Ultimate Magus in Cultivation World

Then came the last one—the Mind-Cleansing Pill.

This was the hardest of them all, known for testing not only a cultivator's flame but their inner balance. Many failed it because their thoughts wavered, their hearts unsteady.

Tian Lei closed his eyes.

The world around him faded—the noise, the crowd, even the light. Only the soft pulse of his own breath remained. His flame responded, shrinking to a calm, steady glow, pure as moonlight on still water.

Inside the cauldron, the ingredients melted together in silence. No bursts of light, no flare of qi—just slow, patient fusion. Then, with a faint chime, the pill formed, hovering in the center of the cauldron like a pearl born from calm.

Six Tier-Three pills. All complete. All perfect.

When Tian Lei opened his eyes again, six radiant pills floated before him, each releasing a soft, different glow. The runes beneath his feet shimmered, recognizing the energy of full purity.

The presiding elder descended slowly, disbelief clear in his gaze. He examined the pills one by one, his spiritual sense brushing against them. Each was flawless—balanced in energy, essence, and form.

"…Six refined, zero impurities," he said finally, his voice quiet but carrying across the entire square. "Full-grade Tier-Three completion. Outer Alchemy record broken."

A stunned silence followed. Then the crowd erupted.

"Six… all six?!"

"He did them all within one incense stick! That's not human!"

"Even Inner Alchemists can't do that!"

The elder turned to Tian Lei and gave a slow, respectful nod. "Tian Lei, from this day onward, you are recognized as a Tier-Three Alchemist of the Silver Flame Path. You have passed the Outer Alchemy Selection with the highest possible result."

Tian Lei bowed. "Thank you, Elder."

"Do not thank me," the elder said softly. "Your results speak for themselves."

He paused, then added, "The Sect Master will hear of this. Prepare yourself, Tian Lei. You will soon be summoned to the Inner Alchemy Grounds."

As the murmurs of disbelief and awe filled the Grand Square, Tian Lei looked down at the faintly glowing cauldron before him. The silver-white flame flickered once, almost as if smiling.

"The path opens," he murmured. "Let's see where it leads next."

The crowd parted for him as he left the square, silent, eyes following his every step.

As Tian Lei stepped beyond the boundary of the Grand Square, the roar of the crowd dimmed into a hum—distant, almost unreal. He could still feel the echo of their astonishment pulsing behind him, but his mind was elsewhere.

Every step forward felt lighter, as though something within him had quietly shifted—refined, much like the pills he had just created. His inner flame pulsed softly, resonating in tune with his heartbeat.

The scent of alchemical smoke lingered faintly in his robes as he reached the corridor leading to the Alchemist Hall. Pillars of jade and spirit crystal framed the walkway, etched with centuries-old inscriptions from past masters.

As he stepped into the spirit grove, the leaves of crystalline trees rustled faintly. A ripple of qi brushed against him—smooth, controlled, unmistakably powerful. Someone else was here.

From behind a cascade of light, a woman emerged. Her robes shimmered in gentle cyan, embroidered with sigils that shifted like flowing rivers. Her hair, streaked with pale silver, framed a face too youthful for the weight of her reputation.

"Tian Lei." Her voice was calm, but carried the easy confidence of someone used to being extraordinary. "So the rumors were true—you're the one who broke the six-pill limit in the first round."

He inclined his head slightly. "And you are…?"

She smiled faintly. "Mei Lian. From the Medicine Saint Garden."

Tian Lei blinked once. Even in the Trial World, her name carried weight. A once-in-an-era genius. The youngest to forge ten new alchemy formulas before her fiftieth year. A prodigy hailed across realms as the Jade Furnace Saintess.

Her gaze was assessing, yet curious. "When I saw your flame, I thought the trial's illusions had malfunctioned. It wasn't wild—it was calm. Harmonized."

"I only refined what needed refining," Tian Lei replied, tone measured.

"That's what I told myself when I first rewrote the formula of the Nine-Soul Dew," she said with a wry smile. "But talent doesn't hide in humility."

He gave a small chuckle. "Then perhaps I'll borrow your confidence for the next stage."

She tilted her head, studying him more closely. "Confidence is one thing. Resonance is another. You felt it too, didn't you? The Trial Flame responding to you."

His eyes flickered in surprise, then steadied. "…You noticed."

"I'd be a poor alchemist if I didn't," she replied. "That wasn't just spiritual harmony. The realm recognized your essence. It marked you."

The grove shimmered faintly as her words settled.

"Marked?" he asked.

She nodded, stepping closer. "Every few eras, the Trial World chooses one who walks its path differently—not by imitation, but by creation. It's said those chosen go beyond alchemy itself… and become part of the fire." Her gaze softened. "Looks like this time, it chose you."

He exhaled slowly. "If it has, then I'll walk where it leads."

"Hahaha, you're bold," Mei Lian said, laughing lightly. "But I intend to reach the top—and now, I recognize you as my competition."

Tian Lei nodded slightly. Being acknowledged by her was no small feat; Mei Lian was already known as an Alchemy Saint, capable of refining Tier Nine pills with ease.

"But why are you here?" he asked calmly. "I doubt someone like you needs anything from this trial."

She shrugged, eyes glinting with mischief. "Don't worry, I only came here to see if I could secure the top position and pick up a few things to expand my alchemical knowledge. That's all."

Tian Lei's gaze lingered on her for a moment, then he said evenly, "I have an old book from a divine land. It was lost for ages, but I managed to preserve it. How about this—if you give up this trial and let me take first place, I'll give you that book."

Her brow lifted slightly, intrigued. "And how good is this book supposed to be?"

"It contains over a hundred new Tier Nine alchemy formulas," Tian Lei replied. His tone was calm, but his words carried weight. For most, such a book would be worth entire kingdoms. For him, it meant little—he had already memorized and surpassed most of its content.

Mei Lian's eyes flickered with surprise. For a moment, even she hesitated. One or two Tier Nine recipes were treasures; a hundred was beyond imagination.

Then, a small smile curved her lips. "You're either mad or magnificent," she said softly. "But I'll take your offer."

Mei Lian's laughter softened, and then she reached into her sleeve. From within, she drew out an amulet—a deep crimson jade etched with spiraling runes that pulsed faintly with life. When it caught the light, it looked as if a drop of molten sunset had been trapped inside.

"Then let's make it official," she said. "This will mark our pact."

Tian Lei's eyes flicked toward it; he recognized the faint ripple of karmic resonance. It wasn't a trinket—it was a vow seal, bound by intent. She pressed her fingertip against the jade, letting a thread of her qi infuse it. The artifact flared briefly, forming a mirrored rune upon his own wrist.

"I'll meet you outside," she continued, her voice low and clear. "And make sure you keep your promise, Tian Lei. If you don't… I'll come for you myself."

He inclined his head, a trace of amusement ghosting his lips. "If you do, I'll take that as my second trial."

Mei Lian smirked, eyes glinting with mischief one last time before her form began to shimmer, fading into motes of gold as she was ejected from the Trial World.

Silence fell again, broken only by the slow hum of the alchemical formations surrounding him.

Tian Lei exhaled softly. "Fine," he murmured. "She came to me willingly—so I'll accept the cost."

His gaze dropped to the symbol glowing faintly on his wrist before fading away. Then, with his customary calm, he straightened his robes, adjusted his sleeve, and turned toward the inner sanctum.

Moments later, a phantom attendant—one of the trial's ancient constructs—appeared, its translucent form bowing slightly.

"Honored champion," it said, voice like wind brushing over glass. "Follow me. The Inner Constellation awaits."

Tian Lei nodded once, his steps measured and deliberate as he followed.

The phantom's light dimmed as Tian Lei stepped through the archway. In the blink of an eye, the world folded.

When the glow subsided, he stood within the Inner Courtyard of the Sect—a serene expanse ringed by floating terraces and ancient cauldrons that hung in midair like miniature suns. Spiraling inscriptions carved themselves along the walls, faintly whispering the laws of flame and essence.

A voice greeted him as soon as he took his second step.

"To enter the Core Court, one must refine twelve Tier Six alchemy pills," the construct announced. "You have limited time. The senior adjudicators will decide your eligibility, Tian Lei."

Then, without another word, the phantom dissolved into mist.

Tian Lei exhaled through his nose. "So this is the next phase—transitioning into the Core Sect, huh?" His lips twitched into a faint, sardonic smile. "Well, that settles the path ahead. Time to start grinding like hell."