While invaluable to Spirit Transformation and Unity Stage cultivators, Jiang Li had abundance. The faith-powered bronze cauldron in Human Sovereign Hall contained massive amounts.