Chapter 96

"How did he finish refining so fast, and he even formed six pills!"

"This! It's absolutely cheating!"

Hu Liang gritted his teeth and stared at Yu Zhangsheng, yet he didn't dare shout out the words in his heart; he clenched his palm, took a deep breath, and only then suppressed his emotions, comforting himself.

"It's fine, I passed this round; the next round is presided over by my Master. Gongsun Yang doesn't speak of alchemy virtue, so Master will surely repay him in kind!"

Just as his expression gradually relaxed, Gongsun Yang also flew over to him, lowered his head to glance at the goods inside the alchemy furnace, and said expressionlessly.

"Three pills formed, quality barely passable; I'll count it as nine points for you."

"This is still on account of your Master's face."

The corner of Hu Liang's mouth twitched, but he still cupped his hands and said: "Many thanks, Elder Gongsun."

Gongsun Yang nodded, then looked at the other alchemists and spoke: "There is still half an hour left; exceeding the time limit means elimination from this round of alchemy."

Hearing this, Duan Ran and the others felt immense pressure.

Time drew closer bit by bit.

Outside the arena, the discussions grew more and more, and the majority of them were discussing Yu Zhangsheng.

At first many disciples looked down on Yushou Peak's alchemists, but now they've been slapped in the face one by one by him, refreshing their understanding.

"For a Yushou Peak alchemist to seize first place, it's too rare!"

"There are still two more rounds of alchemy after this; first place isn't necessarily his!"

"Hehe, brother, with such a huge score gap, how can you pull it back?"

"You don't know this: the next round's presiding alchemist is Hu Liang's Master. If the topic leans slightly toward him, won't the score gap be pulled back?"

"In this round, that Yu Zhangsheng just occupied a part of luck. I heard his Master is actually Gongsun Yang."

"Ah? No way, then wouldn't he"

"Hehe, otherwise how did you think he formed pills first? Isn't it just relying on connections!"

Soon, some unfavorable remarks arose among the disciples.

Yu Zhangsheng's Divine Sense swept over them; he heard their words without missing a single character, but his emotions were not affected.

After all, he has real strength.

"Success!"

The third to form pills was Mi Lifu. This person had outstanding talent in spell techniques, and combined with the Dao of Alchemy, refining this special kind of pill was much easier for him than for others.

Mi Lifu laughed loudly, drawing the attention of many people.

"Hmm, not bad, just that the time used was a bit long."

"Three pills formed, average quality; I'll count it as ten points for you."

Gongsun Yang was very fair. Hu Liang got nine points because of the time score, but the pill quality deducted a lot. Although Mi Lifu spent a bit more time, his pill quality was better, so he gained one more point.

Regarding this, Hu Liang didn't have much objection.

"Collect!"

The last to form pills was Duan Ran.

He knelt before the alchemy furnace, panting heavily as he formed hand seals to collect the fire, managing to form pills just as the four hours were about to run out.

The quantity was also three pills; the quality was slightly worse than Mi Lifu's, earning seven points.

"Bang!"

Tao Lexin was covered in dust, his expression dejected as he sighed: "The effort was wasted at the last moment."

This furnace was the last batch of materials. He got anxious at the end, and collecting the fire was slightly too fierce, causing the pill liquid inside to fail to condense and instead explode.

The gray smoke and dust rising from the alchemy furnace was just like his current mood. "The third round of alchemy ends."

Gongsun Yang proclaimed: "Four people advance. Next, Elder Xu will preside over the fourth round of alchemy!"

Finished speaking, he gave Yu Zhangsheng a faint smile, then descended and took his seat on the Viewing Platform.

First Place: Yu Zhangsheng, sixty-nine points.

Second Place: Hu Liang, fifty points.

Third Place: Mi Lifu, fifty points.

Fourth Place: Duan Ran, thirty-three points.

Now the score gaps between the four alchemists are all quite large.

But as the rounds go later, the points gained will also be more; they still have a chance to overtake.

And as long as one more person among them is eliminated, the top three will be confirmed, and each of them will have the opportunity to choose a Third Rank or below Spirit Herb from the Sect.

As for first and second, the rewards will be even richer.

Xu Lao walked out from the Viewing Platform, his figure suspended in mid-air.

At this time the sky was already dark, but the Alchemy Conference was still brightly lit and incomparably lively. The disciples surrounding the outside had not dispersed for a long time; they just wanted to see what pill the fourth round's Biandan would be! Past Alchemy Conferences were also lively, but the number of people would never reach this extent, even arousing the curiosity in many disciples' hearts.

"I am Xu Nian, presiding over the fourth round of alchemy. The pill that needs to be refined, I believe many people have heard of." Xu Lao spoke slowly.

As his words fell, the four people on the Auction Stage raised their heads.

Duan Ran's face was full of joy. A pill that many people have heard of — that meant he would definitely know how to refine it too. This fourth round would certainly pull back the score.

Hu Liang pondered in his heart: just which pill is it? Master wouldn't be completely impartial, would he?

Mi Lifu's expression was tense. If it's a conventional pill, then his advantage might not be that great! Yu Zhangsheng quietly watched Xu Nian, waiting for the rest of the words.

Only to hear the other party continue speaking.

"This pill is Second Rank Middle Grade, named Body Tempering Pill!"

"It was a cultivation pill for Body Refining Cultivators in the past. After thousands of years of evolution, it has degenerated into a pill only Foundation Establishment Cultivators take."

"After a Foundation Establishment Cultivator takes this pill, they can strengthen their physique like Body Refining Cultivators of old, increasing their fleshly body's strength and recovery power. Placed outside, this kind of pill is something you can only encounter by luck, not seek, and the refining difficulty is high."

"This pill formula is also one of our Yu Ding Peak's treasured pill formulas. Today, as the Alchemy Conference's contest, those who have seen it will automatically set down a Spirit Sense Mark; the pill formula's secret must not be leaked."

Xu Nian finished speaking and distributed the Pill Formula and materials to the four Stone Platforms.

Whether it was the Alchemists on the Viewing Platform or the disciples Outside, they were all dumbfounded, never in Ten Thousand years expecting it to actually be the Body Tempering Pill! Everyone had naturally heard of this Pill, and its reputation was not small, but Qi Refining Cultivators with weak constitutions like them could not take it, otherwise there was the Danger of their bodies exploding.

Only ancient Body Tempering Cultivators could take it, or it could be used as a Pill for Demonic Beasts — eating one Pill could increase strength, but simultaneously the damage to the Flesh body was very great, and it could not be taken for long periods.

"Body Tempering Pill, truly a Pill everyone knows, but you want us to refine it?"

Duan Ran's mouth corner twitched; as One Kind of extremely rare Body Refining Pill, its refining conditions could not Compare to ordinary Pills! These Second-Rank Alchemists of theirs refining other Second Rank Pills might perhaps be easy as turning a hand, but this one, difficult, too difficult!

"Difficulty not inferior to that Scatter Demon Yuan Pill!"

"That Guy Hu Liang, surely he wouldn't"

Duan Ran secretly glanced over, and sure enough saw Hu Liang's mouth corner curve up slightly, as if enduring a Smile!

This Guy, absolutely knows how to refine Body Tempering Pill!

Right, Xu Nian is after all his Master! "Hateful, too bad there isn't a Master presiding over the Grand Assembly!"

"Rigged, all rigged!"

Duan Ran was so angry he wanted to cry.

(Chapter End)