On the high platform of the Alchemy Competition.
As Luo Chen successfully processed the Returning Origin Cicada Shell, a tense atmosphere spread, impossible to ignore.
Every Pill Refiner felt a weight settle over his heart.
Someone had already pulled ahead!
The most anxious people on the platform were the three Pill Refiners who had started with the easier materials, processing the Tier 1 herbs first.
They had finished processing the Azure Star Grass, Azure Aloe, and Crimson Flame Ganoderma.
But when faced with the two Tier 2 materials, they were stumped.
The Blue Smoke Jade was manageable.
But how to process the Returning Origin Cicada Shell was a huge problem staring them in the face.
Not everyone could divide his attention between several tasks.
Naturally, they could not process the materials in their hands while watching every step Luo Chen, Danyangzi, and the others took.
Even Xuan Yunzi had only glimpsed the tip of the iceberg during Luo Chen's work and realized he had taken the wrong path.
He had then analyzed the materials' properties anew and followed Luo Chen's approach.
That gave him the right direction, though it cost him time.
The others, however,
were not so fortunate.
They had missed their chance to watch Luo Chen process the Returning Origin Cicada Shell.
Even if they wanted to learn, there was no one left to learn from.
For a moment, those three early starters stood frozen instead.
Among the remaining contestants,
the Fu Family's Pill Refiner stared at the ruined Returning Origin Cicada Shell in his Glass Sub-Cauldron and fell into thought.
He looked first at Luo Chen, then at the unhurried Danyangzi, and finally at Xuan Yunzi.
After a long while, he made his choice.
He had three sets of materials in all. With one already wasted, he