Origin-Transforming Life-Restoring Pill

"How do we take part in the Alchemy Duel Convention?" Yao Chen asked bluntly.

He knew nothing about the convention's rules, but since Tiger Minister had brought it up himself, there had to be a way in.

Dan Huchen's expression became slightly unnatural.

He raised a hand to stroke his stubbled chin, his gaze drifting around the room before finally settling back on Yao Chen. Clearing his throat, he said, "Well... you can pose as my disciples. Ahem, you've exchanged quite a few cultivation techniques with me already, so if we put it that way, no one will suspect anything."

A trace of subtle embarrassment colored his voice as he spoke.

Yao Chen was now a Fifth-Grade Alchemist—not yet eighteen, yet already a Fifth-Grade Alchemist.

In terms of ability, Yao Chen was not much weaker than him, a Sixth-Grade Alchemist. As for potential, there was even less to say.

Not to mention the even more monstrous Lin Yu!

Dan Huchen's gaze involuntarily drifted toward Lin Yu, who stood half a step behind Yao Chen.

"That won't be a problem." Yao Chen readily agreed, without the slightest reluctance on his face.

To him, joining the Alchemy Duel Convention as a disciple was merely an insignificant layer of identity. What mattered was gaining entry to the holy land and learning genuine alchemy.

Compared to that, he had never cared much for empty reputations.

But Lin Yu did not state his position.

He stood beside Yao Chen with his arms folded over his chest, his expression giving nothing away.

His dark eyes calmly watched Dan Huchen. He neither agreed nor refused, as though waiting for something else.

Seeing this, how could Dan Huchen fail to understand? He sighed softly to himself.

That was only natural. Lin Yu was, after all, practically a Seventh-Grade Alchemist.

Seventh grade—within any power on the continent, such a rank would make one an elder-level figure.

Asking a Seventh-Grade Alchemist to pretend to be his disciple at the Alchemy Duel Convention made even his own face burn with shame.

The fact that Lin Yu had not rejected him on the spot was already leaving him plenty of dignity.

"Fine, fine." Dan Huchen waved his hand, and his rough voice carried a rare note of emotion.

He put the matter aside, then changed the subject, his tone becoming more relaxed. "In a month, I'll take you out of here. That old fellow Qu Dongsheng will probably finish refining the Origin-Transforming Life-Restoring Pill in the next couple of days. Once this pill is complete, we'll be free."

Tiger Minister smiled and patted Yao Chen on the shoulder. An oddly mismatched smile appeared on his naturally fierce-looking face, but his tone was sincerely warm. "That old man Qu only watched you refine pills and already stole seventy or eighty percent of your techniques. But don't worry, that old fellow would never dare pass them on. Assassins of the Yao Clan... heh heh, not many people on the Central Plains Continent would dare face them head-on."

Hearing that, Yao Chen could not help but smile wryly. After three years together, he had long since seen through Qu Dongsheng completely.

Nearly eighty years old, Qu Dongsheng possessed extraordinarily powerful soul force. In terms of sheer depth of soul power alone, he even surpassed Dan Huchen by a considerable margin.

He did not observe with his eyes at all. Instead, he used his soul force to analyze everything around him. Not a single movement Yao Chen made while refining pills, nor any detail of his flame control, could escape his all-pervasive soul perception.

But Yao Chen did not care. Qu Dongsheng could never steal the most essential part.

It was a special technique that could only be activated by the bloodline of the Yao Clan, a racial gift possessed only by Yao Clan disciples.

What Qu Dongsheng could learn were merely the surface-level methods and techniques. The bloodline power that truly determined the essence of Yao Clan alchemy was something he could never replicate.

So although Yao Chen knew that the man was secretly learning from him, he did not mind.

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

Qu Dongsheng and Dan Huchen worked together to refine twelve Origin-Transforming Life-Restoring Pills.

"With this, we can return." Qu Dongsheng's voice trembled slightly. For the first time, his immortal-like bearing carried a trace of worldly warmth.

Dan Huchen was even more unrestrained. He threw back his head and roared several times, his voice shaking the surrounding fields and knocking several leaves from the spiritual plants in the medicine garden.

The Demon Clan's Holy Maiden rushed to the alchemy hall at once.

Her attire was more ceremonial than usual today. A moon-white gown trailed across the ground, and a waist chain braided from silver threads outlined her alluring figure perfectly.

Twelve stunningly beautiful women with graceful figures followed behind her. They were not members of the Demon Clan, but genuine humans. Each was full of vigor, with no weak aura among them; all possessed at least the cultivation of a Da Dou Shi.

"Elder Qu, according to the agreement made thirty years ago, twelve beautiful concubines are presented to you."

The Holy Maiden smiled faintly and waved her delicate hand. The twelve beautiful women stepped forward in unison and gave Qu Dongsheng graceful bows.

Their movements were perfectly synchronized, clearly the result of strict training.

"Very good. The thing I asked for..." Qu Dongsheng's gaze swept over the twelve women without lingering for long. Clearly, he cared more about something else.

"It was prepared thirty years ago." The Holy Maiden respectfully presented another Storage Ring. Qu Dongsheng accepted it, sent his spiritual sense inside, and nodded in satisfaction a moment later.

The Holy Maiden smiled lightly, then turned toward Dan Huchen. "Senior Tiger, you joined ten years ago and contributed greatly. Aside from what was originally agreed upon, there are also three beautiful concubines for you. Would Senior Tiger be interested?"

"Ahem. Women are troublesome." Dan Huchen waved his large hand and refused without ceremony. "I'm not like that old devil Qu, with an enormous family that needs heirs."

The Holy Maiden did not press the matter. Smiling, she placed another Storage Ring into Tiger Minister's hand, then said, "In that case, the transaction from back then is complete. Of the twelve Origin-Transforming Life-Restoring Pills, Demon Saint Valley will take eight. The remaining four may be handled by the two seniors as you see fit."

Qu Dongsheng was about to speak when Dan Huchen beat him to it.

"I'll take one." He tapped a thick finger against the table. Then his eyes flashed, and he chuckled as he looked toward Yao Chen and Lin Yu, who stood not far away. "As for two more, I think Yao Chen and Lin Yu deserve a share as well."

The moment those words were spoken, everyone present was slightly stunned.

Qu Dongsheng's expression was somewhat complicated. He remained silent for a long while, his brows faintly furrowed as though weighing something in his heart.

But in the end, he slowly nodded, acknowledging Tiger Minister's suggestion.

Qu Dongsheng's gaze paused on Lin Yu for a moment. This youth's future was boundless; forming a good connection with him could only bring benefits.

"All right, the four guest elders may leave whenever you wish," the Holy Maiden announced, her tone as gentle and proper as ever.

Yet as she spoke, she deliberately glanced at Lin Yu. That look carried a deeper meaning, implying that she had something to discuss with him in private.

Lin Yu's heart stirred slightly, but his expression remained unchanged.

After the Holy Maiden left the hall, Lin Yu followed her.