"Lin Feng: one mid-grade tier-one pill, one high-grade tier-one pill, and one top-grade tier-one pill; number of pills refined: three; number of failed attempts: zero; refinement efficiency: 100%."
The Deputy Pavilion Master paused for a brief moment.
Then—
"Final grade—pass. Top rank."
---
Silence.
A heavy, suffocating silence pressed down on the entire hall.
Then—
"Top… top-grade?!"
"He actually refined a top-grade tier-one pill?!"
"And three pills in one attempt?!"
"This… this is unbelievable!"
The crowd erupted into chaos.
Unlike before, this was no longer mere admiration—it was shock bordering on disbelief.
A top-grade pill.
That was something even seasoned alchemists struggled to produce consistently.
Yet Lin Feng had done it—
During an assessment.
Casually.
At the front, even some elders could not maintain their composure.
"Incredible…"
"Truly incredible…"
Elder Lu exhaled deeply, his gaze toward Lin Feng now completely different.
---
Ouyang Jun stood frozen.
His lips twitched slightly, his expression stiff.
But this time—
He did not immediately lash out.
Instead, he took a deep breath.
Then another.
Slowly, the shock in his eyes was replaced by something else—
A sharp, burning competitiveness.
"Hmph."
He let out a cold snort.
"So what if you can refine top-grade tier-one pills?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly.
"This is still just the first tier."
He stepped forward, his gaze locking onto Lin Feng.
"Don't get too full of yourself."
The crowd quieted slightly, sensing something was about to unfold.
---
At the front, the Deputy Pavilion Master raised his hand.
"Enough."
His tone was calm, but carried authority.
"The trial is over."
"All those who have passed may register as official tier-one alchemists."
"As for the rest—disperse."
The hall began to stir.
Some left in disappointment.
Others lingered, unwilling to miss what felt like the beginning of something bigger.
---
"I am not leaving."
Ouyang Jun's voice rang out again.
He lifted his chin slightly.
"I am here to take the second-tier alchemist assessment."
A ripple spread through the remaining crowd.
"Second-tier?!"
"He is indeed here for that"
"yes just like the rumors say"
Ouyang Jun's lips curved slightly, enjoying the attention.
Then—
Lin Feng spoke.
"I will also take the second-tier assessment."
The hall fell silent once more.
Ouyang Jun blinked.
Then—
He laughed.
"Hahaha!"
"Lin Feng… Lin Feng…"
He shook his head, as if amused.
"You really don't know your limits, do you?"
"Just because you can refine a few top-grade tier-one pills, you think you can challenge the second tier?"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Fine."
"If you're so confident…"
"Let's make things interesting."
He stepped closer.
"Let's bet."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
Lin Feng's expression remained calm.
"I don't bet for nothing."
"What are the stakes?"
Ouyang Jun's smile widened.
"If I win—"
"You will kneel, kowtow, and loudly declare that you are trash…"
"And that I, Ouyang Jun, am the true genius."
Gasps echoed through the hall.
That was not just a bet—
That was humiliation.
Lin Feng's gaze didn't waver.
"And if I win?"
Ouyang Jun scoffed.
"You win?"
He laughed again.
"How could I possibly lose?"
Lin Feng turned slightly, as if to leave.
"If there's nothing in it for me, I'm not interested."
"Wait!"
Ouyang Jun's expression tightened.
Then—
With a flick of his wrist, a jade slip appeared in his hand.
"This."
His voice lowered slightly.
"Inside this jade slip…"
"…is the inheritance of a tier-three formation master."
---
"WHAT?!"
The entire hall exploded.
"A tier-three formation inheritance?!"
"That's priceless!"
"Even major families would fight over something like that!"
The elders themselves were visibly shaken.
At the front, even the Deputy Pavilion Master's gaze sharpened slightly.
---
Lin Feng's expression remained unchanged.
But inside—
His heart stirred.
'Formation inheritance…'
'Just when I was wondering where to obtain one…'
'And now—'
'He delivers it to me himself.'
'Truly… a good person.'
---
"Fine."
Lin Feng nodded lightly.
"I accept."
Ouyang Jun's eyes lit up instantly.
"Good!"
As if afraid Lin Feng might regret it, he immediately turned.
"Deputy Pavilion Master, please act as a witness!"
The deputy looked at Lin Feng.
"Are you certain?"
"Do not make hasty decisions."
Lin Feng cupped his fists.
"Thank you for your concern, senior."
"This junior is certain."
The deputy studied him for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Very well."
"Write down the pills you intend to refine."
---
Ouyang Jun moved first.
He quickly listed his materials and handed them over.
His expression was confident.
Relaxed.
As if victory was already within his grasp.
---
Lin Feng stood still for a moment.
Then—
A thought surfaced.
A memory.
From the inheritance he had obtained—
A second-tier pill.
Foundation Mending Pill.
His eyes flickered slightly.
'A high-grade tier-two pill…'
'Capable of repairing hidden injuries and stabilizing one's foundation.'
'Exactly what I need.'
Without hesitation, he wrote it down.
---
When the materials were brought—
The atmosphere changed once more.
Two furnaces.
Two competitors.
One bet.
---
"Begin."
---
Flames rose.
Ouyang Jun moved first.
His hand seals were smooth.
Precise.
Effortless.
The flame under his cauldron burned steadily, his control refined and stable.
From the very start—
It was clear he was experienced.
---
On the other side—
Lin Feng began as well.
But—
His movements were slower.
More deliberate.
The formation under his cauldron activated—
But not as smoothly as before.
Inside—
He sighed.
'Of course…'
'The knowledge I possess assumes the use of fire spirit roots…'
'Not formation-based fire…'
'And beyond basic formations… I lack experience.'
His brows furrowed slightly.
---
Time passed.
The difference became clearer.
"Look…"
"Lin Feng is struggling…"
"His control isn't stable…"
"Ouyang Jun is much smoother…"
Whispers spread through the hall.
---
Inside Ouyang Jun's cauldron—
A faint medicinal fragrance began to form.
Steady.
Promising.
He smirked slightly.
"Lin Feng…"
"Is this all you've got?"
---
On the other side—
Lin Feng's materials had fully melted.
But—
They refused to combine.
The energy fluctuated violently.
Unstable.
Chaotic.
---
The crowd shook their heads.
"It's over…"
"He aimed too high…"
"A second-tier pill isn't something you can brute-force…"
---
Lin Feng exhaled slowly.
'No choice…'
'Again.'
His hands moved.
"Bang!"
A strike landed on the cauldron.
Then—
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Nine precise strikes.
The cauldron spun.
Energy shifted.
The crowd gasped.
"He's doing it again!"
"That technique—!"
---
Ouyang Jun snorted.
"Hmph."
"A desperate trick."
"It won't save you this time."
---
At the front—
The Deputy Pavilion Master's eyes shone brightly.
'As expected…'
'It really is that technique…'
'No mistake.'
---
Inside the cauldron—
The chaos began to stabilize.
Slowly.
Reluctantly.
But still—
Not smooth.
---
Time slipped away.
The incense burned down.
Half.
Then less.
---
Ouyang Jun's cauldron—
"Buzz—"
A rich medicinal fragrance spread.
"Almost done!"
"He's going to succeed first!"
---
Lin Feng's side—
Still unstable.
Still resisting.
Sweat formed faintly on his forehead.
---
The crowd grew tense.
"Can he make it…?"
"Time is almost up…"
---
The incense—
Nearly gone.
---
Ouyang Jun's eyes gleamed.
Done.
---
Lin Feng—
Final push.
His hands moved faster.
Control tightened.
The energy—
Condensed.
Barely.
---
The last flicker of incense—
Faded.
---
Two furnaces.
Two results.
---
And the hall—
Held its breath.