Of the alchemists who followed, the best performer produced a Mind-Soothing Pill that barely emitted a faint pill fragrance, only approaching the quality of a medium-grade pill.
Yin Shixiu sighed deeply in his heart, realizing there would likely be no further surprises in this second trial, which could only conclude like this.
Heavy with worry, he thought to himself, If that's the case, we can only hope Wenzhou defeats this man in the third trial. Otherwise...
Yet considering Pei Yanji's performance across the first two trials, could Yin Wenzhou truly compete with him?
Qin Yu, standing nearby, shared the same concern. Glancing at Qin Qingmu a few times, he thought to himself, I originally thought Qingmu's only rival was Yin Wenzhou, but now a wildly powerful evil cultivator has emerged out of nowhere. If neither of them can defeat him, things will become troublesome.
Yin Shixiu and Qin Yu exchanged another glance. Straightening his posture, Yin Shixiu raised his voice to continue, “Next.”
While waiting, Shi Yu had swallowed a few pills and closed her eyes to meditate and recover her energy in preparation for the third trial. Seeing that it was finally her turn, she stepped forward with her refined pill.
Down below, President Song and the others grew somewhat nervous. “I wonder how many points Little Yu will get?”
“The girl's pill quality is usually remarkable, but this is her first time refining a Mind-Soothing Pill. It's hard to say how well she did.”
When refining a completely unfamiliar, new pill recipe, even they could hardly guarantee their own success rate, let alone the resulting quality.
Even with all their confidence in Shi Yu, they couldn't help but feel uneasy and uncertain at this moment.
The surrounding spectators also broke into discussion.
“Miss Shi took first place in the last trial. I wonder about this one... What do you all think?”
“I reckon it's a medium-grade pill, just like Yin Wenzhou's and Miss Qin's.”
“I doubt it even reached medium-grade. She only lit her fire and started refining right before the deadline. Rush jobs usually result in an inferior performance.”
“Indeed, and she's only a Qi Refining cultivator, not having reached Foundation Establishment. Without sufficient cultivation to back her up, refining a Tier-2 pill is already pushing her limits.”
...
A proctor stepped forward, holding out a tray. “Please.”
Shi Yu gently placed the pill in her hand onto the tray.
As she pulled her hand back, the eyes of everyone—whether they held high hopes for her or not—focused entirely on the tray.
The sleek, perfectly round pill was the size of a longan fruit. It rolled around a few times on the tray, looking remarkably charming.
Absolute silence fell.
Everyone stared with wide eyes at the clear, teal pill on the tray, unable to react for a long moment.
Only after a long pause did someone speak in disbelief, “I-Is that a high-grade pill too?”
The pill resting on the tray possessed a teal hue even clearer and richer than Pei Yanji's, as though formed from condensed green spring water. Its pill fragrance was rich and almost tangible, gradually spreading out and wafting forward without fading for a long time, commanding an overwhelming presence.
Around the pill hovered a hazy, ethereal halo, beautiful beyond words.
If this was not a high-grade pill, what else could it be?
Many people gasped in astonishment, finding it hard to believe that Shi Yu had actually refined a high-grade pill. In just a few short hours, using such a rushed and forceful method under time pressure, she had somehow managed to whip up a high-grade pill?
“How old is she even...? With talent like this, she has likely already surpassed both Yin Wenzhou and Miss Qin.”
“I wonder which is superior between this one and Pei Yanji's, considering both are high-grade pills.”
“Wait... Why is the surface of Miss Shi's pill so uneven? It looks like it has flaws.”
Hearing this, everyone looked closely at the pill projected through the shadow-recording stone image; its outer surface was indeed far from smooth.
“Indeed, it looks as though some impurities are clinging to the surface. What a shame.”
“Still, even with flaws, the presence of a pill halo makes it undeniably a high-grade pill. For Miss Shi to refine a high-grade pill at her age means her future achievements will be immeasurable!”
Flaws? Impurities?
Listening in silence, Yin Shixiu's mouth twitched. He wanted to speak, then stopped himself, repeating this several times before taking a deep breath. His voice echoed across the entire square: “This is... a supreme-grade Mind-Soothing Pill.”
After saying this, Yin Shixiu's expression twisted slightly.
How on earth were those impurities or flaws on the surface? Those were clearly pill veins!
Generally speaking, the rounder, smoother, and more uniform a pill's surface was, the purer, more effective, and less toxic or contaminated it was. However, there was another rare exception—when unique patterns manifested across the pill's surface, breaking that smooth uniformity.
A supreme-grade Mind-Soothing Pill? The spectators exchanged baffled glances, completely bewildered and blank-faced.
Yin Shixiu carefully pinched the pill and brought it before the shadow-recording stone, magnifying it so everyone could see clearly.
On the surface of the teal pill, fine, intricate patterns were visible. Though these lines appeared ordinary at a glance, observing them closely caused one's mind to be drawn in, even evoking a faint, vague sense of enlightenment toward the Dao.
“The world knows that pills are divided into three grades: low, medium, and high. Yet few know that above high-grade pills lies the supreme grade!” Yin Shixiu cast a complex look at Shi Yu. “A pill shaped into a proper sphere is low-grade; a pill possessing pill fragrance is medium-grade; a pill manifesting a pill halo is high-grade; and a pill marked with pill veins... is supreme-grade.”
Pill veins were the hallmark of a supreme-grade pill, and because they were so exceptionally rare, ordinary people knew nothing of them. Even a grandmaster alchemist like him had only seen them a handful of times in his life.
“The condensation of pill veins signifies that the pill contains a trace of the Great Dao's true intent. They are patterns that arise only when pill refining is brought to the absolute pinnacle.”
Yin Shixiu declared in a deep voice, “The markings on this pill are none other than pill veins!”
An uproar broke out.
Most of the spectators were hearing such a concept for the very first time, and their shock was beyond description.
Pill veins... Supreme-grade pills? A grade even superior to high-grade pills?
“This is the first time I've ever heard of something called a supreme-grade pill.”
“I've certainly broadened my horizons today...”
The important figures from prominent families and sects sitting in the front rows had gleaming eyes, their expressions growing excited. Most of them possessed deep heritages and naturally knew what pill veins were, understanding the immense significance and value behind them even better.
At this moment, everyone held different thoughts, already pondering how to recruit Shi Yu. Such a young and talented alchemist would be a monumental asset if won over—and an endless threat if claimed by others...
Before long, the important figures in the front rows called over their subordinates one after another, issuing quiet instructions.
While President Song and his companions were still immersed in shock and bewilderment, a continuous stream of visitors suddenly approached them. Visiting cards and invitation letters were respectfully presented one by one, with the factions named on them growing increasingly formidable.
Without a doubt, all these people had come for Shi Yu.
President Song and the others scrambled to accept the visiting cards, and for a time, their somewhat remote seating area became bustling with activity. Once things finally quieted down a bit, they exchanged glances and let out bitter laughs.
“Little Yu really is... hiding her light under a bushel.”
“A supreme-grade pill... This has truly been an eye-opener for us as well.”
They had previously worried whether she could even refine a medium-grade pill; looking back now, such concerns had severely underestimated her.
On stage, the alchemists all stared at Shi Yu with shock in their eyes.
Qin Qingmu's eyes dimmed. Having suffered blow after blow, her previously confident ambition to claim first place was now wavering. Yin Wenzhou's face was deeply overcast, no longer able to maintain his composure.
Meanwhile, Pei Yanji looked at Shi Yu with an inscrutable expression. After a pause, he let out a soft chuckle. “Interesting.”
Although he had fallen behind Shi Yu in both consecutive trials, no trace of worry showed on his face. He seemed brimming with confidence regarding the upcoming trials, as if Shi Yu's appearance was merely a tiny ripple added to his journey.
Regardless of everyone's thoughts, the competition had to move forward.
Shi Yu blinked her eyes, waiting for Yin Shixiu to announce her score.
This was also her first time refining a supreme-grade pill in this world. The self-imposed pressure of racing against the clock had actually driven her into a state of total immersion and selflessness, bringing her performance closer than ever to that of her previous life.
Yin Shixiu stared at the elegant, delicate young woman, letting out a bitter laugh after a long pause.
Although he had personally researched and developed the Mind-Soothing Pill, even he himself could only produce high-grade pills at best.
For the young woman before him to refine a supreme-grade pill—calling her a genius was almost an insult; she could only be described as a monster.
Producing a supreme-grade pill meant she had made adjustments to his original recipe, rendering it even more seamless and flawless. Making such an adjustment sounded easy, but in reality, only someone with extraordinary comprehension could perceive that subtle, profound, and indescribable difference.
It was an epiphany that could only be gained by touching upon the true intent of the Dao of Alchemy in a moment of inspiration.
Though Yin Shixiu was the creator of this pill recipe, even he had failed to touch upon that wondrous, indescribable true intent.
Whether Shi Yu refining this pill was luck or coincidence, the fact remained that she had succeeded. Having experienced that single trace of comprehension set her far apart from the rest.
Given time, this girl will surely make a name for herself across the entire East Continent, Yin Shixiu thought to himself. What a pity she isn't from my Hengze Prefecture.
As various thoughts flashed through his mind, Yin Shixiu finally raised his eyes and slowly declared, “This pill is completely flawless. It receives full marks.”
Shi Yu felt the number token in her hand vibrate. Looking down, she saw a line of small characters display on its surface: “Plus one hundred points. Total score: one hundred thirty-nine points.”
Rate on N.U.
