Purple Light Glaze Grass is none other than the Sun Moon Star Grass.
Although the names are different, they refer to the same type of Spirit Grass. Currently on the Heavenly Origin Continent, most Pill Masters only know of the Sun Moon Star Grass and are unaware of the Purple Light Glaze Grass.
In fact, even the ninth-rank Pill Master Hu Donghe had only seen the name Purple Light Glaze Grass occasionally mentioned in an Ancient Alchemy Classic and thus knew that it was the same as the Sun Moon Star Grass. That is to say, one to two thousand years ago, the name Sun Moon Star Grass was called Purple Light Glaze Grass before it was changed.
On the Heavenly Origin Continent, Spirit Grass that has undergone name changes isn’t limited to just one or two varieties. Some of these herbs even have two or three names today.
"Master, are you saying that the Sun Moon Star Grass is also called Purple Light Glaze Grass?" Sun Qi caught on.
"Correct! Both names are accurate. It’s just that the vast majority of Pill Masters are unaware," Hu Donghe nodded in confirmation.
The judges, one by one, appeared somewhat dumbstruck. Even they had not heard of Purple Light Glaze Grass, yet contestant number sixty-six knew of this name.
Sun Qi, however, was relieved. Although he had judged incorrectly, it wasn’t his fault. None of the other judges knew that the Purple Light Glaze Grass was the same as the Sun Moon Star Grass.
In the second-tier square, Jing Yan naturally couldn’t hear the discussion involving Hu Donghe and others in the Highest Staircase Square.
He identified the Purple Light Glaze Grass based on the Qian Kun Pill Path. The Qian Kun Pill Path is an ancient Alchemy Classic, so Jing Yan was unaware that Purple Light Glaze Grass is now called Sun Moon Star Grass.
"Alright, continue reviewing the answer sheets!" Hu Donghe spoke again.
"Yes!" Everyone responded in unison.
"I really want to meet this number sixty-six soon!" Chang Huan squinted his eyes.
"I’m curious too! But we’ll know soon enough." Hu Donghe smiled. Although he was curious, he wasn’t in a hurry.
Once all the answer sheets were reviewed and judges had selected the top four hundred ranks among the Pill Masters, allowing them to ascend to the third-tier square, they would naturally find out who number sixty-six was.
After a while, over a thousand answer sheets had been reviewed. However, the ten judges decided to review all the answer sheets again to prevent any errors.
Judges checked specifically for answers pertaining to the Sun Moon Star Grass, and if a Pill Master had answered Purple Light Glaze Grass, they also changed the score accordingly. However, aside from the perfect score answer sheet of number sixty-six, no one else had identified it as the Purple Light Glaze Grass.
"Fellow Pill Masters, all your answer sheets have been reviewed. Pill Masters who ranked in the top four hundred will pass the first round of Medicine Identification and advance to the second round of Identifying Pills," the elder in white robes announced, unfolding a piece of paper with the compiled scores.
"Now, I will read out the numbers of all Pill Masters advancing to the next round. Please, corresponding Pill Masters, ascend to the third-tier square," the elderly man declared loudly as everyone listened intently.
Alchemist Qiu Fang and others started to feel slightly nervous.
A large number of the first round participants were eliminated. Out of over a thousand Pill Masters, only four hundred could advance to the second round.
The elderly man continuously read out numbers. Pill Masters, whose numbers had been called, mostly showed faces of joy.
"Haha, I advanced too, that’s great!"
Some were joyful, others were worried. Those who didn’t hear their corresponding numbers weren’t smiling. The elderly man read the numbers in sequence; after calling out one and two, he directly called out five, so numbers three and four were eliminated.
Those who heard their numbers climbed from the second-tier square to the third-tier square.
"Number forty-eight!" The elderly man continued to call out at a steady pace.
"Alchemist Jing Yan, what is your number?" Qiu Fang asked quietly.
"I am number sixty-six; Alchemist Qiu Fang, what about you? What’s your number?" Jing Yan responded and then asked in return.
"I am number seventy-five; it’s almost time for our section of numbers," Qiu Fang exhaled heavily, visibly nervous.
"Alchemist Qiu Fang, there’s no need to be nervous. With your skills, advancing to the second round shouldn’t be a problem," Jing Yan smiled.
Jing Yan’s words were not just to comfort. From their interactions over the past two months, Jing Yan had gained a good understanding of Qiu Fang’s foundation in Alchemy Dao. As long as Qiu Fang performed normally, advancing to the second round wouldn’t be an issue.
"Mm!" Qiu Fang nodded.
"Great! Very nice indeed! Someone from Golden Sparrow Commerce has already advanced to the second round," Bai Lan said, smiling, as he saw a Pill Master from the second-tier square climb up to the third-tier square after the elderly man called out fifty-seven. That Pill Master was indeed from his Golden Sparrow Commerce.
At that moment, the elderly man suddenly paused.
Previously, the elderly man had consistently called out numbers at a steady pace, and the sudden pause drew everyone’s attention.
The elderly man’s gaze swept down from the Highest Staircase Square, appearing as though he deeply inhaled.
"Number sixty-six!" the elderly man finally called out.
After announcing the number, the elderly man paused once more.
"Alchemist Jing Yan, congratulations!" Qiu Fang quickly congratulated.
Other Pill Masters from Youhai Commerce also offered their congratulations, their expressions tinged with a bit of envy.
This Alchemist Jing Yan truly had some skills; no wonder the guild master invited him to represent the commerce! Pill Masters from Youhai Commerce thought to themselves as they watched Jing Yan.
Jing Yan nodded to them and then stepped forward, leaping onto the third-tier square.
Up on the Highest Staircase Square, Hu Donghe and others were intently watching Jing Yan.
Jing Yan naturally felt their intense stares. He smiled wryly, knowing there would be such a result after he had written down all the answers on his sheet. However, he had planned to gain recognition all along, so he didn’t mind these fiery gazes.
"Who is this person?"
"I haven’t seen him before; he must not be a Pill Master from Pill Country!"
"Brother Gao, do you know him? Is he from your family?"
"No! Whose family does this number sixty-six belong to?"
"He’s not from my family either!"
"I don’t recognize him either!" Those from the Alchemy Dao families all shook their heads as they looked at Jing Yan. They had been somewhat hopeful just before, but now, seeing Jing Yan, they were a bit disappointed and turned to ask others.
To their surprise, none of them knew number sixty-six. That is to say, number sixty-six was neither from Pill Country nor from any of their Alchemy Dao families.
"This man looks very young!" Chang Huan also expressed his astonishment.
"Indeed, very young, he looks to be only about twenty years old!" Hu Donghe also noted, frowning slightly.