The pill examination followed a similar procedure to the last phase. There was a Formation at the Five Golden Stars Levels specially set up for this use. The difference is that the positions in the rank are first decided by the level of stars of the pills. Only the same pills at the same star level would need the formation to tell which one was better.
For an organization like the Alchemists, they had long since created a list that is continuously updated with the level of difficulty of each pill existent and newly discovered pills.
Yilio was also in the middle of the pack of Alchemists that participated in the last face. He seemed very tired, but couldn't conceal the smile on his face.
'Leaving Krune aside, to think that the concoction really worked that way. I might not have made a Golden Star Level pill, but I'm very confident of getting into the top 10.'
Kaio and the other three Golden Stars Alchemists were also there waiting for the results. Although Kaio looked quite bad at the moment, he ignored it and decided to wait as well.
As for Krune, he was feeling concerned about his pill. In the end, he didn't have the time to check the pill before giving it to Palo. He had no idea about which level it had reached. Not to mention that because of the explosion, it might have been affected to some extent.
'Please, tell me that you are at least a Six Silver Stars Level.'
That was the only thing that Krune could think. After all, the energy in the medicinal liquid went on a rampage before he even started forming the pill. Krune was pretty sure that it would definitely reduce the quality of the pill.
The examiner on the stage kept discussing while looking at the pills. Suddenly, Krune noticed that Palo and quite a few more examiners looked in his direction with an unbelievable expression.
Krune immediately got nervous seeing that.
'Is my pill really that bad?'
The other alchemists also noticed that and looked at him as well.
Kaio was one of them, for some reason, he had a foreboding feeling. Between young the alchemists participating in the competition, he was the only one to notice that Krune had used Laws while concocting his pill. The fact that the examiner all looked at him for a second might be bad news for him.
'It couldn't be, right?'
The spectators noticed that the examination of the pills was taking a lot longer than it should.
The reason for that is that the examiners were in the middle of a heated discussion through Divine Sense. The situation continued for quite a while, and only when everyone was starting to lose their patience, did they finish the examination.
"Sorry for the long wait, everyone. Due to some unexpected issues, we had to discuss the release of the results for a little longer. We are going to start now."
Palo Yiag started to read a list that he had in his hands.
"99th Place, Lio Tink: Seven Silver Stars Energy Dislocation Pill."
"98th Place, Walin Gurie: Seven Silver Start Anti Poison Pill."
"97th Place..."
Everyone felt that something was wrong. The last phase of the competition was supposed to have 100 participants, so how come the last Place is already 99th?
"It's probably because that Jolk didn't deliver his pill. Did you guys forget that he only created a single pill, and it exploded in the end? So, of course, there is one less participant now."
"That's weird, I was looking at the video record, and I'm sure that I saw Jolk handing over a bottle to that examiner. Could it be that it wasn't a pill that was inside?"
"I think its the opposite. Because Jolk delivered that pill after the explosion, the examiners can't be sure if that pill is really his or something he got before coming to the competition. As far as I know, he might as well have bought that pill and used this explosion to conceal the fact that he didn't concoct it."
"The person above is definitely not an Alchemist, so it's normal for you to think about this possibility. Unfortunately, as an Alchemist myself, I have to say that your idea is impossible. The aura left behind in the pill by its creator is not something that can be forged. In that case, there is no way he can use someone else's pill. Not to mention that Jolk is at the Core Formation Realm. They could totally use a blood contract to confirm the truth of the matter."
"In the end, we are back to the start line. Was that thing that Jolk delivered to the examiner not a bottle with his pill? Did the pill get destroyed during the explosion then? We will know by the end of the ranking announcement."
The ones watching the ranking weren't the only ones thinking about it, Krune also had the same idea.
"I don't think the other alchemists didn't deliver at least one pill for the test. It seems like my pill was really damaged by the chaotic energy and the explosion after. It just means that I'm not even worthy of appearing in the ranking anymore."
Although Krune was sure about it, he still waited for the end of the results.
"7th Place, Yilio: Nine Silver Stars Explosion Pill."
As soon as yilio heard that, he almost jumped in joy.
"Great! I really finished in the top 10, hahaha!"
Krune, or better, Jolk, smiled at him.
"Congratulations."
Yilio put his arm around Krune's should and said.
"Thanks, but I believe that if that explosion didn't happen, you would also get a very high position."
Krune then shook his head.
"It's okay. Considering that I got to the last phase is already enough for me."
Finally, Palo arrived at the top 3 positions.
"3rd Place, Irken: One Golden Star Limb Recovery Pill."
"2nd Place, Xaia Lian: One Golden Star Severing Pill."
"1st Place, Kaio Tirenia: One Golden Star Soul Birth Pill."
When Kaio heard that, he didn't feel joy, but relief instead.
'Good, it seems like I was overthinking it. That wisp really didn't make a Golden Star Pill.'
Palo smiled and continued.
"My thanks to all the alchemists who participated in this Junior Alchemist Competition. The Headquarters will enter in contact with those who we think to be worthy of joining us. As for those who failed in the previous phase or didn't get called over, use the experience that you gained here to improve yourselves."
Before Palo could finish, someone intervened.
"What happened with Jolk? I'm pretty sure he delivered a pill as well, no? He was the first place yesterday and second the day prior. Did his pill really get destroyed?"
"That's right! I had my Divine Sense on you guys when he delivered that bottle, and I'm sure there was a pill inside. How come he doesn't have a position? Even if he was supposed to be last, he should at least appear in the ranking, right?"
"I agree! We all noticed that at some point, all the examiners looked at Jolk at the same time. Even an idiot would notice the surprised expression that you all showed at that moment."
Krune was taken aback by how everyone intervened in the announcement. His pill probably just got damaged, so that's why he was not put in the rank. He doesn't think that there is anything wrong with it.
Still, contrary to his expectations, that wasn't the case.
"Jolk's situation is a little more complicated. That Cultivation Stabilizing Pill that he made is something that we had never seen before."
Palo shrugged his shoulder and added.
"Simply put, we don't know how to categorize his pill at all. We can't even tell if that pill is a Silver or Golden Star one."
Everyone expected several different excuses, but this one definitely wasn't one of those. Let alone the spectators, even Krune himself, didn't expect that at all!
"Cough, cough. Senior Palo, what exactly do you mean that it can't be categorized? To be honest, that was the very first time I tried to concoct using those methods. Did something happen to my pill during the concoction process?"
Palo shook his head and said.
"I don't know, I will bring this pill back to the Headquarters to be analyzed first. Only after that, I can give you an answer."
Palo then looked at everyone else and continued.
"Anyway, I know that everyone is curious about it, but there is nothing we can do with the equipment available here at the moment."
In fact, even Palo was having a hard time keeping the appearances. He wanted nothing more than going straight back to the headquarters so that they could check this pill. Of course, as the elder responsible for this Junior Competition, he had to follow the protocol to the end.
After going through all the formalities, Palo excused himself and left the aftermath for his subordinates to finish. He then found Krune in a corner talking with a few of the Alchemists who participated in this competition and sent him a Divine Sense message.
"Think about some excuse to tell them and come to my office after. We need to talk."
Krune was already expecting something like that and immediately did as he was told. He also used his communicator to send Feifei and the others a message about what happened and that they could go back without him if they wanted.
Once he arrived at Palo's office, Krune noticed that he was talking on the communicator. He waited for him to finish the call before asking what was going on.
Palo finally finished the call and looked at Krune.
"You will come with me now."
Just as Krune was about to ask where to, a Spatial Gate appeared inside the office just like the last time. Once again, elder Lagan came from inside it.
Lagan looked at those two and said.
"Good, it seems like that the two of you are ready. Let's go!"
Before Krune could even ask anything, he felt his body being grabbed by spiritual energy and then pulled inside the Spatial Gate with Lagan and Palo. Krune felt like crying already.
"Since when I said I was ready? I don't even know why I'm ready to start with!"
Too late, though. The Spatial Gate closed, and Krune was gone with the two elders.
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