Xiao Yan, who was on the high platform, frowned slightly — his multi-tasking had led to poor control of the heat. Not long after Xiao Yan, Han Xian also followed in Xiao Yan's footsteps, and the medicinal ingredients in his cauldron turned to ashes as well.
However, Xiao Yan fared much better than Han Xian; the quantity Xiao Yan had refined before his failure was far greater than Han Xian's.
Xiao Tian casually glanced at the two and then paid them no more attention, completely unaffected by their failures.
As time passed, Xiao Tian finished refining all the medicinal ingredients and reviewed the fusion steps of the Dragon Strength Pill in his mind. After numerous virtual alchemy practices in his head, Xiao Tian slowly opened his tightly closed eyes, having completely mastered all the alchemy details.
Xiao Tian reignited the flame, waved his hand, and the refined medicinal ingredients were added to the cauldron one by one according to the order on the prescription, steadily beginning to fuse under the scorching heat of the Heavenly Flame.
When Han Xian saw that Xiao Tian had already started fusing the liquid medicine, he grew extremely nervous, even continuously praying for Xiao Tian's alchemy to fail.
The eyes of the onlookers were all focused on Xiao Tian, mainly because Xiao Tian's alchemy technique was highly visually appealing; one could even vaguely see a fire dragon continuously swimming inside the cauldron. This was another application of the Mysterious brown Dragon Hand, which could accelerate the fusion speed of the liquid medicine.
Xiao Tian ignored the gazes of others and concentrated fully on controlling the heat and temperature of the flame.
While Xiao Tian was slowly fusing the liquid medicine, Han Xian was the first to fail again, followed by Xiao Yan's failure.
After more than ten minutes, a rich pill fragrance wafted from Xiao Tian's cauldron. Just smelling this scent made people feel that the fatigue from their waiting was swept away.
"Such a rich pill fragrance — is it about to form into a pill?"
The people outside the arena erupted in discussion. The members of Boundless Gate and Han Yue nervously clasped their hands; only Xun'er maintained a calm and confident expression throughout.
The moment of pill formation was also the easiest time to fail; even a slight difference in temperature could lead to complete failure. Everyone outside held their breath, afraid that the mere sound of their voices might disturb him and cause a failure.
Approximately two to three minutes later, a powerful energy ripple burst forth from Xiao Tian's cauldron, continuously spreading outward through the cauldron. Streak after streak of seemingly substantial energy ripples blew against Xiao Tian's long robe and hair, but his expression remained unchanged, completely unaffected, as he focused on controlling the Heavenly Flame to continue scorching the already rounded pill.
Dong~
Suddenly, Xiao Tian slapped the top of the cauldron, and the lid flew off. A dark purple pill flew out from inside; he directly reached out, caught the pill in his hand, and placed it into a pre-prepared jade bottle.
Xiao Yan and Han Xian, who were nearby, felt a sense of urgency when they saw Xiao Tian successfully refine the pill. As Alchemists, they were more sensitive to the pill fragrance and energy fluctuations from before.
Standing on the high platform, Xiao Tian smiled and nodded at Xun'er, who also responded with a gentle smile. The people around were instantly captivated by Xun'er's smile, unable to recover.
Xiao Tian also sensed another gaze and smiled faintly in that direction.
Approximately five minutes later, a very ordinary pill fragrance emanated from Han Xian's cauldron. He then slapped the cauldron, and a pill with mottled colors and an irregular shape flew out. Han Xian's face flushed, and he quickly put it into a jade bottle.
Han Xian knew he had lost, but he didn't want to lose to Xiao Yan as well. So for his last attempt, he directly refined a semi-finished product, intending to bet on Xiao Yan's failure.
Under everyone's gaze, a pill fragrance also emanated from Xiao Yan's cauldron. Although it couldn't compare to Xiao Tian's, it far surpassed Han Xian's.
Han Xian's face, which had been flushed with embarrassment due to his semi-finished pill, instantly became incredibly gloomy.
Despite Han Xian's silent curses, Xiao Yan still successfully refined the Dragon Strength Pill. This time, because Xiao Yan used the Black Demon Cauldron, there were no dramatic explosions.
"The refining is over. Now, I and the three Elders of the Alchemy Department will jointly appraise the quality of the pills."
After Elder Hao finished speaking, three Elders wearing Rank 4 Alchemist robes came to his side.
The four first examined Xiao Yan's pill. The pill had no problems, and its quality was also good.
"Xiao Yan, if you have time in the future, come to the Alchemy Department for a visit. Elder Huo is very much looking forward to your arrival."
An Elder from the Alchemy Department whispered, and Xiao Yan smiled and nodded upon hearing this. "I will go when I have time."
The other three also showed friendly smiles to Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan understood that these people probably wanted him to refine pills for them in the future.
Then, the four came before Han Xian. Seeing the four Elders in front of him, Han Xian hid his pill behind his back and awkwardly said, "I concede. There's no need to examine mine."
"No, everyone's must be examined. This is the rule, and this step cannot be omitted under any circumstances."
Elder Hao spoke to Han Xian with a righteous expression, his face clearly displaying the words 'fair, just, and open'.
Han Xian sighed as he looked at the rigid Elder Hao and helplessly took out the pill in his hand.
Elder Hao picked up the semi-finished pill in Han Xian's hand and became speechless. No wonder he refused to take it out. "Can this thing be called a pill? Alas~ Will eating this kill someone?"
Han Xian's face turned liver-colored at the words of the Elders. I already said I concede, but you insisted I take it out, and now you're trying to kill me with words, even doing it right to my face.
Elder Hao disdainfully tossed the pill back into Han Xian's hand, and the onlookers also looked at him with strange expressions.
If there had been a crack in the high platform, Han Xian would have wished to crawl straight into it. He truly had no face left to see his fellow men.
Elder Hao and the others ignored Han Xian and instead, with a hint of excitement, came before Xiao Tian.
Xiao Tian cooperatively took out the pill and handed it to Elder Hao. The onlookers and Han Xian all craned their necks to look at the pill in Xiao Tian's hand. They wanted to see what kind of pill Xiao Tian had refined; that rich pill fragrance seemed to still linger in their nostrils.
Elder Hao and the others continuously examined the pill in their hands. The pill was round and full, brimming with a sense of power.
"Xiao Tian, the quality of this Dragon Strength Pill you've refined is beyond imagination," Elder Hao's excited voice trembled slightly.
An Alchemist Elder beside him also echoed, "I was fortunate enough to have seen Elder Huo refine the Dragon Strength Pill before, but Xiao Tian's pill seems to be of even better quality than Elder Huo's."
The other two also nodded in agreement, their eyes fixed on the pill as if it were a peerless beauty.
"Elders, you flatter me. I was just lucky to have overperformed and refined such a high-quality pill this time," Xiao Tian said, standing to the side and smiling humbly.
Of course, Xiao Tian was only being a little bit humble. After all, this was his first time refining this pill. If he refined it a few more times, the quality could still increase, and perhaps even pill patterns could appear.
The Elders reluctantly returned the pill to Xiao Tian, then gathered together and whispered softly among themselves.