Immortality Cultivation

Chapter 332: Debate

Three days passed in a flash.

Within Myriad Laws Immortal City, the atmosphere was already as heated as boiling water.

The decennial Myriad Laws Assembly officially kicked off. The main venue was set at the "Myriad Laws Dao Arena" in the city center, which was said to be able to accommodate one hundred thousand Cultivators. The news of a Soul Transformation Old Ancestor giving a sermon alone attracted countless Cultivators from all directions. The major inns in the city were already packed to capacity, and even the rooftops were almost completely occupied by Cultivators hovering on their magic tools.

Fang Hao did not go to join the excitement. Early in the morning, following the guidance of the Jade Slip, he arrived at the "Alchemy Platform" located on the west side of the inner city.

This Alchemy Platform was a venue built by Myriad Laws Immortal City specifically for high-level alchemists to exchange pointers. It was usually quiet and deserted, but today it had become one of the focal points.

The massive circular stone platform was three zhang high and constructed entirely from "Warm Sun Jade," which could isolate Divine Sense and stabilize heat. On the platform, over three hundred stone Pill Furnaces were arranged neatly, with each Pill Furnace equipped with a basic Earth Fire Formation.

Surrounding the stone platform were tiered viewing seats, which were already packed with people—at least several thousand of them. Their cultivation levels ranged from the Foundation Establishment Stage to the Nascent Soul Stage, and they all craned their necks, waiting to watch the spectacle.

Fang Hao submitted his entry Jade Slip, verified his identity, and was led to the waiting area below the platform by an expressionless Golden Core deacon.

More than two hundred people had already gathered here, including old alchemists with white hair and beards who looked like immortals, high-spirited Sect Geniuses, and Loose Cultivators like Fang Hao who kept their aura restrained, making it impossible to gauge their depth.

The crowd was clearly divided, each group keeping to themselves, and an invisible scent of gunpowder permeated the air.

Fang Hao found a corner to stand in, swept his Divine Sense slightly, and his heart sank.

Among these three hundred-plus people, the lowest cultivation level was the Early Golden Core Stage, and there were even dozens of Nascent Soul Old Monsters with deep, unfathomable auras mixed in. Clearly, they were all here for the generous rewards of the Debate, or like him, had arrived with a special purpose.

"Quiet!"

A clear shout, sounding like a great bell, suppressed the noise of the entire venue.

An old man wearing purple-gold Daoist robes with white hair and a youthful face appeared out of thin air in the center of the Alchemy Platform. His aura was vast as the sea; he was clearly a Cultivator at the Late Nascent Soul Stage!

"I am Pill Star Child, and I will be the chief judge for this Debate."

The old man’s gaze was like lightning as he swept over the crowd below. "This Debate is divided into four rounds. The first round is the elimination round. You have a time limit of three hours to refine the Tier 3 Medicinal Pill, the ’ningyuan pill,’ using the Earth Fire and Pill Furnace provided uniformly here. You must achieve a success rate of over sixty percent, and at least one must be High Grade, to advance. Now, draw lots to determine your furnace position!"

As soon as his voice fell, a flash of spiritual light swept past, and the Jade Slips in everyone’s hands flickered, revealing the corresponding numbers.

Fang Hao looked down; it was number 108 of the ’Jia’ series. The position was neither good nor bad, near the edge.

Everyone climbed onto the platform in turn and found their positions.

Fang Hao walked to the gray, dusty stone Pill Furnace and reached out to touch it. The furnace wall was warm and smooth. The Earth Fire Formation had already been activated, and pale blue flames were burning quietly at the bottom of the furnace. The heat was stable, but compared to the Earthly Fiend Golden Flame he was accustomed to, it was more than a grade inferior.

"Are the rules clear?"

Pill Star Child’s voice spread throughout the venue. "The ningyuan pill is a commonly used Medicinal Pill for Cultivators. It tests the basic control of heat, micro-manipulation of spiritual power, and the understanding of medicinal properties. Now, distribute the Materials!"

Dozens of Foundation Establishment Stage attendants filed in and placed the packaged medicinal herbs onto the jade trays next to each Pill Furnace.

Fang Hao opened it to find the seven main ingredients and twelve auxiliary ingredients needed to refine the ningyuan pill. The quantities were precise, and the quality... one could only say it was average; a few medicinal herbs even had slight blemishes.

"Heh, this is meant to increase the difficulty."

A burly Body Cultivator alchemist next to him, with a face full of flesh and arms thick enough to run a horse on, grinned, his voice rough. "Using this quality of medicinal herbs and still having to refine a High Grade Medicinal Pill—that’s ruthless."

Fang Hao did not speak, merely checking the medicinal herbs silently.

This first round tested the skill of "making a meal without rice."

To maximize the medicinal power and remove Impurities under limited conditions was the only way to ensure the success rate and quality.

"Timing, start!"

Following Pill Star Child’s command, over three hundred Pill Furnaces lit up simultaneously, and the entire Alchemy Platform was instantly shrouded in dense Spiritual Qi and the scent of medicine.

Fang Hao did not rush to start.

He closed his eyes, recalling the records about the ningyuan pill in the hundred solutions of heavenly craftsmanship, as well as some obscure techniques mentioned in the list of Materials Su Xuan had given him.

He had refined the ningyuan pill countless times and could do it with his eyes closed, but to ensure a High Grade rate under these conditions required a bit of strategy.

He opened his eyes, and his hands danced like butterflies weaving through flowers.

There were no dazzling spiritual techniques, only the most simple and unadorned "sorting."

He picked out the medicinal herbs with blemishes, used his spiritual power as a blade to precisely cut away the blackened or withered parts, and kept only the most essential sections.

For a few key auxiliary ingredients, he did not add them directly but first roasted them slightly with Earth Fire to stimulate their latent medicinal properties.

"Eh? That kid’s technique is somewhat interesting."

On the viewing seats, an old alchemist at the Nascent Soul Stage gave a soft exclamation, noticing Fang Hao’s side.

"Hmph, flashy and showy."

A middle-aged Cultivator in the attire of Medicine King Valley nearby said disdainfully, "It’s just a ningyuan pill; playing these games is a waste of time."

Fang Hao turned a deaf ear.

After the preparation work was done, he took a deep breath and tossed the first main ingredient, "Spirit Gathering Grass," into the furnace.

The pale blue Earth Fire suddenly flared up, enveloping the medicinal herb.

He did not use brute force to urge the fire but used his Divine Sense to control it precisely, letting the flames flow like water, evenly scorching every inch of the medicinal herb, extracting the purest medicinal liquid while turning the Impurities into blue smoke.

Time passed minute by minute.

From time to time, a muffled "bang" would sound on the platform, accompanied by a burnt smell and the curses of the participants—that was a furnace explosion.

Some people were also drenched in sweat and flustered, clearly lacking sufficient control over the Earth Fire.

Fang Hao, on the other hand, was as steady as Mount Tai.

The medicinal liquid inside the furnace rolled, presenting a pure emerald green color.

His expression was focused, and fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead, but his eyes were clear, and his Divine Sense was firmly locked onto every subtle change inside the furnace.

Following a technique recorded in the hundred solutions of heavenly craftsmanship called the "Three-Turn Pill Condensation Technique," he did not rush to merge the medicinal liquids but guided the liquid to rotate within the furnace, allowing different medicinal properties to naturally layer and permeate under the effect of centrifugal force, thereby increasing the purity.

Two hours later, most alchemists had already entered the final pill condensation stage.

Inside Fang Hao’s furnace, seven medicinal liquids of different colors had perfectly merged, transforming into a fist-sized, glowing green liquid.

"Condense!"

Fang Hao gave a low shout, formed seals with his hands, and struck out a complex spiritual pattern.

The liquid inside the furnace suddenly contracted, and under the high temperature and Spiritual Pressure, it quickly condensed into pills.

He deliberately controlled the number of Medicinal Pills, forming only five, to ensure that each one could absorb enough medicinal essence.

"Retrieve the pills!"

The furnace lid opened, and five Medicinal Pills, each the size of a dragon’s eye, perfectly round, emerald green in color, and with faint cloud patterns on their surface, flew out and were steadily caught by Fang Hao with a jade bottle.

The Medicinal Pills felt warm in his hand, the medicinal fragrance was pungent, and they were filled with Spiritual Qi. They were all clearly High Grade, and one of them even had a faint luster flowing over it, approaching Supreme Grade!

"Number 108 of the ’Jia’ series, five pills formed, four High Grade, one quasi-High Grade, success rate one hundred percent, quality... Excellent!"

The deacon responsible for the inspection saw the Medicinal Pills in the jade bottle, a flash of surprise in his eyes, and announced loudly.

Once this result came out, it immediately caused a small commotion.

Under such harsh conditions, to still guarantee a one hundred percent High Grade rate—this skill in fire control and pill condensation could definitely be considered top-tier.

Fang Hao’s expression was calm; he handed the Medicinal Pills to the deacon and retreated to the side to wait.

He could feel several gazes, carrying scrutiny and even hostility, landing on him, including that of the Medicine King Valley Genius Willow Follow Wind, as well as several Nascent Soul Old Monsters with deep auras.

"Hmph, good luck."

Willow Follow Wind glanced at Fang Hao, his tone dismissive.

On his side, seven pills were formed, all of them also High Grade, surpassing Fang Hao in quantity.

Fang Hao couldn’t be bothered to pay attention and closed his eyes to rest.

In this first round, he just needed to advance; there was no need to reveal his full strength.

Three hours passed quickly.

As Pill Star Child announced that time was up, wails of despair filled the platform.

Of the three hundred-plus people, fewer than two hundred successfully refined the Medicinal Pill, and only a mere one hundred and twenty people could achieve the sixty percent High Grade rate required to advance.

"Those eliminated, leave the stage. Those who advanced, participate in the second round tomorrow at the hour of the Dragon."

Pill Star Child waved his sleeves, and those dejected losers were sent off the platform by a gentle force.

Fang Hao walked down the Alchemy Platform with the crowd, and just after walking not far, a figure blocked his path.

It was Su Xuan’s disciple, Clear Sound.

She was still wearing a mask, but her eyes were a bit softer than before.

"Congratulations on advancing."

She said in a low voice, "Master asked me to remind you that the second round is ’Herb Identification,’ which tests your knowledge of the world’s rare treasures. The technique you revealed today has already attracted the attention of certain people; tomorrow... be careful."

Fang Hao nodded: "Thank you for letting me know."

Clear Sound paused and added, "Also, regarding Willow Follow Wind, you had better not provoke him. He has a very deep background; not only is he a Medicine King Valley Genius, but it is also said that he has connections to a major force in the Central Region."

"Central Region?"

Fang Hao’s pupils constricted slightly.

The Central Region, that was the center of the cultivation world, the legendary Holy Land.

This Willow Follow Wind’s background was indeed not small.

"I understand."

Fang Hao said in a deep voice.

He did not want to cause trouble, but if the other party actively sought to pick a quarrel, he would not let himself be pushed around.

Clear Sound did not say anything more, turned around, and disappeared into the crowd.

Fang Hao stood in place, watching the bustling crowd, and the sense of urgency in his heart became even stronger.

This Debate was indeed full of hidden talents.

To enter the top three, obtain the qualification to trade with Su Xuan, and subsequently acquire the nascent soul pill formula, he had to go all out in every round from now on.

"Herb Identification..."

A curve appeared at the corner of Fang Hao’s mouth.

When it came to the knowledge of rare treasures, he had the foundation of the hundred solutions of heavenly craftsmanship and the massive amount of classics left behind by Mo Yunhe; he really did not fear anyone.

The night deepened, and the lights of Myriad Laws Immortal City were like a star river hanging upside down.

Fang Hao returned to the inn, did not rest, but took out the list of Materials given by Su Xuan and began to cram the knowledge of those obscure Spirit Medicines.

For the nascent soul pill formula, he had to win this Debate!