Falling from the Sky

As the fiery energy of the Fire Spirit Stone gradually faded, just when everyone thought the alchemy was finished, something entirely unexpected occurred.

With a sudden bang, the steaming cauldron exploded, shards scattering in all directions!

The crowd below erupted into chaos, chattering and speculating loudly. The way they looked at Qin Chuan was no longer filled with the initial disdain, but rather with a hint of respect.

At the final moment of alchemy, when the liquid is condensed into a pill, the chance of the cauldron exploding is much less than during the process of harmonizing differing spiritual herbs. With a sigh, many lamented the boy’s misfortune.

The pill was nearly complete, but at the very last step—condensing the liquid into a pill—he stumbled.

At this point in the event, many people began to understand what had transpired. It seemed they had been used. If only they had obtained the Body-Tempering Pill recipe they so desired, perhaps it would have been worthwhile. But after sitting here the entire day, not a single trace of it had materialized.

Though the second youth’s alchemy technique was unique and truly exquisite, it was not what they truly sought.

Moreover, the third round of the alchemy competition was blatantly manipulated. This so-called Bone-Cleansing Powder, although only of the second Qi Refinement rank, was unheard of and unrecorded in any alchemical texts, clearly a recent creation.

Such anomalies always hide deeper secrets. Was it merely coincidence that under these tricky rules in the third round, someone just happened to possess a newly invented Bone-Cleansing Powder?

The matter was so outlandish that everyone was quick to suspect Dan-Yi Pavilion.

It was Dan-Yi Pavilion that had sent out secret messages announcing the emergence of the Body-Tempering Pill recipe at this location!

Every arrangement in the competition had been orchestrated behind the scenes by Dan-Yi Pavilion.

Many even recognized Fang Mu as a disciple of Dan-Yi Pavilion!

All suspicions now pointed toward Dan-Yi Pavilion!

If Qin Chuan had truly been an incompetent fool, there would not have been so much outrage, but his talent was undeniable.

No one in the audience dared say they could memorize an entire recipe after merely observing it once in such a setting.

The art of alchemy was filled with countless subtleties! Even each strike of the palm against the cauldron could affect the quality of the pill.

In contrast, Qin Chuan not only accomplished this feat, but single-handedly modified the recipe, displaying astonishing fire control, fluid techniques, and a dazzling variety of alchemical skills.

That final explosion of the cauldron was simply unforeseeable.

Meanwhile, the Elder at the Pavilion finally felt a weight lift from his heart.

Though he had not managed to extract the Body-Tempering Pill from Qin Chuan, which was truly a pity, the losses had been contained; wasting a few common herbs was of little consequence.

The other senior elders on the platform, though their eyes betrayed lingering regret, knew that this was the best possible outcome for now.

Fang Mu enjoyed great fame among the Qi Refinement disciples of Dan-Yi Pavilion, his affinity and perception outstanding, but he was still no match for a Netherfruit.

In time, as long as Fang Mu was quietly disposed of, the Netherfruit would be preserved.

Feeling gratified, the Elder raised his cup of tea, took a slow sip, and let out a smile of relief.

Only Master Su’s eyes gleamed with a strange light, fixed intently on the void above the square, where something was plummeting at great speed!

The Elder rose, leaping forward as if skimming across water, his toes brushing the air and leaving invisible ripples in his wake.

It was as if there were layers of illusory steps in the void, carrying him from the high platform toward the central stage.

Qin Chuan ignored all this, lifting his gaze to the sky, where the mist had been dyed crimson by the sunlight.

“The time is up. The victor of the third round has been... decided!” The Elder’s hoarse voice echoed out, but before he could utter the final word, Qin Chuan interrupted him.

“Wait!”

At that moment, everyone’s eyes turned to Qin Chuan, seeing him gazing skyward, and they unconsciously followed his gaze.

A sudden jolt struck the Elder’s heart. His spiritual sense swept outward in desperation, seeking the source of his fear.

Ten feet. One hundred feet. Five hundred feet!

Suddenly, a round pill, its surface dusted with golden radiance, was plummeting downward!

In a flash, it fell a hundred feet!

The Elder felt blood rush to his head, as if a hammer had struck his chest.

“That pill must not be allowed to fall!”

This thought flared up in his mind, and an inexplicable sense of urgency overtook him. Concealed by his wide sleeves, he swiftly formed a secret hand seal.

His cultivation was profound and his art subtle, so few in the area noticed his actions.

Amid the clouds, a short-tailed yellow bird suddenly appeared, darting toward the falling pill. If nothing intervened, it would surely snatch it away.

This yellow bird had materialized out of nowhere, shrouded in mist, leaving no trace for most to notice. Among the elders on the viewing platform, only a few perceived it, and cold sweat beaded on their brows as shock and delight mingled.

But just as the Elder thought he had succeeded, a sparrowhawk suddenly swooped in from the side.

The sparrowhawk made no attempt to hide itself; its outstretched wings spanned ten feet, casting a vast shadow among the rosy clouds, clearly visible to all on Biluofeng Peak.

Two sharp cries rang out, and the black shadow swept past, soaring far away.

In less than half a breath, Qin Chuan’s eyes shone, and all the cultivators below with spiritual senses stared at a single point in the clouds, awe-struck and breathless.

Suddenly, a golden arc flashed before their eyes!

At that instant, Qin Chuan stretched his leg muscles to their limit, the tendons in his legs audibly straining with dull, snapping sounds.

Relying on the almost imperceptible images in his mind, blurred by their speed, he reached out and grabbed!

He caught it!

But what he seized was hardly a pill—it was as heavy as a millstone. The force exploded in his grip, nearly tearing apart the bones of his right arm.

His body lost balance and plummeted downward!

Without intervention, from such a height—over thirty feet—he would be lucky to survive.

As Qin Chuan struggled to regain his balance, a sudden chill washed over his left wrist.

A ghostly shadow, shrieking as it moved, clung to his back and gave a powerful upward push!

The force exploded, not enough to halt his fall completely, but enough to restore his balance.

A wave of warmth surged in his heart, but there was no time for gratitude. His robe billowed so fiercely in midair it threatened to tear apart. The spiritual energy within him surged uncontrollably.

With his senses sharpened, he summoned every last vestige of spiritual energy. In a single instant, his meridians tore, but he ignored the pain, gathering his strength and striking downward!

With just two palm strikes, his spiritual energy was exhausted. Qin Chuan’s face turned deathly pale, and blood seeped from every pore of his left hand, swept away by the fierce wind.

Fortunately, his body suddenly halted. Using the force from his previous strikes, he spun his robe and himself through the air.

Bang!