Chapter 32: Completion!
"Is there any reason why he can't?" Yao Lao asked with a faint smile, feigning mystery.
"There's no reason at all," Xuan Kong Zi replied, taking a deep breath. Shaking his head, he added, "But in all my years, I've never seen a fifteen year old sixth tier alchemist. With talent like this, if he were born in ancient times, he might have had the potential to become an Emperor tier alchemist."
Hearing this, Xuan Yi and Tian Lei Zi, who were seated nearby, fell into a rare silence, their expressions solemn.
"Hoho," Yao Lao chuckled softly, stroking his beard with an air of satisfaction. He said nothing further, maintaining the appearance of a composed master.
"You're probably grinning ear to ear inside, aren't you?" Xuan Yi snorted, knowing Yao Lao's personality all too well.
"Hehe," Yao Lao chuckled again, unwilling to deny it. His heart was brimming with pride his disciple's astonishing performance was a testament to his teaching. Seeing the shocked expressions of these old friends only made the moment sweeter. Of course, Yao Lao's years of experience helped him hide most of his delight.
"Don't celebrate too soon, old man," Xuan Yi said through a soul transmission, her tone laced with a hint of mischief. "If your disciple wins, you owe me a full month of refining pills together."
The thought made Yao Lao's face twitch, his earlier smirk freezing.
A full month? Even my Bone Spirit Flame might not survive that!
The Audience's Attention
While the elders at the top of the Pill Tower exchanged glances and thoughts, the arena below buzzed with activity.
"Look, that little kid drinking beast milk actually refined a third tier pill!"
"Yes, it's just a Qi Restoration Pill, and it's one of the easiest third tier pills, even simpler than some second tier ones. But that child is only twelve years old!"
"With this talent, they'll probably reach the fourth tier by fifteen. Impressive!"
"True, but only if we ignore Cao Ying. Her talent is unmatched."
"Not entirely true. Look at Dan Chen. She's not flashy, but she's no less capable. Watch her deftly alternate between two types of flames she's clearly aiming for the Three Strand Green Spirit Pill!"
"Alternating between two flames for a Three Strand Green Spirit Pill? That's high level fourth tier at least. If she adds a third flame, it'll rival a fifth tier pill!"
"Dan Chen is only a little over fourteen, isn't she? Truly astonishing!"
Meanwhile, the audience's gaze naturally gravitated to Cao Ying as well.
"She's refining a Dou Spirit Pill. That's no small feat!"
"Indeed, the Dou Spirit Pill is challenging, but its recipe is widely known. Many sixth tier and higher alchemists are familiar with it."
"At her age, refining such a pill is incredible. No wonder she's Xuan Yi's direct disciple. If she grows without obstacles, she might become one of the Pill Tower's leaders within a century!"
While the crowd marveled at the participants' talents, many in the upper echelons of the Pill Tower especially the seventh tier alchemists found their focus shifting away from Cao Ying.
Their eyes were fixed on Xiao Yan, specifically the golden vine he had just placed into his cauldron.
"This... this is impossible!"
The gathered seventh tier alchemists, renowned figures in their own right, couldn't hide their shock.
"That boy... is he really attempting to refine the Imperial Extreme Pill?"
The Imperial Extreme Pill
The Imperial Extreme Pill, like the Dou Spirit Pill, was well known among alchemists, though far rarer. It was a sixth tier pill often sought after by Dou King and Dou Emperor cultivators. However, despite its utility, its complex recipe made it a daunting challenge.
For any alchemist to successfully refine the Imperial Extreme Pill, they had to be a standout among sixth tier alchemists. And yet here was a boy barely fifteen years old attempting it.
"This boy... is a prodigy beyond reason."
"Even I thought Cao Ying was untouchable among her peers, but this Xiao Yan... he surpasses her by far. Who is his master?"
Some seventh tier alchemists, nearing the eighth tier themselves, felt their interest growing. Beyond their desire to ascend the ranks, their secondary goal was to nurture the next generation. If Xiao Yan's teacher wasn't particularly powerful, they would certainly try to recruit him.
Xiao Yan's Progress
In the arena, Xiao Yan remained calm and composed.
By now, the golden vine in his cauldron was being meticulously refined, the green flames working to break it down into its purest essence. Nearby, Cao Ying alternated between her steps with fierce concentration.
"Come on, little lion, don't let me down," Xiao Yan murmured, directing his flame to carefully manipulate the vine's properties.
Finally, a faint golden liquid began to pool in the cauldron, its radiant light reflecting off Xiao Yan's focused face.
Overhead, Xuan Kong Zi, Xuan Yi, and Tian Lei Zi exchanged astonished glances once more.
"He's refining the Imperial Extreme Vine with such precision... Yao Chen, your disciple is truly remarkable!"
Cao Ying's Determination
Meanwhile, Cao Ying, sweat beading on her brow, maintained her focus. She was aware of Xiao Yan's movements but refused to let them distract her.
"Xiao Yan, I don't care how talented you are. I'll defeat you this time!"
Her Dou Spirit Pill was already taking shape, and she planned to push her limits to deliver a flawless product.
A Growing Rivalry
Xiao Yan, of course, noticed Cao Ying's resolute energy. He allowed himself a small smirk, mentally preparing to deliver a final, decisive blow.
"Let's see if your Dou Spirit Pill can outshine my Imperial Extreme Pill."
With his mind clear and his flames steady, Xiao Yan focused entirely on the cauldron before him, blocking out all distractions.
"Everyone, calm your imaginations. That boy is the disciple of Yao Zun, Yao Chen."
A faint, resigned chuckle rang out, immediately quelling the fiery ambitions of the gathered alchemists like a bucket of cold water.
Yao Chen, the "Medicine Venerable," was an insurmountable figure in the minds of the Central Plains' alchemists. To surpass him, one would need to reach the mythical level of a ninth tier alchemist a rarity so elusive that even seventh tier alchemists might spend their lives without ever meeting one.
"Since that's the case, this boy is beyond our reach. Let's just sit back and enjoy the show."
Resigned sighs echoed through the room as the elders returned to sipping tea, their earlier excitement doused.
Progress on the Battlefield
As time passed, one by one, the young alchemists completed their pills.
Of course, not everyone succeeded. Some failed to control their flames properly, resulting in explosions that sent their cauldrons rattling. Thankfully, their families had provided top tier cauldrons, preventing any injuries.
"Ding!" A crisp chime rang out near Xiao Yan.
He turned to see Dan Chen, her delicate hands forming seals as a dark red, deep green pill emanated energy ripples while bouncing gently in her cauldron.
"Phew!" Dan Chen exhaled, her previously tense face finally relaxing with a trace of happiness. She carefully extended her pale, delicate hand to retrieve the pill.
Moments later, another chime sounded, drawing attention to the oldest looking contestant. In his hands lay a Blood Lotus Pill, its deep crimson hue radiating vitality.
"He's succeeded too barely reaching the fifth tier!" murmured an observer.
As the crowd marveled at the results, all eyes turned toward the two remaining contestants: Cao Ying and Xiao Yan, both still engrossed in their work.
Cao Ying's Breakthrough
"Xiao Yan! You're losing this time!" Cao Ying declared confidently after a while.
Her phoenix adorned cauldron emitted a deep, resonant hum as a golden yellow pill shot out, its powerful energy drawing gasps from the audience.
"That's... the Dou Spirit Pill! Cao Ying has really refined the Dou Spirit Pill!"
"No wonder they call her a prodigy! This talent is monstrous!"
Ignoring the exclamations, Cao Ying elegantly captured the pill in a jade bottle. Her gaze immediately turned toward Xiao Yan, who remained utterly calm, his cauldron's fire still burning brightly.
"I don't believe it. Can you really refine a sixth tier pill?" she hissed through gritted teeth.
While she had focused entirely on her own task, she had paid little attention to Xiao Yan's progress.
Xiao Yan's Unyielding Focus
The crowd was in an uproar, but Xiao Yan was unmoved. His soul force meticulously monitored the transformations within his cauldron.
Inside, a transparent, colorless energy mass slowly merged with a golden liquid, while countless meticulously measured medicinal essences were carefully added, stabilizing the reaction.
A fist sized golden pill prototype gradually began to take shape.
"Just one more step!" Xiao Yan's eyes gleamed as he increased the intensity of his flames, causing the pill to spin rapidly within the cauldron.
The Spectators' Suspense
"Can this boy really succeed in refining a sixth tier pill?"
High above, the Pill Tower's three great leaders watched intently, their expressions solemn. Even Yao Chen, usually confident, couldn't hide his apprehension. After all, Xiao Yan had already failed three times in his attempts to refine the Imperial Extreme Pill.
"If he succeeds this time, he'll be the most extraordinary alchemist the Dou Qi Continent has seen in a century," remarked one elder in the VIP section.
Nearby, a group of seventh tier alchemists were glued to Xiao Yan's cauldron.
Success at Last
"Boom!"
Half an hour later, a deep, resounding gong like hum echoed as a golden pillar of light erupted from Xiao Yan's cauldron, blasting its lid skyward and drawing every gaze in the arena.
"What kind of pill is that? How can it emit such powerful energy fluctuations?"
The crowd fell silent, their attention captivated. Even Cao Ying, who had been brimming with confidence moments ago, paled at the sight.
The golden pillar lingered in the sky for a full second before gradually dissipating. When the light faded, a dazzling golden pill hovered above the cauldron, radiating brilliance.
The World Stunned
"A... six tier pill! He actually did it!" gasped a spectator.
"Is this for real? A boy so young succeeded in refining a six tier pill!"
The once boisterous crowd was now silent, their shock palpable.
High above, the three great leaders of the Pill Tower exchanged glances, their faces filled with astonishment.
"He's done it. Yao Chen, your disciple has refined the Imperial Extreme Pill!"
Yao Chen remained composed, though his twitching lips betrayed his pride. He stroked his beard, concealing his elation.
"Unbelievable! A fifteen year old sixth tier alchemist. This level of talent hasn't been seen in centuries!"
Even Xuan Kong Zi, the most experienced of the three, couldn't hide his amazement.
Down in the arena, Xiao Yan retrieved the golden pill with a calm expression. He glanced at Cao Ying, who stood frozen in place, her confidence shattered.
"Still think I'm your equal?" Xiao Yan's voice was soft but carried a weight that struck deep into her heart.
For the first time, the invincible Cao Ying lowered her gaze, unable to meet his eyes.
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