The Supreme Being Against Heaven

When “Tan Yun” voluntarily stepped forward, Da Niu and the disciples of the Pill Hall at the Herb Garden could not help but whisper among themselves.

“What’s going on? Senior Brother Tan has never refined pills before. Is he actually stronger than Senior Brother Song? Senior Brother Song is already a Grandmaster-level alchemist at the early stage!”

“Yeah, Da Niu. Isn’t Senior Brother Tan… going crazy?”

“…”

The alchemy disciples of Huangfu Shengzong exchanged uneasy glances, their faces full of confusion.

“Everyone, in the eyes of the Pill Hall, Senior Brother Tan is someone who doesn’t even understand the basics of pill refinement. How could he possibly challenge those two geniuses?”

“Exactly! If he truly knew alchemy, he wouldn’t just be an outer servant disciple!”

“I don’t get it… I really don’t understand…”

Voices of discussion spread throughout the area. Tantai Xuanzhong’s brows furrowed slightly as he turned to look at Shen Subing.

“What is going on exactly? Does Tan Yun know alchemy?”

“Reporting to Sect Leader, I don’t know either!” Shen Subing replied immediately. “He has been in the sect for more than 2 years and has never refined a single pill.”

She frowned and looked at Tan Yun with suspicion before speaking clearly, though full of doubt.

“Tan Yun, last night you personally told the Sect Leader that you were not interested in alchemy. And since entering the inner sect, you have never been involved with it. Someone who doesn’t understand alchemy may be able to identify herbs, but cannot possibly identify pills by scent. Now you are stepping in to replace Song Hong… are you saying you truly understand alchemy?”

All eyes immediately focused on Tan Yun, waiting for his answer.

Tan Yun frowned slightly, then cupped his hands and replied calmly,

“Reporting to Hall Master, I did say yesterday that I was not interested in alchemy. But I never said I do not understand it.”

“I… can refine pills.”

“What did you say! You… can refine pills?” Shen Subing suddenly stood up, her face full of disbelief.

“Huh… Senior Brother Tan can really refine pills?” Da Niu’s eyes widened. “How is that possible!”

“This…” The Herb Garden disciples were completely stunned.

Luo Fan, Song Hong, and the other 50 alchemy disciples stared at Tan Yun in shock. Even Nangong Ruxue could not take her eyes off him.

Tan Yun bowed slightly to Shen Subing again and said calmly yet confidently,

“Reporting to Hall Master, I do have some understanding of alchemy.”

“Then what level are you at?” Shen Subing asked seriously. “Mid-stage Grandmaster Alchemist? Or high-stage?”

Tan Yun smiled faintly before replying in a calm but confident tone,

“I am not entirely sure.”

“But… I should be enough to deal with the two geniuses from the Eternal Immortal Sect and the Divine Soul Sacred Palace.”

“Good!” Shen Subing nodded immediately, her eyes filled with anticipation. “I look forward to your performance. Do not disappoint the Sect Master!”

“Disciple obeys!” Tan Yun replied before walking straight toward the center of the stage.

Tantai Xuanzhong watched him with a gaze full of expectation.

“I feel he will not disappoint us,” Zhong Wushiyao murmured inwardly, her heart slightly tightening.

On the other side, Gongsun Ruoxi stared at Tan Yun’s back in deep shock.

She knew very well that his forging skills already surpassed hers by a great margin, but she never expected… that he also mastered alchemy.

If that was true, then Tan Yun’s alchemy level… must at least be at the early Grandmaster stage, or possibly even mid-stage!

Otherwise, he would never dare replace Song Hong, who was already an early-stage Grandmaster Alchemist.

“Senior Brother Tan… you really hide yourself too deeply!” Song Hong smiled sincerely and said softly, “Even though the competition has not begun yet, I believe in you.”

Tan Yun merely smiled faintly at the corner of his mouth.

“Senior Brother Song is overpraising me. I will do my best.”

Then he closed his eyes and stood once again at the center of the stage, under the gaze of geniuses from both sides…

Tan Yun’s arrogant words instantly turned him into the center of everyone’s attention.
Every gaze across the entire platform locked onto Tan Yun, Du Ling, and Yin Suiling without exception.
“Now that the substitution is complete, let us continue the alchemy competition.”
Zhuge Yu glanced at Tan Yun coldly. A moment later, three bright-red pills floated out from her hand, suspended in front of the three participants.
“High-grade pill… Soul-Devouring Poison Pill!”
Almost the instant those words were spoken, Tan Yun called out the name without the slightest hesitation.
Du Ling and Yin Suiling, standing beside him, trembled violently all over.
Because they knew clearly—Tan Yun’s answer… was correct.
And they only realized it after a fraction of a breath had passed since he spoke.
“Tan Yun answered correctly. Huangfu Shengzong earns 10 points!”
Zhuge Yu’s expression changed repeatedly, disbelief flashing in her eyes.
Because Tan Yun’s speed… was simply too fast.
It was almost at the exact moment the pill had not even reached the tip of their noses that he had already answered.
Seeing this scene, Luo Fan and Song Hong smiled bitterly, but their eyes were filled with admiration.
Many alchemy disciples and Herb Garden disciples even felt an instinctive urge to bow in acknowledgment.
If not for the fact that this was a grand competition, they would have already cheered out loud.
Shen Subing and Tang Xinying trembled slightly, their eyes filled with uncontrollable excitement.
Even Tantai Xuanzhong was no different.
“Yin Suiling is a high-grade Grandmaster Alchemist… I refuse to believe that brat can surpass her!”
Zhuge Yu thought coldly, before flicking her sleeve once more. The Soul-Devouring Poison Pills disappeared, and three green pills replaced them.
“High-grade pill… Youth Preservation Pill!”
Tan Yun spoke again without changing his expression in the slightest.
Du Ling and Yin Suiling both trembled again upon hearing this, cold sweat pouring from their foreheads.
This was real cold sweat.
At this moment, Tan Yun felt like an invisible mountain pressing down on their chests, leaving them with no room to resist.
“Tan Yun answered correctly. Huangfu Shengzong earns another 10 points!”
Zhuge Yu’s face darkened further.
Even Ru Yan Wuji on the high platform had an unpleasant expression.
At the same time, Murong Shishi stared at the scar on Tan Yun’s neck, her eyes filled with shock.
‘He has only been an inner sect disciple for less than 3 years… how can his alchemy skills be this profound?!’
‘Or… did he already have a foundation when he was an outer disciple?’
While she was thinking, her gaze suddenly drifted downward—and noticed something beneath the scar.
‘A mole…?’
Her curiosity deepened even further.
Meanwhile, the test continued without pause.
In the following moments, under the watchful eyes of over 2,000,000 people—disciples, elders, and even the sect leaders of all three factions—all witnessed a scene they would never forget.
Out of the 30 questions, Tan Yun answered 28 correctly, earning 280 points in total, flawlessly.
With this overwhelming performance, he crushed Du Ling and Yin Suiling without mercy—it was as if they were not even on the same level.
Du Ling’s face twisted in frustration, his entire body drenched in sweat.
Yin Suiling trembled uncontrollably, her face completely drained of color. A cold chill surged up her spine.
She felt as if a death knell was ringing above her head.
Fear slowly took root in her heart.
After evaluating herself, she realized something clearly—
Among the younger generation, there were perhaps fewer than 1,000 high-grade Grandmaster Alchemists across the entire Heavenly Punishment Continent.
But based on Tan Yun’s speed and accuracy…
She was certain he had already surpassed her by a margin far beyond comparison.

--Translated by likesnovel--