Chapter 1238: Don’t Belittle Yourself
The heavenly tribulation came once again, and it was obvious what kind of tribulation this was. It was a pill tribulation, and the only one still refining a pill was Gu Shuyuan. She had already taken some distance from her cauldron when the heavenly lightning finally struck it.
The lightning possessed the same power as the one that had struck Derek’s pill, and the heavens unleashed three heavenly lightning strikes before the dark clouds dissipated.
After the heavenly tribulation disappeared, Gu Shuyuan quickly opened the lid of her cauldron. At that moment, another pill fragrance spread across the stadium.
The aroma was slightly stronger than Derek’s pill, and it even gave any immortals who inhaled it the sensation that their souls had become much stronger.
Everyone was astonished by it, and they wondered what kind of pill Gu Shuyuan had created.
Aldrian, who saw the end product, nodded in approval.
’The winner has already been decided,’ he thought.
Derek, who saw it as well, was surprised, and he understood that Gu Shuyuan had truly succeeded in creating that pill. From its fragrance, he immediately recognized what pill she had created.
He had already expected her to take advantage of her special flame’s properties, which enhanced the quality of pills with yin attributes.
However, he did not expect her to choose one of the most challenging pills for this competition, and he knew that the championship would not automatically fall into his hands. He still needed to see the quality of the pill.
Gu Shuyuan took a pill out, and a white pill with four purple stripes came into everyone’s view.
The moment Derek saw it, he gritted his teeth as he realized that the winner had already been decided.
The judges who came to assess the pill showed amazement and nodded in approval, while the spectators discussed the pill among themselves.
"That is the Rejuvenating Soul Pill. A pill capable of healing soul injuries. Even if it is not used for healing, the pill can strengthen the soul, making the souls of immortals more durable. With such excellent quality, I’m afraid even low Immortal Saint cultivators would want to get their hands on it," one of the alchemist spectators commented.
For immortals, the stronger their soul, the greater their chance of survival. Not only could it strengthen some of their techniques, but it could also help them if something happened to their physical body.
"The winner has already been decided. Although Young Master Derek’s pill is great, Miss Gu’s pill is much more complex and far more difficult to create. Pills that affect the soul are among the hardest pills to refine." Another said.
"I agree. To think that Gu Shuyuan dared to attempt refining a pill that is usually created by Immortal Overlords or even Immortal Saints. That special flame of hers is practically a cheat when it comes to creating pills with yin properties, especially pills that affect the soul."
Murmurs filled with amazement resounded throughout the spectator area. Once they learned what kind of pill Gu Shuyuan had refined, they knew that the winner had already been decided.
The judges did not take much time to discuss the results before immediately passing their decision to Lan Jingyi. Her voice soon resounded across the stadium once again.
"We have finally reached the end of the alchemy competition, and wow! We have truly been treated to an exciting spectacle as the geniuses of our Eastern Region gave their all to create the best pills they could think of in pursuit of the title of the greatest alchemist in this competition."
Her gaze swept across the stadium.
"Now that we have reached the end of the alchemy competition, we will finally learn who will ascend the throne as the greatest alchemist in this grand tournament."
There was already no suspense left as everyone knew who the winner was.
"The judges have unanimously decided that the champion of this year’s grand tournament alchemy competition is... Gu Shuyuan! The genius of the Gu Family! She has taken the title of best alchemist from Derek Avenbourn, who claimed the title ten years ago!" Lan Jingyi continued.
Boisterous cheers immediately erupted from the spectators.
Their cheers echoed for tens of kilometers beyond the stadium.
Derek, who had already accepted his defeat, released a sigh and walked away. Gu Shuyuan smirked as she watched him leave before being greeted by her family.
"With the announcement of the winner of the alchemy competition, we conclude the first day of the great tournament. We will take a break until tomorrow, when we will witness another competition in the forging category. Maintain your enthusiasm, for we will see many surprises tomorrow! See you again tomorrow!" Lan Jingyi’s voice echoed throughout the stadium.
Not long after, the people started to leave the stadium while still discussing what they had seen in the arena.
Aldrian also returned to the inn, where Pei Lang had remained inside his room. Aldrian had already ordered him not to leave the inn until told otherwise.
He had already built a formation that covered the inn, so even karma-tracing techniques could not track Pei Lang’s whereabouts.
After arriving at the inn, Aldrian knocked on Pei Lang’s door. After a few seconds, the door slowly opened, and Pei Lang peeked from inside.
The moment he realized it was Aldrian, his expression turned relieved and happy.
"Mister, you are back," he said as he opened the door wider.
Aldrian smiled and walked into the room.
"How is it? Do you feel uncomfortable staying here, or do you have anything to complain?" he asked.
"Nothing, Mister. I’m really comfortable here. How could I say that I don’t feel comfortable when I’ve never stayed in a room this nice in my entire life? Moreover, this is your arrangement. Even if there were something I didn’t like, I wouldn’t have the right to complain. You are my savior," Pei Lang said.
The room he was staying in was a luxurious room and one of the best in the inn. It was as if he had suddenly been elevated to nobility just by sleeping here.
Aldrian smiled and nodded.
"I’m glad you like it here."
Pei Lang’s gaze then turned curious.
"Uhm, Mister, what do you think about the tournament? Was it exciting?"
Aldrian shrugged.
"If you ask me, then my answer would be decent. As for exciting? Well, it wasn’t to that extent. But that’s just my opinion. For others, I know what they saw today was already exciting."
Pei Lang’s eyes glimmered.
He already knew how grand and prestigious the Great Tournament was. This was the place where all the geniuses of the Eastern Region gathered to display their skills and power.
He also wanted to see them in person within the stadium, but he could not. The tickets were far too expensive for someone of his status, and they had sold out quickly. He could only watch them through the screens placed throughout the city.
For him, watching those geniuses made him want to become like them. He also wanted to be strong like them.
They were like unreachable stars in his eyes.
Yet Aldrian had said that they were only decent and not particularly exciting.
He became even more curious about Aldrian’s background.
Aldrian did not seem to care about the taboo surrounding the Evil Gods, and he appeared extremely powerful. He had dared to offend the City Lord Manor by helping him, yet he did not seem bothered by it at all.
How could his family have any connection with someone like him?
If Aldrian was this powerful, would his life have been different if he had appeared much earlier? Would his parents still be alive today?
"I see. Mister must have already witnessed things far greater than that. As for me, I can only dream of becoming like those cultivators who appeared in the arena," Pei Lang said.
Aldrian remained silent for a moment as he looked at the longing expression on Pei Lang’s face.
"You can become like them, and even surpass them. You already possess a background that gives you the potential to reach heights far beyond theirs," Aldrian said.
Pei Lang raised his eyebrows. His heart skipped a beat.
"I could become much greater than them?" he asked.
Aldrian responded with a nod.
However, Pei Lang soon released a sigh. He thought Aldrian was merely trying to encourage him.
Seeing his expression, Aldrian knew that Pei Lang did not completely believe him. He smiled and asked,
"You don’t believe me?"
Pei Lang released another sigh.
"Well, I don’t dare doubt you, Mister Aldrian, but I just... I just think there is no way I could become greater than those geniuses who have been nurtured since they were much younger than me. They have great resources and powerful backgrounds, while I am just..." He stopped speaking and lowered his head.
Hearing his discouraging words, Aldrian continued to smile.
"Who said your background is inferior to theirs? Didn’t I tell you that you possess a background that makes it possible for you to reach heights far beyond them?"
Pei Lang lifted his head and looked at Aldrian.
"My background? Is Mister talking about the Pei Family?"
Aldrian nodded.
From his observations, it seemed that Pei Lang did not know the true worth of his family. Or perhaps his parents had already told him what kind of family they had been in the ancient past, but he simply found it difficult to believe.
In the distant past, his family had been the rulers of this realm. A noble family revered by countless people.
"Besides, the fact that you were able to cultivate much earlier than the age most people begin cultivating, despite your limitations, already shows your talent. You are fourteen years old, right? Yet you are already a Low Beginner Stage cultivator," Aldrian continued.
Pei Lang nodded, and only then did he realize it.
"See? Don’t belittle yourself too much. If most cultivators heard you talking down about yourself despite possessing such talent, many would curse you and beat you to death because they would think you were being ungrateful."
Pei Lang could not help scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.
"Father and Mother said that the Pei Family was a great family in the past. But they never explained how we ended up like this whenever I asked them, which made me quite doubtful of what they said."
Aldrian’s expression became calmer.
After a few moments of silence, he asked,
"Your father and mother... what happened to them, if I may ask?"
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