The Curtain Rises

Alchemy had never been a process that could be completed casually. Everyone clearly understood this. If they wanted to witness the most spectacular moments, they had to endure those dull days at the beginning.

Five consecutive days passed. During those five days, some failed and withdrew, while others successfully refined pills. However, they also understood that the higher the grade of the pill, the longer it took to refine. Thus, even if they had successfully refined pills, they had no chance of securing a ranking.

Although only a few Sixth-Rank Pills had appeared, the spectators were not disappointed. They knew that as time passed, higher-grade Seventh-Rank Pills and even Eighth-grade Pills would emerge.

Xiao Heng's breathing was exceptionally steady. He sat cross-legged atop the stone platform, not even opening his eyes, as though he were asleep.

Perhaps because he had been cautious enough, nothing had gone wrong during his refinement. At this moment, within the Medicine Cauldron, a fist-sized mass of medicinal liquid was slowly merging together.

This was merely the initial fusion. Afterward came deeper fusion, then the formation of a pill embryo, and finally, pill completion.

The others were the same, each focused on refining their own pills. Naturally, they hoped to succeed sooner, but this was not something that could be rushed.

"Boom...!"

Suddenly, thunder rumbled amid the dark clouds overhead. A silver bolt streaked straight down, signifying the official birth of the first Seventh-Rank Pill.

"A Seventh-Rank Pill has emerged...!"

The crowd cried out in surprise. The man looked at the pill inside his cauldron with delight. His Seventh-Rank Pill had succeeded.

Quite a few contestants looked over, and some began to grow nervous, apart from those few at the very top.

Xiao Yan turned to look. Only a single bolt of Pill Lightning had descended.