Chapter 776: 776 Chapter – Three Days Later, Proving the Heaven Rank (First Update)
Less than three hours had passed, and not only had he refined a Law Elixir, but he had also broken through six ranks in one fell swoop, prompting the senior judges to come forward and confer ranks personally.
This succession of explosive news stunned everyone present, leaving their minds somewhat muddled.
Especially Lü Baiyue, who had been stuck at the peak of the Profound Rank and unable to fully step into the ranks of the Earth-Rank Elixir Masters, was now looking at Xue An with utter shock in her eyes.
She could never have imagined that this man would be so powerful.
Just moments ago, he was a mere commoner without any rank, but in the blink of an eye, he had donned a black robe and become a formidable Earth-Rank Elixir Master.
The transformation was so abrupt that Lü Baiyue found it hard to accept for a moment.
“Now, am I qualified enough?” Xue An stood with his hands behind his back and spoke calmly.
Whoosh.
The gaze of everyone in the audience converged on the Quenching Elixir Ancestor.
The Quenching Elixir Ancestor’s complexion changed unpredictably, his eyes gleaming like those of a hawk, flickering with complex emotions.
But soon, he regained his composure and gave a sinister smile.
“Young man, it seems I have truly underestimated you. To be able to refine a Law Elixir within three hours and successfully advance to an Earth-Rank Elixir Master, you have earned my respect!”
As he spoke, the Quenching Elixir Ancestor turned to Cao Dusheng, who was already trembling, and commanded, “Kneel and apologize!”
Cao Dusheng shuddered, not daring to resist, “Yes… Yes!”
With that, he knelt on the ground, trembling, “Xue… Lord Xue, everything was my fault. Please, have mercy and spare me this once!”
His words lacked the arrogance they had held earlier.
The surrounding crowd fell silent.
They were well aware that all of this was because Xue An had proven his formidable strength.
And the Quenching Elixir Ancestor’s actions were not necessarily out of fear of Xue An but rather a genuine respect for the strong.
When Xue An had not yet become an Earth-Rank Elixir Master, Cao Dusheng, as his disciple, would naturally be favored and protected by the Quenching Elixir Ancestor.
But now that Xue An had become a peer, the Quenching Elixir Ancestor did not hesitate to make his own disciple kneel and apologize.
For him, a mere disciple was not worth offending an Earth-Rank Elixir Master for.
And many people found nothing wrong with this because that was simply the reality of their world.
Then, the Quenching Elixir Ancestor said nonchalantly, “Xue An, your Alchemy Dao capabilities are decent. This trifling matter doesn’t warrant creating a grudge between beings such as ourselves. In my view, let this matter rest here; what do you say?”
Upon hearing this, everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that this would be the end of the matter.
After all, this demeanor from the Quenching Elixir Ancestor could already be considered a concession.
For him, who was always so arrogant, this was quite remarkable.
But what nobody expected was this.
Upon hearing these words, Xue An on the high platform slowly raised the corners of his mouth, revealing a cold smile, then he said indifferently, “Let this matter rest… Heh, who said I’d let it rest just like that?”
At these words, the Quenching Elixir Ancestor’s expression turned furious, his eyes emitting a cold murderous intent as he said icily, “Xue An, do you truly believe I fear you?”
Xue An shook his head, “Whether you fear me or not is irrelevant. What I just said was true. Since you claimed that a high-ranked Elixir Master has the power of life and death over a lower-ranked one, I intend to make you lose convincingly.”
“So… I will advance to the rank of Heavenly Alchemist!”
Even the judges from the Elixir Dao Association were stunned.
Advancing to the rank of Heavenly Alchemist.
How long had it been since those simple six words echoed in the Elixir Dao Association?
People had even come to take for granted that Earth-Rank Elixir Masters were the highest existence.
For more than a thousand years, no one was able to take that step.
The number of talented and extraordinary individuals who had failed and vanished into obscurity caused many to gradually lose hope, even to the point of believing that the path to becoming a Heavenly Rank Alchemist had been severed, and that it was no longer possible for anyone to advance.
Even these evaluating elders had come to believe that it was no longer possible for a Heavenly Rank Alchemist to emerge.
So when Xue An uttered those six words, all of the elders were shocked.
But it was at this moment that Quenching Elixir Ancestor burst into a big laugh, filled with mockery in his voice.
Xue An didn’t take it to heart, simply standing there with his arms folded, watching him laugh.
A moment later, the laughter subsided, and then Quenching Elixir Ancestor said with a sinister tone, “Xue An, I admit that your talent in the Alchemy Dao is decent, otherwise you wouldn’t have advanced to an Earth-Rank Elixir Master at such a young age!”
“But do you think that’s enough?”
“Since ancient times, countless people have sought to advance to Heavenly Rank but failed, not only because their talents were insufficient, but more importantly, since the fall of the Elixir King a thousand years ago, the Heavenly-ranked Elixir Furnace that had been by his side also disappeared without a trace!”
“This also means that in this world, there are no longer any Elixir Furnaces capable of forging Holy Elixirs!”
“Without even an Elixir Furnace, what will you use to advance to Heavenly Rank? Your ignorance?”
Upon hearing Quenching Elixir Ancestor’s string of questions.
The Pill Masters in the room stirred.
Many were hearing about these matters for the first time and couldn’t help showing looks of shock on their faces.
But there were also those who knew that what Quenching Elixir Ancestor said was no falsehood.
To forge a Holy Elixir, it would take more than just an Elixir Prescription.
Because the power of a Holy Elixir was too overwhelming, ordinary pill furnaces simply couldn’t withstand it, only Heavenly-ranked Elixir Furnaces could forge them.
Yet the last Heavenly-ranked Elixir Furnace had disappeared 1,200 years ago with the fall of the Elixir King.
Over the years, countless individuals had tried to find it but never succeeded.
“Are you done?” Xue An said indifferently.
Quenching Elixir Ancestor smirked but said nothing.
“It sounds very reasonable,” Xue An continued, “but since I’ve declared my intent to become a Heavenly Rank Alchemist, there’s no reason for me to change my statement!”
Quenching Elixir Ancestor was about to speak.
Xue An waved his hand and smiled lightly, “In three days, right here, I will prove myself as a Heavenly Rank Alchemist and leave you with nothing to say!”
Boom.
His words exploded like a bomb, stunning everyone.
Quenching Elixir Ancestor sneered, “Very well, then I shall see how you prove yourself as a Heavenly Rank Alchemist in three days!”
With that, he sneered at Xue An a few more times, then turned and left.
Cao Dusheng felt secretly delighted, thinking that Xue An was simply seeking his own death, but seeing his master leave, he hurriedly scrambled up from the ground and followed suit.
Soon after, the news rapidly spread throughout Wandan City.
“What? Someone is going to prove themselves as a Heavenly Rank? Are you kidding me? Has this person gone mad?”
“Being able to become an Earth Rank Elixir Master by leaping through six ranks with a single elixir shows his outstanding talent. It’s a pity that he’s deluded himself with fantasies about the elusive Heavenly Rank Alchemist—he’s finished!”
Many scoffed and sneered at the matter, considering it impossible, and even thought Xue An was merely boasting.
Amidst the tumultuous public opinion, Xue An remained silent.
And in the blink of an eye, three days passed.
The day.
Finally arrived.