Painting of the Nine Immortals

Before the Mountain of a Thousand Medicine, Hong Zhuang Luo and the others were expressionless and their minds were blank.

They watched the two people before them brew their Dans in a streamlined process and they all felt like they were clowns who could not be compared to those two. Even though they were all genius alchemists, compared to Ling Xian and Dan Tong Zheng, they were not of the same level.

Naturally, their confidence was crushed.

This was particularly the case for Hong Zhuang Luo. Remembering how she had vowed to suppress Ling Xian during the third round, she was so embarrassed she didn’t want to stand there anymore.

The alchemy brewing process was smooth like water flowing. This wasn’t something she could outcompete him in.

Hong Zhuang Luo’s face was full of bitterness. However, she was the best descendant of the Hong Clan after all. Though she knew she would lose, she wasn’t going to give up like that.

Everyone else there was the same. They exchanged glances and saw each other’s unwillingness to give up.

To have passed the first two rounds meant they were very skilled themselves. If Ling Xian and Dan Tong Zheng didn’t show up, the winner would definitely be amongst them. Though this year, none of these people will be the winner, they refused to lose under such an embarrassing circumstance!

Therefore, everyone took out their own cauldron and began to brew their own Dan.

At this, the five clan leaders nodded softly as an indication for their approval of their descendants’ actions. However, they all knew very well that the winner for this year’s gathering will likely be either Ling Xian or Dan Tong Sheng.

What could they do? Just based on the way they have been brewing so far, the leaders could conclude that the Dans they are about to make will not be ordinary.

“Aye, it seems like the victor for this year’s competition will not be amongst our descendants.” The Cao Clan Leader exhaled deeply. “I am thinking highly of Dan Tong Sheng. After all, 10 years ago, he had already brewed a Dan of the eighth rank and wiped out all eighth realm alchemists.”

“I think he will win too. Though he is arrogant, I cannot deny his capabilities,” The Hong Clan Leader said softly.

The other three leaders did not speak. Their expressions, however, have revealed their thinking and that they agreed with the two leaders.

After all, Dan Tong Sheng was far too famous. He had left a deep mark inside the City of Dan and had shocked everyone.

Ten years had passed since then. His alchemist skills must have improved to a terrifying territory. He for sure, will be known as undefeatable!

Therefore, they didn’t think much of Ling Xian.

Ling Xian didn’t need them to. With this kind of stuff, words were useless. Only reality can speak!

“Dan Tong Sheng is a very powerful opponent. He is the most powerful alchemist I have ever met on my alchemy journey. Might as well… I will use him as a tester to test out my alchemy skills.”

Ling Xian had a faint smile on his lips. All of his attention was on the medicinal Dan inside the cauldron.

To ensure success, the Dan he chose to brew was an extremely powerful one. It was of the sixth realm and it was named the Barrier Breaking Dan.

Just like its name suggests, this medicinal Dan helps a cultivator get rid of all barriers and allows them to break through. There were no side effects as well. Normally speaking, this Dan was most suitable for foundational leveled cultivators. If the quality of it was good enough, it can help a cultivator break through two small realms!

To know that every single small level advancement requires much time and resources. One Barrier Breaking Dan without side effects allows a cultivator to breakthrough two levels. This without a doubt, was a very powerful medicinal Dan.

This was why Ling Xian chose the Barrier Breaking Dan and he decided to brew it into a perfect Dan.

This was the only way he could be sure that he could step on the arrogant Dan Tong Sheng!

Just how difficult it was to brew a perfect Dan required no explanation. Even for Ling Xian, who had once brewed the perfect Dan, he could not be certain that he will succeed.

Therefore, his expression was serious and he pushed his Essence of Herbalism to work in hope of burning each spiritual medicine to perfection. Therefore, he carefully manipulated his Qi and his Flame of Purity. He didn’t dare to be careless.

Just like that, he fully focused and did each step to perfection.

Dan Tong Sheng was acting in the same way. The Dan he was brewing was not an easy one and the quality he was going after was terrifying. Therefore, he was acting in the same manner as Ling Xian – fully focused and not at all reckless.

All the geniuses from the different forces were acting in the same manner. All of them used all their strength and vowed to burn the brightest!

Hong Zhuang Luo, in particular, was very determined. She was already someone who never liked losing. Even though she had been defeated by Ling Xian three times, she was still unwilling to admit her loss.

She silently vowed to brew the most perfect medicinal Dan she has ever brewed in her life. She still wanted to put up a fight!

Just like this, the atmosphere turned more and more tense. The entire area was silent and nobody made a sound.

Time passed little by little under this nerve-wracking atmosphere.

In the blink of an eye, three days passed by.

Because this brewing was very important, everyone was doing their absolute best. Therefore, the time everyone spent was naturally long.

The Sun was hanging high in the sky and shedding down an infinite amount of light that reflected off everyone.

Bang!

A stifled bang suddenly rang. Shang Guan Clan’s strongest descendant formed a hand seal and began to unleash a technique. Then, one dragon-eye sized medicinal Dan of the sixth realm rose to the sky and began to emit a dense aroma.

On the sixth realm medicinal Dan, there were eight carvings.

Then, it was as if everything was planned out already, all the other descendants began to perform the technique for Dan completion. Then, one after one Dans began to emerge. They were all of different colors and were all emitting vibrations of the sixth realm.

The carvings on the medicinal Dans were all without exceptions, eight in number. All of these medicinal Dans were of the eighth rank!

This made Hong Zhuang Luo and them ecstatic. They have been practicing for many years and the eighth-ranked Dan before them were without a doubt, the best Dan they have ever brewed.

One has to admit that they truly were the best of the best. To be able to brew Dans of the eighth rank was already a difficult feat!

Therefore, as Hong Zhuang Luo and them were drowning in happiness, a burst of loud laughter erupted. Following it was the very heavy smell of medicinal Dans.

“Hahaha, what a bunch of useless trash. A Dan of the eighth rank can make you all this happy? You truly are clowns who cannot handle anything big.”

Dan Tong Sheng guffawed. Other than sarcasm in his voice, there was also pure ecstasy.

Because above his head, a golden Dan was vibrating with an incredible rhythm. The carvings on it were of nine lines!

It wasn’t a normal nine lined carving. Accurately speaking, it was nine complete lines and 8/9th of a line. Only a dot more was needed for it to be the legendary tenth rank!

This silenced everyone. Even the leaders of the five clans were staring with their eyes wide. They didn’t think Dan Tong Sheng was this dominating!

Nine and eight ninths.

In front of this Dan, Hong Zhuang Luo and others’ eighth-ranked Dans were nothing!

Not only did this represent a realm of pure disbelief, but it was also a giant honor. To be one-ninth away from brewing the perfect Dan was something utterly unbelievable!

To a 20 something-year-old alchemist, this was definitely heaven-defying and unbelievable!

Ignoring the five clan leaders, even the alchemy grandmaster may not ever brew a medicinal Dan with such high quality!

How could they not fall into disbelief!

“Hahaha, a Dan of the ninth and 8/9 rank, who can surpass me? The winner of this competition is for sure me!” Dan Tong Sheng laughed out loud. He was certain the seat of the winner will be his!

As his voice trailed off, everyone regained themselves then immediately fell into silence.

He was absolutely right. A medicinal Dan that was of the nine and 8/9 rank pretty much meant the winning seat was his. Nobody could be his competition!

Therefore, nobody here could argue. When they realized the winner seat will soon be the arrogant Dan Tong Sheng’s, they couldn’t help but feel desperate.

While still on the edge of desperation, a simple voice that allowed no questions arose. The voice immediately brought light back in everyone’s eyes.

“So what you brewed a Dan of the nine and 8/9 level? You are still destined to lose.”

Just then, a golden medicinal Dan the size of the Sun floated up to the sky. Then, giant golden clouds materialized one after one. A heavy scent of medicinal Dan exuded and filled up the entire Realm of Alchemy!

Clouds of Dan were in the sky and the smell of medicinal Dan stretched on for miles!

The phenomenon brought on by the formation of a perfect Dan was once again here!