Li Qian's young age and status as a fourth-grade alchemist were undeniably due to his exceptional talents.
After two failures, he too sensed the unusual nature of the fourth-grade pill being tested.
His previous setbacks mirrored those of Zhang Ergou, occurring during the fusion of the final few ingredients.
This time, Li Qian intentionally focused a wisp of his divine sense on the newly added three herbs while controlling the flame.
The final ingredients possessed more potent medicinal properties, requiring an intensified flame during purification.
However, the other medicinal liquids demanded a lower temperature.
With one hand, Li Qian manipulated the flames, while using his divine sense to guide the already fused medicinal liquids, striving for a delicate balance.
For the remaining six medicinal ingredients, he adhered to the methods outlined in the pill formula.
Yet, he significantly increased the temperature of the flame compared to before.
A bead of sweat trickled down Li Qian's cheek, but a flicker of excitement gleamed in his eyes.
In previous attempts, before he could even begin purifying the thirty-first ingredient, the entire contents of the alchemy furnace had instantly turned to ash.
The two failures had been remarkably similar.
After reflection, Li Qian concluded that he had failed to completely separate the flame at the bottom of the alchemy furnace, leading to uneven temperature distribution. Areas requiring high heat were not reaching it, while those needing lower temperatures were overheated, causing his failures.
These two prior failures had helped Li Qian pinpoint the problem.
As a fourth-grade alchemist, Li Qian's divine sense was naturally robust. During his third attempt, he used his divine sense to split the flame into two streams.
With all thirty-six ingredients thoroughly purified and fused, Li Qian suppressed his excitement.
He proceeded to the next steps.
Soon, Dan Feng and others on the main platform noticed that Li Qian had also reached the pill condensation stage.
It was only then that Dan Feng paid attention to Li Qian.
Or rather, Li Qian finally captured his attention.
Given the difficulty of refining the fourth-grade Breakthrough Pill, even fifth-grade alchemists who frequently practiced could not guarantee success.
This young man had clearly navigated the most challenging step of fusing the medicinal liquids.
Therefore, Li Qian was poised to become the second contestant to successfully refine the fourth-grade Breakthrough Pill.
A hint of excitement crossed Dan Feng's face.
It seemed fortune favored him. Even if Zhang Ergou was truly possessed, here was another promising talent.
He exhaled a breath of relief, feeling considerably more at ease.
At this moment, Dan Feng recalled another young man who had previously refined ninth-pattern top-grade Spirit Recovery Pills and Soul Return Pills.
It must have been the young man currently condensing his pill.
Not only Dan Feng, but the other peak masters also noticed Li Qian's actions.
With their profound cultivation and potent divine senses, nothing happening on the assessment field escaped their notice.
Previously, everyone had been preoccupied with Zhang Ergou.
This was primarily because Zhang Ergou was not only skilled in alchemy.
Now that someone could contend with Zhang Ergou in alchemy, everyone was eager to see who would ultimately prevail.
As Li Qian's pill was transmitted to the judges' table, a cheer erupted from the plaza.
These were the young cultivators from the same region as Li Qian, who had long been impressed by his alchemy skills.
However, Zhang Ergou always seemed to have a slight edge, finishing his refining process slightly earlier, which bothered them.
They did not want to see a genius alchemist from the central continent defeated by someone unknown.
Li Qian naturally shared their sentiments, and his competitive spirit was even more intense.
After successfully placing the jade bottle containing the fourth-grade Breakthrough Pill onto the transmission array,
he couldn't help but glance back, wanting to see Zhang Ergou's current progress.
Upon seeing Zhang Ergou seated calmly and composedly on the high platform, Li Qian knew he was once again a step behind.
However, this did not discourage him; instead, it ignited a stronger competitive drive.
His gaze towards Zhang Ergou was filled with unmasked fighting spirit.
Zhang Ergou's brow furrowed, and he returned the stare without looking away.
Li Qian, however, did not desist. Instead, he raised a thumb upwards, and just as Zhang Ergou was about to smile in response, he quickly inverted his thumb.
A sensation far worse than eating feces flooded Zhang Ergou's mind.
Provoked in such a manner, how could Zhang Ergou tolerate it?
He reciprocated with a middle finger, even rising to his feet.
Instantly, their interaction drew the attention of everyone present, except for those still engrossed in their alchemy.
"Haha, it seems these two youngsters are not convinced by each other."
"After all, they are both young. A little competitiveness is inevitable, and good competition can also foster mutual progress."
It appeared these esteemed figures did not disapprove of the animosity between the two.
While they were engaging in their silent rivalry, several others were still intensely focused on their refining. Su Dan Novel Network.
However, it seemed luck was not favoring everyone.
Among the three individuals to Zhang Ergou's front left, one female alchemist, after five failed attempts to thoroughly purify all her ingredients, could not successfully fuse the pill.
With a hint of melancholy and a sense of release, she descended from the high platform.
Following her, two or three more disciples met with complete failure and also stepped down.
Thus, on the high platform, besides Zhang Ergou and Li Qian, only three other young alchemists were desperately persisting.
To Zhang Ergou's surprise, the sole remaining female alchemist still had two portions of herbs remaining before her.
This indicated she was currently only refining the third ingredient.
It seemed this assessment truly had hidden talents.
Zhang Ergou's thoughts drifted back to the words of the old Heavenly Dao elder when he left the Misty Sect:
"The Yin Zhou Continent is vast, and formidable individuals are countless. Do not presume yourself arrogant due to your achievements at such a young age.
Always remember, there is always someone better, and the world is far larger than you imagine."
Only now did Zhang Ergou truly grasp the meaning of "there is always someone better."
Previously, at the Misty Sect, and even at the Flowing Sea Sect, Nascent Soul cultivators as young as him were exceptionally rare.
They appeared only once every few years. Therefore, Zhang Ergou's breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage at such a tender age had caused a stir throughout the Misty Sect.
Now, upon arriving at the Guardian Alliance, Zhang Ergou realized how narrow his perspective had been.
Not to mention the sword skill assessment at the beginning, where he encountered several sword masters whose cultivation levels he could not discern.
Those disciples of the Guardian Alliance maintaining order, according to Hua Xu, were disciples who had joined a year earlier than them.
Each one possessed Nascent Soul cultivation.
And his pride in his alchemy seemed to have met its match.
That youth who harbored hostility towards him, and this seemingly capable woman.