The Extreme Alchemist of the Mighty Cauldron

Chapter 1638: Chapter 1735: Man Will Triumph

This hidden, nameless deep valley within the vast expanse of mountains surprisingly housed nearly a hundred Pill Refiners, with the lowest rank among them having achieved the level of Master of Pill.

As for the highest ranks, in addition to Huang Hanqing, an elder-level Seven Cauldrons Pill Refiner, there were also two white-haired old men and a frail, hunched old woman.

Additionally, there were over twenty Masters of Pill who had reached the Six Cauldrons level. If the outside world were to discover this, it would undoubtedly astonish everyone.

It should be known that currently, among the Nine Countries, there are very few Six Cauldrons masters. The Pill Alliance has a few, the Alchemy Tao families have a few, and some belong to neither group. Altogether, these number at most twenty people.

Yet here, there were over twenty Six Cauldrons Masters of Pill. If they were all released into the world, the Alchemy Tao World of the Nine Countries would instantly be elevated to a much higher level.

The arrival of Fang Lin and Xu Yanbing did not cause much commotion. The Pill Refiners who were already there barely paid them any attention, leaving Fang Lin and Xu Yanbing feeling quite out of place.

Of course, they had no intention of fitting into this group from the start.

Except for Huang Hanqing, who occasionally acknowledged them, the others were preoccupied with their own tasks, each one extremely busy.

Fang Lin noticed that many people had blank expressions on their faces, as if they had grown numb to what was happening here.

“The two of you have just arrived and may find it a bit difficult to adjust. But let me tell you this: since you’re here, let go of any other thoughts and focus on the tasks assigned to you. Once the Pills within the Pill Furnace are completed, you may regain your freedom,” Huang Hanqing said.

Xu Yanbing’s expression darkened. “What if I refuse to stay here?”

Huang Hanqing smiled faintly and waved toward the hunched old woman nearby. Without a word, she walked over, her expression blank, and tossed a jade vial to Huang Hanqing.

“If you refuse, then we can only force you to take these Pills,” Huang Hanqing said as he poured two pitch-black, foul-smelling Pills out from the vial. Even from several steps away, the nauseating stench was unmistakable.

You didn’t need to think too hard to guess that it was certainly nothing good—if not poison, then some Pills with severe side effects. Consuming them would likely result in being controlled by others, with even one’s life no longer in one’s hands.

Xu Yanbing glanced at the Pills, his face changing, and glared angrily at Huang Hanqing.

Fang Lin, however, remained calm, saying flatly, “I see there’s a Poison Pill Master of such profound skill here.”

Upon hearing this, the old woman turned her gaze to Fang Lin. Her eerie green eyes glinted with a sinister light, enough to make anyone shiver.

Fang Lin met her gaze fearlessly, his disdain for the old woman plainly written on his face.

“Young man, tell me your name so this old woman might know who she’s speaking to,” the old woman said, her voice unexpectedly clear and melodious, contrasting starkly with her somewhat frightening appearance.

“Why should I tell you? Judging by your mountain-locked demeanor, you’ve probably been stuck here for decades. What use would my name be to you? I doubt you even know anything about the outside world,” Fang Lin said dismissively.

The old woman chuckled coldly, seemingly finding Fang Lin amusing, yet she did not take offense.

Huang Hanqing glanced at Fang Lin with a hint of admiration. “You’re quite bold—I wouldn’t even dare provoke this old poison hag.”

Hearing this, Fang Lin turned to Huang Hanqing with equal disdain. “As a Pill Refiner who has reached such a lofty realm, to still fear a trifling, second-rate Poison Pill Master—what a disgrace to Pill Refiners everywhere.”

Huang Hanqing’s expression stiffened, a flicker of anger flashing across his face. However, he managed to restrain himself and kept his composure.

Fang Lin snorted lightly, then turned his gaze to the massive Pill Furnace and asked nonchalantly, “What exactly are you refining in that Pill Furnace? We’re already here—why bother hiding it?”

Taking a deep breath to suppress his frustration, Huang Hanqing finally said, “It’s the Life and Death Reincarnation Pill mentioned by the ancients. That’s what we are attempting to refine.”

Xu Yanbing’s face was filled with doubt. “The Life and Death Reincarnation Pill? Such a Pill exists in this world?”

“It’s perfectly understandable that you wouldn’t know. Even I have only a vague understanding of it. After all, this is something that even the ancients failed to fully comprehend. We are merely experimenting and exploring.” Huang Hanqing explained.

Fang Lin sneered. “With just this ragtag group, you think you can refine the Life and Death Reincarnation Pill? Are you all mad, or is that Sealing Sword Pavilion Master out of their mind?”

“How would we know it’s impossible unless we take this mad leap?” A voice interjected. The arms-bearing youth carrying a Sword Box approached slowly, his presence commanding immediate respect from everyone around, who all stopped their tasks to bow deferentially to him.

“Carry on,” the youth said with a wave of his hand, and the crowd resumed their work.

Fang Lin’s brow furrowed slightly. He had been contemplating a bold escape moments before, but the youth’s arrival quashed that idea immediately.

The Eight Swordsmen already posed a challenge beyond Fang Lin’s current abilities, and the power of this Sealing Sword Pavilion Master was even more unfathomable. Fang Lin knew he was no match for this individual.

Moreover, Fang Lin sensed several powerful presences looming just outside the valley, flitting in and out of perception. They weren’t hiding their existence intentionally but were there to intimidate the Pill Refiners within, ensuring they didn’t act recklessly.

“Master Fang Lin, your name precedes you. Although I don’t travel outside often, I do have sources of information out there. Knowing your remarkable skills, we specifically invited you here,” the Sealing Sword Pavilion Master said with a faint smile. However, with his scar-covered face, even a smile was unsettling, sending a chill down one’s spine.

Fang Lin responded icily, “It seems the Sealing Sword Pavilion has been keeping an eye on me for some time.”

The youth nodded. “Indeed. Ever since you achieved the rank of Master of Pill in Alchemy Tao, our Pavilion has been observing you. However, we refrained from inviting you earlier because we wanted to see just how far you could progress.”

Pausing briefly, the youth continued, “You are now hailed across the Nine Countries as the leading genius of your generation. The quickest to achieve Master of Pill status in the history of the Pill Alliance. In every major Pill contest, you’ve never lost to anyone. With your expertise, your presence here is invaluable to our pursuit.”

“I have only one thing to say: no matter how many people you gather or how many resources you expend, it will all be for naught. The Life and Death Reincarnation Pill is beyond your reach,” Fang Lin said bluntly.

“One must try. Since you’re here, Master Fang, why not simply assist us to the best of your ability?” The Sealing Sword Pavilion Master spoke lightly, his invisible aura now enveloping Fang Lin completely.

ps: Third update for today. Just got home after spending most of the day outside. Didn’t even take off my pants before jumping into writing. There might be another chapter tonight—or maybe not, depending on how I’m feeling. Yesterday, I washed dishes with cold water in the countryside, and now my left hand’s joints are killing me.

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