Read Novel Full Chapter 209: Cloud Empire (29)
Chapter 209: Cloud Empire (29)
Kyrian kept his gaze fixed on the arena below, but his mind was already elsewhere.
The upper stands were now completely full. Nobles, elders of secondary families, representatives of visiting sects, and even some high-level independent cultivators occupied every seat.
The constant murmur around him was like the buzzing of a beehive.
Names of participants were being mentioned, whispered bets, and quick analyses about who might advance and who would be eliminated in the very first phase.
"Look over there... the young master of the Wei House has arrived. They say he refined a Rank 4 pill at nineteen."
"And Old Master Huo of the Huo Family? He came personally to accompany his grandson. The boy is talented, but he’s still Rank 3. Will he be able to handle the pressure?"
Kyrian heard everything without a single muscle in his face moving.
His crimson eyes swept over the crowd in the central arena, now packed with participants.
Hundreds of youths and a few older cultivators positioned themselves in concentric circles around prepared tables, each with a cauldron already in place.
Some looked nervous, others confident, and most of them focused.
He remembered what he had read in the Blood Library about alchemists.
Alchemists were one of the most valued and sought-after professions in the entire cultivation world.
They were not merely craftsmen, they were the ones who opened the path for others. Using controlled flames, spiritual herbs, rare minerals, and beast essences, they refined ingredients into pills that accelerated cultivation. They healed severe injuries, strengthened the spiritual foundation, dispelled poisons, or even helped break through cultivation bottlenecks that would take decades to overcome naturally.
A single high-level pill could shorten years of effort.
Alchemists were divided into ranks from 1 to 8, based on the quality and complexity of the pills they could consistently produce.
At Rank 1, only lotions and ointments are useful for the Body Refinement realm. At Rank 2, pills for the Qi Accumulation Realm. At Rank 3, pills that benefited the Qi Liberation Realm. At Rank 4, they had already reached the Core Formation Realm and were well regarded in virtually all forces.
And so on. Each rank above required not only talent but also absolute control over spiritual fire, deep understanding of the properties of thousands of ingredients, and a mind capable of maintaining perfect balance for hours of refinement.
Kyrian knew that he himself had no practical experience at all.
Despite having read books about thousands of herbs. Theory was one thing, touching a cauldron and manipulating living flames was another. Although perhaps, if he tried with his ashes flames, he might be able to succeed.
But participating in this competition was risky.
’Maybe in the future I’ll try. It’s a great way to obtain resources, alchemists are richer than many powerful cultivators... And what I need most is resources...’ Kyrian thought.
After several minutes of waiting, the murmur of the crowd suddenly diminished.
An old man appeared at the exact center of the arena.
He wore flowing robes of gray-silver color, embroidered with stylized clouds in silver thread that seemed to move as he walked.
On his left chest, there was a large, gleaming emblem. A five-pointed star within a circle of swirling clouds. The official symbol of the Cloud Circle.
His white beard was long and well-groomed, and his eyes shone with an inner light that betrayed a high level of cultivation, likely in the Spiritual Awakening Realm.
He raised his right hand. He did not need to shout. His Qi projected his voice, clear and powerful, reaching every corner of the stands.
"I am Grand Master Sun Wei, current head of the Cloud Circle and the main judge of this competition."
An absolute silence fell over the place.
"Today, young and old talents from across the capital and from external forces have gathered to prove their worth. The winner of this Alchemy Competition will not only take the rewards in spirit stones and access to the Imperial Herbarium but will also receive a rare opportunity. To study directly with me for a full year."
A collective sigh of admiration and envy swept through the stands.
"May everyone give their best. May the flame of refinement illuminate your paths. The competition begins now!"
He made a broad gesture with his hand.
"First phase: Refinement of the Cloud Threshold Pill!"
An immediate murmur arose among the participants and spectators.
Mei Li leaned slightly toward Kyrian, whispering.
"This is one of the most well-known and difficult Rank 3 pills. It stands exactly at the threshold of Rank 4. Useful both for the peak of the Qi Liberation Realm and the initial stages of Core Formation."
"It’s a pill created by the Cloud Empire several centuries ago, perhaps a millennium. It increases sensitivity to environmental Qi by thirty percent for three days, helps stabilize the foundation, and facilitates the transition between realms."
"But the process is difficult. It requires perfect balance among nine main herbs, three beast essences, and high control of flames. Any mistake and the cauldron explodes or the pill turns into useless ashes."
Kyrian nodded slightly, his eyes fixed on the arena.
Mei Li continued, her voice low.
"This first phase is just to eliminate those who came to play around or who don’t have a sufficient level. Anyone who fails to refine a Cloud Threshold Pill with minimum quality will be eliminated on the spot. Only the best advance to the next phases."
In the arena, the participants were already beginning to prepare. Cauldrons of bronze, spiritual iron, and jade were positioned.
Some ignited controlled flames with fire Qi, others took out sealed boxes with ingredients provided by the Cloud Circle. Fresh herbs, glowing roots, among other ingredients.
Grand Master Sun Wei raised his hand again.
"The rules of the first phase!"
"Everyone may participate. Use your own cauldrons if you wish, but the ingredients will be provided by the Cloud Circle."
"You have two hours to refine a single Cloud Threshold Pill."
"The quality will be judged by me and the three auxiliary elders. Any explosion or serious failure results in immediate elimination."
"BEGIN!"
A spiritual bell then rang, deep and resonant.
In the arena, dozens of flames ignited at the same time. The smell of burning herbs, evaporating essences, and mingling Qi quickly rose.
Some participants were already sweating cold, others seemed calm and focused.
Kyrian observed everything in silence.
He had no intention of participating, but seeing so many alchemists working at the same time was somewhat interesting, perhaps he could learn something.
The way they manipulated the fire, the precise timing when adding ingredients, and the absolute mental control to maintain the internal balance of the cauldron. Kyrian observed all of this with his eyes, managing to see more than others could.
Someone then whispered near Kyrian.
"Look there... the son of Grand Master Sun has already started. Sun Hao. He doesn’t even seem tense. He’s using a dual-flame technique, one to heat and another to refine at the same time. Impressive."
Kyrian simply turned his gaze and observed.
Two minutes later, the first cauldron exploded.
A cloud of black smoke rose, followed by a young man who fell backward coughing. The auxiliary elders approached, quickly evaluated, and eliminated him with a gesture.
More explosions followed. Five, ten, fifteen.
Some participants gave up before even finishing, lowering their heads in shame.
But others continued. The scent of a successful pill began to spread through the place. Sweet, pure, with a touch of spiritual energy.
Mei Li smiled lightly.
"They’re eliminating more than half just in this first phase. Exactly as I said. Whoever isn’t good enough... leaves now."
Kyrian did not respond.
His crimson eyes simply continued to observe with focus and interest.
If he wanted spirit stones quickly, the Coliseum was still the most viable path for him at the moment. But seeing all of this... it was a good lesson for the future.