Conference Begins, Pill Competition, Third Grade Exotic Fire!

It was not until midnight that Wan'er, exhausted, finally curled up in Ye Xuan's arms and fell into a deep sleep.

Even in her sleep, the corners of her lips still curved into a blissful, sweet smile.

At that moment, Ye Xuan felt refreshed. Inside his dantian, a lightning pattern that reached the heavens pierced through his Sea of Qi. Only now had his Nine Lightning Tribulation Heavenly Body truly been activated!

Only when all nine lightning patterns appeared would it become the true Nine Thunder Tribulation Heavenly Immortal Body!

Hmm!?

However, Ye Xuan suddenly discovered that a streak of azure imperial radiance was winding around the lightning pattern within his dantian.

That had never happened before.

"Wait, this is... Longevity Power!?"

Ye Xuan was instantly startled.

The azure imperial radiance was none other than the power of the Longevity Emperor's Blood!

"Hahaha, that's right!"

Little Pagoda's voice rang out in Ye Xuan's mind.

"This is the wondrous benefit of having you cultivate dual cultivation with the Imperial Daughters!"

"Although the Nine Lightning Tribulation Heavenly Body is an Immortal Physique, it is too defiant of the heavens and is therefore rejected by the Heavenly Dao. You must fuse the Emperor Blood Power with the nine thunderbolts to contend with the Heavenly Dao!"

"This is only the bloodline power of the Longevity Great Emperor. You will grow stronger and stronger from here on!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Xuan could not help taking a deep breath.

So the marriage his father had arranged for him had not been for the Imperial Clan at all, but for his own sake!

That being so, once his Nine Thunder Tribulation Heavenly Immortal Body reached complete mastery, he would surely be able to prove the Dao and become a Great Emperor!

"Besides, the women who cultivate dual cultivation with you don't gain nothing from it."

"What Wan'er obtained isn't the drop of blood she offered before, but Emperor Blood containing a trace of immortal charm!" Little Pagoda added.

"That is for the best!"

Ye Xuan nodded. This made him feel somewhat better.

Otherwise, he would always feel as though he had treated Wan'er as a Cauldron.

Afterward, Ye Xuan also discovered that after he successfully cultivated dual cultivation with Wan'er, the Time Flow Rate inside Little Pagoda had changed from double speed to tenfold speed!

That was precisely what Ye Xuan needed most at present.

However, Ye Xuan's cultivation had already reached the peak of the Spirit Sea, so he no longer needed to cultivate. He could summon the Heavenly Tribulation at any time and advance to the Heavenly Gang Realm.

Therefore, tonight belonged to Wan'er alone!

Immediately afterward, Ye Xuan tightened his arms around the beauty in his embrace. Breathing in Wan'er's fragrance, he drifted into dreamland.

Early the next morning, when Ye Xuan opened his eyes, he saw Wan'er, radiant and glowing, propping up her chin as she watched him.

"Ah, Brother Ye Xuan, you... you're awake..."

Being caught staring, Chu Wan'er cried out in surprise, her face instantly flushing red.

"You still call me Brother?"

Ye Xuan smiled indulgently and asked as he lightly scraped her nose.

"Husband... husband!"

Chu Wan'er was unbearably bashful, but after calling him sweetly, she threw herself onto Ye Xuan.

She had fantasized about calling him that ever since they were in the Outer Heavens. Today, her wish had finally come true.

She had finally become Brother Ye Xuan's wife.

"Ye Xuan, Wan'er, are you two up?"

Just as Ye Xuan was preparing to properly deal with Chu Wan'er, Su Ziyun's voice suddenly rang out from beyond the room.

"We're up, we're up!"

Hearing her, Chu Wan'er hurriedly wriggled free of Ye Xuan's arms and dressed her husband.

Ye Xuan could only laugh wryly. He had forgotten that today was the Sect Tournament.

Soon, the two of them pushed open the door and walked out.

"Ahem, well, I didn't mean to disturb you newlyweds."

Su Ziyun coughed twice before turning serious. "Two major things happened last night!"

"Oh!? Major things?" Ye Xuan and Chu Wan'er exchanged a glance and smiled. "What major things?"

"A prodigy from Cloud Palace Academy has arrived in Tianxuan City and will personally preside over this Sect Tournament!" Su Ziyun nodded.

"Cloud Palace Academy!? Who is it?" Chu Wan'er froze at the news. The first person she thought of was Ji Xueyao!

She simply had not expected Ji Xueyao to arrive so quickly!

"Xuan Zhou of the Xuan Clan!" Su Ziyun instead spoke a name completely unfamiliar to Chu Wan'er.

The Xuan Clan!?

Ye Xuan was slightly startled when he heard that name.

Could it really be such a coincidence?

He had indeed heard Nangong Fei mention that there was a prodigy from the Xuan Clan cultivating at Cloud Palace Academy.

Could this person be him!?

"That's right. The Xuan Clan is the dynasty's foremost clan. This time, they are presiding over the Sect Tournament and have even temporarily changed the rules."

"Before the martial competition, they added an alchemy competition and an artificing competition. Disciples from all four regions' sects may participate. Although the champions won't affect the sect rankings, they will receive substantial pill and weapon support from Cloud Palace Academy!" Su Ziyun continued.

The artificing competition could be set aside, but she knew just how astonishing Ye Xuan's alchemy was. He was fully capable of fighting for the championship!

When the time came, the Violet Firmament Sect would never lack pills again!

"An alchemy competition and an artificing competition?"

Ye Xuan was stunned. Isn't this practically delivering rewards straight to the Violet Firmament Sect?

This Xuan Zhou is a good man!

"There's one more thing..."

Su Ziyun pursed her lips and said seriously, "Last night, Liu Yunxi underwent the Heavenly Tribulation and advanced to the Heavenly Gang Realm!"

Thus, the Azure Mist Sect, like the Lin Tian Sword Sect, now had two Heavenly Gang cultivators in one sect!

"Oh!"

"How is that?"

Yet Ye Xuan and Chu Wan'er showed no reaction at all.

This simply did not count as a major matter.

So what if Liu Yunxi had advanced to the Heavenly Gang Realm? Wouldn't she still become a stepping stone!?

"Let's go participate in the alchemy competition first!"

Ye Xuan no longer wanted to wait. Before the martial competition began, he would first seize the championships of the so-called artificing and alchemy paths!

Tianxuan City Pill Guild.

The Pill Guild and the Artificer Guild had both been established by the Great Gan Dynasty, and Tianxuan City had one of each.

An alchemist dispatched by Cloud Palace Academy was stationed in the Pill Guild, ordinarily responsible for certifying alchemist ranks.

Nearly all the Heavenly Gang Pills came from them, making even one pill exceedingly hard to obtain.

Today, before the martial competition began, cultivators from all the major sects had already gathered before the two guild towers.

The champions of the alchemy and artificing competitions could not only win supreme glory for their sects, but also compete for resource support from Cloud Palace Academy.

No sect could afford to give that up.

Especially not the Lin Tian Sword Sect, the foremost sect of the four regions!

At that moment, the Lin Tian Sword Sect's First Saintess, Wen Yuyan, stood gracefully at the very front of the gathered prodigies, her expression cold and proud.

She was born with a first-grade Exotic Fire, and the Wen Household was a renowned alchemy clan. Thus, she was determined to win the alchemy championship this time—and she had to take it!

In the Barren Continent, whether in the artificing and alchemy paths or in martial cultivation, the Lin Tian Sword Sect could only be first!

"Master, bet all our spirit stones on me."

Among the Azure Mist Sect cultivators, Liu Yunxi suddenly sneered coldly.

"Yunxi, you... you want to fight for the championship!?"

The Azure Mist Sect Master and Xiao Chengfeng were both stunned.

Who did not know that Wen Yuyan was determined to win the alchemy championship this time?

"Just trust me!"

Liu Yunxi was incomparably confident. She immediately took out all her spirit stones and went to the nearby betting counter to place her wager.

Every time the Sect Tournament was held, the merchant associations in Tianxuan City would open betting pools and act as the house.

This time, they had even opened three pools, preparing to make a huge profit.

Wen Yuyan was naturally the overwhelming favorite for the alchemy championship.

After placing her bet, Liu Yunxi entered the Pill Guild with a group of sect prodigies, full of confidence.

"Are you waiting for someone!?"

Amid the crowd, Nangong Fei looked at Lin Churan, who was glancing around, and asked.

"Yes, I'm waiting for Ye Xuan."

Lin Churan nodded.

"Ye Xuan?"

Nangong Fei frowned. "I did hear about what happened with your Hundred Herbs Pill House, but don't tell me those pills were refined by him."

The Hundred Herbs Pill House had sold top-grade Essence Nurturing Pills, which ordinary alchemists absolutely could not refine.

"Miss Lin, are you waiting for me?"

Before Lin Churan could answer, Ye Xuan's voice sounded from behind.

Lin Churan spun around and saw Ye Xuan walking over hand in hand with Chu Wan'er.

"Ah, Sister Wan'er!"

Lin Churan was overjoyed and hurriedly rushed over.

Chu Wan'er stepped forward as well and embraced her.

Ever since Wan'er had entered seclusion, she had not seen Lin Churan again. As close friends, they were naturally delighted.

"I knew you would come!"

After the two women chatted for a while, Lin Churan finally turned to Ye Xuan.

"Of course!"

Ye Xuan nodded, then smiled. "Miss Lin, bet everything on me!"

"And Miss Nangong, I'll guarantee that both of you become fabulously rich!"

Ye Xuan chuckled and headed toward the Pill Guild.

"What is going on!?"

Nangong Fei was stunned for a moment before looking at Lin Churan.

The latter gave her a mysterious smile, then whispered a few words into her ear.

Nangong Fei's eyes grew wider and wider!

Top-grade Essence Nurturing Pills, a second-grade Exotic Fire, and Xuan Ye from that ancient secret realm—was he all Ye Xuan!?

The successive shocks left Nangong Fei dazed for quite some time.

"Then what are we waiting for? Today, this young lady is going to become the richest woman in the four regions!"

Inside the Pill Guild.

Ye Xuan was the last disciple to enter and participate in the alchemy competition. After the Pill Guild steward recorded his identity in the main hall, he handed him a token.

"Room One of the Xuan Section. What pill are you refining? We'll send the ingredients over later," the steward asked without even raising his head.

"No need."

"Besides, the Pill Guild doesn't have the materials I want."

Ye Xuan merely chuckled and went to the corresponding alchemy room with the token in hand.

"What..."

Only then did the steward raise his eyes and frown at Ye Xuan's departing back.

"A Body Tempering Realm cultivator, and he's acting so arrogant?"

If not for the regulations from above, he would have thrown him out long ago.

Meanwhile, on the top floor of the Pill Guild.

The white-haired Pill Guild President, Mu Bai, and a group of Pill Guild alchemy grandmasters watched the screens before them, clicking their tongues in amazement.

"Seriously, this girl from the Lin Tian Sword Sect is quite skilled in alchemy!"

"Indeed. A first-grade Exotic Fire and practiced techniques—she's a fine seedling!"

The grandmasters all praised Wen Yuyan as they watched her in the Tian Section's Room One.

"Wait!"

"Is that a second-grade Exotic Fire!?"

Suddenly, an alchemist cried out. Everyone looked over and indeed saw someone in Earth Section Room One unleashing two layers of flame!

A second-grade Exotic Fire had never appeared among the sects of the Barren Continent before!

"The Azure Mist Sect's Saintess, Liu Yunxi!"

An alchemist found the roster and checked Liu Yunxi's information.

"If that's the case, it truly remains uncertain who will take the alchemy championship this time!"

Everyone exchanged glances. They had never expected the alchemy competition to contain such suspense!

"Buzz!"

Just then, Mu Bai, who had kept his eyes closed all this time, abruptly opened them. The aura of a peak Myriad Manifestation Realm cultivator exploded through the room.

The alchemists were all astonished. They looked toward Mu Bai, who had already risen to his feet, his eyes as round as bronze bells, and were bewildered.

What had happened to the president?

Why hadn't he been this excited when the second-grade Exotic Fire had just appeared?

"Bring up the formation display for Alchemist Number One of the Profound Division. Quickly!"

Number One of the Profound Division!?

Everyone exchanged glances. The rooms had all been assigned according to the sect disciples' status. What was there to see in Number One of the Profound Division?

The crowd was puzzled, but they still projected the alchemist's image onto the formation.

Hiss!

But the instant all the alchemists saw the flame burning in that image, every one of them gaped in stunned disbelief!

The room fell as silent as a secluded valley. Even the drop of a needle could be heard!

"A third-grade Exotic Fire!"

"Hahaha, our four regions of the Barren Continent actually have a monstrous talent with a third-grade Exotic Fire!"

After a long while, President Mu Bai suddenly let out a wild roar as if he had gone mad!