It is well known that alchemists, formation masters, and talisman masters are exceedingly rare in the cultivation world.
This is primarily because refining pills, setting up formations, or crafting talismans all demand extremely high spiritual consciousness from the cultivator. Furthermore, alchemy, formation cultivation, and the path of talismans require a substantial investment of time.
This inevitably leads to many alchemists, formation masters, and talisman masters having lower actual cultivation bases than cultivators of the same tier.
Moreover, they rarely engage in direct, hard-fought battles like Zhang Ergou.
Therefore, when Zhang Ergou appeared on the alchemist competition stage, shock rippled through the crowd, save for the few who were already aware of the situation.
One must consider that even as a mere cultivator, Zhang Ergou's strength already surpassed many of his peers.
And he was also an alchemist. The young cultivators who had been defeated by him now wished they could sink through the floor.
In the cultivation world, who wouldn't know that both alchemy and cultivation consume vast amounts of time?
For someone like Zhang Ergou, whose spear techniques were executed with divine skill and whose cultivation was unfathomable, it was evident that he had never slacked off in his cultivation.
Now, Zhang Ergou sat calmly on the alchemist competition stage.
Either he possessed great confidence in his alchemy skills, or he was an imposter trying to bluff his way through.
However, judging by Zhang Ergou's past conduct, he would never undertake something without a degree of certainty.
Moreover, the Wei Dao Alliance had stringent requirements for registration in various disciplines; those who were not alchemists were strictly forbidden from participating in the corresponding selection matches.
This implied that Zhang Ergou had at least achieved some success in alchemy.
Even though they weren't paying attention to them, the young disciples who had previously been defeated by Zhang Ergou felt a burning sensation on their cheeks.
The competition soon commenced.
Unlike other competitions, alchemist trials had extremely high demands on the surrounding environment.
Before the competition began, one of the peak masters waved his hand, enveloping the dozens of disciples participating in the alchemist selection, who were gathered in the center of the square.
This ensured that the noise from the outside world would not affect their performance.
The Wei Dao Alliance's selections were naturally held to high standards; even for alchemists, they adhered to the principle of "better few than bad."
Therefore, in the first round of selection, participants were required to refine a Grade Two Spirit Replenishing Pill.
The time limit was one hour, and each person was provided with three sets of materials. If all three sets were exhausted without successfully refining a qualified pill, they would naturally be eliminated.
Of course, failing to refine a Grade Two pill within the hour would also disqualify them from advancing to the next round.
As a bell chimed, flames erupted across the square.
The young alchemists participating in the selection focused their expressions and began their refining.
Soon, someone tossed the first set of materials before them into the alchemy furnace, beginning the purification of the medicinal ingredients.
Seeing that this person encountered no issues, the others also began to purify their medicinal ingredients with peace of mind.
However, what went unnoticed was that about a dozen individuals remained motionless for a long time.
It seemed they were waiting for something.
Zhang Ergou was even more direct. Not only did he refrain from taking out his alchemy furnace, but he also picked up the three sets of medicinal ingredients to examine them.
"Truly insidious."
Soon, Zhang Ergou discovered something amiss.
The types of medicinal ingredients had neither increased nor decreased. However, Zhang Ergou, who had refined countless batches of Spirit Replenishing Pills, had a clear understanding of the weight of each ingredient.
Upon discovering that the quantity of one particular ingredient was double that required for refining a Spirit Replenishing Pill, Zhang Ergou instantly sensed the malevolent intent behind it.
Indeed, shortly after Zhang Ergou discovered the anomaly.
The sound of "puff, puff, puff..." echoed across the square. Following a series of furnace explosions, the faces of numerous youths were scorched and blackened like those of a calico cat.
What confused them even more was that they had followed the order of purification and fusion for refining Spirit Replenishing Pills.
How could such a situation arise?
The dozen youths who had not yet acted wore expressions of "as expected."
Without exception, all thirty-odd individuals who had started refining had their furnaces explode.
"Dan Feng, can't you put away your insidious tricks, you brat?"
From their seats, one peak master yelled at a middle-aged man clad in alchemist robes.
"I'm doing this for their own good. One should not harbor ill intentions, but one must guard against them."
"These young ones are too naive, trusting that the medicinal ingredients before them were problem-free. This serves as the first lesson I'm giving them."
"Hmph, you always have the most crooked logic."
The others beside him were accustomed to Dan Feng's ways, but every time they saw younglings like these embarrassed by Dan Feng's tricks,
they couldn't help but offer sarcastic remarks, showing him no deference despite his being an eighth-grade alchemist.
As the group argued heatedly, Zhang Ergou, after inspecting the medicinal ingredients, took out half of one particular herb.
He retrieved his alchemy furnace from his storage ring and began the refining process.
Zhang Ergou had refined Spirit Replenishing Pills tens of thousands of times, his refining technique having even formed muscle memory.
Without any hesitation, after summoning his spiritual fire, Zhang Ergou systematically tossed the medicinal herbs into the alchemy furnace.
The entire sequence of actions flowed seamlessly, without any pauses.
The first to notice Zhang Ergou's movements was the Peak Master Dan Feng. He gestured for his companions to quiet down and then focused intently on observing Zhang Ergou's refining process.
"Good lad, isn't this the same young fellow Elder Liu wanted to take as a direct disciple a few days ago? It seems Elder Liu will be in vain again this time."
Although he expressed pity for Peak Master Liu, his schadenfreude was evident.
"Haha, now it depends on who shows more sincerity, old Dan or old Liu. Judging by that lad's techniques, he's no novice in alchemy either."
"This disciple's alchemical techniques are not only proficient, but his control over the medicinal properties of the ingredients and the heat is also extremely precise."
Dan Feng nodded to himself as he watched Zhang Ergou, stroking his non-existent beard, and said softly.
"Hiss!"
The surrounding peak masters and elders looked at him with peculiar expressions. They rarely heard Dan Feng praise anyone.
Even renowned sixth-grade alchemists who had made a name for themselves on the Yin Province Continent had never received Dan Feng's approval.
Now, hearing such unreserved praise for a young man from Dan Feng's lips, everyone found it peculiar.
Not long after, Zhang Ergou formed hand seals and pointed towards the alchemy furnace.
A rich medicinal aroma slowly wafted out.
He calmly and steadily controlled the flames, and under his guidance, the alchemy furnace slowly rose into the air.
"The pills are about to be formed..."
Dan Feng stood up directly from his seat.