Chapter 103: Supreme Ninth Rank

Page (1/3)

“Clang, clang, clang...”
The heavy tolling of the bell sounded six times, with a brief pause in between.
“A sixth-grade Qi Refining Pill? To have crafted this Stormwind Pill to such a degree is quite impressive...”
Before he could utter the word “impressive,” another bell chimed suddenly—“clang.”
This bell was faint, almost imperceptible, yet it caused the crowd to freeze briefly before erupting in shock.
“This is a seventh-grade pill!”
Ordinarily, a Stormwind Pill is suitable for those at the fifth level of Qi Refinement. Beyond that, its efficacy diminishes sharply. However, if the pill master’s skill is sufficient, sixth or even seventh-grade pills can be produced.
Though the seventh chime was faint and elusive, many present heard it and, by consensus, classified this Stormwind Pill as seventh-grade.
Wulu was momentarily stunned, clearly unprepared for the seventh toll.
His heart leapt with excitement, nearly shouting as if he had already declared his own victory prematurely.
Glancing at Qin Chuan, he expected to see disappointment, but to his surprise, Qin Chuan’s expression remained calm.
“Qin Chuan, what pill did you refine?”
“Spirit Terrace Pill.”
Upon hearing the name, Wulu nodded slightly. “An imported pill, no wonder I’m unfamiliar with it. To surpass my seventh-grade pill, it would have to be an eighth-grade or the extremely rare ninth-grade pill!”
“However, hehe.”
He sneered inwardly.
Following instructions, Qin Chuan held the Spirit Terrace Pill and stood on the stage.
As he stepped forward with his right foot, he felt the pill in his hand tremble slightly, as if resonating with the stone wall.
The moment both feet were firmly planted, the entire stone wall seemed to shudder faintly. The bell’s pealing was round and ancient, reminiscent of an ancient temple bell from millennia ago, ringing six clear times in succession.
“Haha, luckily my pill is seventh-grade. What a close call,” Wulu sighed in relief upon hearing the six tolls.
“Clang!”
But then another bell rang out, strong and clear—not faint like the seventh toll of the Stormwind Pill.
Wulu’s face changed. “This isn’t good.”
Murmurs arose from the crowd, surprised by yet another seventh-grade pill.
“Clang!” The eighth bell rang, louder and more resonant, spreading far and wide.
“There’s still another toll! This must be an eighth-grade pill!”
In shock, the crowd turned their eyes to Qin Chuan and the Spirit Terrace Pill in his hand.
Many present, whether visiting pill masters or those native to Jade Mat Mountain, had not passed the first three tests of the Pill Master Ten Arrays. For many, even crafting a fifth-grade pill was challenging, let alone amidst the unpredictable chaos of martial contests.
Wulu had prepared extensively, refining countless Stormwind Pills to finally achieve seventh-grade quality.
While the crowd marveled, their expressions suddenly shifted, even the elder presiding on stage showed a sharp gleam in his eyes.
Then the ninth bell tolled, echoing between the cliff’s pill stone walls—not a real sound but a direct resonance within each person’s mind, audible only to those versed in pill refinement.
The deeper one’s pill path, the louder the bell chimed within their heart.
The elder’s mind thundered as he sat cross-legged, clinging tightly to the lingering echo of the ninth toll.
It was the ninth bell!
The Spirit Terrace Pill had astonishingly reached the level of a ninth-grade pill!

Page (2/3)

Qin Chuan’s heart was equally shaken; he hadn’t expected the anticipated eighth-grade pill to emit a ninth toll, let alone transmit the Pill Path’s Dao sound.
His mind roared like waves crashing ashore. The familiar way of plants and trees truly melded into an inseparable unity.
This Dao sound traveled far, passing through the Third Array and reaching the outside world, resonating throughout the entire pill stone cliff!
Looking down upon the scene, it was breathtaking: countless people seated cross-legged, the once lively cliffside now fallen into a profound silence.
Some immediately entered meditation on stone steps halfway up the cliff, while others abandoned their pills mid-refinement, risking furnace failure.
“Brother Wang, my heart suddenly trembled. What is happening?” a young man in the Second Array heard the sound and was bewildered, turning to those beside him only to find many had already collapsed into meditation.
Today’s cultivators focus on cultivation but neglect enlightenment—or rather, enlightenment is exceedingly difficult, rare and precious.
Any immortal cultivator witnessing this scene would be deeply moved.
Enlightenment is hard to pursue; for one person to experience it is rare, let alone thousands simultaneously. This should not have happened. Yet this special ninth-grade Spirit Terrace Pill happened to resonate with the pill stone cliff!
...
“He’s awake!”
After an unknown length of time, Qin Chuan felt an unbearable dryness in his throat and slowly regained consciousness.
Many gathered around, their eyes shining with vitality.
“Brother Qin, no need for thanks; today’s great favor will be repaid in time.”
“Indeed, I, Tian...”
Qin Chuan was momentarily dazed, as if groggy from sleep. But recalling the profoundly stirring ninth toll before his enlightenment, he understood clearly.
With a surge of spirit, he rose, his body unchanged but his eyes deep and mesmerizing, causing hearts to quicken upon meeting his gaze.
“What is this?”
After some compliments, Qin Chuan glanced behind him and suddenly noticed a nameboard glowing on the stone wall.
The characters shimmered like flowing light, flickering occasionally. At the top was the name—“Qin Chuan”!
...
Later, at the inn, after bathing and sitting cross-legged, Qin Chuan still had questions and had to consult Wan Yi.
“Do you know why that Dao sound appeared today? Does it happen every time a ninth-grade pill is refined, or is it accidental, or due to some other reason?”
“The Dao sound does not appear every time. Do you think it’s as common as cabbage?”
Wan Yi’s blunt response left Qin Chuan speechless, but he pressed on.
“It should be that today’s array linked with the pill stone cliff, triggering the unique Spirit Terrace Pill to emit such a Dao sound.”
“I know what you’re thinking—trying to see if it can be reproduced.”
“The moment you think that, it becomes impossible to recreate the Dao sound by the same method.”
“And the pill stone cliff is no ordinary place. As for deeper secrets, even if you knew, it would be useless—that involves ancient mysteries from millennia ago.”
“As for your own Pill Path, although you have indeed taken a step forward, you are still far from true mastery! Even the little finger of that Su Nu child surpasses you.”
“Today I already explained tens of thousands of plant transformations to you, yet you woke me from my slumber—ah, the hearts of men grow less sincere.”
With that, Wan Yi rolled into Qin Chuan’s embrace and fell soundly asleep.
Qin Chuan sifted through the information, then set aside the Pill Path matters, closing his eyes to meditate, attempting to thin the luminous membrane between his lower and middle dantian.
The Yunjian Inn, located in Jade Mat City, was one of the premier inns, backed by powerful patrons, with excellent service and ample funds. Its branches spread across every important area of the city, naturally including the pill stone cliff.
Qin Chuan’s location was the Yunjian Inn on the pill stone cliff.
The night passed silently until Qin Chuan slowly awoke.

Page (3/3)

Without using the inn’s “Reserved Vehicle” sign, he left and headed straight for the pill stone cliff.
He soon arrived at the expected spot.
In times of peace, the pill stone cliff was open to anyone for pill refining, without needing to pass the first three arrays of the Pill Master Ten Arrays.
But during wartime, the demand for pills surged, prices rose accordingly, and the area before the cliff was crowded with pill masters.
Thus, stricter regulations were enforced—only those who passed the first three arrays of the Jade Mat Mountain Pill Masters could use the facilities.
Thanks to Ji Xin’s introduction yesterday, Qin Chuan had gained some understanding of the place. The fire pits used by pill masters in the square were newly established—fierce but highly unstable.
Those refining pills here were usually outsiders or youths from minor families within Jade Mat City lacking powerful backing.
Pill masters with connections would avoid the square’s unstable fires, preferring their own refining chambers or, for some, the pill stone cliff’s chambers.
Qin Chuan headed directly to a pill refining pavilion.
“Prepare a pill chamber for me, suitable for Qi Refining level. Here’s my waist token.” He took out his token and handed it to the attendant.
The woman was not strikingly beautiful but pleasant to behold, her eyebrows and eyes soft and gentle like late spring willow catkins.
“You’re not a local pill master; the fee will be eighty percent higher.”
The attendant inspected the token, detected Qin Chuan was not from Jade Mat Mountain, and gently warned him.
Although mentally prepared, Qin Chuan was still startled by the steep surcharge. He was about to produce the jade token given by Liu Fengshan when the attendant suddenly exclaimed.
“You... you are Qin Chuan?”
Qin Chuan inwardly cursed, “Can’t you read?” His tone was helpless but he softly replied, “Yes.”
“The pavilion master ordered yesterday that if you came, all chamber fees would be waived, and depending on circumstances, some medicinal herbs would be offered to you at ten percent off.”
“Oh? In that case, find me an available chamber with the most stable fire.” Qin Chuan heard this and pocketed the usual jade token. He thought this jade token was probably less useful than his handsome face now.
“There’s a vacant chamber ten in the Tian district. You may use that. I’ll prepare it now.”
She said this and headed inside.
Qin Chuan wondered when his reputation had grown so strong in Jade Mat Mountain, sat down, and sipped the tea.
Just as he raised the cup, three people burst in hastily. Seeing no attendant, they barged in directly.
One almost spilled tea on him, but fortunately, Qin Chuan’s precise control saved him. He exhaled deeply, about to react, but the group had already left.
He muttered a curse and paid no further attention, relieved the tea remained unspilled.
The tea smelled rich and mellow; even someone unfamiliar with tea could tell it was high quality. No wonder the pavilion was so prosperous.
He took a small sip, unconsciously finishing the cup. A faint bitterness was followed by a sweet aftertaste, the aroma lingering on his tongue and throat.
Before he could savor it further, a sudden cry came from deep inside—a female voice, likely the attendant’s.
He immediately set the cup down and strode toward the source of the voice.
“Tian district.”
Looking up, he saw he had reached the Tian district. After turning the corner, he indeed found the attendant.
She knelt on the ground, covering her face as she wept. Her voice trembled but carried resolve.
“This Tian chamber is the last available one, and it’s already been reserved. You might consider a chamber in the Di district; the effects are similarly good.”
“If you are dissatisfied, or if the unstable fire or furnace causes your pill to fail, the pavilion will fully compensate your losses.”
She revealed nothing of Qin Chuan’s identity, speaking with utmost humility and tact.