https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-328-The-Tao-Family-s-Internal-Strife-A-Grand-Spectacle-/12932032/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-330-Five-Peaks-Envelop-the-Valley-Azure-Heaven-Jade-Lotus/12932040/
Chapter 329: Foundation Comparison, A Pure Clash!
Chapter 329: Foundation Comparison, A Pure Clash!
In the grand alchemy hall, two Second Rank Alchemists were fully focused on refining the Colorful Chrysanthemum Pill.
One of them had a solemn expression, yet he remained composed.
The other was completely engrossed, but his brows twitched, revealing his inner tension.
The onlookers surrounding them were "quiet as mice," not daring to disturb their concentration.
It was said to be silent.
In reality, many people were secretly communicating with each other using spirit sense telepathy.
With Luo Chen's powerful soul, even without intentionally eavesdropping, he could clearly hear the conversations of Foundation Establishment Early and Mid-stage cultivators.
"Tsk tsk, this Yi Sheng has been in charge of guarding the Radiant Sun Kingdom for ten years, and his alchemy skills haven't fallen behind at all!"
"Not only has he not fallen behind, but look at how he uses the Pure Heart Technique on the Fragrant Chrysanthemum. He's calm and skilled, as if it's second nature."
"You're right. If I were to handle this Cliffside Chrysanthemum, I doubt I could achieve this level of proficiency."
"What about Tao Yichen?"
"No way, his technique is too rigid!"
"He's so cautious, afraid of ruining the ingredients, but he misses the best opportunity for the medicine's potency to merge."
"In my opinion, Tao Yichen's alchemy skills have already fallen behind Yi Sheng by a level!"
"The crucial part is coming up, let's see how he handles the Five-Colored Chrysanthemum!"
...
The alchemy competition continued with tension in the air.
Luo Chen watched for a while, and his brows furrowed unintentionally.
"Is Tao Yichen even worthy of being called a Second Rank Alchemist?"
He was utterly astonished by the other's inferior skills.
The other's level was so low that it was almost unbelievable.
Could it be that the other party's skills had truly declined due to being engrossed in mundane affairs, causing a significant drop in his alchemy skills? But that didn't seem right either!
Initially, when Tao Yisheng discussed alchemy with him, he seemed to have a good understanding.
However, when it came to practical application, he made countless mistakes.
This suggested that Qingdan Valley's assessment for Second Rank Alchemists might be too lenient?
Luo Chen's gaze swept across the other enthusiastic Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
"Perhaps it's not that they are too weak, but that I am too strong?"
Indeed!
In the eyes of the world, those who occasionally refine one or two Second Rank pills are already considered Second Rank Alchemists.
Take Qing Yuanzi, for example, who relied on his Pill Nurturing Technique to take a shortcut and coincidentally nurtured a Third Rank pill, yet he boasted of being a Third Rank Alchemist.
Compared to these so-called "Second Rank Alchemists,"
Luo Chen's alchemy skills were honed through countless successful pill refinements, even for Second Rank pills!
He had refined no less than two to three thousand of them!
Most of these were the most challenging Superior and Top-tier pills.
In comparison, the others were naturally not worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as him.
"Of course, there are always people better than you, and there's always a higher realm to strive for. These two alchemists from the Tao family are not even among the top in Qingdan Valley, and they haven't received an Imperially Bestowed Dao Title."
"It's no wonder that the Azure Pill Seven Sages must be truly talented and knowledgeable."
"I must not underestimate the heroes of the world!"
After this realization, he unconsciously shook his head.
With his Divine Illumination Evil Annihilation skill at Grand Mastery, he could now achieve multitasking with ease.
He had indulged in many daydreams before.
But he always kept a portion of his attention on the two people in the hall.
Therefore, he had a detailed understanding of the progress of the Colorful Chrysanthemum Pill's refinement.
Tao Wan, standing nearby, noticed this.
Curiously, she sent a message using spirit sense telepathy: "What's wrong? Is something not right?"
Luo Chen replied indifferently, "It's about to fail."
"Who?"
"Both of them!"
Upon hearing this, Tao Wan couldn't help but show a suspicious expression.
She herself wasn't an exceptional alchemist.
However, having grown up in the Great Pill Dao Sect, she had some insight into judging the refinement of pills.
"Tao Yichen might fail, but every step of my younger brother's process is close to perfection, which is a clear sign of impending success!"
Not only her, but all the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the hall who had some discernment had already noticed the vast difference in alchemy skills between Tao Yisheng and Tao Yichen.
Especially on the side of Clan Leader Tao Daonan.
Many people now showed fearful expressions.
Moreover, soundless messages were quietly converging towards Tao Daonan.
However, Tao Daonan's face, though unpleasant, remained composed, and he didn't interrupt.
The alchemy continued.
After a moment,
A crisp sound rang out from the brass cauldron.
All eyes turned to Tao Yichen, whose face was deathly pale, devoid of any color.
"I... I've failed."
He muttered, his body seemingly trembling.
"Sigh..."
A sigh escaped Tao Daonan's mouth.
He didn't blame Tao Yichen.
Initially, Tao Yichen had some talent for alchemy, passing the theoretical examination in Qingdan Valley and even managing to refine a Second Rank pill by chance.
But later, he abandoned further improvement in alchemy, finding the work repetitive, dull, and a hindrance to his cultivation. Instead, he focused his energy on managing the Tao family's internal affairs.
If he had been stricter and forced Tao Yichen to continue studying alchemy,
Would they be in this embarrassing situation today? Shaking his head, he turned his gaze to Tao Yisheng.
"Could he really succeed on his first try?"
Everyone's attention, including the failed Tao Yichen, was now fixed on Tao Yisheng.
If it were in the past, under the watchful eyes of so many, he might have panicked.
Perhaps his alchemy movements would have faltered.
But after a year in the Celestial Assembly's Pill Hall, with Qu Lingjun and Millet often by his side,
He had become accustomed to being observed.
In fact, when refining simple First Rank pills, he could even spare some attention to offer guidance.
At this moment, surrounded by onlookers,
He remained calm and composed, completing the final steps of the Colorful Chrysanthemum Pill.
Seeing this, Tao Wan couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.
Her restless younger brother seemed to have matured significantly over the past decade.
He now exuded the demeanor of a general, unmoved by the collapse of mountains or the sudden appearance of deer!
"He should succeed, right?
"She muttered to herself.
...
Amidst the crowd's anticipation, Tao Yisheng cast the final spirit art.
The earth fire descended, and the brass cauldron trembled slightly.
A fragrance, like chrysanthemums and orchids, wafted towards them.
"Success?"
"No!"
"There's a hint of burnt smell!"
"This is..."
Tao Yisheng, who had been delighted a moment ago, frowned as he held the three pills, which were only greenish-yellow in color.
Just then, Tao Daonan's voice rang out.
"The pill is greenish-yellow, lacking the desired three colors, and is thus an inferior product. It's a waste pill!"
Almost simultaneously, Tao Wan's eyes narrowed, focusing on Luo Chen.
Luo Chen shrugged and spread his hands, conveying that although he had guessed correctly, it had nothing to do with him.
Tao Wan nodded and withdrew her gaze.
As she had anticipated, it was indeed a failure.
But failures also had their distinctions! She stared intently at Tao Daonan.
"Tao Yichen's alchemy failed halfway, not even reaching the final pill formation step."
"Although Tao Yisheng also failed, he managed to refine a two-colored Colorful Chrysanthemum Pill, proving his superior alchemy skills."
"The outcome is clear, and the position of the family head should be decided by the clan leader, shouldn't it?"
Most of the people present, including many Foundation Establishment Cultivators who were on Tao Daonan's side, unconsciously nodded in agreement.
Indeed, the superiority of their alchemy skills was evident!
But then, who would become the family head?
Unexpectedly, a hearty laughter echoed through the crowd's astonishment.
Tao Daonan pointed at Tao Yisheng's failed pill and said, "A journey of a hundred miles begins with a single step, and the last step is as crucial as the first. What's the difference between reaching the end and just starting?"
"That's not how it works," Tao Wan said, narrowing her eyes slightly.
Tao Daonan shook his head, "Then how should it be? If you sell these three waste pills and Tao Yichen's pile of shapeless waste materials to others, will they pay more spirit stones just because you're closer to success?"
"No, they're both worthless!"
"A waste pill is a waste pill!"
Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked.
But amidst their shock, they also felt that there was nothing wrong with it.
No one would spend their hard-earned spirit stones on a waste pill just because the alchemist had superior skills.
Therefore, based on the results, both Tao Yisheng and Tao Yichen had failed.
There was no distinction between their failures! Many people agreed with this concept, including Luo Chen.
Initially, when he refined the Jade Marrow Pill, he failed countless times, accumulating countless jade marrow waste beads.
But no one was willing to pay a high price for those inferior products.
On the platform, Tao Yisheng's face turned slightly pale.
He couldn't accept this outcome, and neither could Tao Wan.
"In my opinion!" Tao Daonan continued.
"Tao Yisheng is still too young. The position of the family head should be given to the experienced and mature Tao Yichen."
Tao Yichen was his own grandson!
Making him the family head was no different from Tao Daonan himself leading the family.
Tao Wan sneered, glanced at Tao Yisheng, and said slowly, "Since you say that failure is failure, then let's continue with the alchemy. We must have a result today."
"I think there's no need to continue," Tao Daonan frowned.
"No, it's necessary!" Tao Wan looked around at the crowd and said sternly, "Don't you want people to know that the family head of the Tao family of Little Southern Mountain was chosen from among two failures?"
Chosen from among two failures?
Then wouldn't the chosen one still be a failure?
Under Tao Wan's intense gaze, no one could refute her for a moment.
Or perhaps, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators on Tao Wan's side didn't want to refute her.
They all voiced their support for the alchemy contest to continue.
Even those on Tao Daonan's side couldn't find a reason to object.
The family head and the clan leader were different.
The latter was responsible for rituals, bloodline succession, and etiquette, often held by an elder with high prestige and advanced age.
However, the former handled various internal and external affairs.
Youthful talent and strength were essential.
It represented the face of a family!
Even outsiders, upon seeing the family head, would know that a grand family stood behind them! Such a position couldn't afford to bear the stain of 'failure' from the start.
Seeing no opposition, Tao Wan suddenly turned her head, "Have you all rested enough?"
"Continue with the alchemy!"
"Until someone refines the Colorful Chrysanthemum Pill, no one is allowed to stop!"
"Whoever refines it first will become the new family head of the Tao family of Little Southern Mountain!"
Without further ado, Tao Yisheng naturally took charge, commanding the medicine disciples to prepare new raw materials, the fire workers to clear the earth fire channel, and the pill cleaners to clean the brass cauldron, which had been soiled from the previous alchemy.
He was so skilled, as if he had experienced this situation countless times.
This was all thanks to the year he had spent as a laborer at the Celestial Assembly, sent there by Luo Chen.
On the other side, Tao Yichen also mustered his energy and began similar preparations.
Soon, the earth fire ignited again!
The alchemy resumed!
Only then did the tense atmosphere, caused by their earlier argument, gradually ease.
Unnoticed by others, Tao Wan stole several glances at Luo Chen.
In her heart, she had mixed feelings.
Today's contest for the family head position was a sudden idea that came to her after witnessing Tao Yisheng's recent transformation and learning about his improved alchemy skills.
But hidden within this idea was another intention.
She wanted to test Luo Chen's abilities!
She had only heard about Luo Chen's alchemy skills from her younger brother's boasting and a few brief praises from Dan Tai Jin.
Even though she later gathered intelligence on Luo Chen and learned that he was also known as Dan Chenzi, there was still some doubt in her heart.
The competition for the Dao Seed position was already an incredibly challenging endeavor.
She couldn't afford to lose in the second round! If Luo Chen's reputation didn't live up to his skills, she wouldn't mind replacing him at the last moment with a second-rank alchemist who was relatively weaker than Huang Hezi.
However, during this internal competition within the Tao family, Luo Chen had demonstrated an insight comparable to that of an alchemy master!
When everyone thought Tao Yisheng would succeed, he had already foretold the other's failure!
"Even those of us from the Great Pill Dao Sect, who have been exposed to alchemy since childhood, couldn't make such a judgment."
"But he spoke it with such certainty."
"Under his exceptional insight, there lies an unparalleled confidence in his alchemy prowess!"
"With that, regardless of Yisheng's success or failure, my goal has been achieved!"
These thoughts flashed through her mind.
The expression on the woman's face became increasingly composed.
Tao Daonan, sitting across from her, noticed this change, and his heart began to race unconsciously.
"If this continues, Tao Yichen will surely lose!"
...
The internal alchemy competition within the Tao family continued.
After the first failure, the second one came swiftly.
After a brief rest, at Tao Wan's insistence, they resumed.
One day! Two days!
Even with ample rest in between, for these family cultivators accustomed to a life of luxury, such a prolonged period of pill refinement still left them feeling unaccustomed.
Take Tao Yichen, for example; after witnessing another failure, his eyes lost their luster, and he looked utterly defeated.
Only Tao Yisheng, despite the exhaustion of his spirit energy and the over-exertion of his spirit sense, remained resolute, his eyes shining brighter and brighter.
Tao Wan, who had been closely monitoring the progress, suddenly perked up.
She instinctively turned to look at Luo Chen.
She saw him subtly nodding at her, so slight that no one else could notice.
In that instant, her eyes lit up.
This time, unless something unexpected happened, Tao Yisheng would succeed!
Perhaps it was the consecutive failures and the tense atmosphere that made Tao Daonan unable to bear it any longer.
This stalemate was clearly a challenge to his authority.
"Enough!"
"There's no need to continue this farce!"
Tao Wan glared at him coldly, "Why can't we continue when the winner hasn't been decided? And farce? Does the clan leader think that the Tao family's selection of a new family head is a farce?"
Tao Daonan's face darkened, "Tao Wan, you don't have to provoke me with your words. Isn't this whole thing you've orchestrated just to unite the family and compete for the Dao Seed position?"
"So what if it is?"
Tao Wan's eyebrows rose, unyielding.
Tao Daonan's expression froze.
He hadn't expected her to admit it so openly.
For a moment, he didn't know how to respond.
Suddenly, his gaze shifted to Tao Yisheng, who was in the midst of pill refinement.
"As the clan leader, I have the authority to appoint the family head. This farce must end!"
As he spoke, a mighty surge of spirit energy burst forth.
At the same time, Tao Wan's body also erupted with a powerful wave of spirit energy.
The two forces clashed, and for a moment, neither could gain the upper hand!
This was a pure contest of foundation, devoid of any combat techniques or intricate spells.
What they were comparing was who had the higher cultivation realm and whose spirit energy was purer and more abundant.
After about three breaths...
Boom!
Tao Daonan's face paled, his beard and Daoist robe fluttering backward as if blown by a strong wind.
Tao Wan stepped forward, and a powerful and confident aura burst from her.
"You've grown old!"
"It's time to step down and make way for the younger generation!"
"Under your leadership, the Tao family is destined to decline!"
"Now, the Tao family should be led by my sister and me, toward its peak!"
Each word struck like thunder, continuously pounding in the old man's heart and mind.
Boom!
Tao Daonan's spirit energy wavered and dissipated, showing no signs of resistance.
He stumbled backward, looking disheveled.
Almost simultaneously, a refreshing fragrance of fragrant chrysanthemums spread from the pill refinement hall.
As Tao Yichen looked on in despair, Tao Yisheng leaped forward and reached out toward the brass cauldron with a single motion.
Three pills fell into his hand.
Green, yellow, and white, the three colors shone in harmony, signifying a second-rank inferior pill!
"Sister, I did it! I finally did it! Haha..."
Holding the three pills, Tao Yisheng's pale face was filled with excitement.
Tao Wan instinctively glanced at Luo Chen, who had retreated to the back of the crowd, and then announced loudly:
"Congratulations!"
"Everyone, quickly pay your respects to the new head of the Tao family!"
The true foundation establishment cultivators from her lineage immediately shouted, "Greetings to the family head!"
The other foundation establishment cultivators, however, looked at each other in hesitation.
But after Tao Wan's sharp eyes swept over them, they reluctantly shouted, "Greetings to the family head!"
Tao Wan's face lit up with a brilliant smile. Turning to Tao Daonan, she said, "Clan leader, now that the Tao family has a new family head, shouldn't we hold a family meeting to announce this?"
Tao Daonan's beard was in disarray, his face dark and sullen.
He glared at the sister and brother.
"We'll hold it tomorrow!"
With that, he turned and left.
He had lost this contest for the family head position.
He had lost to Tao Yisheng, and he had lost to the formidable Tao Wan.
He had never imagined that Tao Wan's strength would be so formidable, that she could match him in their foundational clash without any disadvantage, even overpowering him.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, it was clear that Tao Daonan had suffered a thorough defeat.
From then on, his authority was gone.
As he left the pill refinement room, the glaring sunlight hit his face, and he unconsciously felt a moment of dizziness.
When he opened his eyes again, Tao Daonan felt a sense of bewilderment.
"Have I truly grown old?"
(End of Chapter)
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