On the last floor of the Tower, a meeting centered around Kent was taking place without him even being aware of it.
If he had been aware, he would have probably been blown away by the kind of people attending this meeting and the topic of their discussion.
The queen of an entire kingdom was present, meaning she wasn't as righteous as she appeared. Many saw her as a Saint, but she is one scheming demon.
But that was to be expected, for one could never tell what was truly in another's heart.
A few hours after everyone arrived, a peak Transcendent appeared inside the large hall.
"Wele, everyone, to this year's Pill Master petition," he began. "Before I start, who among you doesn't have a pill badge?"
A few dozen raised their hands, Kent being one of them.
A pill badge is something all alchemists possess, which can be used to determine their rank. It was issued when one became a Pill Master.
At the Master stage, it was just a pill badge; however, the moment they became Pill Grandmasters, they would receive a new badge by taking the Pill Upgrade Exams.
The moment they received the new badge, which was actually a soul item, it was linked to their soul. As they advanced in their path, it continuously documented their achievements.
It would also change color, reflecting one's progress in pill cultivation. Looking closely, Kent could tell that the badges hanging from either their chests or waist belts were all blue.
"Don't worry if you don't have one. Right after my announcement, you can register and obtain a blue badge, which will officially make you a Pill Master.
You all will start as one-star Pill Masters, but during the contest, if you surpass that level, your badge will be updated accordingly."
The badge, in addition to its color, had five stars.
One star indicated that one's pill purity had reached 70%, two stars signified 80% purity, three meant 90%, four meant 95% purity, and five stars represented the pinnacle of pill mastery.
Kent smirked when he saw the three-star badges on the seven geniuses.
Naturally, nobody had ever obtained a five-star pill badge. Those can be found in the Elvin empire, where alchemy is well practiced.
But the badge here is the same in the Elvin empire. Since it was a universal item, it couldn't be manipulated, so no one had ever reached that level.
However, the Saints had four-star badges, showcasing their mastery and deep understanding of the pill path.
"Now that we are done with the issue of badges and registration, know that the petition will take place in four forms: Spiritual Strength Testing, Memory Testing, Problem-Solving, and what we all love—the actual concoction trials.
This time, the spiritual testing will be measured at the peak of the Green Grade. This means that if your soul strength is below the Tier 4 stage, you will be disqualified."
A collective sigh escaped many lips. Those who knew they wouldn't progress any further sighed, for they truly had no chance.
Their soul strength was simply too weak.
"Second, you will be presented with thousands of pill recipes, and you will be given a short time to memorize and record them afterward. The stronger your memory, the better.
The third test will involve fixing recipes selected from the second test, so the better your memory, the further you will go.
There will be mistakes in them, so all you have to do is memorise as many recipes as you can, and when the time es, you can easily fix them.
As for the final challenge, the concocting petition will continue until the first-place winner is determined.
Now, before you all celebrate, know that only Tier 3 pills will be concocted this time, and the minimum acceptable purity is 60%."
Once again, heavy sighs filled the room, showing that many lacked confidence. Only a handful remained calm—those who were sure they could pass the trials.
"First, I know you are all ambitious. You want to impress the Saints. While that is admirable, understand that disgracing yourself will tarnish your reputation, as powerful figures will be present.
You wouldn't want to leave them with a bad impression.
Rumor has it that the Master of the Silver Leaf Auction House will be attending. So, if you know you can't handle the trials I mentioned, return and train harder. Your chance may e again in two years.
Second, each of you will receive one cauldron and ingredients for three potions. However, you are required to have your own cauldron as a backup."
Everyone nodded in acknowledgment.
"Very well. Those who have yet to register, proceed through that entrance and plete your registration. Tomorrow, be here before 10, as even a minute of lateness will result in automatic disqualification."
After the announcement, everyone dispersed, with Kent obtaining his badge before leaving. When he returned to the hotel, Lady Lani and Nara were not around, so he simply went to sleep.
Unlike those who cultivated every spare moment, he didn't bother. His ladies told him not to focus on that, so he sleeps like a baby every night.
The next morning, he dressed up and went to pick up the ladies, who had returned the previous evening after touring the city and catching up on lost time from when Nara was—allegedly—dead.
After picking them up, they headed to the Pill Tower for the first day of the petition. When they arrived, only 45 participants, including Kent, were present. All seven geniuses had arrived before him.
The contestant doors were locked just under an hour later. Only 62 participants had arrived in time.
Kent was given a card with the number 46 on it, meaning he would be the 46th contestant to take the test.
Some people arrived a few minutes after the doors were locked but were not allowed in. Their lateness to the Pill Tower was a clear sign that they were neither serious nor ready for the contest.
"Good morning, everyone." The same elder who had made the previous announcement appeared and spoke.
"I wele you all to this year's Pill Master petition. Having traveled from afar to witness these brilliant minds, it is an honor to have you here.
Before we begin, I would like to announce that the Seven Pill Saints will grant the winner of this year's petition a wish. If it is within their power, they will fulfill it.
With that said, let the first petition begin."
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