Chapter 493: Alchemy Competition (4)
Chapter 493: Alchemy Competition (4)
At that very moment, hundreds of spiritual flames erupted.
The field was engulfed in intense heat, not the suffocating heat of the sun, but the controlled heat of spiritual fire. Every competitor ignited their furnace, the flames dancing in shades of blue, red, gold, and violet.
The entire field was consumed by the heat.
Kyrian remained motionless for a few seconds. While the other competitors were already reaching for their ingredients, he simply observed.
He calmly looked at the ingredients arranged before him.
Blue Spirit Root, a thin, twisted root with a distinctive bluish hue. When heated, it released an essence that enhanced Qi absorption.
Cloud Flower, delicate white petals that seemed to float even while perfectly still. Extremely sensitive to heat, they required precise temperature control.
Jade Leaves, dark green leaves that were thick and fleshy. They contained a dense essence that served as the foundation of the pill.
Liquid Qi Essence, a clear, radiant liquid extracted from Qi crystals. It was the catalyst that bound all the other ingredients together.
Everything was extremely familiar. Kyrian had worked with these ingredients countless times. He knew every property, every reaction, every critical point.
’Let’s begin.’
He slowly ignited his spiritual flame with a thread of purple lightning. The blue fire rose beneath the cauldron, dancing with controlled energy.
Without the slightest anxiety. Without haste. His expression remained completely serene, as if he were performing a task he had already completed a thousand times.
While many competitors had already begun refining frantically, throwing ingredients into their cauldrons, raising the flames to their maximum in an attempt to save time, Kyrian first stabilized the temperature perfectly.
He adjusted the flow of Qi, sensing every thermal fluctuation through his refined perception. The fire was neither too hot nor too cold. It was exactly what was needed to begin.
Only then did he place in the first herb.
His movements were gentle. Precise. Every gesture seemed calculated, as though he already knew exactly what to do and when to do it.
On the elevated platform, the old man immediately turned his attention toward him.
’Hm?’
While nearly everyone else was rapidly increasing the intensity of their flames to speed up the process, Kyrian was doing exactly the opposite. He carefully controlled every variation in temperature and every slight adjustment in the flow of heat.
’Excellent control...’
The old man gave a subtle nod, his eyes shining with approval. That young man wasn’t merely following a recipe, he understood the process.
Shortly afterward, Kyrian began purifying the herbs. The process was delicate and required constant attention. Every impurity had to be removed without damaging the essence of the ingredient.
The impurities slowly evaporated from the cauldron. A dark, almost invisible smoke rose from its surface before dissipating into the air. There was no waste. No excess. Every part of each ingredient was used, every essence preserved.
Without a single mistake.
Around him, several competitors were already showing signs of nervousness. One overheated one of the herbs, and the contents of his cauldron began to release the bitter smell of something burned.
Another completely lost control of her flame, and the fire surged beyond control, nearly melting the cauldron.
A third watched as the entire contents of his cauldron exploded.
Bang!
The small explosion echoed across the field, causing many spectators to sigh. The competitor, a young man with red hair, stared at the wreckage with an expression of despair.
"It’s over." One of the evaluators shook his head.
"Eliminated."
Meanwhile, Kyrian remained completely focused. His control over the fire was nearly flawless, even without using the control of the Eye of Fire, which he had yet to awaken.
Because of the reconstruction brought by the Sky Bone, his body had become practically a friend of fire. The heat didn’t bother him or distract him. Controlling flames was as natural as breathing.
The ingredients were slowly transformed into extremely pure spiritual liquids. Each essence glowed with its own light, the blue of the root, the white of the flower, the green of the leaves, the silvery glow of the Liquid Qi Essence.
The old man watched attentively, his eyes following Kyrian’s every movement.
’Perfect... control.’
His interest continued to grow. He still hadn’t seen much, only the initial stages of the process, but he could already tell that Kyrian was every bit as talented as the Association’s most promising young disciples. Perhaps even more so.
Time passed.
One hour. Then an hour and a half.
Some competitors were already finishing their pills, their cauldrons releasing various fragrances. Others were still struggling to stabilize their refining, sweat running down their foreheads.
Kyrian remained calm. He did not rush. He did not worry. Every step was executed at precisely the right moment, neither too early nor too late.
Only when all the spiritual liquids had reached exactly the desired state, each at its specific temperature and each at its maximum purity, did he begin the condensation.
The flames slowly diminished, like the setting sun bidding farewell to the horizon. Qi spiraled within the cauldron, creating a gentle vortex that drew all the essences toward the center.
The essences naturally began to merge. It was an organic process, almost musical, each ingredient finding its proper place, each molecule aligning with the others.
Without violence. Without instability. Like water finding its own path, like leaves dancing in the wind.
It was simple. Yet extraordinarily refined. There was not the slightest waste, no energy lost, no unnecessary movement.
A few seconds later...
An exceptionally pure fragrance spread throughout the area.
Several evaluators immediately raised their heads, their noses twitching as they caught the scent.
"Hm?" One of them looked around, trying to identify its source.
"That aroma..."
"Extremely pure." Another added, his eyes narrowing.
"Who’s producing that?"
Kyrian slowly opened the cauldron.
Six small pills rested quietly inside. Round, radiant, and completely flawless. Their surface was as smooth as polished glass, and a soft green light radiated from each one.
They resembled tiny green pearls.
The spiritual fragrance quickly spread, carrying the pure essence of the Qi Gathering Pill.
The old man remained completely motionless for several seconds.
Then he took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the aroma of a perfect creation.
Even from a distance... he could already tell.
’Perfect purity...?’
He immediately called over one of the evaluators, his voice carrying restrained urgency.
"Go inspect Table Three Hundred Twenty-Seven."
The evaluator hurried over, moving swiftly across the field. He reached Kyrian’s table and picked up one of the pills, holding it against the light.
His eyes widened. He took a deep breath and examined it once more. He rotated the pill between his fingers, inspecting every angle, every detail.
Then he looked at Kyrian. The young man remained motionless, his expression serene, as though none of this was anything remarkable.
He looked back at the pill.
Finally... he raised his voice, his tone filled with disbelief.
"Purity..." He paused, as if the words were difficult to utter.
"...Perfect."