Thousands of Alchemists refined pills simultaneously, and a rich medicinal fragrance permeated the entire square, refreshing and invigorating.
Many high-grade medicinal ingredients, even without being refined into pills, could make one feel refreshed just by smelling them, smoothing out the meridians within the body.
Currently, the most watched individuals on the stage were naturally the young generation's elites, such as Xiao Li, Xiao Yan, and Cao Ying.
There were also some older generation Alchemist Grandmasters like Old Monster Qing Hua.
Although it might seem a bit undignified for the older generation to compete on the same stage as the younger generation,
the Pill Gathering was the most prestigious competition in the entire Alchemist world, recognizing only alchemy skills, regardless of age or status.
And alchemy skills were not related to age.
The limit of one's talent was fixed; it wouldn't break through just because one got older.
However, Alchemists with good talent could achieve what others couldn't in a very short time.
Therefore, even the older generation Alchemist Grandmasters might not be able to suppress the younger generation's geniuses.
As time passed, four days went by in a blink of an eye.
During this period, a considerable number of people had completed the stage of refining medicinal ingredients and officially began condensing pills.
Some had even finished refining pills—of course, most of these were fifth- and sixth-grade Alchemists.
Only these intermediate-grade pills could be successfully refined in such a short time.
Pills of this grade, placed elsewhere, could actually be considered quite good.
But at the Pill Gathering, which gathered the most outstanding Alchemists from across the continent, fifth- and sixth-grade pills were merely entry-level; they were far from enough to achieve good results.
During this time, many also failed in their alchemy, resulting in exploding cauldrons.
Those whose cauldrons exploded were not discouraged, because there was still enough time; they could completely start over, as long as their mindset remained unaffected.
Just like that, three more days passed.
At this point, one-third of the final round of the competition had passed.
And everyone on the field had entered the final steps of their pill refinement.
If they failed at this moment, there would be no time left at all.
"Boom!"
After countless people patiently waited for ten days,
finally, a thunderous roar appeared in the sky, and a thundercloud rapidly condensed.
"This is a Pill Lightning, a seventh-grade pill has been born!"
Pill Lightning, this was an unusual phenomenon that only seventh-grade pills would cause.
Countless gazes looked at the man on the stone platform who caused the commotion.
A seventh-grade pill, even at the Pill Gathering, was considered among the top tier.
Regardless of whether it could contend for the championship, at the very least, refining a seventh-grade pill was a breakthrough in one's own alchemy skills.
The man's face was also full of excitement.
After the first Pill Lightning appeared, several more seventh-grade pills appeared one after another.
These high-grade pills, which were extremely difficult to see on ordinary days, could now be seen to one's heart's content at this Pill Gathering... A few more days passed.
After experiencing the baptism of Pill Lightning caused by more than ten seventh-grade pills, finally, a green light pillar, a full ten zhang tall, shot into the sky.
Pill Lightning roared, and under the gaze of countless people, a two-colored thundercloud appeared.
"Two-colored Pill Lightning, is this an eighth-grade pill?!"
Everyone exclaimed, looking in unison at the owner of this eighth-grade pill—Dan Chen.
She was the first to refine an eighth-grade pill, shocking the entire audience.
"The Dan Family girl, her talent is indeed high." Xuan Kongzi and the others looked at the two-colored thundercloud in the sky and nodded in approval.
An eighth-grade pill, this was already the most top-tier pill.
And the quality of an eighth-grade pill was distinguished by the color type of the thundercloud.
The more colors the thundercloud had, the higher the quality of the pill.
"Sister Dan Chen, you have indeed made a lot of progress over the years, but I haven't fallen behind either."
At this moment, Cao Ying, who was nearby, also let out a charming laugh, her jade hands rapidly forming seals, and a shocking energy fluctuation similarly burst out from the medicinal cauldron in front of her.
Boom!
Pill Lightning rolled in the sky, and a thundercloud of blue and silver colors rapidly condensed, and at the same time, under these two colors, there was also a faint touch of red.
"Another eighth-grade pill!"
The crowd completely erupted.
Eighth-grade pills, this was the true Pill Gathering!
Now, there were only a few people left on the square who were still refining pills.
Aside from Xiao Li, Xiao Yan, and Old Monster Qing Hua, there was also a mysterious old man.
And after Dan Chen and Cao Ying's eighth-grade pills were completed, Xiao Yan and Old Monster Qing Hua's pills also came to an end.
The rhythm of the two was almost identical; energy light pillars shot out from the medicinal cauldrons in front of them simultaneously, straight into the sky.
Two eighth-grade Pill Lightnings rapidly rolled in, finally turning into two three-colored thunderclouds!
"Three-colored Pill Lightning! Both of them are three-colored Pill Lightning!"
"That Xiao Yan is actually able to match the older generation Old Monster Qing Hua, he's too strong!"
One old and one young, both drew three-colored Pill Lightning, evenly matched.
"Little fellow, well done, it seems your teacher taught you very well." Old Monster Qing Hua smiled at Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan humbly nodded: "Thank you for the praise, Senior."
Yao Lao had long told him Old Monster Qing Hua's identity, so he was not surprised by his greeting.
At this moment, four eighth-grade pills had already appeared on the entire field!
Only two people remained on the field—Xiao Li and a black-clothed man.
The medicinal cauldrons of both of them also contained formidable auras, indicating that their pills would not be lower than eighth-grade.
As for whether they could compare to Xiao Yan and Old Monster Qing Hua's multicolored Pill Lightning, that would only be revealed at the very end.
"Hehehe, Xuan Kongzi, it seems the champion of this Pill Gathering will fall into this old man's hands."
At this moment, the black-clothed old man suddenly let out a strange cold laugh.
Subsequently, a huge, dazzling light pillar shot out from the medicinal cauldron in front of him.
This aura was even stronger than the pills of Old Monster Qing Hua and Xiao Yan.
Everyone immediately looked over, their expressions unchanged.
"This guy... is Elder Mu Gu?!"
The Pill Tower Three Giants immediately recognized the aura fluctuations on him, and their expressions changed.
"How did this guy sneak in?!"
Elder Mu Gu's aura was very well concealed, but at this last moment, he could no longer hide it, and it was completely exposed.
Elder Mu Gu, the chief Alchemist of the Soul Hall!
He actually managed to sneak in!
"Xuan Kongzi, you will personally watch as I take away the championship of the Pill Gathering."
Elder Mu Gu sneered, manipulating the pill with his vast soul power.
At the same time, the Pill Lightning in the sky had already begun to rapidly condense—four-colored Pill Lightning!
This had already steadily surpassed Xiao Yan and Old Monster Qing Hua!
"Three Chairmen, what do we do now?" An elder behind Xuan Kongzi's expression slightly changed.
If someone from the Soul Hall were to win the championship of the Pill Gathering, then the Pill Tower's reputation would be completely ruined!
Xuan Kongzi's expression was gloomy for a moment, then he whispered: "No hurry, there's still one more person."
The person he referred to was naturally Xiao Li!
"It's too early to say that the championship will fall into your hands."
...