Chapter 33: Alchemy Competition
The weapon refinement competition continued, the clang of hammers and the hiss of cooling metal filling the air. Each participant poured their heart and soul into their creations, striving to forge a weapon that would not only meet the requirements but also showcase their unique talent and style.
The challenge was clear: refine an Earth-level weapon. Weapon ranks, Sanjeev recalled, were a crucial aspect of this world's power hierarchy. He remembered learning about them in his brief time in the sect's library. They were categorized into six distinct tiers, each representing a significant leap in power and quality: Earth, King, Emperor, Space, Heaven, and finally, Divine and God level weapons. Each level demanded greater skill, finer materials, and a deeper understanding of the Dao.
Aarav, standing beside Sanjeev, was visibly excited. His eyes sparkled with anticipation as he watched Xuner take her turn. Xuner, with her heritage steeped in weapon refinement, carried herself with an air of quiet confidence. When her turn came, she stepped onto the stage, her movements fluid and graceful.
Xuner began her work, employing a unique weapon refinement technique passed down through her family for generations. Her hands moved with astonishing speed and precision, manipulating the raw materials as if they were an extension of her own will. Her aura flared, not with brute force, but with a delicate, controlled energy that seemed to coax the metal into shape.
The onlookers were mesmerized. Gasps of awe and admiration rippled through the crowd as they witnessed Xuner's mastery. Even the seasoned elders of the Weapon Refinement Branch watched with keen interest, their expressions a mixture of surprise and respect.
Forty-five minutes later, Xuner presented her finished work: a King-level sword. The blade shimmered with an ethereal light, its edges razor-sharp, its balance perfect. It was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, a weapon that surpassed the requirements of the test by a significant margin.
The elder from the Weapon Refinement Branch, who had been particularly impressed by Xuner's skill, nodded slowly, a thoughtful expression on his face. He thought to himself, If this girl passes the final test, I shall offer her a place as my personal disciple. Her talent is truly exceptional.
Xuner passed the test with flying colors and was promoted to the final stage, solidifying her reputation as a rising star in the Lotus Blade Sect.
As Xuner stepped off the stage, a small group of disciples, including Aarav, rushed forward to congratulate her. Aarav, his face beaming with pride, caught Xuner's eye. For a moment, the two of them stood there, lost in each other's gaze, a silent communication passing between them.
Suddenly, Sanjeev sneezed.
The unexpected sound broke the spell. Xuner and Aarav startled, their faces flushing with embarrassment. They quickly averted their eyes, a palpable awkwardness hanging in the air. Sanjeev, unable to suppress a chuckle, watched the scene unfold with amusement. His sneeze, though unintentional, had provided a moment of levity in the midst of the intense competition.
The First Elder, after a brief pause to regain composure, announced the commencement of the next test: the spiritual food preparation test.
"For this test," he declared, "only twenty disciples have qualified. The preparation of spiritual food requires not only culinary skill but also a deep understanding of spiritual energy and its interaction with ingredients. Your task is to create a dish that nourishes not only the body but also the soul."
The twenty disciples selected for this test stepped forward, each carrying an assortment of ingredients and utensils. As they began to cook, the air filled with a tantalizing aroma, a symphony of scents that awakened the senses and stirred the appetite. The fragrance of exotic spices, the sizzle of rare herbs, and the rich, savory scent of cooking meat mingled together, creating a culinary masterpiece that made the mouths of the watching disciples water.
The test concluded, and the elders carefully sampled each dish, their expressions revealing the quality of the creations. In the end, only five disciples managed to pass, their dishes deemed worthy of the title "spiritual food."
Finally, the moment Sanjeev had been waiting for arrived: the alchemy competition.
"Fifteen disciples have qualified for this test," the First Elder announced. "Among them are Aarav and Sanjeev."
A wave of anticipation washed over the crowd. Alchemy was a highly respected and sought-after skill, and the disciples were eager to witness the alchemists at work.
The elder in charge of the alchemy test stepped forward, holding a stack of prescriptions, a collection of herbs, and several alchemical furnaces. "For this test," he explained, "you will be required to refine the pill according to this prescription. We will provide you with the necessary herbs and a standard furnace. However, you are also permitted to use your own furnace if you prefer."
As the disciples prepared for the test, one student, eager to impress, dramatically produced a magnificent furnace from his bag. The furnace was ornately decorated, radiating an aura of power and sophistication. "This," he announced proudly, "is a Turtle Furnace. It is renowned for its exceptional quality and its ability to enhance the refinement process."
The other disciples gasped in amazement. The Turtle Furnace was a legendary artifact, a treasure among alchemists. Its appearance immediately elevated the student's status in the eyes of his peers.
Aarav, unfazed by the display, calmly retrieved his own furnace from his spiritual bag. It was a simple, unassuming furnace, lacking the grandeur of the Turtle Furnace.
The student with the Turtle Furnace sneered at Aarav's humble equipment. "What is that? A toy?" he scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "You cannot possibly hope to compete with a furnace like this."
Aarav ignored the taunt, his expression serene. He had complete faith in his own abilities and in the quality of his furnace, regardless of its appearance.
The elder signaled the start of the competition. The alchemists ignited their furnaces, and the air filled with the crackling of flames. Each disciple began to work, carefully measuring ingredients, controlling the heat, and manipulating the spiritual energy within the furnace.
Sanjeev, as he always did, approached the task with a unique flair. Instead of relying solely on the furnace, he began to refine the medicine in the air, using his spiritual energy to guide and shape the ingredients.
His unorthodox method drew the attention of everyone present. The elders, the sect leader, the competitors, and even the reclusive Alchemist Peak Elder, who rarely showed himself in public, watched Sanjeev with a mixture of astonishment and disbelief. They had never seen anyone refine medicine in such a way. It was a technique that defied conventional understanding of alchemy.
Sanjeev, oblivious to the stares, continued his work, his movements fluid and precise. Within ten minutes, he had completed the refinement process, producing a batch of pills that glowed with a soft, inner light.
The other disciples, still struggling with their own refinement, glanced at Sanjeev's finished product with a mixture of envy and confusion. They assumed that, given the speed of his refinement, Sanjeev must have produced a low-grade medicine.
The competition time ended, and the elder in charge of the test began to inspect the alchemists' creations. The student with the Turtle Furnace proudly presented his pill, a first-rank medicine that, while decent, was far from exceptional.
Then it was Aarav's turn. The elder examined Aarav's pill, his eyes widening in surprise. Aarav, using his seemingly ordinary furnace, had refined a third-rank pill, a testament to his skill and control. The elder was both shocked and excited.
Finally, it was Sanjeev's turn. The elder approached Sanjeev's station, his expression skeptical. He initially assumed that Sanjeev's hastily refined medicine would be of poor quality. Sanjeev presented his pills.
The elder's jaw dropped. His eyes widened in disbelief. He was utterly shocked. Sanjeev, at the young age of eighteen, had refined a fourth-rank medicine. The pills radiated a potent energy, their quality far surpassing anything the elder had ever seen from someone so young.
The news of Sanjeev's extraordinary feat spread like wildfire. The entire training ground erupted in a cacophony of whispers and gasps. The disciples, the elders, and even the sect leader were stunned by Sanjeev's talent.
Suddenly, the Alchemist Peak Master, a figure of immense prestige and power, appeared on the competition ground. He moved with incredible speed, his eyes fixed on Sanjeev and Aarav. Without a word, he grabbed both of them and vanished, leaving behind a crowd of bewildered onlookers. No one knew where he was taking them, but it was clear that Sanjeev and Aarav had just been thrust into the center of a whirlwind, their lives about to change forever.