Bamboo Sea Manor, central venue.
On the high stage.
Half an hour had passed.
The competition between the three had a ti limit of one hour.
They had to refine an Elixir within that hour.
As for Ning Jiang, the crowd was overwhelmingly predicting his failure.
But Ning Jiang remained expressionless. Why would he care about any of this?
Unmoved by the eight winds, he sat serenely upon his Purple Gold Lotus.
"What a rich aroma."
A dicinal fragrance wafted out from Yan Ziling’s and Lü Dong’s Pill Cauldrons, causing a stir throughout the venue.
Everyone was carefully observing the two’s Alchemy. For the many Alchemists present, being able to witness a contest between two Alchemy Masters was a precious opportunity.
As for Ning Jiang, he was ignored by most.
"His Alchemy technique is as smooth as flowing clouds and water. Yan Ziling is truly worthy of being personally taught by a Grandmaster. Even I can learn sothing from his thods."
Fu Shan sighed in admiration, his evaluation of Yan Ziling quite high.
"Although Lü Dong is a full cycle older than Yan Ziling and more experienced, I’m afraid he’s in a dangerous position in this competition."
Highland also spoke up at this mont. As the fourth-ranked Alchemy Master in Luoyang City, his words naturally carried great weight.
As ti went on, the fragrance emanating from Yan Ziling’s and Lü Dong’s Pill Cauldrons grew richer and richer.
anwhile, there was no activity at all from Ning Jiang’s station.
"The fragrance is spreading more than a hundred feet. That ans the Elixir must be of High Grade quality," an Alchemist whispered, his eyes burning with excitent.
A fragrance that spreads a hundred feet is one way to identify a High Grade Elixir.
If it reaches over a thousand feet, it’s a Treasure Elixir.
As for the even rarer Supre Grade Elixirs, they form Pill Patterns and their fragrance is contained. Only at the very mont of completion will they release a single burst of aroma, one that can travel for ten thousand feet.
To the Alchemists present, a Supre Grade Elixir was the stuff of legends, sothing only Pill King Lu Changsheng could refine.
"There’s not even a hint of dicinal fragrance from that kid’s Pill Cauldron. Does he even know how to perform Alchemy?"
Soone voiced their doubt. Ning Jiang’s station was simply too quiet, unlike Yan Ziling and the other, whose fragrant aromas were overflowing and refreshing to the soul.
"He’s just a bold, arrogant fool who doesn’t know his own limits. Once the Alchemy is over, his true, boastful nature will be exposed. But since he dared to insult Grandmaster Tan Jinglin and show no respect for a Grandmaster, death is his only path today," many Alchemists said coldly.
A Grandmaster cannot be insulted.
Moreover, to them, an Alchemy Grandmaster held an incomparably noble status—an existence they admired and aspired to beco. That Ning Jiang would dare to insult this sacred figure in their hearts naturally filled them with rage.
"I’d advise you not to hold out any hope for him."
Wei Yanran walked over to Ning Yu’an. She couldn’t help but steal a few more glances at her, forced to admit internally that, in terms of looks, Ning Yu’an was in no way inferior to herself.
"The competition isn’t over. How can you possibly know the result?" Ning Yu’an couldn’t stand Wei Yanran’s disdain for Ning Jiang.
"I don’t need to wait for the end. I can state with absolute certainty that he’s dood to lose," Wei Yanran said, her tone decisive.
"On what grounds?" Ning Yu’an snorted coldly.
"On the grounds that I am the number one Alchemist of Luoyang’s younger generation. On the grounds that my master is Du Wanqing, Luoyang’s number one Alchemy Master. And what’s more, Yan Ziling’s master is a Grandmaster of his generation, renowned throughout Cyan Cloud. And him? What does he have? Does he have a master like mine? Does he have guidance from an Alchemy Grandmaster like Yan Ziling does?"
Wei Yanran said coldly, "He has nothing. On what grounds could he possibly win?"
Hearing this, Ning Yu’an clenched her fists.
It was true. Ning Jiang had nothing—not a background like Wei Yanran’s, and certainly not the guidance of a Grandmaster like Yan Ziling.
How could soone with nothing win against a prodigy like Yan Ziling?
"You’re right. My little brother has nothing."
When Wei Yanran heard this, she thought Ning Yu’an was about to concede. But to her surprise, Ning Yu’an’s expression was firm, her voice ringing with conviction, "But so what? No matter when, no matter where, I will always believe in my little brother. Even if the heavens themselves told he would lose, I wouldn’t care."
"My little brother can stand as tall as heaven and earth, and shine as brightly as the sun and moon!"
"Wei Yanran, perhaps you think you’re impressive, so you look down on my little brother. But in my eyes, you are but the glow of a firefly on decaying grass, while my little brother is the brilliant moon in the sky."
Ning Yu’an’s words were each spoken with extre conviction, as unshakeable as a mountain.
Wei Yanran’s expression turned icy. "This confidence of yours is nothing but blind faith. Let’s see how you feel after he loses."
"You lost to Yan Ziling too. You’re just soone he defeated. What right do you have to look down on my little brother?" Ning Yu’an’s words were sharp.
"It’s true that I lost to Yan Ziling, but it’s not because I’m inferior to him. It’s just that he has the guidance of a Grandmaster, giving him a slight edge in his circumstances."
As Wei Yanran spoke, sothing else seed to occur to her, and a look of yearning appeared in her eyes. "If I had the guidance of that mysterious senior Pill King, Yan Ziling would be the one losing today."
"Wei Yanran, more words are useless. Since you believe my little brother will lose, I’ll make a bet with you. If my little brother loses, he will forfeit his life, and I will not live on alone. I’ll wager my life. If he loses, my life is yours."
Ning Yu’an’s expression was calm, without a hint of hesitation. "If you lose, I don’t want your life. All I want is for you to give my little brother a sincere apology!"
"You’re hopelessly stubborn. Since you insist, I’ll take that bet." Wei Yanran shook her head, not believing for a second that she could lose.
On the high stage.
Only the ti it takes for an incense stick to burn remained of the one-hour limit.
"Alchemy Master Lü Dong is about to finish," soone said.
Sure enough, a smile appeared on Lü Dong’s face.
"Haha, it’s done!" Lü Dong laughed, taking the Elixir from within his cauldron.
"The Elixir’s fragrance is spreading two hundred feet. The quality of this High Grade Elixir is quite good," Highland comnted.
Even among High Grade Elixirs, there were different tiers of quality.
"Judging by the fragrance alone, Alchemy Master Lü Dong and Yan Ziling are about the sa right now. I’d say the outco of this match is hard to predict."
"Not necessarily. Yan Ziling isn’t finished yet."
Just as people were talking, the fragrance from Yan Ziling’s Pill Cauldron suddenly surged. Previously, his aroma had been about the sa as Lü Dong’s.
But at that mont, the fragrance’s reach suddenly extended by about fifty feet.
The joyful expression on Lü Dong’s face instantly vanished, replaced by a stiff mask.
Yan Ziling, on the other hand, satisfyingly retrieved the Elixir from his Pill Cauldron.
The fragrance of his Elixir spread two hundred fifty feet, one-upping Lü Dong.
The outco was clear at a glance.
"Thank you for going easy on , Alchemy Master Lü Dong," Yan Ziling said, cupping his fists toward Lü Dong.
"Worthy of a Grandmaster Disciple. The student has surpassed the master. A loss is a loss, there’s no need to talk about you going easy on ." Lü Dong snorted, but he was a man who could accept defeat gracefully, admitting his loss frankly.
"You are too kind, Master," Yan Ziling said with a nod.
"Sigh, I finally understand why Grandmaster Tan Jinglin brought Yan Ziling to Luoyang City."
Highland sighed. "He clearly intends for his disciple to make his official debut and step onto the grand stage of Alchemists. Luoyang City is just Yan Ziling’s first step. First, he suppressed Wei Yanran, the leader of Luoyang’s younger generation, and then he defeated an Alchemy Master. He has already built up his prestige. Next, I’m afraid Grandmaster Tan Jinglin will take him to travel the four corners of the world."
Fu Shan agreed. "Back in the day, Pill King Lu Changsheng also ca up through a series of competitions, traveling all over Cyan Cloud, challenging Alchemists everywhere, and ultimately achieving the title of Pill King, his fa spreading throughout the world."
Looking at Yan Ziling now, people felt as if they were seeing the Lu Changsheng of the past.
Although Yan Ziling might be slightly inferior to Lu Changsheng, he was still a top-five prodigy.
"Brother Ziling’s Alchemy skills leave in awe. With your strength, Brother Ziling, I’m afraid you could even compete with the disciples of a Pill King," Fei Hai hurriedly flattered.
He had co this ti precisely to befriend Yan Ziling.
All around, a chorus of congratulations erupted.
At this mont, Yan Ziling was the center of attention, radiant and dazzling, capturing the hearts of countless won in the audience.
"You whelp, are you still not going to admit defeat?" Fei Hai shouted at Ning Jiang.
All eyes turned toward Ning Jiang.
There was still no dicinal fragrance coming from Ning Jiang’s station. This situation caused many of the Alchemists present to look on with disdain.
"Only an Inferior Grade Elixir would cause a situation like this," one Alchemist sneered.
"If you admit defeat now and kowtow in apology for insulting my esteed master, I can still spare your life," Yan Ziling said, looking coldly at Ning Jiang.
"Who said I’ve lost?" Ning Jiang slowly raised his eyes.
"There’s no dicinal fragrance in your Pill Cauldron. If that’s not a loss, what is? Even now, you’re still going to be stubborn to the end? Don’t you realize everyone here sees you as a joke?" said Yan Ziling.
"A gaggle of second-rate Alchemists. Why would I care about their opinions?"
Ning Jiang’s gaze lowered. "Yan Ziling, you are too ignorant. You only know how to judge an Elixir by its fragrance, but you don’t know that a truly first-class Alchemist can lock in the fragrance during Alchemy to maintain the Elixir’s optimal quality. Only at the mont of completion will the fragrance erupt."
"Today, I’ll let you see just how laughable your pathetic level of skill really is!"
Ning Jiang’s words enraged the entire audience.
"Even now, you still think he’ll win?" Wei Yanran asked.
"Yes," Ning Yu’an replied, unshaken.
Seeing her stubbornness, Wei Yanran shook her head. ’She just refuses to admit she’s wrong. Once the results are out, I imagine she’ll finally give up all hope, won’t she?’
"Huh? What’s that fragrance?"
Wei Yanran paused, her gaze shifting toward the high stage.
A faint dicinal fragrance had finally begun to emanate from Ning Jiang’s Pill Cauldron.
At first, the aroma was very light and wasn’t given much thought.
But after just a single breath, the fragrance was like a bursting dam, an erupting volcano, venting forth with wild abandon.
One hundred feet.
Two hundred feet.
Three hundred feet.
Five hundred feet.
Before everyone’s shocked gazes, the Elixir’s fragrance continued to spread, until... seven hundred feet.
Only then did it stop!
"How is that possible? How?! Even the High Grade Elixirs my master refines... only have a fragrance of five or six hundred feet!"
Wei Yanran, who always had an icy deanor, now wore an expression of pure shock on her exquisite, beautiful face. Even her voice trembled involuntarily.
Luoyang, the fifteenth of the twelfth month.
Night.
Ning Jiang perford Alchemy, and the Elixir’s fragrance spread seven hundred feet.
The entire venue was shaken!
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