Xiao Jietian opened his eyes, picked up the medicinal ingredients he had arranged on the table, and threw them one by one into the cauldron for refinement.
Nine Profound Vine, Nine-Petal Jade Flower, Nine-Heart Lotus, Nine-Leaf Single-Bud Flower, Nine-Pattern Ganoderma... a total of nine medicinal herbs.
Xiao Jietian used his spiritual power to control the temperature of the Heavenly Flame, slowly refining the essence required for the medicinal pill.
Xiao Yan and the other contestants also focused intently on their cauldrons, meticulously refining the herbs, fearing that a single mistake would lead to failure. Even with ample ingredients, time was a limiting factor; the hourglass only allowed for about two to three batches of refinement at most.
The entire square fell into silence; even the audience held their breath, quietly watching the alchemists' rapidly moving fingers and the herbs tumbling and roasting within their cauldrons.
...
Time slipped away unnoticed in the quiet surroundings.
Approximately fifty minutes later.
Xiao Jietian placed all the refined medicinal materials into a jade bottle.
Scanning his surroundings, many had already entered the pill fusion stage, Xiao Yan among them.
Xiao Jietian glanced at Xiao Yan's cauldron, as if remembering something: this time, his first attempt would fail, and he would succeed at the last moment on the second try.
Xiao Yanzi always cuts it close, even when playing the hero saving the beauty. Maybe I can try that too someday?
Xiao Jietian chuckled softly to himself, then began the pill fusion process.
He placed all the refined medicinal materials into the cauldron, and under the intense heat of the Heavenly Flame, all the ingredients began to fuse in an orderly manner.
Xiao Jietian concentrated on controlling the temperature and heat. This stage required precise temperature control; if not managed properly, it could lead to problems—at best, reducing the pill's quality, and at worst, turning the herbs to ashes.
Time passed minute by minute, until a muffled sound suddenly came from nearby. Xiao Yan had failed his first attempt at changing flames and immediately began refining anew.
During this time, the Old Man in Xiao Yan's ring made no sound. This was Xiao Yan's own path; he needed to discover things for himself. Having guidance at every step would hinder his growth.
Blind indulgence would only harm him and ultimately harm oneself as well.
The fine sand in the huge hourglass had already flowed halfway down. Many exclamations arose from the surroundings, as Princess Yao Yue was the first to produce a pill, followed closely by Liu Ling. Both had refined Tier 4 pills.
Liu Ling's pill was slightly better in quality than Princess Yao Yue's.
"You two should just obediently admit defeat."
A shrill laugh rang out from not far away. The two turned angrily to see a multicolored pill fragrance emanating from Yan Li's cauldron. Multicolored pill fragrance is a sign of a Tier 5 pill, though some high-quality peak Tier 4 pills can also produce it.
Yan Li successfully produced a pill; he had refined a peak Tier 4 pill, far surpassing the other two in grade by several levels.
"The championship is mine!"
Yan Li tightly gripped the pill in his hand, his eyes gleaming with greed and confidence, a wild smile playing on his lips as he declared loudly.
"Is that so? Things may not go as you wish."
Xiao Jietian's calm yet confident voice echoed across the square.
Everyone looked over to see a wisp of smoke with a mysterious dark fragrance rising from Xiao Jietian's cauldron.
"I thought you were something special. Even with a multicolored fragrance, it can't compare to my Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill."
Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill: A single pill can increase a Great Dou Master's cultivation by one star. A person can take two in their lifetime.
Yan Li frowned slightly, but seeing that Xiao Jietian's pill also only had a multicolored fragrance, and recalling the effects of his own pill, he immediately calmed down and mocked.
"Then you'd better open your eyes wide, you trash."
Xiao Jietian brought his hands together, his fingers nimbly forming seals. His thumbs, ring fingers, and little fingers came together in pairs, while his index and middle fingers overlapped, forming the shape of a dragon's head.
He then struck the cauldron, which immediately erupted with a dark light pillar. A Golden Dragon phantom coiled around the light pillar, roaring towards the sky.
It opened its dragon mouth, drawing in the surrounding heaven and earth energy, which flowed down the light pillar into the cauldron.
As the energy entered, Xiao Jietian's cauldron immediately erupted with the energy fluctuations characteristic of a Tier 5 pill.
"Multicolored pill fragrance combined with energy fluctuations—this is a sign of a successful Tier 5 pill."
Fa Ma's expression changed from gloomy to one full of smiles.
"Based on his previous medicinal ingredients and the special technique he just performed, he should be refining a mid-grade Tier 5 pill: the Nine Profound Pill."
"Nine Profound Pill?"
Hai Bodong had not heard this name before and asked.
"The Nine Profound Pill was created by an alchemist named Refining Star. This pill can directly increase a Dou Spirit's cultivation by two stars, but can only be taken once in a lifetime."
"Although the pill formula has been passed down, no one has been able to refine it."
Fa Ma stroked his beard, looking at the phantom image above Xiao Jietian's cauldron.
"Can't even refine it with the formula? Is it that mysterious?"
Hai Bodong was astonished, hearing of such a peculiar pill for the first time.
"Yes, because to successfully refine this pill, one must also use an alchemical technique: the Fiery Dragon Soaring Hand, to guide heaven and earth energy into the pill to complete its medicinal properties. Otherwise, it will only become a useless pill."
Heaven and earth energy continued to be infused, refined by the Heavenly Flame into the pill, and the energy fluctuations from the cauldron grew increasingly intense.
As the light pillar above the cauldron disappeared, Xiao Jietian slapped the cauldron, and the lid flew off. A dark pill flew into his hand.
"Tier 5, Nine Profound Pill."
Xiao Jietian clenched the pill in his hand, raised it high, and declared loudly.
Watching Xiao Jietian successfully form the pill, Little Doctor Immortal and the other two patted their heaving chests and let out a sigh of relief.
"Amazing! A Tier 5 pill! To be a Tier 5 alchemist at such a young age—is that even reasonable?"
"Is there still justice? Is there still heavenly law?"
"That dragon phantom just now was too shocking. After seeing that scene, I feel like I could take on ten people."
The people in the audience and VIP seats were all stunned by Xiao Jietian's power.
...
Yan Li heard the name of Xiao Jietian's pill and naturally knew the effects of the Nine Profound Pill. His own pill was incomparable to it.
A Great Dou Master and a Dou Spirit are completely different levels.
"Why aren't you smiling anymore? Are you not naturally inclined to smile?"
"I still prefer your arrogant and unruly look from before. Please revert to that."
Xiao Jietian looked at Yan Li, whose face was pale and eyes red, and asked with a smile.
Yan Li clenched his fists tightly, wishing he could rush up and punch Xiao Jietian twice, but he knew that if he dared to act rashly, the three Dou Emperors above would seize the opportunity to kill him. The three had long harbored murderous intent towards him.
Just then, the cauldron in front of Xiao Yan began to explode. At the last moment, Xiao Yan used his Heavenly Flame to envelop the pill, pulling it out of the cauldron and sending it flying upwards, thus saving the pill.
"Tier 4, Three-Line Azure Spirit Pill."
Xiao Yan held the pill in his hand and weakly announced.
A Tier 4 Three-Line Azure Spirit Pill could give a Great Dou Master a chance to jump three stars. Even a Dou Spirit could take it, though the failure rate was relatively high.
Compared to the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill, it was clear at a glance which was stronger and which was weaker.
Struck by two blows in succession, Yan Li's heart turned to ashes, his expression despondent.
After his final desperate plea to inspect the pills, seven respected alchemists examined everyone's pills and declared that there were no issues.
Yan Li frantically gathered his belongings and the tampered pill, then hastily hurried away from the square.
"Cough, cough."
Fa Ma lightly coughed a few times, and the square instantly fell silent. He then smiled and announced loudly:
"I declare the champion of the Seventh Alchemist Convention..."
Fa Ma extended his finger, suddenly pointing at the figure in the arena who resembled an immortal.
"That is Xiao Jietian."
"Xiao Jietian! Xiao Jietian!!!!"
As Fa Ma's voice fell, deafening shouts of excitement suddenly erupted from the audience, passionately calling Xiao Jietian's name.
The sound echoed through the heavens, cheering for this young Tier 5 alchemist.
Little Doctor Immortal and the other two embraced with joy, wishing they could rush into the arms of their outstanding man right now.
"Brother Tian, congratulations on winning the championship."
Xiao Yan came to Xiao Jietian's side and congratulated him.
"You also did very well, refining the Three-Line Azure Spirit Pill. Not just anyone can do that. In the future, your name will also be remembered throughout history."
Xiao Jietian gently patted Xiao Yan's shoulder and warmly comforted him.