Royal Plaza, Jia Ma Empire
The Alchemist Conference had reached its final stage. As only a handful of figures remained on the stone platforms, the surrounding crowd held their breath, the plaza enveloped in silence.
"That bastard… he came prepared!" Fa Ma's smile froze, his expression darkening.
"What's wrong?" Jia Xing Tian asked, puzzled, seeing nothing amiss in the field.
Before Fa Ma could reply, an alchemist's shocked cry rang out: "Colored pill fragrance?!"
On the high platform, Hai Bo Dong caught the exclamation and immediately looked toward Yan Li. A wisp of pale purple mist rose silently from Yan Li's cauldron. Realizing why Fa Ma's face had soured, he asked urgently, "What's colored pill fragrance?"
"Colored pill fragrance usually appears only with fifth-grade pills, though some peak fourth-grade pills can produce it too. His fragrance isn't strong enough for fifth-grade," Fa Ma explained, his cloudy eyes fixed on the purple mist, his voice low. "Compared to him, Yue'er and Liu Ling's fourth-grade pills barely qualify for the rank. They can't compete."
"If they can't compete, so be it. We weren't counting on them. There's still Yan Xiao, right?" Hai Bo Dong relaxed, nodding toward the unhurried youth in the field. Thanks to that elder and his Yi Huo, Hai Bo Dong had high hopes for Xiao Yan.
"Sigh, that kid's exceptional—young and wielding Yi Huo—but his ambitions are too grand," Fa Ma said, sighing. "I gave him the Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill formula last night. He's already aiming for the two-pattern version today, despite failing earlier. And now, it looks like he's still trying for two-pattern!"
He shook his head, clearly not optimistic.
"Haha, Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill, rivaling fifth-grade! Heavenly Flame or not, what can you do against me?" Yan Li summoned a purple pill into his hand, inspecting it before glancing at Xiao Yan nearby, bursting into wild laughter.
"Idiot," Xiao Yan muttered, his hands steady as he glanced at the gloating Yan Li.
Carefully controlling the fusion of herbs in his cauldron, Xiao Yan's mind churned, recalling a moment from days ago. He was confident this time—he'd succeed, and with the highest three-pattern version.
His earlier failure was due to unfamiliarity with Fallen Heart Flame's heat. He'd since mastered its control.
As for the three flames needed for the pill, he'd gathered several during his fire lotus experiments—no issue there.
Time ticked by, the sky dimming.
With only minutes left before the conference's end, Xiao Yan's cauldron was the only one still glowing faintly. All eyes were fixed on him.
Sweat beaded on Xiao Yan's face, his expression shifting slightly.
Then—
Crack!
A sharp sound snapped from the dark red cauldron before him.
This damn cauldron… finally giving up the ghost?
His throat bobbed, lips dry. Hold on, don't blow up now! he prayed silently.
But his prayers went unanswered. The cauldron, tempered by multiple Yi Huo, wailed with cracks spiderwebbing across its surface, echoing through the silent plaza.
The crowd had noticed, buzzing with gasps, jeers, and sighs.
"It's over…" Fa Ma shook his head bitterly, his brief hope extinguished.
"You, Fa Old Man! You prepared the formula and herbs but couldn't get a decent cauldron? Now it's all for nothing!" Hai Bo Dong shot up, glaring at Fa Ma.
"…!" Fa Ma was speechless.
Who knew this kid had Heavenly Flame but no proper cauldron?
"Haha, President Fa Ma, announce the results!" Yan Li, barely containing his glee, called to the VIP seats.
With no choice, Fa Ma closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and intoned expressionlessly, "I declare—"
"Wait!"
A shout cut him off.
All eyes turned to Xiao Yan, who let out a slow breath. He rummaged through the cauldron's fragments, pulling out a dull, ashy pill and holding it up.
"President Fa Ma, the conference isn't over. No need to rush the results!"
"…!" The crowd gawked.
Have you seen what you're holding? Is there even a point in competing?
"Haha, Yan Xiao, no wonder Master Bai didn't show up today. He was afraid you'd embarrass him!" Yan Li mocked, eyeing the charred pill.
"Embarrass? If anyone's embarrassing, it's you. So proud of a measly fourth-grade pill? I can't fathom why a guy like my Brother Bai would pick you," Xiao Yan said, shooting Yan Li a disdainful glance.
"Well said! I can't figure out why he'd take a guy like this as a subordinate either!" Hai Bo Dong slapped his thigh, standing. He'd thought Yan Li was long under Xiao Bai's wing, only learning last night he'd been recruited yesterday.
"Hmph! I'm a fourth-grade alchemist!" Yan Li tossed his purple pill lightly, his expression proud.
"Heh, a mere fourth-grade? What's there to brag about in front of him?" Xiao Yan sneered.
Attempting the Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill today had shown him the effortless mastery of Xiao Bai's refining from days ago.
The plaza fell silent, jaws dropping. Is this guy bragging? A fourth-grade alchemist means nothing to him?
"Mere" fourth-grade? Most alchemists at the conference would never reach that rank in their lifetimes!
"What does Yan Xiao mean? Is Master Bai an alchemist too—and a high-ranking one?" Jia Xing Tian's eyes flickered, picturing the disinterested youth beside him yesterday.
If so, could he solve the royal family's decade-long problem?
"If that's true, why didn't he join the conference? He's under thirty, isn't he?" Fa Ma frowned. If Yan Xiao's words held, Master Bai's alchemy was at least fifth-grade—beyond that, Fa Ma dared not hope, a realm he hadn't reached at his age.
Hai Bo Dong said nothing, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
"Enough talk. This is our competition, not Master Bai's. If that lump of charcoal is all you've got, the championship's mine!" Yan Li sneered, waving dismissively at Xiao Yan's cryptic act.
"Heh, you? Win the championship? Dream on. If I lose to you, and he finds out what pill I lost with, he'll mock me for days!" Xiao Yan glanced at the smug Yan Li, lifting the blackened pill. With a swipe, the transparent flame cloaking it vanished, and a rich fragrance burst forth.
"He did it!"
Fa Ma's heart raced, though his face remained tense, eyes glued to the dark pill in Xiao Yan's hand.
"So that guy's not the champion? Yan Xiao is!" Hai Bo Dong said, delighted. He'd rooted for Xiao Yan, not just for his tie to Xiao Bai but for Yao Lao's guidance.
"It's not clear yet. By value, a two-pattern Green Spirit Pill matches the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill. It's hard to judge," Fa Ma said, shaking his head, privately resolving that if Xiao Yan's pill was two-pattern, the championship had to stay in Jia Ma.
Under the crowd's gaze, Xiao Yan leaned toward the pill, blowing gently. The blackened crust flaked off, revealing the pill's true form.
"Fourth-grade pill, Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill!"
He raised it high, his voice booming across the plaza.
"Three… three-pattern!"
"Haha, yes!"
Fa Ma leaped up, staring at the pill's three vibrant colors, his face alight with excitement.
Yan Li gaped at the transformed "charcoal," disbelief clouding his eyes, his face paling.
"I demand to inspect his pill!" Recovering, Yan Li said, unwilling to accept defeat.
"Per conference rules, you have no such right," Fa Ma denied.
"No harm," Xiao Yan said, waving with a smile. "President Fa Ma, let him check."
He handed the pill to Yan Li, unafraid of tricks with Xiao Bai's threat looming.
"Well? If you don't know a Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill, I've got a sample for comparison!" With a flourish, Xiao Yan produced another Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill, like a magic trick.
"Hm?"
Fa Ma, who'd joined them in the field to ensure Yan Li played fair, stared at the new pill in surprise. Stepping closer, he examined it, murmuring, "Perfect! The most flawless Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill I've seen—vivid colors, dense energy, and a unique vitality!"
"Little friend Yan Xiao, did you refine this before?" Fa Ma asked, eyeing him skeptically.
"Er, no," Xiao Yan's smile faltered, shaking his head awkwardly. "I refined… the one he's holding."
"Then this is—"
"Little Yan, wrap this up and get back. Your Brother Bai's about to succeed!" Yao Lao's voice echoed in his mind.
Xiao Yan started. He knew Xiao Bai was refining the Soul Spirit Liquid today but hadn't expected it so soon.
Meeting Fa Ma's puzzled gaze, he was about to speak when a brilliant light pierced the dimming sky, forcing his eyes to squint.
"What's that?" Gasps erupted across the plaza.
A dazzling seven-colored pillar shot skyward from a spot in the city, piercing the clouds.
"That pillar carries a rich pill fragrance. Someone's refining a high-tier pill in the city!" Fa Ma said, awestruck by the pillar's potent energy.
"Who… Gu He?"
"Its energy far exceeds a standard sixth-grade pill. Has his alchemy broken through to this level after so long?"
The plaza buzzed, alchemists' faces flushed with excitement, staring at the pillar. It symbolized their ultimate pursuit as alchemists.
A sixth-grade alchemist—the only one in Jia Ma!
"Fa Old Man, is it really Gu He?" Jia Xing Tian asked, envy flashing in his eyes as he gazed at the pillar.
Only at times like this does a high-tier alchemist's might shine!
How fortunate is the Yun Lan Sect!
"Probably… not Gu He," Hai Bo Dong said, joining them, his shock lingering. His expression was odd.
That pillar rose from the courtyard Xiao Bai had bought, didn't it?
Coupled with Xiao Yan's earlier words, an answer he'd thought impossible surfaced.
"Not Gu He? Then who? Is there another in Jia Ma who can refine sixth-grade pills?" Jia Xing Tian spun, staring at Hai Bo Dong, his excitement mounting.
"Heh, ask our little friend Yan Xiao!" Hai Bo Dong, now thrilled, grinned at Xiao Yan, winking.
Fa Ma and Jia Xing Tian turned to Xiao Yan, a black-robed figure flashing in their minds. Could it be…
The crowd, overhearing, pricked up their ears, eager to know who this sixth-grade alchemist was.
"The one who refined this Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill," Xiao Yan said, squirming under countless gazes. Scanning the crowd, he shrugged and said slowly, "My Brother Bai!"
The plaza fell silent. Those who knew Xiao Bai gaped, stunned that the mysterious Master Bai was a sixth-grade alchemist. Those unaware blinked in confusion. Who's this "Brother Bai," the conference champion's mentor?
"It really is him!"
Fa Ma shook his head with a wry smile, recalling his regret yesterday that Xiao Bai wasn't an alchemist.
Ashamed! He just doesn't bother—he doesn't even see us alchemists as worth his time!
His reply, "everyone has their path," now felt perfectly apt.
"It's truly Master Bai!"
Jia Xing Tian's eyes blazed, fists clenched in excitement. That old friend's recovery might depend on this man!
Yan Li, hearing this, lost interest in inspecting the pill. The one controlling him was a high-tier alchemist!
No wonder his methods were so eerie, and this kid kept dismissing my fourth-grade as trash!
In front of sixth-grade, fourth-grade is pretty trash.
Shaking his head bitterly, Yan Li's eyes suddenly lit up. Having a sixth-grade backer… doesn't sound bad!
"Master!"
Nalan Yanran, catching their conversation, gasped, stunned. Turning, she said, "Sister Ya Fei, did you know Master was an alchemist?"
No reply came. Glancing over, she saw Ya Fei dazed, her peach-blossom eyes a swirl of joy, realization, resentment, and sorrow.
No need to ask—her expression says she didn't know either. And how can one look convey so many emotions? And why do I understand it?
Nalan Yanran shook her head, baffled.
"Fa Ma, wrap this up. Let's pay Master Bai a visit. Judging by the commotion, half the city's heading there!" Jia Xing Tian urged impatiently.
Fa Ma gave a wry laugh, seeing everyone's attention fixed on the sky-piercing pillar.
This was the most intense, highest-level Alchemist Conference ever—and now it had ended like this!
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