On the high platform, Luo Chen employed Essence Restoration, though his proficiency remained only at the Skilled level. He worked carefully and slowly on the Returning Origin Cicada Husk. His pace was painfully slow, and he handled the material with extreme caution, as though afraid a single misstep might ruin the precious second-tier ingredient. With Essence Restoration, threads of vital energy peeled away from the husk one by one, slowly gathering toward the center of the husk’s abdomen. As the vital energy faded, the husk’s once-radiant golden surface gradually dulled to a drab gray. As he performed, Luo Chen simultaneously confirmed the theory in his mind. The first thought is to use Redflame Ganoderma as the base to burn away the poison of Luminous Star Grass, supplement the mix with the extreme cold of Blue Jade Smoke, and finally balance it with Azure Aloe Vera. That would likely produce a spirit solution similar to what is required for the cicada husk. I’m sure others thought of that. But that’s only a trick. It’s misleading at best. The resulting neutralizing spirit solution might yield the right outcome, but it will never achieve that translucent azure clarity. Anyone well-versed in medicinal theory would instinctively avoid this deceptive solution. Dan Yangzi’s choice of ingredient order confirms this. He clearly sees the same trap, which is why he opts for the safer path. He begins with Redflame Ganoderma and Azure Aloe Vera, and he applies the most common principle of alchemy: balancing fire and water to create a stable environment and keep the volatile parts under control. But that’s no good either. That method is steady, but it lacks efficiency. No… this is definitely the right solution! As the thought took shape, Luo Chen directly drew out a piece of Blue Jade Smoke. He paid no mind to the Returning Origin Cicada Husk, which appeared completely spent and ruined. Instead, he used his Perfected Mastery Jade Fracture. With just a few deft motions, he drew out a wisp of cold blue smoke from within the jade. Because Luo Chen had remained still for so long earlier, he had become the sole outlier among the nine contestants. When he finally moved, every gaze was instantly fixed on him. Whether his decision to throw in the cicada husk first had been correct or not, the sight of him processing the Blue Jade Smoke immediately commanded attention. His techniques revealed no trace of smoke or fire. Each movement carried an effortless, natural elegance. The process looked less like an extraction and more like a wisp of mist gently rising beneath sunlight. Someone subconsciously swallowed hard. Many disciples of Green Pill Valley stared in a daze at his long, and graceful fingers. What perfect hands! What flawless techniques! From afar, at the Tao family’s platform, Tan Daonan and his grandson Tao Yichen looked at each other in astonishment. “What level of mastery has he reached in Jade Fracture? Proficient? Masterful? Peerless?” Tan Daonan muttered. As a not-entirely-incapable second-tier alchemist himself, Tao Yichen could hardly believe his eyes. “This is… practically transcendent. The only time I have ever seen such a technique was when Elder Xingyun of the Grand Alchemy Institute demonstrated it during a lecture. She doesn’t really do lectures often.” Elder Xingyun was one of the three heads of the Grand Alchemy Institute. Within all of Green Pill Valley, she ranked just beneath Master Qing Danzi, and her fundamental techniques had already been perfected to the extreme. One-third of the sect’s pill production came from her hand, yet Luo Chen, a mere second-tier alchemist, had achieved such heights. The sight left not only grandfather and grandson stunned, but also the other Foundation Establishment Initiates, even those with only a shallow grasp of alchemy. Every one of them was floored by the display. Only Tao Yisheng appeared unsurprised. Though visibly pleased, he gave a cold snort. “Hmph, this is only the beginning. Brother Luo’s alchemy has merely revealed the tip of the iceberg.” Tao Wan noticed Tao Yisheng’s attitude but chose not to scold him as she normally would have. Instead, she let out a quiet yet heavy sigh of relief. If Luo Chen’s other techniques are just as impressive… No, even if they are only half as refined as this… Even if he fails to handle the Returning Origin Cicada Husk, he will still have enough time to complete the other four materials. Based on both time and quality, reaching the top five or even the top three will not be difficult. That thought, however, left her feeling somewhat aggrieved. If you’re truly skilled, why not start with the easy ones and secure an early lead? All the noise, discussions, and speculation beyond the platform had nothing to do with Luo Chen. He continued to process the materials within the Glazed Child Cauldron in an orderly manner. The Blue Jade Smoke had been fully processed. A wisp of Jade Smoke wrapped snugly around the ashen Returning Origins Cicada Husk. Only then did Luo Chen let out a small breath of relief. So this is the truth. The test is designed to start from hard to easy. If the most troublesome ingredient is not handled first, the difficulty later only grows exponentially. The examiner is truly a bit devious. As he muttered inwardly, his hand reached for the Redflame Ganoderma. Just as Dan Yangzi had done earlier, he used the Cloud Transformation to refine it. Gradually, a cloud of medicinal fire condensed from the gathered medicinal energy. Empowered by the earth fire beneath, the flames soon turned wild and fierce. At the same time, Luo Chen divided his focus. Using Flowing Creek, he carefully peeled away the tough outer skin of the Azure Aloe Vera. Rather than releasing all of its medicinal energy at once, he allowed it to flow in gradual stages. Bit by bit, the two materials that were meant to balance fire and water slipped out of harmony. The fire began to overwhelm the water. The flames, provoked, grew even more intense. The massive fire cloud began to roast the Returning Origins Cicada Husk, which was still wrapped in Jade Smoke within the Glazed Child Cauldron. The husk, once ashen, darkened further until it turned pitch black. A sharp, burnt stench spread rapidly and uncontrollably through the air. The other alchemists caught the scent and turned their eyes toward Luo Chen. Since Shangguan Yan was ranked third and Tao Wan fourth, her alchemist, Huang Hezi, sat closest to Luo Chen and was the first to notice the burning odor. Failed? Huang Hezi sneered inwardly. Just another reckless youngster who does not understand medicinal theory. Without a neutralizing solution, how does he think he can handle the Returning Origin Cicada Husk? Luo Chen’s apparent failure delighted him, and with renewed confidence, his own refining movements grew lighter and smoother. The solution is simple. Combine the other four ingredients into a balanced spirit solution, then process the cicada husk. Easy as pie. Failure? Please. Not to mention there are three portions, so even on the off chance that something does happen, I have time to try again. Others who noticed Luo Chen’s supposed failure reacted with indifference. Some gave him blank stares, while the kinder among them offered only faint looks of sympathy. Official source ıs 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭·𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮·𝙣𝙚𝙩 From the side of the stage, Xuan Yunzi lifted his eyes and studied Luo Chen for a brief moment. Almost instinctively, his gaze dropped to the half-processed ingredients within his own cauldron. His expression turned contemplative, shifting rapidly through a storm of emotions. To the astonishment of everyone watching, Xuan Yunzi suddenly waved his hand and cast Cleanse, clearing all of the ingredients from his cauldron in an instant. The abrupt move sent ripples of uproar through the crowd. On the second-highest viewing platform, He Yuanqing shot to his feet in fury, slamming his palm against the table. “You fool! What are you doing?!” Before his words had finished, a chilling gaze swept over him. A crushing wave of Golden Core spirit pressure descended, narrowing like a spear until it pinned him back into his seat. “You lack restraint. You fail to see the truth. You ignore the greater picture.” Those three rebukes left He Yuanqing pale and trembling, sweat dripping audibly onto the floor. Beside him, Chu Kui jolted in alarm. His eyes instinctively shifted to the stage, where the white-haired elder of the Grand Alchemy Institute stood with a presence as calm as an ancient mountain. A Golden Core cultivator’s spirit pressure is damn terrifying! Chu Kui licked his lips, then forced out a cheerful chuckle. “True Inheritor He, perhaps we should just sit quietly and enjoy the match, hmm?” He Yuanqing sat rigidly, his heart still pounding. He forced himself upright and pressed a strained smile onto his face, and cupped his hands respectfully toward the elder. “I was reckless,” he admitted through clenched teeth. “My apologies.” “Hmph!” The elder gave a cold snort but chose not to pursue the matter further. Thanks to the soundproofing formation, none of this exchange could reach the contestants inside the arena. Even so, He Yuanqing’s earlier outburst had clearly gone too far. Shouting like that risked distracting the competitors in the midst of such a delicate trial. The elder turned his gaze back to Xuan Yunzi, and this time, his eyes held genuine respect. To sever confusion the moment it arises… that is true clarity. He must start over, yes, but he now walks the correct path. He might yet surpass those who stray further down the wrong road! This boy is a true talent! He had already made up his mind: Once the alchemy competition ended, he would extend an invitation for Xuan Yunzi to study at the Grand Alchemy Institute. The boy was still young, yet his future clearly held the promise of becoming a true master of alchemy! To him, even someone like Xuan Yunzi, who had strayed but corrected his course, was already remarkable. What then of Luo Chen, who had never strayed at all and had instead advanced steadily along the correct path? Such a pity that he’s an unaffiliated rogue cultivator from the outside world, with unclear origins in such turbulent times. Otherwise, he could have easily become a guest elder of our Grand Alchemy Institute. As he watched Luo Chen’s ethereal and transcendent alchemical techniques, the elder’s admiration only deepened his regret. Such a man… a genius born solely for the Dao of alchemy. At least my sect has already found such an uncut gem. With that thought, the elder cast a subtle glance at Dan Yangzi. In turn, Dan Yangzi gave Luo Chen only a brief look before returning his full focus to the task at hand. Luo Chen might be blazing ahead on the correct path, but was Dan Yangzi not also walking the right one? It was simply that his road was a little longer. That was not entirely fair. The second round forbade Dan Yangzi from using his innate true fire. Otherwise, even if the road was ten times as long, he could have advanced twenty times as fast. No… wait. How solid is this kid’s foundation? He wields the Jade Fracture with Perfected Mastery. He could have studied it for years, sure, but then why is his mastery of Cloud Transformation and Flowing Creek just as flawless? And now he’s moving to the Luminous Star Grass… don’t tell me he has mastered Unadorned Heart as well? The elder’s gaze, filled with both hope and awe, lingered on Luo Chen. At that moment, Luo Chen cast Traction and the spirit herb, radiating azure starlight, slowly floated above the Glazed Child Cauldron. One of his hands guided the earth fire to continue roasting the Returning Origin Cicada Husk. The other hand formed intricate seals, using Unadorned Heart to channel pure wood-element spirit power. The energy flowed gently into the Luminous Star Grass. A moment later, starlight began to drip down in glimmering droplets. These were not the refined medicinal essences of the herb but the toxins that alchemists everywhere dismissed as useless waste. Countless eyes fixed on the cauldron as murmurs broke into shouts of disbelief. “He is drawing out the poison rather than the essence.” “What in the world is he doing?” The uproar fell silent as something strange and beautiful unfolded inside the transparent cauldron. The falling starlight touched the pitch-black cicada husk, and a puff of blue smoke rose. The husk shuddered violently. Its black surface faded to ashen gray, then shifted to pale blue, and finally cleared until it was as thin and translucent as a real cicada’s wing. The vast spirit energy once sealed in the center now poured forth freely, saturating every vein of the translucent wing. With a soft gesture, Luo Chen sent the perfectly processed Returning Origins Cicada Husk floating gently toward the white-haired elder. The scene resembled a butterfly breaking from its cocoon or the crescendo of a cicada’s summer cry, emerging in brilliance after long dormancy! The elder received the husk and studied it with a complex expression. There wasn’t a single trace of impurity to be found. “Clear as the sky and with all spirit energy intact. This is a perfect product. The time is one hour. The first alchemist to process the Returning Origin Cicada Husk is Dan Chenzi.” Luo Chen smiled faintly and lowered his head to continue refining the remaining ingredients. Only three remained, since the refinement of the Luminous Star Grass had been completed the moment its poison was extracted. At times, the handling of materials could be achieved simultaneously, using waste and essence together. When Luo Chen submitted his finished product, a hush fell over the entire Pill Valley. And when the elder announced not only a pass but a perfect grade, the valley erupted into a frenzy. “That is impossible. He just threw the ingredients together. How could the result be perfect?” “You’re joking, right?! No one who can wield Cloud Transformation and Unadorned Heart with such perfection would ever be careless.” “Brother, lying to others is one thing, but lying to yourself is pathetic.” “As much as I hate to admit it, this Dan Chenzi Senior’s alchemy techniques may have already surpassed even our eldest senior brother.” “No! I don’t believe it! Our eldest senior brother is flawless!” It was difficult to say whether their eldest senior brother was flawless, but everyone agreed that Luo Chen’s alchemy technique was. He had processed the Returning Origin Cicada Husk perfectly, and no one could claim otherwise. On the Tao family’s viewing platform, the cultivators exchanged stunned glances before erupting into exuberant cheers. To be the first contestant to complete the most difficult ingredient—everyone knew what that meant. Luo Chen’s earlier performance made it clear that handling the remaining materials would be as easy for him as lifting a hand. Amid the crowd, Tao Yisheng’s face shone with pride. He swept his gaze across the Tao family’s Foundation Establishment cultivators, who responded with affirming looks. Their silent message was obvious: Fine, you were right. Our new family head truly has an exceptional eye. Before he could boast, Tao Wan cut in without even turning around. “After the first round ends, there’ll be a brief rest period. Go and fetch the Serene Incense crafted by our Grand Elder for Luo Chen’s use.” Beside him, Patriarch Tao Daonan instinctively protested. “But that incense was prepared for your True Inheritor Sword Duel. The Grand Elder only refined three sticks.” Tao Wan kept her burning gaze on Luo Chen. Yet her tone was calm, composed, buoyed by a powerful confidence. “If Luo Chen secures an overwhelming lead in this second round, my place in the top three is guaranteed. Rather than clinging to a bit of recovery during the sword duel, it’s better to help him win this round. I’ll have even more time to rest by then. It benefits both of us perfectly.” Tao Daonan finally understood. He had almost lost sight of the greater picture for the sake of a small advantage. Without another word, Tao Yisheng left the platform with two other Initiates, heading straight toward Xiao Nanshan. The Tao family’s Serene Incense required special refinement and even more specialized storage; it could not be kept in storage pouches, and only by nurturing it constantly through secret methods could its medicinal potency be preserved. While the crowd outside boiled over in excitement, the competition field within had already entered a state of total upheaval.