President Lanthong was stunned. In the past, to make the finest peak-grade sacred pill, he had once invited his master, who was at the peak of the Holy Ancestor Soul. At that time, he was still an elder in the Alchemist Pavilion. He still remembered clearly how alchemists from all regions gathered to witness the heating of the cauldron. His master stood tall, and in an atmosphere full of reverence, demonstrated the skill considered the pinnacle of the true alchemist’s path. Others needed forty breaths to heat the cauldron, while his master only needed thirty breaths. That speed was once thought impossible for anyone to surpass. At that time, President Lanthong deeply admired his master. He even believed there would never be anyone else in this world who could match his master’s ability in controlling fire and understanding the soul of the cauldron. His master himself was very proud, for he served as the president of the Alchemist Pavilion with a cauldron-heating skill that had surpa

“Master of the Xiannu Sect, this Mu Chen is truly insane. He has already inserted a hundred herbs that are over one hundred thousand years old, and now he is adding a plant that is three hundred and fifty thousand years old. Isn’t that madness? The integration of those two kinds of plants is extremely difficult to combine. I fear it will cause an explosion greater than the power of a peak True God martial expert. Perhaps we could withstand the impact, but the younger generation who are also refining pills might die on the spot.” The President of the Alchemist Pavilion spoke with a worried face, his tone trembling with disbelief at what he was witnessing. “Has his cauldron exploded yet?” “Uh... not yet.” “Since it hasn’t exploded, why are you so panicked? Is this the attitude of an alchemist president? If my uncle knew, he would feel deeply ashamed for ever teaching a disciple like you.” Jhi Ruyue’s voice sounded calm, yet it was enough to make President Lanthong freeze in place.

The participants who had lost their spirit were now excited again. Watching Jhi Chen perfect the divine pill had indeed made them despair for a while, but President Lanthong’s words reignited their motivation. The gloomy aura in the refining area turned into enthusiasm. The young alchemists began preparing their materials again, trying to show their best skills even though they knew their results would not compare to Jhi Chen’s. Yao Puyan approached Jhi Chen with light steps. “Brother Mu Chen, you are truly amazing. If you joined the weapon refinement competition, I might not have any chance to win.” “Girl, so you are also skilled in weapon forging?” “Yes, but I’m still a beginner. My brother is the actual participant.” Before Jhi Chen could respond further, a gentle voice came from behind him. It was Yan Simei’s voice. She now sounded different than usual, her tone like a gentle cat seeking attention. “Mu Chen, will you also participate in the formation array competition?”

After Jhi Chen finished carving, he floated higher. The air around him vibrated softly, showing the transfer of a massive flow of energy. His voice echoed calmly yet firmly. “Energy of chaos, destruction, death, life… pour in.” The atmosphere in the main grandstand turned completely silent. All eyes looked up at the sky, following every movement of Jhi Chen’s hands. Both his palms formed complex patterns in the air. The light from the heavens responded to his call. The energy of the stars slowly revolved, followed by the moonlight and the flow of chaotic energy that seemed to be drawn toward him. Jhi Chen drew in the energy of the stars, the moon, and chaos, then transformed the forging energy of the sun into the energy of death. All those energies were directed toward the green sword that was still floating in the air. His body was illuminated by the reflection of swirling energies around him. He was deeply focused, his eyes not blinking at all. His face was wet with sweat, but

Jhi Chen turned to the highest platform. He saw Mu Lingxiao looking at him with a weak smile, then nodding. Jhi Chen could only sigh. He felt helpless toward his grandfather’s constant push for him to move forward. Reluctantly, he agreed to the two presidents’ request. “I will do my best, but I don’t know whether the result will bring satisfaction or not.” Without waiting for anyone’s response, Jhi Chen threw several formation flags. The flags floated in the air, forming a complex pattern that spun around him. Each movement was precise, controlled by perfectly balanced soul power. In an instant, lines of light intertwined, creating a large pattern in the sky above the arena. “This is called the Four Sacred Beast Binding Formation,” he said in a flat tone, yet his voice was clearly heard by everyone in the stands. “Its function is for defense. You only need to channel the elemental energy you possess. The more energy you channel, the stronger the formation becomes. This formation ca