The next moment.
In a corner of the System space, a jade pot with an ancient design and cloud-dream patterns carved on its body quietly appeared.
"This Great Dream Immortal Brew should be the ultimate version of the 'millennium dream'. Gu Chen must have obtained the original by chance."
Han Xuanji understood, feeling that this act of kindness was subtly done.
Gu Chen did not notice Han Xuanji's momentary abnormality. He carefully took out a translucent jade cup and looked at Han Xuanji expectantly.
Han Xuanji smiled slightly, took out the dark green gourd again, and with a slight activation of his Immortal Power, ten drops of deep-colored liquor accurately fell into the jade cup. A strange fragrance briefly filled the air again, making Gu Chen close his eyes in intoxication, carefully holding the jade cup as if it were the most precious treasure in the world.
"Thank you, little friend! Thank you, little friend!"
Gu Chen repeatedly expressed his gratitude, his excitement evident.
"In the future, if little friend ever needs anything, just say the word, and Gu Chen will do his best!"
"From now on, you are a honored guest of this Hundred Flavors Immortal Brew Workshop, or this place can be given to little friend. Of course, this is just a token of my regard, and does not count as part of our agreement."
"No need."
Han Xuanji nodded:
"It's good if Senior likes it. I won't bother you further today."
"I will see little friend out!"
Gu Chen said quickly.
Han Xuanji, however, waved his hand:
"No need to see me off."
With that, his figure moved slightly, and he gracefully left the Myriad Immortals Wine Cellar. In a few steps, he disappeared into the sky and cloud shadows outside the Immortal Workshop, as if he had never appeared.
Gu Chen stood rooted to the spot, looking in the direction Han Xuanji had left, then lowered his head to look at the ten drops of Immortal Brew in the jade cup. After a long while, he sighed deeply, his tone full of emotion:
"To think I could see such an Immortal Brew, it truly is a stroke of luck. This old man must go into secluded cultivation to comprehend it!"
Han Xuanji, having left the Immortal Brew Workshop, was now strolling amidst the clouds.
He sensed the newly acquired Great Dream Immortal Brew in his Magic Treasure, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Cultivating in a dream, a millennium in the blink of an eye?
That certainly saved a lot of time and effort.
For him, exchanging ten drops for a pot was a huge profit, wasn't it?
Han Xuanji returned to the Myriad Phenomena Garden. The room was quiet and serene, with only Spiritual Qi transforming into mist, swirling and flowing, reflecting the faint glow of the natural fluorite on the four walls, like a galaxy inverted.
He sat down peacefully on the meditation cushion. With a thought, the Great Dream Immortal Brew appeared in his hand.
The jade pot was ancient and cool to the touch. The patterns on its body seemed to flow slowly, containing an ineffable profound truth.
He pulled out the stopper, and no strong aroma of wine escaped. Instead, an extremely peculiar, ethereal aura that seemed to draw in the Divine Soul permeated the air, causing the surrounding light to subtly warp.
Han Xuanji did not hesitate. He tilted the pot slightly, and the liquor, clear as water yet faintly reflecting myriad light points, slid down his throat.
Upon entering his throat, the liquor had none of the usual Immortal Brew's fiery intensity or sweetness. Instead, it was like a cool spring, instantly flowing into his limbs and bones, rushing directly to his Divine Soul's Sea of Consciousness.
In an instant, Han Xuanji felt his mind gently sway, as if breaking free from some invisible shackles and leaping into a kaleidoscopic, beginningless and endless illusory realm of the Great Void.
Countless scenes surged forth like a mighty river.
At times, he transformed into an ancient Immortal Lord, performing Divine Abilities at the dawn of creation; at other times, he became a mortal scholar, studying diligently in poverty, experiencing the myriad facets of the world; and at still other times, he was like an ancient towering tree, silently observing the passage of time, feeling the Dao of growth and decay of plants and trees…
A millennium in a dream, myriad Reincarnations.
His Immortal Power circulated on its own in the dream, refining and condensing at a speed far exceeding his usual pace by thousands of times.
His understanding of various Laws of heaven and earth, especially those related to "illusion and reality," "time," and "Reincarnation," progressed at an unprecedented rate.
The profound scriptures of the Wanxiang Saint Classic autonomously appeared in Han Xuanji's mind, each word a pearl, verifying each other with the myriad insights gained in the great dream, sparking countless flashes of wisdom.
In reality, the Immortal Cave remained silent.
Han Xuanji's aura surged dramatically, vast as a sea of stars, and a certain transformation was taking place within his Divine Soul.
It was unknown how much time had passed, perhaps only an instant, or perhaps several days.
"Om…"
A faint Dao resonance emanated from within him, clear and melodious, purifying his Divine Soul.
Han Xuanji slowly opened his eyes. In their depths, myriad births and deaths seemed to occur, ultimately settling into a profound tranquility.
True Immortal Realm Fourth Layer.
It happened naturally, without any hindrance.
The miraculous effect of the Great Dream Immortal Brew, while not saving him a millennium of arduous cultivation, significantly boosted his Dao cultivation, as if he had cultivated for several decades, directly reaching the True Immortal Fourth Layer, which is the Middle Stage of True Immortal.
This was normal; a millennium in a dream didn't directly add a millennium of cultivation to him.
The effects were all different for each person.
The wine's effect was more about tempering the Dao Heart and comprehending the Great Dao, particularly the understanding of illusion and reality, time and eternity.
These were invaluable experiences that were difficult to obtain even with a millennium of arduous cultivation.
"A millennium in a dream, a fleeting moment. This wine is indeed profound."
Han Xuanji nodded slightly.
However, after drinking this wine once, its effect would be greatly diminished if consumed again; otherwise, it would truly be invincible.
…
Time flew by; thirteen years were but a blink of an eye for a Cultivator in the Immortal Realm.
The Dan Meridian Grand Competition arrived as scheduled.
Han Xuanji opened his eyes, his cultivation having advanced to the True Immortal Sixth Layer.
On this day.
The floating Immortal Mountain cluster where the Lingxu Heavenly Palace's Dan Meridian was located was exceptionally lively.
Above the central "Pill Cauldron Immortal Platform," it was already bustling with people and bathed in myriad rays of auspicious light.
The Immortal Platform was immensely wide, paved with white jade, surrounded by seventy-two golden Dragon pillars, from whose tops auspicious clouds and propitious Qi billowed.
Dozens of huge water mirror Magic Treasures floated above, which would clearly display the details of each Alchemy platform.
Guests from all sides, Sect Elders, and Disciples from various peaks gathered here, some riding clouds, some riding cranes, some sitting peacefully in the pre-arranged viewing seats. Their conversations intertwined, creating an extremely lively atmosphere.
The Alchemy Grand Competition was a grand event for the Dan Meridian, concerning the allocation of resources and the prestige of each peak for the next hundred years. Therefore, all peaks sent out their elites.
One after another, Alchemy Geniuses who were rarely seen on ordinary days appeared, drawing gasps of admiration and discussion.
"That's Senior Brother Ji from Scarlet Sun Peak. It's said that he's already close to being a Four-Revolutions Alchemist…"
"Oh? Is that Junior Martial Uncle Su Ming? He actually came too!"
"I heard it's to respond to the challenge from Senior Brother Zhao of Saint Forest Peak…"
"Tsk tsk, now we'll have a good show!"
Su Ming's appearance undoubtedly caused the biggest sensation.
He stood calmly at the front of the Purple Firmament Peak Disciples' queue, seemingly oblivious to the surrounding discussions, his demeanor composed.
When Zhao Yuan saw Su Ming, his Battle Intent grew even stronger, and a confident smile played on his lips.
On the high platform, the Elders of the Dan Meridian, and even several Peak Masters, had already taken their seats, their auras profound, overseeing the entire scene.
Yunmiao Xianjun was also among them, his expression serene. His gaze occasionally swept across the platform below, pausing slightly on Su Ming, then seemingly inadvertently glancing in the direction of a certain viewing platform, a faint smile on his lips.
"Time's up!"
An Elder presiding over the Grand Competition spoke with a voice like a great bell, resounding throughout the venue and instantly quieting all the noise.
"This session of the Dan Meridian Grand Competition officially begins! Disciples from each peak, enter your Alchemy platforms!"
As his voice fell, streams of light flew towards the designated areas in the center of the Immortal Platform, each selecting a jade platform that already had a unified Pill Furnace prepared.
Su Ming, Zhao Yuan, Ji Tianxing, and other highly anticipated True Disciples from various peaks naturally occupied the most conspicuous positions.
The rules of the Grand Competition were simple: three rounds of trials, testing fire control, purification, and pill formation, with the final ranking determined by overall performance.
The types of Medicinal Pills to be refined ranged from easy to difficult, and all Materials were uniformly provided by the Sect to ensure maximum fairness.
The first round: Fire Control and Material Refining.
It required perfectly refining dozens of Spiritual Materials with different attributes within a specified time using specific techniques, without any damage.
Immediately, various colored flames rose from each Alchemy platform, some blazing like the sun, others gentle as water.
Soon, the air was filled with the unique aromas released as various Spiritual Materials were refined.
Su Ming's technique was smooth and flowing. With a slight release of Immortal Power from his fingertips, he controlled the pale purple Pill Fire as if it were an extension of his arm, precisely enveloping each Spiritual Material. The heat was perfect, yet his speed was incredibly fast, clearly indicating his ease.
Zhao Yuan was also extraordinary. His flames were emerald green, full of vitality, yet possessing a strong penetrative power, handling Spiritual Materials with a unique profoundness, and his speed was no less.
Ji Tianxing and others also displayed their Divine Abilities, drawing occasional exclamations of admiration from the viewing platform.
…
On a cloud platform.
Han Xuanji was also observing the performance of each contestant in the Grand Competition, and from time to time, he scanned the surrounding Cultivators, including the Disciples and Elders who came to watch.
When he noticed a certain figure on the viewing platform, his expression changed slightly.