After Ling Tian received the Ji Lian Pavilion token, he casually put it away.
Yuan Li noticed this and sneered inwardly: "What a humble child. If I had given the pavilion token to anyone else, they would have immediately flaunted it, but he quickly hid it away."
After Yuan Li thought this, he said to Ling Tian: "Alright, boy, go get the fire control technique and herbs from Xiao Yao while I fetch the cauldron and pill formula for you."
Ling Tian was delighted and bowed to Elder Yuan, saying: "In that case, I thank the Elder for his trouble."
Yuan Li didn't respond, merely nodding his head.
Ling Tian took this as his signal to leave, which is exactly what he did.
After Ling Tian left the room, he headed toward the hall with a proud smile: "Now that I've become an alchemist, at least in name, even if I return to the clan now, I will be greatly respected." Ling Tian thought this while recalling how alchemists were revered within the clan.
"But this isn't enough. What good is respect if I don't have the strength to back it up?
Even the arrogant alchemist would bow his head when addressing my father." Ling Tian thought, reminding himself not to be swept into a whirlpool of vanity and pride.
After a while, Ling Tian reached the hall, and unlike how he'd left it, the hall was now filled with people.
In the center of the crowd stood Xiao Yao with a smile before a young man wearing crimson robes, anticipation visible in his eyes brimming with enthusiasm.
Ling Tian approached slightly, then asked the person standing beside him: "Brother, could you tell me what's happening here?"
The person turned and looked at Ling Tian briefly before saying arrogantly: "This isn't a place you should be. It's better if you leave and make way for the alchemists to get a better view."
When Ling Tian heard this, his facial expression stiffened, but he quickly smiled as he took out the Ji Lian token, saying: "Brother, I'm also an alchemist."
When Ling Tian produced his token, the person's gaze shifted from arrogance to warmth, saying in a proud voice: "Brother, it's not my fault. Why are you wandering around without wearing the Ji Lian token on your chest? Don't you know this is what separates us from ordinary people?"
When Ling Tian heard his words, he nearly coughed up blood, but he smiled with difficulty and said: "Yes, it's indeed my fault, but the reason is that I only became an alchemist today, so I'm not yet accustomed to my new status."
When the person heard this, his smile widened and he said: "Welcome, little brother. My name is Dan Wen. If you have any questions, seek me out anytime."
Ling Tian said humbly: "Thank you, elder brother, but elder brother, you haven't answered what's happening here."
When Ling Tian said this, Dan Wen remembered why he was here. He turned to look at the center of the crowd and began explaining: "Well, it's an alchemy challenge to senior sister Xiao Yao from senior brother Li Yi, the second son of the City Lord."
When Dan Wen mentioned he was the second son of the City Lord, Ling Tian recalled Li Shang, that cold-natured young man, but he didn't mention it and said to Dan Wen: "So elder brother Dan, why is elder brother Li challenging senior sister Xiao?"
Dan Wen said calmly: "Well, senior brother Li fell in love with senior sister Xiao at first sight and immediately proposed marriage to her, but she said she would only marry someone who defeats her in alchemy, and so here we are."
Ling Tian was slightly surprised, but when he looked at Xiao Yao, he thought it made sense. After this, he didn't speak and directed his gaze to the center of the crowd.
After a while, Xiao Yao said in a voice carrying some mockery: "Alright, all the alchemists have gathered, though I don't know why you summon them every time. Do you want them to watch you fail each time?"
The look in Li Yi's eyes didn't change, and he answered with determination: "I summon them because I want to defeat you before all the alchemists so that no one can question the legitimacy of my victory when I win."
Xiao Yao said indifferently: "No one will question the legitimacy of your victory because you'll never win. Now, can we begin?"
"You choose which pill we'll compete in, so you won't have any excuse when I win," Li Yi said calmly.
Xiao Yao didn't refuse the offer and began thinking about what type of pill they should compete in. While she was thinking, she saw Ling Tian with the Ji Lian token on his chest, so she smiled and said playfully: "Since Ji Lian Pavilion has welcomed a new alchemist, why don't we compete in refining Qi Restoration Pills?"
Li Yi was surprised that Xiao Yao chose this pill because it negated her advantage. If she had chosen a more difficult pill... Since the Qi Restoration Pill was considered the first pill an alchemist learns at Ji Lian Pavilion, and at his and Xiao Yao's level, any mistake, however small, would be an important factor in victory.
After some thought, Li Yi said: "I hope you won't regret it when you lose."
"You can boast when you win. As for now, let's begin." After Xiao Yao said this, she brought out her alchemy furnace, and Li Yi did likewise.
Li Yi quickly took out the required herbs and began refining.
But unlike him, Xiao Yao turned to Ling Tian and said with a smile: "Little brother, consider this your gift for joining Ji Lian Pavilion, so focus on every word I say."
Ling Tian was shocked by her words and didn't understand what she meant, but he nodded silently.
Beside him, Dan Wen could only sigh: "Senior sister is doing it again."
Ling Tian asked curiously: "What do you mean?"
Dan Wen said admiringly: "Just wait and you'll understand."
Ling Tian said nothing and turned his gaze to the center of the crowd.
Finally, Xiao Yao ignited the fire and began taking out herbs while saying: "First, add the Silver Moon Grass with Mountain Herb, and finally the Five Lands Flower, then wait for six minutes."
After saying this, she closed the furnace and waited six minutes.
Afterward, she said while taking out another herb: "Next, add the Volcanic Flame Grass and Black Swan Water. Then quickly take out the Distant Ice Flower. After adding it, make sure to use the fire to burn its outer layer before it mixes with the Black Swan Water. Finally, after doing this, merge it with the Black Swan Water. Make sure the mixture becomes very viscous before merging it with the rest of the herbs, then wait for ten minutes."
After saying this, she closed the furnace and began waiting with a mocking smile on her face as she looked at Li Yi.
Ling Tian was shocked by her performance and thought for a moment that alchemy was easy, but when he saw Li Yi still hadn't closed his furnace despite starting before Xiao Yao, he knew things weren't as easy as Xiao Yao made them appear.
Finally, Li Yi closed his furnace and also began waiting, but his facial expression was ugly.
Ling Tian turned to Dan Wen and was shocked by the sight. His eyes were slightly glazed as he stared at Xiao Yao.
When Ling Tian saw him like this, he could only mock inwardly: "So, great alchemist, it seems you're not here for alchemy, but you wanted to drive people away to make way for alchemists. This is truly laughable."
But he didn't show this on his face and said: "Elder brother."
When Dan Wen heard Ling Tian's call, he recovered himself and said: "Ahem... ahem... yes, little brother, what is it?"
Ling Tian mocked inwardly but said calmly: "Elder brother Dan, you said senior sister is doing it again. Do you mean this isn't the first time she's explained alchemy during a challenge?"
Dan Wen said admiringly while looking at Xiao Yao: "Yes, this is perhaps the tenth time, and as is clear, every time senior brother Li lost. This doesn't mean senior brother Li is poor, but it only demonstrates how skilled senior sister Xiao is in alchemy."
"Ten times?"
Ling Tian muttered in shock and looked at the center of the crowd with admiring gazes, but not for Xiao Yao,rather for Li Yi, because if he put himself in Li Yi's place, he probably would have despaired long ago.
After ten minutes, Xiao Yao opened her furnace, and inside were three high-quality pills.
This shocked Ling Tian because first-level pills are classified by quality into four grades: low, medium, high, and peak quality.
Therefore, being able to produce three Qi Restoration Pills of high quality was truly impressive.
After that, Li Yi finally finished and opened his furnace, inside which were two high-quality pills.
When Li Yi saw the two pills, he sighed and said: "This is my loss once again."
Xiao Yao didn't gloat, merely taking her furnace and saying: "Not bad, you're improving. See you next time, brother Li."
Then she returned to sit as the pavilion's receptionist.
Li Yi said nothing, merely continued looking at her for some time, then stood up, carried his furnace, and left the pavilion.