The alchemists from the other branch pavilions were still identifying the spirit herbs one by one, while Yang Lingtian only took a single glance before looking away.
Such an unusual action made the spectators begin to suspect that Yang Lingtian could not even distinguish spirit herbs.
"That kid really is a fake alchemist. He only took one look before scribbling nonsense on the paper."
"Haha, in his eyes, all the spirit herbs probably look exactly the same. He simply can't tell them apart."
Several minutes later, Yang Lingtian put down his brush.
Not only had he identified every spirit herb, but he had also written out a Tier 2 pill formula.
He had originally wanted to write a third- or fourth-tier formula, but after thinking about it, a Tier 2 pill formula would already earn full marks. Why bother writing one of a higher tier?
All the alchemists present were still identifying the herbs. Only Yang Lingtian sat there doing nothing.
At that moment, mocking voices rang out again. "What's he doing? Why did he stop moving?"
"Could it be that he couldn't identify even a single spirit herb, so he's planning to give up?"
"I told you, didn't I? He probably isn't even an apprentice alchemist."
"He'll probably set the lowest score in the history of the Pill Competition: zero points."
Even the judges onstage and Wu Xulong below were puzzled.
The first part of the competition lasted only an hour, so time was precious. Every second had to be fought for.
Yet Yang Lingtian had merely glanced at the herbs and moved his brush at the beginning.
Now he actually sat there as if he were daydreaming, completely motionless.
"Damn it, what exactly is this kid doing?" Wu Xulong began to grow anxious.
Feng Qiulin looked even more pleased, as though he could already see the Tianchen City Branch disgracing itself completely.
Soon, an hour passed.
The examination papers of more than two hundred alchemists were collected and handed to the judging panel.
One paper after another passed through the judges' hands as they scored and recorded the results on the spot.
Master Qin Qi deliberately took Yang Lingtian's paper and looked at the answers written on it.
The usually composed master revealed an expression of astonishment.
"Full marks—he actually got full marks!" Master Qin Qi cried out in shock, losing his composure for a moment.
Everyone present immediately heard him and turned toward the excited Master Qin Qi.
Many of them were seeing Master Qin Qi this agitated for the first time.
Master Qin Qi's unintentional exclamation about full marks shocked everyone present, and they began guessing among themselves.
"What? Someone got full marks?"
"In previous years, the strongest score in the first part was only eighty points. Someone got full marks this time?"
"This is the first time in the history of the Pill Competition that someone has gotten full marks in the first part. Who could it be?"
"Who else? It must be one of those fourth-tier alchemists."
The other judges also looked at Master Qin Qi's paper. Written on it was Tianchen City Branch.
Their expressions changed involuntarily.
"This... how is this possible? He actually got full marks."
"All sixty spirit herbs were identified correctly, and he even wrote out a Tier 2 pill formula!"
With their level of discernment, they could tell that the formula was flawless without even refining it.
This left them incredulous. Even the fourth-tier alchemists from several branch pavilions had only written first-tier pill formulas.
In the entire history of the Pill Competition, no one had ever formulated a genuine Tier 2 pill formula in the first part.
They were utterly shaken.
What shocked them even more was that they had seen Yang Lingtian merely glance at the spirit herbs in the box after the competition began and move his brush a few times.
He had not even used the full hour, yet he had still managed to get full marks.
It was simply unbelievable!
Master Qin Qi also realized that he had lost his composure.
After calming himself, he wrote "full marks" on Yang Lingtian's paper and recorded the result.
More than ten minutes later, all the scores had been finalized. Next came the announcement of the top ten scores.
The scores were announced starting from tenth place and moving upward.
The host held the list, but the scores written on it shocked him so badly that he stood there in a daze.
He was astonished. Heavens, it really is full marks. Yang Lingtian of the Tianchen City Branch actually got full marks.
He then composed himself and began speaking. "All right, the first part of the Pill Competition has ended."
"Next, I will announce the scores and papers of the top ten."
"Tenth place: Liuwu City Branch, fifty points."
"From fifth place to second place, the scores are the same. They are, respectively, Hulong City Branch... eighty points."
The moment he finished speaking, the spectators erupted in shock.
"The branch pavilions from second to fifth are the four that have fourth-tier alchemists. The top spot actually went to none of them."
"We're witnessing history. The perfect score didn't come from any of those four branch pavilions. Could another branch have produced a new fourth-tier alchemist?"
"Not necessarily. Some veteran third-tier alchemists have broader knowledge than fourth-tier alchemists and far richer experience."
"Then which branch pavilion got first place with a perfect score?"
The masters and alchemists of those four branch pavilions also wore puzzled expressions.
None of their four pavilions had managed to get the perfect score. Then which other branch pavilion had?
While everyone was still baffled, the host paused before continuing.
"Now, I will announce the first-place winner of the first part of the Pill Competition."
"The Tianchen City Branch, with a perfect score of one hundred points!"
As soon as those words came out, many people froze.
"What? Did I hear that right? First place is the Tianchen City Branch?"
"Did they make a mistake? That unreliable-looking young alchemist from Tianchen City got full marks?"
Even Wu Xulong could not believe that Yang Lingtian had gotten full marks in the first part.
Yet he had heard the host clearly announce the name of their Tianchen City Branch.
The Pill Competition was an extremely serious event, so he naturally did not think the host was joking.
He had no choice but to believe that Yang Lingtian had truly won one hundred points for their branch pavilion.
Wu Xulong secretly rejoiced. This kid really wasn't bragging. With these one hundred points, even if he completely botches the rest, he won't come in last.
Feng Qiulin, on the other hand, wore an expression of jealousy and disbelief.
In the end, he could not help shouting, "Impossible! There must be a mistake. How could the Tianchen City Branch possibly come in first?"
"Are you questioning the rigor of the chief pavilion's judging panel?" the host demanded sternly.
"No, no, I wouldn't dare. I just find it too unbelievable that he got full marks," Feng Qiulin hurriedly said.
"Even if he could get the first sixty points, how could he possibly get full marks for formulating the pill formula afterward?"
"You should know that there's no way a new Tier 2 pill formula could be formulated within an hour. Even a fourth-tier alchemist couldn't do it."
"I suspect there's something fishy going on. The Tianchen City Branch must have tampered with something."
Seeing that this old rival was still needling the Tianchen City Branch, Wu Xulong could not hold back any longer.
He retorted, "Feng Qiulin, do you know what you're saying?"
"How could the dignified chief pavilion allow a tiny branch pavilion to tamper with the results? Are you questioning the chief pavilion's ability to handle affairs?"
"All right. Since you object to this Tier 2 pill formula, let's refine it here and now." Master Qin Qi interrupted them.
After all, whether a Tier 2 pill formula could truly produce a Tier 2 Spirit Pill was something that many people present could not determine just by looking at it.
Sometimes, even the judging panel could make a mistake.
A formula might appear capable of producing a spirit pill, only for them to discover during the actual refinement that something was missing, resulting in a ruined pill.
That was why even fourth-tier alchemists only dared to write first-tier pill formulas. It was safer that way.
The chief pavilion had also established a rule: whenever someone questioned a new pill formula, it had to be used on the spot to refine a genuine spirit pill.
To prevent anyone from tampering with the process, the chief pavilion would send an alchemist to perform the refinement.
Soon, a third-tier alchemist from the chief pavilion began refining the pill according to the formula Yang Lingtian had written.
After a full hour, the pill was complete.
By then, Yang Lingtian had waited so long that he began complaining inwardly. This refining is so slow. It actually took an entire hour.
If I refined it myself, I'd throw all the spirit herbs in at once. I could refine a Tier 2 Spirit Pill in less than ten minutes.
Once the Tier 2 Spirit Pill had been refined, it was passed to the alchemists present for inspection one after another.
Every alchemist confirmed that it was indeed a brand-new Tier 2 Spirit Pill, silencing everyone.
However, the shock in their hearts had yet to subside.
The masters of the various branch pavilions below continued discussing the matter in hushed voices, all of them trying to find out what kind of background this young alchemist from Tianchen City had.
After all, the sudden appearance of such a formidable alchemist—and one so young—had aroused their immense curiosity.
Everyone was now even more eager to see how the Tianchen City Branch would perform next.
"That kid claims to be a third-tier alchemist. It looks like he probably wasn't lying."
"After all, anyone who can formulate a Tier 2 pill formula on the spot must be no ordinary person."
Feng Qiulin still refused to believe it. He continued voicing his doubts to the surrounding branch masters. "I think he was just a blind cat that happened to stumble upon a dead mouse."
"That Tier 2 pill formula must have been newly researched by someone else. He just happened to know it, and the required materials happened to include those sixty spirit herbs."
Although that was a possibility, it was far too unlikely. The masters of the other branch pavilions all shook their heads and fell silent.
Soon, the second part of the competition was about to begin.
The second part involved truly refining pills. It was time to test their genuine alchemy skills.
The first part had merely tested the alchemists' knowledge of various spirit herbs.
Some older, widely experienced alchemists might be able to score highly in the first part.
However, their actual alchemy skills might be quite ordinary.
Feng Qiulin still mocked Wu Xulong. "Wu Xulong, don't get smug."
"The second part is the most important. It's worth two hundred points."
"Scoring highly in the first part doesn't necessarily mean one's actual refining skills are strong."
"Look at how young that kid is. He surely doesn't have much alchemy experience. He'll definitely come in last in this part."
Wu Xulong cast a cold glance at Feng Qiulin. "Hmph, stop worrying about other people. Worry about yourself instead. Be careful that your pavilion is the one that comes in last."
The host first announced the competition rules, after which the pill refining began.
The written-test rules for this part were that they had only three hours and could refine a pill only once.
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