"I can beat you with one hand tied behind my back."
Shen Jinfeng shot him a contemptuous look. She didn't take Liu Chengfeng seriously.
"Brother Liu, our pills are nearly finished. I'm afraid you won't have time."
Nangong Chief Disciple didn't think Liu Chengfeng could beat them either.
"Hurry up and admit defeat. Get off the stage before you embarrass yourself any further and bring shame upon the royal family."
Cheng Nan shouted, eager to humiliate Liu Chengfeng and savor his revenge.
"What, you all think you're going to win?"
Liu Chengfeng laughed instead.
"Hand over the Ancestral Hall Talisman and get lost."
Cheng Nan sneered.
Shen Jinfeng couldn't even be bothered to look at Liu Chengfeng. He wasn't worthy of being her opponent.
Senior Brother Nangong focused on refining his pill. It was nearly done, and he no longer spared Liu Chengfeng a thought.
"Let's settle this with a contest."
Whether it was Shen Jinfeng or Cheng Nan and the others, none of them took Liu Chengfeng seriously. There was no place for him in the contest.
"Get down already. Stop making a fool of yourself."
"You've already lost. Don't bother struggling."
People below the stage jeered at Liu Chengfeng. In everyone's eyes, he had already lost. If he stayed any longer, he would disgrace the royal family.
Ye Ziyang said nothing, a smile on his face. This was exactly the outcome he wanted.
Wu Yuanqing and Lei Jun glared at Liu Chengfeng. Once he lost, Emperor of Qiuchi would no longer protect him. Then Liu Chengfeng would be theirs for the taking.
They would capture Liu Chengfeng alive and send him to the Divine Dynasty for a blood sacrifice. That way, they would have fulfilled their mission.
Nangong Zheng watched Liu Chengfeng, his gaze shifting. At this point, he couldn't imagine how Liu Chengfeng might turn things around.
"Honestly, you're a bunch of frogs at the bottom of a well who've never seen a true genius. You mistake mediocre talent for genius. What a joke. Let me show you what a genius looks like."
Liu Chengfeng yawned.
"You call yourself a genius?"
"What can you even do?"
Cheng Nan scoffed, and Shen Jinfeng sneered.
"Fine. Open those dog eyes of yours—"
Liu Chengfeng burst out laughing. He set the Spirit Stove over the Thunder Fire Eye.
He circulated his method, controlled the Spirit Stove, wielded spiritual fire, and added the spirit herbs.
In his mind, the Sky Eye opened, Heavenly Mound turned, and he summoned the Crow Nest Ancient Tree.
The underground fire vein opened in an instant. Earthfire magma surged forth like thunder, and the ground shook.
Ye Ziyang, Nangong Zheng, and the others were startled, unsure what was happening.
In moments, the scent of herbs wafted through the air. The pills were done, popping like soybeans in a pan, the crackling sound unending.
Everyone watched Liu Chengfeng refine the pills. His technique was practiced, his movements flowed at will, and he completed the process in one seamless motion.
Such a difficult task as refining pills looked effortless in his hands.
There was none of the usual difficulty. It looked more like a master chef stir-frying a dish.
Second Refinement Mountain Pills were as easy as pie.
"Collect—"
As the pills finished, he brought the blazing fire under control.
Liu Chengfeng shouted and lifted the lid. Each Second Refinement Mountain Pill was as dark and lustrous as black jade, smooth and round, shimmering with precious light. Their fragrance spread for ten miles.
One by one, they were placed into the Medicine Gourd.
Then, with a BOOM, the earth shuddered, and the Thunder Fire Eye filled with earthfire magma.
A vein of runic script appeared across the Ancestral Hall's floor. The magma flowed into it and climbed up the doors.
"The pills are done: Second Refinement Mountain Pills—"
Liu Chengfeng put away the Medicine Gourd. Nangong Zheng shot to his feet and cried out.
Cheng Nan, Shen Jinfeng, and Senior Brother Nangong all froze, forgetting to continue refining their pills.
As for everyone else, they stared blankly at the scene, unable to recover for a long while.
"The Second Refinement Mountain Pills are flawless."
After inspecting the pills, Nangong Zheng looked at Liu Chengfeng as if he were a ghost.
"A second-grade innate alchemist."
Judging from Liu Chengfeng's technique and skill, Nangong Zheng gave him his assessment.
"A second-grade innate alchemist—"
The words exploded beside everyone's ears like thunder. They gaped in shock.
"You win this round."
Nangong Zheng conceded, declaring Liu Chengfeng the winner.
"A second-grade innate alchemist? Are you serious?"
Wu Yuanqing couldn't keep his composure and shouted.
"I'm certain. A second-grade innate alchemist."
Nangong Zheng was entirely sure. He could only smile wryly.
He was a top-grade third-refinement alchemist, already an impressive figure. Even the Ancient Kingdom had invited him to serve as a guest elder.
But even he only managed to refine Second Refinement Mountain Pills successfully seven or eight times out of ten.
Liu Chengfeng had a hundred-percent success rate.
"I lost. Brother Liu is the true genius. I'm merely mediocre."
Nangong Chief Disciple accepted his defeat wholeheartedly. Looking utterly crestfallen, he bowed deeply to Liu Chengfeng.
He was a top-grade second-refinement alchemist, a genius among the younger generation. Cheng Nan and Shen Jinfeng were both a little inferior to him.
But compared with Liu Chengfeng, what was he?
Even Nangong Zheng couldn't make refining pills look like stir-frying a dish.
Cheng Nan and Shen Jinfeng stood dumbstruck, their faces deathly pale.
"Are you two still going to keep refining?"
Liu Chengfeng shot Cheng Nan and Shen Jinfeng a sidelong glance.
Cheng Nan and Shen Jinfeng were furious and humiliated, but couldn't utter a word. They'd been ground into the dirt.
"Did you really only just learn alchemy?"
Even Wu Yuanqing, the presiding host, couldn't believe it.
Refining pills like stir-frying a dish—this didn't look anything like the work of a beginner.
The others were doubtful too. Who would believe Liu Chengfeng had only just learned alchemy?
"There's no point. He refines pills like he's frying beans. I can't even manage a First Refinement Mountain Pill."
Nangong Zheng shook his head, affirming Liu Chengfeng's skill.
Nangong Zheng could refine First Refinement Mountain Pills with a hundred-percent success rate, but his technique wasn't flawless and his movements didn't flow at will. He couldn't compare with Liu Chengfeng.
What's more, Liu Chengfeng had refined Second Refinement Mountain Pills.
Everyone fell silent. Even Nangong Zheng admitted he couldn't measure up. The others had no right to judge.
"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Our Qiuchi Kingdom has won. The Ancestral Hall is ours!"
"Liu is the pride of our Qiuchi Kingdom, its greatest alchemist!"
Ye Ziyang stood up, laughing and applauding.
With Liu Chengfeng victorious, Ye Ziyang represented the Grandmaster Mansion and firmly took the royal family's side, standing with them through thick and thin and sharing the Ancestral Hall.
"Take these. They're Triple-Refined Mountain Pills. Strengthen your Blood Sea, and I look forward to seeing you surpass me."
Nangong Zheng, who had always held himself above everyone else, conceded wholeheartedly and tossed Liu Chengfeng a bottle of Triple-Refined Mountain Pills.
"Thank you, Senior."
Liu Chengfeng caught the Mountain Pills and cupped his fists. Nangong Zheng had been generous: the pills were made with medicinal ingredients that were eighty thousand years old, making them even more potent.
"You should get out of the Imperial Capital."
Liu Chengfeng fixed his gaze on Wu Yuanqing and Lei Jun, then sneered.
Wu Yuanqing, Lei Jun, and the others immediately stood up, their eyes turning cold. In particular, Wu Yuanqing's Great Dao might bore down on them, leaving even the powerful figures present gasping for breath.
"We only agreed never to make things difficult for the Cloud Rising Sect."
"If we don't capture you alive, why would we leave?"
Wu Yuanqing and Lei Jun stared coldly at Liu Chengfeng.
"You want to fight now?"
Liu Chengfeng sneered.
Wu Yuanqing's Great Dao might surged wildly. Lei Jun also stepped forward, his hand gripping his saber.
The atmosphere turned taut in an instant. Everyone held their breath.
With a powerful figure from the Great Dao Divine Treasury making a move, Liu Chengfeng was doomed.
"Would you gentlemen care to test whether Emperor of Qiuchi's spear is sharp?"
Nangong Zheng gave Wu Yuanqing and the others a cold look.
Wu Yuanqing and Lei Jun stiffened.
The powerful figures present shuddered. The Empress of Qiuchi's divine art was so terrifying that it made their hair stand on end.
"Brother Wu, His Majesty still needs to decide this matter. Don't act rashly."
Ye Ziyang tried to smooth things over. Wu Yuanqing snorted and sat back down.
They didn't dare face the Empress's divine art head-on!
"Liu, now that you've opened the Ancestral Hall, why not fill the Thunder Fire Eyes and open the doors?"
Ye Ziyang was more concerned with opening the Ancestral Hall.
Of the four Thunder Fire Eyes, one was already full. Earthfire magma had coursed through it like veins and climbed up the doors.
Once the other three were full, the doors would open.
"There's no need to rush."
Liu Chengfeng laughed and turned to leave.
The others could only watch helplessly as Liu Chengfeng walked away.
As they watched his departing figure, a cold light flickered in Ye Ziyang and the others' eyes.
The Empress of Qiuchi wasn't at all surprised when Liu Chengfeng returned in triumph. She had already seen his alchemy technique.
"Your husband's impressive, isn't he?"
Liu Chengfeng boasted. The Empress of Qiuchi gave him a cold sidelong glance, her imperial bearing proud and imposing.
"Enough chatter. It's time to break through to the Reception Divine Treasury."
The Empress of Qiuchi left him with those words and swept away, her regal bearing undiminished.
You little vixen. One day, I'll strip you naked and toss you onto the bed!
Liu Chengfeng ground his teeth in frustration.
The Empress of Qiuchi's words might have sounded arrogant, but Liu Chengfeng took them to heart. He didn't dare waste time and immediately began cultivating.
Nangong Zheng had been generous, giving him a whole bottle of Triple-Refined Mountain Pills, made with ingredients that were eighty thousand years old.
The moment Liu Chengfeng took one of the Mountain Pills, precious light shimmered all over him. Even the Eight Directions Kingdom Mud gleamed.
The Triple-Refined Mountain Pills perfected the body.
Pills of this kind could not only heal hidden ailments and old injuries; they could even make up for every weakness in the body, shaping it toward perfection.
The Triple-Refined Mountain Pills made with ingredients eighty thousand years old were even more extraordinary. Their main ingredient was Empty Green Condensed Fat that was eighty thousand years old. They washed his marrow and purged his sinews, transforming him from the inside out.
One Triple-Refined Mountain Pill after another went down, washing his marrow and purging his sinews, transforming him again and again.
They repeatedly strengthened and perfected Liu Chengfeng's Treasure Mountain Divine Treasury.
After finishing the entire bottle of Triple-Refined Mountain Pills, the Heavenly Dao Abyss seemed to have been blocked up and stopped absorbing blood essence and spiritual energy.
I did it! Liu Chengfeng rejoiced inwardly. He circulated his method, regulated his breath through his meridians, and prepared to break through to the Reception Divine Treasury.
The Dragon Phoenix Green Gold Heart Method and the Mad Kui Heart Method circulated together. The Blood Sea roared, and the Treasure Mountain trembled.
Then blood essence surged like a tide, and precious light blazed like flames. They rose into the sky, twisting around each other as they rushed toward his crown.
"Open—"
Liu Chengfeng shouted and gave it everything he had.
This wasn't his first attempt to knock on the Reception Divine Treasury. As he launched another assault, the momentum swelled, and his whole body rang out.
This time, his blood essence and precious light surged to their limit, reaching their peak.
A wave of agony struck. The pain made Liu Chengfeng cry out inwardly. He gritted his teeth, circulated his method, and drove his blood essence and precious light into a frenzied assault.
His blood essence arced like a rainbow, his precious light blazed like flames. After one assault after another, he heard something shatter—the bottleneck crumbled.
Blood essence and precious light poured inside, surging into the Reception Divine Treasury.
Within the Reception Divine Treasury, the crown of his head loomed above, huge as a canopy, its underside turned toward the sky.
Beneath his crown was a furnace. It was called the Life Furnace, and its fire had gone out, leaving it cold.
The Reception Divine Treasury was the third divine treasury cultivated by divine practitioners.
This divine treasury drew on the power of heaven and earth and took in the breath of nature.
Upon opening the Reception Divine Treasury, Liu Chengfeng sensed not only spiritual energy but also the forces of nature.
The forces of water, fire, and lightning...
These forces existed not only between heaven and earth but also within the Spirit Veins.
The Blood Sea and Treasure Mountain Divine Treasury could sense the presence of spiritual energy, but they couldn't sense the forces of heaven and earth within it.
At the Spirit Vein Dojo in Qiuchi Kingdom, there was a Water Spirit Pool and a Fire Spirit Pool.
When Liu Chengfeng opened the Reception Divine Treasury, he could suddenly feel the vast power of earthfire and the abundant Marsh Qi, along with the spiritual energy.
He needed to practice the heart method for the Reception Divine Treasury to absorb spiritual energy and draw in the power of nature.
The attributes of the Reception Divine Treasury's heart method determined what kinds of natural power he could absorb.
Just as Liu Chengfeng had broken through to the Reception Divine Treasury, Little Li popped out with a secret manual in its mouth and set it down in front of him.
"Three Treasuries True Fire Heart Method."
Liu Chengfeng looked at the manual. It was a hastily copied version, and what was written there wasn't a heart method at all, but some kind of complex, ancient runes that had been copied down.
These runes resembled the divine script on the Thunder Fire Divine Tablet. They might have come from a god or a divine general.
"Was this copied from that Fire Phoenix Furnace?"
Liu Chengfeng recalled Ye Huijian's words and guessed at the manual's origins.
Little Li chirped and raised its head proudly, as if saying that being able to practice it was his good fortune.
"What's there to be proud of over one manual? Your master here has created and fused cultivation techniques before."
Seeing its proud expression, Liu Chengfeng rubbed its head. Its fur was soft and fluffy.
Little Li shook its head, acting all haughty and refusing to let Liu Chengfeng pet it.
Brothers, bring out your monthly tickets—and your recommendation tickets! Bring out the tips, too!!!
Before you continue