Chapter 703: Champion!

The alchemists present were all on edge. Although the top three spots had been decided, the remaining seven places were highly coveted.

The special function of the Alchemist Tower was envied by many on the continent, especially the nine-layer region, where the primordial divine power was abundant, aiding one in comprehending the state of Great Perfection.

“The first place should be decided between the Soul Fusion Pill and the Phoenix Heavenly Saint Pill. I wonder who will take the championship.”

“Although the Soul Fusion Pill has mutated, its effect on breaking through to the Manifest Saint realm is still unknown. If the breakthrough effect is enhanced by even a bit, the championship will surely go to the Soul Fusion Pill!”

Some elders of the Alchemy Alliance were discussing. The Manifestation stage was no trivial matter; breaking through would greatly boost soul cultivation, and cultivating a Life Soul was equivalent to gaining a soul clone.

If the split failed, the soul body would be destroyed, so the strength of the Soul Fusion Pill was extremely important.

Just as many were discussing, the old man’s figure appeared. His gaze now fell on Yang Tian with a smile, and the entire venue erupted.

“In this Alchemy Conference, the eighth-grade pill Soul Fusion Pill refined by Little Friend Mengtian is of great benefit for breaking through to the Manifest Saint realm, far surpassing the seventh-grade high-level Soul Fusion Pill. Therefore, the champion of this Alchemy Conference is Mengtian!”

As his smiling voice fell, the uproar grew even more magnificent. Countless eyes were fixed on the champion of this Alchemy Conference.

“His surname is Meng. Which clan does this person belong to? I’ve never heard of him.” Some were both shocked and puzzled.

“I reckon he’s a disciple trained by some reclusive strongman. Modifying the formula of the Soul Fusion Pill is not something an ordinary person can do.”

The discussions rumbled on. The surrounding alchemists all cupped their hands in congratulations, and Yang Tian returned the greetings one by one.

“How strange…” Dan Xueyi’s brows furrowed slightly. She clearly knew that the Soul Fusion Pill had just come into Yang Tian’s hands; improving the formula in such a short time was absolutely impossible.

“You must have used the Azure Moon Divine Milk, right? I wonder if the Great Elder of the Alchemy Alliance knows that the Azure Moon Divine Milk is his, and what he would…”

At that moment, a voice like a celestial sound rang in Yang Tian’s ear. His body stiffened slightly, and he cast a strange glance at the mysterious woman, wondering how she knew.

Next, the old man announced the rankings of the conference: the mysterious woman second, the demonic woman third, and the top ten.

Yang Tian’s half-smiling gaze fell on the demonic woman, and he could sense that her anger was almost uncontrollable.

An Immortal realm expert participating in this Alchemy Conference and failing to win the championship was indeed very embarrassing, especially coming in third…

At the same time, many voice transmissions kept ringing in his ears, all from various families trying to recruit him. Yang Tian did not respond.

Then, the ten of them walked toward a hall, where they could sense many terrifying auras—a great number of experts.

“Why hasn’t that little bastard come?” Ming Ye’s cold gaze swept around, and he snorted inwardly: “Probably scared. Talents like me, skilled in both alchemy and martial arts, are rare on the continent…”

He thought to himself narcissistically, unaware that the person he had always wanted to suppress was already standing as the champion.

Entering the official residence, Yang Tian’s gaze immediately fell on the ten jade plates holding precious medicines. His eyes locked onto the pill that floated with yin and yang energies.

“Yin-Yang Life-Returning Flower!” Clenching his fist, a hint of surprise appeared in Yang Tian’s eyes. This was a treasure he had been searching for a long time, and now he had finally obtained it.

This was the main ingredient for refining the eighth-grade Yin-Yang Life-Returning Pill, an eighth-grade treasure that grew in regions where yin and yang intermingled, extremely rare.

Apart from the Yin-Yang Life-Returning Flower, the other precious medicines were also extraordinary. Only three were eighth-grade; the rest were seventh-grade.

“These are the rewards of the Alchemy Conference. Starting with Little Friend Mengtian, each person may choose only one.” The old man smiled, his gaze falling on Yang Tian, and said, “Begin.”

Nodding slightly, Yang Tian directly grabbed the Yin-Yang Life-Returning Flower, the heavy stone in his heart easing.

“Wait.” Just as Yang Tian picked up the treasure, a white-clad youth stepped forward. He had an extraordinary bearing, with divine radiance shimmering in his eyes, and could be described as gentle and refined like jade.

Yang Tian frowned slightly and looked at the youth. This was the fourth-place finisher, who had presented a seventh-grade high-level pill as his final entry. Yang Tian’s impression of him was not deep.

“Is there something?” Pursing his lips, Yang Tian asked in confusion, while also withdrawing the treasure in his hand.

His calm gaze fixed on Yang Tian. When he noticed the disappearing treasure, he frowned and said, “I am Cao Feng. I participated in this Alchemy Conference specifically for this treasure. I wonder if you could part with it? I am willing to buy it at double the price.”

The people around looked at each other. Cao Feng was a member of the Hidden Nine Clans, only twenty-two or twenty-three years old, yet already a seventh-grade high-level alchemist with extremely high cultivation—a true prodigy.

Clenching his hand slightly, Yang Tian shook his head and said flatly, “Sorry, I participated in the Alchemy Conference also for this pill. I cannot give it away.”

Cao Feng took a deep breath. He hadn’t expected this person to be so stubborn. He had just mentioned the Hidden Nine Clans to make Yang Tian sell him the treasure.

“An elder of my clan is severely injured and needs the Yin-Yang Life-Returning Pill to prolong his life. I hope Brother Meng can part with it. Whatever you need, I can satisfy.” He looked down at Yang Tian slightly, speaking with a forced smile.

“Sorry, I will not sell this treasure.” Shaking his head, Yang Tian said flatly.

Cao Feng’s face darkened slightly, and a hint of coldness appeared in his eyes. The atmosphere began to grow tense.

“Next, the second-place finisher chooses a treasure.” At this moment, the old man broke the deadlock.

The mysterious woman nodded slightly. With graceful steps, she walked over, casually picked a treasure, and stepped back.

Rubbing his fingers, Yang Tian could sense the coldness in Cao Feng’s eyes. He pursed his lips, sat down on a chair, and closed his eyes to rest.

“Hmph.” Cao Feng snorted softly, suppressing the rising anger in his heart, and murmured to himself, “Our clan has been out of the world for so many years; the continent has probably forgotten us by now, right?”

After a while, Yang Tian and his group walked into a pavilion. His gaze looked upward, and he slowly ascended the stairs.

The champion’s reward for the Alchemy Conference was a seventh-grade high-level pill. Yang Tian was somewhat curious about what pill the Alchemy Alliance would offer.

Reaching the third floor, Yang Tian’s eyes swept around and landed on the old man opposite him. He touched his nose and smiled, “So it’s the Great Elder. This junior pays his respects.”

“Little Friend is too polite. You and I are now of the same generation; let us address each other as fellow Daoists.” The Great Elder stroked his beard and said gently, “Little Friend winning the championship of the Alchemy Conference has truly surprised me.”

“The Great Elder flatters me. I was just lucky.” Yang Tian grinned without modesty.

“Hehe, luck alone won’t do.” He laughed heartily, then probed, “May I ask if Little Friend has a sect?”

Hearing this, Yang Tian pursed his lips and said, “No, I have always been a rogue cultivator.”

Yang Tian vaguely understood what he was getting at. The Alchemy Alliance was the gathering place for alchemists in the Central Region. Many people probably tried desperately to get in, and he was likely here to recruit.

A hint of joy appeared on the Great Elder’s face. He smiled and said, “What does Little Friend think of the Alchemy Alliance? Although our alliance is not the strongest force in the Central Region, no one dares to bully our members.”

“If Little Friend is interested, with your status as the champion of the Alchemy Conference, you could obtain the title of Honorary Elder in the Alchemy Alliance…” The Great Elder enthusiastically introduced.

Shrugging, Yang Tian smiled and said, “I’m used to being free and dislike restraint. Moreover, I have many enemies, so I’m not suitable to join the Alchemy Alliance.”

“The Honorary Elder doesn’t need to do anything. You can receive a large amount of cultivation resources every month, and the Alchemy Alliance can help you find any treasure. You only need to act when the alliance is in danger. That’s all.” The Great Elder hurriedly said.

Yang Tian hesitated. He was somewhat tempted. The influence of the Alchemy Alliance was self-evident. Take the Yin-Yang Life-Returning Flower, for example; if the Alchemy Alliance had acted, it wouldn’t have been difficult at all.

A hint of joy appeared on the Great Elder’s face. He smiled and said, “Tingting is cultivating very quickly now and has already broken through to the Martial realm. She often talks about you. If you join the Alchemy Alliance, little Tingting will surely be very happy.”

Hearing this, Yang Tian couldn’t help but roll his eyes. He thought for a moment again, then nodded and said, “I can join your alliance, but I often travel outside and rarely return.”