Chaos Heaven-Dominating Technique

"You seem to need me quite badly, don’t you?" Seeing the awkward expression on Feng Li’s face, Shen Haoran’s eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of scrutiny in his gaze as he looked at him.

Meeting Shen Haoran’s sharp gaze, even an old fellow like Feng Li felt a bit uncomfortable. He gave a bitter laugh and said, "Truth be told, the Pill Emperor competition at the Medicine Hall Headquarters isn’t just to select genius Alchemists for the Medicine Hall. It’s also a way to test if the branch halls have been fulfilling their duties over the years, and it’s a competition between the branches themselves. The genius disciples are all chosen from these branch halls. Once a disciple from your own hall secures a high rank, that branch receives a larger share of resources from Headquarters."

"The Demon Race’s Medicine Hall has a total of one hundred and eight halls throughout the Eastern Domain. Only twenty of them are strong enough to participate in the Pill Emperor competition. Every five years, these twenty branch halls use the Pill Emperor competition to determine their rankings and receive resources from the Medicine Hall Headquarters. I won’t be embarrassed to tell you... my Burning Flame City Medicine Hall is on the very edge of the Eastern Domain. We can barely hang on to our spot to compete, but we always end up in last place. If we come in last again this year, we’ll be kicked out of the twenty major branch halls entirely!" Feng Li said with a bitter laugh. Despite the prestige he seemed to hold as a Hall Master, he had secretly endured countless looks of contempt.

"In all these years, not a single genius has emerged from your hall?" Shen Haoran gave Feng Li a strange look. ’The Burning Flame City Medicine Hall isn’t small. You’ve got the numbers, so there should have been at least one genius, right?’

Hearing Shen Haoran’s words, Feng Li gave a dry laugh. "Well, it’s not that there wasn’t one. In fact, one just recently appeared, and we were planning to train him for the Pill Emperor competition!"

"Then what’s the problem? Why come looking for me?" Shen Haoran said, rolling his eyes. ’Since you already have a candidate, why are you bothering me?’

"Ahem... that genius is Young Master Hu of the Day Tiger Clan. You know, the one you just injured. From the looks of it, he probably won’t recover for a few months!" A bitter smile appeared on Feng Li’s face. ’Who could he even blame?’

At Feng Li’s words, Shen Haoran’s expression grew awkward. He had just incapacitated the very genius the Medicine Hall had been cultivating, and only moments ago, he was grilling them about why they didn’t have one. ’This is really embarrassing.’ But Shen Haoran was fairly thick-skinned. ’Besides, it wasn’t my fault. If that Young Master Hu hadn’t provoked me, I wouldn’t have made a move in the first place.’

"We knew Young Master Hu’s limits. It would have been very difficult to rely on him to keep our place among the twenty major halls. For one thing, I’m the highest-level Alchemist in our Burning Flame City Medicine Hall, and I’ve only just reached the rank of Sixth Grade Alchemist. Our raw strength is a far cry from the other halls. For another, with Young Master Hu’s impetuous nature, it’s uncertain if he would have even passed the first round. Young Friend Shen, by injuring him, you’ve actually done us a favor. Bringing such an unworthy disciple to the Pill Emperor competition would be worse than not going at all. We simply can’t afford that kind of embarrassment!" Feng Li said with a long sigh.

"Alas, it seems this is the end of the road for the Burning Flame City Medicine Hall!" Feng Li sighed deeply once more. A sorrowful atmosphere filled the entire Alchemy Room, making even the cheerful Xiaorui droop her head.

"Fine, fine! I’ll do it, alright? You can stop with the sob story now!" Shen Haoran said, rolling his eyes. ’Isn’t this whole pitiful act just to win my sympathy? I need that Wood Spirit Cyan Profound, and to get it, I have to win the Pill Emperor title. I might as well go with the flow and agree to Feng Li’s request. Besides, I need a Medicine Hall to sponsor me anyway. This kills two birds with one stone.’

"Haha, that’s wonderful! With Young Friend Shen’s help, the Burning Flame City Medicine Hall is saved!" Hearing Shen Haoran agree, the gloom on Feng Li’s face vanished instantly. He looked as if he had shed several years.

Seeing Feng Li’s expression, Shen Haoran couldn’t help but roll his eyes again. He sat down at the table, pulled Xiaorui onto his lap, and said, "Alright, tell me everything about this Pill Emperor competition."

"Of course!" Feng Li paused to gather his thoughts, then began to tell Shen Haoran everything about the Pill Emperor competition.

Feng Li took nearly the whole afternoon to finish his explanation. By the time he was done, Shen Haoran’s brows were knitted tightly. ’According to what Feng Li said, this annual Pill Emperor competition is no simple affair.’

From Feng Li’s explanation, Shen Haoran learned just how formidable the Pill Emperor competition was. The very first round required contestants to be Fifth Grade Alchemists. Anyone who could reach that level before the age of thirty was undeniably a genius in the Alchemy Realm. Yet, for these geniuses, that was merely the first step. The second round demanded the skill of a Fifth Grade High Level or even a Sixth Grade Alchemist. Talents of that caliber could likely only be nurtured by the twenty major branch halls—a group that did not, of course, include Burning Flame City.

What shocked Shen Haoran even more was that every past winner of the Pill Emperor title had been a supreme genius who had reached the rank of a Seventh Grade Alchemist. Such talent was one in a million, not just among the Demon Race, but even within the Human Race. Even the current Shen Haoran had to admit he was nowhere near the Seventh Grade level. ’And I’m still a long way off!’

"Looks like getting my hands on the Wood Spirit Cyan Profound won’t be easy," Shen Haoran said with a bitter laugh, rubbing his forehead. But a fiery glint appeared in his eyes. ’Ever since I started my Cultivation, all my battles have been fought with Spiritual Power. This time, I’ll use Alchemy to knock those so-called geniuses down a peg. I’m actually looking forward to a challenge like this.’

’I have the confidence to back it up. The legacy of Ancient Alchemy resides within my Sea of Consciousness, and my potential is in no way inferior to those so-called prodigies. If we were to face off, it’s still anyone’s game!’

Seeing the smile forming on Shen Haoran’s lips, Feng Li knew he hadn’t chosen the wrong person. ’I’m not expecting him to win first place. As long as he can secure Burning Flame City’s position among the twenty major branch halls, that’s enough.’

"Hall Master Feng, prepare an Alchemy Room for me. I’m going into seclusion," Shen Haoran said, taking a deep breath. ’The only way to improve my Alchemy is through countless trials.’

"Right away!" Since Shen Haoran was acting on behalf of Burning Flame City, Feng Li wasn’t stingy. He gave Shen Haoran all the resources he could muster.

"Young Friend Shen, no need to push yourself too hard. With your skills, securing a spot in the top twenty will be no problem at all!" Feng Li said with a light laugh.

’The top twenty? That’s not what I’m aiming for.’ A smile played on Shen Haoran’s lips as he took the Spirit Medicines from Feng Li and walked into the Alchemy Room...