Immortality Cultivation

Chapter 338: Debate [7]

When Willow Follow Wind was carried away, the miserable sight truly stunned everyone present. His Dao foundation was almost shattered, his Golden Core was covered in cracks, and he was left hanging by a single breath. Even if he were saved, he could forget about touching a Pill Furnace ever again for the rest of his life. Before leaving, the people from Medicine King Valley looked at Fang Hao with eyes that wished they could eat him alive, but constrained by the pressure of Pill Star Child and the rules of the Myriad Laws Immortal City, they could only swallow their broken teeth along with the blood.

Fang Hao did not care about this at all. The cultivation world was just that realistic; if it were him lying there today, Willow Follow Wind probably wouldn’t even have blinked an eye. He put away the few nine-revolutions soul-splitting pills that had consumed part of their power but still retained their core soul poison. Used well, these things could save his life at a critical moment.

After this battle, Fang Hao completely became the "Devil King" of this year’s Debate. The subsequent rounds of Alchemy duels proceeded unexpectedly smoothly.

In the round of eight to four, Fang Hao’s opponent was a middle-aged alchemist from the Heavenly Derivation Sect. As soon as this fellow got on stage and saw Fang Hao take out the jade bottle containing the nine-revolutions soul-splitting pill, his face turned green. As soon as the match started, he symbolically refined a cauldron of High Grade "Diamond Body-Protecting Pill," and then tremblingly announced: "I... I concede! Fellow Daoist Ning’s Alchemy is divine; I am inferior!"

The whole venue was dead silent, then burst into uproarious laughter. Pill Star Child’s mouth twitched, but he still announced Fang Hao’s victory by default.

In the round of four to two, the opponent was a female alchemist from a top-tier Sect in the Central Plains named Clear Sound. She was bright and moving, and her "Hundred Flowers Alchemy" had also stunned the audience in previous rounds. This young woman had a fiery temper and didn’t believe in evil; she insisted on clashing with Fang Hao.

As a result, Fang Hao didn’t even use the nine-revolutions soul-splitting pill. He just used the chaos pill cauldron to casually refine a cauldron of "Golden Spear barrier-breaking pill" recorded in the hundred solutions of heavenly craftsmanship, which was specifically designed to restrain wood-attribute Medicinal Pills. This Medicinal Pill itself had no attack power, but its medicinal properties were overbearing, specifically breaking all kinds of flowery plant-based medicinal power.

During the Alchemy duel, Clear Sound activated her meticulously refined "Thousand Illusions Infatuation Flower Pill," conjuring a sky full of fragrant flower rain in an attempt to confuse Fang Hao’s mind. Fang Hao just flicked his finger, and a Golden Spear barrier-breaking pill flew out, transforming into an incomparably sharp golden Sword Qi, instantly cutting through all the flower rain illusions. Clear Sound suffered a backlash, groaned, blood spilled from the corner of her mouth, and she could only gloomily concede.

Just like that, Fang Hao "killed" his way into the finals with a posture of near-crushing dominance.

The opponent in the finals was the representative of the largest "regular army" in this Debate—the Young Lord of the Heavenly Derivation Sect, Shen Xinghe.

This Shen Xinghe, as his name suggested, was handsome and had an extraordinary bearing. His cultivation had already reached the Great Perfection of Golden Core Stage, just one step away from the Nascent Soul. More importantly, he was the son of the Heavenly Derivation Sect Master, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, with unlimited resources. His Alchemy Legacy pointed directly to the core of the Heavenly Derivation Sect, and it was said that his Master was a reclusive Great Grandmaster of Alchemy at the Soul Transformation Stage.

In previous matches, Shen Xinghe’s performance was equally dazzling. He was not as arrogant and domineering as Willow Follow Wind, nor as ruthless and decisive as Fang Hao. His Alchemy revealed a sense of "the Dao is simple," steady, precise, and perfect. Every step was like it had been calculated precisely, leaving others unable to find any faults. Many people said that if it weren’t for Fang Hao, this dark horse, emerging, the champion of this Debate would undoubtedly be Shen Xinghe.

On the eve of the finals, Fang Hao was meditating in the quiet room of the inn when a communication talisman flew in. It was Su Xuan.

"Tomorrow is the final, against Shen Xinghe. This kid... is not simple." Su Xuan’s voice carried a hint of gravity. "The Heavenly Derivation Sect is famous for its deduction of heavenly secrets, Formations, and Alchemy. Shen Xinghe has deeply inherited his father’s true teachings. His Alchemy has reached the Transcendent, especially skilled in ’Heavenly Derivation Alchemy,’ which can deduce the myriad changes in the process of refining Medicinal Pills, making him almost invincible."

Fang Hao raised his eyebrows: "Heavenly Derivation Alchemy? Deducing changes?"

"Correct." Su Xuan said in a deep voice, "Competing with him in Alchemy, ordinary means will have no chance of winning. Although your nine-revolutions soul-splitting pill is strong, it is dangerous and has already been exposed. Shen Xinghe must be prepared. Tomorrow, you need to find another way."

Fang Hao was silent for a moment and asked: "Senior, what is your advice?"

Su Xuan said slowly: "Heavenly Derivation Alchemy calculates all changes, but it cannot calculate... the human heart, and even less... variables. You need to refine a kind of Medicinal Pill that even he cannot deduce the changes of. A kind of... Medicinal Pill that transcends common sense and even violates the common sense of Alchemy."

"Violating the common sense of Alchemy?" Fang Hao’s heart stirred, and several forbidden Pill Formulas recorded in the hundred solutions of heavenly craftsmanship flashed through his mind.

"Correct." Su Xuan’s tone was profound. "I have said all I can say. How you choose depends on yourself. Remember, this is the last step for you to get the Pill Formula. You must succeed; failure is not an option."

The communication ended, and Fang Hao fell into deep thought. A Medicinal Pill that violates the common sense of Alchemy... the hundred solutions of heavenly craftsmanship indeed recorded several, but every one was extremely dangerous, and some were even... close to the Evil Path.

He closed his eyes, and several choices flashed through his mind rapidly. Finally, it settled on a Pill Formula called "Chaos Unification Pill."

This pill was not recorded in the original version of the hundred solutions of heavenly craftsmanship, but was a concept he had deduced himself by combining the characteristics of his own Chaos Spirit Root and the theory of "Myriad Laws Returning to One" in the hundred solutions of heavenly craftsmanship. This pill had no fixed Pill Formula. Its core principle was "Chaos," was "disorder." It was based on Chaos Qi, forcibly fusing medicinal Materials with conflicting medicinal properties, or even completely opposite ones, seeking a balance of "Dao" amidst extreme Chaos and conflict.

Refining this pill required his control over the power of Chaos to reach the level of subtlety, and it also required great luck. If successful, the Medicinal Pill would contain a trace of the true meaning of Chaos, with unpredictable effects, which could help people comprehend the Dao, or... evolve myriad laws and restrain everything. If it failed, the pill would be destroyed and the person injured, and it might even trigger a backlash of Chaos, leading to death and the dissipation of the Dao.

This was a gamble. A gamble that Shen Xinghe’s "Heavenly Derivation Alchemy" could not calculate the changes of Chaos.

Fang Hao opened his eyes, and a flash of determination crossed his pupils.

"Chaos Unification Pill... it will be you!"

The next day, the day of the final. Around the Alchemy stage, there was a sea of people, and the occasion was unprecedented. Almost all the big shots of the Myriad Laws Immortal City had come, and even many old monsters at the Late Nascent Soul Stage were hidden in the crowd. Everyone wanted to know, in this year’s Debate, whether the "orthodox" Heavenly Derivation Sect Young Lord was more skilled, or whether the "wild" dark horse Fang Hao could be black to the end.

Fang Hao and Shen Xinghe stood at the two ends of the Alchemy stage, one on the left and one on the right.

Shen Xinghe was still that relaxed and indifferent appearance, white clothes better than snow, with an ethereal temperament. He looked at Fang Hao and nodded slightly, counting as a greeting. His eyes were calm, without the contempt of Willow Follow Wind, nor the fear of others, only a kind of respect for an equal powerhouse.

"Fellow Daoist Ning, long admired." Shen Xinghe’s voice was warm like jade. "It is a fortunate event to be able to discuss Alchemy on the same stage with you today."

Fang Hao also cupped his hands: "Fellow Daoist Shen is too polite, please enlighten me."

"The rules of the final," Pill Star Child said solemnly, "Time limit is twelve hours, Pill Formula of your choice. After the pill is formed, I, along with three invited Alchemy Great Grandmasters at the Late Nascent Soul Stage, will judge it together to decide the final winner!"

"Start!"

With Pill Star Child’s order, the final officially began.

Shen Xinghe made the first move. He did not take out any fancy Pill Furnace but used the earth fire Pill Furnace provided uniformly here. Seeing him forming seals with both hands, his movements were like flowing clouds and water, throwing rare medicinal Materials into the furnace one by one. Every movement of his secretly matched some truth of heaven and earth, as if he was not refining pills, but performing a kind of Dao. The furnace fire changed with his will, sometimes as delicate as spring rain, sometimes as scorching as the scorching sun, precisely controlling the refining of every medicinal ingredient.

"Heavenly Derivation Alchemy, it really lives up to its reputation!" An old alchemist who knew his stuff in the audience exclaimed, "It looks plain and unremarkable, but in fact, every step has been deduced thousands of times, reducing the failure rate to the lowest!"

In contrast, Fang Hao appeared somewhat "weird." He didn’t act immediately but sat cross-legged in front of the chaos pill cauldron, closing his eyes and concentrating, as if communicating with something. A moment later, he suddenly opened his eyes, and the color of Chaos flowed in his eyes.

He did not handle the medicinal Materials step by step as usual, but... threw dozens of rare medicinal Materials with different attributes, and even mutually reinforcing and restraining ones, along with several special Materials provided by Su Xuan that contained highly toxic and violent energy, all into the chaos pill cauldron at once!

"What is he doing?!"

"He’s crazy! Those medicinal Materials have conflicting properties; throwing them in at the same time will definitely explode!"

Exclamations erupted from the audience. Even Shen Xinghe, who had always been calm, couldn’t help but frown slightly, his gaze toward Fang Hao full of confusion.

However, Fang Hao turned a deaf ear to the discussion around him. He fully operated the Chaos Derivation Art and urged the chaos pill cauldron. Inside the cauldron, the Chaos fire burned fiercely, but it was not refining gently, but in a near-violent way, forcibly refining and fusing those conflicting medicinal Materials!

"Rumble!"

The chaos pill cauldron vibrated violently, and muffled thunder-like loud noises came from the cauldron. Medicinal liquids of various colors clashed and collided crazily, erupting with destructive energy fluctuations. If it weren’t for the divine nature of the chaos pill cauldron, it would have already exploded. On the cauldron body, those Chaos-colored patterns shone brightly and flickered crazily, as if they would collapse at any moment.

Fang Hao’s face was pale, the veins on his forehead bulged, and blood even spilled from the corner of his mouth. He was fully focused, using his powerful Divine Sense to forcibly suppress the Chaos inside the cauldron, guiding those wisps of Chaos Qi to seek that minimal balance point amidst the endless conflict.

This was a dual test of will and strength. He not only had to fight the violent energy inside the Medicinal Pill but also endure the risk of Chaos Qi backlash.

Time passed minute by minute. On Shen Xinghe’s side, the refining of the Medicinal Pill had entered the final stage, and the furnace was emitting a peaceful and magnificent pill halo, obviously of extremely high quality. While on Fang Hao’s side, it was still the thrilling scene of a potential explosion at any time.

"Fang Hao is going to lose..." In the audience, someone sighed.

"Sigh, ultimately, the foundation is insufficient, and he is too eager for quick success."

Clear Sound stood in the crowd, hands clenched tightly, palms full of sweat. Su Xuan appeared beside her at some point, looking at the stage with deep eyes, muttering: "Chaos... Unification... This kid, his guts are bigger than the sky..."

Just when everyone thought Fang Hao was bound to lose, a sudden change occurred!

The vibration of the chaos pill cauldron stopped abruptly!

The violent energy fluctuations inside the cauldron, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, calmed down instantly. Immediately after, an indescribable aura, as if coming from the beginning of heaven and earth, permeated from the cauldron. This aura was neither life nor death, neither yin nor yang, encompassing everything, yet above everything.

Fang Hao opened his eyes abruptly, the color of Chaos in his eyes faded, replaced by incomparable clarity and fatigue.

"Chaos Unification... Pill formed!"

He pointed like a sword at the cauldron lid. The lid opened. There was no brilliant pill halo, no soaring spiritual light, only one... gray-colored, unremarkable pill, yet as if it contained the entire Universe of stars, slowly flew out and fell into the jade bottle in Fang Hao’s hand.

This Medicinal Pill looked ordinary, but everyone who saw it couldn’t help but feel an urge to bow down. It was as if it were the embodiment of the "Dao."

The whole venue was dead silent.

Shen Xinghe looked at the gray Medicinal Pill in Fang Hao’s hand, and for the first time, his calm face showed shock and... confusion. His Heavenly Derivation Alchemy had deduced thousands of possibilities, but only... had not deduced this one.

What kind of pill was this?