Translator: Silavin
At the square, Qiao Huang stood with a solemn expression before his Pill Furnace, his gaze fixed intently on its interior.
Earlier, in the first segment, after having his spotlight stolen by a New Apprentice from the Northern Region, although he did not show any unusual expression on the surface, his heart was filled with intense rage.
Moreover, that youngster had broken the record left by the Eastern Region’s Senior Apprentice.
[No matter what methods you use, I’ll use my true strength to show everyone that I, Qiao Huang, am the main star of the summit!] Qiao Huang suddenly clenched his fist, roaring in his heart. He had specifically taken the Spirit Sun Fruit, wanting to refine a Peak Fourth Grade Pill to prove himself!
“I’m done…”
Just as Qiao Yi was roaring in his heart, preparing to condense the Medicinal Liquid in his Pill Furnace into a Pill at the fastest speed, a light and somewhat proud voice suddenly came from the direction of the Northern Region’s Apprentices.
“Ah… Zhao Ritian? How is he so fast?”
“Heavens, a Fourth Grade Pill, looking at that lustre, it must be at least Level Four or higher!”
“In just these two short years, Zhao Ritian’s progress has actually surpassed Qiao Huang’s…”
Whispers emerged from the watching crowd, clearly showing their shock at Zhao Ritian’s early completion.
Although Zhao Ritian had shown brilliant performance in the previous segment, he was still far behind compared to Qiao Huang and the others.
“Xuezhen… your Northern Region Alchemy Tower has done really well…”
Alchemy Peak Master Qu Huazheng spoke to Zuo Xuezhen, who was beside him, with an appreciative look. His tone of praise was completely unconcealed.
For this segment, the Northern Region’s performance was indeed eye-catching, though Wang Daoyun, who had always been the Northern Region’s best, seemed unremarkable in comparison.
“Hehe, these little rascals, I told them to keep a low profile, but they still don’t know how to hold back, sigh…” Zuo Xuezhen also laughed dryly, speaking with a light chuckle, but his tone carried no shame, only pride and honour!
Hearing Zuo Xuezhen’s arrogant words, Qiu Yushu’s mouth twitched. He cursed this old ghost’s thick skin in his heart. Meanwhile, the other Tower Masters also strongly endured their need to puke out those disgusting words.
Actually, Zuo Xuezhen was also puzzled. While Zhao Ritian’s talent was good, and he even believed Zhao Ritian’s future achievements might not be lower than his own, he had never foreseen him to be this exceptional.
Zuo Xuezhen had an extremely good relationship with Zhao Family’s Patriarch, and he had been conscientious in nurturing Zhao Ritian. Even so, he could not understand how Zhao Ritian, after being in secluded cultivation for almost two years, could emerge seeming completely transformed, like a different person?
[Perhaps it was the pressure from Qiao Huang and Lin Yi at the last summit…] Finally, Zuo Xuezhen simply stopped thinking too deeply about it, attributing the reason to Zhao Ritian himself.
[Zhao Ritian… you defeated Dog. You dare to steal my spotlight!?] Qiao Huang roared in his heart, his palm suddenly slapping down on his Pill Furnace.
*Puff!* As Qiao Huang’s palm struck down, a beam of light shot out from his Pill Furnace, and simultaneously, a rich Pill fragrance that could invigorate one’s Soul with just one breath spread out.
“Hmph! With the Spirit Sun Pill complete, how can you possibly compete with me!?” Qiao Huang snorted coldly, his palm catching that Pill. As the light dispersed, a smooth and flawless Pill appeared before everyone’s eyes.
“Siiii… a Level Five Fourth Grade Pill!”
“Worthy of being Qiao Huang!”
Seeing the Pill in Qiao Huang’s hand, many people exclaimed in surprise.
On the high platform, several Tower Masters’ eyes also flashed with surprise.
“A Level Five Fourth Grade Spirit Sun Pill, its refinement difficulty comparable to a Fifth Grade Pill. Qiao Huang being able to successfully refine it in such a short time is exceptional!”
Qu Huazheng nodded with satisfaction, his tone revealing appreciation.
Hearing Qu Huazheng’s words of praise, the Eastern Region’s Alchemy Tower Master’s lips also curled into a smile. Qiao Huang’s current mastery of Alchemy could be considered top even among past summits.
This was their Eastern Region Alchemy Tower’s Apprentice!
“Pill complete!” With a shout, Lin Yi was also done. Judging from the lustre of the Pill in his hand, it was clearly a Pill on par with Zhao Ritian’s.
*Puff… Puff…*
As time passed, one competitor after another produced Pills with overflowing medicinal fragrance.
Meanwhile, Qin Yichen, who had attracted the most attention earlier, was still unhurriedly tapping his small Pill Furnace, looking so relaxed that if it were not for his continued movement, others might have thought he had fallen asleep.
“Pretentious kid must have consumed too much in the first segment and has given up.” Qiao Huang glanced at him coldly, sneering in his heart.
“Wang Daoyun, hurry up, you’re dawdling like a woman!” Zhao Ritian, seeing Qin Yichen’s actions, could not guess what he was up to, but when he saw that Wang Daoyun still has yet to produce a Pill, he finally could not help but berate him.
Those two who had once trampled on his dignity had already produced Pills, and all the members on side were also done. All without exception, produced at least Level Four Third Grade Pills.
At this point, the Northern Region Alchemy Tower had only him who had produced a Pill. So, it was no wonder why Zhao Ritian was so anxious.
*Bang!* Suddenly, a muffled sound came from Wang Daoyun’s Pill Furnace, and in the next instant, the entire square fell silent, and various gazes turned toward Wang Daoyun with strange expressions.
A furnace explosion!?
Although failures in the Alchemy process were common, furnace explosions at the Alchemy World Summit were absolutely rare, perhaps once in several decades.
And now, a Pill Furnace explosion had occurred before everyone’s eyes, by the hands of a veteran who had participated in two summits!
“Haha… a Pill Furnace explosion, Northern Region’s children are truly pitiful!” Seeing Wang Daoyun’s somewhat pale face, Lin Yi could not help but laugh out loud.
With Wang Daoyun’s furnace explosion, he lost the chance to refine again, leaving the Northern Region with just two Pills.
How could two Pills compete with them?
It seems like in this segment, the Northern Region was destined to be last.
“Tsk tsk. Zhao Ritian’s voice is too loud.e He had shouted so loud that he made his own companion’s furnace explode. Impressive, truly impressive!”
Qiu Yushu naturally did not miss this opportunity to mock.
“What happened?” But facing Qiu Yushu’s sarcasm, Zuo Xuezhen did not argue with him. His brows were tightly furrowed, his eyes flickering with confusion.
He knew Wang Daoyun’s strength very well. Even if he had expended some Spiritual Energy in the first segment, refining a High Level Third Grade Pill should not have been a problem for him.
“I… damn… you idiot…” Zhao Ritian’s mouth hung wide open, several vulgar words stuttering from his mouth. His eyes were filled with confusion and anger. This time, he had come here determined to wash away his previous shame. No matter the reason, he could not accept losing to Lin Yi.
Silavin: I’m changing how the Pills are classified to make it easier for you guys to understand.
Level is for potency/efficiency.
Grade is in accordance to what cultivation level of Martial Artist/Alchemist can use it to be effective