The Rich Cultivator

Chapter 774: 774. Pill Dao Convention

"Wow, Boss... I didn’t know you were a pill master too."

Jack Nelson looked at Tyler with unconcealed admiration. From what he knew, Tyler had joined the Formation Hall only a few days ago, yet now he was registering for the Pill Dao Convention. In his eyes, only someone proficient in alchemy would dare step onto that stage.

Tyler simply smiled and shook his head.

"I’m not a pill master. I’m only a formation master."

Jack blinked. He instinctively looked toward Lee, Louch, Maximus and Shyla, hoping someone would explain, but all four had already covered their faces with masks. Even the skeleton standing behind Shyla wore a crude cloth over its skull, making it impossible to read anyone’s expression.

"...Then why are you entering the Pill Dao Convention?" Jack couldn’t help asking.

"You’ll know soon enough."

Seeing Tyler refuse to elaborate, Jack could only suppress his curiosity. Ever since meeting this young man, he had realized Tyler enjoyed revealing answers only after everyone had guessed wrongly first.

The Pill Dao Convention occupied the largest square in the center of Schez Town. By the time they arrived, the place was already packed with people. A circular arena had been set up in the middle, with rows of refining stations prepared for the contestants. Around the arena stood countless spectators, while merchants had already occupied every corner, selling pills, herbs, medicinal furnaces, talismans and refreshments. The atmosphere was lively enough that Maximus couldn’t help looking around with shining eyes.

"So many people..."

"Naturally." Jack smiled. "Cultivators may not understand alchemy, but everyone needs pills. Whether it’s for cultivation, healing, or recovering spiritual energy, pills are indispensable. Watching pill masters compete is much more interesting than watching people simply swing swords."

As they continued walking, someone suddenly bumped into Tyler’s shoulder.

"Watch where you’re going."

The familiar voice made everyone turn.

Dave.

The disciples of the Sun Dial Sect followed behind him, all wearing orange robes embroidered with a blazing sun and a sundial.

Lee’s face immediately darkened.

"These fellows again..."

His hand had already clenched into a fist before Louch quietly caught his wrist.

"Leave it."

One of Dave’s junior brothers puffed out his chest and shouted toward the crowd.

"Make way! Our Senior Brother Dave is participating in today’s Pill Dao Convention."

People reluctantly stepped aside.

Dave glanced sideways at Tyler before curling his lips into a faint smile.

"I thought the Dark Forest Society only knew how to play with corpses. Didn’t expect you people would come to watch pill refining too."

Tyler didn’t even spare him a glance.

He simply walked past as though he hadn’t heard a thing.

Dave stood there for a second before clicking his tongue.

"...Cowards."

He lowered his voice so only his companions could hear.

"See? They’re scared of us. Let’s keep trying this trick on the others."

With that, he swaggered away, deliberately bumping into several more cultivators. Some glared at him, while others chose to swallow their anger after seeing the robes of the Sun Dial Sect.

"What an annoying fellow," Maximus muttered.

"He’ll eventually offend the wrong person," Shyla said calmly.

Tyler merely smiled.

"People like him don’t learn until someone stronger teaches them."

Soon they arrived at the registration desk.

Tyler handed over his registration slip.

The disciple responsible quickly checked it before nodding.

"White Aspirants... representing the Dark Forest Society."

He stamped the jade token and pointed toward one of the empty refining platforms.

"Platform Twenty-Seven."

Tyler nodded and walked toward his assigned position while the others found seats among the audience.

Before long, a middle-aged man wearing crimson robes stepped onto the central stage. His voice, strengthened by spiritual energy, spread across the entire square.

"My name is Qin Zhao, today’s chief judge."

The noisy crowd gradually quietened.

"I won’t waste everyone’s time with lengthy introductions."

He waved his sleeve.

Several attendants carried a small jade box onto the stage before placing it on a stone pedestal. A crimson silk cloth covered the box completely.

"I believe everyone is more interested in this year’s reward."

The crowd immediately became restless.

For the past several days, rumors about the grand prize had spread throughout Schez Town, yet nobody knew what it actually was.

Qin Zhao smiled before slowly removing the silk cloth.

Inside the jade box rested a small crystal bottle filled with golden liquid. Even from dozens of meters away, everyone could feel an astonishingly pure spiritual aura radiating from it.

Someone immediately cried out.

"Holy Water of Qianyang!"

The entire square erupted.

Even many older cultivators who had merely come to watch couldn’t remain calm anymore.

Jack Nelson sucked in a cold breath.

"So they actually brought it..."

Tyler turned slightly.

"You know it?"

Jack nodded.

"The Sacred Dan School possesses an ancient sacred pond. It dried up long ago, but every so often a tiny amount of Holy Water of Qianyang condenses inside it. It’s incredibly precious."

Beside him, even Shyla stared fixedly at the crystal bottle.

"If that bottle is full..."

She silently calculated for a moment.

"...There should be thirty-six drops."

Tyler raised an eyebrow.

"So?"

"So what?" Shyla almost laughed. "One drop contains roughly the cultivation gained from one month of normal meditation. Thirty-six drops... that’s three years of cultivation."

Even Tyler couldn’t help looking at the bottle again.

Three years.

No wonder everyone looked ready to fight over it.

Qin Zhao patiently waited until the discussions quietened before continuing.

"That’s right."

"There are exactly thirty-six drops of Holy Water of Qianyang."

He slowly swept his gaze across every contestant.

"Whoever wins today’s Pill Dao Convention..."

"...will take it all."

The square instantly became filled with determination.

Several contestants who had looked relaxed earlier suddenly wore solemn expressions.

Qin Zhao nodded in satisfaction before raising his hand once more.

"The inspection begins."

"All contestants, place your pill cauldrons on your refining platforms."

The attendants quickly spread out across the arena, moving from one refining platform to another. Their task was simple. Every pill cauldron had to be inspected before the competition officially began. It wasn’t to prevent cheating, but to make sure no participant brought an excessively powerful cauldron that would give an unfair advantage.

One after another, bronze, black iron and jade pill cauldrons appeared on the platforms. Some were covered in ancient engravings while others carried the marks of famous alchemists. Every time an attendant nodded in approval, the contestant quietly put the cauldron back in place and waited.

Soon, the attendant assigned to Tyler arrived.

She glanced at the empty platform before looking back at him.

"Your pill cauldron?"

Tyler nodded, reached into his storage bag and carefully took out a large object wrapped in thick cloth. He gently placed it on the stone platform.

The attendant frowned.

The shape was... strange.

Every other contestant had taken out a round cauldron with three legs. Tyler’s object looked more like a rectangular cabinet than a furnace.

She hesitated before lifting a corner of the cloth.

Her eyes immediately widened.

She stared at him. Then she looked back at the strange object.

"...You refine pills with this?"

Tyler nodded seriously.

"Yes."

The attendant suddenly wasn’t sure whether this young man was joking with her or not.

"...Please wait."

She lowered the cloth again and hurried toward the chief judge.

Qin Zhao was discussing the competition rules with several elders when she arrived.

"Chief Judge."

"Hm?"

"There is... a small situation."

"What happened?"

"A contestant brought a very strange pill cauldron."

Qin Zhao didn’t even raise his head.

"Does it violate the rules?"

"I... don’t think so."

"Is it some ancient treasure?"

"I don’t think that’s the case either."

"Then what’s the problem?"

The attendant hesitated before answering honestly.

"...I’ve never seen anything like it."

Qin Zhao finally looked at her.

"You talk like you already seen the whole world."

He waved his hand impatiently.

"If it isn’t against the rules, approve it. We’ve already delayed the competition long enough."

"...Yes."

The attendant could only bow before returning.

When she reached Tyler’s platform, she nodded awkwardly.

"It has been approved."

"Thank you."