"Why not?" Yao Lao smiled mysteriously, feigning profoundness.
"There's no reason why not," Xuan Kongzi took a deep breath and shook his head. "It's just… I've lived this long and it's the first time I've ever seen a fifteen-year-old sixth-tier alchemist. With such talent, had he been born in ancient times, he might have had the potential to become an Emperor-tier Alchemist."
Hearing Xuan Kongzi's words, Xuan Yi and the grim-faced Tian Leizi beside him couldn't help falling into silence.
"Heh heh." Yao Lao chuckled subtly, gently stroking his beard.
Saying nothing and acting like a master!
"If we weren't here, your grin would be stretching to the back of your ears, wouldn't it?"
The one who knew Yao Lao best, Xuan Yi, sneered coldly.
"Heh heh." Yao Lao chuckled again without denying it. Xiao Yan shining so brightly made him incredibly happy as a teacher.
Especially seeing the shocked expressions of the three, he was absolutely elated. Fortunately, he was professionally trained enough to contain it.
"Don't celebrate too soon, old geezer. If your disciple wins, we're going to study pill refinement for a whole month." Xuan Yi's soul voice suddenly entered Yao Lao's ears.
Hearing this, Yao Lao's nearly-uncontrollable smile instantly froze on his face.
A whole month? Even the Bone Spirit Cold Flame might be sucked dry by then…
The communication between the four was naturally invisible to the audience, who could only see the many young alchemists sitting cross-legged in the square.
"Look! That kid who drinks beast milk just refined a Tier-3 Qi Recovery Pill!"
"Yeah, although it's the easiest to refine among Tier-3 pills—easier even than some Tier-2 ones—he's only twelve!"
With such talent, he could probably reach Tier-4 by fifteen.
"Indeed. This talent is considered top-tier even in the Pill Tower. Except for freaks like Cao Ying, no one else can suppress him outright."
"Not quite true. Look at Dan Chen from the Dan Clan—she's no ordinary girl. She's just too introverted and low-profile."
"Seeing her switching between two flames like that… Could she be refining the Three-patterned Green Spirit Pill?"
"Using two flames, that pill counts as a high-grade Tier-4 pill. If she adds another flame, it could rival a Tier-5 pill."
"She's barely over fourteen, right? Freakishly talented!"
"Look at Cao Ying's technique—it seems she's refining the Dou Spirit Pill!" some higher-tier alchemists commented.
Though difficult to refine, the Dou Spirit Pill's recipe was widely circulated. Many Tier-6 and higher alchemists knew it.
"No way. She can refine a Dou Spirit Pill at this age?" Many eyes bulged in disbelief.
"With that kind of talent, it's no wonder President Xuan Yi took her as a personal disciple. If she matures successfully, the Pill Tower will have another major figure within a century."
Among regular spectators, Tier-6 alchemists were already top-notch. But in the VIP and elder seating areas, many Tier-7 alchemists were focusing more on Xiao Yan than Cao Ying.
"This… this is impossible!" A group of well-known Tier-7 alchemists stared fixedly at the golden ancient vine in Xiao Yan's cauldron, their eyes filled with disbelief.
"That kid… is he really refining the Huangji Pill?"
Like the Dou Spirit Pill, the Huangji Pill recipe wasn't rare. Many Dou Huang experts needed it.
Most high-tier alchemists had the recipe, but those who could refine it were outstanding even among Tier-6 alchemists.
Yet this boy—how old was he?
"I thought Cao Ying was already peerless among her generation. But someone even more monstrous has appeared. Whose disciple is this kid?!" Several alchemists close to Tier-8 stared fervently at Xiao Yan.
At their level, aside from seeking breakthroughs to Tier-8, the only other thing they cared about was nurturing a worthy disciple.
If this kid's master wasn't that strong, they'd definitely try to recruit him.
"Everyone, stop dreaming. This young man is Yao Chen's disciple." A voice came with a bitter chuckle, as if dumping a bucket of cold water over the excited elders.
Yao Chen, the Medicine Sovereign, was an insurmountable peak for alchemists in Central Plains. The only one who could surpass him might be the legendary Tier-9 Alchemist.
Tier-9 Alchemists were elusive beings. Many Tier-7 alchemists never even got to meet one in their lives.
"In that case, this boy's not someone we can touch. Let's just sit back and enjoy the show." The elders sighed and sat sipping tea.
As time passed, one by one the young alchemists completed their pills.
Of course, some failed—two explosions occurred due to miscontrolled flames. Thankfully, the kids had solid financial backing, and their cauldrons were good enough to avoid injuries.
"Ding!" A crisp sound rang in Xiao Yan's ears.
Not far away, Dan Chen formed a hand seal, and a deep green pill wrapped in black and red glows hit the cauldron with a crisp ring, releasing energy fluctuations.
"Whew!" Dan Chen let out a breath, her tense little face finally revealing a trace of joy as she reached out her fair little hand to hold the pill.
A moment later, another pill-condensing sound rang out—it was the eldest-looking contestant.
He now held a blood-red Tier-5 Blood Lotus Pill! He had barely but successfully stepped into Tier-5.
As most contestants finished, only Cao Ying and Xiao Yan's cauldrons still burned.
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"Xiao Yan! You're doomed to lose this time!" A moment later, Cao Ying shouted.
A deeper chime echoed from her phoenix-patterned cauldron.
With the sound, a pale yellow pill shot out from the cauldron, its energy drawing attention from countless powerful individuals.
"The Dou Spirit Pill! Cao Ying really refined it!" someone exclaimed.
"As expected of a prodigy. Her talent is monstrous!"
Ignoring the crowd, Cao Ying gracefully caught the pill in a jade bottle, then turned to stare intently at Xiao Yan.
"I don't believe you can refine a Tier-6 pill!" Cao Ying bit her lip, eyes locked on Xiao Yan, who remained completely calm.
She had focused entirely on her own refinement and hadn't been watching Xiao Yan.
As all the pills emerged, the square became a sea of noise. Yet Xiao Yan remained calm as still water.
His soul force permeated the cauldron, precisely monitoring the changes in flame within.
Inside, a vast, colorless energy was slowly fusing with a golden medicinal liquid. Various essences were being added with pinpoint accuracy to harmonize the energies.
A golden pill the size of a fist was slowly taking shape.
"The final step!" Xiao Yan's flame surged suddenly, and the golden pill began spinning rapidly within.
"A Tier-6 pill—can he really pull it off?"
Above the Pill Tower, the three giants were also staring unblinkingly at Xiao Yan's cauldron.
Beside them, Yao Lao looked on with concern. Xiao Yan had failed three times before with the Huangji Pill. There was no guarantee of success this time.
"If he succeeds this time, he'll be the most heaven-defying alchemy genius the Dou Qi Continent has seen in a century." In the VIP and elder seats, a group of Tier-7 alchemists watched intently.
"BOOM!" Half an hour later, a great bell-like sound rang out as a golden pillar of light burst from Xiao Yan's cauldron, piercing the sky.
"What kind of pill is this? Why such immense energy?" Countless eyes were drawn to the spectacle. Even Cao Ying's once-confident expression turned pale again.
The golden light pillar lasted a full breath before slowly fading.
And as it disappeared, a dazzling golden pill appeared, blinding everyone with its radiance.
....
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