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**
Time flowed slowly.
On the remaining thirty-some stone platforms, every face was filled with solemn concentration. On some of them, paleness was already creeping across their expressions. Clearly, this level of heavy strain was taking its toll.
Bang!
Suddenly, a deep explosion rang out from one of the platforms.
Everyone's hearts sank as their eyes darted toward the source. There, a middle-aged man stood, his face frozen in shock as he stared at the cauldron before him. From within, disordered energy fluctuations faintly leaked out.
At the final step, he had lost control, leading to a mishap.
"No…" the middle-aged man stared blankly at the cauldron, his eyes instantly turning bloodshot.
After nearly twenty painstaking days of effort, to fail completely at the final moment… More importantly, the Pill Gathering—was over for him.
Such a blow was something he could hardly bear. Those watching could only sigh inwardly, feeling some pity.
Failure in alchemy was nothing rare. Most alchemists counted as competent if they had around a thirty percent success rate. But at a moment like this, a single small mistake meant losing the chance to continue altogether.
Some would succeed, others would fail. Such was inevitable. In the days that followed, among the thirty-plus who remained, some succeeded in refining their pills.
Of course, others failed.
Without exception, those who failed became utterly dejected. To endure until now, only to collapse under so many watching eyes—words could not capture that sting.
In truth, they even looked worse than those who had earlier at least managed to refine Tier 6 pills. As countless expectant gazes lingered, another three days quietly passed.
In those three days, ten more successfully refined pills. The best among them was a high-grade Tier 7 pill.
The instant that pill emerged, it drew down Pill Lightning. The rolling, continuous thunderclaps left many watching with trembling hearts.
The one who had succeeded was an elderly man with a deeply wrinkled face. Clearly, he was a known figure on the continent, for his success earned him waves of cheers.
Of course, with success came failure.
Within those three days, ten succeeded, but eight others failed. Amidst the regretful gazes of the crowd, they could only withdraw, bitter and unwilling.
Time was up, ingredients were exhausted, their states were spent—there was no chance to start over. With these eighteen decided, only nineteen remained on the stone platforms, still refining.
Time's filter was the sharpest of all.
These nineteen who remained, just from their auras alone, were clearly not ordinary. Among them was one—a true Tier 8 Alchemy Grandmaster.
This grandmaster had kept very low profile, deliberately concealing his presence and blending in with the crowd of contestants. For a time, no one had noticed him.
Now, with the numbers so greatly reduced, his existence finally drew attention. This low-key Tier 8 alchemist was a gray-haired old man, his wrinkled face like orange peel.
Clearly, he too was of the older generation.
But though his appearance was poor, his face always carried a gentle smile, making him seem far more agreeable than that stern Old Mu Gu.
"Didn't expect even the old freak Qing Hua to come."
On the high platform, Xuan Kongzi and the others stared at the gray-haired elder who had finally stepped into the spotlight, momentarily startled before exchanging helpless glances.
The old guy really had no shame.
"Trust that old man to throw away his face." The qipao-clad beauty said with a hint of irritation.
"This old guy's lifelong wish has been to subdue a Heavenly Flame. Years ago, he and Yao Chen spent several years in that cursed place, but in the end, Yao Chen outplayed him and obtained the Bone Chilling Flame."
"Now that there's a chance to seize the Three Thousand Burning Flame, of course he's going to try." The dark-skinned, cold-faced elder said.
Xuan Kongzi could only shake his head helplessly, then his gaze suddenly shifted toward a certain stone platform. There, dressed in black, Old Mu Gu was fully focused on refining a pill.
"This man's aura, although deliberately concealed, and even though his appearance has been altered, there's no doubt that it's Mu Gu."
"Hmph." the woman in the cheongsam furrowed her brows slightly and let out a cold snort.
"This old bastard, in the end he still got mixed up with Hall of Souls. This time, he must also be here for the Three Thousand Burning Flame." Xuan Kongzi sighed.
"And we're just going to let him do as he pleases?" the woman said irritably.
"He's competing according to the rules. Are we supposed to just drive him out for no reason?" Xuan Kongzi replied helplessly.
The Pill Gathering was held for all alchemists on the continent. Naturally, they could not forbid Old Mu Gu from participating simply because he belonged to Hall of Souls.
If the Pill Tower openly targeted him in front of everyone, it would certainly provoke Hall of Souls's dissatisfaction and only cause greater trouble. And doing so would destroy the fairness of the Pill Gathering, something the Pill Tower would never accept.
"Forget it, since he's following the rules, just let him be."
Above the azure sky, wild winds howled.
Though the dark clouds had long since dispersed, low rumbles of thunder inexplicably continued to echo across heaven and earth. Such a strange scene left many secretly surprised.
But those with enough experience understood. These rumbles of thunder did not come from the sky, but from the cauldrons on the stone platforms. It was the result of energy fluctuations.
Boom!
All of a sudden, a deep sound erupted.
Before the crowd could even shift their gazes, they felt a surge of immense energy burst out like lightning from one of the stone platforms, soaring straight into the skies.
As the energy surged, dark clouds instantly gathered above, countless silver snakes of lightning writhing in every direction.
"It's Song Qing!"
Beneath the vast thunderclouds, Song Qing, who had been sitting cross-legged, now rose proudly to his feet, his spirit soaring as he looked up at the heavy clouds above.
This was his work.
And this time, the Pill Lightning that appeared was even fiercer than any before. That alone was enough to make him proud.
"Judging from the scale, it's definitely a peak Tier 7 pill. And from the looks of it, the quality is even higher than the other peak Tier 7 pills that appeared earlier!"
Bathed in the thunder raging across the skies, Song Qing slowly raised his palm. A perfectly round pill, like a dazzling pearl, was held high in his hand.
In that instant, the heavens thundered violently.
Amid the booming thunder, countless cries of astonishment rang out. Song Qing's face slowly curved into a wild, arrogant smile.
Then, with a gaze carrying a trace of provocation, he turned toward the few grand stone platforms at the center of the plaza.
That was where Wei Yang and the others were.
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