The flickering glow of golden flames danced across the walls of Qin Chen's secluded residence.
He sat cross-legged on a jade meditation platform, his thoughts running deeper than ever before.
The Great Wilderness Tournament.
The competition that would determine everything.
Qin Chen exhaled, his golden-purple eyes sharp as blades.
Less than a year.
Soon, he would be facing the absolute strongest geniuses of the Northern Wilderness.
Grade 1 Forces. Grade 2 Forces.
The Heavenly Sword Sect. Everlasting Immortal Palace. Netherworld Abyss Sect.
Each of these monstrous factions would send their strongest disciples.
And most of them… would be in the Nascent Soul Realm.
Qin Chen clenched his fists.
Right now, he was at the peak of Golden Core Realm, but he knew that wouldn't be enough.
He was powerful. Stronger than most in his realm. But against true geniuses from the Grade 1 sects?
Even he had to acknowledge—just being strong was not enough.
He had to be overwhelming.
BOOOOM!
A surge of golden-purple flames erupted from his body.
"There's no time to waste."
If he wanted the Azure Sky Sect to have a fighting chance, then the first step…
Was pushing Zhao Yan into the Nascent Soul Realm.
Qin Chen flicked his wrist, and a cauldron appeared before him.
The moment it landed—
BOOOOOOOOM!
His Fire Sovereign Dao Flames surged, instantly filling the chamber with scorching pressure.
With a single motion, he summoned the highest-quality ingredients needed for a Nascent Soul Breakthrough Pill:
-Void Spirit Vine – Stabilizes the nascent soul during transformation.
-Heavenly Essence Dew – Enhances the body's ability to endure tribulation lightning.
-Dragon Meridian Root – Strengthens the meridians to withstand the violent Qi surge of breaking into Nascent Soul.
Each of these were treasures worth an entire sect's treasury.
And yet—
BOOOOOOM!
Qin Chen refined them all in mere seconds.
His control over alchemy had already reached a level beyond normal comprehension.
With absolute precision, he fused the ingredients together—
Ding!
[You have created a Perfect-Grade Nascent Soul Breakthrough Pill!]
Qin Chen smirked. "Done."
Now, with this pill, Zhao Yan would break through without issue.
But…
His job wasn't done yet.
Qin Chen sat back, his mind shifting to the vial of blood he had received as a reward from the system.
Liu Qingcheng.
She had a fire-related mythical beast bloodline. It was not pure, but even so, she was already a powerful cultivator.
But if she could fully awaken her bloodline?
She would become something far beyond her current limits.
Qin Chen narrowed his eyes.
"System, how can I fully awaken her bloodline?"
Ding!
[Detected target: Liu Qingcheng]
[Potential Awakening Method: Vermillion Ascension Pill]
[Cost to Unlock Pill Recipe: 5,000 SP]
Qin Chen's brows lifted. A bloodline-enhancing pill?
He instantly purchased the recipe.
Ding!
[Recipe Acquired: Vermillion Ascension Pill]
Description: A legendary pill that awakens and enhances the dormant potential of a fire-related beast bloodline. Strengthens Qi control, raises affinity with fire Dao, and increases physical resilience.
Ingredients Required(In addition to the Vermillion Phoenix Essence Blood):
Vermillion Heart Lotus – The core ingredient, capable of drawing out latent beastial essence.Crimson Phoenix Blood Essence – Strengthens fire-based Qi pathways and improves bloodline purity.Sunfire Dragon Marrow – Enhances body constitution to handle the influx of awakened bloodline energy.
Qin Chen's expression darkened slightly.
These weren't normal ingredients.
Even in a Grade 2 sect, some of these might not exist.
That meant…
He needed the Azure Sky Sect's full support to obtain them.
BOOOOOM!
Qin Chen landed in front of the Sect Master's Hall, striding in without hesitation.
Inside, the Sect Master sat on his throne, calmly observing Qin Chen's approach.
Behind him, a few elders stood at attention.
The moment Qin Chen entered, the Sect Master raised an eyebrow.
"Qin Chen. You wouldn't be here unless you needed something."
Qin Chen nodded. "I need rare ingredients. Vermillion Heart Lotus, Crimson Phoenix Blood Essence, and Sunfire Dragon Marrow."
The Sect Master's eyes flashed.
"Those are… rare."
He studied Qin Chen for a moment before speaking again.
"What do you need them for?"
Qin Chen didn't hesitate. "Liu Qingcheng."
The room went silent.
The elders exchanged glances, confused.
The Sect Master leaned forward slightly. "Explain."
Qin Chen's voice was calm.
"She has a fire-related mythical beast bloodline. But it is incomplete."
"I can awaken it."
Gasps filled the room.
Even the Sect Master's expression changed.
"You can awaken her mythical beast bloodline?"
Qin Chen smirked. "I wouldn't have come here if I couldn't."
The Sect Master was silent for a moment before…
He let out a low chuckle.
"Hah… It seems I continue to underestimate you."
With a wave of his hand—
BOOOOOOOOM!
A storage ring floated toward Qin Chen.
"I do not have all of them, but within our sect's treasury, I have managed to gather a Vermillion Heart Lotus and Crimson Phoenix Blood Essence."
He paused.
"The Sunfire Dragon Marrow… will require a trip to Celestial Flame Pavilion."
Qin Chen raised an eyebrow.
A Grade 2 sect of fire cultivators and alchemists.
He smirked.
"That won't be a problem."
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Just as Qin Chen was about to leave—
A massive, earth-shaking explosion of Qi erupted across the sect.
His golden eyes narrowed.
The Sect Master slowly stood from his throne, his gaze flickering toward the sky.
"It seems… they are breaking through."
Qin Chen's lips curled into a smirk.
Outside—
The three Core Elders who had taken the Soul Ascension Pills were now bathed in golden radiance, their auras skyrocketing.
The once Golden Core Realm Elders were now stepping into the Soul Transformation Realm.
One after another—
BOOOOOOOM!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Thunderclouds gathered in the sky.
Nascent Soul Tribulation Lightning.
The heavens had acknowledged their ascension.
Qin Chen glanced at the Sect Master. "You're next."
The Sect Master smiled.
"Hah… indeed."
Qin Chen's smirk deepened.
The Azure Sky Sect was no longer weak.
And this…
Was only the beginning.