Whoosh~
A golden pillar of light shot from the cauldron. The sputtering flame suddenly flared and spiraled around the golden pillar in the form of a fire dragon.
Zhuo Fan's hand shifted gestures as he chanted, "Yin turns to yang, a snake transforms into a dragon. Ascend and scale the gates of Heaven!"
Roar!
With another dragon roar, the mixture in the cauldron that Zhuo Fan irrigated flickered with a golden glow. Soon, this golden liquid began to move like a stream, along with the dragon.
As the golden concoction flowed upward, the dragon's aura grew and grew, as if the golden liquid was its blood, its life.
The audience was dumbstruck, including Tianyu's most renowned alchemists. They have forgotten their own refining, watching this unbelievable spectacle.
They had refined for dozens of years, but this was their first time seeing someone doing it with such flair.
As he watched in a daze the slowly rising liquid in the dragon, Vicious Pill King's heart was restless. He began to rush the refining of his own pill, pouring more power into his flame.
Snickering, Zhuo Fan shouted, "Old fool, you're too late. The second round's top spot is for no one else but me."
Zhuo Fan punctuated with a change in his gesture and called out, "Sacred dragon prevailed and returned successfully. Dragon power flows into the fire and gives birth to the pill!"
Hum~
A sudden ripple spread from the light pillar and burst into golden lights that littered the sky.
The fire dragon stuck the light pillar, to turn its head and smashed into the cauldron!
Boom!
The fire dragon's body exploded and formed a fireball. Before the fire passed, the sparkling golden lights gathered around the flaming cauldron. The lights formed a net that tightened the fireball as it shrunk.
With a final heaven-shaking dragon roar, all the golden lights gathered and condescended into a golden pill.
Zhuo Fan beckoned and the pill landed in his hand. He raised it way above him and shouted, "Third-grade pill, Yang Dragon Pill, complete!"
Zhuo Fan's announcement rang in everyone's ears, but they were still in shock, marveling at what they just witnessed. When they recovered, they were gobsmacked.
Especially the alchemists, they found it unimaginable.
Wasn't Grandmaster Song's pill a failure? How did it succeed?
They turned their confused eyes to the judge, Xiao Ya.
Understanding their concerns, Xiao Ya muttered under her breath, before walking to Zhuo Fan. However, she was hesitant about getting anywhere near the pill, even more so about touching it.
Everyone saw how Zhuo Fan made this crazy pill. He poured his very 'essence' into it. Regardless if it was a 3rd grade pill, it was hard for Xiao Ya to even approach it.
"Uh, Grandmaster Song, are you certain it's a 3rd grade pill?" Xiaoya fidgeted in embarrassment.
Arching an eyebrow, Zhuo Fan presented the pill with a sneer, "You're the judge. It's your call. If you can't tell with your eyes, eat it and make your decision."
Xiao Ya's face was twitching, anger bubbling from within. Zhuo Fan was obviously poking fun at her. [Forget about it being a 3rd-grade pill, because of the ingredients, this missy here wouldn't eat it even if it were a 7th grade pill!]
Though, many were eyeing her with expectant gazes. She had no choice but to hold it in and give them an explanation.
She sighed and took the hateful pill, made with, but not limited to, this spiteful man's golden 'essence'. But the moment it landed in her palm she felt it was ice cold to the touch. Why wasn't the pill hot after just being refined by such blazing fire?
Xiao Ya was puzzled and, after more analyzing, she was baffled.
The pill wasn't hot at all and didn't even have a fragrance. Like a mudball, without anything great about it.
[No way! With the show this brat put on, there's no way it's a dud. It is possible for a pill to be this strange?]
Xiao Ya couldn't for the life of her make anything out of it after a long time, "Uh, sorry, Grandmaster Song. I can't tell your Yang Dragon Pill's grade."
The audience was speechless.
All pills had grades! Was she saying this pill was made of waste and was beneath grading?
Listening to the endless comments, Zhuo Fan smiled, "Then why not eat it and feel for its grade?"
The crowd cheered, "Eat, eat, eat…"
Xiao Ya felt pained, glaring at Zhuo Fan. She now looked at the pill in her hands on the verge of tears.
It was great if it was a real pill. If not, [Doesn't that just mean I drank his pee?]
Xiao Ya was in a pickle, not knowing what to do!
Suddenly an aged voice came, "Judge, no need to eat it. Split the pill and you can discern its grade. Only…"
"What only? Anyways! We'll do it as Grandmaster Liu suggests!"
Xiao Ya was grasping straws at this point. She gave thanks for his help and split the pill.
Whoosh!
Golden mist drifted from within, still containing the roars of dragons. The pill fragrance instantly swept the whole arena.
With each whiff, the people's soul shuddered and their Yuan Qi surging!
It was already strong without taking it. How great would it be once it was eaten then? It was no longer just a 3rd grade pill…
They all waited for Xiao Ya's verdict.
She was also out of it as she cried, "I-it's a 5th-grade pill!"
Her answer caused chaos. What in god's name was that secret skill? How did he make a 5th-grade pill from 2nd-grade pill ingredients?
Where did this Grandmaster Song come from?
"Wait!"
Xiao Ya blinked and sported doubt on her face, "This pill just dropped a grade. It's now a 4th-grade pill…"
The people were again shocked.
This was too damn odd! [We never heard of a pill that drops in grade!]
Xiao Ya then followed with, "It's now 3rd grade, 2nd, 1st.."
Xiao Ya's voice made the audience's heart skip. Then, Xiao Ya took a deep breath watching everyone perplexed, "I-I am correct. This pill… lost all of its effects…"
She watched the split pill in her hand, "These are only waste!"
Silent as the grave!
None could utter a single sound. A pill could actually have its effect fade only leaving behind waste?
This was too bizarre! The pill wasn't alive so how could it run away?
But even if it was and ran away, there were too many people here for it to get out alive.
"Grandmaster Song, w-what is this?" Xiao Ya spoke with a trembling voice.
Zhuo Fan shrugged, "I told you to eat it, but now it's too late!"
She should've known this punk would mess with her. So she ignored him and looked at the rest of the alchemists.
It was only now that Vicious Pill King withdrew his flame and held a red pill. He sighed, "I didn't think I'd be a step behind! But it still isn't too late."
He then threw the pill to Xiao Ya.
She cried, "As expected of Vicious Pill King! This is a 4th grade pill. Your skill is marvelous to refine such a pill with only 2nd grade pill ingredients."
Though she sang praises, her words didn't get the expected reaction from the crowd. They only oh-ed and ah-ed.
Seeing Zhuo Fan's heaven shaking secret skill, who would dare utter the words marvelous skill? Even Vicious Pill King just closes his eyes, striking a lonely figure.
"Uh, what's wrong with everyone? We are not sure what grade of Pill Grandmaster Song's pill is."
"What do you mean unclear? Some may not see, but the top ten alchemists are clear on that pill's outstanding effect!"
Liu Yizhen cut her off, "Lady, you're too young. You may be enough to judge our pills but not enough to see the true value of Grandmaster Song's pill!"
Xiao Ya vehemently denied it.
She was no grandmaster, but saw countless pills and judged them all fairly. [How can I possibly not be able to judge a stinky kid's pill?]
But then she saw the top ten alchemists sporting solemn expressions. Even Vicious Pill King had to make a nod.
[Just what is this? Isn't he and Grandmaster Song in a bitter battle? Why is he taking his side?]
Vicious Pill King didn't want to admit Zhuo Fan's ability but sensed the value of his refining skill. However, was he the only one?
If he denied it, he would only earn the other's ridicule.
He held the highest ability in alchemy up till now. But now, he didn't even have the right to shame his opponent!
After all, Zhuo Fan's skills were indeed incredible!
"Did I see it correctly?" Xie Tianyang blinked, "Vicious Pill King just admitted defeat in front of everyone? Is this still Elder Yan, who always cared about his reputation?"
Chu Qingcheng's group was amazed. It wasn't easy squeezing a win from this old coot's mouth.
[Just where did this fake Song Yu come from??]
Peony Overseer's eyes flashed, "Young master Xie, you know this fake Song Yu, don't you? I don't think you know him at all, describing him as a murderous demon. He… is an alchemist, right?"
Peony Overseer blushed at the end.
Zhuo Fan's recent conduct wasn't exactly stellar. After all, he did something so unrefined.
Lifting his head in pride, Xie Tianyang snorted, "Did I ever say otherwise? I've been through hell with him!"
"Then what is his name?"
"It's…" But Xie Tianyang caught himself before playing into Peony Overseer's game and snickered, "I won't tell you. Just enjoy the show."
Peony Overseer glared at him with gnashed teeth.
Long Jiu shook his head, but his eyes were filled with admiration for Zhuo Fan.
[He not only knows of ancient arrays but an ancient refining skill too? Just who is he? How does he have so many treasures on him?]
He was but a servant in the Luo clan before. Was it possible that...