Lai Li’an did not speak. His right hand was still inside his clothes, and his mind was racing.
‘Thunder Tribulation phenomenon? What is that?’
He recalled that when he was refining the Moon Essence Liquid in the cave and opening the Acquired Spirit Root, the process, though dangerous, had been generally smooth.
Later, he did seem to hear a loud bang. Several pieces of broken stone fell from the cave ceiling, and the whole cave shook a few times.
At the time, he had been fully focused on guiding the Lunar Essence to stabilize the newly formed Spirit Root Meridian. He hadn’t had the mind to care about what was happening outside.
Wait. Lai Li’an suddenly remembered a detail.
At the final moment of opening his Spirit Root, the newly born meridian suddenly trembled violently, as if it had been struck hard by some external force. Then the Taixu Life-Protecting Bead activated automatically.
At the time, he had wondered—opening an Acquired Spirit Root was just that. How could it have triggered the Life-Protecting Bead?
Now he understood. It wasn’t brought about by opening the Spirit Root. It was Heavenly Thunder. The Taixu Life-Protecting Bead had taken that strike for him.
A chill shot up Lai Li’an’s spine. He had almost died.
Then he began to think about the current situation. Among these few people, the black-robed man’s cultivation was Late Core Formation.
If the other party struck now, without the Taixu Life-Protecting Bead, he feared a single blow would end his life. Should he use a talisman to kill the opponent first?
A myriad of thoughts raced through Lai Li’an’s mind, but his expression remained unchanged. He merely looked at the four people before him with a calm gaze.
Then he spoke.
“Rise.”
The three felt as if they had been granted a great reprieve. They thanked him profusely and carefully straightened up. The black-robed man did not speak, only slowly raised his lowered head.
Meng Qiuran swallowed his saliva, mustered his courage, and spoke again.
“Senior, this junior dares to ask… that Thunder Tribulation just now, exactly what… what did Senior do to attract Heavenly Punishment?”
Lai Li’an was silent for a few breaths. During those few breaths, Meng Qiuran’s heart almost leaped out of his throat.
He had already cursed himself a hundred times in his heart. Why ask! What does it matter what Senior does! What if he offends Senior!
Fortunately, Lai Li’an finally spoke.
“Alchemy.”
Two words, spoken lightly. Meng Qiuran’s eyes shot wide open. Li He and Ye Shuang both sucked in a cold breath.
It really was alchemy! A pill that attracted Heavenly Punishment!
Ye Shuang’s voice trembled, and her whole face flushed with excitement.
“Senior! Dare I ask… dare I ask what grade of pill you refined? To attract Heavenly Punishment, could it be… could it be Ninth Grade?”
Li He couldn’t hold back either.
“Senior! Can we have a look at that pill? A pill that attracts Heavenly Punishment must be an extremely rare treasure in the world!”
Meng Qiuran didn’t speak, but the anticipation in his eyes was almost overflowing. For an alchemist, witnessing such a treasure with one’s own eyes would be the greatest honor of a lifetime.
He even began to imagine returning to his sect and writing today’s events into his travelogue, to be read by future generations.
Then they saw Lai Li’an’s face darken. His gaze turned from calm to slightly cold.
In that instant, the temperature in the cave seemed to drop several degrees.
“This junior was rude!”
Meng Qiuran almost instinctively bowed again.
“We were momentarily excited and spoke without thinking! The pill refined by Senior is not something we are worthy to observe! Please forgive us, Senior!”
Li He and Ye Shuang quickly followed suit, bowing until their foreheads almost touched the ground. Looking at the three trembling figures, Lai Li’an secretly sighed in relief.
‘Good thing this trick of silence worked. Over these three years, I’ve summed up an iron rule: when you don’t know how to answer, just act aloof. The other party will automatically find a reason for you, and it will be even better than what you could make up.’
Sure enough, Meng Qiuran had already found a reason for Lai Li’an in his heart. A divine pill that attracts Heavenly Punishment must contain the universal truth. How could it be shown to others casually? Their rash request to see it was indeed presumptuous. Senior only darkened his face and didn’t directly punish them—that was already immense tolerance.
Lai Li’an’s expression softened a little. He nodded slightly, letting the matter pass.
Meng Qiuran felt relieved and thanked him repeatedly. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and a thought suddenly surged in his heart.
This Senior’s attainment in the Alchemy Path was unfathomable. A pill that could attract Heavenly Punishment could probably only be refined by a few Grand Supreme Elders of the Dan Sect Main Sect.
And this gray-robed man before him had already reached such a realm. If such a person could be invited to the Alchemy Convention…
He took a deep breath and respectfully spoke again.
“Senior, this junior has another presumptuous request.”
Lai Li’an raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Three months from now, the Cangwu Realm will host the once-a-century Cangwu Alchemy Convention, jointly organized by my Branch Sect of the Dan Sect and several major powers. At that time, all the Alchemy geniuses from the various sects of the Cangwu Realm will gather to compete in skills.”
As Meng Qiuran spoke, his tone grew more solemn.
“This junior dares to ask if Senior would grace the convention with your presence—”
Lai Li’an frowned slightly.
‘Attending the Alchemy Convention? Let me go compete in alchemy with a bunch of geniuses? What would I use? That stone cauldron?’
He instinctively wanted to refuse, but Meng Qiuran’s next sentence made him swallow the “no” that was about to come out.
“To serve as an invited judge.”
Lai Li’an was stunned.
‘A judge? Not a contestant?’
Seeing his silence, Meng Qiuran thought he found it troublesome and quickly added,
“Senior, rest assured. The duty of a judge is not cumbersome. You only need to evaluate the pills of a few contestants during the final round.
All expenses during the convention will be borne by my Branch Sect of the Dan Sect, and a small token of appreciation will be offered to thank Senior for taking the time to attend.”
He paused and said cautiously,
“Of course, this junior understands that with Senior’s level, you may not care for such worldly things…”
‘A judge… A judge is good. No need to refine pills. Just sit there, make a show of commenting a few times. That’s something I’m good at. Over these three years, I’ve perfected the art of playing the aloof expert. Commenting is all about being ambiguous and profound.
‘”Lacking in heat,” “Shallow in artistic conception,” “Meditate for three more years”—I can say these things, and I can come up with a hundred different versions.
‘Most importantly, what Meng Qiuran said next.
‘All expenses borne by the Dan Sect, plus a small gift.’
Lai Li’an’s face was calm as still water, but his mind was already doing the math.
‘My current assets are pitifully meager. Su Wan’er never says anything, but I know clearly that at this rate, the two of us will be drinking the northwest wind before long.
‘The Branch Sect of the Dan Sect should be one of the major powers in the Cangwu Realm. Their “small gift”—how small could it be?
‘If I’m lucky, I might even get a few bottles of Elixir Pills, some Spiritual Herbs, and the like. Now that I’ve opened my Acquired Spirit Root, I’m in urgent need of a large amount of resources to consolidate my foundation, and I’ve been worrying about where to get them.
‘As for the risk of being exposed…
‘The alchemists who make it to the finals, their pills can’t be too bad even at worst. I just need to find faults in a perfect product. This is even easier than playing the aloof expert.
‘The other judges can’t be pushovers, right? I’ll just pretend a couple of times. But I can’t seem too eager.’
“Venerable Self is used to a life of leisure and has no intention of participating in such gatherings.”
Was this a refusal? Meng Qiuran’s heart sank, but he dared not press further. He could only say respectfully,
“This junior was presumptuous.”
Just then, Su Wan’er, who had been sitting quietly nearby, suddenly lifted her head. Her eyes were shining.
“Fellow Daoist Meng,” her voice trembled slightly, filled with barely contained excitement. “Are you talking about… that once-a-century Cangwu Alchemy Convention?”
Meng Qiuran nodded.
“Indeed. Have you heard of it, Fellow Daoist?”
Of course, Su Wan’er had heard of it. The once-a-century Cangwu Alchemy Convention was the most prestigious alchemy event in the entire Cangwu Realm.
The convention gathered the most outstanding alchemy talents from all over the Cangwu Realm. The ultimate victor of each convention would receive a “Dan Token” bestowed by the Dan Sect Main Sect. With this token, one could enter the Scripture Pavilion of the Dan Sect Main Sect for three days of reading.
The Scripture Pavilion of the Dan Sect Main Sect was a place that every alchemist in the world dreamed of. But that wasn’t why Su Wan’er was excited.
She was excited because the ultimate victor of the Cangwu Alchemy Convention could also receive one “Questioning the Way” opportunity.
Questioning the Way meant using a treasured artifact of the Dan Sect, the Heaven-Gazing Mirror, to inquire about future opportunities, cultivation methods, and even glimpse the past.
And Su Wan’er had a question she had always wanted answered, about the Blood Lotus Sect that had previously invaded the Tianlan Sect. Logically, even if she was alone on Si Guo Cliff, it was still sect territory. Yet the Blood Lotus Sect had been able to attack her.
‘I believe someone must have wanted to frame me. Though my sect brothers and sisters aren’t kind to me, they wouldn’t collude with external enemies to do such a thing. There must be some inside story.’
As long as she could obtain the opportunity to “Question the Way”…
But she didn’t know alchemy. At that thought, the light in Su Wan’er’s eyes dimmed.
“Does Fellow Daoist have an interest in the Alchemy Convention?”
Meng Qiuran keenly caught the change in her expression and quickly asked.
“May I ask which sect you belong to and what your alchemy attainment is? If you wish to participate, I can make an exception and apply for a participant slot.”
Su Wan’er opened her mouth, about to shake her head and deny it.
“She will participate.”
Three words, spoken lightly by Lai Li’an.
Su Wan’er turned her head sharply, staring wide-eyed at Lai Li’an.
‘What is Senior saying? Me participate? With what? I’ve never even touched an Elixir Furnace!’
“Senior…”
Su Wan’er’s voice carried a hint of panic.
Lai Li’an glanced at her. That single glance made Su Wan’er swallow the rest of her words.
“This Venerable Self’s disciple has been cultivating with me for a short time. She still needs honing in the Alchemy Path. This convention will be a chance for her to gain some experience.”
‘Disciple?’ Su Wan’er’s heart pounded. ‘Senior said “disciple.” Senior called me “disciple” in front of others!’
Her eyes suddenly reddened. She lowered her head, not wanting anyone to see her expression.
‘So the previous trials were indeed from Senior. Now Senior has acknowledged me. I absolutely must not let Senior down.’
Meng Qiuran was overjoyed.
“So Fellow Daoist is also an alchemist! My apologies! Senior, rest assured. Leave Fellow Daoist’s participation slot to me. I will apply to the sect as soon as I return. There will be no problem at all!”
He took a Jade Slip from his bosom, held it with both hands, and respectfully offered it to Lai Li’an.
“Senior, this Jade Slip records the time, location, and related matters of the Alchemy Convention. Three months from now, this junior will await Senior and Fellow Daoist in Cangwu City.”
Lai Li’an took the Jade Slip and tucked it into his bosom, nodding slightly.
“Oh, right. May I ask for Senior and Fellow Daoist’s names?”
“My name is Su Wan’er. Senior’s surname is Lai. Just call him Senior Lai.”
Meng Qiuran knew it was time to take his leave. He bowed deeply once more, and the few of them slowly exited the cave.