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With all his offenses compounded, Linghu Xian was stripped of his Elder title on the spot and thrown into Dan Qian Palace's dungeons.
Once Linghu Xian fell, the power of his entire clan crumbled along with him. Several influential figures in the Herb Hall who had long been dissatisfied with Linghu Xian now came forward one after another, exposing his misdeeds and listing out an ever-growing pile of evidence.
The sheer volume of it was terrifying. A deeper investigation revealed that several of his crimes even involved human lives.
From top to bottom, everyone in Dan Qian Palace was furious upon seeing Linghu Xian's seemingly endless catalogue of offenses. Palace Master Dan Chi and several sect leaders made the decision on the spot: once the Supreme Cave competition concluded, Linghu Xian would be beheaded and his head displayed publicly.
Ever since Dan Chi had taken charge, the sect's rules had been strictly enforced.
Linghu Xian's offenses were more than enough to warrant his death ten times over.
Having settled Linghu Xian's case, Dan Chi wore a stern expression as he addressed the assembly once more.
"Dan Qian Palace stands in the Myriad Domains. What makes us one of the six great sects is not merely our heritage and legacy, but also our strict rules and the collective efforts of all the knowledgeable and capable people within the sect. If black sheep like Linghu Xian—who were jealous of talent, engaged in corruption, and pursued personal gain—are not dealt with, they will inevitably become a blight upon the sect. I hope the younger generation will take this lesson to heart. The sect belongs to all of us. Anyone who seeks to become a curse upon the sect will become the target of all. Our rules are strict, and no one will be spared!"
With Linghu Xian as a cautionary tale, the deterrent effect was palpable.
"Elder Liancheng, Elder Yunnie. I ask you both to keep a close watch and ensure no further incidents arise during this cave competition."
"Understood."
Elder Liancheng and Elder Yunnie both bowed and accepted the order.
Linghu Xian's conviction and Linghu Feng's disqualification added a layer of tension to the competition. It also made everyone acutely aware of how seriously the higher-ups regarded this cave battle.
After this interlude, the competition continued.
In the Shenli Hall, thirty alchemy prodigies who had made it to the finals gathered together.
Elder Yunnie swept his keen gaze across each participant.
"Everyone, last night, Palace Master Dan Chi, Elder Liancheng, and I held an emergency meeting and came to another decision."
"Anyone who has entered the finals of this cave competition—even if they ultimately fail to win a spot in the Supreme Cave—will be granted the right to cultivate in the Heaven-Supporting Area."
The Heaven-Supporting Area in Crimson Cloud Valley was second only to the Supreme Area in prestige.
It was far superior to both the Soaring Cloud Area and the Peerless Area.
Some of the finalists had originally come from the Heaven-Supporting Area, so this news held little meaning for them. But for the geniuses from the Soaring Cloud Area and the Peerless Area, this was undoubtedly a tremendous boon.
Joyous expressions appeared on face after face—for them, this was a tangible benefit.
Many of the finalists in the Supreme Cave competition knew their chances were slim. After all, between the alchemy contest and the martial contest combined, there were only four spots.
But even without securing a spot in the Supreme Cave, being able to enter the Heaven-Supporting Area caves was a wonderful surprise!
"Very well. Now, I declare—the alchemy finals officially begin!"
With Elder Yunnie's command, the alchemy finals were officially underway.
"'Ten years to train the body, a hundred years to refine the pill.' You all understand what this means. A martial genius can make great progress in ten years, revealing their potential and future path. But alchemy is a pursuit of long-term dedication, like aged wine that grows more fragrant with time. Ten years can reveal a martial prodigy, but a true alchemy titan—a true master of pill refinement—requires a hundred years of dedication through all seasons to truly demonstrate their potential. This shows that the path of alchemy is no easy road."
Elder Yunnie continued: "That you have risen above the multitudes of Dan Qian Palace's disciples to earn a place among the top thirty finalists proves that each of you possesses exceptional talent in alchemy. Even if you do not succeed in these finals, I hope none of you will lose heart. The competition in alchemy is a long game. Perhaps you cannot yet rival those top-tier geniuses, but there are many great alchemists who surged ahead in the later stages. The reason Dan Qian Palace established itself through alchemy is that we have the heritage and foundation to nurture alchemy masters. Of course, I expect everyone to give their all. As long as you try your hardest, you will have no regrets."
After Elder Yunnie's words of encouragement, he began to announce the rules for the finals.
"Dan Qian Palace trains its alchemists with four key areas in mind. First is Theory—the foundation. Without a solid theoretical base in alchemy, everything else is built on sand. The strength of one's theoretical foundation determines the height one can reach as an alchemist. Second is Insight—for an alchemy genius, a sharp eye and the ability to perceive minute details are essential to becoming an outstanding alchemist. Third is Mental Fortitude—refining pills demands powerful mental support. Without resilience in the mind, mistakes are bound to occur at critical moments, making it very difficult to become a superior alchemist. Fourth is Technique—ultimately, all theory comes down to the ability to execute. An alchemist's hands-on skill is the most direct reflection of their true level."
"Therefore, our finals consist of four stages: Theory, Insight, Mental Fortitude, and Technique."
Dan Qian Palace might not be able to compare with forces from the Myriad Heavens Planes in terms of alchemy, but a small sparrow has all its organs—its approach to alchemy was fundamentally sound.
These four areas truly were the most important pillars of alchemy.
"Now, the first stage—Theory—officially begins. The time limit is one hour. Each of the four stages is worth one hundred points. Final rankings will be determined by total score. In the event of a tie, the one who finished first wins."
Once the rules were laid out, each participant was assigned a number based on their qualifying-round ranking and filed into individual chambers.
For this theory stage, each person was placed in an enclosed space.