Inside the secluded alchemy chamber of the Azure Sky Sect, a dense medicinal fragrance filled the air, intertwining with a faint pressure that made even Soul Transformation cultivators feel slightly uneasy.
At the center of the chamber sat Qin Chen, his expression calm yet terrifyingly sharp.
Before him stood four towering figures—the Azure Sky Sect Master, the three Core Elders, and Elder Mu, the sect's most skilled alchemist.
And in front of them—laid out on a pristine jade table—were some of the Azure Sky Sect's most precious medicinal treasures.
These were the ingredients for Soul Ascension Pills—pills that could guarantee a breakthrough into the Soul Transformation Realm, something even a Grade 5 Alchemist would normally struggle to create.
Qin Chen's golden eyes flickered across the ingredients.
-Heavenly Root Lotus – A legendary herb that only blooms once every thousand years, containing divine life essence capable of stabilizing breakthroughs.
-Nine-Nirvana Flame Crystal – A crystallized essence formed within volcanic flames, needed to ignite the soul energy of the cultivator.
-Dragon Vein Essence – Extracted from ancient dragon bloodlines, capable of tempering the meridians to endure the Soul Transformation tribulation.
-Celestial Qi Dew – A liquid born from the condensation of heavenly energy, ensuring that the transformation of one's soul is flawless.
Every single one of these ingredients was worth entire mountains of spirit stones.
Elder Mu, standing behind the Sect Master, looked visibly uneasy. He was the sect's most renowned alchemist, yet at this moment, he was only here to observe.
Because the one refining the pills… Was Qin Chen.
The three Core Elders exchanged glances. These were men who had cultivated for hundreds of years, the true backbone of the sect. They had never trusted anyone but Elder Mu for their cultivation needs.
And now? A nineteen-year-old was about to create the pills that would determine their future.
The Sect Master's voice finally broke the silence.
"Qin Chen, these are the sect's most precious resources. We are entrusting them to you. Do you have full confidence?"
Qin Chen smirked. "Of course."
There was no hesitation in his tone.
There was no arrogance either.
It was just absolute certainty.
The Sect Master observed him closely, his golden eyes deep with unreadable emotions.
Then, he nodded. "Proceed."
BOOOOOOOOM!
A blazing golden firestorm ignited.
The moment Qin Chen activated his Fire Sovereign Dao Flames, the entire alchemy chamber trembled.
The flames did not just roar—they commanded.
They suppressed.
It was as if the very concept of fire had bowed to him.
The Sect Master's expression shifted ever so slightly. This was not normal alchemy fire. This was the fire of a Sovereign.
Even Elder Mu's hands trembled slightly as he watched. He had never seen anything like this.
Qin Chen waved his hand, and the Heavenly Root Lotus floated into the flames.
Most alchemists would slowly refine a thousand-year-old herb like this, extracting its essence over the course of hours.
Qin Chen?
He completed it in seconds.
His golden flames coiled around the lotus, stripping away every impurity with a level of control that should have been impossible.
WHOOSH!
The herb turned into pure liquid essence, its medicinal properties increased to 150% of its normal capacity.
The elders watching sucked in a breath.
"This is… Perfect Refinement?" Elder Mu muttered in disbelief. "No… Beyond Perfect Refinement."
He turned to the Sect Master, his voice shaking.
"Sect Master… do you realize what this means?"
The Sect Master's golden eyes flickered, but he did not respond.
Because he knew.
This level of control, of efficiency, of purification…
It wasn't something a Grade 5 alchemist should be able to achieve.
Despite the fact that Grade 5 alchemists could refine Grade 5 pills, let alone perfect refinement, it was already considered amazing to have a 50-60% success rate.
What they didn't know was that with the system, Qin Chen wasn't just made a normal Grade 5 alchemist, he had mastered Grade 5 alchemy to its truest extent.
And yet… Qin Chen was not even twenty.
Next, Qin Chen introduced the Nine-Nirvana Flame Crystal into the cauldron.
BOOOOOOOM!
A violent surge of fire erupted as the crystal reacted to the Sovereign Flames.
Normally, this stage was dangerous. The wrong balance could cause the pill to explode.
But Qin Chen?
He did not even flinch.
His Fire Sovereign Dao Flames adjusted in real-time, wrapping around the crystal, taming its volatile nature with ease.
The Core Elders felt their throats go dry.
The most difficult part of Soul Transformation pills… was not the ingredients.
It was controlling the harmony between them.
And Qin Chen was doing it as if he had mastered alchemy for thousands of years.
The purified ingredients merged—refined essences twisting into a unified whole.
The Celestial Qi Dew was added, instantly solidifying the embryonic form of the Soul Ascension Pill.
Most alchemists required multiple attempts at this stage.
Qin Chen?
Every single embryo formed perfectly.
Ding!
[You have created a Perfect-Grade Soul Ascension Pill Embryo!]
Ding!
[You have created a Perfect-Grade Soul Ascension Pill Embryo!]
Ding!
[You have created a Perfect-Grade Soul Ascension Pill Embryo!]
The elders almost staggered when they realized…
Not a single mistake.
Three pills.
Three Perfect-Grade Soul Ascension Pills.
Elder Mu's legs trembled. "This… This level of alchemy… I've only read about it in ancient records…it shouldn't even be possible…unprecedented genius"
The Sect Master remained silent, but his hands—clasped behind his back—had slightly tightened.
Because he realized something horrifying.
This wasn't even Qin Chen's limit.
Step Four: The Final Compression – A Pill That Transcends Limits
Qin Chen lowered his hand.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
A final surge of Sovereign Flames compressed the pill embryos into completion.
The space within the cauldron twisted.
The laws of fire bent.
And then—
Ding!
[You have created a Divine-Grade Soul Ascension Pill!]
[You have created a Divine-Grade Soul Ascension Pill!]
[You have created a Divine-Grade Soul Ascension Pill!]
Silence.
Then—
Elder Mu dropped to his knees.
"Qin Chen, please make me your apprentice!"
The Sect Master's golden pupils slightly dilated.
The Core Elders, old monsters who had lived for centuries, felt their very souls tremble.
"If you devote yourself to alchemy, not only could you become the greatest alchemist our continent has ever seen, but you could even ascend through the Dao of alchemy!"
Qin Chen's expression turned weird, "Elder Mu, sorry, but alchemy is just a side practice for me. Not only can I not accept you as my pupil, but I also can't focus on the Dao of Alchemy."
Elder Mu's expression turned into one of utter disbelief, "So my entire life, I've devoted myself to alchemy, was surpassed by a child, and this child doesn't even care about alchemy."
Qin Chen laughed, "You might not be able to be my apprentice, but I have a lot of alchemy to do in the next few weeks and months," he hinted.
Elder Mu's face lit up, "Thank you! It would be my honor to observe!"
At this moment, he understood Qin Chen's thoughts. Although he was an unprecedented talent in the Dao of Alchemy, he was also monstrously talented in the Martial Dao, so there was no need to focus on alchemy.
Qin Chen's lips curled into a smirk as he turned toward the frozen Sect Master and the elders.
"Are these pills good enough for you?"
The Sect Master let out a slow breath.
Then—
He laughed.
Because he finally understood.
Qin Chen…
Was not just going to change this sect.
He was going to make it rise above everything.