C136 It Shocked Everyone

Shortly thereafter, Master Mo had someone deliver the necessary materials, which were placed on a table next to a pill furnace not far from Mo Ruyan. He turned to Lin Xuan with a friendly tone and said, "Fellow Lin, please check everything."

"Okay," Lin Xuan responded, nodding before making his way over. He meticulously inspected the pill furnace, the pill recipe, and the medicinal herbs. Given the considerable challenge of concocting Spiritual Rank pills, the assessment criteria were somewhat lenient. True to standard practice, there were five sets of ingredients laid out.

Lin Xuan quickly completed his inspection. "Everything looks good."

"Then let's get started," Master Ren Yuan declared. "Each of you has five sets of Spirit Accumulating Pill materials. Successfully refine one set into at least five pills, and you'll pass the exam, regardless of the pill quality. We'll determine the competition's outcome by the number and quality of the pills you produce."

With the announcement over, Mo Ruyan bent over her work, her focus unwavering as she began the refining process—roasting the herbs, extracting the essence, purifying it from impurities, and shaping the final product. She moved through the steps with ease and precision, her fluid motions a testament to her extensive experience.

Lin Xuan, however, remained still, his demeanor calm as he observed Mo Ruyan's technique, committing each detail to memory.

"Why isn't he starting?" some wondered aloud.

"Is he new to this? Perhaps he's learning the process by watching Yan?" murmured others from a distance.

Master Ren Yuan, Master Mo, and the other staff members watched with curiosity but chose not to interfere.

Before long, Mo Ruyan was finishing her first set. She divided the solidified essence into five parts, each enveloped in Pill Fire, and carefully shaped them into pills. Lin Xuan watched and subtly shook his head.

A Spiritual Rank alchemist typically produced pills ranging from Rank 4 to Rank 6. Yet, whether Mortal or Spiritual Rank, a single set of ingredients could often yield up to ten pills. This rule was in place because the provided Spiritual Rank materials were plentiful and of superior quality, resulting in an essence with abundant medicinal properties, far surpassing that of the Mortal Rank.

The stipulation of producing ten pills was designed to ensure the medicinal properties were fully harnessed while maintaining a balance. Mo Ruyan, however, chose to refine only five pills from one batch of ingredients, reducing the difficulty but also squandering much of the medicinal potential and disrupting the intended equilibrium.

Predictably, it wasn't long before one of the five pills burst open, disintegrating into ash. Mo Ruyan had no choice but to continue the meticulous work of roasting and polishing the four remaining pills.

Lin Xuan, observing the outcome, shifted his focus away from her efforts. He bowed his head and set to work on his own refinement. Having previously studied the pill recipe and observed the technique, coupled with his exceptional alchemy talent, he was well-prepared. The process of crafting the Spirit Accumulating Pill seemed second nature to him, and he was confident in his ability to achieve a 100% success rate, although achieving all Third Patterns was admittedly beyond his current reach. His talent was undeniable, but at the Spirit Grade level, there was still room for growth.

Nearby, Master Mo and Master Ren Yuan watched with renewed interest, eager to witness Lin Xuan's proficiency in the Pill Dao firsthand. Despite following the standard steps of roasting herbs, extracting essences, and purifying materials, Lin Xuan's execution was remarkably fluid. His hands moved with such grace that there was not a single moment of hesitation, as if he had mastered the art of refining the Spirit Accumulating Pill to perfection.

"Is he actually refining pills?"

"Can it really be that effortless?"

"Such a seamless process!"

The onlookers were astounded. They had never before seen a pill refinement that exuded such elegance, almost as if Lin Xuan were not just crafting a pill but creating a work of art.

Master Mo and Master Ren Yuan exchanged glances, each seeing the other's barely concealed astonishment. Even as Earth-ranked Alchemists, they doubted they could match Lin Xuan's skill in producing the Spirit Accumulating Pill.

And Lin Xuan, a mere sixteen years old, had only recently embarked on his journey in the Pill Dao, with limited time spent refining pills. Yet, the prowess he displayed was formidable. His innate gift for the Pill Dao was, without a doubt, profoundly impressive.

Masters Mo and Ren Yuan were both deeply astounded by Lin Xuan's alchemical prowess.

Yet Lin Xuan himself was undisturbed, his attention solely on the pill refinement process.

He was nearing the completion of the pill.

With a mere thought, Lin Xuan divided the medicinal essence into ten equal parts, each enveloped in a sphere of Pill Fire, and meticulously crafted into pills.

Lin Xuan's alchemy talent, now merged with the highest echelons of the Spirit Grade, was unparalleled.

The potency of his Pill Fire far surpassed that of Mo Ruyan.

Quickly, he finished the final step.

The Pill Fire quivered, propelling ten perfectly refined Spirit Accumulating Pills into the air.

They landed precisely on the Jade Plate beside him, emitting the delicate tinkling of jade beads.

A fragrant aroma wafted through the air.

The onlookers snapped out of their daze, their eyes widening at the sight of the ten pills on Lin Xuan's Jade Plate.

"He's done already?"

"That was incredibly fast. I'd probably still be on the second step right now!"

"Is this what a top-tier Pill Dao Genius looks like?"

The staff erupted into exclamations of disbelief.

Masters Mo and Ren Yuan shared in the shock, as Lin Xuan's speed in refining pills had surpassed their expectations once more.

Meanwhile, a crisp sound signaled Mo Ruyan's progress; she had just refined her first batch of ingredients.

She gazed at the four Spirit Accumulating Pills rolling on her Jade Plate, a smile playing on her lips.

Despite numerous past attempts ending in failure, this was her first time successfully creating four pills at once.

The competition had clearly ignited her latent potential.

Mo Ruyan nodded with a hint of satisfaction, then quickly resumed her aloof demeanor and turned to assess Lin Xuan's progress.

She was eager to measure the gap between them.

However, as her eyes landed on Lin Xuan, particularly on the Jade Plate he held, she was momentarily paralyzed.

"How can this be?"

Mo Ruyan was dumbfounded, her whisper barely audible.

She questioned whether her mind was playing tricks on her.

Lin Xuan stood calmly, the Jade Plate in his hand showcasing ten impeccably round Spirit Accumulating Pills.

Even though she was a considerable distance from him, she couldn't discern the quality of the pills.

Yet, she could make out the hue of the pills—those were clearly finished products; he had achieved success.

This time, she had made a breakthrough, reaching an unprecedented level of success. From a single batch of ingredients, she had crafted four Low Rank 6 Spirit Accumulating Pills.

And Lin Xuan? He was several years her junior.

Yet, he had managed to refine pills successfully in such a brief span of time.

What's more, he had produced an impressive total of ten pills.

That was the highest yield of completed pills from one batch of ingredients.

Witnessing this, she, who prided herself on her alchemy talent, found it hard to believe.