Every additional Premium Pill in a batch demanded a manyfold increase in alchemical skill.
Even a High-Grade Pill Master like him could only just manage three Premium Pills in a batch of ten.
Four in one batch? He reckoned that would require at least a Second-Tier Pill Master!
Beyond that, each additional Premium Pill was extraordinarily difficult to produce. It represented absolute control over the flames, absolute utilization of the medicinal ingredients, and absolute understanding of the Pill Dao... it was an entirely different level!
Thus, Xu Qianyan offered a rare word of praise.
Hearing such an appraisal, Lü Bailian's eyes lit up with delighted surprise. This had exceeded even his own limits.
He had outperformed himself.
Under normal circumstances, he could refine one Premium Pill and six to eight Upper-Middle-Grade Pills.
This time, the immense pressure had instead turned that final Middle-Grade Pill into an Upper-Middle-Grade Pill.
"I've put myself beyond defeat this time."
All the pressure drained from Lü Bailian. His first batch had been perfectly ordinary, yet it had left him one Upper-Middle-Grade Pill behind.
Now that he had performed to the very limit of his ability, even if Lin Changheng produced eight Upper-Middle-Grade Pills in his third batch, he could not surpass him. With their pill results otherwise equal, his perfect third batch would seal the match.
In his view, Lin Changheng had attained his rank three or four years later than he had, and his foundations were weaker to begin with. Even an explosive breakthrough could not yield "one Premium Pill and nine Upper-Middle-Grade Pills"-a result he himself had only achieved through a sudden flash of inspiration!
It's in the bag!
Similar thoughts arose in the minds of most people present, especially those who understood the Pill Dao.
"Pill Master Lin is bound to lose now. What a pity Pill Master Lü had that breakthrough in his third batch..."
Regretful voices sounded.
Lin Changheng had naturally heard Xu Qianyan's announcement too. Facing the furnace flames with his back to the crowd, he could not help letting a slight smile curve across his calm face.
In response, the flames within the furnace grew a little livelier too...
It was simply that no one noticed.
A quarter of an hour later.
The pills emerged from the furnace.
"Hmm?"
Xu Qianyan, who had taken the pills and begun assessing them, immediately let out a sound of surprise. Everyone's gaze whipped toward him.
An ominous feeling rose in Lü Bailian's heart as well.
The Xu Family's eldest young lady took the opportunity to glance at Lin Changheng with interest. He remained utterly composed, his back straight as a pine, waiting quietly.
There was no emotion in his eyes, not even the most basic hint of longing.
"Interesting."
Then Xu Qianyan spoke. "Hehe, this batch of Pill Master Lin's is excellent too..."
Lü Bailian felt as though a basin of cold water had been poured over his head. His foreboding grew, and sure enough, he heard, "One Premium Pill, with all nine remaining pills being Upper-Middle-Grade Pills."
"What?"
A chorus of startled gasps immediately rose from the crowd.
They had tied again?
This was the second time!
"Both Pill Masters are quite outstanding, but Pill Master Lin has a slight edge. He deserves the mid-grade secret Pill Dao teachings."
Xu Qianyan's voice rang out slowly, delivering the final verdict.
The crowd erupted. So that tiny, one-pill difference in Pill Master Lü's first batch had actually led to this defeat?
What a pity.
It would have been one thing if his skills were inferior, but Pill Master Lü truly had been short on luck. If his first batch had matched his second or third, things would not have ended this way.
His ability really was not necessarily any worse than Pill Master Lin's...
"Thank you for the match."
Lin Changheng paid no heed to the surrounding discussion. Still composed, he cupped his hands toward Lü Bailian, nodded to the Xu Family's eldest young lady, and followed a Mid-Grade Pill Master away.
Lü Bailian had not expected this outcome either and felt somewhat dejected. Seeing Lin Changheng salute him, he nevertheless rallied his spirits and returned the gesture.
But his confidence had not suffered too heavy a blow. After all, such a hairbreadth difference could easily be erased.
He merely felt some regret at having missed the mid-grade Pill Master legacy by so little...
Soon, a number of people gathered around him, offering comfort and encouragement.
Others lamented his misfortune, wringing their hands and sighing deeply.
"Thank you, seniors and friends, for your consolation and encouragement. Pill Master Lin's long accumulation bore fruit, earning him the secret teachings. I fell short."
"Please say no more about luck. It disrespects not only Pill Master Lin, but me as well."
"...A loss is a loss. Falling short is falling short. I can bear it!"
Lü Bailian suddenly broke into a smile, then solemnly uttered words that stunned most of those present before resolutely turning and leaving.
"What magnanimity! Truly an openhearted man!"
Watching his straight-backed figure recede into the distance, someone came to his senses and could not help sighing in admiration.
Lin Changheng knew nothing of what happened afterward in the competition hall.
He had already followed the Mid-Grade Pill Master to the Scripture Repository Hall outside the Returning Peak Dojo.
As promised, he received an ancient-looking jade slip with a bluish sheen.
"The restrictions on this slip will be lifted for three days. During that time, you may not leave without permission, nor may you take the slip away. Memorize and study it here."
"How much you memorize and whether you can comprehend it fully will depend entirely on your ability and insight. Do you understand, Pill Master Lin?"
After showing him the way and explaining a thing or two, the Mid-Grade Pill Master turned and left. Only then did the tall, thin steward give him detailed instructions.
He still remembered this "Pill Master Lin." Previously, the man had exchanged for an incomplete high-grade cultivation method in the hall. He had been rather stubborn and unwilling to heed advice.
So this time, after explaining the key points, the steward said no more and leisurely departed.
"I understand. Thank you for explaining, Senior."
Lin Changheng held the jade slip against his forehead and began examining it.
Had the Xu Family not been contending with the Chen Family on the Frontier Reclamation front, suffered an attack in the rear that killed a Mid-Grade Pill Master, and lacked anyone within the Lineage to take over,
they would never have been forced to open this opportunity to their Registered Guest Advisors.
Even then, they were miserly about it, offering it to only one person.
This was also a flaw of the Lineage model: treasuring their own worn-out broom and passing their knowledge only to their kin.
The sect model was far more open, but its bonds were not as close as those of blood.
One could only say that each had its advantages and drawbacks.
"Secret Notes of the Supreme Harmony Pill Scroll!"
Six large characters appeared in Lin Changheng's perception. The name certainly had an imposing air.
He then settled his mind and began studying.
After a while, Lin Changheng moved the jade slip away and rubbed the space between his brows. Though this mid-grade Pill Dao was built upon the low-grade teachings, it was several times more profound.
Yet with his current insight, it posed some difficulties, but not many.
For the few puzzling points, he could either spend more time comprehending them thoroughly or trouble Master Mo for some advice.
Lin Changheng smiled, unworried. There were always more solutions than difficulties.
If all else failed, he could simply wait for the [origin treasure seed] to undergo its second Spirit Seizure.
It had already reached [Spirit Seizure: 70/100]. In a little over a year at the latest, he should nurture the second-stage origin treasure seed, and his insight would rise another level then!
Three days later.
The jade slip's restrictions automatically returned, interrupting Lin Changheng's contemplation.
But that did not matter. He had memorized all the information recorded within it at the very outset, so he had no fear of losing anything.
After swearing the required Dao Oath not to divulge the teachings, Lin Changheng emerged from the Scripture Repository Hall. Sunlight he had not seen for three days shone directly into his eyes, making him squint.
When he opened them again, he saw clouds rolling high above in the vast sky. An Azure-Feather Spirit Crane flew out from the dojo beside him, beating its wings as it swept over the mountaintop. Its clear, lingering cry pierced straight into the ninth heaven.
Lin Changheng suddenly chuckled softly and stepped fully into that brilliant expanse of sunlight.