"Transcendent?" Ning Xuan asked in confusion. This was a realm she had not yet encountered.

"Yes. When your Spiritual Power Level reaches SSS-level and your Companion Spirit can be fully transformed, the next stage is metamorphosis. However, that’s incredibly difficult. Over the past few thousand years, only a handful have ever reached that stage." Yan Fuzhen’s eyes were filled with yearning.

"In that case, does that mean that even if you enter the Chaotic Divine Domain, you’re not guaranteed to complete the metamorphosis, right? It must also depend on the entrant’s bloodline, aptitude, and personal opportunities. Am I right?" ’If that weren’t the case, the Chaotic Divine Domain is right there, so why would there be so few Transcendent beings?’

"Yes. Entering the Chaotic Divine Domain is just one of the necessary conditions for metamorphosis. Because it’s a prerequisite, the Guiding Key to the Chaotic Divine Domain is extremely rare. Every time one appears, it incites a scramble from all sides. This time, the Guiding Key was made the champion’s prize and put out in the open, which is why the situation inside the Lingxiao Secret Realm has become so complicated." Yan Fuzhen thought about what he had seen and heard recently. It was truly carnage everywhere. The major powers were secretly hunting down Alchemists from other factions, robbing them of the medicinal herbs they’d gathered and the medicine they’d refined. Fortunately, Ning Xuan wasn’t famous before, and her ranking on the unofficial contestant list created by those people wasn’t high, so she didn’t attract any particularly powerful assassins.

Thankfully, Ning Xuan had obediently stayed in Fog Hidden Gorge instead of wandering around. This allowed his men to focus on ambushing any threats around the gorge to protect her, giving those people no opportunity to make a move.

Ning Xuan had no idea how many people Yan Fuzhen had secretly dealt with to protect her. After hearing his explanation of the Chaotic Divine Domain, she immediately understood just how rare the Guiding Key was. She began calculating how many points she could get for the medicine in her possession. Of the top ten medicines on the scoreboard, aside from the first-ranked Mixed Element Elixir of Eternal Life, the third-ranked Concentrating Soul and Gathering Spirit Potion, and the ninth-ranked Mole Lotus Antidote Potion, she had already prepared all the others.

’To secure the championship, it would be best to prepare all three of these medicines. I’m not confident about the Mixed Element Elixir of Eternal Life for now, but I have to create the other two before the competition ends.’

With this in mind, Ning Xuan studied the formulas for these two medicines. For the Concentrating Soul and Gathering Spirit Potion, she already had two stalks of the rarest ingredient, Concentration Wood; she was only missing Heart Communication Grass. As for the Mole Lotus Antidote Potion, she was missing the main ingredient, Ink Water Lotus.

Holding her map, Ning Xuan told Yan Fuzhen that she was preparing to go out and search for the ingredients.

Ning Xuan’s decision terrified Yan Fuzhen. There were only a few days left until the end. If Ning Xuan left Fog Hidden Gorge and something happened to her out there, all their hard work would be for nothing.

Yan Fuzhen immediately asked Ning Xuan what ingredients she was looking for. When he heard which two she needed, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, the two ingredients Ning Xuan needed weren’t too hard to find. Just yesterday, they had dealt with a few assassins who had snuck into Fog Hidden Gorge. One of them had a Space Button full of medicinal herbs. Because he feared that these herbs, confiscated from defeated enemies, might have been tampered with, Yan Fuzhen always had them inspected multiple times to confirm they were safe before handing them over to Ning Xuan.

"Miss, see if there’s anything you need among these herbs." Yan Fuzhen tossed the medicinal herbs from the Space Button some distance away. Ning Xuan immediately spotted the Heart Communication Grass.

"Bring me that stalk of Heart Communication Grass," Ning Xuan ordered Yan Fuzhen, pointing to a stiff-looking plant on the floor.

"Miss, we just got the Heart Communication Grass yesterday. I’ll have my men inspect it thoroughly. If there are no problems, I’ll have it sent to you tonight," Yan Fuzhen said to Ning Xuan.

"Yes, there’s quite a bit of good stuff here. However, I’m still missing one ingredient, Ink Water Lotus. Without it, I can’t refine the Mo Lian Antidote," Ning Xuan said.

"I’ll send people to look for it right away. I’ll have an answer for you before dark. You just need to rest up and wait to perform your Alchemy." ’Yan Fuzhen was highly efficient, and he’d brought many people with him. If he was willing to search, it would certainly save her a lot of effort compared to searching herself.’

Ning Xuan agreed. As long as she could perform her Alchemy, she didn’t have to be the one to go out.

Over the next few days, Ning Xuan successfully refined both medicines. At this point, with the exception of the first-ranked Mixed Element Elixir of Eternal Life, which she still hadn’t made, she had successfully created all the others.

Ning Xuan watched as Chen Nan packed up all the furniture and decorations in the cave dwelling, storing them in a Space Button. She suddenly felt a little sentimental. ’Without realizing it, I’ve lived here for almost a month. I’m actually a little reluctant to leave this place.’

"Contractor, take a look. Is there anything else we need to bring?" Chen Nan scanned the empty cave dwelling one more time but didn’t find anything left behind.

On the final day, the Secret Realm was exceptionally quiet. Everyone was waiting for their Guiding Token to light up. Once it did, they would be teleported back to Central Star.

Fortunately, there were no mishaps during this stage. When a white light burst from the Guiding Token, Ning Xuan felt the world spin around her. When she came to her senses, she was in the main square of the Alchemist Association.

Ning Xuan had just steadied herself when she heard sorrowful weeping from nearby. Then, someone else, heedless of their image, sat on the ground and began to wail. Others were anxiously looking left and right, as if searching for someone. In short, everyone in the square had a different expression, but most of the Alchemists had either been killed or robbed. Only a few had managed to escape a grim fate.

"AHH, IT HURTS, IT HURTS! MERCY, MERCY! MY FINGER’S GOING TO BREAK!" a male Spirit Controller not far from Ning Xuan shouted loudly.

"If that hand of yours doesn’t behave, I might as well chop it off." Chen Nan had noticed the man trying to sneak closer to Ning Xuan. He immediately grabbed his shoulder and wrenched his arm back.

"I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare! I just thought this young lady looked familiar and wanted to have a word with her. How can you be so violent?" the man yelled.

"A pathetic excuse. Get lost." Chen Nan snorted and released the man.

The moment Chen Nan let go, the man staggered back two steps, but his left hand suddenly traced a bizarre arc in front of his chest.

"Watch out!" Lin Mo grabbed Ning Xuan’s wrist, pulled her behind him, and struck out with a backhand.

The man couldn’t react in time and was sent flying by Lin Mo’s palm strike. A grim smile split his lips as a cold glint flashed from his sleeve—it was a throwing knife.

Chen Nan drew the long knife from his waist to block it, and the clash of metal on metal produced a piercing sound.

Ning Xuan sidestepped Chen Nan and flicked her hand. Twelve sinister black-red vines shot toward the man. His movements were uncanny; he dodged left and right before quickly vanishing into the crowd.