Chapter 829 - 264: Heaven-defying Dao
’Three thousand paths, with righteousness first. I start with righteousness and enter the path of righteousness, seeking only openness, seeking only a clear conscience! My Alchemy Dao should be invincible, fearless, connecting with the vast righteous qi of heaven and earth!’
Yao Xinghai roared in his heart.
Inside the blazing Alchemy Furnace, the vast righteous qi of heaven and earth seemed to transform into a dragon of justice, coiling and swirling in the furnace, infusing Yao Xinghai’s Alchemy Dao into every medicinal material and every grain of medicament.
The entire Alchemy Furnace was filled with the profound meaning of Yao Xinghai’s Alchemy Dao.
Suddenly, around his body, a layer of light blue shield rose from the ground and soared towards the heavens. Its shape was straight as a ruler, unwavering!
His momentum drew the attention of ten thousand people on the stand.
A Pill Master conducting Dan Fighting to ascend is a rare sight indeed.
The people on the stands all straightened their bodies, leaned forward, and looked towards Yao Xinghai with astonishment, exclaiming.
"What is this?"
"I feel a surge of vast righteous qi!"
"Vast righteous qi? From the Yao Family?"
"But isn’t this Alchemy?"
"Yes indeed! Truly incomprehensible."
"It’s actually vast righteous qi... Can vast righteous qi also be used for Alchemy?"
"Whether it can be used for Alchemy is not clear, but this momentum is certainly overwhelming."
Inside the competition field, waves of shock spread, and through the Mystic Light Mirror, people in the Outer City were also awed by Yao Xinghai’s momentum, staring wide-eyed at the blue glow surrounding Yao Xinghai in the Mystic Light Mirror.
Suddenly, he seemed to have attracted all attention, becoming the sole highlight of the competition field.
Outside the small Mystic Light Mirror of the Alchemy Institute, it was also quiet, except for Lian Qiao who seemed a bit absent-minded, while everyone else fixed their eyes on Yao Xinghai’s movements, holding their breath.
"Creating so much commotion just by refining an Elixir? Can Qingge handle this?" Ji Yaohua murmured with a frown.
And at the Alchemy Institute disciples’ seats, the four of Mei Zizhong also had solemn eyes.
"Qingge once said, only by understanding one’s own path can one become holy. This Yao Xinghai has already understood his own Alchemy Dao, but Qingge in this past month, I wonder if she has gained anything?" Mei Zizhong furrowed his brow, his serene and detached gaze full of concern.
Zhao Nanxing took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "We must trust Qingge; she never disappoints."
His words made Shang Zisu and Zhu Ling shift their gaze slightly from being awed by Yao Xinghai to Mu Qingge. They noticed that the commotion and momentum caused by Yao Xinghai beside Mu Qingge made distant Pill Masters all affected, their faces pale, hands trembling, some even ruining the Elixir they were refining and having to start over. But what about Mu Qingge? She remained calm, unhurriedly doing her own thing, as if completely unaffected by the pressure emanating from Yao Xinghai.
Her calmness inexplicably soothed their anxious hearts, and they let out a breath of relief.
"Qingge should be fine." Shang Zisu whispered.
Zhao Nanxing, however, smiled wryly at this moment, "Once the Alchemy Conference concludes, Qingge will leave again. Her hurry, I don’t know when we will see each other again."
His words brought a sense of sadness to several people.
In the end, it was Zhu Ling who broke the melancholy atmosphere, smiling at the others, "Don’t worry, after all, we know where Luoxing City is. Once we complete our studies, we will join Senior Brother Mei to serve in her Luoxing City. How could she, being the City Lord, possibly escape?"
Her words made the eyes of several people light up, and they nodded, thinking it was indeed a very good plan!
Regrouping their spirits, the four again focused their attention on the ongoing Alchemy Conference.
Due to Yao Xinghai’s influence, many Pill Masters repeatedly failed, having to start over in frustration.
Previously, Mu Qingge dumped all medicinal materials into the Heaven-Burning Furnace; most of these materials were attribute-opposed.
Just as everyone worried that this behavior of hers would lead to an explosion, little did they know that inside the Heaven-Burning Furnace was a different scene.
Hundreds of medicinal materials were calmly and orderly arranged in the furnace, continually being roasted by Taichu Urgent Fire, removing impurities and extracting essence. Mu Qingge’s powerful Spiritual Sense controlled everything inside the furnace, like a monarch, overcoming difficulties, defying the heavens.
’The Alchemy Path, saving life and death, altering cause and effect, extending longevity, reviving the dead, this is naturally the Heaven-defying Dao! Among the Twelve Pill Paths of the Alchemy Institute, each path is different, yet they all share the Heaven-defying nature. This defiance of heaven aligns precisely with my path of cultivation. People, living in this world, isn’t it about defying heaven and controlling one’s destiny? Follow the will of heaven? Hmph! I am unwilling! I disdain it! I refuse! I am reluctant! If heaven blocks me, then I will defy the heavens! If earth obstructs me, then I will destroy the earth! My Alchemy Dao is to defy heaven, to control the universe and reverse life and death!’
Boom——!
In Mu Qingge’s clear eyes, the Heaven-defying fire blazed.
Around her, flames rose, and the beast of flames roared towards the sky, unyielding.
’Roar——!’
The roaring resonated, shaking the internal organs and striking the soul.
This roar made everyone inside and outside the field feel their bodies tremble, their deep-seated ailments seemed to loosen, bringing a sense of refreshment and mental clarity.
"This..."
"Why do I suddenly feel an overall lightness?"
Many people clutched their chests in amazement.
"What’s the situation?"
"I don’t know either! What? You feel suddenly lighter too?"
"Yes, yes! I only heard a beast roar and felt my body lighten considerably."
Mu Xuewu looked at King Sang Shun beside her, seeing him covering his heart with one hand, she couldn’t help but ask with concern, "Grandfather, what’s wrong?"
King Sang Shun waved his hand, just about to answer, when suddenly a thunderclap sounded in the sky.
Crack—!
Boom—!
The sky suddenly darkened, capturing everyone’s attention.
They looked at the changing skies, feeling that the once clear sky had become turbid, as if the sky was about to collapse.
In the surging clouds, lightning and thunder rang incessantly.
"This...what’s happening now?"
The sudden darkening of the sky, the daunting spectacle of lightning and thunder, made countless people stand up from their seats, wanting to flee this place.
"Is this Heaven’s wrath? Just what was refined to provoke Heaven’s fury!"
"It’s terrifying! To think alchemy could reach such a level!"
Inside the small Mystic Light Mirror, a group of Pill Masters saw this scene, along with the sudden darkness outside, and their faces turned grave. Many even stood up, walked to the door, and looked at the lightning and thunder in the sky.
The dean of the Alchemy Institute stood on the spot, murmuring softly, "The Heaven-defying Dao, too tyrannical. If one defies Heaven, why would Heaven spare them?"
Elder Gan walked to his side, whispered, "Dean, I’ve heard that if the Alchemy Dao is destroyed, one loses the ability to perform alchemy. Is this true?"
A fleeting shadow crossed in the dean’s eyes, and he nodded almost imperceptibly.
Elder Gan’s eyes suddenly contracted, and he was immediately filled with worry.
He looked towards the horizon, sighing in his heart: ’The Heaven-defying Dao is fraught with challenges. How could this path of defiance against Heaven be easy to open?’
This wrath of Heaven already made him feel that Mu Qingge was doomed. If the Alchemy Dao were to be destroyed, Mu Qingge would never be able to practice alchemy again, and such a promising talent would henceforth be detached from the Alchemy Dao.
Regret, pity, reluctance...
All sorts of emotions made Elder Gan sigh repeatedly.
"She can do it." At this moment, Lian Qiao spoke up. Her tone was filled with affirmation.
"Ancestor, you..." The dean of the Alchemy Institute looked at her in shock.
Lian Qiao stood up, staring at the darkening sky outside, and said solemnly, "As the new master of the Heaven-Burning Furnace, how could she not contend even with Heaven?"
As if responding to Lian Qiao’s words, inside the Mystic Light Mirror, the flames rising from the Heaven-Burning Furnace merged with Mu Qingge.
The beastly figure behind her, resembling a Fire Qilin, roared at Heaven, defying it.
Its hooves seemed intent on shattering this patch of sky, ascending the Heaven-defying Dao.
Heaven, was enraged!
A lightning as thick as an adult’s arm descended from the sky, aiming directly at Mu Qingge, as if to blast to pieces this audacious person who dared to defy Heaven.
"Ah—!"
This scene shocked countless people.
All around, Pill Masters’ pill furnaces exploded one after another, their previous efforts ruined. More seriously, some fearing collateral damage, hurriedly fled the scene, withdrawing from the competition.
The lightning, before landing on Mu Qingge, was swallowed by the Qilin.
Yao Xinghai stood still, surrounded by a faint blue Vast Righteous Qi. Yet amidst the commotion caused by Mu Qingge, his meager glow struggled to draw attention.
He raised his head, his face pale, looking at the descending sky, his heart full of fear.
He was not daunted by the apocalyptic transformation of heaven and earth, but astonished by Mu Qingge’s alarming prowess in the Alchemy Dao.
’I have never seen such tyranny, formidable defiance, and such Heaven-challenging Alchemy Dao!’ Yao Xinghai thought. Suddenly, he seemed to understand what his master had once said—
’The path of alchemy is inherently a Heaven-defying cultivation.’
"Run now! The sky is about to collapse!"
"Quick, run, Heaven is angry, staying here is courting death!"
"Help—!"
The manifestation of Heaven’s wrath instilled fear in countless people. Chaos had erupted inside and outside the venue.
Those Pill Masters previously enduring under the lightning now discarded their armor, choosing to flee in panic. In the vast alchemy field, only Mu Qingge and Yao Xinghai remained in the end.
Yao Xinghai looked at Mu Qingge. Seeing her calm and serene demeanor, his eyes shrank, his heart once again stirred with roaring waves.
Outside the small Mystic Light Mirror, the Pill Masters witnessing the chaos couldn’t help but look at the dean of the Alchemy Institute.
And at this moment, within the arena, an extremely pleasant yet authoritative voice slowly rang out, "Doesn’t my little Qingge deserve an audience while performing alchemy? All of you sit down for me."
As his words fell, an unparalleled oppressive force spread from him, quickly disseminating throughout the entire arena, even reaching beyond.
Everywhere inside and outside the Alchemy Institute felt the impact, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of people seemed as if placed under an Immobilization Spell simultaneously, fixed in place, unable to move...