The materials for the first-tier Foundation Establishment Pill had been prepared and laid out on the table, with two sets for each participant.
Even the most skilled alchemists couldn't guarantee success in every batch, especially when using a specially designed pill furnace.
This furnace required no true qi activation; simply load it with spirit stones and it would operate automatically.
However, it placed tremendous pressure on cultivators to control the fire precisely. Whether one possessed spiritual sense or not would prove crucial!
This was precisely why all Outer Sect disciples couldn't help but curse Elder Zhou as shameless!
It also explained why Qi Refining Realm disciples never bothered to learn alchemy in the first place!
Spiritual sense only awakens in the Qi Gathering Realm. Starting alchemy training early would be twice the effort for half the results. Better to focus cultivation and break through realms sooner, wouldn't you agree?
"If you concede now, you won't suffer too much embarrassment!" Zhou Shi sneered.
How dare anyone challenge his grandfather in alchemy? Pure arrogance!
"Who's the one who'll be embarrassed remains to be seen!" Qin Yang chuckled.
"Should I prepare extra sets of materials? As I said, succeed once and you win." Elder Zhou remained calm, this alchemy competition holding no suspense for him.
"No need. If you're ready, let's begin." Qin Yang urged.
Everyone froze.
"He's actually waiting for Elder Zhou to prepare?"
"He remains so calm even now. Could he truly be a pill refiner?"
"If he's genuinely skilled, even failing to enter the top three in the Outer Sect Competition wouldn't matter—he'd still qualify for the Inner Sect!"
Elder Zhou roared, "What preparation do I need? Let's begin!"
He placed a spirit stone on the specially designed pill furnace, activating the formation. The flames within the furnace slowly rose.
As Elder Zhou worked, he kept an eye on Qin Yang. Watching his movements, the elder's heart suddenly sank.
Qin Yang had also activated his pill furnace, his motions showing no trace of unfamiliarity!
"We Outer Sect disciples rarely get to use special pill furnaces. How is Qin Yang so proficient?"
"His movements are so natural, just like Elder Zhou's!"
"Could he already be as skilled as Elder Zhou?"
Faced with the crowd's speculation, Qin Yang felt secretly pleased. To his Replication System, this was child's play! He'd merely copied the motions—what's so remarkable about that? His true goal was... to refine the pills faster than Elder Zhou and produce higher-quality results!
After waiting quietly for the furnace to heat up, Elder Zhou began adding ingredients one by one.
Replication of Tier-1 Foundation Establishment Pill formula completed. Automatically upgraded to perfect formula.
Ding! Copying tier-1 Foundation Establishment Pill refinement method. Automatically elevated to peak mastery.
Two consecutive notifications caught Qin Yang completely off guard, followed by overwhelming delight!
The Unrivaled Replication System had enhanced his refinement technique proficiency, which Qin Yang had anticipated. But could it actually optimize the formula too?
The only drawback was that copying formulas and methods wouldn't advance his cultivation realm. To progress, he'd need to replicate cultivation techniques and martial arts.
Qin Yang sprang into action, feeding ingredients into the pill furnace. The system's replication process occurred so swiftly that it seemed to happen in the blink of an eye.
Thus, the scene resembled a mirror's reflection - Qin Yang and Elder Zhou moved in perfect synchrony, their actions mirroring each other flawlessly.
"Heavens! He's actually refining pills!"
"Looks like he's as skilled as Elder Zhou!"
The Outer Sect disciples erupted in excitement, their faces alight with astonishment and hope. If Qin Yang won, it would be an epic triumph for the Outer Sect!
Zhou Shi and his group were utterly shaken. Was Qin Yang some kind of demonic prodigy?
Li Niu snorted, thinking to himself: "I told you this brat was extraordinary. Zhou Shi picked the wrong chicken to kill as a warning. Let's see how he gets out of this... wait, no - I'm supposed to be on Zhou Shi's side..."
Compared to the onlookers, Elder Zhou's inner turmoil was even more violent.
It was like a tidal wave crashing through his mind!
Moments ago, Elder Zhou had feared Qin Yang might attempt to learn by imitation. He deliberately introduced a slight error in the ingredient quantities—still manageable for himself but certain to doom any imitator.
Yet! Qin Yang's measurements were flawless, not a trace of error!
More astonishingly, his movements flowed with cloud-like grace, even anticipating some steps before Elder Zhou himself! How could this be?!
Elder Zhou's hands trembled uncontrollably. Only when he saw the precise quantities of the final medicinal herbs did his tension ease, though his heart still pounded with relief.
"Hmph! I thought you possessed true skill in pill refining. Turns out you're just a blind guesser! Those critical herbs require exacting precision. I've crafted countless Foundation Establishment Pills—Qin Yang's measurements guarantee failure!"
Having disrupted his earlier scheme, Elder Zhou now focused solely on completing his own concoction. The Pill Dispensary fell silent as all eyes remained fixed on the alchemical process.
Time stretched into eternity...
Suddenly, a triumphant shout erupted: "Success! It worked!"
The Pill Dispensary erupted in celebration.
Elder Zhou jumped in alarm, his voice sharp with irritation. "Pill formation is inevitable. Why this unnecessary commotion? You're disturbing my refinement..."
Before he could finish speaking, Elder Zhou realized the truth - the "success" others were referring to wasn't about him, but... Qin Yang!
Qin Yang had achieved success first. Within his pill furnace lay a luminous, milky-white pill!
The medicinal aroma permeated the air. This pill's quality was so perfect, none present had ever seen a Foundation Establishment Pill of such caliber!
Elder Zhou's body trembled involuntarily. In his momentary distraction, he had made an error in the final step of his refinement process. A burnt smell now wafted from his pill furnace.
His eyes fixed on Qin Yang's furnace, Elder Zhou repeated in disbelief, "Premium-grade... premium-grade..."
The Pill Dispensary erupted in commotion!
Pill quality was divided into seven ranks, each further categorized into low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, and premium-grade.
While skilled alchemists could produce mid-grade pills, only top-tier alchemists could create high-grade ones. Premium-grade pills were truly rare - attainable by chance, but never guaranteed!
This required not just technique, but also the perfect formula!
"Holy shit! Qin Yang never disappoints! I knew he'd pull it off!"
"Bullshit! When did you ever have faith in him? You were the one burning incense earlier!"
"Qin Yang! You're the best!"
"Qi Refining Realm perfectionist, first-rank pill creator, and now he's defeated a Qi Sea Realm elder! This will go down in sect history!"
"In a month, Qin Yang will win too! We believe in you!"
Qin Yang gazed at the top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill with satisfaction, his tongue clicking against his teeth. What a waste, he thought. This pill could strengthen one's physique and aid cultivation. But I don't need it at all...
Noticing the burning smell coming from the neighboring pill furnace, Qin Yang waved his hand before his nose in confusion. "Did Elder Zhou fail in his dan refining? How strange. Is it really that difficult?"
"Is it difficult? My heavens, is Qin Yang truly some kind of demon?"
"A top-grade quality pill? Even the sect's most skilled alchemists couldn't produce this!"
Elder Zhou's heart burned with fury. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, his body swaying unsteadily.
"Grandfather!" Zhou Shi's face paled as he rushed to support the elder.
Qin Yang clicked his tongue. "Don't forget our agreement," he said slowly. "You promised to work without rest or food to refine pills for the disciples. What a pity your dan refining skills are so lacking..."
These words proved too much for Elder Zhou. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed into unconsciousness.
The Outer Sect disciples' gazes burned with fervor as they witnessed this miracle!
In contrast, while the others still needed to prepare for the Outer Sect Competition in a month, Qin Yang's promotion to the Inner Sect was already a foregone conclusion!
Qin Yang's gaze swept across the crowd, pausing on Li Xiaoqian - whose mouth hung open in shock at the sight.
"Debts must be settled one by one. Now, it's your turn!"