Chapter 220: Three-Patterned Azure Spirit and Colorful Light Pillars
Imperial Capital, Royal Square.
The Alchemist Conference had reached its final stage. The few remaining figures on the bluestone platform held the crowd's breath, the square silent.
"That bastard's definitely prepared!" Fama's smile froze, his expression darkening.
"What's going on?" Jia Xingtian asked, bewildered, seeing nothing unusual.
An alchemist exclaimed, "Colored elixir fragrance?!"
Hai Bodong, high on the platform, looked at Yan Li, where light purple smoke rose from his cauldron. Understanding Fama's grim face, he asked, "What's a colored pill fragrance?"
"Only fifth-grade pills typically produce colored fragrance, though some peak fourth-grade pills can too. His fragrance isn't fifth-grade," Fama said, staring at the purple smoke. "Yue'er and Liu Ling's fourth-grade pills barely qualify. They can't compare!"
"If they can't, so what? We're counting on Yan Xiao," Hai Bodong gestured to the unhurried youth, confident due to Yao Lao and Xiao Yan's strange fire.
"Alas, Yan Xiao's remarkable, wielding strange fire so young. But his ambition's too great!" Fama sighed. "I gave him the three-striped Qingling Pill recipe last night. He's aiming for a two-striped one today, after failing before. Still trying for two stripes!"
Fama shook his head, skeptical.
"Haha, Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill rivals a fifth-grade elixir. Strange fire or not, what can you compete with?" Yan Li caught a purple pill, examined it, then laughed at Xiao Yan.
"Idiot!" Xiao Yan muttered, glancing at Yan Li while controlling the fusion of ingredients in his furnace. Recalling days prior, he was confident he'd succeed with a three-striped Qingling Pill. His earlier failure stemmed from unfamiliarity with the Fallen Heart Flame's temperature control. With three flames from his Fire Lotus experiments, he was set.
As dusk fell, with minutes left, Xiao Yan's furnace alone glowed. Eyes fixed on him, sweat dripped down his face, his expression tense.
Crack!
A sound emanated from his dark red furnace. Is this broken thing finally dying? Xiao Yan prayed, "Hold on! Don't explode!"
But the furnace, battered by strange fires, crackled loudly, cracks spiderwebbing across it. The crowd buzzed with exclamations, jeers, and sighs.
"It's over," Fama sighed, hopes dashed.
"You old Pharaoh, you gave him the recipe and herbs but not a better furnace? Wasted!" Hai Bodong glared.
"…!" Fama. Who knew a kid with strange fire lacked a good furnace?
"Haha, President Fama, announce the results!" Yan Li suppressed his ecstasy, laughing.
Fama closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said, "I announce…"
"Wait!" Xiao Yan's shout cut him off.
He exhaled, rummaging through the furnace debris, pulling out a small, gray pill. "President Fama, the conference isn't over yet. Why announce early?"
"…!" Everyone. Look at what's in your hand! Is there even a contest?
"Haha, Yan Xiao, no wonder the Lord didn't come. Afraid you'd lose face?" Yan Li sneered at the charred pill.
"Shameful? Who's more shameful than you, proud of a fourth-grade pill? My Brother Bai's too great to care about you," Xiao Yan retorted lightly.
"Well said! Why would he take such a subordinate?" Hai Bodong slapped his thigh, realizing Yan Li was only recruited yesterday.
"Hmph! I'm a fourth-grade alchemist!" Yan Li said proudly, weighing his purple pill.
"A mere fourth-grade? What's to be proud of?" Xiao Yan scoffed, realizing Brother Bai's alchemy prowess after attempting the three-striped Qingling Pill.
The square fell silent, shocked. A fourth-grade alchemist, insignificant? Most attendees would never reach that rank!
"What does Yan Xiao mean? Is Mr. Bai a high-ranking alchemist?" Jia Xingtian's eyes flickered, recalling the uninterested youth beside him yesterday. Could he solve the royal family's decade-long problem?
"If so, why isn't he here? He's under thirty, right?" Fama frowned, unable to fathom Mr. Bai as a fifth-grade alchemist, a realm he hadn't reached.
Hai Bodong sat silently, stroking his chin, thoughtful.
"Nonsense! It's just us today. If it's about that charcoal, I'll take the championship!" Yan Li sneered, waving.
"Win? Dream on! If I lose to you, Brother Bai would mock me for days knowing what I refined!" Xiao Yan wiped the charred pill, dispersing the transparent flame. A rich aroma filled the air.
"He succeeded!" Fama exclaimed, eyes fixed on the pill, still nervous.
"Not the champion anymore? It's Yan Xiao!" Hai Bodong said, favoring Xiao Yan for his ties to Xiao Bai and Yao Lao's guidance.
"It's unclear. A two-striped Qingling Pill matches a Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill in value," Fama said, deciding internally that a two-striped pill would keep the championship in Jia Ma.
Xiao Yan blew on the pill, the char turning to powder, revealing its true form. "Fourth-grade pill, three-striped Qingling Pill!" he shouted, voice echoing.
"Three-three-stripes!" Fama stood, thrilled at the pill's three colors.
Yan Li's eyes filled with disbelief, his face pale, vacant.
"I want to check his pill!" Yan Li said unwillingly.
"No authority per the rules!" Fama refused.
"No problem!" Xiao Yan smiled, handing the pill to Yan Li. With Brother Bai's backing, he feared no tricks. "Don't recognize the Three-Striped Azure Spirit Pill? I've got a sample!" Another identical pill appeared in his hand.
"Huh?" Fama, worried about trickery, examined the new pill, muttering, "Perfect! The most flawless Three-Striped Azure Spirit Pill I've seen—rich color, energy, and a strange life-giving essence!"
"Young friend Yan Xiao, did you refine this before?" Fama asked suspiciously.
"Uh, no!" Xiao Yan's smile faltered. "I refined the one he has!"
"Then this is…" Fama pressed.
"Little Yan, don't delay. Finish and get back. Your Brother Bai's about to succeed!" Yao Lao's voice echoed.
Xiao Yan startled, knowing Xiao Bai was refining the Soul Liquid but not expecting it so soon. A bright light pierced the dim sky, forcing him to squint.
"What's that?" the crowd exclaimed.
A multicolored beam shot up from the city, rich with elixir fragrance.
"Someone's refining a high-level elixir!" Fama said, shocked by the beam's energy.
"Gu He?" Jia Xingtian asked, envious. Only high-level alchemists shone like this. How fortunate for the Yunlan Sect!
"Not Gu He!" Hai Bodong said, eyes wide, realizing the beam came from Xiao Bai's courtyard. With Xiao Yan's words, the impossible answer emerged.
"If not Gu He, who? Another sixth-grade alchemist in Jia Ma?" Jia Xingtian turned, excited.
"Ask Yan Xiao!" Hai Bodong smiled at Xiao Yan.
Fama and Jia Xingtian stared at Xiao Yan, a black-robed figure flashing in their minds. The crowd eavesdropped, eager to know the sixth-grade alchemist.
"My Brother Bai!" Xiao Yan shrugged under countless eyes.
The square fell silent. Those who knew Xiao Bai gaped; those who didn't wondered who this "Brother Bai" was, outshining the champion.
"It's him!" Fama shook his head wryly, recalling his regret that Xiao Bai wasn't an alchemist. He just didn't take us seriously. "Everyone has their own destiny" was apt.
"Really Mr. Bai!" Jia Xingtian's eyes shone, fists clenched. He might save my old friend!
Yan Li lost interest in checking the pill. His controller was a sixth-grade alchemist! No wonder his methods were odd, and Xiao Yan called me fourth-grade trash. In front of a sixth-grade, fourth-grade was indeed lacking.
Shaking his head bitterly, Yan Li's eyes lit up. A sixth-grade backer isn't bad!
"Sir!!" Nalan Yanran exclaimed, stunned, turning to Ya Fei. "Sister Ya Fei, did you know he's an alchemist?"
No answer. Ya Fei was dazed, her eyes a mix of surprise, realization, complaint, and sadness. Nalan Yanran shook her head, understanding Ya Fei was unaware, marveling at her expressive gaze.
"Old Fama, finish here and let's visit Mr. Bai!" Jia Xingtian said impatiently, seeing the crowd focused on the light pillar.
Fama didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This was the most intense Alchemist Conference, yet it ended like this!
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(End of Chapter)