Pill Emergence
In the days that followed, the remaining thirty-odd people were like casseroles placed on a slow fire, undergoing their final trials and tribulations.
One by one, they successfully refined the elixir, triggering the alchemical Pill Lightning. Amidst the deafening thunder and dazzling lightning, they reaped their own glory and cheers.
Of course, along with this came the dejected figures of those who failed in their attempts at refining.
When the heartbreaking muffled explosions or energy dissipation waves emanated from the Medicinal Cauldron, all the Alchemist who had persevered for more than ten days turned pale, their eyes dimmed instantly, and they became much more dejected.
Even if the pill is successfully refined, its quality as Tier 7 Medicinal Pill doesn't guarantee a spot in the top ten, but at least there's still a chance to leave one's mark on this final stage.
But if the refining fails, there is absolutely no chance left. All the effort and expectations vanish in that instant, and one can only leave in despair.
Those contestants who survived at this point had already reached an astonishing level of alchemy skills.
Even within the formidable Pill Tower, they would undoubtedly be comparable to some of the senior elders. In fact, the potential and strength displayed by some of the most outstanding individuals, such as Lin Ming, Xiao Yan, and Cao Ying, far surpasses that of many elders in the Pill Tower.
During this most thrilling period, the endless sea of people surrounding the square held their breath, their eyes fixed on the still-burning flames.
At such a time, in the blink of an eye, a contestant they considered a dark horse in the alchemy Pill Gathering, on whom they placed high hopes, might fail to refine pills and lose the right to continue competing due to some extremely minor mistake—perhaps a momentary dissipation of Soul Power, or a slight fluctuation in the temperature of the flame.
Watching those figures, aged instantly and staggering away from the stage due to failure, countless people felt a chill in their hearts. They truly realized that alchemy was not something ordinary people could do. It required not only talent and resources, but also a strong and unyielding heart forged through countless trials.
Amidst countless expectant, tense, and regretful gazes, several more days quietly passed.
In the past few days, nine people have successfully refined pills, among which the highest quality was a "Soul Heart Meridian Shaping Pill" that reached the Tier 7 High-Grade.
The moment this pill was created, it immediately triggered a massive Pill Lightning. The continuous, undulating Silver Lightning, each strike more powerful than the last, lashed down like whips of divine punishment, causing many people in the square to tremble with fear. At the same time, they cast admiring glances at the Alchemist who had successfully withstood the Pill Lightning.
The person who successfully refined this Tier 7 High-Grade pill was an old man with a rather aged face, but with exceptionally sharp eyes.
This person must have a considerable reputation in the mainland's Yao Realm, so there was no great surprise from the audience that he was able to be the first to refine Tier 7 High-Grade pill; rather, it seemed to be a matter of course.
Of course, for every person who succeeds, there will be someone who fails.
In the past few days, nine people succeeded, while seven failed. Some failed at the last moment when Pill Condensation pill, while others were unable to withstand the Pill Lightning. In the end, amidst many regretful and sympathetic gazes, they could only leave the stage they had fought so hard on with faces full of unwillingness and loneliness.
With the withdrawal of these sixteen people, plus those who withdrew earlier for various reasons, only... remains on the stone platform, flames still rising around them, continuing their long journey of alchemy.
Seventeen people!
Time's selection process is both the most precise and the most ruthless. It washes away the superficial from thousands of participants, leaving only the truly strong.
The seventeen people who remain are clearly no ordinary individuals, judging from their calm and composed demeanor despite their exhaustion.
The Alchemist Badge they wore on their chests indicated that the lowest-ranking among them was a mid- Seventh Grade Intermediate Alchemist! And among the highest-ranking alchemists, besides Lin Ming, Xiao Yan, Cao Ying, Dan Chen, and others who had already been confirmed, there was now a true Eighth-Rank Alchemy Grandmaster!
Lin Ming felt unfamiliar with this Eighth-Rank Alchemy Grandmaster, and he had not paid much attention to his presence in his previous observations. It was clear that the former had deliberately concealed his aura until this final stage when he finally revealed his prowess.
This was an elderly man dressed in a simple gray robe, with gray hair and a face covered with deep wrinkles like dried orange peel. Clearly, this man was also a powerful elder who had been living in seclusion for a long time.
Although he was not good-looking, his face was always covered with a gentle smile, and his eyes were clear and wise, making him much more pleasing to the eye than the sinister Elder Mu Gu.
"I never expected it to be that old man from Qinghua..."
On the high platform, Xuan Kongzi and the others were slightly taken aback when they saw the gray-haired old man finally emerge from the vast sea of people. They then exchanged glances and shook their heads helplessly.
"This old guy is really shameless, coming here to compete with the juniors... However, judging from the steady and vast energy fluctuations coming from his medicine cauldron, I am afraid that what he is refining is a genuine eighth-grade elixir." The beautiful woman Xuanyi nodded lightly, with a hint of emotion in her tone.
Tian Lei Zi skin was as black as iron, snorted and said, "This old fellow's lifelong wish is to subdue a Heavenly Flames. Back then, he and Yao Chen traveled together in the extremely cold Northern Region for several years, but in the end, despite all their efforts, Yao Chen still gained the recognition of the Bone Spirit Cold Flame. This has always been a regret in his heart. Now that the news that the prize for the Pill Gathering Champion is the Three Thousand Burning Flame, he must know it. With this opportunity, he will naturally put aside his pride and try his luck."
Xuan Kongzi shook his head helplessly and said, "Elder Qing Hua's alchemy skills have long reached the Tier 8 rank, with profound foundations. If he weren't so obsessed with the Heavenly Flames, his status in the Pill Tower would definitely not be low. His intervention this time has given these juniors an extremely strong opponent."
Their gazes immediately turned to the central stone platform.
There, Lin Ming, dressed in a blue robe, remained as focused as a rock as he refined the pills, seemingly oblivious to all the disturbances of the outside world.
"In comparison, Lin Ming is even more unfathomable," Xuan Kongzi said slowly, his gaze deep.
"His Soul Realm has probably reached the Spirit Realm Grand Perfection, otherwise there would be no way he could have turned the tide in such a critical situation of energy imbalance. What is even more remarkable is his temperament and courage. He dared to forcibly integrate the Bodhi Treasure Liquid and the Saint Soul Marrow, such rare substances, when the Pill Prototype, attempting to climb to that legendary quality... His ambition is no small matter."
Yao Chen's figure rippled slightly as he spoke, "This young man's alchemy, though seemingly risky, is actually meticulously calculated at every step. His control over flames and Soul Power has reached a state of perfection. Especially that purplish-red flame formed by fusing multiple Heavenly Flames, its power is unpredictable, and it even contains a trace of the true meaning of destruction and rebirth. It is truly something I have never seen before in my life. This time, Xiao Yan has probably encountered an unprecedentedly formidable opponent."
Xuan Yi beautiful eyes, gleaming with a strange light, shone as she softly said, "The medicinal power of this pill he refined is perfectly integrated, restrained yet potent. The vitality, the Soul Origin, and that will to rise from the ashes contained within... I have a feeling that once Pill Formation, what it will unleash will likely be no ordinary Pill Lightning."
Several of the continent's top alchemy giants exchanged glances, each seeing a hint of solemnity and anticipation in the other's eyes. They all understood that the most exciting part of this Pill Gathering might have only just begun.
Above the azure sky, a howling wind had begun at some unknown time. The dark clouds that had gathered due to the Tier 7 Pill Lightning had long since dispersed. However, a deep, seemingly soul-deep rumble of thunder began to rise from nowhere, continuing to echo throughout the world and bringing an inexplicable sense of oppression.
This strange scene surprised many people, who looked around in astonishment. However, some experienced individuals knew that the faint rumble of thunder did not come from the sky, but from a few Medicinal Cauldron on the stone platforms... This was a sign that Tier 8 Medicinal Pill was about to be formed, resonating with the Heaven and Earth Energy!
"Boom!"
Suddenly, a roar far deeper than any before erupted, like a volcano that had been accumulating for millennia!
Before everyone could quickly shift their gaze, they sensed a powerful and suffocating energy surge suddenly erupting from a stone platform and shooting straight into the sky!
As this energy surged, the sky and clouds instantly changed color! Endless dark clouds gathered frantically from all directions, and in the blink of an eye, they condensed into a thick Lei Yun that seemed to be about to crush the sky!
Within the Lei Yun, countless bolts of lightning, resembling silver pythons, surged about, emitting deafening roars. The destructive power of the heavens caused countless people to turn pale.
"It's Song Qing!"
Someone with sharp eyes finally noticed that, under the cover of dark clouds, Song Qing, who had been sitting cross-legged, suddenly stood up!
He gazed up at the thick, awe-inspiring Lei Yun in the sky, his face filled with exhilarating excitement and pride. This was his masterpiece!
The Pill Lightning that appeared this time, in terms of both scale and the destructive power contained within the lightning, was far more ferocious and terrifying than any previous Tier 7 Pill Lightning! This was enough to make him proud, and enough to prove to everyone that he, Song Qing, was by no means mediocre!
"It's actually a peak Tier 7 pill! And judging from the power of this Pill Lightning, its quality is even higher than all the Seventh Grade Peak Pill that have appeared before! It's probably very close to the threshold of Tier 8!"
Amidst gasps of astonishment, Song Qing slowly raised his hand, holding a pill the size of a longan, exceptionally round, radiating a dazzling light like a luminous pearl, high above him!
The pill floated above his palm, slowly rotating, and a powerful medicinal force spread out like a tide.
In that instant, thunder roared across the sky, and the lightning illuminated his face, which was slightly flushed with excitement, with exceptional clarity!
Hearing the numerous exclamations and praises mixed in with the thunderous roar, Song Qing's arrogant smile widened even further.
His gaze, filled with undisguised provocation and condescension, swept over the stone platforms where people were still struggling, lingering particularly on Lin Ming, Xiao Yan, and others, as if proclaiming his own powerful rise and his desire to dominate the entire stage and seize the highest glory!