Chapter 534: The Final Stage of the Pill Refining Competition!
Among the thirty or so remaining contestants were Xiao Yan, Cao Ying, Dan Chen, and the Soul Hall representatives led by Gu You. Of course, there were also several hidden old monsters whose strength was not to be underestimated. Some of them even made Xiao Yan feel wary their techniques were so refined and effortless that they exuded immense pressure.
These were all strong contenders for the championship. Yet, to the spectators, the one who seemed the least competent was… Wu Tian.
He was glancing around, left and right, like a clueless child who had never seen the world before.
Everyone was familiar with this type of behavior it was the same as a country bumpkin stepping into Holy Pill City for the first time.
Rumor had it that Wu Tian was the son-in-law of the Ye Clan, coming from a remote, insignificant place. Even after spending several days here, he had likely never seen such a grand spectacle before.
His shock was understandable the flames burning in these cauldrons were incredibly powerful, inspiring both awe and reverence among the alchemists.
Even the elites felt this way, let alone Wu Tian, who had been sleeping through most of the competition. Now that he was finally awake, he probably hadn't fully processed what was happening!
Everyone else had already begun refining their pills, while he hadn't even started. Among the remaining contestants, at least one would surely produce a high-tier seventh-grade pill.
That moment would ignite the climax of the competition, while Wu Tian would be nothing more than a joke nothing but a fraud standing on stage, making a fool of himself.
Many in the crowd looked at him with disdain, even feeling a bit disgusted. Rather than wasting time on him, they preferred to watch others especially Cao Ying and Dan Chen.
These two beauties were the most captivating figures on the field.
Their elegant movements, combined with the intense focus on their faces and the beads of sweat glistening at their temples, made them even more alluring.
Some spectators, caught up in the sight, suddenly realized their lips had gone dry and… slowly raised their hands swearing their innocence.
On the stone platforms, the remaining alchemists wore solemn expressions. Some of them were already growing pale.
The immense mental and physical strain was overwhelming, even for them.
With so much pressure around them, everyone was determined to refine the best pill they possibly could.
But the greater the pressure, the easier it was to make mistakes.
"Boom!"
Suddenly, a loud explosion echoed across the sky, drawing everyone's attention.
All eyes turned toward the source a middle-aged man standing motionless in front of his cauldron, his face frozen in disbelief.
Inside the cauldron, remnants of scattered energy flickered chaotically.
It was clear he had suffered the worst possible accident.
"How… how is this possible?"
His pill was moments away from completion… and then his furnace exploded.
No one could accept such a cruel twist of fate.
Especially in the Pill Gathering, where he had been so close to producing one of the best pills in the competition. How could it suddenly fail?
The middle-aged man's eyes turned bloodshot. He had spent over half a month painstakingly refining this pill, only for it to be ruined at the last moment.
For someone hoping to make a name for himself, this failure was unbearable.
Just like that, he had become a stepping stone for others, trampled underfoot as they advanced toward the throne.
The spectators sighed in sympathy. His skill was undeniably genuine, but luck had not been on his side.
Had things gone differently, his pill might have ranked in the top twenty.
Failure in alchemy was not uncommon, but in a competition like this, even the slightest mistake meant elimination.
In other words it was as if the heavens themselves were telling him:
"You are unworthy."
Yet, while some despaired, others celebrated.
Because, alongside his failure, three more contestants successfully refined mid-tier seventh-grade pills.
The scene of these pills emerging one after another was enough to leave anyone breathless.
As the competition continued, more contestants completed their pills one by one.
Of course, some still failed, their faces filled with dejection. But instead of leaving in anger, they simply stepped down, eager to observe the techniques of the remaining alchemists.
For them, those who were still competing were undoubtedly stronger.
By watching more, they could learn more.
Perhaps witnessing these final rounds would greatly improve their own skills.
So, while they were disheartened, they were not completely defeated.
Because they had now seen firsthand what it meant to be a top-tier alchemist in the Pill Gathering!
Compared to these true elites, they were nothing but insignificant amateurs. Even if they had succeeded, their pills would have been useful only to themselves.
At this stage, anyone who remained on the platform would be considered an elder-level figure even within the Pill Tower.
Some of them even surpassed the elders of the Pill Tower!
The excitement among the crowd continued to build.
Nobody dared to blink because in this moment, even the slightest distraction could mean missing out on the most thrilling championship battle.
For alchemists and spectators alike, the intensity of refining high-tier pills had become painfully clear.
Without immense patience and skill, one could never hope to succeed.
If any of them had been in this competition, they would have long since lost their tempers and smashed their cauldrons in frustration.
Alchemists were naturally attuned to fire-based Dou Qi.
Yet the fact that they could suppress their fiery temperaments for the sake of refining pills spoke volumes about their terrifying level of control.
Over the next five days, ten more contestants successfully refined their pills.
The most striking among them was an elderly man who produced a high-tier seventh-grade pill.
The moment his pill emerged, it triggered an overwhelming Dan Thunder.
The relentless, roaring thunder left countless spectators in awe.
Such powerful energy most alchemists wouldn't even be able to withstand it!
Of course, those capable of refining high-tier seventh-grade pills were no ordinary figures.
This elderly man, in particular, was already well-known in Central Plains.
He was one of the old monsters of the Pill Gathering.
His ability to refine a high-tier seventh-grade pill did not come as a shock to those who recognized him.
After all, he was a veteran alchemist there was nothing surprising about his success.
But where there was success, there was also failure.
Eight more contestants failed.
With deep regret, they stepped off the stage.
Their expressions were dark, but they did not dwell too much on their loss.
Xiao Yan, however, could sense their aura these people were from the Soul Hall!
Now, only ten contestants remained.
Among them were Xiao Yan, Cao Ying, Dan Chen, Gu You, two old monsters, and the remaining Soul Hall alchemists.
The fact that the Soul Hall could rival the Pill Tower was not only due to their power but also their formidable alchemists!
(End of Chapter)
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