I Don't Want to Get Hurt, So I'll Max Out My Defense - Chapter 270:
Chapter 270: Chapter 271 Alchemy
Translator: 549690339
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Central City is vast, not a city in the conventional sense, stretching thousands of miles with numerous sects based within, including the Three Sects themselves.
Li Xiaobai located the position of the Elixir Sect, which was still teeming with people.
The assessment of the Elixir Sect is very simple: the higher the grade of the elixirs crafted, the higher the ranking one obtains.
Cultivators enter the grand hall in groups to concoct elixirs, and a great benefit of participating in the competition is that the materials for concocting elixirs are provided by the Elixir Sect at no cost, and the elixirs produced belong to the Elixir Sect.
If a high-quality elixir is crafted, the sect will also give special rewards to commend the effort, which counts as a perk for the cultivators.
After all, regardless of the final product, they do not need to spend their own resources, and they use relatively high-grade materials, making it a rare practical opportunity for those who are fond of alchemy.
Accompanied by Liu Fei, Li Xiaobai entered the hall and found an available platform to sit down. Each cultivator had the same set of materials in front of them, which were of relatively high quality, and a considerable cost was incurred for a single round of the contest.
However, if a cultivator could craft high-grade elixirs, the cost could be recouped in an instant, as previously demonstrated by Yao Chenzi’s seventh-grade elixirs and Xi Yao’s six-and-a-half-grade elixirs, which were enough to compensate for the consumption of the materials.
This trial tests the cultivators’ understanding and pairing of alchemy materials.
The same batch of materials can give birth to different elixirs depending on the combination.
Just like the previous batch of cultivators who, with the same materials, mostly could only craft ordinary second or third-grade elixirs, yet the saintess of the Elixir Sect, Xi Yao, and that Yao Chenzi were able to craft sixth or even seventh-grade elixirs.
But all this was of no use to Li Xiaobai, since he didn’t know how to do alchemy, nor did he plan to do it. Li Xiaobai was preparing to create a special item here. As long as it possessed the effects of an elixir, what did it matter if the shape was different?
“Young Master Li, what kind of elixir are you planning to concoct?”
Liu Fei asked, choosing a platform close to Li Xiaobai.
“Hehe, it will certainly be the Nine Transformation Golden Body Pill! A peerless immortal-grade that trumps all!”
Ji Wuqing declared boisterously.
“Naturally, it will be an elixir that can seize first place in the competition.”
Li Xiaobai moved Ji Wuqing to one side to prevent any interference with his work.
“Young Master Li truly possesses great talent!”
Liu Fei exclaimed in admiration. Before departing, her grandfather had told her that being in the company of exceptional people would make one exceptional, and in her eyes, Li Xiaobai was undoubtedly such a person at that moment.
Not just exceptional, but a big shot!
The surrounding cultivators looked on with peculiar expressions. Could it be that someone was making bold statements during the Elixir Sect’s competition, or was this person actually a hidden powerhouse?
Given the calm and composed demeanor of this individual, he indeed seemed quite capable.
“Elder Yao, have you come again this year?”
“Cough cough, the Elixir Sect always brings forth impressive newcomers each year, and this old man comes here just to broaden his horizon.”
“Elder Yao is being modest. Everyone knows you’ve recently cultivated a new type of flame that has miraculous effects on alchemy. In this alchemy competition, it will be difficult for Elder Yao to rank low!”
“Hehe, look who’s talking quickly. But this old man happens to know that you’ve recently acquired an ancient elixir recipe at the Treasure Pavilion. Perhaps you plan to concoct that elixir today?”
“Hehe, it cannot be said, it cannot be said…”
Many cultivators here knew each other and greeted each other warmly. Everyone’s face was brimming with joy, and although the concoction of elixirs hadn’t begun yet, they already felt like winners.
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“The Elder won’t belabor the rules; as long as incense burns, whoever refines the highest grade elixirs will achieve a higher ranking!”
The Elder of the Elixir Sect casually lit a stick of incense in the grand hall, signifying that the alchemy competition had begun.
All the cultivators dared not delay, hastily selecting materials by their side and beginning to craft elixirs.
Li Xiaobai looked around and noticed that the cultivators nearby were each using a strand of flame in their hands, slowly tempering the medicinal ingredients, a common technique in alchemy.
Sometimes, a cultivator’s flame would have a special effect, like the one from Elder Yao before, whose flame was white. Once ignited, the temperature throughout the grand hall dropped significantly.
Li Xiaobai watched with envy. A flame that exuded such a cold aura was clearly not something that could be compared to ordinary treasures.
However, this also served as a reminder that he himself possessed a small flame, though it was still quite weak.
He casually summoned Hellfire. In the Western Desert, this flame’s consumption of Spiritual Power was limited; exceeding its capacity would extinguish it automatically, hence it hadn’t gained much room for growth.
Picking up a Spirit Grass, he repeatedly roasted it over the flame. The Spirit Grass vanished at a visible rate, and at the same time, the Hellfire grew a fraction larger.
Li Xiaobai’s face lit up with joy. It worked; feeding Hellfire Spiritual Medicine could indeed promote its growth.
One after another, Spirit Grasses were sacrificed, and the Hellfire gradually swelled to the size of a normal flame. Minutes later, only a leaf of Enlightenment Tea remained on the high platform; all other materials had been consumed by the Hellfire.
Li Xiaobai now understood the trick with this flame: Hellfire could burn all things, and the more it consumed, the larger and more powerful it became.
Overall, there was nothing it wouldn’t swallow; whatever it ate would make it grow bigger and stronger.
The path to upgrading was simple but a bit wasteful of Spirit Stones. This thing was quite the money burner. It seemed necessary to venture into more dangerous places more often, burning Heaven and Earth Treasures that weren’t his own resources, so as not to feel heartache while spending.
Liu Fei beside him looked on in amazement, “Young Master Li, are you concocting elixirs?”
“Girl, you don’t understand. This is called specialization. Refining a single herb to the utmost extent to bring out its effects is the true way of alchemy. But you, girl, your realm is not high enough. Just focus on properly refining elixirs for now.”
Li Xiaobai said without the slightest change in expression or heart rate.
“Oh, I see.”
Admiration grew in Liu Fei’s heart. A big shot was indeed a big shot, thinking in ways beyond ordinary people. Perhaps this was the world of a genius?
Li Xiaobai glanced at her, thinking this girl was too easy to fool—she believed whatever he said.
Several Elixir Sect Elders had somewhat gloomy expressions. In their view, Li Xiaobai was here to cause trouble intentionally, burning all the medicinal materials to ashes. What would he refine with?
They were determined to teach this person a lesson later, to make him learn from the experience.
Li Xiaobai wasn’t aware of the Elders’ thoughts, nor did he care.
He exchanged for a bunch of materials from the System Mall, as he intended to craft Huazi.
The method for making Huazi was available in the mall, and it was straightforward: grind the Enlightenment Tea leaves into a powder, crush them, then roll them up with a cigarette wrapper. Just like Tangneng First-class, the handmade Huazi were effective only when Li Xiaobai personally crafted them.
However, there were ready-made Huazi in the mall, so there was no need to go out of his way to make them on a regular basis.
Without cultivation, Li Xiaobai was unable to crush the Enlightenment Tea leaves directly into powder.
He flipped his wrist and pulled out a large hammer from his Space Ring. This Magic Treasure belonged to some nameless cultivator and was hard enough for the job—perfect for hammering the Enlightenment Tea leaves.
Amidst the astonished gaze of Liu Fei beside him, he lifted the hammer and brought it down with a resounding clang.
Chapter 271: Chapter 272 Ancient Alchemy
Translator: 549690339
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“Clang!”
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The hammer struck the high platform with a resounding echo, sending a massive hum that made the cultivators shudder violently.
Many cultivators with weaker mental fortitude suddenly had their flames tremble and, losing control of their spiritual power, saw the carefully extracted Spirit Grass turn into dust.
In more severe cases, spiritual power went haywire, causing the continuously extracted Spirit Grass to explode in an instant.
Dust and smoke filled the great hall, and with just one hammer strike, at least seventeen or eighteen high platforms were destroyed.
The cultivators looked towards the source of the noise and saw a young man calmly holding a sledgehammer, continuously pounding on a pile of Enlightenment Tea Leaves, sparks flying everywhere.
This dismissive attitude immediately enraged the surrounding cultivators.
“You naive child, are you here to stir up trouble on purpose?”
“This old man has toiled and moiled to perfect his elixirs, and just before completion, you’ve destroyed it, tell me, how will you compensate?”
“I was aiming for the first place in the alchemy competition today, but you, this little brat, have ruined it. Can you afford the responsibility for this?”
“Elders of the Elixir Sect, I suggest we suppress this boy to set an example for others!”
The cultivators were furious as thunder, anyone’s hard work going to waste in an instant would be hard to stomach.
Several Elders looked grim as well; just burning the herbs was already deemed enough troublemaking at the Elixir Sect, let alone this brash action that openly disrupted the cultivators’ alchemy contest.
Causing disturbance with noise to unsettle one’s mind, such behavior would not be excessive even if punished with immediate execution.
“Who are you to come and cause disturbance in our Elixir Sect’s competition, do you know the consequences of your actions?”
The Elder’s eyes flickered with a chilling gleam as he stared at Li Xiaobai.
“I am practicing ancient alchemy here. My methods may differ from the conventional ones, but it is still a form of alchemy.”
Li Xiaobai spoke indifferently.
“Why must you pound with a huge hammer, affecting the performance of the surrounding cultivators?”
asked the Elder.
“I thought it was an honor to compete with my seniors and esteemed masters; therefore, I decided to give it my all. But, I didn’t expect the alchemists present to be so fragile, to let mere external factors directly affect the success or failure of their elixirs.”
“I apologize, I have overestimated the esteemed masters here, it was my mistake!”
Li Xiaobai said with a face full of apology and sincere attitude.
As these words were uttered, the alchemists present were in an uproar; many put down the elixirs they were refining and stared at Li Xiaobai angrily.
“Naive child, sharp-tongued, do you know there’s a price to pay for speaking incorrectly!”
“Exactly, you’re just a junior, and yet you openly insult us, do you know who we are?”
“I have delved deep into the way of the elixirs for decades; I became a master alchemist before you were even born!”
“That’s right, I’m an Elder of the Medicine King Hall; you naive child, mind your speech!”
Watching the outraged cultivators, Li Xiaobai slightly smiled.
“Esteemed masters, alchemy is judged by the effects of the elixirs, not by your seniority or the power behind you.”
“If the esteemed masters here, who have studied the way of elixirs for decades, are defeated by a mere seventh-grade elixir, forgive my bluntness, but everyone present is garbage!”
Ji Wuqing excitedly jumped and chortled, “Hee hee, garbage, all are garbage!”
“Silence!”
“You naive brat, you have no filter!”
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“Who is your master that didn’t teach you any manners? Today, this old daoist will show you the respect due to elders and love for the young!”
“Arrogant…”
The cultivators’ eyes blazed with anger, itching to tear Li Xiaobai to pieces on the spot. If it weren’t for the competition ongoing, they would have charged at him already.
Liu Fei was so frightened she trembled, curling up into a ball and focusing on concocting her elixirs, pretending not to know Li Xiaobai.
The boss is too good at stirring up trouble; she could already feel the murderous intent filling the air.
“Ancient alchemy, unheard of! Using the Elixir Fire to temper is a method passed down by our ancestors; you, a little upstart, are striking around recklessly over here, disturbing other cultivators’ efficiency in concocting elixirs, with insidious intentions!”
“Today, we shall suppress you as a warning to others!”
The Elixir Sect Elders were hot-tempered, and the young man’s comments infuriated them. They felt like hitting someone and rolled up their sleeves to suppress Li Xiaobai.
“I had originally thought that the Elixir Sect was a reputable and inclusive faction, blossoming with diversity. Unexpectedly, it’s no different from the average perspective in the world.”
“Ignorance is not your fault, but persisting in your error certainly is. My ancient alchemy far surpasses the efficacy of any elixir concocted by any alchemist present.”
Li Xiaobai continued.
“Since this young man is so confident, why not let him try and see what effects this ancient alchemy really has?”
Elder Yao, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up, his gaze towards Li Xiaobai just as chilly.
“Very well, it’s my first time in all these years encountering someone as arrogant as this fellow. What’s wrong with giving him a chance?”
“You have the duration of an incense stick to produce a quality elixir; otherwise, you’ll stay in the Medicine King Hall forever!”
The few Elders said coldly.
“No problem, you all can watch closely what I’m going to do.”
Li Xiaobai said cheerfully, not taking the threats from the crowd to heart, as if everything was well in his control.
“Heh, young man, self-conceit is the biggest taboo in the Cultivation World. If you fail to concoct a high-grade elixir, you will not only lose face and become a laughing stock, but you might also lose your life.”
Elder Yao spoke indifferently, his fingers nimbly working, pulling strands of pale flame into thread, rhythmically dancing. Runes appeared within the flame, brewing an elixir.
In his opinion, Li Xiaobai’s actions were simply muddling through; extracting essence from a single ingredient could never lead to the formation of an elixir.
The way of alchemy is about balancing the properties of various herbs, discovering their unique characteristics, combining them, and blending them together to make an elixir. Yet Li Xiaobai had destroyed all the herbs from the start, leaving only Enlightenment Tea Leaves.
Even if he extracted all of the essence, so what?
At most, it would merely aid in focusing and calming the mind, nothing compared to real elixirs.
When the competition ended, he wanted to see what would become of this arrogant boy.
“Heh heh, in this world, there are plenty of undiscovered talents, but few who can recognize them. But you should be careful, Elder, not to accidentally blow up your own elixir.”
Li Xiaobai chuckled.
“Young man, I’m afraid you’re miscalculating. I have studied this art for many years; my Primordial Spirit Power is profound. Mere noise is nothing but, unable to affect me.”
“You just keep striking; if it affects my alchemy, then I lose!”
Elder Yao spoke slowly. His alchemy was not something half-trained alchemists could compare with – not a mere noise, not even thunder right next to him could affect his alchemy.
Such petty tricks could only irritate the unskilled.
Li Xiaobai grinned and with a flip of his wrist, a ludicrously large hammer appeared in his hand.
“Is that so? I didn’t expect Elder Yao to be so understanding. Then I will not hold back.”
