SUPREME ARCH-MAGUS

High above the clouds, the spirit ship sailed like a celestial beast, roaring through sky currents. On deck, the air buzzed not with wind—but pride and posturing.

The disciple continued to chat nonstop while Lin Lin and Kent sat in a corner.

"I refined six batches of advanced strengthening pills for the inner court last month," boasted a tall, pale youth with silver hair tied in three knots. "Even Master Yun praised them."

"That's nothing, Senior Ren Tao," said a sharp-eyed girl dressed in jade green robes. "I concocted a Dual Spirit Rejuvenation Elixir for Vice-Dean Luo himself. He gifted me a Mid-Tier fire essence!"

Another disciple, lean and proud, added with a scoff, "I've already cleared half the theory for my 4-star assessment. It's only a matter of time. I'll probably be the youngest 4-star alchemist from the Azure Pill Hall!"

The bragging continued until Lin Lin, sitting elegantly beside the mast, finally spoke.

"My specialty is healing alchemy. I can stabilize internal injuries and reattach broken meridians in less than ten minutes."

A muscular disciple with peach-colored robes smirked. "Senior Sister Lin Lin, your beauty is more deadly than your pills. A smile from you can heal more than any medicine."

Lin Lin's eyes narrowed. "I'm also the youngest 3-star alchemist in the Southern Wing of Kulu Academy. Don't reduce me to ornaments."

The air tensed. Everyone chuckled awkwardly—until their eyes turned toward the quiet one, Kent, who sat cross-legged near the back, eyes closed in silent cultivation, unbothered by the peacocking around him.

Ren Tao sneered. "And you? You haven't said a word. Surely, you must have some divine achievement to share?"

Kent slowly opened his eyes, calm as still water. "I recently passed the 1-star alchemist assessment at Purple Cauldron Peak."

A beat of silence—then, sudden laughter burst out across the deck.

"Just 1-star?! Even outer disciples can do that!"

"Why show up here if you haven't even reached 2-star?"

"Do you even understand alchemy beyond boiling water?"

Kent remained unmoved. "A title means nothing. What matters is skill. An alchemist isn't judged by their badge, but the quality of their pill."

A few scoffs.

"Such excuses! You're just covering your failure!"

"Too weak to reach 2-star and now playing wise?"

Even Master Yun Rou, sitting with eyes half-lidded, glanced toward Kent with mild disdain. So young, yet already wearing arrogance as armor. Let's see how long that pride lasts…

But she said nothing. The time to reveal strength would come.

Above the wind and murmurs, Kent closed his eyes again.

The others could laugh all they wanted—for now.

As the Kulu Nation's spirit ship sliced through the sky, drawing closer to the Pill King Market, the clouds began to thin, revealing streams of ships from various sects and nations gliding in from all directions like dragons returning to their lair.

The atmosphere grew dense with competition. Airships bearing different emblems—green lions, thunder lotuses, iron talons—each cut a prideful path through the wind. But then...

WOOOOOOOSH!

A massive crimson ship with a snarling wolf's head carved at the prow descended from above like a predator spotting prey. It tilted its hull sideways and slammed into the side of Kulu Nation's ship with a loud BOOM, causing the deck to shake and disciples to stumble.

A harsh, mocking laughter echoed from the red ship.

"Haha! Kulu Nation brought a barge of chickens this year! Are you here to beg for herbs, or just to admire our alchemical glory from afar?"

The sigil of the White Fox Clan gleamed proudly on their sails—longtime rivals of the Kulu Nation in every pill competition, and bitter enemies in private.

One of the fox disciples shouted, "Careful, careful! Your baby alchemists might burn their hands trying to match our clan's flames!"

Suddenly the leader, a middle aged elder stood up and pointed his finger at Vice Matriarch. "You brought Yun Rou again? At this point, she's more of a mascot than a threat!"

Vice Leader Yun Rou's face turned cold. Her fingers tightened slightly on the rail. The mocking words didn't wound her as much as the fact that their leader was laughing with a cup of wine, watching without intervening—clearly enjoying the drama.

Lin Lin's brows furrowed. "They dare do this right before the market gates?"

Some disciples gritted their teeth. Others drew their spirit flames, ready to retaliate—but before Yun Rou could even issue a command, a breeze stirred unnaturally on the Kulu ship's deck.

Kent stood.

Eyes calm, voice colder than steel. "Noisy."

He flicked his hand, and the King family SWORD emerged, humming with restrained power. In the next instant, he slashed it once toward the air, and—

WHOOOOOOOM!

A cyclone of Nirvanic Flames exploded from his feet, spinning like a tornado of golden fire. It didn't hit the enemy ship, but surged close enough to roast their sails with ancient pressure.

The White Fox ship's spirit—an elder wind beast bound in formation—screeched in panic and jerked the vessel away, forcing the pilot to retreat before the fire could even graze the deck.

"WHAT THE—!?"

"RETREAT! SHIP SPIRIT IS PANICKING!"

The mocking smiles twisted into shock as the White Fox Clan's prideful ship staggered backward, putting distance between them and Kent—who stood still, with only embers dancing around him.

The deck of Kulu Nation's ship fell into stunned silence… before erupting into quiet murmurs of awe.

Yun Rou finally smiled faintly. Her eyes lingered on Das face for a longer time. Kent also saw her gaze which felt odd to him. He saw infatuation in her eyes.

"What the hell?! That's the look of a lolli?!" Kent muttered in shock.

Before white fox clan ship recovered, The wooden ship of Kulu nation disappeared into the Pill King Market area.

The sky parted like a golden curtain, and a majestic city suspended in the clouds unfolded before Kent's eyes—a grand spectacle that made even the proudest disciples hold their breath.

The Pill King Market.

A floating landmass that stretched over hundreds of miles, it hovered amidst layered clouds and shimmering sunbeams like a divine capital of the heavens. It was built upon three tiers—each connected by spiraling stairways of jade, lined with floating lanterns and mystic runes. The fragrance of ten thousand herbs filled the air, so potent that even a deep breath could cleanse the soul.

Kent's ship slowed to a gentle cruise as it entered the outer layer. Dozens of ships of all shapes and sizes were docking on floating ports shaped like lotus petals. Silver coins rained from some ships as disciples celebrated their arrival with pride. The ship spirit of Kulu Nation gave a proud hum as it landed with grace on a floating platform marked for noble-tier academies.

Booming voices echoed across the vast market:

"Three-star healing pills, blessed by Rainwater Spirit Clan—only 5000 mana pearls each!"

"Rare beast cores from the Southern Flame Domain—Rank 4! Don't miss this chance!"

"One drop of Ice Phoenix Essence! Restore your crippled core! Ten drops only—10,000 spirit crystals!"

Hundreds of thousands of cultivators in robes of all colors strolled through thousands of market stalls—some run by ancient sects, some by merchant clans, and others by rogue cultivators with bizarre treasures. Magical screens floated in mid-air, displaying auctions, battles, and alchemical demonstrations. Floating gardens sold rare herbs, weapon shops glittered with divine aura, and exotic beast mounts were displayed like royal pets.

"By the ancestors…" a disciple from Kent's ship gasped. "This… this is the true world of cultivators."

Lin Lin leaned close to Kent and whispered, "See those towers on the second tier? That's the Alchemists' Guild Pavilion. You'll need to show your red crystal token to enter. And that square-shaped floating palace? That's the Golden Auction House, where Heaven-ranked pills are bid by Elders and Kings."

Kent observed silently. His eyes, however, reflected a sharp glint.

A group of Phoenix Pavilion disciples, adorned in robes laced with emerald threads, strolled past arrogantly. One of them smirked. "So many hill disciples have arrived. Hope they don't sell broken pills like last time."

A young merchant nearby yelled out, "Fresh Hundred-Leaf Snow Lotus! Only 3000 pearls! Cheap for you, brother!"

A bulky cultivator bargained aggressively. "This is robbery! I bought a Heaven-ranked barrier talisman for 80,000 pearls just last month!"

"That's your bad luck," laughed another. "I just saw someone buy a drop of Nine Nether Dew for 50,000 spirit crystals!"

Yun Rou finally spoke, standing at the ship's helm like a queen.

"Listen, everyone. This is not just a place to shop. This is where you show your power, eye, and wealth. If you wish to earn face for Kulu Nation, do it through your talent, your bargains, or your pills."

One disciple chuckled, "Earning face with pills, huh? Maybe our new one-star brother Kent should go first."

Lin Lin's eyes narrowed. "Don't mock what you don't understand. Even a star can burn if it's made of flame."

Kent said nothing. He stepped down the stairs from the ship onto the floating platform. The divine stone under his feet buzzed faintly in response to the red crystal in his spatial ring—recognizing him as a verified alchemist.

He looked ahead.

Banners flew across the sky with emblems of Fire God Sect, Golden Furnace Hall, Mystic Jade Clan… even Heavenly Pill Monarch Pavilion.