Cultivation is just so scientific!

Chapter 489: Chapter 291: Grand Gathering

The hall prepared by Fire Cloud Valley for the Alchemist Conclave was immensely spacious; even the presence of over four hundred alchemists did not fill the hall, instead making it seem more vacant.

The hierarchy among alchemists was extremely rigorous, with high-level alchemists at the front, followed by intermediate alchemists and then low-level alchemists.

There were no other cultivators inside the hall, as all cultivators accompanying the alchemists had remained outside.

Even Elder Zhao was not able to enter the hall; the world within the hall belonged entirely to the alchemists.

Li Shiming, Master Tong Yun, and an alchemy master named Yun Ruo were the three alchemy masters at this grand event.

As the host, Master Tong Yun presided over the event.

The alchemists present, regardless of their rank, were all secretly observing Li Shiming, the legendary genius alchemy master.

In recent years, Li Shiming’s reputation had soared, overshadowing some of the veteran alchemy masters.

Although Li Shiming could not produce Third-grade Spirit Pills for Middle Late Stage Golden Core cultivators, the majority of the cultivators in the Cultivation World were at the early stages of Golden Core or lower.

The Second-grade and Third-grade Spirit Pills crafted by Li Shiming were of such high quality that every cultivator who used them praised them highly.

Furthermore, with the promotional leverage of the Beishu Trading Company, Li Shiming’s fame spread to all but the most secluded cultivators.

It had taken only a few years for Li Shiming to learn alchemy and become an alchemy master.

This rapid advancement made him an idol to all young alchemists, and it was no wonder his participation in this Alchemist Conclave drew so much attention.

“Master Li, let’s have a spar when you’re free!” Master Yun Ruo, paying no attention to the alchemists below, transmitted his voice to Li Shiming.

Li Shiming was slightly startled. It was his first time meeting Master Yun Ruo today, and his demeanor was neither cold nor warm.

He and Master Yun Ruo didn’t seem to have any connection that would benefit either of them, yet it seemed as if he had somehow offended the other party.

The term ‘spar’ used by Master Yun Ruo could be considered a challenge.

The challenge among alchemists naturally involved comparing their alchemy skills, but Master Yun Ruo, being a Golden Core Stage alchemy master capable of crafting more difficult Third-grade Spiritual Medicines, seemed meaningless to compete with Li Shiming who had yet to reach Golden Core cultivator status.

“How would Master Yun like to spar?” Li Shiming would not refuse such a provocation. The opponent was an alchemy master from the Thousand Illusion Sect, with a status and position comparable to his mentor, Elder Ma. However, he was a practitioner of the Shushan Sect’s alchemy lineage. When participating in the Alchemist Conclave, he represented not only himself but also the Shushan Sect.

“Why don’t we use this Alchemist Conclave to demonstrate a basic technique to all the alchemists here!” proposed Master Yun Ruo indifferently.

Master Yun Ruo indeed did not share much background with Li Shiming, but that did not necessarily mean there were no grievances.

Li Shiming had distributed three Youthful Elixirs in the Thousand Illusion Sect, which had elevated his reputation above that of Master Yun Ruo, especially recently as Li Shiming almost monopolized the business of crafting Third-grade Spirit Pills for Early Stage Golden Core cultivators.

Not all alchemy masters excel at crafting complex Third-grade Spirit Pills, and Master Yun Ruo’s specialty was similar to Li Shiming’s, focusing on producing Third-grade Spirit Pills using a single type of Third-grade Spiritual Medicine as the main ingredient.

If it weren’t for Li Shiming reducing his alchemy businesses upon the advice of Elder Ma during his initial experience-gathering phase as an alchemy master, Master Yun Ruo’s business would be even scarcer.

However, this led Master Yun Ruo to believe that Li Shiming was too lazy to take on the work, creating a gap he could fill. Although he could not blame the cultivators who sought the pills, he harbored this resentment towards Li Shiming.

He was clear that competing normally in alchemy with Li Shiming, no alchemy master in the entire Beishu Continent could match Li Shiming in crafting Third-grade Spirit Pills using a single type of Third-grade Spiritual Medicine as the main ingredient.

But his suggestion was to craft Third-grade Spirit Pills using basic techniques, stripping away the benefits of any alchemy secret techniques and relying purely on foundational experience, in which he was confident he could surpass Li Shiming.

In such a public setting, if he could defeat Li Shiming even once, Master Yun Ruo believed his reputation would be restored and, most importantly, his grievances would be appeased.

“Then I shall accept Master Yun’s suggestion!” Li Shiming said with a smile, nodding in agreement.

In terms of alchemy, he feared no challenge. As long as the alchemy was within his capability and with the support of IBMz15, he believed he could match anyone.

Even without the advantage of the optimal lab space, IBMz15 had collected vast amounts of alchemy data.

Upon hearing Li Shiming’s agreement, a look of joy appeared on Master Yun Ruo’s face. He transmitted his voice to Master Tong Yun, who was giving a speech.

Master Tong Yun looked at Li Shiming and Master Yun Ruo with a puzzled expression, lingering a bit longer on Master Yun Ruo. He could not understand why Master Yun Ruo would want to offend Li Shiming, a potential giant in alchemy.

An alchemy master who crafts Third-grade Spirit Pills for Early Stage Golden Core cultivators is still an alchemy master, as is an alchemy master who crafts Fourth-grade Spirit Pills for Early Stage Nascent Soul Ancestors. But can these two types of alchemy masters be considered the same?

Li Shiming was the kind of alchemy master who had the potential to craft Fourth-grade Spirit Pills for Nascent Soul Ancestors in the future. Any discerning cultivator could see this clearly.