The morning of the competition dawned bright and clear. The air of Verdant City, already thick with the fragrance of countless herbs, was now charged with an electric buzz of anticipation. A river of cultivators flowed through the wide, clean streets, all heading towards the heart of the city and the grand venue for the tournament: the Cauldron Pavilion Arena.
The Green Mountain Sect delegation joined the massive procession. Han Jian walked at the front with Elder Han, discussing the potential challenges of the first stage. The three competing disciples followed, their faces a mixture of anxiety and fierce determination. Li Yu walked alongside Han Jian, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling city. The sheer number of powerful cultivators, the vibrant energy, the exotic goods being sold in the street-side stalls—it was a world away from the quiet solitude of his courtyard.
As they rounded a corner onto the grand avenue leading to the arena, a familiar, portly figure came into view, directing a group of laborers unloading crates from a large land-cart. The crates all bore the emblem of a golden seashell. The figure turned, wiping a sheen of sweat from his brow, and his eyes widened in shock and then absolute, unrestrained joy.
"Wise Host!"
Li Yu stopped, a genuine smile breaking across his face. "Fat Pig? What are you doing here?"
Fat Pig bustled over, his usual wide, mercantile grin splitting his face. He radiated an aura of wealth and confidence that had only grown with his new position as Vice Guild Master. He stopped just short of Li Yu, his boisterous energy instantly tempered by a deep, instinctual respect. He performed a deep, formal bow that was surprisingly graceful for a man of his girth.
"Wise Host, this humble one did not know you would be gracing this event with your presence!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with sincere delight but kept at a volume that wouldn't draw undue attention. "Had I known, I would have prepared a proper reception!"
Li Yu chuckled softly. "I am just here to watch, Fat Pig. There is no need for formality. I was not aware the Golden Shell Guild had dealings this far east."
"Ah, this was one of Guild Master Kui's brilliant moves a few months back!" Fat Pig explained, his eyes shining with admiration for his partner. "He established a trade route with the Verdant Cauldron Sect. A masterstroke, truly! We supply them with rare, water-attribute herbs and beast materials, and they give us priority access to their mid-grade pills. It's been incredibly profitable! This last shipment was a special delivery of rare ingredients for the tournament's prize pool!"
Just then, a group of cultivators in the elegant, emerald-green robes of the Verdant Cauldron Sect approached. At their head was a man with a long, white beard and an aura as deep and gentle as an ancient forest. It was the Sect Master of the Verdant Cauldron Sect himself, come to personally oversee the final preparations.
Fat Pig's expression immediately shifted to that of a serious, professional merchant. He turned and gave the Sect Master a respectful, but not subservient, bow. "Sect Master Lin, a pleasure to see you. The final shipment has arrived safely, as promised."
Sect Master Lin smiled warmly. "Vice Guild Master, your Guild's efficiency is truly remarkable. We are grateful." His gaze then fell upon Li Yu and the rest of the Green Mountain delegation. He recognized Han Jian, but his eyes lingered on Li Yu, noting the subtle but clear deference the powerful Vice Guild Master showed him. His mind immediately went to the recent, shocking political developments. He knew that the Golden Shell Guild had publicly declared the Green Mountain Sect to be their protected partner during the Boreal Empire war—a move that had sent ripples through the entire region and was the primary reason for the sect's newfound prosperity and respect.
"Ah, allow me to make an introduction!" Fat Pig said, his tone perfectly pleasant and professional. "Sect Master Lin, this is Li Yu, a most valued business partner from the Green Mountain Sect, his Deep Water Menagerie supplying us with a large variety of spiritual fish and other beasts. We have worked closely together on several ventures."
It was a simple and truthful introduction. Yet, to a man like Sect Master Lin, it spoke volumes. A "valued business partner" to the Golden Shell Guild was no small thing. For the powerful Vice Guild Master, a rumored Core Formation expert, to personally and respectfully introduce a young Foundation Establishment disciple in this manner... it was a clear signal.
This quiet young man was the key link, the very reason for the powerful alliance between the two sects. This was the hidden figure at the heart of the Green Mountain Sect's sudden rise. The profits generated from the Deep Water Menagerie and whatever other benefits the Golden Shell Company was getting from the sect must be good.
"A pleasure to meet you, young friend," Sect Master Lin said, his tone carrying a genuine warmth that went beyond mere politeness. He looked at Li Yu with new eyes, seeing not a junior disciple, but a person of immense, hidden importance. "Any valued partner of the Golden Shell Guild is a friend of our Verdant Cauldron Sect. And of course, Sect Heir Han Jian, welcome to our city."
Han Jian, who had watched the entire exchange with a thoughtful, calculating expression, bowed respectfully. "Sect Master Lin, we are honored to be here."
After a few more pleasantries, Fat Pig excused himself to finish his work. The Green Mountain delegation continued on their way, but the dynamic had subtly shifted. The other disciples now looked at Li Yu with a new layer of confusion and awe. Even Han Jian shot him a curious, questioning glance, a silent acknowledgment that his 'Brother Li' was a man of ever-deeper mysteries.
They finally arrived at the Cauldron Pavilion Arena, a colossal, open-air amphitheater. Tens of thousands of seats rose in sweeping tiers around a vast, circular stage of polished white jade. At the center of the stage, a nine-story-tall, ethereal projection of a cauldron shimmered.
The Green Mountain Sect delegation was seated in a respectable section. Down on the stage, hundreds of individual alchemy stations had been set up. The competitors, including Brother Shen, Lin Xue, and Yao Fei, stood nervously at their designated positions.
An elderly Verdant Cauldron Sect elder floated to the center of the stage, his voice booming across the amphitheater. "Welcome, honored competitors, to the Grand Alchemy Tournament! Today, we begin with the first of five trials: The Alchemist's Eye!"
A hundred disciples emerged, placing a covered tray at each station.
"Before you," the elder announced, "are one hundred Sun-Kissed Dew Leaves. Your task is simple. You have one hour. Using only your spiritual sense and knowledge, you must select the ten best herbs from the one hundred before you. They all differ in age, location planted and harvesting technique. Let the first stage begin!"
A deep chime echoed through the arena. The competitors uncovered their trays, revealing a hundred seemingly identical, vibrant green leaves.
Li Yu leaned forward, genuinely curious. He closed his eyes and expanded his spiritual sense like a silent mist over the stage. In his mind, every herb was laid bare. He could feel the vibrant life force within each leaf, the strong pulse of a perfect specimen, the faint stagnant blotches on a bruised one. The top ten leaves on each tray stood out to his perception, glowing with a brighter, purer light.
This was not something he could do before or at the very least he couldn't remember sensing this kind of thing from herbs. It must be because of his Koi Qi, that unique blend of different qi, there must be some elements of it that allows him to sense the stronger specimen.
He opened his eyes and began to watch the different techniques.
Huo Liling, the arrogant heir of the Crimson Crucible Sect, blasted her tray with a wave of fiery spiritual sense, snatching up the most potent leaves with supreme confidence. Li Yu could tell that while potent, two of her chosen leaves had minor flaws her aggressive scan had missed.
In contrast, Chen Jianxin, the humble genius of the Verdant Cauldron Sect, used a single, needle-like tendril of his spiritual sense, spending nearly thirty seconds on each leaf, mapping its internal structure. His method was slow, meticulous, and flawless.
Liu Meiying of the Silver Stream Clan used a different method. Her spiritual sense flowed like cool water, enveloping the entire tray. She wasn't searching; she was letting the herbs reveal themselves to her, sensing the ones with the most harmonious auras.
Xiong Shan of the Roaring Beast Mountain simply leaned over and took a deep, long sniff, a primal, beast-like technique of smelling the potency.
Li Yu's gaze fell upon his own sect's disciples. Brother Shen was steady and reliable, his method textbook. Lin Xue was sharper, correctly identifying eight of the top ten leaves. Yao Fei, despite his nerves, managed to select six of the best.
Then there was Su Lin of the Pale Orchid Clan. She simply placed her hands on the table and closed her eyes. A faint, green energy flowed from her palms, resonating with the herbs. One by one, she reached out and picked up a leaf. Every single one was from the top ten. Her performance was flawless, but her methods were so subtle that no one seemed to notice.
The hour passed quickly. The chime rang out. The sealed boxes of chosen herbs were collected and judged.
The results were projected onto the giant, ethereal cauldron. As expected, Chen Jianxin received a perfect score of ten points. The crowd roared. Huo Liling, to her visible fury, scored a 9.2. Xiong Shan scored a 9.0. Then came the surprises. Liu Meiying of the Silver Stream Clan also received a perfect ten, drawing murmurs of shock. And when Su Lin of the Pale Orchid Clan's name appeared with another perfect score, there was a moment of confused silence before the announcer moved on, the anomaly from an insignificant clan quickly forgotten.
The Green Mountain Sect disciples performed admirably. Brother Shen scored a solid 8.5. Lin Xue earned a 9.0. Yao Fei, despite his nerves, managed an 8.2. They were firmly in the middle of the pack, a respectable and honorable showing. Han Jian clapped Li Yu on the shoulder. "They did well," he said, his voice filled with pride.
Li Yu nodded, a genuine smile on his face. "They did the sect proud." The first stage was over, and the intricate world of alchemy had revealed its first layer of depth. Li Yu found himself completely engrossed, a new curiosity sparked within him.