Pill Pavilion Secret Realm

Su Bai and Han Yanzi stood side by side at the center of the Teleportation Array.

The Pill Pavilion Steward, who was responsible for maintaining the formation, skillfully embedded several Mid-grade Spirit Stone into the grooves of the formation's core, and then cast an activation Method Formula.

The Star Luo Pill Pavilion is very wealthy, and all expenses for such internal events are borne by the Pill Pavilion, so participants do not need to pay a single penny. This can be considered one of the benefits for members.

A sudden burst of light enveloped his entire body, and the Power of Space enveloped him.

A slight dizziness came over me, and the scenery in front of me instantly distorted, turning into a Chaos stream of light.

The light faded, and what remained beneath my feet was a feeling of being suspended in mid-air, completely weightless!

Su Bai felt his body sink, heard the crashing of waves in his ears, and felt the salty, fishy smell of the sea breeze around his nose!

He reacted extremely quickly, almost instinctively channeling his Spiritual Power, and his figure suddenly stabilized, standing in mid-air.

Looking down, just a few feet away, lies a vast expanse of deep blue sea, rippling gently!

Sunlight streamed down, scattering glittering golden fragments.

Good heavens, the teleportation point is directly in mid-air, with the ocean right below!

If he hadn't already been Foundation Establishment Cultivator and could Sky-Flying, he would have been soaked to the bone.

"Hahahaha! Brother Lu, I'm so sorry! I forgot to tell you beforehand, the exit of this Teleportation Array is right above the sea! Eight out of ten people who come here for the first time will be terrified!"

A sound of Han Yanzi laughter came from beside him.

He was clearly prepared, standing steadily three feet above the sea, a mischievous smile on his face, indicating that his earlier forgetfulness was intentional.

Su Bai glanced at him helplessly.

This old fellow, even after reaching the Foundation Establishment Late Stage and becoming a master alchemist, still harbors such mischievous and low-level interests in his personality. Truly...

Cultivating immortality cannot change one's true nature.

"Lu Jiu, this way." A gentle and familiar voice broke the slightly awkward silence.

Su Bai looked in the direction of the sound and saw a huge Whirlpool, about three zhang in diameter and as deep as a sapphire, floating quietly a few feet above the sea surface, slowly rotating.

At the center of the Whirlpool flowed an even brighter, azure light reminiscent of the Starry Sky, from which powerful Spatial Fluctuation emanated.

At the edge of the Whirlpool, the seawater was pushed aside by an invisible force, forming a neat, slightly concave ring of water surface.

Beside the deep blue Whirlpool, seven or eight Cultivator dressed as Alchemist stood suspended in the air, their auras deep and concentrated; they were clearly members of the Star Luo Pill Pavilion.

The one who spoke up to Su Bai was none other than Fang Yuan, a director.

Today he changed into a more solemn dark Blue Daoist Robe, with embroidered Pill Furnace and star patterns on the cuffs, making him appear extraordinary.

Su Bai and Han Yanzi immediately took to the Sky-Flying and floated lightly to the vicinity of the deep blue Whirlpool.

Fang Yuan seeing Su Bai arrive, Fang Yuan's smile became even more warm and friendly.

Knowing that Pavilion Master True Man He appreciated this newly emerged genius, he naturally dared not be negligent. He took a few steps forward and explained, "Alchemist Lu Jiu, Fellow Daoist Han Yan, you two have arrived at just the right time."

"This is the entrance to my Star Pill Pavilion Secret Realm. The entrance Magic Array is now activated; you two can simply fly into the center of this Whirlpool."

"Thank you for your help, Director Fang." Su Bai bowed and expressed his gratitude.

Han Yanzi, who was standing to the side, saw all of this and was even more surprised.

Fang Yuan is one of the Ten Directors of the Star Luo Pill Pavilion, holding a prestigious position. While he is usually polite to other members, he has never been seen to be so proactive, enthusiastic, and almost obsequious towards a newcomer who has only Pill Pavilion a few months ago.

This kid... his background is probably much more than just Talent!

I was just teasing him...

Han Yanzi's heart skipped a beat, and a feeling of regret washed over him. He cursed himself for being so quick-witted and impulsive.

He made up his mind that he would find an opportunity to "make up" for his earlier rudeness.

Without further delay, Su Bai nodded to Fang Yuan again, then moved swiftly, transforming into a streak of light and heading without hesitation toward the center of the slowly rotating deep blue Whirlpool.

Seeing this, Han Yanzi quickly composed himself and followed closely behind, flying in as he pondered how to repair his relationship with Su Bai later.

"Buzz--"

The moment he entered the Whirlpool, Su Bai felt enveloped by a cool yet resilient force. His vision was filled with pure, deep blue, Chaos light, and his senses became slightly blurred, as if he were passing through a thick curtain of water.

The next moment, a solid feeling of being grounded came over me, and the view in front of me suddenly opened up!

He was already inside the Secret Realm.

Looking around, even the usually composed Su Bai couldn't help but show a hint of amazement in his eyes.

The sky Secret Realm was a pale, fish-belly white, like the first light of dawn, with soft, even light falling evenly, the source of which was unknown.

The most striking feature is the scenery surrounding the Secret Realm realm.

They were volcanoes of various shapes, but without exception, they were all active!

Some of the mountains were dark red, with thick smoke constantly billowing from their tops.

In some mountain passes, crimson lava flows slowly; even more dramatically, occasionally a torrent of scorching lava erupts with a deafening roar, tearing through the sky and crashing down with terrifying force...

Strangely, despite being able to see lava erupting and thick smoke billowing, Su Bai, who was in the Secret Realm, felt no intense heat whatsoever.

In the very center of the Secret Realm stands a colossal statue of Pill Furnace!

The statue is ten zhang tall, cast entirely from some kind of dark gold metal. Its body is covered with intricate and mysterious Cloud Patterns, fire patterns, and reliefs of various auspicious beasts and spiritual herbs. It stands on three legs, as steady as a mountain.

On the front of the Pill Furnace statue, four large, powerful characters in ancient seal script are engraved: [Star Luo Pill Pavilion]!

Beneath the Pill Furnace statue lies a wide, elevated platform paved with pure white jade, clearly a place for presiding over or preaching the Dharma.

In front of the platform was a very open flat area, where hundreds of blue Prayer Mat were neatly laid out.

The Prayer Mat were spaced far apart and arranged in an orderly manner, leaving enough room for the entire venue to appear open and solemn, without feeling crowded despite the large number of people.

At this moment, nearly a hundred Alchemist had already arrived and found their own Prayer Mat to sit down.

Some closed their eyes to rest, some talked in hushed tones, and some curiously observed the strange volcanic landscape around them, all quietly waiting for the Alchemy Competition to officially begin.

The entire Secret Realm realm was quite tranquil, except for the occasional muffled roar from the distant volcano, which seemed to have had most of its power blocked out.

"Call out!"

Han Yanzi then appeared beside Su Bai, a slightly apologetic smile on his face.

"Brother Lu, how does this first time in this Secret Realm feel? Are there many things you don't understand?"

Han Yanzi leaned closer and said in a friendly tone, "Brother, I've been in the Pill Pavilion for a long time and I know this Secret Realm quite well. Would you like me to tell you about it? It would make up for my abruptness earlier."

How could Su Bai not understand the meaning behind his words?

Considering the old man's generally decent character and that they were neighbors, Su Bai went along with it and nodded, "Brother Han Yan, please speak. I am indeed somewhat curious."

Upon hearing this Han Yanzi perked up, cleared his throat, and pointed to the surrounding active volcanoes, beginning to explain in detail, "Brother Lu, look at these volcanoes, the eruptions, the lava, the thick smoke—don't they look very real and scary? But actually, they're all 'fake'!"

He paused deliberately, keeping Su Bai in suspense, before continuing when Su Bai looked at him, "This Secret Realm, though now called the Pill Pavilion Secret Realm, is actually the name my Star Luo Pill Pavilion changed after purchasing it from the Heavenly Star Alliance. Its original name was— Illusory Fire Secret Realm!"

"Phantom Fire?" Su Bai pondered the name.

"Yes! According to the research and speculation of the Pavilion Master and several Grandmasters, this Secret Realm underwent some peculiar change during the process of being separated from the original Great World and forming an independent small space."

"It has completely preserved the concept, Principle, and even appearance of 'fire,' but it has lost the essence of 'fire'—that is, the temperature that burns everything, the unbearable heat, and the destructive nature!"

Han Yanzi's tone was filled with amazement. "Even so, the benefits this Secret Realm brings to us Alchemist are simply beyond imagination!"

He stretched out his hand, mimicking Su Bai's earlier action, and a pale blue, exceptionally lively and vibrant Alchemy Fire suddenly ignited in his palm.

"Can you feel it? Here, it's exceptionally easy for us to condense our Alchemy Fire. Moreover, the Alchemy Fire seems to possess a faint Consciousness of self-awareness, becoming much more sensitive and precise in its perception of medicinal herbs and in its fine-tuning of the heat! According to countless predecessors, refining pills in this Secret Realm can increase the overall success rate by at least 30%!"

He pointed to the most active volcanoes in the distance. "Especially in certain locations near those craters, where the concept and Principle of 'fire' remain most intensely concentrated."

"If one could set up a furnace to refine pills in those places, the success rate could even soar by 70% or 80%! They are truly blessed lands for alchemy!"

"However," Han Yanzi changed the subject, explaining, "Precisely because the 'fire' here lacks a tangible form, it recovers much more slowly than outside after being consumed."

"Therefore, unless it's a critical moment, such as when trying to upgrade a high-level Pill or refining an extremely important Pill, the Pill Pavilion will not open up access to its Secret Realm to all members free of charge."

"The fact that this conference is being held here is a great favor bestowed upon us by the Pavilion Master."

After listening to Han Yanzi's detailed explanation, Su Bai nodded in understanding.

This Illusory Fire Secret Realm is indeed wondrous; for Alchemist, it's practically a tailor-made Pill Saint.

No wonder Star Luo Pill Pavilion was willing to spend a fortune to buy it. If they could stabilize and guide the fire source of those volcanoes, this place could even be the core Sect Gate of a Pill Sect!

"I see, thank you for clearing up my confusion, Brother Hanyan."

Su Bai sincerely thanked him, his interest in this Secret Realm growing even stronger.

He tried again to condense the Alchemy Fire in his palm. Sure enough, as soon as he had the thought, a wisp of pure and peaceful Alchemy Fire leaped out, dancing and stretching in his palm, like a living spirit, more docile and agile than when it was in the outside world, and its response to Spiritual Power was also extremely rapid.

"Let's find a seat; the conference should be starting soon," Su Bai said to Han Yanzi.

"Good, good!" Han Yanzi nodded quickly, relieved. It seemed that Brother Lu hadn't really taken that little thing to heart.

Their gazes swept across the area around the Prayer Mat. Su Bai quickly spotted a familiar figure— Alchemist Lan!

The Disciple of Qian Lu, the Pill Sect Grandmaster who had once traded Pill with him and whose [Candle Heart Reflecting Fire] Talent Copy onto him.

At this moment, a dozen or so Alchemist had already gathered around Alchemist Lan, surrounding him like stars around the moon, chatting and laughing, clearly forming a small circle around him.

Alchemist Lan himself still maintained a Clear and Cold and aloof demeanor, but he would occasionally nod and respond with a few words when faced with compliments and inquiries from his fellow members.

Su Bai showed no intention of moving closer.

Although he had some connection with Alchemist Lan, their relationship was not deep, and his visit at this moment seemed abrupt.

He and Han Yanzi then chose two adjacent Prayer Mat near the front row, but slightly off-center, and sat down.

This position offers a clear view of the platform in front, yet it's not too conspicuous.

As time went on, more and more people appeared on the Prayer Mat, gradually filling most of the space. The atmosphere gradually became solemn, and the whispers subsided.

The wait wasn't long.

Suddenly, the ten-zhang-tall Pill Furnace statue in front of them trembled slightly and emitted a deep, resonant hum.

Immediately afterwards, ten figures with solemn auras and uniform attire (all in the robes of the Pill Pavilion directors) emerged from behind the statue and gracefully landed on either side of the high platform, taking their places. They were the Ten Directors of the Star Luo Pill Pavilion, including Fang Yuan.

Their expressions were solemn, their gazes sweeping across the entire area, an invisible aura of authority emanating from them.

The entire venue fell silent instantly, all eyes fixed on the high platform.

The next moment, a slender and upright figure appeared out of thin air and quietly stood in the center of the high platform.

This man had white hair but a youthful face, a ruddy complexion, and his eyes shone with a sharp, clear light that seemed to see right through people. He was none other than the Pavilion Master the Star Luo Pill Pavilion — True Man He!

He didn't deliberately exude pressure, but simply by standing there, an aura of profound and unfathomable strength naturally flowed out, inspiring awe in all the Foundation Establishment Realm Alchemist present.

"This is Pavilion Master True Man He! I never imagined that this Alchemy Competition would actually be presided over by True Man He himself!"

Han Yanzi, standing beside Su Bai, could not hide his excitement and whispered to him, his voice trembling slightly.

To be able to meet this legendary figure in the world of alchemy so closely and listen to his teachings is an immense honor for any Alchemist.

Su Bai's gaze was also firmly fixed on True Man He.

There are countless legends about this old man on Alchemy Street.

He overruled objections and spearheaded the creation of a dedicated Alchemy Street in Star Luo Market.

It was he who, together with two grandmasters, Qian Lu and Tong Liu, spearheaded the establishment of the Star Luo Pill Pavilion, bringing together the previously loose group of Alchemist.

He repeatedly lobbied the Heavenly Star Alliance Senior Leadership, securing higher status, more resources, and greater influence for Alchemist...

It can be said that he is one of the undisputed founders of the Alchemy Street in Heavenly Star City.

True Man He's gaze swept calmly over the assembled Pill Pavilion Elite below the stage, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

These are the backbone forces that Alchemy Street has gathered and cultivated over the past century, and they are the cornerstone of the Star Luo Pill Pavilion's future development.

Whether it was a misperception or not, Su Bai felt that when True Man He's gaze swept over his direction, it seemed to pause for a fleeting moment. Although it was so brief as to be almost imperceptible, the feeling of being watched was unmistakable.

"Fellow Daoists," True Man He spoke, his voice gentle and calming, carrying a power that soothed the soul. "I am Master True Man He, the Pavilion Master the Star Luo Pill Pavilion."

He smiled slightly, "I suppose most of you, apart from the new members of the Pill Pavilion, recognize this old face of mine."

He paused, his expression turning serious, and then got to the point. "The fundamental purpose of the Star Luo Pill Pavilion in organizing such Alchemy Competition is to 'learn from each other, hone our skills, and improve together.'"

"The aim is to provide a platform for everyone to exchange alchemy experiences, showcase their skills, learn from each other's strengths, and improve their own, in order to continuously enhance the overall alchemy level of our Star Luo Pill Pavilion."

"And the best way to share and verify alchemy skills is to refine them by hand."

A glint of wisdom flashed in True Man He's eyes. "Therefore, I have specially developed a Competitive Pill Formula for this competition."

His words immediately caused a slight murmur of unease among the audience.

Competitive Pill Formula? Unheard of before.

True Man He raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, and continued to explain, "The Spirit Pills refined from this Pill Formula has no special medicinal effects, nor is it used for cultivation or healing."

"Its sole purpose is to maximize the presentation of the alchemist's technical details, control of heat, understanding of medicinal properties, and even their unique alchemical philosophy and Talent qualities during the refining process."

"Later, each of your refining processes will be recorded in its entirety by a pre-set Magic Array within the Secret Realm and sealed into a specially made Imprint Jade Slip."

True Man He pointed to the surrounding area of the high platform and some faintly visible runic lights in the air.

"This Jade Slip will be returned to you after the meeting. It is not only a record of your performance at this conference, but also a valuable teaching video that you can repeatedly watch, reflect upon, and refine your skills in the future."

His gaze swept across the audience, encouragingly stating, "Therefore, in this refining process, there's no need to worry about the practical value of the Pill, nor is there any need to hold back." Please feel free to showcase your skills.

"Your most exquisite alchemy skills, your most unique alchemy philosophy, and your deepest Alchemy Talent are now revealed!"

"Those who perform exceptionally well," True Man He paused slightly at the end of his sentence, a mysterious smile appearing on his face, "I... will give them a surprise."

As soon as he finished speaking, True Man He gently waved his wide sleeves.

In an instant, hundreds and thousands of tiny streaks of light, as if possessing sentience, shot out from his sleeves, tracing precise arcs and landing in the hands of every Alchemist below the stage, without the slightest error!

Su Bai Consciousness reached out and caught it, finding a light gray Storage Bag about the size of his palm in his hand.

The bag was tied at the opening with a silver thread, on which was embroidered a tiny Pill Furnace mark.

With a thought, he sent a wisp of his Spiritual Sense into the Storage Bag.

Inside was a Jade Slip containing a ' Competitive Pill Formula recipe', along with several refining materials.