The sound of applause was still echoing through the stands when Grand Master Sun Wei raised his right hand once more. Silence then fell like a heavy curtain, instant and absolute.
He remained at the center of the arena, his silver-gray robe rippling slightly in the wind. His voice, amplified by Qi, resounded clear and authoritative.
"First phase concluded. Now begins the second phase."
He paused briefly, allowing anticipation to build.
"In this phase, the focus is not only on individual quality. It is efficiency, speed, and complete mastery of the refinent process."
"You will have total freedom to choose what to produce. Any pill, of any rank, as long as you use exclusively the ingredients that the Circle of Clouds will provide."
A murmur of surprise and excitent spread through the stands. Total freedom was sothing rare in competitions of this level.
Sun Wei continued, raising his voice just enough to reinforce the gravity.
"The rules are simple."
"You must produce at least seven pills, all with purity above sixty-five percent. The higher the rank of the pills, the higher the score."
"Only the top twenty-five scores will advance to the third phase. You will have two hours starting from the bell."
"Ingredients will be delivered in sealed boxes shortly. Begin preparing your cauldrons."
He finished with a broad gesture.
A spiritual bell rang once more. Deep, prolonged, final.
Imdiately, servants of the Circle of Clouds appeared in perfect lines, carrying boxes of black jade sealed with preservation runes.
Each box contained a fixed quantity of herbs and essences sufficient to produce dozens of pills, but not an infinite number.
It was a test of strategic choice. Spend everything on a few high-rank pills or secure volu with mid-rank pills?
i Li leaned toward Kyrian, whispering quickly and low.
"This phase is cruel. If soone makes seven Rank 1 or Rank 2 pills, which practically everyone here could do with ease, they’ll be eliminated on the spot."
"The judge won’t even need to look twice. To pass among the top twenty-five, you have to risk at least Rank 3 pills and ideally try so Rank 4s. The higher the rank, the more points. But the higher the rank, the greater the risk of total failure."
Kyrian nodded almost imperceptibly. His eyes were already fixed on Sun Hao again, trying to learn more.
The young man did not waste ti.
As soon as he received his box, he opened it calmly.
There was no hesitation. He separated the ingredients into precise groups, arranging them in concentric circles around the black jade cauldron.
He ignited the two flas once more. The red-orange one for initial heating and the pale-blue one for surgical refinent.
In less than five minutes, the first Rank 3 pill was already floating before him. A Spirit Condensation Pill, with silvery veins running across the surface. Purity visible to the naked eye.
Next ca the second. A Rank 3 Foundation Stabilization Pill.
A third pill followed soon after. A Rank 3 ridian Purification Pill.
The fourth already carried a more intense glow. A Core Strengthening Pill, Rank 4.
With each pill completed, the scent of pure spiritual energy spread through the arena.
The stands erupted in murmurs.
"Already four... in less than fifteen minutes?"
"He’s making Rank 3 pills like they’re Rank 1..."
"Look at the purity... all above seventy-five percent. This is insane."
Sun Hao did not stop.
The fifth pill. A Rapid Qi Regeneration Pill, Rank 3, peak.
Then ca the sixth and the seventh. And finally, as if it were sothing casual, he produced the eighth with the remaining herbs. Another Rank 4 Core Strengthening Pill. With even higher purity than the previous one.
Thirty minutes.
Only thirty minutes for eight pills, two of them Rank 4.
A stunned silence fell over the stands before exploding into deafening applause.
"Thirty minutes... eight pills!"
"Two Rank 4s! Who can do that?"
"Sun Hao isn’t human..."
i Li let out a low sigh, almost incredulous.
"He finished before half the ti. And still produced two Rank 4 pills. If the others try to keep up with this pace, half the cauldrons will explode."
As Sun Hao calmly stepped away from the cauldron, other participants began to show results.
Liang Chen, from House Liang, finished seven pills in a little over an hour. Five Rank 3 and two early Rank 4. His expression was tense, sweat streaming down his forehead, but he succeeded. The crowd applauded loudly.
Zhao Yu, from House Zhao, managed six Rank 3 and one Rank 4, finishing with seventy-eight percent purity on the last one. His control over ethereal fla was visible, the flas dancing in shades of blue and violet, almost like liquid water.
Other nas that the nobles had ntioned earlier also stood out.
An unknown young man produced seven Rank 3 pills, all above seventy percent purity. He did not risk Rank 4, but his consistency was impeccable.
The disciple from the Wei Family, who had been praised earlier, managed only six Rank 3 pills before failing on the seventh. The cauldron cracked at the last mont. He was eliminated with an expression of despair.
An old independent alchemist, whom no one expected, surprised everyone by producing seven Rank 3 pills and one Rank 4 with seventy-two percent purity. He had no famous na, but his ancient technique of slow and patient fla drew attention.
anwhile, explosions continued to occur.
A green jade cauldron exploded into green flas, burning its owner’s arm. Another participant tried to force a Rank 4 pill too early and ended up with a misshapen mass of ashes. A third simply collapsed from ntal exhaustion after the sixth pill.
i Li whispered again.
"Look... many are trying Rank 4 now. If they succeed with one or two, they pass easily. But if they fail, they lose everything."
Kyrian watched without blinking.
He noticed the patterns.
Those who attempted Rank 4 pills too early almost always failed. Those who first made Rank 3 to gain confidence and then moved up to Rank 4 had better chances.
Sun Hao had done the opposite. He started with Rank 3 to warm up the process and then escalated to Rank 4 without visible effort.
’He isn’t competing with the others. He’s competing with himself. His limit is much higher than theirs.’
The two hours ran out.
The bell rang again.
"Ti’s up!"
The cauldrons that were still active were imdiately sealed by the auxiliary elders. Anyone who had not completed seven pills was eliminated on the spot.
Then ca the final count.
Grand Master Sun Wei returned to the center.
"From the second phase, 87 participants began. 42 managed to produce at least seven pills with purity above sixty-five percent. The rest are eliminated."
A new collective sigh.
"As for the scores... Sun Hao leads absolutely with eight pills. Six Rank 3 and two Rank 4, average purity of seventy-eight percent. No one ca close."
Deafening applause.
"In second, Liang Chen with seven pills. Five Rank 3 and two Rank 4, average purity of seventy-three percent."
"In third, Zhao Yu with seven pills. Six Rank 3 and one Rank 4, average purity of seventy-one percent. The others range between sixty-eight percent and seventy percent."
"The top twenty-five advance to the third phase. The nas will be announced shortly."
The old man looked directly at Sun Hao.
’As expected.’
Sun Hao rely inclined his head.
Kyrian observed the scene in silence.
i Li whispered, almost to herself.
"If he wins today, there won’t be competition in the future. The Circle of Clouds will belong to him."
Kyrian did not respond, but he thought the sa.
The third phase would be announced soon.
And even without being in the arena, Kyrian already felt that this competition was teaching him more than any fight ever could.
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