Chapter 374: One After Another, They Take the Stage
Boom!
A gigantic green pillar of light, about thirty feet wide, surged from one of the stone platforms, shooting straight into the sky. Under this green light, the thunderclouds in the sky seemed to retreat as if encountering a formidable enemy.
In the blink of an eye, the green pillar drew a massive thundercloud, about a hundred meters wide, catching the attention of everyone present.
Xiao Ze turned his head and saw Dan Chen, her face pale, but with an immensely joyous smile.
"Dan Chen successfully refined an eighth-grade pill," Xiao Ze announced. As he spoke, the thunderclouds in the sky began to show silver lightning, with another color emerging.
Two-colored thunderclouds!
The surrounding spectators were in awe. Although there had been talk of Xiao Ze summoning nine-colored pill lightning, it was within the inner region of Sacred Pill City, not something everyone had the chance to witness.
"We finally see the birth of an eighth-grade pill. I've always wanted to see the different colors of pill lightning after hearing about Vice Chairman Xiao Ze's nine-colored pill lightning."
"Two-colored pill lightning is terrifying. They say that each additional color significantly increases the power. It's hard to imagine how dreadful nine-colored pill lightning is."
"The one who did this seems to be a prodigy from one of the Pill Tower's five great families. The first to refine an eighth-grade pill, and from the Pill Tower no less. The Pill Tower truly has deep foundations."
As the audience buzzed with discussions and stared in shock at the thunderclouds in the sky, Cao Ying also stood up, not willing to be outdone. Despite her pale face, she wore a charming smile.
"Dan Chen, my dear sister, I can't let you have all the glory. I too have refined an eighth-grade pill!"
Cao Ying's hand gestures changed, and her cauldron was enveloped by a surge of energy, transforming into a dazzling pillar of light that shot into the sky. Blue and silver thunderclouds intertwined, with a hint of red barely noticeable.
Another eighth-grade pill appeared, causing many alchemists to pale. Even the older generation wore wry smiles.
The young talents of the Pill Tower were truly incomparable. Although Xiao Ze could be considered one of them, he had already become the Vice Chairman of the Pill Tower. People naturally compared Xiao Ze to the older generation, and even against them, Xiao Ze stood his ground.
Seeing Cao Ying refine a two-colored pill lightning eighth-grade pill, Xuan Kongzi smiled with satisfaction.
"Haha, it seems my lineage will be carried on."
With their discerning eyes, they could see that Cao Ying's eighth-grade pill was superior to Dan Chen's. It had a faint touch of red, indicating it was at the peak of two-colored pill lightning. With a bit more spirituality, it could summon three-colored pill lightning.
Most alchemists in the square had finished their refining. Among the few still working, an elder slowly opened his eyes and turned to look at Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan also glanced at the elder, sensing that the energy in his cauldron was no less than his own.
"Youngster, I thought of waiting for you to finish first, but there's no need. Refining an eighth-grade pill isn't something to be ashamed of, even for your notorious teacher."
The elder, Qing Hua Lao Guai, whispered to Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan smiled and nodded respectfully.
Inside Xiao Yan's ring, Yao Lao rolled his eyes, thinking how Qing Hua Lao Guai couldn't even detect his presence.
Upon arriving in Central Plains, Yao Lao's soul had recovered significantly. With Xiao Yan's breakthrough to the Spirit Realm, he could now conceal Yao Lao's existence well, making it hard for others to notice him.
Boom!
A vast pillar of light shot up, overshadowing the other two two-colored pill lightnings. Under the crowd's gaze, the thunderclouds in the sky quickly formed two colors.
"Another two-colored pill lightning!"
"No, wait. Silver, blue, red! Three-colored pill lightning!"
The crowd gasped in shock, looking at Qing Hua Lao Guai with awe.
"Three-colored pill lightning! Even the two young prodigies from the Pill Tower can't compare."
"In the end, the older generation still has the edge. The young talents from the Pill Tower lost out due to their age and experience."
The crowd discussed, some feeling sorry for the young talents, others emphasizing the importance of experience in alchemy.
Xiao Yan was also impressed by Qing Hua Lao Guai's three-colored pill lightning.
Yao Lao's voice echoed in Xiao Yan's mind, "How about it, Xiao Yan? Do you have the confidence?"
"I can't guarantee it, but I'll do my best."
"Haha, losing to Qing Hua Lao Guai is no disgrace. That old guy is from my era and still competes in this event like a young man."
Yao Lao comforted Xiao Yan, who smiled back. With a series of hand gestures, he took a deep breath, his emotions calming into stillness. His vast soul energy poured into the cauldron for the final effort.
On the high platform, the three chairmen focused on Xiao Yan. Xuan Kongzi hesitated before asking Xiao Ze, "Xiao Ze, do you think Xiao Yan can refine three-colored pill lightning?"
"He should be able to. If he pushes himself, my third brother likely inherited Yao Chen's Spirit-raising method to enhance the pill's spirituality further."
The chairmen recalled Yao Chen's Spirit-raising method for refining eighth-grade pills.
"If he uses that secret method, it might secure the championship!" Xuan Yi agreed.
"It seems the result is about to be revealed."
As Xiao Ze spoke, the chairmen turned their attention to Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes, stood up, and with a wave of his hand, the cauldron's lid was lifted. The accumulated energy burst forth like a rushing dragon into the sky.
In a blink, thunderclouds gathered. Seeing this, Xiao Ze squinted and smiled before the colors appeared in the clouds.
"It seems he won't need the Spirit-raising method. The spirituality is ample, at least three-colored, with a chance for four-colored."
Sure enough, the thunderclouds quickly formed three colors, causing the crowd to exclaim.
Unlike Qing Hua Lao Guai, Xiao Yan's youthful face showed he was part of the younger generation. This realization left everyone in awe, marveling at a young alchemist surpassing the Pill Tower's two young prodigies.
(End of Chapter)