“How hateful. How can he be so formidable?”
Dan Qing’s mind was, after all, rather narrow. He lacked the openness of Ji Luoyu.
On one hand, he did not want Tianhai Zhenzhu to win. On the other, he feared Ling Xiao completely stealing his limelight. He was utterly conflicted.
“Marvellous! This is truly a battle between dragon and tiger. Who will be the final victor?”
Elder Ancestor Changle could not help exclaiming in admiration, “This old man has seen many alchemists refine pills. Some so-called masters are not even as sharp in technique as these two young people. Truly marvellous.”
“What the ancestor says is absolutely correct. In terms of pure technique alone, among yellow-grade alchemists, these two are probably already invincible!”
The chief alchemist of Changle Immortal Island agreed.
“That is because you are inadequate.”
Medicine King Sun Ran, however, was somewhat unconvinced.
After all, he was the Medicine King of the White Tiger Continent. Whatever those two could do, he could do as well.
“Hehe, Brother Sun, why compare yourself to children again? You are the renowned Medicine King Sun Ran. Even if you beat those two kids, it would mean nothing.”
Ji Qing chuckled lightly.
“Humph.”
Medicine King Sun Ran snorted coldly and said no more.
“Ji Qing, who do you think will have the better final score between those two?”
Elder Ancestor Changle asked.
“It is hard to say. Ling Xiao’s speed is not slow, and his flames are superior, but the method he uses is extremely difficult. It is uncertain whether he will even succeed in the end.
“While Tianhai Zhenzhu’s flames are inferior to Ling Xiao’s, her speed and seasoned steadiness are no less than his. Moreover, the method she uses has the highest success rate and is the safest. The outcome between them is truly uncertain.”
Ji Qing shook his head. Even he found it difficult to predict the final result.
On the square, neither Ling Xiao nor Tianhai Zhenzhu paid attention to the other anymore. They focused solely on the furnace before them.
Blue and red flames rose on the square, drawing everyone’s gaze.
“Come on, Ling Xiao. You are the hope of our Six Lands races. If you lose, we will all lose face!”
Ji Luoyu stood there, her small hands clenched tightly, trembling with tension all over.
“The final moment has arrived. Tianhai Zhenzhu seems to be a step ahead!”
All the alchemists were extremely nervous. At this last instant, they felt their hearts hanging in mid-air.
“This does not look good. Ling Xiao seems half a beat behind. What is going on?”
Elder Ancestor Changle’s hunched body had actually lunged towards the railing in front, gripping it tightly with both hands. He was more tense than when he had detoxified himself.
“Do not panic. At the final moment, speed is important, but successfully refining the pill is equally so. If the pill fails, no matter how little time was used, it means nothing.”
Ji Qing reminded him.
“But there is no time left!”
Elder Ancestor Changle said excitedly, “Both pills are about to take shape, yet Ling Xiao’s gap is growing larger.”
Ji Qing did not deny this. In his view, Ling Xiao was indeed slower than Tianhai Zhenzhu in speed.
The reason was simple.
The method Tianhai Zhenzhu used was designed by Ji Qing. It existed in books. Refining followed set steps. There was no need for extra thought.
But Ling Xiao’s method was different. It was original.
The further along, the more issues needed consideration. A slight delay in one step meant his final speed could not match Tianhai Zhenzhu’s.
“Can he compete on pill quality instead?”
Elder Ancestor Changle suddenly turned and asked.
“No. In the first round, Tianhai Zhenzhu already lost in this aspect. This time, she will surely pay great attention to it. The mortal pill she refines is very likely to be perfect grade.
“If Ling Xiao pins his hopes on this, he will definitely lose.”
Ji Qing shook his head, looking towards Ling Xiao with some anticipation.
He had a feeling that this fellow Ling Xiao would surprise him once more. He absolutely would not lose to Tianhai Zhenzhu just like that.
“It seems without playing something ruthless, I really cannot beat this sea clan girl. Fortunately, I calculated this long ago.”
Ling Xiao glanced in Tianhai Zhenzhu’s direction. A cold smile lifted the corners of his mouth. Suddenly, the furnace before him shattered.
This scene startled everyone.
The furnace exploded?
He failed?
But when people looked towards the shattered furnace, they discovered a pill actually hovering in mid-air, spinning continuously.
“He has gone mad. Without a furnace, how can he continue refining the pill?”
Medicine King Sun Ran slapped the armrest of his chair and stood up abruptly.
“Yet I have heard there exists in this world an ultimate technique for refining pills without a furnace.”
Elder Ancestor Changle said.
“That is beyond what we can imagine. Legend says such techniques were brought back from the Heavenly Chosen Giant Gate. They exist only on the continent closest to the Heavenly Chosen Giant Gate.”
Medicine King Sun Ran shook his head.
“But he might truly be able to do it.”
A slightly manic smile appeared on Ji Qing’s face, “You underestimate him too much. I also underestimated him. This lad might have received guidance from some expert who returned from the Heavenly Chosen Giant Gate. Look!”
He pointed at Ling Xiao.
The pill, not yet fully formed, spun faster in mid-air. Besides the True Samadhi Fire, a powerful crimson yang energy merged into it.
In an instant, the pill solidified, round and smooth as pearl and jade.
“Collect!”
Ling Xiao beckoned with his hand. The pill entered the tray he held, but the temperature was so high that the metal tray instantly melted into molten iron.
“Bring a special container!”
Ling Xiao shouted.
“Here!”
During the competition, requesting a container for the pill was permitted by the rules.
The one who threw Ling Xiao the chill jade bottle with outstanding heat resistance was none other than An Lian, whom he had met during the internal test.
This person’s attitude towards Ling Xiao had long changed from previous disdain and aversion to complete worship and awe.
The pill entered the chill jade bottle. Ling Xiao’s refining was complete.
“Sorry, sea clan girl. I finished first.”
Looking at Tianhai Zhenzhu, Ling Xiao revealed the smile of a victor.
Tianhai Zhenzhu ignored Ling Xiao. In her view, Ling Xiao had clearly rushed and used some special method to solidify the pill.
But the result of doing so would be reduced pill efficacy.
Even if she lost on speed, she believed her quality would certainly be better.
About two minutes later, Tianhai Zhenzhu’s pill was finally complete.
She collected her pill and looked at Ling Xiao, saying, “You were impatient for success and took a crooked path. This time, though you won on speed, the quality is absolutely inferior to mine.”
With that, she placed her pill into the mechanical bird’s mouth.
On the jade wall, Tianhai Zhenzhu’s name and score appeared.
Perfect mortal pill, extraordinarily fast speed, score one hundred and fifty!
Efficacy plus speed yielded this score, thirty points higher than Ling Xiao’s in the first round.
Tianhai Zhenzhu had demonstrated her unparalleled ability!
