The Alchemists' Association's alchemy seminar wasn't just an event where high-level alchemists came to debate and exchange knowledge—it also provided opportunities for unknown alchemists to showcase their work.
There were many alchemists who used to be nobodies, but after presenting their research and work here, they became famous and received great honors.
This made alchemists seeking fame and fortune display their work for people to view today, hoping it would catch the eye of famous masters or interest the public.
At a display booth not far from the entrance, one young man was feeling excited. He was extremely lucky—the lottery draw gave him this golden location near the event entrance.
The Alchemists' Association's area allocation for work displays was very fair. Aside from certain designated areas, remaining spaces for outsiders or shops to sell things were divided by lottery among everyone who registered together.
Naturally, the most desirable location was the entrance gate area—anyone entering the event had to pass through here.
This young man had traveled to display his research since yesterday. He stayed awake all night to prepare this booth attractively. He was studying "alchemy cauldrons that can reduce pill refinement time the most."
He created several prototype alchemy cauldrons. He insisted his cauldrons could reduce alchemy refinement time by more than one-third.
Don't think one-third was small. For certain elixirs that took many days or months to refine—or even the elixir Bai Fanxian recently refined with her own body, which took over ten thousand years to refine—
Reducing that time by over three thousand years was no small amount.
Moreover, if applied to industry, that meant much greater output in the same time period.
So beyond the research paper, his booth also had over ten medicinal cauldrons he created on display. Several were currently boiling elixirs until bubbling sounds came from the pots.
He even had tests set up. In the middle of his booth were seven different types of cauldrons for interested people to try and compare with his creations.
Since early morning, quite a few people were interested in his booth. Many tried testing with him and got satisfactory results to take back. Some business owners left business cards for him.
While looking for people entering the booth, two young women came and stopped in front. He was about to go out and greet them but froze because many gazes were staring his way.
Both young women had faces so beautiful they made you forget to breathe. They also had cold demeanors and released strange pressure that made people not dare approach. But as the owner of this work, the young man had to gather courage and walk over.
"Interested in medicinal cauldrons?" He smiled awkwardly while asking. One young woman was reading the presented information intently, while the other seemed not interested in the slightest.
"Is this your research?"
"Yes. If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me anytime..."
Once able to talk about his own work, the young man puffed his chest slightly with pride. Moreover, the other party was a beautiful woman—he wanted to make a good impression on her.
"...These cauldrons—"
The young man waited to hear words of praise from her. But upon hearing the next sentence, his blooming smile froze stiff.
"—are completely unusable..."
Here we go!
Huang Zihan, who was watching the situation, raised his hand to his forehead. Since seeing Grandmaster Bai's displeased face earlier, the old butler could already guess what would happen!
"Wh-what?"
The young man's mouth twitched. He asked back in disbelief.
"You think these cauldrons you created are excellent? The yang power in your cauldrons is so high they're about to explode—no wonder the elixirs finish quickly..."
"...But have you ever tested the efficacy of the refined elixirs? Their properties probably disappeared by almost one-third, right?"
Bai Fanxian spoke at length in a flat tone. Xie Suyao, seeing her Elder Sister speak such a long sentence for the first time, stared with mouth agape!
Uncle Huang sighed. Whatever would happen must be allowed to happen.
At least Grandmaster Bai wasn't putting in emotion like when typing replies in threads. The fierceness and aggression hadn't appeared yet. She remained the beautiful and sublime lady as always. It seemed the saying that online personas often differ from real ones was quite correct.
Even though the content was still full of displeasure and criticism as before!
"D-don't talk nonsense!" The young man frowned, scowling. His loud voice drew attention from all the people on the street to look over.
"Do you know that alchemy cauldrons are like another world?"
Bai Fanxian moved a finger. One of his pots floated over to her. This scene drew cheers from the surrounding people while confirming once again that Bai Fanxian was a real Grandmaster!
The young man, realizing who this young woman was, gulped loudly. His face went pale. Had he just been rude to a Grandmaster-level being!?
"A complete world must consist of equal amounts of yin and yang. Medicinal cauldrons are the same. The best alchemy cauldron in the world is one with perfect balance between yin and yang—half each."
Bai Fanxian waved her hand. The pot opened its lid. Surrounding people felt tremendous heat radiating from inside.
"The cauldrons you created have yang at nine parts. For Tier 1 and 2 elixirs, they can still barely force refinement. But for Tier 3 and above, no way."
Bai Fanxian tossed the pot back. It floated back to its original place before she concluded:
"Perhaps even high Tier 2 elixirs won't survive?"
When she finished speaking, she walked away with Xie Suyao, leaving confusion for the young man and crowd.
BOOM!
Suddenly, one medicinal pot he was refining for demonstration exploded! Ingredients that hadn't melted scattered out, startling people. The young man just realized—wasn't that pot the one he used to demonstrate refining high Tier 2 elixirs!?
Both the young man and crowd looked toward the direction Bai Fanxian walked away with fearful feelings in their hearts.
After that, the situation became like the same film reel playing repeatedly. Wherever Bai Fanxian entered a booth, screams would follow shortly after.
Sometimes it became the sound of materials shattering, bodies hitting the floor from booth owners fainting, or excited sounds as if someone had opened a new door for themselves.
"Your elixir formula is quite interesting... but aren't the ingredients a bit too rare?"
"Change the pickled ginseng extract to dragongrass leaves. The efficacy of this elixir bottle should increase about 3 times."
The booth owner ran to a shop next door. He bought a handful of ingredients and tested according to Bai Fanxian's instructions. The moment the results came out, he cried thanks with joy.
"It's true! Thank you, Grandmaster Bai!"
"Your time period theory is a bit wrong. Its variation doesn't depend on time, but on which corner of the world you're in."
"Height, elevation, and environment all affect things. So it's not time theory, but spatial theory instead."
"Thank you for enlightening me, Grandmaster Bai!"
"Your ingredients aren't fully grown at all. The problem isn't the fertilizer—the water you're using is too acidic. Change the water source or planting location would be better."
Bai Fanxian could use words fitting the era from studying many books. The shop owner listening quickly grabbed a notebook to write earnestly.
It was a problem that had troubled him for a long time.
"Your elixir is unusable..."
"Your equipment should be changed..."
"Your ingredients here are mistaken..."
"This theory is incorrect..."
These sentences became what the crowd would hear immediately whenever Bai Fanxian entered any booth. Though at first those booth owners acted indignant and displeased, after hearing the young woman's words to the end, they found...
It hit the nail on the head!
And could solve their lingering problems in one go too!
The crowd began wondering about this young woman's background. Some alchemists paid no attention to news in the cultivation world at all—they only cared about the science of alchemy. But word of mouth made them learn that this young woman was a Grandmaster-level cultivator!
One of the supreme beings!
That made them treat her with respect. Rumors about the young Grandmaster walking in and out demolishing display booths spread throughout the entire event until everyone paid attention.
They wanted to see her in person once. The street area in front of the event became crowded and packed with people, leaving newcomers not understanding at all what was happening.
Was this year's event a bit too lively?
"Grandmaster Bai is truly amazing!"
"That's the 34th booth she's entered..."
"Looking at this level of knowledge, could Grandmaster Bai also be an alchemist?"
"Very possible! But there's no record of her name in the Alchemists' Association."
"Right, I couldn't find any either. But her ability seems to exceed even Tier 3 alchemist masters..."
"Are you crazy? You're saying she's a Tier 4 alchemist?"
"In this era, besides Grandmaster Lu Qing, no one has reached that level..."
"True, but don't forget she's also a Grandmaster! Her Grandmaster cultivation level is enough to comfortably refine Tier 4 elixirs!"
Rumors about Bai Fanxian and the possibility she was a Tier 4 alchemist became a hot topic everyone discussed. Even the Alchemists' Association itself was very interested in this matter. They sent people to invite Bai Fanxian to talk privately.
But beyond those who admired her, there was another group who were displeased.
They were those who called themselves "Empress's Fans."
Or rather—alchemists who greatly admired and worshipped Alchemy Empress!
Though at first they debated the possibility that Bai Fanxian was Alchemy Empress, it was quickly dismissed. Because when Alchemy Empress answered questions, she was filled with ferocity and arrogance many times more than Bai Fanxian!
Especially when she scolded them as "Fools!" or "Idiots!"—those who got berated instead felt some happiness overflowing from their bodies!
Though Bai Fanxian had some similarities, their Empress was far more savage than her!
From observation, Bai Fanxian never let such words slip out. What she showed was only displeasure and a calm tone that looked sublime!
And she was stealing their Empress's spotlight. Walking around demolishing booths like demolishing threads—shouldn't their Alchemy Empress be the one doing this?
They were displeased.
Very displeased!