Chapter 160: Refining the Breaking Boundary Pill

The second-rank competition was rather conventional, with no cultivators standing out too much.

It was just that the competition lasted a bit longer; some cultivators, looking to take advantage, didn't care about the ranking at all and wanted to use Wanbao Tower's materials for free to practice newly learned pill recipes, failing several times before succeeding with one batch; or, like Ruan Xing, they had the idea to directly start refining pills with very expensive raw materials.

Refining continued until late at night before the competition ended.

In the end, based on the difficulty of the pill recipes, the fluidity of the refining techniques, the temperature control, and the success rate, a first-place winner was selected.

The winning cultivator scratched their head in pleasant surprise, greeting the envious gazes of the crowd.

The Third Floor Master had also deigned to accompany them here for the day; he sat on a sandalwood chair, clapped his hands, and said, "Everyone must be tired from watching, so why not return to rest for now and wait until tomorrow to begin the third round."

What he said was exactly what most of the cultivators present wanted.

After a day of competition, although the cultivators were still not very familiar with each other, they were already able to strike up a few sentences to discuss the refining techniques of other alchemists they had witnessed today.

Some cultivators who had gained some insights were already impatient to return to their rooms to experiment with their own Medicine Cauldron.

Although the main purpose of the exchange meeting held by Wanbao Tower was to select disciples and make money, it was undeniable that the exchange meeting still brought positive influences to many alchemists and promoted the development of alchemy.

Ruan Xing stretched her shoulders and prepared to go back to rest as well; the old man beside her, who she had disturbed all day, smiled and said, "I didn't expect you to be a Third-rank Alchemist as well."

The image Ruan Xing used was the one she had when she received the invitation at Wanbao Tower, that of a very young and beautiful female cultivator.

She said with some amusement: "Otherwise, what did you think I was?"

The old man said somewhat sheepishly: "The level of cultivation cannot represent the level of alchemy. I saw that several questions you asked were common knowledge for alchemists, so I thought you were just a beginner. How could a cultivator be so young? You spend all your time on cultivation, so where would you find time to refine pills?"

After a day of exchange, the old man's courage had grown a bit; he knew that Ruan Xing was not the kind of high-level cultivator who was temperamental.

Indeed, among all the cultivators present just now, the one with the highest cultivation was at the Golden Core Mid-stage; that person did not participate in the competition today, so he was likely also a Third-rank Alchemist.

The improvement of alchemy, besides talent, also requires a large amount of time and materials to practice and accumulate, which conflicts with diligent cultivation.

But who told her she had a cheat.

"In tomorrow's competition, you will know what my level is." Ruan Xing tilted her head and smiled, then turned and went up to the third floor.

Overnight, the venue on the first floor had been cleaned anew.

According to the pill names registered by each alchemist, various boxes containing materials had already been placed beside the tables and cauldrons.

Ruan Xing found her seat and sat down, first looking at the other cultivators around her.

There were only a dozen or so cultivators participating in the third day of the competition, and the old man from yesterday was also among them.

The value of all the materials on these tables added up to tens of thousands, and the attendants around were all at the Foundation Establishment or Qi Refining stages; Wanbao Tower was surprisingly not afraid of anyone having evil intentions to steal or rob.

However, seeing the Third Floor Master sitting at the very front, Ruan Xing let go of this doubt and focused on starting to refine pills.

First, she took out the Earth Fire and placed it under the cauldron; Ruan Xing took this time to look through the materials in the jade box, which contained two portions in total.

The Breaking Boundary Pill requires a relatively long refining time, and one complete process takes about six hours. Since two portions were prepared, she guessed that once the time was up, even if both portions failed, they wouldn't let her continue refining.

Ruan Xing actually wanted to throw both portions of materials into the Medicine Cauldron to refine together, because after the first portion succeeded, the second portion of materials would be taken away, and she would directly take the finished pills from the first portion to participate in the competition.

However, after thinking about it, refining two portions together would render all her previous experience useless, and she would have to readjust the refining time and temperature; the difficulty was simply too great, so she had to put down this impulsive idea.

With her Divine Sense coordinating with her Spiritual Power to stir the Earth Fire, the green-topped and red-bottomed flames suddenly bloomed like a multi-petaled lotus, evenly wrapping around the base of the Medicine Cauldron. She put the materials in one by one, then used a Magic Art to seal the holes in the cauldron body where Spiritual Power could easily escape, only opening a certain hole according to the need once the materials inside gradually changed.

She herself was already a Fifth-Tier Alchemist. Although she had never actually refined a Breaking Boundary Pill in reality due to material issues, the experience and rank brought to her by the Simulator were solid. She didn't need to worry about failure at all, easily using the Earth Fire to change into various shapes to manipulate the Medicine Cauldron, which made those watching feel terrified.

"What kind of pill is that person refining? I actually can't tell."

"Hiss—such rapid flipping, she isn't even afraid the Medicine Cauldron will explode!"

"Hey, don't say that, I'm even more scared than she is just watching."

"I know quite a few Third-rank pill recipes, but I've never seen one like this. Just the materials in that jade box are worth thousands of Spirit Stones per portion."

The onlookers discussed among themselves, but Ruan Xing remained unmoved, seriously observing the Medicine Liquid inside the Medicine Cauldron with her Divine Sense.

Other Third-rank Alchemists were basically all competing, and those First or Second-rank Alchemists were mostly observing and learning. Although they couldn't recognize what kind of pill Ruan Xing was refining, they didn't find it strange.

Instead, another alchemist, due to the surrounding environmental factors, went "Bang—" and blew up their furnace.

Fortunately, they were quick-witted enough to use Spiritual Power to condense a protective shield to block it, so they weren't too disheveled.

Alchemy should be more likely to succeed in a quiet and secluded environment, but the exchange meeting was meant for everyone to watch each other's alchemy process and learn from each other's strengths. The alchemists were all here for the rewards and benefits, so even if they felt dissatisfied with this way of having people comment on the side, they wouldn't say it out loud, lest it affect their cooperation contract and cultivation resources with Wanbao Tower.

The old man also heard the comments from others about Ruan Xing, but he had probably experienced three exchange meetings, had sufficient experience, and a very stable mindset, so he wasn't affected and didn't divert his attention to others.

Time passed second by second, and inside Ruan Xing's Medicine Cauldron, the Medicine Liquid had gradually taken shape.

With a gentle shake, she put away the Earth Fire and injected Spiritual Power into it to make it condense rapidly. The Medicine Cauldron spun around in mid-air until the temperature gradually dropped, and then it slowly came to a stop.

Taking out a jade box, Ruan Xing waved her hand, the sealed lid above the Medicine Cauldron was removed, and several round pills popped out and fell into the jade box.

After the pill was formed, the eggshell-like barrier above Ruan Xing's head shattered and disappeared. In an instant, a clear medicinal fragrance carrying abundant Spirit Qi permeated the square.

A Qi Refining stage alchemist said infatuatedly: "Why do I feel that after smelling this medicinal fragrance, my cultivation has loosened, as if I'm about to break through to the eighth level of Qi Refining."

"What she refined must be some kind of expensive and rare pill. If it weren't for high-level cultivators, I'm afraid they wouldn't even need this thing. Being able to witness it today is worth the trip."

This fragrance soon dissipated, and some low-level cultivators were still greedily sniffing the remnants in the air.

Finally, an alchemist with some knowledge spoke hesitantly, "I seem to feel a bit familiar; this pill... could it be a Breaking Boundary Pill?"

"That's right." A Golden Core Stage alchemist said affirmatively: "It is indeed a Breaking Boundary Pill. When I broke through to the Golden Core Stage, I used this kind of pill."

"To think someone could refine a Breaking Boundary Pill at a competition! This kind of pill recipe, apart from sects and noble families, is an untold secret. I actually didn't look closely just now to remember the materials she used and the refining sequence." An alchemist was full of regret.

Immediately, someone mocked: "It's useless even if you know the materials and the sequence; you don't know the proportions and the tricks involved. Do you have the strength to test out the pill recipe time and time again? We are here to exchange experience in alchemy, not to exchange pill recipes." Pill recipes, except for some that are publicly sold or auctioned off, rarely circulate outside. After all, this is the foundation of an alchemist; even if they take in a personal disciple, they will keep a trick or two to guard against them.

Everyone didn't expect that someone would actually refine a Breaking Boundary Pill for other peers at the exchange meeting to observe, so the jealousy in their hearts lessened, and they felt a bit more admiration.

But Ruan Xing was completely unaware, just counting the pills in the jade box; there were six in total.

She could feel that there wasn't much wasted component in the Medicine Liquid, but she felt a bit regretful that it didn't reach seven.

And the other alchemists didn't show any amazement at her success rate, so she felt a bit disappointed; it seemed that six pills per batch was the normal level.

That old man had already finished refining; he wasn't greedy and only refined one of the more valuable types among the pill recipes he was proficient in.

At this time, he looked at Ruan Xing with a complicated expression.

The attendant brought Ruan Xing's jade box to the table in front of the Third Floor Master for evaluation.

On the night of the second day of the exchange meeting, even if the candle lanterns were not lit in the square inside the corner building, the various colors of alchemy flames alone were enough to illuminate the square brilliantly, and the dragon pillars at the entrance were all plated with a layer of red glow.

The Third Floor Master lifted his eyelids to look at the row of alchemists' works on the table, the corners of his lips curling slightly, "It seems there is no need to look at the rest."

The attendant behind him was surprised, "Have you already made your selection?"

"With finished pills of such quality, there is no need to compare the leader of the third-rank pill competition any further," the Third Floor Master said with a playful smile.

"As you say," the attendant replied.

First and second-rank alchemists did not understand the pill formula for the Breaking Boundary Pill; they only knew the pill formula was extremely precious and the finished pills were expensive.

But those third-rank alchemists, upon learning that someone in this competition had refined a Breaking Boundary Pill, immediately became quite dejected.

The Third Floor Master waved his hand, "When the remaining people finish later, let them communicate among themselves. Tomorrow, have the others draft contracts and terms for cultivation resources based on the quality of the pills this time. However, do not sign the first-rank leader and the second-rank leader yet; let my second sister take a look first."

"Yes," the attendant bowed his head and replied.

Once the Third Floor Master had left, the remaining people were like primary school students after class, and the entire venue became somewhat noisy.

Seeming to mistake Ruan Xing for a good-tempered female cultivator, an alchemist gathered his courage to come over and strike up a conversation with her, asking for advice on some details regarding the raw materials and dosages of the Breaking Boundary Pill.

Ruan Xing had no interest in being a good person and was just about to politely decline when the old man spoke first.

"You want to learn someone else's livelihood skills just by opening your mouth? You aren't satisfied even after watching the process once? This is an exchange meeting where everyone learns and improves together; if she teaches you the Breaking Boundary Pill, what can you give back?" the old man snorted coldly, mocking him.

The alchemist's face turned red and then white, and he hurriedly left after sheepishly saying he had disturbed her.

Ruan Xing laughed in spite of herself, "Why are you getting angry?"

"Your cultivation is higher than his, and your attainments in alchemy are also stronger than his, yet he didn't even call you Senior or Fairy," the old man shook his head, "Not every place treats alchemists with favor, and not every high-level cultivator is easygoing. If you don't teach him a lesson today, he will continue to treat other Golden Core True Persons or even Nascent Soul True Monarchs with this attitude in the future, and he won't even know how he died."

"So you were actually doing it for his own good," Ruan Xing was somewhat surprised that the old man was actually kind-hearted.

The old man shook his head, "Not entirely. I am also a third-rank alchemist standing right next to you, and he acted as if I didn't exist. Can't I be angry?"

Ruan Xing was suddenly left speechless.

The old man paused and continued, "This old man is Cen Zhong."

"We've been chatting for two days, and you're only telling me your name now. Is it because you think I'll be chosen?" Ruan Xing said with a smile.

Cen Zhong said somewhat awkwardly, "I was just worried about complications."

This old man had participated in the exchange meeting for three sessions and had collaborated with Wanbao Tower for at least seven or eight years; perhaps he was an internal member of Wanbao Tower himself, so Ruan Xing nodded to show her understanding.

The attendant at the front announced Ruan Xing as the leader.

The gazes of the others converged on Ruan Xing, even more fervent than before.

Unable to bear the harassment, Ruan Xing said a word to Cen Zhong and returned to her room.

She estimated in her heart, wondering what price Wanbao Tower would give for these six Breaking Boundary Pills.

Because pills like the Breaking Boundary Pill and Infant Transformation Pill generally only appeared at auctions when circulating externally, the price was different each time, and there was no fixed market price.

However, it certainly couldn't be too low; after all, the little incentive Wanbao Tower threw out was for the sake of cooperating with multiple alchemists, so they wouldn't haggle over a few more or less Spirit Stones.

On the third day of the exchange meeting, the Third Floor Master did not appear.

Early in the morning, when the alchemists left their rooms one after another, attendants came to guide them, and they left the corner building one by one to begin discussing the terms of their contracts.

No one would refuse; after all, that was the purpose of the exchange meeting, and the alchemists cared more about what they could obtain by virtue of the pills they refined.

And that alchemist who had blown up his furnace three times looked very dejected; based on his performance in the competition, the treatment Wanbao Tower would give him would not be very high.

Ruan Xing suddenly felt that this place was a bit like an interview scene at a talent center, with multiple job seekers showing their abilities and talents to compete for high-paying positions offered by Wanbao Tower.

Shaking her head with a laugh, Ruan Xing waited for a long time, and until all the other alchemists had left, no one came to guide her.

Looking around the corner building in confusion, only she, the leader of the first-rank alchemists, and Cen Zhong remained.

That first-rank alchemist was a male cultivator who looked like a youth, and he was currently wearing the same look of confusion.

Cen Zhong coughed lightly twice and said, "The two of you, please come with me. The Second Floor Master will see you personally."

"So you had a hidden identity," Ruan Xing couldn't help but say.

Cen Zhong said helplessly, "There is no special identity. The Second Floor Master manages all the alchemists in Wanbao Tower, and I am one of them. I had no mission when I came to the exchange meeting; I just selfishly wanted to earn an extra portion of Spirit Stones. Of course, this kind of thing sounds a bit embarrassing, which is why I hid it. When I saw the Third Floor Master leave after seeing the pills you refined yesterday, I knew that once you entered the tower, you would recognize me sooner or later, so it was better to just tell you directly."

An internal alchemist running to a recruitment fair to mix in for benefits was similar in nature to an employee stealing water and electricity at a company.

Ruan Xing smiled; this old man was quite interesting.

Thanks to Nuo x for the monthly ticket~ Thanks to 88 for the monthly ticket~ Thanks to book friend 20221012120928958 for the monthly ticket~ Thanks to Qing Ye Wei Lan for the monthly ticket~ Thanks to book friend 20200703223049816 for the monthly ticket~ Thanks to Zhen Shu Wen Jiu for the monthly ticket~ Thanks to book friend 20221023004510870 for the monthly ticket~(End of this chapter)