The entire pill furnace exploded, shattering into several pieces.
Zhang Ergou seemed unaffected, his movements unwavering.
He was wrapping something in spirit fire.
"A bold move, using fire as a furnace," the old man mused softly, closing his eyes once more, returning to his detached state.
On the square, others already felt pity for Zhang Ergou; he was so close to the end.
If only the pill furnace had lasted a little longer, perhaps Zhang Ergou could have succeeded.
But…
"Alas…"
Sighs echoed across the square. Even the youths who had not favored Zhang Ergou now held him in deep respect.
Even spitting blood, he had not given up.
Yet, in the end, he failed due to the pill furnace. Everyone felt more regret than Zhang Ergou himself.
However, at this moment, Zhang Ergou did not halt his actions because of the furnace's explosion.
If one looked closely, they would see a faint white flame enveloping something between his hands.
And that flame, enveloping the object, had formed the shape of a pill furnace.
Just as the elder had mused, Zhang Ergou had not completely failed when the furnace shattered. Instead, he had discovered a new method.
Perhaps because his spiritual consciousness was so depleted, the amount of flame he controlled was minimal, making it almost transparent.
It would be hard to notice without careful observation.
Gradually, the crowd noticed Zhang Ergou continuing his alchemical motions, and they were naturally confused.
"Brother Dan, it seems the blow to that kid is greater than usual. He hasn't accepted his failure yet after all this time."
"Huh? What did you say?"
Dan Feng looked up at the Sword Peak Master. Zhang Ergou's failure had even somewhat dampened his spirits.
Since the moment the pill furnace shattered, Dan Feng hadn't paid close attention to Zhang Ergou.
Suddenly alerted by the Sword Peak Master, he dazedly looked up.
Suddenly, Dan Feng's expression turned excited, his finger trembling as he pointed in Zhang Ergou's direction. He was so agitated that he stammered.
"Using… using fire… using fire as a furnace, hahaha, a genius, haha…"
His unrestrained laughter instantly broke the silence of the night.
Both the young disciples on the square and the peak masters and elders on the rostrum were bewildered by this sudden laughter.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and found that it came from the Dan Peak Master, their confusion deepening.
"Has the Dan Peak Master been stimulated by something?"
"I don't know."
Ignoring the startled glances of those around him, Dan Feng gazed ardently at Zhang Ergou. He liked this young man more and more.
He even had a ridiculous thought: even if the boy were possessed, he would want to take him as a disciple.
For someone with such a desperate spirit and heaven-defying comprehension, he could not think of any reason to give up.
The first to react was naturally the Sword Peak Master who had alerted Dan Feng. Seeing Dan Feng pointing at Zhang Ergou and laughing uncontrollably, he fixed his gaze in the direction Dan Feng was pointing.
Upon seeing it, Jian Ying's expression shook violently.
The almost transparent white flame enveloped several round objects, which tumbled within the flame.
If Jian Ying still didn't understand why Dan Feng was suddenly ecstatic at this moment, then his cultivation at the half-step Mahayana realm would truly be in vain.
Casting a complex glance at Dan Feng, Jian Ying felt a pang of jealousy. Why wasn't this kid a sword cultivator?
Such a good seedling, alas, what a pity!
Jian Ying felt helpless, but Dan Feng's smile grew wider. He had clearly seen the few pills that had already taken shape.
Zhang Ergou was merely performing the final tempering of the medicine.
In other words, Zhang Ergou had succeeded ninety-nine percent of the entire refining process.
How could Dan Feng not be excited?
This was the most outstanding result for the Dan Peak in many years of selecting new disciples.
A fifth-grade alchemist, not yet thirty years old.
Dan Feng even felt like shouting three times: "Who else?"
He had completely forgotten that Zhang Ergou was not yet a disciple of their Dan Peak.
"I'm exhausted, finally done."
With great effort, Zhang Ergou took out a jade bottle, placed the pills wrapped in flame into it, and then closed his eyes, completely losing consciousness.
"Quick, save him."
Dan Feng shouted loudly and was the first to flash to Zhang Ergou's side.
The moment he appeared, a pill materialized in his hand, which he promptly placed into Zhang Ergou's mouth.
…
It was three days later when Zhang Ergou awoke.
He had slept for three days and three nights before finally waking up. His complexion was still pale.
"Brother Ergou, you're finally awake?"
Zhang Ergou turned his head and surveyed his surroundings, finding himself in his former dwelling, and felt relieved.
He tilted his head and lay back on the bed.
His eyes stared blankly at the void for a long while before finally focusing.
In his sight appeared a face of exquisite beauty, yet he could not recall where he had seen this woman before.
"Brother Ergou, this is Senior Sister Qu Yao. She specifically requested to take care of you."
Li Zhan's tone carried a clear hint of teasing.
"Li Zhan, what time is it? How long have I slept?"
Zhang Ergou ignored Li Zhan's teasing, gave him a slight smile, and sat up to ask.
"You still have the nerve to ask? Are you trying to die, boy? You almost gave your life for alchemy. You slept for three days and three nights. What do you think the time is?"
"Then I must have missed the formation assessment?"
Li Zhan nodded, "With your current physical condition, you'd be cannon fodder even if you participated in the formation assessment. It's better to rest well."
"Prepare for the next assessment. Because of you, the sword and attack-type projects, which were originally assessed separately, have been merged for the final stage."
"Because of me? How is that possible?"
"Because you were too dazzling. The peak masters were all envious and jointly suggested to the Alliance Leader that the assessment for attack-type cultivators be held together."
"Reportedly, the Sword Peak Master had no objections to this."
It was not Li Zhan speaking, but Qu Yao, who was seated by his bed.
"But what does this have to do with me?"
Zhang Ergou was even more perplexed.
"In reality, this is just an excuse for the peak masters. They had this idea long ago. Bringing you up was merely to draw hatred towards you."
As she spoke, Qu Yao covered her mouth and chuckled.
Li Zhan also looked at Zhang Ergou with a hint of sympathy.
Being too outstanding not only made the younger disciples resentful but even the peak masters wanted to make Zhang Ergou suffer a bit through this method.
"What did I do to them? Why should I be the target of hatred?"
Zhang Ergou stood up abruptly in anger.
"Oh, who is this with such a fiery temper?"
A voice drifted in from outside the door.