The contemporary Pill Saint and Pill King were about to compete in alchemy!
It could be said that this was the most prestigious alchemy competition in the entire Jia Ma Empire!
However, this was only held internally within the Yunlan Sect and was not publicized.
Otherwise, people throughout the Jia Ma Empire would probably go crazy, and it would be even more exciting than the Alchemist Convention back then.
Soon, the sect square had been cleared, and Xiao Li and Gu He stood facing each other.
"How do you want to compete?" Xiao Li asked.
"A direct pill refining competition would take too long. Let's just compete in two Alchemist skills: refining medicinal ingredients and Soul Power," Gu He said.
If they were to refine pills, given their alchemy skills, they would at least need to refine sixth- or seventh-grade pills to determine a winner.
But sixth- or seventh-grade pills often take several days to refine, which is too time-consuming and unnecessary.
There are many ways for Alchemists to compete.
"Alright, then we'll compete in refining medicinal ingredients and Soul Power."
The first stage was a competition in refining medicinal ingredients.
Each person provided three medicinal ingredients, which were mixed together with the opponent's. Then, they would see who used the least total time and produced the best essence, and that person would win.
The three medicinal ingredients Xiao Li provided were all high-grade ingredients he had grown in the 'Realm of Growth'. They could be used to refine seventh-grade pills, and their refining difficulty was not low.
He was already a Seventh-Grade Alchemist, so he wasn't afraid.
As for the three medicinal ingredients Gu He provided, they were mainly used to refine sixth-grade pills, and their refining difficulty was also not low.
Soon, both sides began refining.
Gu He summoned a ball of deep purple Beast Flame from his palm and threw it into the pill cauldron.
Xiao Li also held nothing back and directly summoned the Green Lotus Heart Flame.
As soon as the Heavenly Flame appeared, even the Beast Flame could only submit!
Gu He quickly controlled the Beast Flame's anomaly, looking at the Green Lotus Heart Flame in front of Xiao Li with a hint of envy in his eyes.
"Is this a Heavenly Flame?"
He remembered how he had ventured deep into the Tagor Desert, even clashing with the Snake-People Tribe, but still failed to obtain a Heavenly Flame.
Yet, Xiao Li, at such a young age, possessed a Heavenly Flame, which was truly enviable.
If Gu He knew that Xiao Li's Green Lotus Heart Flame was the very Heavenly Flame from the Snake-People Tribe back then, who knew what his expression would be.
"Even if you have a Heavenly Flame, it doesn't mean you'll be faster than me!"
Gu He concentrated fully, betting decades of alchemy experience to refine the medicinal ingredients at the fastest possible speed.
But high-grade medicinal ingredients couldn't be rushed.
Especially the three high-grade medicinal ingredients provided by Xiao Li, they posed a great challenge to Gu He, requiring precise control of the heat.
However, for Xiao Li, who possessed a Heavenly Flame and had even advanced to a Seventh-Grade Alchemist, the refining difficulty of these medicinal ingredients was not great.
Soon, under the high temperature of the Heavenly Flame and his precise control of the heat, these medicinal ingredients slowly shed their impurities and condensed into essence.
The people outside the arena watched nervously, not daring to make a sound, fearing they might disturb the two on the field.
Finally, this competition lasted for a full three hours before it ended.
Xiao Li and Gu He almost finished refining at the same time.
Although Xiao Li possessed a Heavenly Flame, his refining speed was faster.
But Gu He had, after all, practiced alchemy for decades; many of his muscle memories were better than Xiao Li's, and he was experienced and still had strength.
If the speed was similar, then it would depend on whose refined essence was superior.
There was no referee for this kind of competition; they could only judge it themselves.
After all, the Yunlan Sect didn't have any Alchemists more advanced than them.
The two looked at each other's refined essence.
"Yours is better than mine. As expected of something refined with a Heavenly Flame," Gu He sighed, admitting that he was inferior to Xiao Li.
"I only slightly surpassed you by utilizing the Heavenly Flame. Elder Gu He's alchemy foundation is truly profound."
Gu He shook his head: "A loss is a loss; the depth of the foundation makes no difference."
Next was the competition of Soul Power.
The strength of Soul Power greatly affects an Alchemist's alchemy skills.
This has no direct relation to cultivation; it is a power exclusive to Alchemists.
Therefore, using Soul Power for a contest is also a method exclusive to Alchemists.
Both simultaneously released their Soul Power, which transformed into a giant hand in the air.
"Elder Gu He, please go first," Xiao Li maintained his humility.
"Then please take this."
With a thought from Gu He, the large Soul Hand immediately transformed into a fist and struck towards Xiao Li's large Soul Hand.
Without any external sound, Xiao Li's large hand easily caught Gu He's strike.
Then, his large Soul Hand squeezed fiercely, and Gu He's Soul fist instantly dispersed, causing Gu He's mind to tremble and him to retreat several steps.
He had cultivated a Soul Dou Technique, and now he was also a Seventh-Grade Alchemist, his Soul Power was even stronger than Alchemists of the same level, not to mention Gu He was only a Sixth-Grade Alchemist.
"Your Soul Power is actually this strong?!"
Gu He's eyes widened in surprise.
Many competitions only require one strike to know who is stronger and who is weaker.
In the eyes of outsiders, they felt it was very subtle, and they didn't even know the specific process of the competition.
Because Soul Power is invisible.
But Gu He knew he had lost.
"I lost. Your alchemy skills are stronger than mine."
He conceded defeat heartily.
"You are too kind."
The victor was decided!
Although many people were confused.
But Gu He's voluntary concession proved that Xiao Li's alchemy skills were superior to his!
A newly promoted Pill Saint had surpassed the long-renowned Pill King in alchemy.
What youthful spirit this was!
Yun Yun's anxious heart finally settled.
Indeed, she had not misjudged Xiao Li!
"Sect Master Yun Shan, I wish to leave the Yunlan Sect for a period of time to travel. Please grant my request," Gu He said to Yun Shan.
He had lost; he couldn't possibly stay and watch Yun Yun and Xiao Li be affectionate, could he?
He couldn't do such a thing.
"Alright," Yun Shan agreed.
Yun Shan knew that once Yun Yun and Xiao Li's relationship was publicly announced, the person most affected would undoubtedly be Gu He.
But there was no choice; between Xiao Li and Gu He, he could only choose Xiao Li.
"Thank you, Sect Master Yun Shan, for your understanding."
Gu He bowed, turned, and left.
The other elders exchanged glances, feeling a sense of wistful emotion.
Indeed, conflicts between men often arise because of women.
Gu He's actions actually showed great magnanimity; he didn't quarrel, and even though he lost in alchemy, he conceded defeat heartily.
Xiao Li also admired his magnanimity.
This was a true man.
"Xiao Li."
Yun Yun came to his side, actively and openly taking his hand, allowing everyone to witness it with their own eyes.
"Clap, clap, clap!"
A round of enthusiastic applause erupted in the square.
Only, no one noticed Nalan Yanran in the crowd, watching the intimate Xiao Li and Yun Yun on the field, a hint of loneliness flashing in her eyes before she silently turned and left...