I Pick Up Talents on the Interstellar Battlefield

Chapter 793 - 553: The Dan Realm Trembles, Mutation in Dan Tower

Cangwu Mountain is a renowned gathering place of spiritual veins on the Royal Star.

As it approached ten in the morning, the Spiritual Qi was at its peak, enveloping the mountain top like a mist, the air infused with the freshness of plants and Spiritual Qi.

The VIP area was fully seated, and the newly appointed Seventh Grade Alchemists stood in their respective positions.

Suddenly, the mountain wind ceased abruptly, and the crowd that had been murmuring fell silent, every gaze turning to the mountain peak entrance as the two most important figures of the ceremony finally appeared.

The enshrouding Spirit Mist of Cangwu Mountain seemed to especially favor the former, a middle-aged man who approached with measured steps, his hair as black as ink, held with a plain jade hairpin, with strands of hair hanging over his forehead accentuating his handsome and refined features. Despite his middle-aged appearance, it was easy to imagine that in his youth, he was a peerless beauty. Time had not eroded his splendor but had instead deepened his elegant demeanor.

Beside him was an elder, forming a stark contrast with him.

The elder’s figure was stooped, leaning on an old vine cane, his hair completely white and withered, his skin loose and shriveled, his entire body exuding a faint scent of decay, like a candle flickering in the wind, about to extinguish at any moment.

Upon seeing the two, the entire audience immediately stood up, cupping their hands in salute to them.

These two were none other than Xu Lin, the Dan Tower Master, and the Great Elder Yun Helai.

Qin Tian’s gaze fell on the nine golden patterns on their alchemy robes. Naturally, Xu Lin and Yun Helai were Ninth Grade Alchemists, the highest level in the alchemy world, standing at the pinnacle even among Ninth Grade Alchemists.

However, Yun Helai was advanced in age, his body withered, unable to bear the immense strain of refining high-level Elixirs, so decades ago, he passed the position of Dan Tower Master to his most accomplished disciple, Xu Lin, while he himself retreated to a secret sanctuary to recuperate.

Nonetheless, at each Seventh Grade Alchemist ceremony, he would make an appearance to bless this group of newly appointed Seventh Grade Alchemists.

Of course, everyone also held deep respect for this elder who had devoted himself tirelessly to the advancement of the alchemy realm and cultivated numerous top-tier alchemists.

Xu Lin slowed his pace, carefully supporting Yun Helai towards the purple sandalwood chair at the side of the high platform. After ensuring the elder was seated steadily, he turned and walked towards the ancient alchemy cauldron standing in the center of the high platform.

Nourished by the rich Spiritual Qi at the mountain top, the dark bronze body of the cauldron emitted a warm luster, the alchemical patterns on it intermittently visible in the swirling Spirit Mist, glowing faintly with gold, as if resonating with the spiritual veins of Cangwu Mountain.

Xu Lin stood with his hands behind his back beneath the cauldron, his gaze sweeping over the descendants of the Holy Blood Clan, military leaders, and Royal Council members among the guests, then over the many alchemists clad in alchemy robes in attendance, his clear and soothing voice resonating leisurely across every corner of the mountain peak.

"Thank you all for taking the time to attend this grand event of the alchemy way. Today, the headquarters of the Dan Tower is holding this certification and celebration ceremony for a total of 125 newly appointed Seventh Grade Alchemists, selected over the past five years. These 125 colleagues hail from various parts of the Empire, some from alchemy families immersed in the alchemy way from an early age; others began from humble beginnings, opening the door to alchemy through sheer perseverance."

He gently brushed his hand across the cauldron’s body, as his fingertips touched it, the patterns on the cauldron body suddenly lit up, and golden Spirit Mist rose spirally, intertwining with the Spirit Mist on the mountain peak.

"To be a Seventh Grade Alchemist in the way of alchemy is to leap from ’artisan’ to ’master,’ requiring knowledge of the properties of tens of thousands of spiritual herbs, mastery of thousands of elixir formulas, and precise control of the alchemical fire and its aura, enduring countless trials of broken cauldrons and shattered pills to achieve this rank. These 125 individuals represent the most vibrant force in the alchemical realm over the past five years and are the hope of the Empire’s alchemical legacy."

Xu Lin’s voice grew increasingly earnest, the entire scene solemn.

The newly appointed Seventh Grade Alchemists held their heads high, their eyes full of pride and determination, their alchemy robes seemingly heavier with this recognition.

The guests in the VIP area nodded in approval, fully aware of the importance of Seventh Grade Alchemists to the Empire—whether it’s the Elixirs needed by High Tier Spiritualists for cultivation or the healing potions required for severe injuries, all rely on the support of high-tier alchemists.

"Alchemy knows no bounds, the legacy continues unceasingly."

Xu Lin raised his hand, gesturing towards the cluster of newly appointed alchemists behind him, "Today, Dan Tower is willing to use alchemy as a guide, gathering strengths from all sides to jointly promote the prosperity of the Empire’s alchemy. Next, may the newly appointed Seventh Grade Alchemists come forward to receive Dan Tower’s certification and blessing."

As Xu Lin’s words fell, 125 newly appointed Seventh Grade Alchemists took to the stage one by one.

Among the crowd were elders with frosted temples, middle-aged individuals in their prime, and some relatively young faces. Among them, Dongfang Mingyue was undoubtedly the most striking presence.

Clad in a brand-new alchemy robe with seven patterns, her figure graceful and her eyebrows clear and beautiful, she stood in stark contrast to the surrounding alchemists, who were marked by either weariness or solemnity.

To become a Seventh Grade Alchemist at such a young age, even in the talent-laden Dan Tower, she was a rare genius encountered once in a century.

After Dongfang Mingyue stood in place, her gaze instinctively swept towards the VIP area, coincidentally meeting Qin Tian’s gaze. Both of their lips unconsciously curled into a faint smile.

Once everyone had lined up behind Xu Lin, he slowly raised his hand, his palm gently resting on the ancient cauldron’s body, and a clear, bell-like chime erupted from deep within the cauldron, its reverberation lingering around the mountain peak for a long time.

Immediately after, a faint tremor came from the base of Cangwu Mountain, and the jade-white high platform beneath their feet shimmered with a dense spiritual light.

In the next moment, shock and awe spread across the faces of all attendees.

The entire mountain’s spiritual veins were activated, the Spiritual Qi flowed upwards against the mountain’s terrain like a celestial river breaking free of its bounds, transforming into layers upon layers of gleaming white Spirit Threads, cascading downwards and converging madly above the cauldron’s opening.