In the middle of the vacant land, Gu Yao has entered a state of selflessness, excluding everything around him. His eyes are fixed only on the pill furnace in front of him and the spirit grass beside him.
Still using the same intermediate pill furnace, skillfully igniting the fire vein stone, each spirit grass is put into the furnace, expertly refining and removing impurities. With an unusually focused expression, not even halfway through, the confidence of the Danfeng Academy students who came to assist starts to weaken. They exchange glances, realizing this individual's alchemical talent should not be underestimated; certainly not someone seeking mere reputation.
The higher the grade of spirit grass, the more firmly the impurities are bound with the spiritual energy, making them increasingly difficult to remove. It demands corresponding requirements for the cultivator's spiritual power and consciousness. However, Gu Yao effortlessly begins the refinement, showing no signs of struggling like the first time refining these spirit grasses. Could it be that he has previously refined Revitalizing Pills? Those are high-level pills!
"Is he just putting on a show? He's definitely going to slip up soon. Just wait and see," someone skeptically remarks.
However, individuals like Liu Lingge are genuinely alarmed. Gu Yao's material refinement speed is not slower than Li Shurong's. Unless he fails to remove impurities cleanly, could it be that he has truly refined all those high-grade pills? If that's the case, his alchemical talent is no less than the Peak Master's direct disciples. Liu Lingge suddenly feels the pressure, secretly hoping for Gu Yao's failure.
The onlookers, who initially dismissed the situation, gradually become more serious. Gu Yao's performance is not just for show; he has genuine skill. Observing his speed in refining spirit grasses, he has even surpassed Li Shurong.
If the refined spirit grasses are subpar, the final quality of the pill will determine everything.
The surrounding voices gradually diminish, and more people cast curious glances at Gu Yao. His every move exudes a profound calmness, reminiscent of a master. However, such thoughts only briefly flash in the minds of a few, as it seems too improbable.
After the completion of refining the spirit grass, it is essential to follow the principles of sovereign, minister, and assistant to merge different spirit fluids, forming a cohesive whole. Any mistake in this process could lead to conflicts between the diverse spirit fluids, potentially causing an explosion in the furnace.
Gu Yao effortlessly pinches the pill technique, and his consciousness interacts with the pill technique. Even the unruly spirit fluids obediently merge with others. The pill furnace undergoes drastic changes, accompanied by rumbling sounds from within. The originally diverse medicinal scents of the spirit grasses begin to blend, gradually leaving only a rich fragrance in the air.
"This is... the pill fragrance of the Revitalizing Pill?! Is the pill already forming in the furnace?"
"Heavens, is it really forming? I can't believe it!"
"Didn't you see Master Gu pinching the pill technique? If he didn't reach this step, there would be no need for it. Who knows how many Revitalizing Pills he can produce!"
Invisible changes occur in the way many address Gu Yao, shifting from "that new student" or "that overconfident guy" to "Junior Brother Gu" or "Master Gu." Especially when they notice Li Shurong lagging behind Gu Yao.
The Danfeng Academy members are filled with astonishment and skepticism; this is impossible!
They silently scream within themselves, utterly impossible! Those are high-level pills!
The fragrance of the Revitalizing Pill becomes increasingly potent, intoxicating some who feel their spiritual power replenishing. Round pills roll out of the furnace, colliding with the furnace walls, producing a pleasant tinkling sound that is music to many ears.
At this point, if anyone questions Gu Yao's alchemical skills or suspects him of seeking fame, it becomes utterly laughable. He not only possesses alchemical skills but is a highly accomplished alchemist!
"Collect the pills!"
The lid of the furnace is lifted, and round pills fly out, eagerly diving into the jade bottle held by Gu Yao. As the lid closes, the intense pill fragrance dissipates. Some who were immersed in the fragrance a moment ago reveal disappointed expressions.
"How many pills? What is their quality?"
"Nine pills, and as for the quality... hard to say."
Everyone present knows the significance of nine pills from a single furnace, and the quality is bound to be high. Judging by the fragrance alone, the better the fragrance, the purer the quality.
Liu Lingge's expression becomes unpleasant, and her hand clenches into a fist beneath her sleeve. This person... is a ninth-grade senior alchemist?! How is that possible? He is only a fifth-level Qi Refiner, and she needs to reach the seventh level to refine high-level pills. A fifth-level cultivation can't possibly support it!
What does this imply? It suggests that Gu Yao's alchemical talent far exceeds hers. Their provocation against Gu Yao now appears as a colossal joke in the eyes of the entire academy. Liu Lingge's face turns pale.
After a while, Li Shurong finally finishes his alchemy. He had closed off his perception during the process since crafting the Revitalizing Pill requires full concentration. He produces four low-grade Revitalizing Pills, wearing a satisfied smile on his face. He looks around, ready to receive congratulations and witness the defeated expressions of his competitors.
However, the scene is quieter than initially expected. Upon scanning the area, he sees many faces displaying complex emotions—some reluctant, others struggling to find words. Some students from the same peak wear restrained expressions.
"Liu Senior Sister, what's happening?" The situation is far from what Li Shurong anticipated. He turns to Liu Lingge.
Defeat! Li Shurong has failed!
However, Liu Lingge cannot articulate these words clearly. Reality has slapped her hard; even if she were in the arena, she wouldn't be able to defeat Gu Yao!
"Let me act as a judge to evaluate your results," Zhou Lilang says, walking out with a smile. "If anyone doubts me, feel free to come forward for verification."
"I'll join in the fun too." Tao Yue steps forward, laughing gently. She is equally astonished; high-level pills were effortlessly crafted, and Gu Yao's alchemical skills clearly surpass Li Shurong's. Tao Yue is eager to closely inspect the quality of the Revitalizing Pills Gu Yao produced.
"Count me in as well." Another clear voice rings out. Everyone turns to see Jiang Yan appearing seemingly out of nowhere. Even those near him didn't notice when he arrived. Not because Jiang Yan moves too quietly, but everyone was captivated by the central performance and forgot about their surroundings.
Jiang Yan casually walks forward, a faint smile on his lips, appearing as refreshing as a breeze. Both Zhou Lilang and Tao Yue step back, giving way for him to take the main position.
Jiang Yan doesn't decline and walks directly to Gu Yao.Observing the situation of the pills refined by Gu Yao is one thing, but it's also essential to see how Gu Yao himself is doing. Seeing that he has only slightly depleted his spiritual power and consciousness, Jiang Yan silently stands behind him without uttering a word.
Tian Feirong and the chubby guy quickly step forward, brimming with joy. The chubby guy seems to have forgotten about carrying the blame.
Jiang Yan extends his slender, jade-like fingers, first picking up the jade bottle in front of Gu Yao. He pours out a Revitalizing Pill, his eyes showing a hint of surprise. He looks at Gu Yao, then scans the surroundings before pinching the pill between his two fingertips. "High-grade Revitalizing Pill, Alchemist Gu Yao. A total of nine pills formed, three high-grade, six medium-grade." A stir erupts in the crowd. The challenge between a Danfeng alchemist and an unknown student had already caused a commotion in the Outer Court. Numerous students gathered to witness it, making the area congested. Hearing this result, the commotion intensifies. Without even checking the opponent's results, it's enough to prove Gu Yao's extraordinary alchemical skills and his victory.
Jiang Yan turns and tosses the jade bottle to Zhou Lilang, who confirms the result after inspection. Tao Yue does the same, and she doesn't hide her expression of astonishment and joy.
Jiang Yan walks towards Li Shurong's side, intending to take the jade bottle, but Li Shurong abruptly snatches it away. His face alternates between pale and blue, his voice urgent. "No need to look. I concede this round! Senior Sister Liu, it's your turn."
Hearing Jiang Yan's announcement, Li Shurong knows that not only has he lost, but he has lost all face. He concedes defeat, hastily packing up the pill furnace, and disregards the onlookers as he hurriedly departs.
Seeing Li Shurong leave her behind like this, Liu Lingge's face undergoes various changes, presenting a captivating spectacle.
Initially holding a contemptuous attitude, not taking Gu Yao seriously, Liu Lingge believed it was just a formality, a chance to gain fame and teach an ignorant person a lesson. Unexpectedly, now she finds herself in a difficult situation.
Leave? She is unwilling. Perhaps Li Shurong just had bad luck. Maybe the opponent happened to excel at Revitalizing Pills, but it doesn't necessarily mean he's skilled with other types of pills. Every alchemist accumulates experience through numerous failures before achieving success. How many times has Gu Yao really crafted pills at his age? So, she doesn't believe Gu Yao can perform equally well with other types of pills.
Stay? But what if she loses both face and substance like Li Shurong? How can she salvage her dignity?
On the Dan Peak, there are plenty of people eager to replace her and Li Shurong.
"Sister, Clear Spirit Pill," a female Danfeng student whispers.
In the end, Liu Lingge grits her teeth and stays. She suggests, "Let's compete with the Clear Spirit Pill, shall we?"
The Clear Spirit Pill maintains clarity in the spiritual platform and is an advanced pill that can prevent the intrusion of demonic forces. Although it is considered an auxiliary pill, its selling price is almost twice that of the Revitalizing Pill. Naturally, its refining difficulty is also higher. Li Shurong had once attempted the Clear Spirit Pill but had never succeeded.
Liu Lingge happens to have some talent for the Clear Spirit Pill. While it may seem like she is taking advantage of the situation, preserving her face is the most crucial thing at the moment. Liu Lingge stares intently at Gu Yao, observing his reaction.
Jiang Yan and others also turn their eyes to Gu Yao. Will he accept the challenge? Even if Gu Yao voluntarily concedes, his reputation has already spread, and it won't be considered a true loss.
Moreover, Gu Yao has just refined the Revitalizing Pill, and his cultivation is only at the fifth level. He hasn't had a proper rest yet.
"Alright, let's compete with the Clear Spirit Pill again," Gu Yao agrees without hesitation.