Mystic Eyes: My Eyes Steal the Laws of Cultivation

Chapter 523: The Second Phase of The Alchemy Competition (2)

The seven hundred participants remained completely attentive, their eyes fixed on the elder, their hearts beating in anticipation.

Then... the elder calmly announced:

"In this stage..." He paused briefly, the silence stretching like a taut string.

"Each of you must create your own formula."

The silence lasted only an instant. A moment of collective disbelief, as the words hung in the air without being fully processed.

Then... the entire arena erupted into murmurs.

"What?" A middle-aged competitor widened his eyes.

"Create a formula?"

"Is he serious?" another asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

"Only experienced masters can do something like that!"

Even the spectator stands became restless. Expressions of disbelief appeared everywhere as spectators exchanged shocked and astonished glances.

Pill formulas were treasures accumulated over thousands of years. Every single one required countless experiments, failures, studies, and entire lifetimes devoted to alchemy.

Creating a new formula was something that even great masters rarely managed to accomplish, a process that could take years or even decades of trial and error.

And now... they wanted these alchemists, many of whom were still in training, to accomplish such a feat?

Many participants turned pale, their expressions frozen in shock. Others frowned deeply, their minds already working through possible solutions. Some even laughed, believing it to be nothing more than a tasteless joke.

The murmurs grew louder and louder, a wave of speculation and anxiety threatening to engulf the arena.

The old elder simply waited for a few moments, calmly observing the reaction. When he realized the noise had reached its peak, he released a small portion of his cultivation pressure.

The pressure spread throughout the arena like an invisible wave, touching every competitor and every spectator. It was not oppressive, but it was undeniable, a reminder that the elder was not merely an organizer but a powerful cultivator.

Silence immediately returned.

The elder smiled, his eyes gleaming with a hint of amusement.

"It seems you misunderstood." His voice was calm, almost gentle.

"I did not ask you to create a pill formula."

Several participants discreetly sighed in relief, their shoulders relaxing. A collective sigh of relief swept through the crowd of competitors.

The elder continued.

"What I want... is for each of you to develop an original formula for a Rank Four medicinal lotion."

This time, the surprise remained, but it was completely different. The competitors began talking among themselves again, but now their expressions reflected concentration rather than panic.

It was still extremely difficult. Creating an original formula, even for a lotion, required profound knowledge of herb properties, an understanding of ingredient interactions, and the ability to predict how different combinations would affect the final result.

However... it no longer seemed impossible.

Medicinal lotions possessed far simpler structures than pills. Their refinement required much less stability between ingredients, allowing countless different combinations that a pill simply could not tolerate. Most of the alchemists present had already prepared medicinal lotions many times during their training, experimenting with various herb combinations.

It was an excellent exercise for understanding the properties of herbs, an intermediate step between following formulas and creating something entirely new.

The elder spoke again, his voice returning to its instructional tone.

"The purpose of this stage is not to evaluate who has memorized the most formulas. I do not wish to know who has the best memory or who has studied the oldest manuals." He slowly walked across the platform, his steps measured.

"I want to discover who truly understands every ingredient. Who knows its deepest properties, its subtle interactions, its hidden potential."

He paused, his eyes sweeping across the competitors.

"I want to see who understands how different herbs can complement one another, how their effects can be amplified or diminished. Who can look at a list of ingredients and see not merely herbs, but possibilities."

His voice became firmer.

"A true alchemist does not rely solely on the ancients. He honors their knowledge, but he is not bound by it. When necessary, he must be capable of creating something new using only his own understanding and intuition."

Several spectators nodded discreetly, recognizing the wisdom in the elder’s words. Even a few elders seated in the stands displayed expressions of approval, their heads nodding in agreement.

Shortly afterward, the old man raised one hand. The gesture was accompanied by a wave of energy that spread throughout the arena, signaling the deacons.

The deacons immediately sprang into action. Dressed in blue robes bearing the Alchemists Association’s emblem, they moved efficiently through the rows of competitors. Each one carried dozens of small spatial rings, the objects glowing with a gentle light.

They quickly passed between the platforms, handing one ring to each participant. The process was swift and orderly, with every competitor receiving their materials within seconds.

When his turn came, Kyrian calmly accepted the object. The ring was simple, made from a dark metal that absorbed light.

Small spiritual inscriptions decorated its surface, indicating that it had been specially prepared for the competition.

His consciousness immediately entered the interior of the spatial ring, examining its contents with practiced efficiency.

The next instant... his eyes gleamed faintly.

There were dozens of different species of spiritual herbs. Roots, leaves, flowers, fruits, resins, the bark of spiritual trees, and plant crystals are a remarkable variety of ingredients that cover virtually every basic category of Rank Four alchemy.

The quantity of each ingredient was small, enough for only a few attempts. There was no room for waste, no opportunity for repeated mistakes. Every choice had to be carefully considered, and every experiment meticulously planned.

However... the variety was impressive. It encompassed virtually every basic property known in Rank Four alchemy, from healing herbs to energy-enhancing ingredients, from neutralizing materials to natural catalysts.

On the upper platform, the old elder spoke once more, his voice echoing across the silent arena.

"You will have three hours." He raised three fingers, emphasizing the time limit.

"Use only the materials contained within your respective rings. There will be no replacements and no additional ingredients. Every one of you has exactly the same materials to work with."

His gaze became stern.

"At the end of that time, every formula will be evaluated. Not only the final result, the process itself will also be taken into consideration. The logic behind your choices, the understanding you demonstrate, and the originality of your approach."

He slowly raised his hand, and the enormous bell rang once again.

"Dooooong!"

"The second stage..." His voice sliced through the air like a blade.

"Begins now!"

Instantly, the entire arena burst into motion.

Hundreds of furnaces were ignited, spiritual flames appearing in every direction. Heat spread throughout the venue, and the air began to ripple with the released energy.

Different colors danced across the platforms, blue, red, gold, and violet, as each alchemist used their own technique to ignite their spiritual fire.

The competitors quickly immersed themselves in their own thoughts, their minds working at full speed to develop an original formula within the limited time. Some immediately began sorting ingredients, while others remained motionless, planning every step before taking action.

Kyrian, however, did not rush.

His attention remained completely focused on the contents of the spatial ring, his violet eyes examining every ingredient with meticulous precision. His mind was not merely listing what was there, it was analyzing, connecting, and combining.

Since beginning his journey in alchemy, he had refined very few medicinal lotions. Perhaps four, perhaps five. After learning to refine pills, he had almost completely abandoned that type of refinement, focusing instead on more advanced techniques.

Even so... he showed not the slightest concern.

Lotions were far simpler than pills. Their structure was less complex, the interactions between ingredients were more straightforward, and the refinement process was far more tolerant of minor variations.

Furthermore... his knowledge of herbs had increased tremendously after studying countless books and participating in numerous alchemical experiments. Every ingredient his eyes landed upon was immediately associated with its properties, its interactions, and its potential applications.

Creating a Rank Four formula did not seem impossible. Quite the opposite, the more he analyzed, the more possibilities emerged within his mind.

His violet eyes swiftly swept across every ingredient contained within the ring. Meanwhile, his mind began mentally combining hundreds of different possibilities. Each combination was tested within his imagination, and evaluated in terms of feasibility and effectiveness.

The healing properties of Jade Root. The energetic potential of Silent Fire Petals. The neutralizing effect of Shadow Leaves. The catalytic capacity of Vital Liquid Crystal.

Without realizing it, a faint smile appeared on his face.

Then... Kyrian finally began.