Soul Emperor Martial God

"Judges, please start scoring," Xiao Yi said indifferently.

The three nodded, then shook their heads.

"What's the matter?" Xiao Yi asked with a puzzled expression.

The Sub Hall Master smiled wryly, "A Perfect Elixir at the sixth-grade level is something none of us can refine. How can we score you?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Long's face turned extremely unsightly.

The one he had looked down upon yesterday, the one he had mocked today,

now displayed an Alchemy Technique even superior to his own Master's.

He himself had only managed to refine a mid-grade fifth-grade Elixir, and it was of inferior quality at that.

His ranking, just happened to be sixth.

"In any case, it's correct to say he's the first," declared the Northern Mountain County King with a smile at that moment.

"Indeed, the first place," another judge nodded earnestly.

All three judges were only sixth-grade Intermediate Alchemists.

To create a perfect Elixir at the low-level sixth-grade was not impossible, but it was very difficult.

"Then let's temporarily settle for first place," the Smiling Saint remarked with a curl of the lip.

"Temporarily?" the Sub Hall Master scoffed, "I'd like to see who can surpass this Perfect Level Earth Origin Pill."

Xiao Yi smiled and said, "It seems the youngster will be able to easily make it into the top 12."

"That being the case, the youngster bids farewell."

The finals were to determine the top 12, who would go to the Royal Capital to compete.

Regardless, Xiao Yi was certain to advance, so there was no need to linger any longer.

"Youngster, there's no need to be so modest," the Northern Mountain County King laughed, "Besides, there's no need to hurry; the final round is tomorrow."

"The results will also be announced tomorrow. As the first place finisher, you will receive a substantial reward. Won't you wait just one more day?"

"No need," Xiao Yi shook his head, "If the youngster really happens to win first place, the reward can be kept at the Demon Hunting Hall for now."

"The youngster will come to claim it when there's time."

"In that case," the Northern Mountain County King suddenly said, "I promised you yesterday."

"You have two great achievements, and the King will certainly reward you."

"This time, for showing prowess on behalf of the young alchemists of Northern Mountain County, that's another merit."

"You may choose any treasure from my treasure vault at will."

The Prince Mansion treasury, just like the Inner Sect Treasure Vault of the Sky-splitting Sword Sect,

it was hard to say which one had better quality or quantity of treasures.

But undoubtedly, there were many treasures there.

Xiao Yi's eyes suddenly brightened.

...

Inside Prince Mansion.

Xiao Yi and the Northern Mountain County King arrived at the treasure vault.

Constantly guarded by a squad of Blood Blade Guards outside the vault, there was also a sixth-layer Mystic Breakthrough Realm Martial Artist sitting in vigil year-round.

"Greetings to the County King," the Blood Blade Guards all saluted.

"Dispense with the formalities," the Northern Mountain County King waved his hand and said to Xiao Yi, "Go ahead, young Yi Xiao."

Xiao Yi was initially filled with anticipation.

However, upon truly stepping into the treasure vault, he was stunned.

Indeed, there were many treasures inside the vault.

Spiritual Artifacts, no less than ten; Subspirit Artifacts, no fewer than dozens.

Following that were several Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures with special effects, such as Six Treasure Exquisite Ginseng, Demon Blood Flame Heart Fruit, and so on.

The rest were all sorts of exotic items.

Night Light Pearls, seabed corals, Ice Crystal Jade, and so on.

These things were all precious.

However, for Xiao Yi, they were useless.

Seeing this, the Northern Mountain County King asked in puzzlement, "Don't you like any of these?"

As he said this, he casually picked up a piece of Ice Crystal Jade and said, "This was obtained by me from the Extreme Cold Land; it can concentrate the mind and speed up cultivation—a real treasure."

Then, he picked up a Spiritual Artifact and said, "This is a Mid-grade Spirit Artifact, the Fire-cutting Sword."

"This is a Starlight Stone..."

"..."

"The King's treasure vault, you can pick any three treasures."

Xiao Yi hesitated for a moment, as these things were useless to him.

He bowed and said, "May I ask, County King, do you have any Demon Beast Cores or Essence Blood?"

"What do you want those for?" the Northern Mountain County King asked, puzzled.

"Oh, that's right, you are an Alchemist, so you need a large amount of materials, don't you?"

Xiao Yi nodded.

The Northern Mountain County King was slightly troubled and said, "The King doesn't have such items."

"But this, the Demon Hunting Hall has plenty of them."

"I will speak to the Sub Hall Master."

"You just go take an equivalent amount, and later, the King will fully reimburse them."

"Is that acceptable?" Xiao Yi asked doubtfully, "Isn't it said that the Demon Hunting Hall's items can only be exchanged with Task Points?"

"Haha," the Northern Mountain County King laughed heartily, "You are now the Chief Steward of the Demon Hunting Hall."

"You've also slain Old Monster Yougu, contributing a great merit."

"It's not a problem for the Demon Hunting Hall to bend the rules for you this once."

"Moreover, hunting demon beasts and collecting Demon Beast Cores and Essence Blood is the main business of the Demon Hunting Hall; they have plenty of those."

"If the King compensates them with Spiritual Artifacts of equivalent value afterward, such a profitable exchange will be welcomed by them."

Xiao Yi nodded, gave a bow, and said, "In this case, many thanks to the County King."

The Northern Mountain County King was a straightforward man.

Conversing with such a person saved much worry.

...

After bidding farewell to the Commandery Prince of Northern Mountain County, Xiao Yi made his way directly to the Demon Hunting Hall.

He waited for merely an hour before the Sub Hall Master arrived.

It seemed that the Commandery Prince of Northern Mountain County had already informed him.

"Young man, what level of demon beast cores and essence blood do you want?" the Sub Hall Master asked.

"Level 5," Xiao Yi replied.

"Level 5," the Sub Hall Master pondered for a moment and said, "The Commandery Prince of Northern Mountain County is willing to compensate me with three mid-grade Spiritual Artifacts."

"Exchange them for equivalent Level 5 demon beast cores and essence blood..."

"Seven hundred of each."

Mid-grade Spiritual Artifacts were very rare treasures.

Nearly ninety-nine percent of Mystic Breakthrough Realm Martial Artists only used weapons of this grade.

"Additionally," the Sub Hall Master continued, "in the name of the Sub Hall Master, I will give you an extra two hundred of each."

"That makes nine hundred of each, are you satisfied?"

"Of course, I'm satisfied," Xiao Yi nodded, "thank you, Sub Hall Master."

Subsequently, the Sub Hall Master gave orders, and soon after, staff delivered two Qiankun Bags.

Xiao Yi glanced at them.

The first Qiankun Bag contained exactly nine hundred of each, Level 5 Demon Beast Cores and Essence Blood.

The second Qiankun Bag was filled with a staggering amount of fifth and sixth-grade Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

The combined value of these Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures was no less than the seven hundred demon beast cores and essence blood.

"What is the meaning of this, Sub Hall Master?" Xiao Yi asked with a frown.

"That's your reward for the alchemy competition this time," the Sub Hall Master said with a smile.

"Isn't the result not to be announced until tomorrow..."

The Sub Hall Master interrupted, "I am confident that you will win, so I advanced the reward to you."

"When the results are announced tomorrow, those rewards will be replenished in the Demon Hunting Hall."

"I see," Xiao Yi nodded.

Xiao Yi knew that the rewards for the alchemy competition were a vast amount of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave," Xiao Yi said with cupped hands.

"Wait," the Sub Hall Master interjected.

"Is there something else?" Xiao Yi asked.

The Sub Hall Master was silent for a moment before finally saying, "Young man, what exactly is your Cultivation?"

"Why can't I see through it?"

Xiao Yi was initially startled but then became puzzled.

This Sub Hall Master was undoubtedly an Earth Origin Realm powerhouse.

Exactly what grade of treasure was the Ghost Mask, that it could even ignore the perception of an Earth Origin Realm Martial Artist?

"The Sub Hall Master is curious?" Xiao Yi countered.

"Yes," the Sub Hall Master nodded, "very curious, indeed."

"You were able to kill Old Monster Yougu, proving your strength is definitely above the Earth Origin Realm."

"At such a young age, to possess such strength and attain the Alchemy Technique to the sixth grade."

"I've lived half my life and never seen a monster like you."

The Sub Hall Master spoke frankly, not hiding his curiosity at all, which was quite interesting.

"Sub Hall Master can wonder on his own, I'll take my leave," Xiao Yi said teasingly with a laugh, his figure flashing as he instantly departed.

"Er," the Sub Hall Master was stunned, and it only after Xiao Yi had left that he came to his senses.

He cursed with a smile, "Cheeky kid, holding such grudges."

In his mind, Yi Xiao was getting back at him for the trickery back in Baiwu City.

...

After leaving the Demon Hunting Hall, Xiao Yi summoned his Purple Flame Fire Wings and soon left Northern Mountain City.

Naturally, he would not disclose his true Cultivation.

Otherwise, the incident of killing Old Monster Yougu would be hard to explain.

Several hours later, Xiao Yi had returned to the vicinity of Baiwu City.

He found a secluded forest at random and refined three hundred Mystic Breakthrough Pills without impurities.

To refine one Mystic Breakthrough Pill, three demon beast cores were needed.

With nine hundred, he was able to refine three hundred pills.

Previously at the Sky-splitting Sword Sect, he still had 150 impurity-free Mystic Breakthrough Pills that he had not taken.

Now adding them up, he had exactly 450 pills.

Xiao Yi swallowed them one by one.

Half a day later, his Cultivation broke through two layers, reaching Mystic Breakthrough Fifth Layer.

Then, he consumed nine hundred bottles of Level 5 Essence Blood.

His Physical Strength also rapidly broke through.

In the end, his Physical Strength soared to the Mystic Breakthrough Fourth Layer.

It had to be said, this trip to Northern Mountain City had been exceedingly fruitful.

His own Cultivation had thus once again surged substantially in just a couple of days.

It appeared that his Cultivation was increasing rapidly.

But in truth, the amount of inner cores, medicinal materials, and so on, that he had used, was astronomical.

Step by step, from an initial Innate Realm Martial Artist to now, Mystic Breakthrough Fifth Layer.

How many times had he faced danger, and how many times had he been on the brink of death?

After so many hardships, he had earned this enviable Cultivation, fair and square.

"Phew." Xiao Yi stopped cultivating and breathed out a breath of turbid air.

Then he took to the air, not heading back to the Sky-splitting Sword Sect, but to Purple Cloud City, the Xiao Family.

...

...

Second update.