Above the plaza were thousands of stone platforms, enough to accommodate all participants.
However, the positions of these stone platforms were not all the same; some were in the spotlight, while others were in corners, with completely different exposure.
Many people wanted to get the highest-positioned stone platform to showcase themselves in front of countless people.
The result was that everyone wanted it, almost leading to a fight.
Fortunately, order was finally restored, and everyone found a place.
After all, at such a crucial moment, if they were to fight due to a momentary impulse, they might be disqualified from the competition, which would be a huge loss.
Xiao Li and the others also casually found a spot and did not deliberately pursue a position in the spotlight.
However, Xiao Li, Cao Ying, Dan Chen, and Xiao Yan were already among the most anticipated individuals in this Pill Gathering.
No matter where they were, countless eyes would be watching them.
"Dong!"
A loud bell echoed across the plaza.
"Time is up, everyone, please raise your cauldrons!"
Xuan Kongzi shouted loudly.
The next moment, everyone simultaneously took out their medicine cauldrons from their storage rings and placed them on the stone platforms.
The dull 'thudding' sounds formed a unique wave of noise.
Thousands of people raising their cauldrons at the same time—such a scene could only be witnessed at a Pill Gathering.
A once-in-thirty-year event!
Raising the cauldron naturally meant igniting the flame.
Clusters of flames rose within the medicine cauldrons.
A portion of the Alchemists' flames were ordinary flames.
But a considerable portion of the Alchemists' flames were colorful Beast Flames.
An Alchemist's flames are divided into three types: Heavenly Flame, Beast Flame, and ordinary flame.
Heavenly Flames are rare and hard to find, while Beast Flames are generally common.
Everyone who could make it to the third round had some skill.
Beast Flames were also not uncommon.
When the colorful flames appeared in the plaza, the surrounding temperature suddenly rose significantly.
Cao Ying and Dan Chen also conjured their respective Beast Flames, and their flames were clearly much stronger than other Beast Flames.
Xiao Li was not in a hurry to summon his flame.
Because he hadn't yet decided what kind of pill he wanted to refine.
"To win the championship, it must at least be an eighth-grade pill, and an eighth-grade pill that can cause five or six colors of pill lightning."
"There aren't many pills of this level... Then I'll refine a Dou Zun Pill."
He quickly found a suitable pill in the pill formula collection.
The Dou Zun Pill, a high-grade eighth-rank pill, allows a peak Dou Zong to break through to Dou Zun with 100% certainty after consumption.
After consuming it in the Dou Zun realm, it can increase one's cultivation by 1 to 2 stars with 100% certainty.
There were all kinds of pills with various effects, a dazzling array.
But when it came to truly convincing pills, those that could directly enhance cultivation always held the most sway.
After all, pills themselves are also a resource that aids cultivation.
Whether it's cultivating combat skills or consuming pills, the ultimate goal is to enhance one's own strength.
Therefore, pills that can directly enhance cultivation have the highest value.
After determining the pill he wanted to refine, Xiao Li prepared to summon his flame.
At this moment, the crowd suddenly let out an exclamation—only to see Xiao Yan summon a blood-red flame.
As this flame appeared, it immediately caused all the surrounding flames to uncontrollably shift towards it, even showing subtle signs of submission.
Ranked twenty-second on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, Myriad Beast Spirit Flame!
And this phenomenon can be summarized in one phrase—when the Heavenly Flame appears, all other flames submit!
"A Heavenly Flame, it's actually a Heavenly Flame!"
"My heavens, I never thought I'd witness a Heavenly Flame with my own eyes in my lifetime."
"Too strong!"
Many people had heard of Heavenly Flames, but they might never see one in their entire lives.
Now that Xiao Yan had summoned a Heavenly Flame on the stage, it could be considered a fulfilled wish for them.
"Little Yanzi, this guy, doesn't know how to be a bit more reserved." Xiao Li smiled helplessly, then also summoned a Green Lotus Heart Flame from his palm and put it into his medicine cauldron.
As the Green Lotus Heart Flame appeared, the flames on the field changed again.
Those flames that had originally submitted to the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame now submitted to the Green Lotus Heart Flame.
Of course, the flames of the Alchemists closer to Xiao Yan were still more affected by the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame.
"Another Heavenly Flame?!"
"Two Heavenly Flames, appearing at the same time!"
"This scene is a once-in-a-century occurrence, it's worth it!"
"This year's Pill Gathering is truly spectacular."
The crowd erupted in cheers.
"These two people, I remember they seemed to be brothers, right?"
"Yes, they are brothers, one is called Xiao Yan, and the other is called Xiao Li."
"They are brothers, both possess Heavenly Flames, and both stand on the stage of the Pill Gathering... What kind of family is this, to be able to cultivate two such individuals at the same time?"
Many people marveled at the identities of Xiao Li and Xiao Yan.
In their opinion, only those truly hidden, super great powers could cultivate two such geniuses simultaneously.
The brothers Xiao Yan and Xiao Li looked at each other across the distance, nodded, and officially began refining pills.
Pill refining officially begins!
Everyone proceeded methodically, following their own pace.
The first step was to refine the medicinal ingredients.
Fortunately, Xiao Li had prepared enough medicinal ingredients to easily gather all the ingredients needed to refine the Dou Zun Pill.
Then, he used his powerful soul force to simultaneously envelop several medicinal ingredients for refining... Pill refining is a very lengthy process, especially for refining high-grade pills, which takes even longer.
Just refining the medicinal ingredients would take several days.
After refining the medicinal ingredients, they began to condense the embryonic form of the pill.
During this process, people continuously failed in pill refining, leading to explosions of their cauldrons.
Those who experienced cauldron explosions were basically those who attempted to refine pills with a low success rate, but decided to take a gamble and give it a try.
If they were lucky, success would be a gain.
If they were unlucky, the only outcome was a cauldron explosion.
Xuan Kongzi and the others watched everyone's progress, nodding slightly.
"Xiao Li, Xiao Yan, Cao Ying, Dan Chen, and Song Qing are all progressing quickly, with brothers Xiao Li and Xiao Yan moving even faster."
These were the most capable individuals among the younger generation, and the Pill Tower naturally paid close attention to them.
"Isn't that old fellow Old Monster Qing Hua? I didn't expect him to come too." Xuan Yi said, seeing an old man in green robes.
"Old Monster Qing Hua's long-cherished wish is to obtain a Heavenly Flame. He failed to compete with Yao Chen for the Bone Chilling Flame back then, and now that there's an opportunity to subdue the Three Thousand Yan Flame, he naturally won't miss it." Xuan Kongzi said.
"Besides Old Monster Qing Hua, there's another person whose progress seems very fast." Tian Leizi pointed in a direction.
Xuan Kongzi and Xuan Yi both looked over and saw an old man in black robes with an unfamiliar face.
"This person's face is very unfamiliar, but his progress is not at all slower than the others." Xuan Yi was somewhat surprised.
Although this Pill Gathering attracted many older generation Alchemist masters due to the reward involving the Three Thousand Yan Flame.
However, Xuan Kongzi and the others basically knew all the older generation Alchemist masters.
But they didn't recognize this old man in front of them.
"We haven't seen this person before, pay more attention to him."
"Hmm."
...