188: The third round of assessment

After much deliberation, a decisive glint flashed in Fa Ma’s eyes. “Someone, go invite Yan Xiao to come for a chat!”

A moment later, Xiao Yan, clad in a black robe and carrying a heavy black ruler on his back, was led into the quiet room.

“Yan Xiao, I have an urgent matter to discuss, hence this late-night invitation.”

Fa Ma got straight to the point, laying bare the entire affair concerning Yan Li. Finally, he solemnly took out a scroll glowing with a faint azure light. “This is a copied scroll of the Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill formula! A Tier 4 medicinal pill!”

Xiao Yan’s heart trembled, and Yao Lao’s voice also carried a note of surprise: “Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill? This is a good item!”

Fa Ma continued: “An ordinary Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill can help a Dou Shi break through to Great Dou Shi. If a Great Dou Shi consumes it, there is a chance to increase their strength by one star, with no backlash.

And the highest grade of Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill, when refined, forms three patterns! If a Great Dou Shi consumes it, there is a chance to temporarily increase their strength by three stars! However, there is also a risk of medicinal backlash, where strength might drop by one to two stars, but there is no danger to life!”

His tone was incredibly solemn and tinged with a hint of heartache, “This pill formula is a treasured possession of my Guild; the main formula cannot be easily touched by anyone other than the Guild Master. This copy you hold was created by me, Old Man, with five years of painstaking effort. The Soul Power on it is only enough for one reading; it will burn away after you read it!

I entrust this precious treasure to you, hoping only that you will do your utmost tomorrow to thwart that old scoundrel Yan Li’s scheme and vindicate my Gama Empire Alchemist Guild! Do you dare to accept this heavy responsibility?”

Looking at the earnest expectation in Fa Ma’s eyes and the weighty trust, and feeling the faint Soul Power fluctuations emanating from the scroll in his hand, a surge of pride welled up in Xiao Yan’s heart, along with immense pressure.

He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, “This junior will certainly do his best and not fail your trust!”

After Xiao Yan left, Fa Ma looked at the bright moon outside the window and murmured to himself, “Mo Yuhan… this child is too unfathomable; I don’t know his true capabilities. The matter of Yan Li concerns the Guild’s reputation; there can be no mistakes.

If Yan Xiao obtains this pill formula, he might have a chance. As for Mo Yuhan… tomorrow, it will simply depend on his own fortune.”

As night deepened, undercurrents surged.

The next day, as the morning sun first rose, the atmosphere in the Royal Plaza was even more fervent than the previous two days.

The air was filled with the tension and anticipation of the decisive battle.

This was the final round, the ultimate stage to determine the champion.

Of the hundreds of stone platforms, only a few dozen remained.

Every participant who remained was an outstanding young Alchemist of the Empire.

With solemn expressions, they each took out their prepared cauldrons and medicinal ingredients from their storage rings. Instantly, the air was filled with the unique fragrances of various rare medicinal ingredients.

Mo Yuhan, still in his black robe, calmly walked to his stone platform.

His gaze swept across the entire venue. He saw the cold-auraed grey-robed man (Yan Li) not far away, and also the burning fighting spirit in Xiao Yan’s (Yan Xiao’s) eyes.

The corner of his mouth curved slightly. Today, he would make the entire Gama Empire remember his name.

Without the slightest hesitation, with a thought, the ancient and robust qingyan cauldron rumbled as it landed.

The deep azure color flowed with the luster of ages under the morning light. The simple cloud-thunder beast patterns on the cauldron seemed to come alive, exuding a wild majesty.

Inside the cauldron, three dark-red, almost black, earth core fire crystals, even without being activated, emitted faint heat fluctuations.

“What is he going to refine?”

“Looking at this posture, it’s no small matter!”

Discussions buzzed in the spectator stands, and everyone’s eyes were focused on Mo Yuhan and his extraordinary cauldron.

Mo Yuhan did not take out any medicinal ingredients but slowly closed his eyes.

A vast and powerful Soul Power, like an invisible tide, quietly spread out with him at its center! The strength of this Soul Power, far exceeding yesterday’s, instantly attracted the attention of several powerhouses in the VIP section.

Fa Ma’s expression changed slightly: “Such strong Soul Power! This child’s spirit realm has probably reached the peak of the Mortal Realm, perhaps even touching the threshold of the Spirit Realm!”

Jia Xingtian’s eyes flashed with brilliant light: “This child… is truly unfathomable!”

Hai Bodong’s cold face also showed a hint of solemnity.

Just as everyone was filled with surprise and doubt, Mo Yuhan suddenly opened his eyes, and a flash of purple, gold, and azure light flickered within them.

He formed a hand seal and let out a low cry:

“Fire rise!”

“Boom—!!!”

The Xuan Huang Purple Flame surged out from his palm.

This time, the flame was no longer restrained but fully revealed its violent and noble essence.

The core of the deep purple flame pulsed with the profoundness of the Xuan Huang Qi and the wildness of the purple crystal flame, while its edges were entwined with wisps of agile and pure Azure Lotus Core Flame.

The terrifying aura of the three fused exotic flames, like an ancient fierce beast awakening, instantly swept across the entire venue.

The earth core fire crystals within the qingyan cauldron were fully activated, and three blazing red lights rose, perfectly merging with the Xuan Huang Purple Flame, instantly pushing the temperature inside the cauldron to a terrifying and heart-pounding height.

The entire qingyan cauldron seemed to transform into a fiery divine mountain about to erupt, and the cloud-thunder beast patterns on its body seemed to roar within the flames.

“This flame… My goodness! What a terrifying aura!”

“That cauldron… is also extraordinary! It can actually withstand such high temperatures!”

“What pill is he going to refine? This might… could it be Tier 4?!”

Exclamations rose one after another.

Mo Yuhan ignored the surrounding clamor, his Soul Power like the most precise probe, accurately controlling the temperature of the Xuan Huang Purple Flame. With a wave of his hand, prepared rare medicinal ingredients streamed out from his storage ring, suspending above the cauldron!

“Wind Spirit Grass, three hundred years old!”

“Fire Spirit Root, five hundred years old!”

“Earth Core Tempering Fluid!”

“Tier 3 Wind-attribute Magic Core!”

...

Each medicinal ingredient emitted astonishing energy fluctuations, and their high grade made many knowledgeable Alchemists gasp.

These were precisely the main and auxiliary ingredients for refining a peak Tier 4 medicinal pill—the Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill.

His master, Fire Elder, had already imparted the complete pill formula and refining experience to him when he broke through to Great Dou Shi, and had also prepared all the medicinal ingredients for him!

“It really is the Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill!”

In the VIP section, Fa Ma exclaimed in shock, his eyes filled with astonishment and disbelief.

He had only given the copied scroll to Yan Xiao last night, yet this Mo Yuhan already possessed the complete pill formula and refining ability?!

Just how profound was this child’s background?!

Xiao Yan (Yan Xiao) also saw the medicinal ingredients Mo Yuhan took out, and his pupils suddenly constricted!

A huge pressure, like a mountain, bore down! He had only obtained the copied scroll last night, with very little time for comprehension. Although he had Yao Lao’s assistance, he couldn't guarantee the success rate at all.

Yet, Mo Yuhan was already fully prepared, and from his posture, he was clearly confident.

“Hmph! Tier 4 medicinal pill? Overestimating himself!”

The grey-robed man, Yan Li, not far away, let out a cold sneer.

Before him hovered a cauldron emitting a strange black aura, with black-green flames rising inside, giving off a nauseatingly sweet and pungent smell.

The medicinal ingredients he took out were mostly colorful and clearly contained potent toxins, indicating he was refining some malevolent Tier 4 poisonous pill!

The refining officially began!