C21 Seven Sunglow Poisonous Lotus

In the second round of the competition, Jiang Xiaofan presented five herbs that had burst forth from Chu Feng's body. The Spirit Awakening Pill, while not an exceedingly rare elixir in the Spirit Brilliance Realm, was still in limited supply due to the scarcity of the Spirit Awakening Herb. Consequently, the pill was prestigious enough to be showcased.

Sticking to tradition, within the time it took an incense stick to burn, Jiang Xiaofan crafted a high-grade Spirit Awakening Pill and four supreme-grade ones. Meanwhile, Chu Zhu truly stepped up his game, producing a high-grade Seventh Grade Profound Level pill.

The bidding became quite the talking point. Normally, a supreme-grade Spirit Awakening Pill would fetch a decent 200,000 copper coins, but it was auctioned off for an impressive 800,000 copper coins.

The high-grade Seventh Grade Profound Level pill was a counterpart to the Hundred Cold Pill. Utilizing True Fire to forge the body, it offered substantial aid in cultivation, similar in effect to the Hundred Cold Pill but differing in nature.

Ling Yi refrained from bidding, as the Hundred Cold Pill alone sufficed for his needs. Taking the Burning Fire Pill in conjunction would risk a catastrophic reaction, potentially leading to death. The Medicine Controlling Sect's Inspector showed no interest in Chu Zhu, a disciple already pledged to a sect, and thus abstained from bidding to avoid any impropriety.

Both the Taixu Pavilion and the Seven Luminaries Sect ceased their bidding at two silver coins, recognizing that further investment was unwarranted. Ultimately, Soong Linfeng's offer of 6.45 million copper coins shattered Jiang Xiaofan's previous record, catapulting both Jiang Xiaofan and Chu Zhu to a tie for first place.

Raising the bid for one's own disciple was seen as distasteful, yet with the Ocean Pavilion being one of the four major sects in the Spirit Brilliance Realm, no one dared to object.

Soong Linfeng's intention was clear: by evening out the prices of the two competitors, he was setting the stage for a decisive showdown in the final round.

Refining the Spirit Awakening Pill had not significantly depleted Jiang Xiaofan's Martial Qi. After a brief rest, he was nearly back to full strength.

As the second round concluded, both Chu Zhu and Soong Linfeng exited the arena. According to the returning disciples of the Skilled Hand Medical Hall, they witnessed Soong Linfeng passing several spiritual herbs to Chu Zhu.

Clearly, Chu Zhu was set to concoct a highly potent pill in the third round, and Soong Linfeng had likely provided him with some of the rarest spiritual herbs in existence.

Jiang Xiaofan had the skill to produce a pill on par with the Eighth Grade of the Profound Level, thanks to the Hundred Cold Pill's fusion with the abundant spiritual energy from various herbs. Should Chu Zhu utilize herbs with even richer spiritual energy, he could craft a Seventh Grade of the Profound Level Pill, which might rival those of the Ninth or even Tenth Grade of the Profound Level, and the possibility of reaching the Earth Level was not out of the question.

Jiang Xiaofan had anticipated that winning the Pharmacy Conference would be anything but easy. He was prepared, yet he knew the stakes were high and the risks, significant.

As the final round commenced, Qian Dongdong and Su Jinsong had clearly lost their fighting spirit. Compared to Jiang Xiaofan and Chu Zhu, they felt even the residue in their Pill Refining Furnaces was superior to the pills they had managed to produce.

The competition had split into two camps: one backing Chu Zhu, the other rooting for Jiang Xiaofan. The majority favored Chu Zhu, who had been the reigning champion for a decade. Jiang Xiaofan, though a newcomer, was not to be underestimated, but Chu Zhu's training at the Ocean Pavilion gave him a solid foundation that made the Martial Artsed Hand Medical Hall seem inconsequential by comparison.

At the start, Chu Zhu and Jiang Xiaofan exchanged glances. Chu Zhu's eyes brimmed with arrogance, his gaze all but declaring Jiang's impending defeat. Jiang, however, simply shrugged off the challenge with nonchalance.

The final pill-refining session was lengthy, allowing two full incense sticks to burn down. This played to Jiang Xiaofan's advantage, as the pill he intended to refine was indeed time-intensive.

Chu Zhu then produced two luminous spiritual herbs from his storage ring, their glow infusing the air with spiritual energy. Jiang Xiaofan couldn't help but pause and take notice. In his own hands, he held a Profound Eighth Grade Heartless Fruit and a Profound Seventh Grade Netherworld Flower.

Chu Zhu's confidence made sense now, armed with such exceptional ingredients. The Heartless Fruit Tree, known for its ability to absorb the spiritual essence of Heaven and Earth, was a boon to any cultivator fortunate enough to find it. Fiercely contested over millennia, the tree had ultimately faced extinction due to these battles. The Heartless Fruit, its final bounty, was a concentrated vessel of spiritual energy, so rare that the remaining few could be counted on one's fingers.

The Netherworld Flower is a nearly extinct spiritual herb that is said to bloom only in the realm of spirits, feeding on souls and imbued with ghostly power. Its rarity rivals that of the Heartless Fruit.

Jiang Xiaofan couldn't help but smile bitterly. Chu Zhu and Soong Linfeng must hold him in high regard to offer up such rare spiritual items!

It appeared that Chu Zhu intended to craft the Netherworld Yellow Pill, a potent concoction capable of refining the soul and dramatically boosting one's strength.

The Netherworld Pill was nearly on par with an Earth Level First Grade pill, and Jiang Xiaofan immediately felt the weight of the challenge.

The judges on stage couldn't hide their astonishment. With Chu Zhu presenting two spiritual items, the competition's outcome seemed inevitable. Even with mediocre pill refining skills, a successful Earth Level Tenth Grade pill was assured, especially from someone of Chu Zhu's caliber.

Jiang Xiaofan, merely a Profound Level First Grade pharmacist, would be hard-pressed to create anything surpassing an Earth Level First Grade pill.

While Chu Zhu had already started his refining process, Jiang Xiaofan remained motionless.

Ling Yi watched Jiang Xiaofan with a surge of excitement. He sensed that Jiang Xiaofan might yet reveal a prowess surpassing even the Hundred Cold Pill.

He was eager to see what surprises Jiang Xiaofan would unveil in the final round.

Minutes later, the alluring scent of the pill wafted from Chu Zhu's furnace, captivating everyone. Meanwhile, Jiang Xiaofan calmly retrieved a spiritual herb from his storage ring.

Ann Yunshan caught a glimpse of the herb in Jiang Xiaofan's hand and was taken aback. He stood up abruptly and exclaimed, "Xiaofan! Have you lost your mind!?"

In Jiang Xiaofan's grasp was something that seemed less like a spiritual herb and more like a deadly toxin—the Profound Level Second Grade Seven Sunglow Poisonous Lotus!

This lotus thrived within a toxic barrier, boasting seven-hued petals with a white stamen nestled at its heart. The stamen of the Seven Sunglow Poisonous Lotus, when harvested at the peak of its bloom, could be crafted into potent Antidote Pills.

The stamen of this remarkable lotus had the power to neutralize nearly every poison known to man. However, it also absorbed all manner of toxins. If not picked during its bloom, the stamen would draw in toxins from within a thousand-mile radius, ultimately transforming into a deadly poisonous lotus.

It is said that there is nothing more lethal than the toxin of a fully matured Seven Sunglow Poisonous Lotus. Even the mightiest warriors at the Martial King Stage would hesitate to come into contact with it.

The founders of the Mighty Hand Medical Hall once stumbled upon this century-old Seven Sunglow Poisonous Lotus in a remote valley. Its accumulated toxins were potent enough to obliterate an entire region. Given its rarity, they transported it back to the Mighty Hand Medical Hall for safekeeping. Tragically, a mere touch during a routine cleaning led to immediate illness. Despite trying dozens of Antidote Pills that night, including those of the Fifth Grade at the Earth Level, they perished before dawn's light.

The Seven Sunglow Poisonous Lotus was subsequently sealed deep within the basement, its existence known only to the proprietor of the Mighty Hand Medical Hall.

Upon the unveiling of the Seven Sunglow Poisonous Lotus, the five individuals on the stage rose to their feet in unison. As Earth Grade pharmacists, they were well aware of the lotus's notorious reputation.

They also sensed the grave danger it posed; this was a centuries-old poisonous lotus that, if mishandled, could leave no life standing for thousands of miles around Breeze Town.

"Jiang Xiaofan! You actually dare to bring forth the Seven Sunglow Poisonous Lotus! Have you lost your mind?" Soong Linfeng exclaimed, rising to his feet in a fury. He had no intention of meeting his end here.

With a smirk, Jiang Xiaofan replied, "What's the matter? Are you scared?"

The judges were momentarily taken aback, their gazes fixed on Jiang Xiaofan's self-assured demeanor, puzzled. They knew the white stamen of the Seven Sunglow Poisonous Lotus was an ingredient for antidote pills, but the black stamen was considered worthless and even deadly. Unbeknownst to them, there existed a pill that could be crafted from the Seven Sunglow Poisonous Lotus.

Grasping the Seven Sunglow Poisonous Lotus, Jiang Xiaofan assured them with a smile, "If I'm bold enough to present it, rest assured, I have the means to manage it properly."

Why should they fear when even a First Grade of the Profound Level pharmacist was unfazed? Ling Yi chuckled heartily, "Alright! I'll take your word for it!" With that, he plopped down into his chair, and the other four, refusing to show any sign of weakness, followed suit. The audience below was baffled, wondering why the five judges seemed so intimidated by the lotus.

Regret washed over Ann Yunshan's face. Had he known, he never would have left Jiang Xiaofan alone in the storeroom. He was generous with spiritual herbs, but meddling with the Seven Sunglow Poisonous Lotus was tantamount to courting death. His concern now was not the competition but Jiang Xiaofan's safety.

Sensing Ann Yunshan's anxiety, Jiang Xiaofan reassured him, "Elder Ann, please, have no worries. I'm in control." He then turned back to his task and commenced pill refining.

The Seven Sunglow Poisonous Lotus, as recorded in the Medicine King Scripture, had capabilities beyond detoxification and poisoning. It possessed a unique power akin to the Heartless Fruit Tree — Spirit Gathering. It absorbed spiritual energy from miles around while drawing in toxins, a force tenfold stronger than the Heartless Fruit Tree. However, the mingling of poison and spiritual energy often misled onlookers into believing the toxicity was overwhelming, when in reality, the lethality stemmed from the amplified spiritual energy.

Jiang Xiaofan was intent on concocting the Myriad Spirit Absorbing Pill, a formidable challenge as per the Medicine King Scripture. Once ingested, the pill would harness spiritual energy from the surroundings just like the Seven Sunglow Poisonous Lotus. With this remarkable trait, there was no need for active cultivation; the spiritual energy would flow unceasingly into the body, even during slumber.

The Medicine King Scripture documents a pill formula of great significance. Over a thousand years ago, an Immortal Herb Master concocted this very pill, forever altering the dynamics of the Spirit Brilliance Realm.

Tragically, the Immortal Herb Master succumbed to poison just three days after creating the Myriad Spirit Absorbing Pill. By a twist of fate, the pill ended up being ingested by a youth named Zhao Yi. This same Zhao Yi would rise to prominence as the 'Emperor of Wings,' a formidable force revered by future generations.

It was this Emperor of Wings who established the esteemed Divine Wind Sect.