Chapter 152: Chapter 152: Why am I Third? _1
Translator: 549690339
Zhuge Wanqing smiled; she knew that everyone had an idea of what was going on, but no one had said anything.
This Alchemy Convention, Danqing Pavilion owed a favor to the Dayan Dynasty and had helped the latter a little.
As for whether the Dayan Dynasty could recover their reputation, it would depend on them.
On this matter, the Lingxiao Sect naturally wouldn’t say anything.
Unless Danqing Pavilion was really too excessive, they would have privileges in Tianchuan State.
Though a strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake, the snake wouldn’t easily offend the dragon either.
“I hope Patriarch Qin remembers yesterday’s words.” Zhuge Wanqing said.
Qin Changqing laughed: “Of course I remember, it’s Miss Zhuge who shouldn’t forget.”
“I always do as I say.” Zhuge Wanqing smiled confidently.
The two were speaking in riddles, leaving those who listened confused and curious about what had happened.
Just judging by appearances, one was Qin Changqing, and the other was a beautiful woman. The people of Yinxu Prefecture could imagine the scene of the Qin family hanging up big red lanterns with great fanfare! Boom!
The square suddenly exploded.
Everyone looked over and realized that someone had forcibly tried to refine a high-level elixir, causing an explosion in their elixir furnace.
Since there was a barrier set up around the area, the explosion didn’t harm others, but the sound traveled far, and many alchemists turned to look, while most were still focusing on refining their own elixirs.
Alchemy required an undisturbed environment, so those who could refine good elixirs in such an environment were truly skilled.
Qin Changqing leisurely drank tea, listening for the ‘bang’ of explosions below, as if someone was setting off firecrackers, and it seemed somewhat rhythmic.
When an hour had passed, elixir fragrances gradually began to waft out.
Alchemy was a very energy-consuming and time-consuming task, so merely having alchemy techniques and skills was far from enough. It also required a strong divine consciousness and abundant spiritual Qi support. Combined with various factors, this made alchemists so valuable.
Another hour passed, and people on the square began to achieve success in various stages of elixir refining.
Of course, there were failures too.
Three chances; in the end, everyone wanted to try for better results. Even Lin Dong and Nangong Ze had failed once, and they didn’t dare to try again for the second time because if they failed again, their state of mind would be affected during the third time, and the quality of their elixirs would be greatly reduced.
“Miss Li is indeed very stable.”
“She hasn’t failed once, and the quality of the elixirs she refined isn’t low.”
“She’s still refining; the amount of spirit herbs she has thrown in is almost at the level of a Fourth Grade elixir, right?” “It seems that the victory must belong to her.”
People discussed.
On the square, Lin Dong took a glance at Li Ruoyu, with a hint of unwillingness in his expression, but ultimately gave up the idea of competing with her. Nangong Ze beside him did the same, and the two seemed to have a tacit understanding with each other when they looked at each other.
“Hmph!” Nangong Ze snorted coldly, “Lingxiao Sect, don’t think you are so great just because you’ve occupied Yinxu Prefecture. You won’t be proud for long!”
“I’ll give you these words back.” Lin Dong didn’t back down, “I hope you still have the confidence when you lose.”
As they spoke, Lin Dong formed hand seals, and the elixir mark condensed. In an instant, his elixir furnace rumbled, and the light pierced through it to reveal three different colors of mist—red, green, and yellow—causing the surrounding people to exclaim in surprise.
“Three-striped Green Spirit Elixir?!”
“This elixir is also considered extremely difficult to refine among the Third
Order top-grade elixirs.”
“No wonder he is a genius of Dan Peak.”
“Look! Nangong Ze’s is not bad either!”
Next to Lin Dong, Nangong Ze was also in the final step of forming his elixir.
“The movements are quite big.” Qin Changqing stroked his chin, “On one side is the Three-striped Green Spirit Elixir, and on the other is the Azure Flame Crimson Cloud Elixir. There’s no distinction in terms of grade, it’s just a matter of who refines it better.’
Zhuge Wanqing asked in astonishment, “You can actually recognize them?”
It was alright for the Three-striped Green Spirit Elixir, but the Azure Flame Crimson Cloud Elixir was rarely seen and usually unrecognizable by most people.
Didn’t the judges nearby stretch their necks discussing it?
Qin Changqing chuckled, “Actually, I also know a thing or two about alchemy.”Zhuge Wanqing nodded, not saying much. She assumed it was the mysterious alchemist from the Qin family that taught Qin Changqing.
Rumble Rumble Rumble–
At this time, Li Ruoyu’s side finally showed some movement.
Her elixir furnace was shaking intensely.
Scorching purple flames spewed out from inside, so dazzling that people dared not look directly at it.
“It’s going to explode! It’s going to explode!” A group of alchemists outside the competition area stared wide-eyed, seemingly somewhat gleeful in their anticipation of the disaster.
It was a well-known fact that watching an alchemist’s furnace explode was one of the greatest pleasures in life.
Unfortunately, Li Ruoyu did not let them have their way. After the furnace shook continuously for nearly an incense stick’s duration, it finally stabilized.
Li Ruoyu’s gaze turned stern as she made the final hand seal to form the elixir.
“Settle!
Mist surged out from the elixir furnace, covering the ground and making the scene look like a fairyland.
“What kind of elixir!?”
Everyone looked over simultaneously.
Zhuge Wanqing’s expression froze: “It’s actually a Purple Soul Heart
Nourishing Elixir?”
Purple Soul Heart Nourishing Elixir, also known as the Small
Disaster-Alleviating Golden Elixir, possessed the ability to enhance the quality of a Golden Elixir.
This kind of elixir was priceless and hard to find. Numerous cultivators sought it but could never obtain it.
Unexpectedly, her junior sister could actually refine it.
“It seems that junior sister is only half a step away from becoming a fourth-grade alchemist.” Zhuge Wanqing thought to herself.
The difficulty of refining a Purple Soul Heart Nourishing Elixir was infinitely close to a fourth-grade elixir. Li Ruoyu was just one opportunity away from becoming a fourth-grade alchemist, she guessed. And Li Ruoyu was several years younger than her.
This talent was in no way inferior to hers.
“The winner seems to be a foregone conclusion.” Qin Changqing laughed, “Miss Li can refine the Purple Soul Heart Nourishing Elixir and naturally deserves to be the first place in this convention. As for the rest…”
His gaze landed on Lin Dong and Nangong Ze.
“Lin Dong’s Three-striped Green Spirit Elixir is better, so he is second, and
Nangong Ze is third.”
“On what grounds!” Nangong Ze snapped angrily, “My elixir’s quality is the same as his. Why am I third?”
“The same quality? My junior brother Lin Dong’s elixir has a trace of Elixir Melody, what about yours?”
Everyone was stunned.
Only then did they notice that the Three-striped Green Spirit Elixir in Lin Dong’s hand actually had a trace of Elixir Melody.
The so-called Elixir Melody was a symbol of top-grade elixirs.
Nangong Ze’s expression stiffened, and he lowered his hands helplessly.
“Master Qin is correct, the quality of Lin Dao’s elixir is indeed slightly higher.” Zhuge Wanqing nodded gently.
Soon, the judges inspected all the elixirs and announced the final rankings.
Li Ruoyu was first among the top ten, Lin Dong and Nangong Ze were second and third respectively. Of the remaining seven people, only one was from Danqing Pavilion, while Lingxiao Sect and Dayan Dynasty each had two representatives, and the remaining two spots were taken by independent alchemists.
Seeing this, Qin Changqing couldn’t help but sigh at how well Danqing Pavilion had played their hand, not offending either side while getting free publicity.
“Master Qin, what do you think?” As soon as the rankings were announced, Li Ruoyu walked over, her eyes fixed on Qin Changqing.
Her actions immediately attracted everyone’s attention.
“Miss Li seems to be particularly interested in Master Qin.”
“Could it be that Miss Li likes that kind of type?”
“Hmph! What’s so good about Qin Changqing? Besides being a bit handsome, having better talent, and having a stronger background, what is better about him compared to me?”
Qin Changqing was also a bit baffled, wondering why this woman had such strong hostility. After all, it was her who didn’t show up and left yesterday..
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺