Chapter 2190: Floating River Chen

Zhang Xuan's soul power had only recently broken through to the mid-tier Heavenly God realm. At a normal rate of progression, it would be impossible to reach the high-tier Heavenly God realm in less than ten days to half a month.

It had been growing steadily moments ago, without much unexpected change. How did it suddenly increase so dramatically? What was previously a mere stream had, in that moment, transformed into a mighty river.

"At this rate," he thought, "my soul will be able to break through to the high-tier Heavenly God realm by tonight."

Zhang Xuan nodded in satisfaction, letting out a sigh of relief.

When he first broke through to the Heavenly God realm, he had been full of ambition, believing he could challenge and become a God King within a few days. Now, seven or eight days had passed, and he hadn't even reached the high-tier Heavenly God realm. He was utterly ashamed and embarrassed. If he remained stuck at his current level and failed to progress further, he truly wouldn't know how he could face his numerous students in the future. His students had been taken by various God-Emperors, provided with countless resources. Their cultivation speed, compared to his, would likely be faster, not slower. With his soul breaking through, his true qi would follow suit. He would simply need an extra moment or two to consolidate his gains. Cultivation, it turned out, was not as simple as he had imagined; it was a path fraught with hardship and relentless effort.

After composing himself, Zhang Xuan, Qi Ling'er, and the others landed on the high platform. The bustling square, which had been filled with chatter, immediately fell silent as the main figures arrived. All eyes turned towards them, filled with curiosity.

"Is that the Grand Alchemist who refined the Beauty Pill?""He looks incredibly young!""Not only young, but also very handsome. Alright, I confess... I'm smitten!""You're only smitten with his Beauty Pill, aren't you...?"

When the Beauty Pill was first unveiled, word quickly spread. Many had envisioned the Grand Alchemist to be an elderly man with a long white beard. They never imagined he would be merely a handsome young man in his twenties. And what's more, he was remarkably handsome. Countless women's eyes gleamed with excitement. Powerful individuals naturally command admiration from the opposite sex, regardless of location.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am Qi Ling'er of the Qi Clan! Many of you are here today by my personal invitation," Qi Ling'er announced, standing at the front of the platform and surveying the crowd. As only a low-tier Heavenly God, her voice alone wasn't powerful enough to reach everyone. However, meticulous preparations had been made, including the placement of a highly sophisticated array on the platform. Consequently, the nearly five hundred thousand people filling the square could hear her words with perfect clarity, undisturbed by any surrounding noise.

Previously, Qi Ling'er of the Qi Clan was not widely known. However, through this grand invitation, it became clear to nearly all major powers that she was now the public voice of the Qi Clan. It could be said that her standing was now second only to the Clan Head himself.

"The young master behind me, Zhang Xuan, is the creator of the Beauty Pill. Today, I have invited everyone here not just to introduce the Beauty Pill, but also two other newly formulated elixirs, for all of you to witness firsthand!"

"I believe you are all already familiar with the effects of the Beauty Pill!" Taking the stage, Zhang Xuan surveyed the assembled crowd. All those present must have heard about the Beauty Pill's effects, or perhaps had even personally benefited from it. Otherwise, divine beings are typically preoccupied with cultivation, and no one would be idle enough to attend such a gathering without good reason.

"The Beauty Pill can refine one's skin, heal internal injuries, and even extend one's lifespan. Its various effects are well-known, and those who have taken it will attest to its benefits through word of mouth." Zhang Xuan smiled. "As Qi Ling'er just mentioned, today we're not only discussing the Beauty Pill, but also two newly developed elixirs. Now, I will explain the precise effects of these two remarkable pills!"

"First, I'd like to introduce the upgraded version of the Beauty Pill, which is the Barrier-Breaking Pill that has been the subject of recent rumors! This elixir, just as you may have heard, is neither fictional nor exaggerated. It can increase a cultivator's chance of breakthrough by fifty percent. This means that, essentially, anyone who consumes this pill is guaranteed success! Furthermore, it has absolutely no side effects, so there's no need to worry about any adverse impact on your future cultivation. On top of that, it retains all the benefits of the Beauty Pill: it refines the skin, heals internal injuries, extends lifespan... and, importantly, it tastes delicious!"

"Fifty percent?""Essentially guaranteed success...""All the benefits of the Beauty Pill?"

"If one diligently consolidates their cultivation, increasing the likelihood of breakthrough by twenty percent is already quite achievable. With the addition of this pill, pushing the chances to seventy percent... such a high probability truly means that success is virtually assured!"

"And the most important thing is that there are no side effects... This is simply heaven-defying!"

A buzz of discussion erupted among the crowd. Even the powerful cultivators observing from atop their flying divine beasts in the sky were visibly stirred. While they themselves might not require such a pill, securing one for their juniors or children, with its incredibly high success rate, could swiftly lead to the emergence of a powerful family or the establishment of a formidable personal empire.

"Teacher... does such a pill truly exist?" Zhou Feng, seated atop the beast, couldn't help but glance at the elderly man meditating cross-legged before him. It was Fu Jiangchen, the most renowned Grand Alchemist in the Divine Realm!

"Whether it truly exists, I cannot say," Fu Jiangchen replied, not turning his head, his eyes fixed on the platform. "However, the Divine Realm is far more complex than one might imagine. Let us continue to observe; once the elixir is presented, its efficacy will become apparent."

As a God King realm expert, he had lived for at least several millennia, witnessing the rise and fall of countless formidable individuals and prodigies of astonishing talent. By conventional understanding, an elixir capable of increasing breakthrough success by fifty percent should be impossible. Yet, nothing is absolute in this world. The Tianzong Great Emperor of old, for instance, created countless miracles that defied comprehension and remained unmatched. Perhaps... this young man shared a similar extraordinary ability.

"I understand your doubts," Zhang Xuan declared from the stage, cutting through the rising murmurs. "So, I have brought this medicine to demonstrate its effects publicly!" With a flick of his wrist, he produced a jade box. He gently opened it, revealing a perfectly round elixir that shimmered before the crowd. It emitted no strong spiritual energy fluctuations or powerful aura. From a distance, it appeared utterly ordinary.

"It looks just like... a mid-grade Divine Origin Pill!""I've refined that type of pill for over a century; I can recognize it instantly...""The Beauty Pill was identical to a low-grade Divine Origin Pill, and now this Barrier-Breaking Pill looks just like a mid-grade Divine Origin Pill. Couldn't he have given them a more distinctive or impressive appearance?"

Everyone frowned in confusion, and even Fu Jiangchen seemed perplexed. He had expected that merely seeing the pill would allow him to discern its true effects. Now, it seemed he had been mistaken. This pill, like the Beauty Pill, was impossible to distinguish from common ones; even if analyzed or reverse-engineered, it would likely yield no discernible difference.

"This individual truly is an alchemy prodigy," Fu Jiangchen murmured with a sigh.

"Teacher, why do you say that?" Zhou Feng inquired. The pill's effects hadn't even been demonstrated yet, so why was his teacher offering praise prematurely?

"Every elixir leaves a trace, a discernible method of its creation," Fu Jiangchen explained. "Healing elixirs, for example, require ingredients like hemostatic grass and bruise-dissolving flowers. Elixirs for cultivation advancement typically necessitate barrier-breaking flowers and vein-smoothing incense. However, the Beauty Pill he refined, despite its exceptional effects, is indistinguishable from a Divine Origin Pill. Do you understand why?"

Zhou Feng shook his head. If he knew, he wouldn't have needed to summon his teacher.

"It's quite simple," Fu Jiangchen stated with a sigh. "He intentionally used a unique alchemy technique to conceal its true nature!"

"Concealment?" Zhou Feng questioned, confused.

"The low-grade Divine Origin Pill is the most basic elixir in the Divine Realm," Fu Jiangchen continued, without further explanation. "Based on your current skill, how many different methods can you use to refine it?"

"Several hundred methods should be achievable..." Zhou Feng nodded. Low-grade Divine Origin Pills simply condense spiritual energy. There are numerous formulas, and the only difference lies in which method is more cost-effective or economical.

"You can employ hundreds of methods because you are so adept with this particular elixir that you can use various ingredients and still achieve the same potency!" Fu Jiangchen's eyes held a hint of admiration. "This individual before us operates in the same manner! This Barrier-Breaking Pill, though it appears identical to a mid-grade Divine Origin Pill and even a divine sense cannot detect any difference, is actually refined using numerous precious ingredients. Its appearance is deliberately masked by common Divine Origin Pill components. The true purpose of this is to prevent anyone from deciphering its formula and replicating it, thus ensuring that he alone can refine this elixir, making it impossible to copy!"

"How remarkable!" Zhou Feng exclaimed, realization dawning on him. He might not have fully grasped the concept of a "special concealment method" initially, but this elaborate explanation made it perfectly clear. Similarly, some masters of poison in the Divine Realm often blend potent toxins with ordinary elixirs, making them virtually undetectable. This alchemist employed a similar technique. Otherwise, how could a mere mid-grade Divine Origin Pill possibly increase the chance of breakthrough by fifty percent?

"Hearing is one thing, seeing is believing! Since the elixir has been presented, we must naturally verify its effects on the spot!" Zhang Xuan on the platform continued, "I wonder who among you would be willing to test this elixir? The prerequisite is that the individual must possess a credible identity and standing, and also be on the verge of a breakthrough. Otherwise, if it's suggested that this is a pre-arranged demonstration, any number of trials would be meaningless!"

For a genuine test, it was crucial to find someone universally recognized; otherwise, no matter how impressive the outcome, it would simply be dismissed as a staged act.

"I am Zhang Heng, from the Ghost Imperial City Guard! I've been stuck at the peak of the low-tier Divine Spirit realm for over a decade. All city guards can vouch for me!" An elderly man leaped onto the high platform.

"What good are city guards testifying for you? Let me do it instead! I am an escort from the Valiant Escort Agency, at the peak of the low-tier Heavenly God realm. The Qi Clan's steward can vouch for me..."

"Neither of you possesses sufficient public credibility. Let me..."

A commotion erupted, and within mere moments, thirty to forty individuals had leaped onto the platform. While doubts about the Barrier-Breaking Pill lingered, the audacity to make such claims before such a large crowd, coupled with the Qi Clan's backing, suggested that this was far from a simple matter. Perhaps it truly could enable a breakthrough! Thus, these individuals, hoping to seize a rare opportunity, surged forward.

"This..." Zhang Xuan frowned, unsure how to make a selection, when a faint voice echoed from the sky.

"I shall send one of my people to test it, if that is permissible?"

As the voice resonated, Fu Jiangchen, perched atop the beast, slowly straightened his posture.