"It looks like you can't get in, so just wait for me outside." Joe Di and Evan Kan arrived at the protective array outside the Pill River, where crowds had already gathered.
The array gate of the Pill River was already open. Several registrars sat at the entrance, and every participating alchemist had to register here and receive a ring.
Outside the Pill River, there was a massive Array Display Screen showing only the tournament rules. The rules were very detailed: every participating alchemist must place the God Origin Pills they condense into the issued ring. Cultivators are allowed to bring one pill furnace, but their own rings are not permitted in the Pill Essence River.
Joe Di was baffled. Isn't this the Pill Refinement Tournament? Shouldn't it be about refining pills? What does condensing God Origin Pills mean?
"Joe Di, hurry up and come over. Why are you standing there daydreaming?" Ann Tu Ning, seated at the Springvale Division representatives' area, saw Joe Di lost in thought and called out coldly.
"Brother Kan, just wait here for me. I'm going to join the Pill Refinement Tournament." Joe Di didn't dare to waste time, quickly tossing a sentence to Evan Kan before hurrying toward the entrance of the Pill River array gate.
"Give me your participation token." Seeing Joe Di standing in front of him, the cultivator responsible for registration at the entrance said coldly.
Joe Di quickly handed over his participation token and cautiously asked, "Excuse me, isn't the Pill Refinement Tournament a pill refining competition? Why is everyone sitting outside while we have to enter the Pill River?"
In Joe Di's mind, since it's a pill refining competition, naturally everyone refines pills while the various sects and cultivators watch. Now, the sect experts were sitting outside the Pill River, and those who had come from afar were also outside, while the alchemists were entering the Pill River through the protective array. What kind of competition was this?
Competing behind closed doors—how would anyone know who's truly skilled?
The registrar snorted, "If it's pill refinement, how can you refine pills without entering the Pill River?"
As he spoke, he tossed a ring to Joe Di. "Any pills refined in the Pill Essence River must be placed in this ring. If you try to hide anything, you will be punished by death. The participation token stays in the ring and cannot be removed. Also, hand over your own ring, and take out your pill furnace."
The registrar frowned. "All cultivators' rings are kept here. Only pill furnaces are allowed into the Pill River."
He frowned because everyone knew this rule. In fact, the cultivators who came here all had empty rings, with only a pill furnace prepared for the tournament. What was the point of an empty ring left with him? Yet Joe Di was still objecting?
Seeing Joe Di hand over his ring, the registrar's expression finally eased. "Take your pill furnace inside and wait for the tournament to begin."
Joe Di instinctively glanced at Ann Tu Ning sitting in the distance. She was lost in her own thoughts, clearly unconcerned with him. Apparently, as long as he entered the Pill River, everything else had nothing to do with her.
Joe Di shook his head helplessly. Just before stepping through the array gate, he couldn't help but ask, "Excuse me, when refining pills, do we supply our own Divine Spirit Herbs, or does the tournament provide them? Do we use our own pill fire, or is there one supplied?"
What worried Joe Di most was the pill fire. He had a top-tier Cosmic Flame, but it was of little use. His flame's grade was still low, and he was just short of reaching the Divine Flame level. Using such a flame to refine pills here would put him at a disadvantage.
As the voice sounded, Joe Di saw the two thousand alchemists rush into the Pill River. Only Joe Di stood dumbfounded at the riverbank, still puzzled about what was happening.
The registrar cultivator stared wide-eyed at Joe Di for a long moment before finally saying, "You don't even know that?"
Joe Di nodded. "I really don't know."
The registrar had wanted to mock Joe Di, but remembering Joe Di was representing the Origin Dao Sect, he swallowed his words and said coldly, "You'll find out once you go in. Since you've registered, you can't stay here."
Joe Di was helpless. As an outer disciple, drafted for the event, how could he have the confidence to argue with the registrar? He could only rub his chin and walk through the array gate.
After Joe Di entered, the other registrars couldn't help but burst into laughter. It was their first time seeing an alchemist like Joe Di, who didn't even know why he was here.
As if sensing Joe Di's entry, Ann Tu Ning stood up.
Joe Di drew a sharp breath. He finally understood why the alchemists weren't happy to be here. He knew how precious God Origin Pills were—far more valuable than top-grade God Crystals.
Ann Tu Ning glared coldly at the old man. "Vance Hsu, don't think you can act arrogant in front of me just because you're the Vice Lord of Eternity Saint City. My Origin Dao Sect may lack alchemists, but we have plenty of Hunyuan experts."
The sallow old man snorted and ignored Ann Tu Ning.
But condensing God Origin Pills is no easy task—it requires not only an alchemist, but one with abundant god essence. During the process, the alchemists unknowingly consume their own vital blood.
Her only purpose in coming here was to make sure Joe Di entered the Pill River for the tournament. Everything else had nothing to do with her. As for Joe Di winning any rank—she hadn't even considered it.
...
Just standing here, without cultivating, was an exhilarating experience—the pill essence permeated his body, an ultimate enjoyment. If he were to cultivate here... Joe Di didn't dare imagine further. His progress would be far faster than normal.
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Above the swirling mist of pill essence, five large characters floated: Great Geng Pill Essence River.
Such a wonderful place for the Pill Refinement Tournament? If someone were to claim this Pill Essence River as a private domain, it would be the ultimate luxury.
Joe Di withdrew his attention and noticed there were at least two thousand alchemists here for the tournament. What puzzled him was that none of them seemed as excited as he was—instead, they all sat quietly with closed eyes, deep in thought.
After waiting for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Joe Di sensed the array gate slowly closing behind him. Then he heard a cold, stern voice: "All participating alchemists, enter the Pill River and condense God Origin Pills. The time limit is one month."
As the voice sounded, Joe Di saw the two thousand alchemists rush into the Pill River. Only Joe Di stood dumbfounded at the riverbank, still puzzled about what was happening.
"Why aren't you hurrying into the Pill River?" The cold, stern voice interrupted Joe Di's confusion, clearly annoyed that he was still dawdling after the tournament had begun.
In a tournament like this, even a single breath's time could be the key to victory or defeat.
Joe Di quickly entered the Pill River, where the pill essence was even thicker. He had no mind to cultivate; instead, he sent his spiritual sense toward the other alchemists, wanting to see what they were doing.
Joe Di soon understood what the alchemists were doing. Everyone had taken out their pill furnaces and were refining God Origin Pills in the Pill Essence River.
Rather than simply refining God Origin Pills, it was more like condensing them. Above each pill furnace hovered a faint vortex of pill essence—the alchemists absorbed this essence into their furnaces, then used their own god essence and pill arts to transform it into God Origin Pills.
After each batch of God Origin Pills was produced, the alchemists quickly placed them into their rings and started condensing the next batch. Some impatient cultivators even summoned flames to speed up the process.
Joe Di drew a sharp breath. He finally understood why the alchemists weren't happy to be here. He knew how precious God Origin Pills were—far more valuable than top-grade God Crystals.
God Origin Pills are the pure essence of heaven and earth, free from any pill toxins. They allow for rapid cultivation, are perfect for comprehending new divine abilities and breaking through bottlenecks. Moreover, these naturally condensed God Origin Pills can also eliminate pill toxins.
If you've taken too many artificially refined pills, you can use God Origin Pills to cultivate and remove pill toxins.
But condensing God Origin Pills is no easy task—it requires not only an alchemist, but one with abundant god essence. During the process, the alchemists unknowingly consume their own vital blood.
If these God Origin Pills were for their own use, it would be fine. The problem is, they're all placed in the issued rings, and the pills inside clearly don't belong to the alchemists who condensed them. In other words, all the God Origin Pills produced here must be handed over.
No wonder the alchemists from the Origin Dao Sect didn't want to come—only he had been forced to participate.
(That's all for today's update. Good night, friends!)