Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Five days later.

The array competition concluded, and the first place was won by an array master from the Innate Fourth Realm. The array arranged within one two-hour period managed to trap a martial artist from the Innate Fifth Realm for twelve two-hour periods, and was severely injured after breaking free. This result caused a sensation throughout Thousand Mechanism City.

Generally, array masters can use adequate time and array materials to trap, or even eliminate, a powerful individual of the same realm within the array. However, to trap someone of a higher realm for six two-hour periods is unprecedented in recent array competitions.

Moqi’s name became well-known throughout Thousand Mechanism City and was recognized by many factions.

...

While many martial artists in Thousand Mechanism City were enthusiastically discussing the exciting scenes of the array competition, the alchemy competition’s first day arrived.

It was still held at the Celestial Craft Pavilion.

But this time, there were tens of thousands of alchemists on the square, each with a pill furnace placed in front of them.

The pill furnaces for the hundred finalists in the total alchemy competition were all provided by the Thousand Mechanism Sect.

”So many people.”

In the stands, Li Qin and Yin Yue sat together, observing the number of alchemists below. Li Qin’s mouth slightly parted, her brows showing surprise.

She had expected an increase in participants for this alchemy competition, but hadn’t anticipated such a drastic increase in numbers.

Li Qin glanced at the nearby members of other large families, whose expressions also turned somber. Some had come for entertainment, but for these local forces, each artifact refining competition was tied to their own interests.

If they focused mainly on forging and array construction, it was fine, but for families like hers that were concentrating on alchemy, the pressure greatly intensified.

”Don’t worry, Uncle Xiao will surely make it into the top hundred.”

Yin Yue sensed Li Qin’s tension and concern, speaking gently. Given her previous temperament, she would never bring up unrelated matters, let alone comfort someone.

Even though Yin Yue didn’t want to admit it, she was indeed influenced by Lin Xi.

”Are you so confident in your Uncle Xiao?”

Watching Yin Yue’s delicate face, Li Qin instinctively reached out to touch it, but was dodged by Yin Yue.

”I don’t like people touching me.”

Li Qin’s hand awkwardly paused before reluctantly retracting: ”Sorry.”

”I have witnessed Uncle Xiao’s alchemy, the top hundred is certainly fine.”

Yin Yue comforted Li Qin once more; whether Li Qin believed it or not was unrelated to her, as the outcome would be apparent soon anyway.

Her confidence in Lin Chen stemmed from Lin Chen’s Divine Soul strength and Innate Fire.

Possessing four Innate Fires, coupled with a Divine Soul akin to the Innate Sixth Realm, this first round is about the speed of refining pills using ordinary pill furnaces provided by the Thousand Mechanism Sect. Unless purposely concealing his abilities, nobody can snatch first place from Lin Chen.

Based on Yin Yue’s understanding, Lin Chen wouldn’t finish first in the first round, likely placing between 20th and 30th, thus passing the assessment without drawing too much attention.

...

On the square, Lin Chen sensed the shape of the pill in the furnace, neither hurried nor impatient, just as Yin Yue imagined. He didn’t intend for his first-round performance to be too remarkable; this round merely selects the top hundred, and ranking will not affect the second round’s scores.

The pill being produced in the first-round assessment is the Three-Star Tide Listening Pill, designed for Third Realm martial artists to experience the surging Innate Liquid within them, prompting a more reasonable flow of the Innate Liquid.

Third Realm martial artists have their Innate Power liquefied, flowing inside like tides, hence the pill’s name.

For this alchemy competition, Lin Chen specifically researched previous competitions.

In prior competitions, the first-round assessments involved Two-Star pills, but this time, it immediately jumped to Three-Star pills, likely due to the increased participant numbers and higher alchemy skills compared to past competitions. Using Two-Star pills would make distinguishing the top hundred difficult.

Three-Star pills require alchemists to have at least Third Realm capabilities, especially Divine Souly at the Third Realm level, eliminating a significant number of participants.

One two-hour period!

Lin Chen’s gaze shifted towards the left front where a young man’s lips curled, and with a flick of his right hand, the lid of the furnace lifted, letting pill fragrance escape.

”One two-hour period... completed an entire period early.”

Usually, refining the Tide Listening Pill takes two two-hour periods, and finishing it a period early in such a competition is not only a sign of high alchemy skills but also of substantial self-confidence.

In competitions, sometimes to ensure success, participants tend to be cautious, because a furnace blast signifies failure.

The young man’s alchemical success instantly drew the entire audience’s attention.

”Who is he? Looks unfamiliar.”

”By appearance, he seems just over thirty. Achieving such rapid refinement of the Tide Listening Pill suggests he’s not just anyone.”

”Just because you don’t know of him doesn’t mean he’s unknown—this is Jiang Yaoyan, the Young Valley Master of Medicine King Valley.”

”Wow, the Young Valley Master of Medicine King Valley is competing too?”

”No wonder, if it’s the Young Valley Master, it’s understandable.”

The name of Medicine King Valley is known to every alchemist!

Jiang Yaoyan wore a smile on his face, hearing the discussion among the spectators. As he prepared to leave the square, on the far right, another furnace opened, just ten breaths later than his.

”Who’s this then?”

Seeing the second young man complete his alchemy, the martial artists in the stands were bewildered. Traditionally, the top contestants are renowned across the Thousand Mechanism Domain, usually in their forties. How are the top two so young this time around?