Chapter 697

From atop the stone platform at the very center of the plaza, a voice rang out once more:

"This second trial requires you to refine an Earth-Grade Lower Quality elixir: the Dawn-Chasing Elixir!"

"If the refinement fails, or if you produce an inferior-grade pill, you will be eliminated!"

"Only those who produce a mid-grade pill or above may advance to the third trial!"

The words had barely fallen.

One disciple after another of the Mystic Elixir Sect appeared beside the crowd, carrying pill-refining furnaces and holding medicinal ingredients.

They set the pill-refining furnaces and medicinal ingredients down on the ground.

In an instant, over twenty identical pill-refining furnaces had appeared on the field!

To ensure fairness in the competition,

all pill-refining furnaces and medicinal ingredients were uniformly provided by the Mystic Elixir Sect.

Seeing this, Jiang Yan's expression did not change; deep within his eyes, an immense confidence still shone through.

Although the Dawn-Chasing Elixir was only of Earth-Grade Lower Quality,

its refinement difficulty was extremely high, comparable to ordinary Earth-Grade Mid Quality elixirs.

During the refinement process, it tested the alchemist's technique and control over the fire intensity to an extreme degree; the slightest error would cause the furnace to explode outright, leading to failure,

precisely because the difficulty was so extreme.

It was likely that this second trial would once again eliminate a large number of people.

"If this were a few months ago, facing this trial, I would have had no chance of winning, but now…"

Jiang Yan shook his head.

Then, without further hesitation, he swiftly summoned the Profound-Grade Supreme Quality Strange Fire he had mastered!

With so many alchemists watching on-site, to avoid trouble, he naturally would not be foolish enough to use a Heaven-Grade Strange Fire or a Saint-Grade Strange Fire.

Taking everything into consideration, using a Profound-Grade Strange Fire was the safest choice!

As Jiang Yan began manipulating his Strange Fire to refine elixirs,

the surrounding alchemists also began to move one after another, each displaying their own unique skills, each showing their own prowess!

For a time, the field was extraordinarily lively!

However, when the refinement process had only just reached its halfway point,

a sudden explosion rang out across the field, immediately drawing a chorus of exclamations from outside!

But this commotion did not draw Jiang Yan's attention.

Without even needing to look, he knew this was someone whose refinement had failed and whose furnace had exploded.

Time slipped away bit by bit.

The number of alchemists on the field who had failed their refinement grew ever greater.

When the refinement process drew near its end,

fewer than ten people remained on the field!

Finally, the refinement concluded.

Everyone opened their pill-refining furnaces and took out the refined Dawn-Chasing Elixirs.

In an instant, the fragrance of medicine overflowed, permeating the entire field.

The many cultivators watching from all around instinctively inhaled a breath, and felt their spirits instantly lifted!

Then, a judge stepped down from the stone platform and walked over to the first alchemist.

Under the other's nervous gaze, the judge picked up the refined Dawn-Chasing Elixir and began to discern its grade.

"Inferior-grade Dawn-Chasing Elixir. Disqualified."

Having spoken, he did not so much as glance at the other party, but stepped forward, walking toward the next alchemist.