Chapter 563 561: An Abrupt Voice

"This time, I will be refining a type of Healing Elixir. I'm sure all of you have heard of the Golden Healing Pill."

As Venerable Black Water finished speaking, the crowd erupted once more, many people even trembling with excitement.

"The Golden Healing Pill! The sacred medicine of healing!"

"I can't believe Venerable Black Water is going to refine the Golden Healing Pill! This is incredible! We're in for a real treat."

Practically every Martial Cultivator knew of the Golden Healing Pill. It was, by far, the most famous and potent of all Healing Elixirs.

An injury that would take ten days to mend with a regular Healing Elixir...

...could be fully healed in just three with a Golden Healing Pill.

That was why the Golden Healing Pill was so famous.

Its reputation as a sacred medicine of healing was well-earned.

Indeed, Venerable Black Water announced, "That's right. I am refining the Golden Healing Pill."

"And a Third-Grade one at that."

Hearing that Venerable Black Water was refining a Third-Grade Golden Healing Pill, the crowd gasped in unison.

A Third-Grade Golden Healing Pill was an elixir truly worth a fortune.

Even the most common Black Iron Level Third-Grade Golden Healing Pill could fetch a high price of several hundred thousand.

A Silver Quality version would easily sell for over a million.

To say nothing of a Gold Quality Third-Grade Golden Healing Pill—that would be worth well over ten million.

And with that, Venerable Black Water began.

A ball of red flame erupted from his hand.

It was Pill Fire—different from ordinary flames, and different from the Fire of Heaven and Earth. It was Pill Fire.

Pill Fire was a method commonly employed by most Alchemists.

By condensing a Primordial Pill within their bodies to store the flame, they could convert their Cultivation Power into fire. As long as their Cultivation remained, this flame would burn inexhaustibly.

However, condensing a Primordial Pill within one's body was no simple feat for the average person.

The crowd, though shocked, remained silent, not daring to even breathe too loudly.

The atmosphere was almost sacred.

After some time, Venerable Black Water's alchemy reached its most critical stage.

Pill Formation.

After the pill formed, the next step was to remove impurities.

The formation stage was crucial.

HUMMM!

Just then, the Pill Furnace suddenly shuddered.

Venerable Black Water's heart seized.

He was performing alchemy in front of so many people; he absolutely could not afford a mistake. After all, Venerable Black Water was, to some extent, showing off his Alchemy Skill.

'If this pill explodes, it'll be a massive humiliation. Not only will I lose all face today, but my entire life's reputation will be ruined in an instant.'

The crowd tensed as well.

Whispers rippled through the onlookers.

"Is Venerable Black Water's pill going to explode?"

"It can't be. If it explodes, the humiliation will be immense."

Beside Jiang Chen, Mr. Qiu Shui shook his head and sighed softly.

"A pity. It looks like Elder Black Water is going to fail."

"In three minutes, that pill is sure to explode."

He could see that Venerable Black Water was about to be disgraced.

He turned to Jiang Chen. "Sir, what are your thoughts?"

He had just remembered that Jiang Chen's Alchemy Skill seemed to be far superior to his own.

Jiang Chen, however, remained silent.

In the crowd, Chang Mao, Wenzhu, and Wen Shixuan stood watching Venerable Black Water.

When he saw the Pill Furnace by Venerable Black Water's side vibrate, Chang Mao immediately let out a sigh.

"Venerable Black Water's pill is about to explode."

As an Alchemist himself, he could naturally see that Venerable Black Water was having some issues with control.

Wen Shixuan was also staring intently at Venerable Black Water, hoping to learn something about Alchemy Skill that would be useful to him.

Now noticing the abnormality himself and hearing his master, Chang Mao, speak, he asked urgently, "Master, is there any way to save it?"

"If Elder Black Water's pill explodes, he'll be utterly disgraced."

Chang Mao shook his head. "From what I can see, there's nothing Venerable Black Water can do to salvage this."

"The pill is doomed to explode. He's still trying to save it, but it's too late."

Wenzhu also felt a sense of pity, knowing Venerable Black Water's pill was certain to explode.

None of them had any faith in Venerable Black Water's chances.

As for Venerable Black Water, he was truly frantic. He knew he was losing control and the pill was about to explode.

"Temperature, down one point. After three seconds, up three."

Just as Venerable Black Water was beginning to panic, a voice suddenly cut through the crowd.

The voice wasn't loud, but in the otherwise silent arena, it instantly drew everyone's attention.

All eyes turned to find a young man in a green robe. He was clearly the one who had just spoken.

This infuriated many of the onlookers.

"Damn kid, shut your mouth!"

"Venerable Black Water is performing alchemy! What right does an arrogant punk like you have to interrupt? Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"You bastard! Did anyone ask you to speak? You're still wet behind the ears, and you dare to give pointers to Venerable Black Water? You think you're a better Alchemist than him or something?"

Nearly everyone glared viciously at the speaker.

Wen Shixi also noticed the speaker. He paused for a moment, then sneered. "It's Jiang Chen again. That guy is just asking to die. He has to stick his nose in everything."

"Daring to give unsolicited advice in front of Venerable Black Water... he truly has a death wish."

Indeed, the one who had spoken was none other than Jiang Chen.

He had seen that Venerable Black Water was on the verge of losing control and causing the pill to explode.

As an Alchemist, Jiang Chen had always pursued perfection in his craft.

Seeing another's pill about to explode, he couldn't resist offering a word of advice.

Although he could see that Venerable Black Water was starting to panic, Jiang Chen knew that even now, the situation could still be salvaged.

Unfortunately, the Venerable seemed to have no idea how to proceed.

But his interjection had instantly drawn the crowd's ire.

They all turned on Jiang Chen.

At the same time, Chang Mao, Wenzhu, and Wen Shixuan all turned to look at Jiang Chen.

Wen Shixuan's expression turned cold.

"That bastard. What a big mouth."

"He doesn't know a damn thing."

Chang Mao and Wenzhu, after a moment's thought, both sneered.

"That young punk is just spouting nonsense."

"The pill formation stage is already unstable. Lowering the temperature and then raising it will only make it explode faster."

Chang Mao's gaze on Jiang Chen grew even colder.

'Looks like this kid really has a death wish, butting in at a time like this instead of keeping his mouth shut.'

'Once Venerable Black Water is done with his alchemy, we'll see how I deal with you.'

His killing intent surged toward Jiang Chen—the man who had humiliated his apprentice, Wen Shixuan, on several occasions.

Even Mr. Qiu Shui shot Jiang Chen a surprised look.

'Could that method actually work?'

Jiang Chen remained silent.

He said nothing.

On the stage, Venerable Black Water had clearly heard Jiang Chen's words as well.

He was completely losing control. The pill was about to explode before it had even finished forming, and he was absolutely unwilling to accept this failure.

But he had no idea what to do.

Upon suddenly hearing Jiang Chen's voice, he didn't dare look to see who had spoken, but an idea sparked in his mind.

'Why not... give that a try?'

With that thought, Venerable Black Water decisively lowered the temperature by one point.

"Hm?"

In that instant, he was overcome with a pleasant surprise.

The Golden Healing Pill, which had been on the verge of exploding, was suddenly showing signs of stabilizing.

His heart leaped. He quickly waited for three seconds, then immediately raised the temperature by three points.

...

The moment he raised the temperature by three points, the Golden Healing Pill, which had been about to explode, settled completely and resumed the formation process.