"Out with the pill!"
As the medicinal fragrance intensified, it instantly permeated the entire Shengdan Liehui. Even though the puppet held two pills in its palm, it couldn't conceal their rich aroma.
Someone exclaimed excitedly, "I saw it, it's a Hundred-Grade Spirit Gathering Pill, and it seems like more than one!"
"This... it hasn't even been half an hour, has it? It's done? Or have they refined Hundred-Grade pills!"
The crowd was still stunned when the puppet walked towards Ming Zhi Tian, breaking their silence.
It handed the two Hundred-Grade Spirit Gathering Pills in its hand to Ming Zhi Tian, "Master, the task is complete."
Ming Zhi Tian hadn't expected that one of the thousands of puppets in his storage bag could refine pills. He was very pleased, "Not bad, you did very well."
Everyone present gasped in unison, "What? That person actually called this young man Master... Master?"
Ming Zhi Tian slowly walked up to Meng Qi and the five judges, handing over the two pills, "Here, take a look."
The group leaned in to examine them closely and concluded, "Two Hundred-Grade Spirit Gathering Pills with forty percent purity, and refined in the shortest time, less than half an hour. This is a method beyond human capability."
Meng Qi looked at the puppet, "May I ask who this alchemist is?"
Ming Zhi Tian said, "It doesn't matter who it is. What matters is that I have refined the pill for you. May I leave now?"
Although Meng Qi was displeased by Ming Zhi Tian's disdain, he had indeed refined two pills, and his skill was undeniable.
A hot-tempered judge retorted, "What do you think this place is? You can come and go as you please? Until the results are announced, you will wait on the side. As a participant in the triennial Shengdan Liehui, please respect others and yourself."
What logic? Ming Zhi Tian felt speechless. He had truly been tricked by Yin Qian Zhen. He didn't have a pill refining invitation, nor could he refine pills.
...
After the unanimous decision of the five judges, the top ten results of the Shengdan Liehui were determined.
The fourth and tenth places had just been announced. The remaining top three were the puppet, Wang Hao, and third place, Bai Shuyi Fang.
Wang Hao and Bai Shuyi Fang were immediately displeased and quickly stepped forward, "We are not convinced!"
The judge said, "What do you want? Are you questioning the judgment of us five judges?"
Bai Shuyi Fang was extremely unconvinced and spoke first, "Respected judges, whether it's the pills refined by Wang Hao or that peculiar person, I, Bai Shuyi Fang, am not convinced. The Hundred-Grade Bone Returning Pill I refined is the best. Why am I only third?"
The judge said, "Why? Let me tell you. Although your Hundred-Grade Bone Returning Pill has a strong medicinal aroma, it contains too many impurities, far inferior to Wang Hao's Hundred-Grade Spirit Gathering Pill with fifty percent purity. Do you have anything else to say?"
Bai Shuyi Fang was still unwilling and unconvinced, but her target shifted to the puppet, "Fine, I accept Wang Hao's pill, but I am not convinced about that person. He should be third!"
Before the judge could speak, Meng Qi interjected, "The outcome of the arbitration should not involve me, but since you are unconvinced, I, as the Vice President, will explain it to you clearly."
"Because someone's alchemy furnace produced two pills, while you only produced one. Are you satisfied with this answer?"
Bai Shuyi Fang, upon meeting Meng Qi's undeniable gaze, dared not act rashly. She verbally agreed, but remained unconvinced in her heart, "Satisfied."
Wang Hao said proudly, "I am not satisfied!"
Meng Qi looked at him, "Although you refined one Hundred-Grade Spirit Gathering Pill with fifty percent purity, they refined two. What do you have to say?"