Novel Full Chapter 1098 - 1098: Alchemy Clouds!
“Begin!”
Vice Matriarch Kim’s voice cracked across the courtyard like a whip. At once, fifty-three cauldrons flared to life, and the trial of the Nine Lotus Bewitching Potion began.
Flames of every hue burst forth—scarlet infernos, icy-blue sparks, emerald beast-fires, even shimmering golden phoenix flames. The courtyard blazed with heat, the scent of herbs rising in thick waves. Disciples hunched over their cauldrons, brows furrowed in concentration, their hands moving in practiced rhythms.
From his high seat on the dais, the Yellow Blossom River Prince leaned forward slightly, his sharp eyes following the play of light across the courtyard. His voice was calm, but there was an undertone of hunger. “That boy—whose serpent fire writhes beneath his cauldron?”
The servant beside him bowed. “Your Highness, that is Yun Fei. His clan breeds flame-serpents. The fire is steady, though it often burns too hot.”
The prince gave a soft hum, already shifting his gaze. “And that golden-white fire, shaped like wings?”
The servant quickly answered. “That is Lady Ruo. She is bonded to a phoenix hatchling, Prince. The beast lends its flames directly. Few can endure such a fire without collapse. Her skill is… exceptional.”
The phoenix shrieked at that moment, its wings spreading as if in agreement, its flames roaring higher. Murmurs of awe spread through the courtyard.
Then the prince’s eyes narrowed slightly, falling upon a lone cauldron glowing with a pale, golden hue. Its flame gave no smoke, no roar, only a steady whisper that pulsed faintly, almost like a heartbeat. “And him? That flame—what is it?”
The servant hesitated, then stammered, “I… cannot say, Your Highness. It does not match any beast-fire, nor the pill flames taught in the Academy.”
An elder quickly stepped forward, bowing. “Forgive this one, Prince. That is Kent King—he won the Golden Heir Tournament and was granted entry to our Academy. But he is new, inexperienced. Potion-making is not his strength. Please, do not waste your gaze on him.”
The prince’s expression was unreadable, though his eyes lingered on Kent for a breath longer. Then he leaned back, gesturing instead toward Lady Ruo. “Very well. Watch the phoenix flame. Her control is… promising.”
Cheers rose from Lady Ruo’s supporters, while sneers curled the lips of those beside Kent.
“He doesn’t even fan his fire properly.”
“Look at that cauldron—old, patched, disgraceful.”
“A Golden Heir, carrying the furnace of a beggar.”
Yet Kent ignored them. His focus was absolute.
Where others placed ingredients in neat lacquered trays, he scattered his lotuses across a rough circle, each one linked by faint threads of Nirvana Flame. Where others roared their fire beneath the cauldron, he pressed his palm to its bronze rim, letting his flame seep in like a pulse, slow and steady.
The Nirvana Flame was unlike anything in the courtyard. It did not scorch—it persuaded. Frost-Petal Lotus melted gently, releasing its essence without losing clarity. Shade-Lotus, prone to collapse into smoke, was held whole, its veins unraveling like silk under his careful touch. Moon-Seal Lotus shimmered as its fragrance bloomed, guided not by brute heat but by resonance.
To the eyes of the crowd, it looked absurd.
“He’s petting the cauldron like a madman.”
“Throwing herbs in without scales or measures—he’ll poison himself.”
“Just wait, his furnace will explode before noon.”
But to those who could listen, there was a faint sound—like a soft hum, the cauldron answering its master’s heartbeat.
Beside him, Lady Ruo’s phoenix screamed again, fanning fire into a whirlpool of gold. Her attendants whispered with delight.
“Magnificent! Even her beast obeys her rhythm.”
“She will win, without doubt.”
The crowd’s eyes fixed on her brilliance, ignoring Kent completely.
Then, the air shifted.
A ripple passed across the sky. Slowly, thick dark clouds began to form above the mountain. They coiled, heavy and pregnant with storm. The courtyard erupted in gasps.
“Alchemy clouds!”
“Heavens! A sign of a potion beyond mastery!”
“To form clouds during brewing—this means someone is creating a pill of true perfection!”
Elders straightened, their gazes sharp, murmurs spreading even among the high seats. Vice Matriarch Kim herself looked startled, though her face quickly hardened again.
The Yellow Blossom River Prince’s expression changed at last. His lips curved faintly, relief flashing in his eyes. “Good. This is the sign I awaited. Someone here will give me the potion I require.”
The courtyard buzzed with speculation. Heads turned, searching. Who could be the one stirring the heavens?
All eyes fixed almost instantly on Lady Ruo. Her phoenix blazed like a miniature sun, its shrieks piercing the clouds themselves. Her cauldron shone gold, her hair fluttering in the heat like a halo.
“It must be her.”
“No one else burns with such brilliance.”
“The heavens answer Lady Ruo!”
Even the elders nodded faintly, their gazes admiring.
Kent remained still. His flame burned quiet, unseen, his hand pressed steady to the rim of the battered cauldron. The herbs dissolved in perfect harmony, though none watching could understand the simplicity of his process.
The minutes stretched. The cauldrons across the courtyard roared louder, steam rising, fragrances mingling until the air was thick with sweetness. Then—
CRACK.
The heavens split. A single streak of blinding light ripped down from the clouds, striking the earth like a divine blade. It fell not upon Lady Ruo’s cauldron—but upon Kent’s.
For a heartbeat, silence ruled.
Then gasps tore through the courtyard.
“What—!?”
“The heavenly light… on him?!”
“It struck that cauldron?!”
The battered bronze furnace glowed under the light, its ancient dragon-carvings flaring with power. The Nirvana Flame blazed brighter than ever, steady and silent, its song filling the courtyard like the pulse of the earth.
The Yellow Blossom River Prince shot to his feet, eyes sharp, astonished. “That flame… that is no ordinary fire.”
The alchemy clouds churned thicker, lightning dancing within them as though the heavens themselves had chosen their alchemist.
Every gaze, every whisper, every breath in the courtyard turned toward Kent.
A strange hope filled the heart of the prince who stood up eagerly.