Chapter 7451
The Dust Settles
"Sixty-six seconds! Master Shen's control over the spiritual flame is simply superb!"
“Aside from those few alchemy families with a thousand-year-old tradition, no one in the current Chinese alchemy world understands the fusion of ancient methods and technology better than Master Shen!”
"Just wait and see that brat kneel at the sect gate! Does he really think he can talk nonsense about the Pill Sect just because he has a little reputation? He's utterly ignorant of his own limitations!"
"This is also a good thing for the Pill Sect! I heard that kid is a specially appointed instructor of the Western Martial Arts Army. With his loss, the entire Northwest martial arts circle will have to re-evaluate the Pill Sect's worth and will no longer dare to underestimate us!"
In the VIP viewing area on the second floor, Chen Shouzhou watched Shen Moxuan's steady and smooth operation through the reinforced glass and slowly nodded.
Perhaps thoroughly provoked by Xiao Chen's arrogance, Shen Moxuan was in exceptionally high form today, completing the entire process flawlessly without a single mistake, greatly increasing his chances of directly forming the core.
He thought to himself that in recent years, the Pill Sect had focused too much on the research and development of high-end pills, which made some newly emerging forces forget that the Pill Sect was the giant that controlled the core pill formulas and monopolized the top medicinal materials.
Today, we can take advantage of this successful demonstration to give that arrogant young man another slap on the wrist and remind everyone of the prestige of the Dan Sect.
Then, his gaze swept over Xiao Chen, who was standing quietly in the corner of the lawn, and a hint of undisguised contempt flashed in his eyes.
In his view, such a young man who is arrogant and looks down on everyone just because he has some strength will sooner or later be smashed to pieces. The foundation of the Dan Sect has never been something that any young man can challenge.
Just then, a sharp metallic tremor suddenly rang out!
The sound wasn't loud, but it pierced the air on the lawn where only the low hum of the equipment could be heard, instantly shattering the surrounding admiration and discussion. All eyes were drawn as if by a magnet, focusing entirely on the radiant, shimmering spirit furnace!
The sharp-eyed guest's expression changed slightly: the pressure gauge on the side of the alchemy furnace was jumping wildly, the previously stable value suddenly soared, and the furnace itself began to vibrate at a high frequency, even the ground trembled slightly!
What's even more unsettling is that a pungent, burnt smell suddenly seeps into the crisp, medicinal aroma, growing stronger and stronger.
Shen Moxuan's face turned deathly pale!
As a top alchemist, he sensed more keenly than anyone else that the originally balanced Yin and Yang spiritual energies inside the furnace were clashing and going berserk!
Cold sweat instantly beaded on his forehead, soaking his neatly combed hair. His hands moved swiftly, forming hand seals, and his inner energy surged wildly as he tried to forcibly stabilize the fire control array within the furnace. At the same time, he abruptly pressed the emergency cooling array activation button on the control panel.
No response at all!
The entire control interface was instantly covered in red light, and a huge triangular warning symbol popped up in the center, with spiritual runes flashing rapidly below, blinding and despairing: "Spiritual power overload! Uncontrollable! Stop operation immediately!"
"Impossible... How could it be so much earlier than expected?!" Shen Moxuan exclaimed in disbelief and panic. He had calculated everything perfectly; even if there were risks, it should never have happened at this time!
Before he could think it through, a fine crack suddenly appeared on the crimson alloy furnace wall!
The cracks spread rapidly like a spider web, covering the entire furnace body in an instant. The spiritual energy reading on the monitoring screen soared wildly, exceeding the instrument's measurement limit!
The scorching, violent spiritual energy, like a ferocious beast breaking free of its shackles, crashed wildly against the furnace walls. A suffocating sense of oppression swept through the entire venue, causing the guests present to retreat in fear.
Shen Moxuan's pupils shrank suddenly, his whole body froze, and he even forgot to run away. He never thought that his proud Lingxuan Furnace would really fail at the seventy-two-second mark!
At this critical moment, Chen Shouzhou's figure in the VIP area suddenly turned into a blur, moving so fast that only a streak of blue light remained!
In an instant, he rushed to Shen Moxuan's side, struck him on the back with a palm, and a gentle yet irresistible burst of powerful true energy erupted, pushing Shen Moxuan several meters away, avoiding the range of the alchemy furnace.
Almost the instant Shen Moxuan landed,
"Boom!!!" A deafening explosion resounded throughout the entire Mingxin Manor. Crimson flames, carrying a violent surge of spiritual energy, shot into the sky like a burning dragon, tearing the heavens apart.
The alloy fragments from the alchemy furnace glowed red-hot from the intense heat, shooting outwards like a torrential downpour. The scorching air waves, mixed with spiritual energy, swept across the entire area, overturning and crushing tables and chairs on the lawn, and even igniting the bushes in the distance.
The makeshift explosion-proof glass wall emitted a tooth-grinding groan before finally shattering with a deafening roar. The piercing alarm pierced through the explosion and echoed throughout every corner of the resort!
The oven exploded.
The oven really exploded.
In a short moment, the once elegant and luxurious open lawn became a mess. The automatic fire extinguishing system sprayed out white mist, which mixed with the black smoke and dust, obscuring half of the sky.
The pungent smell of burning flesh mingled with the chaotic spiritual energy, making it difficult to breathe.
The timer screen hanging next to the control panel remained lit amidst the explosions, its bright red numbers frozen in place:
00: 72.
Not a second off.
As the smoke and mist slowly dissipated, the Lingxuan Furnace, which cost billions and was revered as a treasure by the Dan Sect, was completely twisted and deformed.
The furnace was covered with cracks, and the dregs inside were charred black, emitting pungent blue smoke. The chaotic residual spiritual energy caused the air to distort slightly, and it had lost all its former sharpness.
Shen Moxuan staggered to his feet, his face deathly pale, his body soaked in cold sweat and soot, his expensive white robe stained with ashes and dirt, his eyes vacant, muttering repeatedly, "Impossible... how could it be exactly the same as a second..."
Chen Shouzhou slowly raised his head, his gaze fixed on the numbers on the timer screen. His imposing presence vanished instantly, replaced by disbelief and solemnity.
The achievements of his alchemy school that he was so proud of, and the arrogant predictions he scoffed at, have come true in such a tragic way.
At the same moment, the entire lawn fell into dead silence.
It was eerily quiet.
Even breathing seemed to stop. Everyone froze in place, as if a pause button had been pressed. Their eyes were fixed on the number "00:72". The mockery, admiration, and greed on their faces were completely replaced by shock and fear.
That number, like a cold awl, pierced through all their confidence and arrogance, crushing their knowledge based on experience and common sense.
In the corner of the lawn, Xiao Chen remained with his hands in his pockets, his expression indifferent, as if the explosion and the earth-shattering chaos before him had nothing to do with him.
He looked up at Chen Shouzhou in the second-floor viewing area, a faint smile curving his lips. It was time to get down to business.
The young man's voice seemed to still linger in their ears, calm and serene, yet each word was like a red-hot steel nail, hammering deep into everyone's mind.
"I suggest postponing the start-up time... otherwise, seventy-two seconds after Shen Moxuan adds the medicine, the furnace will surely explode."
Every word now reverberated in the deathly silent exhibition hall, more deafening than the earlier roar of the explosion. (End of Chapter)