The vast, open-air arena was utterly silent. Tens of thousands of cultivators, from the lowest disciple to the highest elder, held their collective breath.
The Great Elder, his face a mask of shock and concentration, stood between the two final refinement platforms.
On one side, Yao Ling's cauldron emitted a sputtering, dull gold light. The pill within was formed, but its surface was marred with impurities, its aroma tinged with a faint, burnt smell.
On the other side, Liu Ruyan's cauldron was bathed in a perfect, stable, and flawless azure light. The medicinal fragrance rolling off it was rich, pure, and intoxicating.
The Great Elder dipped a silver-tipped jade probe into each nascent pill, his spiritual sense flaring. He withdrew them, examined the results, and his face, already shocked, became one of undisguised amazement.
He turned to the crowd, his voice booming across the silent arena, amplified by his Qi. "The refinement is complete!"
