The first stage of the alchemy competition is a test of knowledge and identification of different herbs. The competitors are given a basket of herbs and must correctly identify each one and describe its properties and uses. The judges, who are experts in the field of alchemy, will score the competitors based on their accuracy and understanding of the herbs. The top performers will advance to the next stage, while the others will be eliminated. The stakes are high, as the winners of this stage will be awarded valuable prizes and the chance to move on to the intermediate and advanced levels of the competition.
Thale talks with some of the competitors. He meets a young woman named Lan who is participating in the competition for the first time. She is nervous and tells Thale that she is only participating to please her parents. Thale gives her some encouraging words and tells her to just do her best. He also meets a young man named Feng who is confident and brags about his alchemy skills. Thale can tell that Feng is a bit arrogant but he decides to not let it bother him and just focus on the competition.
All competitors walk up on stage. They are given a basket of herbs. They have 30 minutes to write down their names and characteristics.
Thale looks at the herbs in his basket and begins to analyze them. He uses his Qi to enhance his senses and carefully examines each herb, noting its appearance, texture, and smell. He compares them to the descriptions in the books he had studied and confidently writes down the names and characteristics of each herb.
As the time ticked down, Thale reviewed his list to make sure he had not missed any. When the time was up, he confidently handed in his list, confident in his abilities.
The judges carefully compared the lists of all the competitors and announced the results. Thale was surprised to find that he had scored the highest, earning him a spot in the next round of the competition.
Excited at his victory, Thale returned to the herb shop to share the news with Li and the other apprentices. They celebrated his success and Thale began to dream of what he could accomplish with his cultivation skills and knowledge of herbs.
The second round is to create a potion. Thale carefully picks out the herbs he needs from his basket, taking note of their properties and how they will interact with each other. He crushes some of the herbs into a fine powder while leaving others whole. He carefully measures out the right amounts of each herb, taking care not to waste any of the precious ingredients.
As he mixes the herbs together, he channels his Qi into the mixture, infusing it with spiritual energy and enhancing its effects. He carefully heats the mixture over a small flame, stirring it constantly to ensure that all the ingredients are fully combined and the potion is of the highest quality.
Once the potion is complete, Thale carefully pours it into a small vial, sealing it tightly and labelling it with the name and properties of the concoction. He takes a deep breath, satisfied with his work and confident in the power of his potion.
The judges take the vials from each competitor and carefully smell and taste them, taking notes on their effectiveness and any potential side effects. When they come to Thale's vial, they nod approvingly at the strong, spicy aroma and the warm, soothing sensation it gives when consumed. They place it in the third position, giving Thale a small smile of encouragement.