Million Alchemists!

The participants were numerous!

"Within Hongwu Immortal City, there was actually such a small world!"

Duan Qingyao marveled at it, while Xiao Ling'er's beautiful eyes shifted, equally stunned.

All the participants, along with the onlookers here for the spectacle, entered this small world under the City Lord's Mansion's guidance. It stretched beyond the eye's reach!

Within the enormous venue, stone tables stood packed together in dense rows, each one laden with identical materials.

Giant stands surrounded the grounds. Some were ordinary stands, while others rose above the clouds.

"By preliminary estimates, there must be nearly a million alchemists participating."

Duan Qingyao sighed. "What a grand undertaking."

Then her mood sank somewhat.

With nearly a million participants, never mind anything else—just the materials needed for the first round were already an astronomical figure. Even selling the current Moon Embracing Sect a hundred times would not be enough.

But at its peak, the Moon Embracing Sect could have afforded it.

Thinking of this, longing rose in her heart, and hope shone in her eyes. "Go on, Ling'er."

"Do not put too much pressure on yourself. Just do your best."

"You are still young. I did not bring you here because you must achieve a high ranking. Your talent in alchemy is exceptional, and this is an excellent trial for you. Treat it as gaining experience."

"Yes, Fifth Elder."

Xiao Ling'er nodded firmly, headed into the competition grounds, casually chose a spot, and waited quietly.

She had registered long ago. Now, she only needed to wait for the time to come, then begin refining pills.

"Teacher."

"Do you think I should charge ahead triumphantly all the way, or... hide my abilities for now?"

"Of course you should hide your abilities—Playing the Pig to Eat the Tiger."

Liang Danxia smiled.

When it came to alchemy and related experience, how many could compare to her?

"Do not be careless. Your talent is indeed excellent, but with your current strength, both you and the Moon Embracing Sect cannot yet protect the Earth Core Demonic Fire. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, you must not use it."

"Furthermore, an alchemy arena is also a battlefield. If you shine too brightly, you will naturally become a thorn in your rivals' eyes and flesh. They will think of every possible way to interfere with you, even eliminate you."

"So."

"Keep a low profile at first. So long as you advance, that will be enough. Then erupt suddenly at the end and stun everyone with a single cry!"

"It is only..."

"Your master and the elders will probably be in for a huge surprise."

Xiao Ling'er smiled as well.

"This is a surprise."

She murmured softly.

Since she had come, she naturally came for a ranking.

First place was difficult, and she did not dare claim she would definitely take it. But she was certain that she would have a place in the top ten.

"Hehe, there is still some time. Why not take a look at these spiritual herbs and materials first, and guess the question for the first round?" Liang Danxia chuckled.

Xiao Ling'er rolled her eyes. "Teacher, are you looking down on me too much?"

"Although around ten of these herbs are meant to confuse and distract, the rest are clearly for a Core Condensation Pill."

"You are only half right."

"Only half right?!"

Xiao Ling'er froze.

"The extra ten herbs are not there to confuse or distract. The current Core Condensation Pill formula was originally like this."

"The formula I gave you was an ancient formula."

"Ancient formulas used fewer ingredients, but were more difficult to refine. Modern formulas used more ingredients, but were easier to refine. Yet their effects were actually somewhat inferior."

Xiao Ling'er blinked. "Then why not continue using the ancient formula?"

"The difficulty is too high. Not every alchemist possesses talent like yours. The success rate is too low, and the wasted herbs far exceed the cost of these extra dozen or so ingredients."

"Most of these added herbs serve as auxiliaries, so they do not increase the pill's potency. Instead, they cause some interference. Yet with these supplementary herbs, the success rate can rise considerably. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, I suppose."

"At least, that is true for ordinary alchemists."

"So that was it!" Xiao Ling'er understood.

But Liang Danxia continued, "Add some difficulty, and make your act more convincing. This time, use this new formula you have never used before to refine a Core Condensation Pill."

"What if I capsize in a gutter?" Xiao Ling'er could not help growing nervous.

Liang Danxia snickered. "The elders do not have much expectation for you anyway. Even if you capsize, it will not matter."

"Teacher~~~"

"Fine, fine, I will stop teasing you. The truth is: your teacher believes in you."

Xiao Ling'er: "..."

Time passed.

Soon, a powerful figure stepped onto the stage. An overwhelming aura surged into the heavens, and the entire venue instantly fell silent.

"This is..."

Xiao Ling'er narrowed her eyes.

Liang Danxia's voice sounded in her mind. "Seventh Dao Harmony Realm. He does have the qualifications to be arrogant."

"A Seventh Realm cultivator."

Xiao Ling'er was secretly shocked and became much more cautious.

Onstage, the Dao Harmony Realm Great Cultivator spoke indifferently. "The rules for alchemy competitions are much the same everywhere, so I will not elaborate further. Since you have come to participate, you must give it your all."

"The first round tests the Core Condensation Pill."

"Within one hour, those who successfully condense a pill of third grade or above will enter the next round."

"Now."

"Begin!"

The other alchemists immediately began.

Xiao Ling'er, however, hesitated slightly.

"Teacher, this formula..."

"Figure it out yourself." Liang Danxia offered no guidance. "As I said before, your teacher believes in your ability. Although you have never used this formula, it is only third grade. It may be difficult for you, but not greatly so."

"Whew."

"Yes, Teacher. This disciple will do her utmost."

Xiao Ling'er gradually gained confidence.

She had never competed with others in alchemy before, so she did not know the gap between herself and other alchemists. But since her teacher believed in her, then she could definitely do it!

Still, she was unfamiliar with this formula and did not know how to handle the extra herbs, so she could not begin blindly.

Thus, among this vast sea of alchemists, Xiao Ling'er became the sole oddity.

Every other alchemist had already begun, while she merely stood there, her eyes darting about in every direction, seeming especially lost and at a loss what to do.

Someone in the stands soon noticed this scene.

She stood out so much that it was impossible not to notice her.

"Pfft, look at that female cultivator. All the other alchemists have already started and are racing against time, yet she is looking around in bewilderment?" One cultivator found it amusing and could not help mocking her with a laugh.

The surrounding spectators saw it and burst into laughter as well.

"She probably cannot do it, can she?"

"She does not even know how to refine a Core Condensation Pill, yet she dared to participate? Her courage is commendable, at least."

"Perhaps she is a disciple from some obscure sect, hoping to join the excitement and try her luck? But why do they not consider that this is Hongwu Immortal City? There are so many alchemists participating! At this level, she is merely adding to the joke."

"..."

The remarks around them were especially grating.

Duan Qingyao could not help frowning slightly, but she did not speak up to refute them.

She knew Xiao Ling'er's skill in alchemy. The Core Condensation Pill was even one of her specialties. How could the mere passing requirement of third grade possibly stump her?!

"But why has Ling'er not begun yet?"