plumnovel Chapter 44 The Secret of Danxia
Chapter 44 The Secret of Danxia
Zhao Songxi walked over, looked at the pills in the furnace, a look of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he remained calm and said, "Number 11, the pill is complete. Please wait aside until everyone has finished and we will evaluate it together."
Zhang Lin nodded, stepped aside, and put the alchemy furnace into his storage bag.
Before long, people started finishing.
Some people produced five or six pills, all of mediocre quality; some produced three or four pills, of mixed quality; and some failed in their entire batch, leaving them dejected.
Only five or six people can truly refine a first-grade or higher quality product.
Three hours later, Zhao Songxi announced that the time was up.
Those who fail to complete the task will be eliminated.
Of the twenty-four participants, eighteen completed the competition, and six were eliminated.
Zhao Songxi led everyone back to the front hall, where the branch altar master was already waiting.
The branch master was an old man with white hair and beard, possessing the cultivation level of the late Foundation Establishment stage. He had a kind face, but his eyes were sharp as torches.
He sat in the main seat, with a long table in front of him. On the table were eighteen porcelain vases, each containing the work of one of the eighteen contestants.
Zhao Songxi numbered each of the porcelain vases and presented them on the table.
The branch master picked up the first porcelain bottle, poured out a pill, brought it to his nose to smell, then licked it with the tip of his tongue, and shook his head: "Ordinary grade, low quality, less than 30% potency, eliminated."
The second one: "Ordinary grade, medium quality, 50% potency, eliminated."
The third one: "Of ordinary quality, with 70% of the medicinal potency, it can be kept, but it should not be included in the top three."
The fourth, the fifth, the sixth... were all ordinary items, none of them pleasing to his eye.
On the seventh pill, the branch master poured out a pill, a glint of light flashing in his eyes: "Grade 1, low-grade, with 90% potency. Not bad. It's rare to refine a Grade 1, low-grade pill from these herbs."
The eighth, the ninth, the tenth... and then a few more of the lowest grade.
The eleventh pill, the branch master poured out, his expression slightly changing: "First-grade, medium level, potent, with a subtle fragrance, excellent!"
He put the pill back into the bottle, his gaze sweeping across the crowd: "Whose is this?"
A young man in a blue robe stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Reporting to the branch altar master, I am Zhou Mingyuan, your junior."
"A child from the Zhou family?" The branch master nodded. "Indeed, with a strong family tradition of learning and a solid foundation."
Zhou Mingyuan remained calm, bowed respectfully, and returned to his original position.
But Zhang Lin noticed that his gaze swept over him intentionally or unintentionally, with a hint of scrutiny.
The twelfth one, the branch master poured out a pill, and his expression changed drastically.
He held the pill up to his eyes, examined it closely, then smelled it again and again, and finally placed it on the tip of his tongue, closing his eyes to savor it.
After a long while, he opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping across the crowd.
"Whose number is number 11?"
Zhang Lin stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Junior Zhang Lin."
The branch master sized him up, his gaze lingering on him for a moment, before picking up the pill and asking, "Did you refine this pill?"
"Yes."
"Use the medicinal herbs provided by the branch shrine?"
"Yes."
The branch master remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, "It is a top-grade first-class medicine with potent medicinal properties, a subtle fragrance, a pure white color, and no impurities whatsoever."
"Given the age of this medicinal herb, even inner disciples of the upper sects might not be able to refine it to this quality."
These words caused an uproar in the hall.
Even inner disciples of the upper sects might not be able to refine it; what a high evaluation this is!
Zhou Mingyuan's expression changed slightly, and the scrutiny in his eyes turned into a gloomy look.
The old rogue cultivator nodded repeatedly in admiration.
On the viewing platform, the young man from Danxia Sect looked solemn and said in a low voice, "This person's alchemy skills are already superior to mine."
The girl in yellow gaped, speechless for a long time: "Senior brother, didn't you say your alchemy skills were already top-notch among first-grade alchemists?"
"There are always people more capable than you, and there's always something beyond your understanding." The young man in the lead gave a wry smile. "Only today do I realize that this saying is true."
The woman in white, Senior Sister Shen, looked at Zhang Lin, a strange expression appearing on her usually cold face.
Senior Brother Chu clapped his hands immediately: "Excellent, excellent, excellent! Such a talent among rogue cultivators is truly rare! Truly rare!"
The branch master put the pills back into the bottle, then picked up the thirteenth, fourteenth... all the way to the eighteenth, and evaluated them one by one.
Finally, he announced the results:
"Third place, number three, rogue cultivator Chen Boyuan, produced eight low-grade first-rank Qi Cultivation Pills, awarded one hundred spirit stones, and accepted as an outer disciple."
The old rogue cultivator, Chen Boyuan, stepped forward to accept the award, clasped his hands in thanks, and said, "Thank you, branch master."
"Second place, number seven, Zhou Mingyuan from Qingxuan City, produced ten first-grade mid-level Qi Cultivation Pills, and was awarded three hundred spirit stones and accepted as an outer disciple."
Zhou Mingyuan stepped forward to accept the award, his expression calm, and bowed respectfully, saying, "Thank you, Branch Master."
"First place, number eleven, Zhang Lin, top-grade first-class Qi-cultivating pills, twelve pills made, prize of five hundred spirit stones, the first volume of the Danxia Secret Transmission, included for outer sect disciples."
Zhang Lin stepped forward and bowed respectfully, saying, "Thank you, Branch Master."
The branch altar master took out a wooden box from his sleeve, inside which was a jade slip that glowed with a bluish light, and handed it over with both hands.
"The first volume of the Danxia Secret Transmission is a secret of our Danxia Sect that is not passed down. It records the essence of alchemy and the secret techniques of foundation building. Now that you have entered my sect, you must abide by my rules. Danxia Sect disciples must not pass on the sect's techniques to outsiders. Those who violate this rule will have their cultivation abolished and will be expelled from the sect."
Zhang Lin took the wooden box with a solemn expression: "This disciple will remember it."
The branch master nodded and then asked, "Where did you learn your alchemy from, and how did you acquire it?"
Zhang Lin had already prepared his explanation. He cupped his hands and said, "Reporting to the branch alchemist, my family has passed down alchemy techniques, which I have learned on my own. I have no formal master."
"A family tradition?" The branch leader stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and asked, "Where do you live?"
"I am a member of the Zhang family from Chuzhou, Huainan Circuit, Great Yan Dynasty of Shenzhou." Zhang Lin said calmly, "My ancestors included Qi Refiners who left behind a legacy. The instruction was that if one is fortunate enough to enter a major sect, one should carry forward the family's alchemy techniques; if one is not fortunate enough, one should settle down and not force it."
These words were half true and half false, yet perfectly watertight.
The branch administrator nodded and did not ask any further questions.
In the cultivation world, there are quite a few cultivators who live in seclusion in the city, especially in the Central Divine Continent, where the mortal kingdoms are also the most prosperous.
It is common for some seniors to grow weary of the struggle and pass on their knowledge to ordinary people they find acceptable.
"In that case, you are now an outer disciple of my Danxia Sect," the branch master said. "Come back in three months, and someone will take you to the main sect in Yunmeng Continent to complete the entry procedures and receive the sect token, cultivation techniques, and monthly allowance."
"Yes."
The branch master then looked at Zhou Mingyuan and Chen Boyuan: "You two will also go to the upper sect together three months from now."
The two responded in unison, "Yes."
The Dharma assembly ended, and the crowd dispersed.
Just as Zhang Lin was about to leave, a voice came from behind him.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Lin."
He turned around and saw Zhou Mingyuan.
Zhou Mingyuan remained calm, a faint smile playing on his lips, and cupped his hands, saying, "Fellow Daoist Lin's alchemy skills are superb; I, Zhou, am humbled and admit defeat. I hope we can be fellow disciples in the future and that you will take good care of me."
Zhang Lin returned the greeting: "Fellow Daoist Zhou, you are too kind. Let's learn from each other and make progress together."
Zhou Mingyuan nodded and turned to leave.
But Zhang Lin noticed that a sinister glint flashed in his eyes the moment he turned around.
This person is not a good person.
Zhang Lin was secretly on guard, but remained outwardly calm as he stepped out of the branch altar.