Thale asks shop owner Li if he could participate in the alchemy competition. Shop owner Li thinks it over and agrees. Thale is excited and grateful for the opportunity. He knows this is a chance for him to show his skills and possibly make a name for himself in the cultivation world. He decides to put all of his focus and effort into preparing for the competition, determined to do his best and make his master proud.
Thale and the herb shop owner, Li, had a good laugh together as they joked about Thale's rapid learning and memory. "You're like a sponge, soaking up all that knowledge!" Li exclaimed.
Thale chuckled and shook his head. "I just have a good teacher, that's all."
Li chuckled and patted Thale on the back. "Well, you're certainly a natural when it comes to herbs and alchemy. You might even be able to give those two young masters a run for their money in that competition!"
Thale grinned at the thought. "I'll have to practice and see what I can do."
As they continued to talk and laugh, Thale couldn't help but feel grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow under the guidance of Li and his knowledge of herbs. He knew that this was just the beginning of his journey, and he couldn't wait to see where it would take him next.
Thale heads to the registration tent, where he is greeted by a friendly young woman who is in charge of registering the participants. He fills out a form with his name and information and then hands over a small fee to cover the cost of the competition. As he waits in line, he sees many other participants arriving, some with their own assistants or apprentices, while others are accompanied by their teachers. There are all sorts of different people participating, from young prodigies to experienced alchemists. Thale takes a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. He knows that this competition is a big opportunity for him, and he doesn't want to let it slip through his fingers. Finally, it's his turn to register, and he steps up to the table, ready to show the world what he can do.
The arena is a large, open-air space with a dirt floor and seating on all sides for spectators. There are several tables set up in the center of the arena, each one covered with various alchemical ingredients and tools. The atmosphere is electric as people chat excitedly and place bets on their favourite competitors. The air is filled with the smells of herbs, spices, and other alchemical substances. The sun is shining down from above, casting a warm glow over the entire arena.
People from all walks of life have come to watch the alchemy competition. At the front of the arena, there is a stage where the alchemy masters will be performing their demonstrations. The heads of the three families are sitting in a special section reserved for VIPs, surrounded by their guards and attendants. Chen Ming and Li Ying are also sitting in this section, looking nervous as they wait for the competition to begin.
The head of the Chen family stands up and announces the prizes for the beginner's competition. The prizes for the beginner's competition are a set of high-quality alchemy tools, a year's worth of rare herbs, and a chance to become an apprentice to one of the three great alchemy families. The intermediate and advanced competitions have even more valuable prizes, including a chance to participate in a secret alchemy cultivation technique exchange between the three families. The audience cheers at the announcement of the prizes, and the competitors excitedly whisper to each other about their chances of winning. The head of the Chen family introduces the judges for the competition, all of whom are highly respected alchemists in their own right. The competition is set to begin in an hour, giving the competitors time to prepare their materials and set up their workstations. Thale takes a deep breath and focuses on the task at hand, determined to do his best and make the most of this opportunity.