The Supreme Being Against Heaven

Shen Subing withdrew her gaze from Tan Yun, then glanced at Tantai Xuanzhong and Tang Xinying. Her lips moved slightly as she transmitted her voice directly to the two through spiritual sense.

“Sect Master, Elder Tang—when my master refined the ‘Supreme Restoration Elixir’ for you, he used my Natal Flame and a low-grade sacred alchemy cauldron.”

“At that time, he pushed the power of the Natal Flame to its absolute limit and successfully refined a high-grade restoration elixir in just 1 month. Throughout the entire process, he never adjusted the temperature of the flame even once!”

“Therefore, I believe that unless Tan Yun knows nothing about alchemy, his skill must far surpass that of Yin Shuiling from the Divine Soul Immortal Palace and Du Ling from the Eternal Immortal Sect!”

“But what I cannot understand is this—if Tan Yun’s skill is truly that profound, why would he choose to use only spirit herbs below level 8? Isn’t that equivalent to deliberately lowering his own score?”

Upon hearing this, Tang Xinying trembled inwardly and replied through spiritual transmission:

“Subing… so when your master refined the high-grade ‘Soul Restoration Elixir’ for me, he also used the flame at its utmost limit!”

“I have studied alchemy for many years, yet only today do I realize that there are truly people in this world who can break the taboos of alchemy!”

“It seems your master’s attainments in alchemy are far beyond what we can comprehend!”

“As for Tan Yun using the flame at its limit like your master, and still choosing herbs below level 8… there is no need for us to speculate now. Once the competition ends, the truth will naturally reveal itself.”

Shen Subing respectfully replied, “Elder Tang is right. I understand.”

Tantai Xuanzhong was no stranger to Tan Yun’s master. Previously, Tan Yun had given Tantai Zhongde 2 sacred-grade longevity elixir formulas—one low-grade and one mid-grade—and both had been personally examined by Tantai Xuanzhong.

Now, upon hearing that Shen Subing’s master could refine the ‘Supreme Restoration Elixir’ without adjusting the flame temperature even once, Tantai Xuanzhong’s heart filled with doubt. Just who was this ancient supreme expert from the Huangfu Sacred Sect?

Time passed—

Inside the Mid-Level Mustard Seed Space-Time Formation, 2 years went by in the blink of an eye.

At this moment, aside from Tantai Xuanzhong, Tang Xinying, and Shen Subing—who continued to watch Tan Yun without blinking—the attention of everyone else had shifted to the other disciples.

For a full 2 years, Tan Yun remained seated cross-legged with his eyes closed, his spiritual sense enveloping the cauldron as he continuously pushed the temperature of the “Primordial Flame” to its limit.

2 years without adjusting the temperature even once caused everyone—except the 3 of them—to firmly believe that once the alchemy competition ended, the elixir Tan Yun refined would surely be a failure.

Thus, people gradually lost interest in him. Even when they occasionally glanced at him, their eyes were filled with undisguised disdain.

Amid the intense attention—

Yin Shuiling, seated cross-legged on the high platform, tossed the final type of spirit herb into her cauldron. Her beautiful face, calm with closed eyes, revealed absolute confidence.

At the same time, Du Ling—one of the 50 disciples of the Eternal Immortal Sect—smiled faintly as he precisely controlled the temperature before adding the final 2 types of spirit herbs into his cauldron.

In the blink of an eye, another 3 months passed.

“Collect!”

Yin Shuiling and Du Ling spoke almost simultaneously, withdrawing their Natal Flames back into their bodies.

This meant—both of them had successfully completed their refinement!

Although filled with joy, after more than 2 years of alchemy, both their bodies and minds were utterly exhausted.

They immediately formed hand seals and began restoring their spiritual energy and strength.

Amid the crowd’s disdain—

“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh…”

Tan Yun casually tossed in the final 5 types of spirit herbs—56 stalks in total—into the cauldron.

“Bang!”
With a light flick of his right hand, Tan Yun sent the lid of the alchemy cauldron on the ground soaring into the air, where it descended and sealed the cauldron with perfect precision…
Inside the formation—time flowed on for another 4 months.
At this moment, only 3 days remained before the alchemy competition would come to an end.
Over the past 4 months, all the disciples from the 3 ancient sects had successively withdrawn their Natal Flames back into their bodies.
All except 1 person.
If it wasn’t Tan Yun—then who else could it be?
Tan Yun remained seated cross-legged atop the high platform, eyes closed, as steady and unmoving as a mountain. Beneath the cauldron before him, the Primordial Flame blazed fiercely.
The crowd couldn’t help but look toward him, each thinking he was merely “putting on a show.”
“Let him act arrogant for another 3 days. When the cauldron is opened and he produces waste, he won’t be able to hide his shame!”
…
3 days later—
Tantai Xuanzhong looked at Tan Yun and asked,
“Tan Yun, only a moment remains before the end. Are you still not finished?”
Tan Yun opened his eyes, his expression neither arrogant nor humble.
“Reporting to Sect Master, I am nearly done.”
“Mm.” Tantai Xuanzhong nodded.
After just 3 breaths—
Tan Yun waved his right hand, and the Primordial Flame beneath the cauldron was instantly drawn back into his palm.
“Since everyone has completed their alchemy, we will now proceed to evaluate your elixirs.”
Ruyan Wuji spoke, raising his right arm and waving it. 9 streams of spiritual power shot into the sky, striking the 9 formation bases hidden within the void.
In an instant—
The Mid-Level Mustard Seed Space-Time Formation covering the high platform collapsed and dissipated.
Ruyan Wuji’s voice rang loudly across the vast Eternal Creation Plaza:
“The 3 rounds of the alchemy competition have concluded! Next comes the final evaluation!”
“Since the Divine Soul Immortal Palace ranked 1st in the previous 4 disciplines, we will begin by inspecting the results of its 50 disciples!”
“Next will be the Eternal Immortal Sect, and lastly, the Huangfu Sacred Sect!”
“I now ঘোষণা—begin the evaluation!”
After Ruyan Wuji finished speaking, Zhuge Yu looked at Yin Shuiling with anticipation and said with a smile,
“We’ll start with you.”
“This disciple obeys.”
Yin Shuiling bowed, then flicked her right sleeve. The cauldron lid rose into the air.
Next, she controlled it with her spiritual sense—
“Whoosh!”
12 silver-white pills shot out from the cauldron and hovered neatly in midair.
Ruyan Wuji’s eyes narrowed slightly as he loudly announced:
“Yin Shuiling has refined high-grade precious elixirs—‘Soul Nourishing Elixirs,’ suitable for cultivators in the Spirit Refinement Realm! The Divine Soul Immortal Palace earns 180 points!”
As his voice fell—
The elders from the 2 sects and 1 palace watching all thought the same: Yin Shuiling truly lived up to her reputation as a rare genius!
After that—
The remaining 49 disciples of the Divine Soul Immortal Palace successively opened their cauldrons and presented their refined elixirs.
After the final evaluation—
30 disciples successfully refined mid-grade precious elixirs, each earning 120 points, totaling 3600 points.
14 disciples successfully refined low-grade precious elixirs, each earning 80 points, totaling 1120 points.
And 5 disciples successfully refined high-grade elixirs, each earning 50 points, totaling 250 points.
Ruyan Wuji announced:
“In the 3rd round of the alchemy competition, the Divine Soul Immortal Palace has obtained a total of 5150 points!”
“Combined with the 2550 points from the first 2 rounds, their overall total is 7700 points!”
Upon hearing that the Divine Soul Immortal Palace had achieved such a high score in the final round—
Zhuge Yu beamed with joy.
“Good! Excellent!”
In her eyes, the Divine Soul Immortal Palace still had a strong chance to claim the championship!

--Translated by likesnovel--