Green Luo.
Atop the terrace built of jade, Xu Xuan occupied the seat of honor, with Wang Xiwei and Wen Si'an seated to either side. The three quietly watched the alchemy competition below, occasionally offering comments in low voices.
On the bluestone platform below, twelve crimson pill furnaces of middle-grade Fetal Breath quality stood in a row. All had been forged from bloodfire essence iron, and their flames came from a Qi Refining true fire Xu Xuan had obtained in trade at Jade Glass Market: [Red Hero Flame].
This true fire excelled at burning, was extremely stable, and was easy to control, making it suitable for both alchemy and artifact refining. It was more versatile than the bing-ding fires, though for alchemy alone, several ding fires that excelled at refining wood and stone were easier to use.
The sect's [Starstream Flame] was formed from starlight and had a nature close to light, making it difficult to refine medicinal properties. As for [Lesser Nether Poison Fire], it specifically burned souls and fluctuated between hot and cold, making it unsuitable for alchemy as well. Thus, Xu Xuan had specially traded for this true fire for the sect's use.
There were twelve participants below, ranging from late-stage Fetal Breath to the first and second layers of Qi Refining. The alchemy competition imposed no cultivation restrictions. After various examinations in material properties, alchemical theory, and practical trials, they had now reached the final contest, whose standard was producing Qi-Healing Powder.
One after another, participants opened their furnaces, most releasing clouds of black smoke. A few revealed medicinal powder, but it was either insufficiently refined or lacking in potency.
Someone's furnace even exploded. Under layers of pressure, the [Red Hero Flame] turned pitch-black and surged upward with a thunderous roar.
"When true fire enters a