Chapter 1171: Immortal Furnace Trial
Opening the hall and lifting the furnace at the Celestial Pill Department signifies that one’s alchemy skills have reached a master level.
In the past, this was the level at which one could establish a sect.
And within the Celestial Pill Department, this position is termed as Pill Master.
Pill Masters also vary in level.
Though a Sixth-grade Emperor Alchemist is only a basic Pill Master, they can command several dozen Immortal Officials as assistance during alchemy.
When encountering a kind Pill Master, these assisting Immortal Officials might receive rewards and guidance.
But if they run into someone like Bi Ying, they might just end up being bullied like servants.
If Brother Cheng can secure a Pill Master position, he would also have a group under his command.
However, no one has faith in him.
Even Taiheng Daoist Venerable and Venerable Qing Huan advised him to give up the idea.
"Sect Leader Jiang, it’s no simple task for an outsider to become a Pill Master."
"Indeed, that alchemy test involves significant risks."
"The dual tests of the Heavenly Dao and Pill Origin are extremely perilous; even we would not dare choose that path!"
"If you fail, at best you might get injured, at worst you could damage your foundations!"
"When we became Pill Masters, it was a gradual process step by step."
"Shouldn’t you reconsider?"
They had absolute confidence in Sect Leader Jiang’s cultivation talent and combat prowess.
But alchemy...
That is an entirely different domain.
In the Ancient Immortal Realm before, they’d never seen him do anything remotely related to alchemy.
Taiheng Daoist Venerable even kindly suggested.
"Why not try your luck over at the Celestial Artifact Department?"
His other old acquaintances readily agreed.
"Yes, yes. I recall, back in the day, Sect Leader Jiang could refine Tier Nine Immortal Artifacts, renowned at the Evangelical Assembly!"
"He may not be suited for alchemy, but there’s no doubt he can refine artifacts!"
"With your artifact refining talent over the years, surely you can produce high-tier Dao Artifacts now?"
"Try the Celestial Artifact Department, you’ll definitely succeed!"
Seeing that even Jiang Cheng’s ’own people’ had no confidence, Yi Yuan Daoist Venerable and Venerable Jinpi couldn’t help but laugh.
"Turns out he’s really an amateur."
"Where’s the confidence from?"
"Hahaha, let him try, it will be amusing."
Even Fan Lei Daoist Venerable from the Divine Thunder Bureau joined in sarcastically.
"If you’ve got the skills, show us!"
"The opportunity is right in front of you. If you can’t get the position, it’s on you."
Yi Yuan Daoist Venerable laughed heartily: "Fellow Daoist Fan Lei, this kid is timid, all talk no action, he wouldn’t dare face the test!"
Fan Lei Daoist Venerable, like finding a kindred spirit, immediately responded in tandem.
"Fellow Daoist Yi Yuan, your Celestial Pill Department accepts only the elite, not ineffectual ones, right?"
"Naturally, but considering this kid’s ties with Ancient Pill Stream, we can offer him a chance for evaluation!"
"Hahaha, a chance to embarrass himself..."
Brother Cheng looked at those two clowns acting as if they’d found long-lost friends and couldn’t even be bothered to retort, thinking they might as well perform a brotherhood ceremony there and then.
"Alright, alright, let’s get started quickly."
"Bro’s waiting to claim a free secret treasure... no, the Great Seal."
Beside him, King Shi and Prince Yi twitched at the corners of their mouths, "You just said what?"
So, he was only so keen on the Official Seal to acquire a secret treasure for fighting?
The Celestial Palace’s Official Seal is so noble, so revered; anyone who gains it cherishes it, values the status and power it symbolizes.
Who would really treat it as a combat weapon?
This guy is outrageous!
"Kid, don’t blame us for not warning you, this test isn’t a joke."
King Shi coldly remarked: "If you injure yourself, don’t hold us accountable."
Brother Cheng waved dismissively, "When bro rises through the ranks, you just handle the congratulatory ceremony, and don’t skimp on the gifts."
Several Divine Monarchs couldn’t help but laugh, exasperated.
Damn it, why are you so arrogant?
No Immortal Official upon taking office could qualify to receive congratulations from the Divine Monarchs.
Not even the Chief of each department would suffice!
Prince Yi, unable to hold back, laughed sarcastically.
"Alright, if you truly achieve it, what’s the harm in us offering congratulations?"
As they spoke, the group had already reached the testing zone inside the Celestial Pill Department.
A massive, abnormal pill furnace appeared before Jiang Cheng.
The grand furnace soared into the clouds, making everyone present appear insignificantly small.
Unlike ordinary pill furnaces, this giant one lacked a pill array around it, its surface appeared rough and uneven as if it hadn’t been polished.
On closer inspection, it could even be mistaken for a small celestial body similar to a pill furnace.
"This is an Immortal Furnace, a special treasure land formed by the Heavenly Dao."
Taiheng had no confidence in Sect Leader Jiang, but he couldn’t go against his wishes, so he tried to explain as much as possible.
"A treasure land formed by the Heavenly Dao?"
Brother Cheng’s eyes lit up: "Wouldn’t that make it a Celestial Dao Supreme Treasure?"
In those days, places like the Three Great Dragon Valleys and Celestial Sword Mountain were treasure lands formed by the Heavenly Dao.
Later, those places were verified to be transformations of Celestial Dao Supreme Treasures.
"No, no!"
Taiheng, smiling wryly, shook his head.
Everyone else was equally speechless.
It’s known that the Ten Celestial Emperors rose to power due to those ten Celestial Dao Supreme Treasures.
If this was a Celestial Dao Supreme Treasure, it would have incited countless people to fight over it long ago; how could it still remain peacefully here?
"This Immortal Furnace cannot perform alchemy; it’s merely an occasional resting place of the Pill Origin and is the foundation of our Celestial Pill Department."
"Comprehending Pill Origin within the Immortal Furnace is twice as effective, helping improve alchemy skills."
"However, because of the proximity to the Origin, no one can truly delve into the core region of the Immortal Furnace."
And here, it’s also the site of the Heavenly Dao and Pill Origin examination.
The Celestial Pill Department occasionally holds alchemy competitions, usually conducted outside.
At this moment, Yi Yuan Daoist Venerable flew over.
Pointing at the gigantic pill furnace, he sneered at Jiang Cheng: "See those nine holes on top of the furnace?"
Brother Cheng raised his eyes for a look; indeed, there were nine holes lined up from top to bottom.
They appeared as nine deep caverns.
Just unclear what exactly they signify.
"These nine holes represent the rankings from First to Ninth-grade Emperor Alchemist."
"If you can pass through the sixth hole’s test, it proves you’re a Sixth-grade Emperor Alchemist, and then no one can prevent you from opening the hall and lifting the furnace at the Celestial Pill Department to become a Pill Master!"
"In this examination, there is no room for cheating or shortcuts!"
"Even the Celestial Emperor would acknowledge your status."
He regarded Jiang Cheng with eyes filled with challenge.
"The opportunity is right before you; whether or not you dare is up to you."
"If you’re too scared and want to escape, now is your chance, but you cannot rebuke the mockery you’ll face later on..."
He spoke to provoke Sect Leader Jiang.
After all, failing the test would face the dual strike of the Heavenly Dao and Pill Origin.
Before he finished speaking, Brother Cheng rushed into that sixth entrance.