Chapter 00302: The Terrifying Reward
# The Terrifying Reward
Chapter 302
Novel: Abandon The Universe
Chapter 302: The Terrifying Reward
The Mo Xuan Alchemy Competition this time was aimed at selecting the most talented alchemists in the Mo Xuan Immortal Domain.
Those chosen would receive focused cultivation from the Mo Xuan Immortal Domain.
Of course, before reaching the level of a Nine-Rank Immortal Alchemy Emperor, they wouldn’t be able to enter that chaotic secret realm.
After saying all this, it was time to begin the competition.
Now, I invite Mo Xuan Immortal Domain’s top Immortal Alchemy Emperor, Mu Zifeng, to preside over this competition.
After Liu Ming finished speaking, many cultivators who had never practiced alchemy regretted their choices.
If they had known, they would have learned alchemy.
If they were selected, they wouldn’t have to struggle so hard for cultivation resources in the future.
Lan Xiaobu also breathed a sigh of relief.
Originally, he had thought that if the first-place winner was to be sent away immediately, he would rather not have that top-grade fire-attribute immortal spirit vein.
Hearing that one had to reach the level of an Immortal Alchemy Emperor before entering the chaotic secret realm, he no longer had any worries.
When he would reach the level of an Immortal Alchemy Emperor was entirely up to him, not anyone else.
When he felt he was capable, he could declare himself an Immortal Alchemy Emperor.
As for whether he could advance to that level in the future, it would depend on whether he could obtain enough eighth and ninth-grade immortal spirit herbs.
As for bottlenecks in advancement, they didn’t exist for him.
The reason he thought this way was because Lan Xiaobu believed he could win the competition.
He was an Immortal Alchemy King, and there probably weren’t many Immortal Alchemy Kings under ten thousand years old.
Mu Zifeng looked extremely thin.
If you met him on the street, it would be hard to believe he was an Immortal Alchemy Emperor.
More likely, you’d think he was a low-level cultivator struggling to survive.
In the mortal world, he might even resemble an old farmer.
However, Lan Xiaobu sensed that this man was not only an Immortal Alchemy Emperor but also a true Immortal Emperor powerhouse.
Mu Zifeng nodded to the crowd and said, “This competition is very simple. There’s only one task…”
Everyone was puzzled.
The Mo Xuan Immortal Domain’s Alchemy Competition had been prepared for many years, and various immortal domains had already held their own competitions to select the most talented alchemists to participate in this one.
How could it be that now, there was only one task?
Mu Zifeng obviously heard the murmurs and smiled slightly. “This task is not simple. The cost is enormous. Since this is an alchemy competition, naturally, you’ll be refining pills. The task is to refine a fourth-grade immortal pill. However, I won’t tell you the name of the pill, nor will I provide the formula…”
“Are we supposed to create our own formula?” Many participating alchemists felt despair.
Most of the participants here were third-grade immortal alchemists.
There were very few great immortal alchemists.
How could a third-grade immortal alchemist refine a fourth-grade immortal pill? Not to mention, without even being told the formula, how were they supposed to refine it?
Creating a formula? Ha, how many alchemists could actually create their own formulas?
Mu Zifeng continued, “It’s not necessarily about creating a formula. The formula already exists, and the immortal spirit herbs are provided according to the formula. Of course, the herbs provided are double the amount needed, with half being useless. However, very few alchemists know this formula. You’ll need to select half of the provided herbs to reconstruct the existing formula and then refine the pill. This could be called ‘restoring the formula.’ With the herbs as a reference, restoring the formula shouldn’t be too difficult. This task isn’t very friendly to third-grade immortal alchemists. However, considering that this competition is about selecting alchemy geniuses, not about balancing rankings. Competing with geniuses in alchemy means being prepared to play a supporting role. For third-grade immortal alchemists, it’s not entirely hopeless. Any purification of immortal spirit herbs and the sequence of the reconstructed formula will be scored. So, if you can reconstruct a third-grade immortal pill formula, a third-grade immortal alchemist can still achieve a ranking. Of course, if you manage to reconstruct a pill formula that exceeds the fourth grade, not only will it be scored, but the score might even surpass the original full marks. However, I must remind all participating alchemists that this task has a trap.”
The square erupted in laughter.
The formula provided in such a competition was undoubtedly the highest level possible.
How could anyone reconstruct a formula that surpassed the original? Try refining a fifth-grade immortal pill with fourth-grade immortal spirit herbs and see how that goes.
Lan Xiaobu, hearing this, pondered.
Normally, the task would be announced after the participants entered the competition area.
But now, before the participants had even entered, Mu Zifeng was already announcing the task.
This was quite strange.
Mu Zifeng paused intentionally, allowing the crowd to digest his words before continuing, “The reward for first place in this competition is extremely generous. I believe the most valuable item isn’t the top-grade fire-attribute immortal spirit vein, but a pharmacopoeia. Don’t think this pharmacopoeia only contains immortal spirit herbs from the immortal realm. The contents covering the mortal, cultivation, and immortal realms combined make up only one percent of this pharmacopoeia. The majority of it contains materials that transcend the immortal realm. Even I can’t fully comprehend many of them.”
Hearing this, Lan Xiaobu knew Mu Zifeng was telling the truth.
If such a pharmacopoeia truly existed, it would undoubtedly be more valuable than a top-grade immortal spirit vein—far more valuable.
It might even be on par with the Second Dao Codex, or even rarer.
Such a rare item would certainly be a unique copy.
Unique copies like this wouldn’t be allowed to be replicated, just like the Second Dao Codex.
It seemed he had to secure first place no matter what.
“In addition to the pharmacopoeia, the first-place winner will also receive a top-grade fire-attribute immortal spirit vein, a post-celestial spiritual treasure alchemy cauldron, and a true spirit world…”
These rewards weren’t just tempting for a small-time immortal alchemist—even an Immortal Emperor would covet them.
The more Lan Xiaobu listened, the more uneasy he felt.
Without hesitation, he took out his communication bead and sent a message to Ju Xiuruo, telling her not to watch the competition and to take Cheng Yinyao as far away as possible.
Something big might happen after the competition.
He vaguely understood why Mu Zifeng had announced the task beforehand, but this was just his speculation.
Perhaps giving up this competition would be the best choice.
But Lan Xiaobu had stepped onto the path of cultivation.
Knowing that so many top-tier treasures he needed were right in front of him, how could he give up for the sake of safety? How could he reach the pinnacle of his path?
This competition might not be entirely due to the Qingfang Immortal Domain’s proposal.
Who provided these treasures was also worth questioning.
Previously, he hadn’t heard about the pharmacopoeia or the true spirit world.
Teng Mo had only mentioned a small world.
A small world and a true spirit world were completely different concepts.
So many top-tier treasures were concentrated on the first-place winner.
There were only two possibilities: either the first place had been predetermined, or whoever won first place could easily take all these rewards from them, saving the trouble of collecting them from multiple alchemists.
Unfortunately, he had realized this too late.
If he had known earlier, he would have prepared an escape route before participating.
Lan Xiaobu soon received a message from Ju Xiuruo, informing him that they were leaving immediately.
Cheng Yinyao had left a jade slip in his room, detailing how to enter the Black Bone Swamp.
Lan Xiaobu breathed a sigh of relief.
Ju Xiuruo was too considerate.
Years of wandering had made her understand the implications of his message.
It meant danger after the competition, and staying would only add to his troubles.
Leaving the jade slip about the Black Bone Swamp wasn’t just about giving him the top-grade immortal spirit vein—it also provided him with a potential escape route.
He wondered who would be lucky enough to have such a woman as their cultivation partner.
Mu Zifeng continued, “Now, please enter the competition square. The way to enter is by using the purified liquid of the Jie Gang Immortal Fruit you’ve prepared.”
As Mu Zifeng sat down, a series of restrictions appeared around the competition square.
In the center of the restrictions was a formation gate, and beside it was a groove for pouring the Jie Gang Immortal Fruit liquid.
Some participating cultivators began lining up to enter.
As long as they poured the Jie Gang Immortal Fruit liquid into the groove, the formation gate would open, allowing the alchemist to enter.
If the liquid wasn’t pure enough, the formation gate wouldn’t react, and the participant would be ejected.
Very few participants were ejected.
Lan Xiaobu, holding his liquid, followed the crowd to the formation gate and poured in his Jie Gang Immortal Fruit liquid.
The gate opened, and Lan Xiaobu stepped into the competition area.
Far away, Wang Guangquan watched Lan Xiaobu enter the competition area with surprise.
He knew Lan Xiaobu was representing Teng Mo.
According to logic, since he had destroyed Lan Xiaobu’s liquid, Lan Xiaobu shouldn’t have been able to participate.
Who would give their liquid to Lan Xiaobu so close to the competition?
If that was the case, how could Lan Xiaobu still participate? He had planned to expose Lan Xiaobu, but he didn’t expect the entry method to be a formation gate check rather than a manual one.
He didn’t know that Lan Xiaobu had spread the rumor of re-purifying the Jie Gang Immortal Fruit liquid, hoping Wang Guangquan would raise an objection during the competition.
He hadn’t expected the liquid to be checked this way, foiling his plan to sabotage Wang Guangquan.
…
Entering the competition area, Lan Xiaobu found a alchemy station and sat down.
Once inside, the station was locked by restrictions, and he couldn’t leave until the competition ended.
After everyone was seated, Mu Zifeng stood up again. “The competition area is now closed. All participating alchemists, please pay attention to the prompts in front of you. The total score for this competition is 400 points. The alchemy fire provided is a unified fifth-grade underground immortal fire. You may use your own cauldron. The refining time is five days. After five days, whether you succeed or fail, no further actions are allowed. Any continued actions will result in a score of zero.”
As soon as Mu Zifeng finished speaking, Lan Xiaobu noticed a line of text suddenly appearing in front of him: “Please engrave your name, the immortal domain you represent, and your sect on the jade tablet beside your station.”
Lan Xiaobu casually picked up the jade tablet and wrote, “Lan Xiaobu, Star Ascension Immortal Court, Eleventh Prince Teng Mo.”
The jade tablet disappeared, and a fire control array plate appeared in front of Lan Xiaobu.
He glanced at the spot where the text had appeared.
Now, there was a palm-sized transmission button.
Above the button was another prompt: “Ready. Please press to transmit and begin receiving immortal spirit herbs.”
Lan Xiaobu pressed the button, and over a hundred immortal spirit herbs appeared before him.
To his surprise, there were even a dozen fifth-grade immortal spirit herbs among them.
(That’s all for today’s update.
Goodnight, friends!)
(End of Chapter)