45: Chapter 45, Second Round Ends

"Since everyone has completed the test, let us begin the second round of the assessment! Now, press the red button on the bottom left corner of the stone platform." Fa Ma's calm voice resounded throughout the plaza once again.

As Xiao Yan pressed the button, the machine used for testing Medicinal Pills on the blue stone platform descended, and a large stack of medicinal ingredients and a scroll of Pill Formula slowly rose from the clean surface.

"This time, the Pill Formula is an authentic one, the result of months of effort by our Alchemist Guild. Your assessment task is to successfully refine the Medicinal Pill within the allotted time. The medicinal ingredients in front of you are enough for two attempts..."

Xiao Yan picked up the scroll recording the Pill Formula and slowly unfurled it. His Soul Power scanned the information recorded on it, and the various precautions required for the refining process appeared in his mind, forming a rapid and clear memory.

Tier 3 Medicinal Pill: Wind-Walking Pill.

Xiao Yan naturally knew what kind of petty tricks were hidden within, so he pretended to be deep in thought, delaying starting the fire to begin Alchemy.

Seeing that this assessment was so simple, a few people in the plaza hesitated, but the majority still wore relaxed expressions on their faces, completely unaware of where the problem lay.

Consequently, before long, most of the Alchemists had quickly ignited their fires, preparing to refine the Wind Spirit Pill.

The Alchemists with faster hand speeds had already refined three or four medicinal ingredients, yet they still saw Xiao Yan frowning and studying the Pill Formula with his eyes closed.

Although the surrounding Alchemists were puzzled, they couldn't figure out what Xiao Yan was doing.

Fa Ma looked at Xiao Yan's appearance and smiled slightly, though he sighed inwardly: "Is this what a Genius is? Xiao Yan must have already discovered it..."

Time slowly passed, yet Xiao Yan continued to observe every move of the surrounding Alchemists. Many people, seeing Xiao Yan's strange behavior, couldn't help but cast curious glances his way.

Some, however, thought that Xiao Yan was intentionally holding back, letting others start first...

However, this behavior didn't last long before Xiao Yan began to refine the medicinal ingredients. One by one, the ingredients were refined, with the sole exception of an ingredient called "Thick Earth Ganoderma."

This was because this ingredient did not belong to the materials required for refining the Wind Spirit Pill; the Pill Formula provided by the Alchemist Guild was wrong!

Xiao Yan unhurriedly performed Fusion on the refined medicinal ingredients. Eight strands of different colored medicinal powders or liquids slowly merged within the Medicine Cauldron and the furnace fire, awaiting the final formation of the pill.

As for the grey-robed person who was racing against time with Xiao Yan in the original plot, after failing one batch, he had just finished refining the third medicinal ingredient, and excluding the "Thick Earth Ganoderma," he had five ingredients remaining.

At this moment, in Xiao Yan's blue Medicine Cauldron, the Wind-Walking Pill was left with only the final tempering step.

"How boring..." Xiao Yan couldn't help but sigh. If it weren't for the sake of checking in at the Empire and punishing the Nalan Clan, Xiao Yan would never have participated in this Alchemist Convention.

But it's fine. If there are no accidents, he would be able to leave the Empire the day after tomorrow.

Thinking of this, Xiao Yan couldn't help but smile. Han Feng, Junior Brother is almost here.

Xiao Yan slapped the Medicine Cauldron, and a Medicinal Pill fell into his hand.

Amidst the cheers of the crowd, he flicked his finger, sending it into a jade bottle, and the jade mirror in front of Xiao Yan instantly emitted a green light.

"It really is without suspense..." Ya Fei and Yao Ye on the VIP stand exchanged glances, feeling fortunate for their unhesitating choice to sit beside Xiao Yan. Even if they couldn't recruit Xiao Yan, just gaining some goodwill was enough.

Xiao Yan's Medicinal Pill seemed to be a swan song; in the half hour that followed, not a single Alchemist had succeeded again!

The dull thudding sounds of Medicine Cauldrons exploding rang out continuously...

In a secluded corner of the plaza, the grey-robed person, with a gloomy face, took out the tempered Medicinal Pill and tossed it into a jade bottle. The plaza finally lit up with a second green light.

However, the cheers this time were much quieter.

The Alchemists in the plaza were being eliminated at a rapid pace. Half an hour later, two more green lights appeared, belonging to the Little Princess and Liu Ling, who were beside Xiao Yan.

Only, these two had long lost their initial high spirits. After flicking their Medicinal Pills into the jade bottles, they said nothing, and like Xiao Yan beside them, sat cross-legged on the ground, closing their eyes to rest...

When the hourglass on the wall had completely run out, there were not even a hundred people left in the arena.

The test results were, as expected, a crushing victory by Xiao Yan with absolute strength.

When the test ended, the sky had already dimmed. The faint moonlight was invisible to the naked eye in the brightly lit Empire; perhaps only in some dark corner could one see this bit of moonlight.

"Everyone, let us end today's convention here. All contestants, please have a good rest tonight. Tomorrow's final round will be the important match where we decide the champion. Do not let anything cause you to be unable to attend, otherwise, it would be a lifelong regret!" Fa Ma laughed loudly.

Hearing this, Xiao Yan unfurled his Dou Qi Wings and flew to the VIP stand.

After bidding farewell to Fa Ma, Old Jia, and Otto and the others, Xiao Yan did not accept Yao Ye's invitation to stay, and flew away into the night...

Leaving everyone behind, watching the brilliant cyan figure in the sky, they were speechless for a long time. Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night!

"After this Alchemist Convention, Xiao Yan's reputation will likely spread at a terrifying speed, with the Jia Ma Empire as the center..." Old Jia muttered in a low voice.

"Heh, seventeen years old. Back then, I don't even know where I was playing with mud... Heh." Fa Ma, being open-minded, left the place with a chuckle.

That night, nothing happened in the Empire. If there was anything, it was that Nalan Yanran, for some reason, suddenly returned to the Cloud Mist Sect...

After returning to the inn, Xiao Yan washed up casually, then took out the Green Lotus pedestal and the earth fire lotus seed, preparing to Cultivate for a while.

"Little Yan, not bad. You actually discovered the extra Thick Earth Ganoderma in that Pill Formula before you even started refining." Yao Lao drifted out from the ring and praised Xiao Yan.

"If it weren't for your guidance, Teacher, I wouldn't have discovered it; I might as well have just ended my life by hitting my head against a piece of tofu." Xiao Yan said with a smile.

"That is true." Yao Lao stroked his beard and said.

"By the way, Little Yan, the three-year appointment with the Cloud Mist Sect, do you not plan to go?" Yao Lao changed the subject and asked.

Seeing Yao Lao's curiosity, Xiao Yan explained: "As a Dou Wang, there is no need for me to hide my identity to do something like bullying the weak."

"That is also true. Since you have your own ideas, then go and do it." Yao Lao nodded and said so. He was already extremely at ease regarding Xiao Yan; in many instances, he no longer needed his guidance at all.

Yao Lao chatted with Xiao Yan for a few moments, then returned to the ring and fell into a deep sleep.

Ever since Xiao Yan sparred with Hai Bodong, the very gratified Yao Lao had voluntarily proposed to Xiao Yan that unless Xiao Yan encountered some difficult matters or problems, the rest of the time would be left entirely to Xiao Yan himself.

Because Yao Lao believed that Xiao Yan was already capable of venturing out independently, unless he encountered some major event that was difficult to judge, and Xiao Yan took the initiative to wake him, there was no need for him to appear on his own.

Thanks to "Sao Zhi Qi Jiu Duan, Wo Yu Shi Jian Chang He Zhong Ta Lang Er Lai, Xin Wen Lu Zheng Jing Cai, hAM, Yang Yi_bD" and others for the recommendation tickets.

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