BXBX NOVEL Chapter 271: 272 Ancient Alchemy
Chapter 271: 272 Ancient Alchemy
“Clang!”
The hammer struck the high platform with a resounding echo, sending a massive hum that made the cultivators shudder violently.
Many cultivators with weaker mental fortitude suddenly had their flames tremble and, losing control of their spiritual power, saw the carefully extracted Spirit Grass turn into dust.
In more severe cases, spiritual power went haywire, causing the continuously extracted Spirit Grass to explode in an instant.
Dust and smoke filled the great hall, and with just one hammer strike, at least seventeen or eighteen high platforms were destroyed.
The cultivators looked towards the source of the noise and saw a young man calmly holding a sledgehammer, continuously pounding on a pile of Enlightenment Tea Leaves, sparks flying everywhere.
This dismissive attitude immediately enraged the surrounding cultivators.
“You naive child, are you here to stir up trouble on purpose?”
“This old man has toiled and moiled to perfect his elixirs, and just before completion, you’ve destroyed it, tell me, how will you compensate?”
“I was aiming for the first place in the alchemy competition today, but you, this little brat, have ruined it. Can you afford the responsibility for this?”
“Elders of the Elixir Sect, I suggest we suppress this boy to set an example for others!”
The cultivators were furious as thunder, anyone’s hard work going to waste in an instant would be hard to stomach.
Several Elders looked grim as well; just burning the herbs was already deemed enough troublemaking at the Elixir Sect, let alone this brash action that openly disrupted the cultivators’ alchemy contest.
Causing disturbance with noise to unsettle one’s mind, such behavior would not be excessive even if punished with immediate execution.
“Who are you to come and cause disturbance in our Elixir Sect’s competition, do you know the consequences of your actions?”
The Elder’s eyes flickered with a chilling gleam as he stared at Li Xiaobai.
“I am practicing ancient alchemy here. My methods may differ from the conventional ones, but it is still a form of alchemy.”
Li Xiaobai spoke indifferently.
“Why must you pound with a huge hammer, affecting the performance of the surrounding cultivators?”
asked the Elder.
“I thought it was an honor to compete with my seniors and esteemed masters; therefore, I decided to give it my all. But, I didn’t expect the alchemists present to be so fragile, to let mere external factors directly affect the success or failure of their elixirs.”
“I apologize, I have overestimated the esteemed masters here, it was my mistake!”
Li Xiaobai said with a face full of apology and sincere attitude.
As these words were uttered, the alchemists present were in an uproar; many put down the elixirs they were refining and stared at Li Xiaobai angrily.
“Naive child, sharp-tongued, do you know there’s a price to pay for speaking incorrectly!”
“Exactly, you’re just a junior, and yet you openly insult us, do you know who we are?”
“I have delved deep into the way of the elixirs for decades; I became a master alchemist before you were even born!”
“That’s right, I’m an Elder of the Medicine King Hall; you naive child, mind your speech!”
Watching the outraged cultivators, Li Xiaobai slightly smiled.
“Esteemed masters, alchemy is judged by the effects of the elixirs, not by your seniority or the power behind you.”
“If the esteemed masters here, who have studied the way of elixirs for decades, are defeated by a mere seventh-grade elixir, forgive my bluntness, but everyone present is garbage!”
Ji Wuqing excitedly jumped and chortled, “Hee hee, garbage, all are garbage!”
“Silence!”
“You naive brat, you have no filter!”
“Who is your master that didn’t teach you any manners? Today, this old daoist will show you the respect due to elders and love for the young!”
“Arrogant…”
The cultivators’ eyes blazed with anger, itching to tear Li Xiaobai to pieces on the spot. If it weren’t for the competition ongoing, they would have charged at him already.
Liu Fei was so frightened she trembled, curling up into a ball and focusing on concocting her elixirs, pretending not to know Li Xiaobai.
The boss is too good at stirring up trouble; she could already feel the murderous intent filling the air.
“Ancient alchemy, unheard of! Using the Elixir Fire to temper is a method passed down by our ancestors; you, a little upstart, are striking around recklessly over here, disturbing other cultivators’ efficiency in concocting elixirs, with insidious intentions!”
“Today, we shall suppress you as a warning to others!”
The Elixir Sect Elders were hot-tempered, and the young man’s comments infuriated them. They felt like hitting someone and rolled up their sleeves to suppress Li Xiaobai.
“I had originally thought that the Elixir Sect was a reputable and inclusive faction, blossoming with diversity. Unexpectedly, it’s no different from the average perspective in the world.”
“Ignorance is not your fault, but persisting in your error certainly is. My ancient alchemy far surpasses the efficacy of any elixir concocted by any alchemist present.”
Li Xiaobai continued.
“Since this young man is so confident, why not let him try and see what effects this ancient alchemy really has?”
Elder Yao, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up, his gaze towards Li Xiaobai just as chilly.
“Very well, it’s my first time in all these years encountering someone as arrogant as this fellow. What’s wrong with giving him a chance?”
“You have the duration of an incense stick to produce a quality elixir; otherwise, you’ll stay in the Medicine King Hall forever!”
The few Elders said coldly.
“No problem, you all can watch closely what I’m going to do.”
Li Xiaobai said cheerfully, not taking the threats from the crowd to heart, as if everything was well in his control.
“Heh, young man, self-conceit is the biggest taboo in the Cultivation World. If you fail to concoct a high-grade elixir, you will not only lose face and become a laughing stock, but you might also lose your life.”
Elder Yao spoke indifferently, his fingers nimbly working, pulling strands of pale flame into thread, rhythmically dancing. Runes appeared within the flame, brewing an elixir.
In his opinion, Li Xiaobai’s actions were simply muddling through; extracting essence from a single ingredient could never lead to the formation of an elixir.
The way of alchemy is about balancing the properties of various herbs, discovering their unique characteristics, combining them, and blending them together to make an elixir. Yet Li Xiaobai had destroyed all the herbs from the start, leaving only Enlightenment Tea Leaves.
Even if he extracted all of the essence, so what?
At most, it would merely aid in focusing and calming the mind, nothing compared to real elixirs.
When the competition ended, he wanted to see what would become of this arrogant boy.
“Heh heh, in this world, there are plenty of undiscovered talents, but few who can recognize them. But you should be careful, Elder, not to accidentally blow up your own elixir.”
Li Xiaobai chuckled.
“Young man, I’m afraid you’re miscalculating. I have studied this art for many years; my Primordial Spirit Power is profound. Mere noise is nothing but, unable to affect me.”
“You just keep striking; if it affects my alchemy, then I lose!”
Elder Yao spoke slowly. His alchemy was not something half-trained alchemists could compare with – not a mere noise, not even thunder right next to him could affect his alchemy.
Such petty tricks could only irritate the unskilled.
Li Xiaobai grinned and with a flip of his wrist, a ludicrously large hammer appeared in his hand.
“Is that so? I didn’t expect Elder Yao to be so understanding. Then I will not hold back.”