Chapter 68 Pill Tribulation

Chapter 68: Chapter 68 Pill Tribulation

The competition grounds gradually became quiet.

After the previous stage—

Only five participants remained.

They stood on the alchemy platform.

Lin Ruyan.

Jin Ling’er.

Zhao Lingfeng.

Ye Qingxuan.

Luo Yichen.

The audience watched them with anticipation.

Everyone knew that reaching the top five was already an extraordinary achievement.

But the host, President Shen Haotian, slowly stood from his seat.

His gaze swept across the five participants.

"The next stage..."

He paused.

"...will be the final stage of the competition."

The entire competition grounds became silent.

The five participants immediately became serious.

Shen Haotian continued.

"The pill required for this stage is a Rank 5 pill."

A massive jade board appeared above the competition grounds.

---

Rank 5 Heavenly Soul Restoration Pill

Difficulty: Extremely High

---

The audience immediately became restless.

A Rank 5 pill.

This was completely different from the previous stages.

Shen Haotian looked at the five participants.

"We already know the cultivation of your alchemy."

"Among the five of you..."

"Four are Rank 4 Pill Masters."

His gaze moved toward Jin Ling’er, Zhao Lingfeng, Ye Qingxuan, and Luo Yichen.

"And one..."

His eyes stopped on Lin Ruyan.

"...is a Rank 5 Pill Master."

The crowd immediately became quiet.

Shen Haotian continued.

"Therefore, nobody is required to participate in this stage."

"If you believe you do not possess the ability to refine a Rank 5 pill..."

"You may leave the stage."

"There will be no shame in doing so."

The five participants exchanged glances.

Ye Qingxuan was the first to step forward.

She calmly bowed.

"President Shen."

"I’ll withdraw."

She smiled faintly.

"I’m only a Rank 4 Pill Master."

"I know that refining a Rank 5 pill is beyond my current ability."

Shen Haotian nodded.

"Very well."

"You may leave."

Ye Qingxuan bowed again before stepping away.

---

Luo Yichen remained silent for several seconds.

Then he sighed.

"I’ll withdraw as well."

He looked at the Rank 5 pill formula displayed above them.

"I’m not confident."

Shen Haotian nodded.

"Very well."

"You may leave."

Luo Yichen bowed before leaving the stage.

The audience wasn’t surprised.

Both of them were Rank 4 Pill Masters.

Trying to forcefully refine a Rank 5 pill without sufficient ability would be extremely difficult.

Only three participants remained.

Lin Ruyan.

Jin Ling’er.

Zhao Lingfeng.

---

Jin Ling’er looked toward the other two.

Her expression became serious.

She knew exactly how difficult Rank 5 pills were.

She had spent years learning alchemy from her grandfather, Jin Tianming.

She had successfully refined countless Rank 4 pills.

But Rank 5...

That was an entirely different level.

Still—

She didn’t intend to give up.

She wanted to try.

Even if she failed.

Zhao Lingfeng also remained on the stage.

His expression was calm.

He wasn’t confident that he could produce a high-quality Rank 5 pill.

But he wanted to attempt it.

Lin Ruyan stood quietly.

Her expression remained peaceful.

---

Assistants quickly brought out the required ingredients.

Three identical jade boxes appeared before the participants.

Shen Haotian raised his hand.

"The ingredients are identical."

"The formula is identical."

"You will have three hours."

"The quality of the finished pill will determine the final ranking."

He looked at the three participants.

"Begin!"

---

Jin Ling’er immediately summoned her alchemy flame.

BOOM!

A green flame erupted from her palm.

She began refining.

The Heavenly Soul Restoration Pill required extremely precise control.

One mistake in temperature.

One mistake in timing.

One mistake during the merging of medicinal essences—

And the entire refinement would fail.

Jin Ling’er concentrated completely.

Her spiritual energy flowed continuously.

The first ingredient melted.

Then the second.

Then the third.

Her movements became increasingly careful.

---

Zhao Lingfeng also began.

His flame burned steadily.

He didn’t rush.

He carefully followed the formula.

Step by step.

His expression remained calm.

He had no expectation of producing a Supreme Grade pill.

He simply wanted to successfully refine a Rank 5 pill.

---

Lin Ruyan remained silent.

The moment she began refining—

Something inside her mind suddenly changed.

It was as though a door had opened deep within her consciousness.

The knowledge Lin Hao had given her continued pouring into her mind.

Alchemy theories.

Medicinal properties.

Flame control.

Ingredient compatibility.

Pill formation.

Pill refinement.

Countless techniques.

Countless experiences.

Everything became clearer.

Then—

Lin Ruyan entered a strange state.

It was almost like enlightenment.

Her mind became completely calm.

There were no distractions.

No hesitation.

No uncertainty.

She could understand every medicinal ingredient in front of her.

She could feel how they would react.

She could almost see the completed pill before it was even formed.

Her hands moved naturally.

Fast.

Extremely fast.

The ingredients entered the furnace one after another.

The medicinal essences separated almost instantly.

Her movements became smoother with every step.

There was no wasted motion.

No unnecessary spiritual energy.

Everything was precise.

Everything was perfect.

---

The judges slowly noticed.

Shen Haotian’s eyes narrowed.

"She’s moving..."

Qin Yuchen stared at Lin Ruyan.

"Too fast."

Jin Tianming’s expression became serious.

"She’s already finished extracting the medicinal essence?"

Feng Taishan’s eyes widened.

"Impossible."

Bai Ruoxue stared at Lin Ruyan’s furnace.

She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

A Rank 5 pill required incredible control.

Yet Lin Ruyan was refining it as though she had performed the process thousands of times.

Jin Tianming’s breathing became heavier.

"Who taught this girl?"

Nobody answered.

---

Time passed.

Jin Ling’er reached the pill formation stage.

Sweat appeared on her forehead.

She carefully controlled her flame.

The medicinal essence slowly merged.

A faint medicinal fragrance emerged.

Her eyes brightened.

It’s working.

She continued carefully.

The pill slowly began taking shape.

She was almost there.

Almost.

Then—

The flame suddenly fluctuated.

Jin Ling’er’s expression changed.

"No..."

The medicinal essence violently collided.

BOOM!

Smoke erupted from the furnace.

Jin Ling’er staggered backward.

Her expression became pale.

The refinement had failed.

At the final moment.

She stared at the furnace.

Her hands slowly clenched.

She had been so close.

Jin Tianming sighed.

"Unfortunately..."

Jin Ling’er took a deep breath.

Then smiled faintly.

"At least I tried."

She accepted the result without complaint.

---

Zhao Lingfeng continued refining.

His process was slower.

But steady.

He carefully controlled every step.

Eventually—

His furnace trembled.

He carefully opened it.

A pill floated inside.

The judges examined it.

Shen Haotian looked at the pill.

Then announced:

"Low Grade."

The audience immediately began discussing it.

A Rank 5 pill.

Even producing a Low Grade Rank 5 pill as a Rank 4 Pill Master was already an impressive achievement.

Zhao Lingfeng stared at the pill.

Then—

A smile appeared on his face.

He genuinely looked happy.

He had done it.

He had successfully refined a Rank 5 pill.

He had crossed the threshold.

He was now—

A Rank 5 Pill Master.

Zhao Lingfeng gently clenched his fist.

"Finally."

There was no disappointment in his expression.

Only satisfaction.

The years of studying and refining had finally paid off.

---

The judges turned toward Lin Ruyan.

She was still refining.

But something had changed.

The calmness surrounding her had become even deeper.

It was as though she had completely forgotten that she was participating in a competition.

She couldn’t hear the crowd.

She couldn’t hear the judges.

She couldn’t hear anything.

Her entire consciousness was focused on the pill furnace.

The knowledge Lin Hao had given her continued flowing through her mind.

Every principle.

Every technique.

Every understanding.

They were no longer merely knowledge.

They were becoming instinct.

Lin Ruyan’s fingers moved.

One movement.

Then another.

Her flame changed with every gesture.

The medicinal essence inside the furnace began rotating.

Faster.

Faster.

Faster.

The surrounding Spiritual Qi suddenly began moving.

At first—

Nobody noticed.

Then—

Shen Haotian’s expression suddenly changed.

"Wait."

Qin Yuchen immediately looked toward the sky.

The atmosphere had become strange.

The Spiritual Qi surrounding the competition grounds began gathering toward Lin Ruyan.

The clouds above slowly moved.

Jin Tianming’s pupils contracted.

"What..."

Feng Taishan stood up.

Bai Ruoxue’s expression became pale.

Shen Haotian stared at the sky.

His voice trembled.

"Everyone..."

"Step back."

The audience immediately became confused.

"What happened?"

"Why is the sky changing?"

"Is a powerful cultivator coming?"

The judges didn’t answer.

They simply stared at Lin Ruyan’s furnace.

Their expressions had changed completely.

Shock.

Horror.

Fear.

---

The clouds above the competition grounds became darker.

Lightning began gathering.

One bolt.

Then another.

The thunder grew louder.

BOOM!

The entire sky trembled.

The audience erupted in panic.

"Lightning?"

"Why is there lightning?"

"Is someone attacking the competition?"

The judges remained frozen.

They knew exactly what was happening.

They had spent most of their lives refining pills.

They had studied ancient alchemy records.

They had read about legendary pills.

They knew that when a pill reached an extraordinary level—

The heavens could descend with a tribulation.

A Pill Tribulation.

Shen Haotian’s face was filled with disbelief.

"A Pill Tribulation..."

Jin Tianming stared at Lin Ruyan.

His entire body trembled.

"How is this possible?"

Qin Yuchen’s expression became horrified.

"If she survives..."

Feng Taishan swallowed hard.

"That pill..."

Bai Ruoxue’s lips trembled.

"It could become..."

Nobody finished the sentence.

But they all understood.

Ancient Grade.

A legendary grade of pill that had disappeared from the current era.

A pill belonging to the Primordial Era.

And now—

A sixteen-year-old girl was refining a Rank 5 pill.

And the heavens were responding.

---

The sky above Lin Ruyan became completely black.

Lightning continued gathering.

The pressure spread across the entire competition grounds.

Even the young members of the Lin Clan became frightened.

Lin Xin looked upward.

"What’s happening?"

Lin Wan’er grabbed Lin Shiyu’s hand.

"I don’t know."

Lin Shiyu stared at Lin Ruyan.

"She’s okay."

But even her voice wasn’t completely steady.

Lin Chen’s expression became serious.

They had experienced countless battles inside the Battle Tower.

They had faced terrifying opponents.

They had seen powerful techniques.

But they had never witnessed anything like this.

---

The judges remained frozen.

Their faces were filled with disbelief.

Jin Tianming stared at Lin Ruyan.

His mind was completely blank.

Shen Haotian’s hands trembled.

Qin Yuchen’s breathing became heavy.

Feng Taishan’s eyes widened.

Bai Ruoxue’s face was pale.

Every one of them had the same thought.

WHAT KIND OF MONSTER IS THIS?!

The thunder above grew louder.

BOOM!

Lin Ruyan remained in the center of the storm.

Her expression was completely peaceful.

Her consciousness remained immersed in that strange state of enlightenment.

Her hands continued moving.

The pill inside the furnace continued taking shape.

And above her—

The first bolt of heavenly lightning descended.

End of Chapter 68