Chapter 92 - 91: Let’s See Who is More Outstanding
Chapter 92: Chapter 91: Let’s See Who is More Outstanding
Following Hu Liang and Duan Ran’s success, the third Alchemist, Tao Le Xin, also completed his refinement.
He was not well-known on Jade Cauldron Peak, so becoming the third Alchemist to finish his refinement immediately drew the attention of many.
"Seven Formed Pills, three with One Pill Pattern. Third place. That’s twelve points for you," Li Xiuci said with a nod.
Tao Le Xin hastily bowed, heaved a sigh of relief, and stepped aside.
"That Alchemist from Magic Peak succeeded too!"
"Seven Formed Pills, and three with One Pill Pattern as well. Impressive!"
"It seems we underestimated him. That’s another twelve points, tying him with Tao Le Xin."
The Tier Two Alchemist from Magic Peak had been under immense pressure. Now, upon opening his Pill Furnace and seeing the successfully formed Five Poison Pills inside, he could finally wipe the sweat from his brow.
As Yu Changsheng saw the other disciples behind him begin to retract their flames, he too formed a hand seal and started the final steps of his refinement.
His movements drew the eyes of many in the crowd.
"Hey, that disciple from Beast Taming Peak is finished too!"
"Hahaha, he’s retracting his flame so soon. I bet he failed!"
"I wonder who gave him the guts to throw all the ingredients in at once."
"He’s about to open it! Let’s see what became of his Five Poison Pills."
"So bright! It’s blinding!"
As everyone watched, a brilliant light seemed to erupt from within Yu Changsheng’s Pill Furnace the moment he opened it.
But an instant later, the blinding light vanished as if it had all been an illusion.
"Oh?"
Li Xiuci glanced at Yu Changsheng in surprise. He focused his gaze on the Five Poison Pills in the furnace, a faint smile gracing his lips.
"Interesting. A perfect ten. Ten elixirs. Although they have no Pill Patterns, every single one is perfectly round and full."
"As expected of Gongsun Yang’s disciple. Hehehe. That’s eleven points for you."
Yu Changsheng cupped his hands. "Thank you, Elder."
With that, he stepped to the side to rest and recover his Magical Power.
Up on the viewing platform, Elder Xu raised an eyebrow and tilted his head. "Gongsun Yang, you claim this is your disciple’s first time refining the Five Poison Pill? It certainly doesn’t look that way to me."
Gongsun Yang grinned. "Elder Xu, I had no prior knowledge of the elixir for this first round. Don’t you go making false accusations now."
"You’ll see the extent of my disciple’s talent for yourself in the coming rounds."
The Three-coin Fire Refining Technique was well-known on Jade Cauldron Peak, but it was incredibly difficult and time-consuming to practice. Consequently, many disciples of Jade Cauldron Peak were unable to persevere with it.
But the Elders on the platform were all well aware of Gongsun Yang’s skill. He had been able to refine a Tier Three Elixir while still in the Qi Refining Stage—a feat none of them had been able to accomplish.
Elder Xu chuckled. "The Three-coin Fire Refining Technique... I’m rather curious to see how it stacks up against my Void Fire Alchemy Skill."
"Xiaoxu, your disciple has already reached Foundation Establishment. There’s not much of a spectacle in him winning against a mere Qi Refining Disciple."
"Why don’t we restrict their Cultivation for the fifth round? That would make the competition more interesting. What do you say?"
In the center of the viewing platform, Elder Huang, who occupied the main seat, suddenly opened his eyes and spoke with a casual smile.
As he finished speaking, the other Guardian Elders chuckled in agreement. "Indeed. The Alchemy Conference is a contest of Alchemy skill, after all. Having them refine elixirs at the same Cultivation level is the only way to truly gauge their proficiency."
"Elder Huang’s suggestion is excellent. I say we go with it."
"The Alchemy Conference has been so dull in previous years. We’ve already changed the required elixir this year, so why not change the rules a bit more?"
"Brother Li, what are your thoughts?"
Li Xiuci glanced at Elder Xu, whose expression had soured, and inwardly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ’Isn’t this a classic case of shooting himself in the foot?’
At the same Realm, the unique properties of the Three-coin Fire Refining Technique would most likely give it the upper hand.
The Void Fire Alchemy Skill, on the other hand, wasn’t particularly special among the various Alchemy techniques. Its only real advantage was speed.
"Hahaha, let’s do as Elder Huang suggests!"
Before Li Xiuci could even speak, Elder Xu himself had already burst out laughing.
He forced a calm facade, feeling rather insecure, but his outward expression was one of complete confidence. "The Void Fire Alchemy Skill has a legacy stretching back hundreds of years. Its profundities are hardly something the Three-coin Fire Refining Technique can match."
"Let’s just sit back and see whose disciple is truly more exceptional."
"Fine by me," Gongsun Yang said with a grin.
He had nothing to lose, after all. And besides...
Gongsun Yang secretly glanced at Yu Changsheng, wondering, ’Just how much of his true strength is this kid hiding?’
’He can’t be planning on just aiming for the top three, can he? If so, I’m going to lose a lot of face.’
He mulled it over. He had initially told Yu Changsheng not to be too outrageously talented, but now the rules had changed. At the same Realm, even if he excelled while using the Sanwen Fire, it wouldn’t arouse suspicion.
’Besides, he’s a genius. Sometimes, hiding your strength just makes others look down on you. It’s better to shine when you have the chance!’
With that thought, Gongsun Yang sent a voice transmission to Yu Changsheng.
Seeing this, the nearby Elder Xu also hastily sent a voice transmission to Hu Liang, telling him to give it his all and not lose to some unknown junior!
Yu Changsheng was utterly astonished when he received the message, and he turned to look toward Hu Liang’s station.
As it happened, Hu Liang was also looking his way.
Their eyes met, a mix of confusion, shock, and rising battle intent passing between them.
Hu Liang gave a slight smile before turning away. In his heart, he now officially saw Yu Changsheng as a true rival.
’In a battle like this, one that determines the superiority of our Alchemy lineages, we as disciples must step up to win honor for our masters!’
’A disciple from Beast Taming Peak... Judging by the Perfect Ten Five Poison Pills he just produced, his Alchemy proficiency is clearly not low. He has very likely reached the level of a Tier Two Alchemist.’
’Master warned me not to be careless. Heh. As if I’d ever be anything but completely serious when it comes to Alchemy.’
Hu Liang’s gaze grew intense.
Not far away, Duan Ran noticed their exchange and was baffled.
’Those two are facing off now?’
Unfortunately, his master was not one of the five Guardian Elders, so he was left in the dark about certain matters. He’d had no advance warning about refining a Poison Pill and had to rely purely on his own Alchemy skill to pull through.
’I’m the one who’s going to take first place in this Alchemy Conference!’
Duan Ran’s eyes narrowed.
His Cultivation Realm was already approaching the Qi Refining Peak. He was participating in this Alchemy Conference precisely for the sake of the Foundation Establishment Pill. If he missed this chance, acquiring the materials for one in the future would cost him many times more.
’Material fees in the tens of thousands... even a Tier Two Alchemist like me can’t afford that.’
As more and more Alchemists successfully completed their refinements, the crowd of watching Cultivators grew boisterous.
"I can’t believe that disciple from Beast Taming Peak actually produced a perfect ten! What an eye-opener. Are you sure he isn’t from Jade Cauldron Peak?"
"Judging by his robes, he’s really from Beast Taming Peak. How strange. Could he have been a Loose Cultivator before joining the sect?"
"It’s possible for a Loose Cultivator to know how to refine a Five Poison Pill. What’s truly frightening is the possibility that this guy is just genuinely that talented!"
"Hahaha, no way! Alchemy *and* Beast Taming? Look how young he is!"
"A dark horse! He’s definitely a dark horse! Is anyone running a betting pool? I want to place a bet on him!"
The news gradually spread, and soon many disciples still on the main peak heard that a disciple from Beast Taming Peak not only knew Alchemy but had even refined a Perfect Ten Five Poison Pill!
Some of the young, beautiful Female Cultivators who saw Yu Changsheng couldn’t help but cast a few extra flirtatious glances his way.
’He’s handsome, skilled in Beast Taming, *and* he knows Alchemy? He’s too perfect!’