Grassroots Travel: The Star Lord of Another World

Chapter 179 The Twists and Turns of the Star Road

The night was deep, and the stars dotted the dark blue sky like diamonds, as if silently watching the upcoming event in the Nine Star Realm. Since leaving that night, Fairy Zhao has been living in seclusion and practicing with all her heart. She was filled with rage, and vowed to wash away the shame at the Star Alchemy Conference and trample Gao Xingchen under her feet.

Gao Xingchen also entered the final sprint stage. He practiced hard day and night, and his alchemy skills improved day by day, and his control over fire became more and more perfect. Nan Li accompanied him silently, cheering him up, adding fragrance to his sleeves, and occasionally giving him some pointers. The relationship between the two also deepened during this period of common struggle.

Finally, the much-anticipated Star Alchemy Conference kicked off. Alchemy geniuses from all over the Nine Star Realm gathered together, ready to show their strength at this grand event and compete for the highest honor.

Gao Xingchen and Nan Li walked into the venue side by side, immediately attracting countless eyes. Gao Xingchen was handsome and imposing, while Nan Li was extremely beautiful and had a cold temperament. The two of them stood together, like a perfect couple, making people envious.

The competition was intense and fierce, with contestants showing off their skills and transforming various rare medicinal materials into magical elixirs in their hands. Gao Xingchen, with his superb alchemy skills and precise control of flames, made it through all the levels and successfully entered the finals.

However, the arrangement of fate is always full of drama. In the final, Gao Xingchen's opponent turned out to be the genius alchemist from Yaowang Valley - Pharmacist Sun. Pharmacist Sun was born in a famous family, was gifted, and had received the top alchemy training since childhood, and his strength was unfathomable.

After the competition began, Pharmacist Sun showed amazing strength. His technique was skillful and smooth, and every step was extremely precise, as if he had been tempered a thousand times. Soon, a furnace of elixirs with a strong medicinal fragrance was refined. After tasting the elixirs, the judges nodded in admiration and praised Pharmacist Sun's alchemy skills.

Gao Xingchen felt unprecedented pressure, but he did not panic because of it. Instead, he devoted himself to refining the elixir more calmly. He took a deep breath, put all distracting thoughts behind him, formed seals with his hands, activated the elixir fire, and began to refine the elixir he had carefully prepared.

Time passed by minute by minute, and beads of sweat gradually oozed out of Gao Xingchen's forehead, but he still concentrated on controlling the Dan Fire and did not dare to relax at all. At this moment, an accident happened...

Gao Xingchen's alchemy furnace suddenly trembled violently, and the furnace wall turned an abnormal red color, as if it would explode in the next second. The originally docile alchemy fire was now as wild and restless as a wild horse, emitting bursts of heart-pounding roars.

"what happened?"

"There seems to be something wrong with Gao Xingchen's alchemy furnace!"

The crowd watching the game below the stage was suddenly in an uproar, and there were many discussions. Several masters on the judges' bench also showed surprised expressions. They were all experienced alchemy masters, and they could naturally see the dilemma that Gao Xingchen was facing at the moment.

Gao Xingchen's face became extremely solemn, and beads of sweat kept rolling down his forehead. He clenched his teeth and quickly changed various complicated seals with his hands, trying to control the out-of-control fire. However, no matter how hard he tried, the temperature of the furnace continued to rise, and it was about to reach the critical point.

"Brother Xingchen!" Nan Li shouted anxiously from the audience. She could feel the tremendous pressure Gao Xingchen was under at the moment, but she was powerless. A powerful barrier was set up around the arena, isolating all mental connections. She could only watch Gao Xingchen fall into trouble.

"Boy, it looks like your luck has run out!" Pharmacist Sun stood aside with a grim smile on his face. He had long seen that although Gao Xingchen's alchemy skills were exquisite, his foundation was not solid enough. Once he encountered an emergency, he would easily lose his composure.

Xiao Hei paced back and forth anxiously at Nan Li's feet. It also sensed Gao Xingchen's danger and wanted to rush onto the stage to help, but was held tightly in Nan Li's arms.

"Xiao Hei, don't be impulsive. Going up now will only cause trouble!" Nanli said softly, but her heart was also full of worry and uneasiness.

As time passed, Gao Xingchen's face became paler and paler, but he still did not give up. He kept trying various methods to try to turn the tide. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration came to his mind, and he remembered an emergency method that Elder Li had taught him...

Gao Xingchen closed his eyes tightly, trying to recall what Elder Li had taught him. Elder Li once said that in the process of alchemy, only by calming down and concentrating one's mind can one see through everything and resolve crises. He took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and focused all his attention on the alchemy furnace.

He abandoned the complicated seals and used the simplest method to control the fire. He carefully divided the fire into dozens of strands, which respectively wrapped around each spiritual herb in the furnace, using a method that was almost like "nurturing" to refine the medicinal power in them.

The whole process seemed slow, but it contained a unique rhythm, as if playing an ancient ballad. Gradually, the vibration of the furnace began to weaken, the violent fire became docile, and the red color on the furnace wall gradually faded and returned to normal.

"Huh..." Gao Xingchen let out a long breath, a tired smile on his face. He finally resolved the crisis. Although the process was thrilling, it also gave him a deeper understanding of the art of alchemy.

However, just when he thought he could breathe a sigh of relief, a strong aroma of elixir suddenly came from the next stage. Gao Xingchen was startled and looked up, only to see a golden elixir the size of a longan slowly rotating above Pharmacist Sun's elixir furnace, emitting a dazzling light.

"This is... a top-grade elixir!" A master on the judges' panel couldn't help but exclaimed.

"Top-grade elixir? Pharmacist Sun actually refined a top-grade elixir!" The crowd watching the fight below the stage suddenly went wild with discussions rising one after another.

Gao Xingchen's face became extremely solemn. He knew what a top-grade elixir meant. This meant that Pharmacist Sun had an absolute advantage in this competition. Unless he could refine an elixir that was more precious than a top-grade elixir, there was no hope of winning.

However, with his current strength, it is almost impossible to refine a pill that is more precious than the top-grade elixir. Is he going to give up like this? No, he is unwilling to do so!

Gao Xingchen clenched his fists, and a gleam of determination flashed in his eyes. He knew that in order to win the competition, he had to take the risk of trying a new method of alchemy, which meant that he had to take huge risks, but in order to win and to prove himself, he was willing to give it all!

A feeling of powerlessness surged into his heart like a tide, Gao Xingchen clenched his teeth, he knew he was in a desperate situation. A top-grade elixir, that was an elixir that only a fourth-grade alchemist could make! He was only a second-grade alchemist now, even if he tried his best, he couldn't cross this gap.

"Am I really going to lose?" Gao Xingchen's heart was full of bitterness. He was unwilling, but helpless.

"No, there must be another chance!" At this moment, Nan Li's cold voice rang in his ears, "Xingchen, do you still remember the 'Nine-turn Alchemy Technique' I taught you?"

Gao Xingchen raised his head suddenly, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. The Nine-Turn Alchemy Technique was a mysterious alchemy technique taught to him by Nan Li. It was said that it could greatly improve the quality of elixirs and even turn decayed things into magic.

"But the Nine-Turn Alchemy Technique is too profound. I have only grasped the basics so far and cannot use it in actual combat at all." Gao Xingchen said hesitantly.

"No, you have already mastered the most crucial part," Nan Li's voice was full of confidence, "Believe me, you can do it!"

Gao Xingchen took a deep breath, and a trace of determination flashed in his eyes. He knew that this was his last chance! He no longer hesitated and placed all his hopes on the Nine Revolutions Alchemy Technique.

He quickly formed seals with both hands, and mysterious runes flew out from his fingertips and merged into the alchemy furnace. At the same time, he mobilized all the spiritual power in his body and injected it into the alchemy furnace frantically.

The furnace began to vibrate violently, making a series of humming sounds, as if it could explode at any time. Gao Xingchen's forehead was covered with beads of sweat, and his face was as pale as paper, but he still gritted his teeth and persisted, not daring to relax at all.

Time passed by minute by minute, and the competition was nearing its end, but there was still no movement in Gao Xingchen's alchemy furnace.

"Haha, Gao Xingchen, just admit defeat. There's no way you can beat me!" Pharmacist Sun's smug voice sounded in his ears, full of sarcasm and disdain.

Gao Xingchen turned a deaf ear to him, his eyes fixed on the alchemy furnace, with a crazy light flashing in his eyes. He knew that success or failure depended on this one move!

Just before the end of the game, Gao Xingchen suddenly pressed his hands hard on the alchemy furnace. A powerful spiritual power wave burst out from his body, instantly sweeping the entire arena.