C122 The Difference in Strength Was too Great

Take, for instance, the Second Rank Yellow Rank Medium-grade Spirit Nourishing Pill formula. In the hands of a grandmaster alchemist, the result would still be a Mid-grade Yellow Rank pill. The Third Rank Unique Battle Pill formula, however, spans both low and medium grades. To achieve a higher grade, one would need to study formulas from the Fourth or even Fifth Rank.

Ning Qi bypassed the Third Rank formulas, turning his attention to those of the Fourth and Fifth Rank.

"Fourth Rank formulas: Mid-grade Yellow Rank Cocoon Breaking Pill, Supreme Yellow Rank Spirit Nourishing Pill."

"Fifth Rank formulas: High-grade Yellow Rank Cocoon Breaking Pill, Low-grade Profound Rank Spirit Nourishing Pill..."

He then checked the prices.

A Third Rank Spiritual Nourishment Pill was priced at 2,000 Dragon Slaying Coins, a Fourth Rank at 5,000, and a Fifth Rank demanded a hefty 10,000 Dragon Slaying Coins. The cost was enough to make him wince.

The Fifth Rank Cocoon Breaking Pill was even pricier, at a staggering 14,000 Dragon Slaying Coins – certainly not cost-effective.

"If I manage to refine a Low-grade Profound Rank Spirit Nourishing Pill, Princess Diaoman might just clap the shackles on me again, then work me to the bone as her personal pill-making slave, right?" Ning Qi pondered, not without trepidation. He resolved to purchase the Fifth Rank Spiritual Nourishment Pill formula but to keep it hidden for his own use. For today's contest, he would stick with the Unique Battle Pill – a Third Rank formula, but still impressive enough to affirm his status as an Alchemist Grandmaster.

With that decision made, he opened his eyes and, wearing a confident smile, proposed, "Let's have our contest with the Unique Battle Pill. Are you familiar with it?"

"Unique Battle Pill?"

Sima Ci's eyes flickered with a mix of relief and scorn. He had expected Ning Qi to pull some sort of trick, but to his surprise, Ning Qi had chosen a pill that was merely upper mid-tier within the Third Rank formulas.

The Third Princess's anxiety dissipated, replaced by a faint smile. Sima Ci had been proficient in crafting the Unique Battle Pill for eight years now, one of his specialties. With this knowledge, the outcome of their wager seemed all but certain.

Anxiety flickered in the Ninth Princess's eyes as she shot Ning Qi a meaningful glance, but he feigned ignorance, infuriating her to the point where she nearly had Deng San flatten him with a single slap.

Why on earth did Ning Qi opt for the Unique Battle Pill?

She was well aware that among the various pills Sima Ci excelled at crafting, the Unique Battle Pill was included. The stakes of the wager now seemed shrouded in uncertainty.

Sima Ci's smile was laced with confidence as he proposed, "Let's go with the Unique Battle Pill then. Set the terms of our competition."

"Ninth Sister, are you scared? If you're hesitant to wager, I'm willing to offer you an out," teased the Third Princess with a smirk.

Princess Diaoman huffed dismissively, "Scared? Not a chance. Third Sister, if you're game to bet, count me in."

"Why not adhere to the standard protocol? We'll compete on the speed of pill concoction and the rate of success," suggested Deng San, his smile easy and agreeable.

The proposal was met with nods from both sides.

The group then made their way to the expansive backyard of the Ninth Princess Mansion, a vast garden where Ice Crystal White Tigers frolicked. The sheer scale of her residence spoke volumes of the White Tiger Empire's might, dwarfing that of the Qintang Empire by no small margin.

Ning Qi and Sima Ci settled into their seats, ready to begin their alchemical challenge, while their attendants exchanged tense, hostile glares. The Battle Emperor Level knight standing with the Third Princess eyed Deng San with a mix of glee and scorn, their mutual animosity clearly a reflection of their mistresses' rivalry.

"Go for it, Master Ning!" came the rallying cries.

"Defeat Sima Ci! We have faith in you!" Deng San's Peak Battle King followers cheered, their voices thunderous. Soon, even the servants witnessing Ning Qi's prowess for the first time joined in the chorus of encouragement.

Witnessing the fervor, Princess Diaoman's cheeks warmed with excitement as she called out, "Ning Qi, take him down!"

"Master Sima, don't mind this country bumpkin from the Qintang Empire. He's no match for you. We eagerly await your triumphant return!"

"Let's show him the formidable strength of our White Tiger Empire's grandmaster alchemist!"

The Third Princess's followers were quick to join in, heaping scorn and mockery with gusto.

Being considerably older than the Ninth Princess, she refrained from undignified shouting that disregarded her status. Instead, she offered a restrained, dignified smile, radiating an air of graceful confidence as if victory was already hers.

Approximately two hours later, servants had collected the required spiritual grass for the Unique Battle Pills and delivered them—two hundred portions for each person.

"Master Ning, are you prepared? Let's begin," Sima Ci said, his smile brimming with confidence, his voice dripping with unmistakable sarcasm.

"Then let's get started," Ning Qi replied with a slight smile.

Next, a black Alien Flame, resembling a blooming lotus, rose from Sima Ci's hand.

"This is the Black Lotus Sacred Fire, ranked seventy-ninth on the Alien Flame List. Master Sima is sure to triumph this time."

Sima Ci smiled and commenced the pill concoction. The spiritual grass swiftly melted into a fluid under the heat of his Black Lotus Sacred Fire, its form ever-shifting. Sima Ci appeared at ease, showcasing his impressive control.

At that moment, Ning Qi's Dragon Devourer Hellfire burst forth from his palm.

The Third Princess's expression shifted subtly. "Dragon Devourer Hellfire?"

She was well aware that this Alien Flame, loathed by the Dragon Clan, was exceedingly rare, prompting her to reassess Ning Qi's abilities.

"Your Highness, this is indeed Dragon Devourer Hellfire. Though it may not rank as highly as the Black Lotus Sacred Fire, acquiring it is even more challenging," Deng San murmured to the Ninth Princess.

A glimmer of confidence sparked in the Ninth Princess's eyes as she watched Ning Qi with eager anticipation.

Ning Qi's performance astounded the onlookers.

His control was clearly superior to Sima Ci's. He remained composed, yet his pace was no less swift.

Before long, the liquid under Ning Qi's deft manipulation began to solidify, forming a pill the size of a longan, its exotic aroma filling the air.

A Mid-grade Yellow Rank Unique Battle Pill was thus perfected in under two hours by Ning Qi.

Meanwhile, Sima Ci had only just managed to finish his first Unique Battle Pill as Ning Qi began his second.

His face contorted with displeasure in an instant.

The Ninth Princess burst into laughter. "Third Sister, it seems you've met your defeat."

The Third Princess offered a faint smile in response. "Pill refining can be quick or slow, and there's also the success rate to consider. Victory isn't set in stone. Ninth Sister, don't celebrate too soon."

Despite her words, the calmness had vanished from her demeanor, and a hint of tension crept into her gaze as she looked at Sima Ci.

"He's just been lucky. Once he fails to produce a pill, there's no way he'll outpace me."

Sima Ci reassured himself silently, his face regaining its confident sheen as he set to work on his second Unique Battle Pill.

"Master Ning has done it again!"

"Wow, that's the fourth one!"

"And now the fifth!"

"What's going on with Master Sima? He's only managed to refine his second pill? And he's had a failure?"

"He's nowhere near Master Ning's speed! Haha!"

The servants exchanged jeers and taunts.

Deng San regarded Ning Qi with evident respect, while even Wu Maji's frosty beauty was softened by the emergence of a slight smile.