"Greetings, everyone. I am Meng Qi, Vice President of the Alchemist Guild. I welcome the talents from all regions who, despite their busy schedules, have come to this temporarily erected Grand Stage of Prosperity to participate in the Triennial Grand Elixir Competition. Now, I declare the competition officially open! Each invited alchemist, please present your invitation. Then, according to your assigned number, each will receive one alchemist's furnace. The time limit is two hours. Whoever can refine the finest elixir will be this session's Genius Elixir King. Begin to showcase your skills, young ones!"
Looking at the two hundred alchemist furnaces arranged on the scene, with tables laden with all sorts of spiritual materials, yet only a hundred or so people actually present, one could imagine how busy and rare alchemists truly were.
Busy, in that they diligently refined elixirs for their families to propel them toward prosperity and flourishing. Rare, in that it was best not to participate in a competition without some genuine skill, lest one bring shame.
There were thousands upon thousands of alchemists, yet few could control flames at their fingertips. Thus, having over a hundred participants in the Grand Elixir Competition was already quite good.
The Vice President of the Alchemist Guild’s expression revealed his thoughts. Meng Qi sighed, "Alas, the number of participating alchemists has halved again this year. This is all the fault of the Nether Heaven Cult."
Soon, as over a hundred alchemists approached their furnaces, they began analyzing the alchemical spiritual materials on the tables. After careful selection and inspection, they started placing them, one by one, into the furnaces and controlling the flames.
The scene quickly heated up, attracting tens of thousands of spectators.
Yin Fu explained the intricacies of alchemy to Ming Zhi Tian, "Refining an elixir is easy, but controlling the flames is difficult. To forge an undamaged elixir requires much time. However, to complete it within the allotted two hours is extremely challenging. Also, you will soon hear explosions; do not be alarmed. This is common in alchemy. If you are too eager for quick success, you will absolutely, one hundred percent, blow up your furnace."
As expected, after only half an hour, two "boom! bang!" sounds were heard! Two individuals' furnaces exploded, one with severe injuries, the other with minor ones.
Shortly thereafter, another four or five furnaces exploded. Some individuals were blasted flying, while others were knocked unconscious.
Some in the audience burst into laughter, but those who had seen the world before were unfazed. Instead, they solemnly held their breath, "Please, no more furnace explosions. I remember one incident, the most severe, where the debris from a furnace explosion injured bystanders, and even the audience was not spared."
Others worried for them, seeing this as a battle for the honor of their respective families. "We can only win, we cannot lose!"
After some more time had passed, over twenty furnaces had exploded. Their skills were insufficient, and it was no one else's fault. They deserved their fate for daring to compete with such technique.
However, no further similar incidents occurred. Every alchemist diligently stayed at their post, controlling flames, adding ingredients, controlling flames, condensing, dispersing, controlling flames, catalyzing...
An hour had passed. Little time remained for their alchemy. The scions of various families cheered for their own. "Come on! Young Master Wang! You're doing great! ... Come on, my treasure! ... Come on, Young Master Ling! ... Come on, Sister Hong! Beat them!"
Ming Zhi Tian felt these people were idiots. "Isn't this nakedly interfering with the alchemists' refinement? Doesn't the competition organizer manage this?"
Yin Fu shook his head and smiled, "As long as it's not too loud or continuous, it won't be considered interference."
An hour and a half later, one individual retrieved a green elixir from their furnace. Under the gaze of the multitude, they walked directly towards the five judges seated at the head table and presented the elixir...