Chapter 101: Martial Combat and Alchemy Refinement

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Every duel has its subtle differences depending on the place, and this third stage also has its own set of rules.

The two were headed toward a medicinal herb garden nestled against the sheer Dan Stone cliff.

Qin Chuan had been observing quietly and was well aware of this phase. Moving briskly, he soon reached the herb fields ahead.

The young attendant bypassed two lethargic guards dozing nearby, without alerting them.

“Here, in this herb garden, you may choose any fifty herbs as long as you do not uproot them completely. Also, take this storage pouch.” He handed Qin Chuan a special white pouch, making it clear that the herbs must be kept inside this pouch and not taken out of the third stage under any circumstances, even if unused during the pill refining process.

Looking at the neglected herb garden, almost stripped bare, a bitter taste crept into Qin Chuan’s mouth. He couldn’t help but wonder, “Can one really find fifty different kinds of herbs here?”

Scanning the field, only common and unremarkable herbs were visible. Even so, to preserve the herbs’ vitality, excessive picking was prohibited, making it difficult to gather even fifty distinct types.

Though inwardly skeptical, Qin Chuan had to meticulously select these fifty herbs to gain an edge in the competition.

The greater the number of pill formulas that could be concocted from these fifty herbs, the wider the choices during refining, increasing his chances of victory. Moreover, no single herb could be overused, a rule unique to this duel.

This tested the alchemist’s depth of knowledge. Possessing a unique formula could grant an overwhelming advantage.

Qin Chuan certainly had such formulas but had no intention of revealing them. Few alchemists would willingly expose their secrets for a mere test.

Some even speculated maliciously that Jade Mat Mountain arranged this duel format hoping that visiting alchemists would inadvertently reveal more of their formulas.

Qin Chuan moved swiftly, and after pondering briefly, he selected his herbs.

Only once the white pouch’s corners were filled with fifty herbs did he stop.

The pouch was remarkable; the moment the fiftieth herb entered, it turned black, signaling that herbs could now be removed but none could be added.

The attendant, noticing Qin Chuan’s quick and decisive choice, was somewhat surprised. Doubting his skill, he suspected Qin Chuan had simply picked herbs fitting a preconceived formula and filled the rest haphazardly.

Encounters with such novices were common, especially those unfamiliar with duel protocols. Seeing Qin Chuan looked barely twenty, the attendant’s doubts deepened.

“Since your selection is complete, follow me.”

Returning to the original plaza, they found Wu Lu had been waiting for some time.

There were thirty-two pairs in total—sixty-four alchemists refining pills simultaneously.

Sixty-four bronze cauldrons were arranged in rows, surrounded by binding fire arrays similar to those of the Azure Mountain Sect. Beside each cauldron stood a herb rack clearly meant for holding the chosen herbs.

As Qin Chuan took the herbs from the special pouch and placed them on the rack, over twenty others had yet to take their places.

Using this time, he carefully examined the herbs on Wu Lu’s rack.

Monument Grass.

Featherwest Herb...

Calculating silently with his familiar pill formulas, Qin Chuan realized these fifty herbs could produce eight different pills. More cleverly, these eight formulas varied in difficulty levels and would not collapse entirely if three specific herbs were missing.

At the same time, Wu Lu was scrutinizing Qin Chuan’s herb rack.

His previously calm gaze grew increasingly serious.

---

“I have prepared for this third stage for a long time. After stumbling in my first duel, I trained many times with my senior brother and repeatedly recalled the herbs in that garden until I arranged these fifty nearly perfect herbs.”

“Frankly, it’s only by exploiting the loopholes in the rules that one could reach this level.”

“I am close with the attendant, and from him I learned that Qin Chuan is a newcomer participating in this third stage for the first time. However, strangely, his fifty herbs are also almost flawless.”

“Based on known pill formulas, his fifty herbs can be refined into six different pills.”

“So, according to the duel rules, which herbs should I remove from him?”

He sighed inwardly, unable to help but regard this barely twenty-year-old youth with reluctant respect.

When the rest took their places, a middle-aged Daoist stepped forward to announce the rules.

“The test lasts two hours. Afterward, those who have not produced a pill will be eliminated, as will those with inferior quality pills.”

“This duel employs combat rules. Before refining, you have three chances to remove your opponent’s herbs, and during refining, two chances to interfere with your opponent.”

“You now have ten breaths of time to decide which three herbs to remove from your opponent.”

“Remove from your opponent the Fierce Glow Flower, Windbell Dew, and Deep Scale Silkworm Silk.” As the middle-aged Daoist finished, Qin Chuan immediately spoke.

The attendant, recognizing these herbs, quickly retrieved them from Wu Lu’s rack and returned them to the pouch.

“Please remove from Wu Lu’s herbs...”

Both understood the other was no pushover and selected their three herbs with utmost care.

“Ten breaths have passed. The duel begins now!”

The middle-aged Daoist’s loud shout was immediately followed by a burst of flame from an arm-thick incense stick nearby, clearly serving as a timer.

Qin Chuan moved quickly. With a lift of his hand, three white threads shot forth from his palm, sweeping across three herbs on the rack before he began processing them.

“Hmm?”

Wu Lu had just raised his hand to handle his herbs but caught sight of Qin Chuan simultaneously manipulating three herbs. He was momentarily surprised.

“What is he doing? Dividing his mind three ways just to handle herbs?”

“Though the two-hour limit is tight, it shouldn’t be like this. Dividing one’s mind this way is extremely taxing; even I can only maintain it for ten breaths before risking mental collapse.”

“This technique should only be used at the most critical moments of refining.”

What he did not know was that multitasking had become second nature to Qin Chuan.

Qin Chuan spread his left hand wide and suddenly struck the bronze cauldron’s side.

“Bang!” A long, resonant hum spread out, drawing the attention of those nearby, who inwardly scoffed at the ostentation.

Only the middle-aged Daoist on stage narrowed his eyes, silently acknowledging that the young man was remarkably skilled.

Qin Chuan appeared oblivious. For some reason, the moment he touched the cauldron today, he felt a perfectly smooth and flawless state of mind—unlike anything before.

Unconsciously, he sought to refine pills in his most comfortable way, like a thirsty man longing for water or a weary traveler craving a warm bed.

Everything felt natural, unrelated to skill or technique, as if instinctual.

Unbeknownst to him, in the second stage, all he had learned was being confirmed and fused into the countless principles of mutual generation and restriction.

---

In a hazy vision, his eyes seemed to see double: a seed falling to the herb field, taking root, sprouting branches, blooming flowers attracting butterflies, scattering seeds, and finally withering away.

I am the herb, and I am the fire.

“Pff.”

Spiritual energy poured into the miniature array; the flames flickered, growing hotter until the cauldron’s base glowed a deep red.

With a wave of his right hand, three herbs were either crushed into powder, squeezed for juice, or stimulated to grow, but all merged in an instant, forming an arc of light that entered directly through the open cauldron mouth.

“This pill, I do not recognize!”

Qin Chuan’s move revealed that the pill he intended to refine was unlike any of the six formulas Wu Lu knew.

“I must be more cautious in my interference. It’s too early now. Once his spirit is depleted and he reaches the critical phase, then I shall act.”

He moved his spirit, only sparing a glance at Qin Chuan, and began handling his own herbs.

Time passed swiftly; already, twelve of the sixty-four had exploded their cauldrons. Fortunately, the plaza was vast, preventing collateral damage.

The elderly man on stage, having completed his meditation, fixed his gaze seriously on the plaza.

The incense had burned halfway, marking one hour passed. This was the most dangerous period, when many could not restrain themselves and used their two interference opportunities.

Qin Chuan seemed to sense the heavy atmosphere. Flames gathered in his right palm, blending two herb juices.

Just as Wu Lu placed a pill ingredient into his cauldron and closed the lid,

Qin Chuan’s right hand rose. A small jade talisman shot from his sleeve toward the fire beneath Qin Chuan’s cauldron.

“Ice Condensation Talisman!”

Before the talisman could touch the cauldron, Qin Chuan felt a chill. Unperturbed, he raised his left hand, revealing two fiery ropes that spread toward the talisman’s path, aiming to intercept it.

But he did not see the faint smile on Wu Lu’s lips. The attendant nearby vaguely saw a nearly invisible thread of spiritual energy connecting Wu Lu to the talisman.

Just as the talisman neared the flames, Wu Lu bent his fingers slightly. The talisman abruptly changed direction, as if possessing intelligence, curving deftly toward the herb juice in Qin Chuan’s right hand.

“Huh?”

Qin Chuan was startled, having not anticipated this rare object-control technique. He tried to evade but was too late.

“Pff.”

Only a faint sound was heard as the fireball in his right hand instantly extinguished, destroying the herb juice as well.

Fortunately, a layer of spiritual energy shielded his hand’s surface; he felt only a sharp cold but no serious harm.

“A clever ploy with hidden intent,” he mused. “Even more surprising is that Wu Lu has mastered this rare object-control technique.”

At the same moment Qin Chuan lifted his eyes, he too glimpsed the faint spiritual thread in midair. Though just a fleeting glimmer, almost an illusion, he was certain: this subtle thread enabled the talisman’s sudden change of course.

Qi cultivators without spirit perception could not truly control objects at a distance. There must be some medium for control; otherwise, the talisman would fly straight like an arrow, uncontrollable.

That nearly invisible thread of spiritual energy was the conduit.