Chapter 45
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"Alright, then."
"Elder Jin, assess the elixir."
As the last of the incense vanished, an indifferent voice sounded throughout the hall, breaking the brief silence which had filled the room.
The elder bowed and walked toward the cauldrons.
All eyes were fixed on the two furnaces.
---
At Ouyang Jun's side—
The elder lifted the lid in one fluid motion.
A wave of rich medicinal fragrance poured out, dense and steady, instantly filling the surrounding area.
"Hmm, wow, such a strong fragrance."
"Yes, the pill must be a potent one."
Feeling the agitation in their bodies caused by just smelling the fragrance, the observers couldn't help but praise.
Ouyang Jun stood tall, chin raised, a confident smile tugging at his lips.
As the cauldron was opened, a single pill floated gently.
Deep green in color.
Smooth surface.
Faint halo.
"Low-grade… no—mid-grade!"
The elder who stepped forward narrowed his eyes as he inspected it thoroughly.
"Yes, it is a mid-grade Mind Stabilizing Pill."
A stir ran through the hall.
"Mid-grade tier-two pill on his first attempt?"
"Hiss!"
"As expected of Ouyang Jun…"
Murmurs of praise rose one after another.
Ouyang Jun's smile widened.
His gaze shifted slowly—
Landing on Lin Feng.
Still refining.
Still struggling.
A trace of mockery flashed in his eyes.
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At the other side—
Lin Feng's furnace trembled faintly.
Not violently—
But not stable either.
The energy inside fluctuated in uneven waves.
His breathing had grown heavier.
Sweat lined his forehead.
'Almost…'
'Just a little more…'
Inside the cauldron—
The medicinal essence had finally begun to merge.
But the fusion was rough.
Imperfect.
Forced.
The Foundation Mending Pill was far more complex than anything he had refined before. After all, although he had the inheritance, today was his first time attempting refinement, and now he had to refine a tier-two pill, plus without proper flame control, making it even harder.
Every step felt like walking on a blade's edge.
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"Too unstable…"
An elder frowned.
"He forced the fusion."
"It might form… but the quality…"
Another elder shook his head slightly.
"Even if it succeeds, it won't compare."
The group of elders commented as they viewed the inside of his cauldron with their soul power.
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Ouyang Jun folded his arms.
"Hmph."
"You aimed too high."
"Now look at you."
His voice carried just enough to reach Lin Feng.
"A genius?"
"More like a fool who doesn't know his limits."
He sneered contemptuously, watching Lin Feng struggling and sweating.
---
Lin Feng said nothing.
His focus did not waver.
His hands moved—
Slowly.
Carefully.
Guiding.
Suppressing.
Balancing.
---
At the front—
The Deputy Pavilion Master watched intently.
His eyes sharp.
Unblinking.
'He forced the fusion…'
'But he didn't lose control.'
'That alone… is extraordinary.'
His gaze flickered slightly.
'Let me see… how far you can go.'
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Inside the furnace—
The final stage approached.
Condensation.
The most critical step.
The most dangerous.
---
'Alright, this is the final stage. We have to make it work, no matter what.'
Lin Feng inhaled deeply.
Then—
"Bang!"
A sharp strike landed on the cauldron.
Followed by—
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Nine precise strikes.
Again.
The cauldron spun.
But this time, he did not strike them consecutively. Instead, he struck it as it spun at varying speeds and at varying angles, with the amount of force used changing.
Energy surged—
Then—
Compressed.
---
The hall held its breath.
---
"Buzz—"
A faint sound echoed.
The chaotic fluctuations—
Stilled.
---
"…It worked?"
An elder whispered.
---
But this time, the fragrance lessened until it completely disappeared.
---
Lin Feng's eyes snapped open.
Now.
---
He struck the lid.
"Clang!"
It flew open.
---
A wave of medicinal fragrance burst forth.
Not as big as Ouyang Jun's—
Not as dense, not as sharp—
But it carried a faintly profound aura.
---
Inside—
A pill floated.
Pale silver.
With faint cracks of light running across its surface like veins.
Not perfectly smooth.
Not flawless.
But—
An elixir, nevertheless.
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Silence.
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"Th-that…"
The elder stepped toward Lin Feng's table.
"This aura… hmm…"
He frowned.
"Low-grade… no…"
"…mid-grade tier-two pill!"
---
"WHAT?!"
The hall exploded.
"Mid-grade?!"
"That trash with cracks all over it?!"
"How is that possible?!"
The crowd voiced their disbelief.
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Ouyang Jun's expression froze.
"Impossible."
He stepped forward instinctively.
"No."
"How can that broken thing be equal to my pill?"
"That's impossible!"
"Fake—it is definitely fake!"
---
The Deputy Pavilion Master raised his hand.
"Silence."
His voice cut through the chaos instantly.
He stepped forward.
Eyes fixed on Lin Feng's pill.
Carefully—
He observed.
Measured.
Evaluated.
---
Then—
He spoke.
"Ouyang Jun."
"Mid-grade tier-two pill."
"Refinement time—fast."
"Control—stable."
A pause.
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"Lin Feng."
"Mid-grade tier-two pill."
"Refinement time—slower."
"Control—unstable… but completed."
Another pause.
---
The entire hall held its breath.
---
"According to the rules—"
The Deputy Pavilion Master's voice echoed clearly—
"Quality comes first."
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Hearing the Deputy Pavilion Master's words about prioritizing quality, Ouyang Jun's fists clenched, then relaxed, thinking to himself:
'It's okay. It doesn't matter. Even if they are the same in terms of quality, mine is definitely better.'
'Humph, this time I will definitely win.'
He thought so, and clearly so did the crowd, as many of them were thinking of how to curry favor with such a young tier-two alchemy master. Some were even prepared to spend a lot of money to get acquainted.
But unfortunately, reality is often very cruel.
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"I declare—"
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The verdict hung in the air as the Deputy Pavilion Master paused.
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And then—
"The winner of the bet is—"
"Lin Feng…"
A/N: hello everyone sorry I couldn't post this yesterday so it's coming today please give me a review comment like and to your collection