Ten Thousand Dragons Technique-Chapter 118: Keep Boasting

After a short while, several more people arrived. They were all young geniuses and second-grade Alchemy Masters.

Once almost everyone was present, the Tower Master stood up. "All of you are the second-grade Alchemy Masters of our Qingyun Pill Tower, and you are qualified to vie for a high ranking. The first-grade Alchemy Masters outside are just here to fill the numbers.

"But before the official competition begins, I want to conduct an internal test. I need to understand your current level of skill. After all, the results of the alchemy competition are crucial for our Pill Tower’s future funding and reputation. We can’t afford any mistakes."

The assembled geniuses nodded. "Tower Master, rest assured, we will give it our all."

Zhao Feiyan added, "Tower Master, don’t worry. I can definitely break into the top ten and bring fame to our Qingyun Pill Tower."

Hearing this, the surrounding geniuses were taken aback. None of them had imagined Zhao Feiyan would be so confident. Apparently, she really did have a shot at the top ten.

The Tower Master nodded in satisfaction.

Just then, Lin Xuan also spoke up. "Tower Master, rest assured, I will definitely win the championship of the Alchemy Competition."

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire room fell silent. Everyone turned to stare at Lin Xuan. They were all stunned.

What did this kid just say? He wants to take first place and become the champion? What a joke!

An uproar of disbelief filled the room.

Zhao Feiyan snorted coldly. "Lin Xuan, you’re all talk. Do you have any idea how many geniuses are participating in this competition? Wanting to take first place is just a daydream."

The Tower Master frowned. "Lin Xuan, don’t underestimate your opponents."

Though Lin Xuan has great talent, he is too young. He only just became a second-grade Alchemy Master, so it’s unlikely he’ll achieve any notable results in this competition.

"If you don’t believe me, we can let our skills do the talking," Lin Xuan said with a smile.

"Fine! Then we’ll compete. Let’s see whose results are better during the internal test," Zhao Feiyan retorted with a cold snort. "Honestly, I don’t even consider you a threat."

The other geniuses were also intrigued. Someone asked, "What is the internal test?"

The Tower Master explained, "One of the most crucial steps in alchemy is refining the medicinal fluid. Therefore, this internal test will focus on that. You’re all familiar with the Nine-Turn Peiyuan Pill, correct? The test will be on the Nine-Turn Peiyuan Pill. We’ll see how many times you can refine it."

The crowd nodded in understanding.

Zhao Feiyan smiled and declared, "I’ve successfully refined it eight times before."

Upon hearing this, the crowd was astonished. Even the Tower Master looked surprised. He remembered that Zhao Feiyan had previously only been able to manage seven refinements; it seemed her Alchemy Technique had improved again recently.

"I can refine it nine times," Lin Xuan spoke up.

He said it casually, but his words left the crowd completely stunned.

Zhao Feiyan became furious. "Kid, stop talking nonsense! How could you possibly refine it nine times?"

The others didn’t believe him either. The kid was boasting outrageously.

"He’s only sixteen! He just became a second-grade Alchemy Master a few days ago. I bet he’s never even attempted the Nine-Turn Peiyuan Pill."

"Exactly. If he had, he’d know how difficult the refinement process is."

"I’ve been a second-grade Alchemy Master for years, and I can only manage five refinements. How could he possibly do nine?" the crowd murmured amongst themselves.

"I really can refine it nine times," Lin Xuan insisted. "I’ve done it successfully before."

Is that true? The geniuses looked at each other in doubt.

Someone exclaimed, "I heard that in Celestial Fire City, a certain Young Master Lin managed to refine the Nine-Turn Peiyuan Pill nine times. This kid’s surname is also Lin... could he be that legendary Young Master Lin?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was shocked. Their gazes toward Lin Xuan changed completely. If he really was the legendary Young Master Lin, then of course he could refine it nine times.

"Impossible! What are you all thinking?" Zhao Feiyan scoffed. "Even if he is also named Lin, he’s a far cry from the legendary Young Master Lin.

"He’s not even worthy of carrying his shoes."

Zhao Feiyan refused to believe Lin Xuan could perform nine refinements. After all, she could only manage eight. What right did Lin Xuan have to claim he could do nine?

As for Lin Xuan being that legendary figure? That’s even more impossible.

"Alright, that’s enough arguing. Time is short, so let’s begin the internal test now," the Tower Master announced in a deep voice. "Elder Chen, please open the Alchemy Rooms and let them in."

"Everyone, please follow me," Elder Chen said, leading the way.

The alchemists each entered a private Alchemy Room, where they could work without any disturbances. Lin Xuan also entered one of the rooms.

To him, refining the Nine-Turn Peiyuan Pill was incredibly simple. He didn’t even need his Anomalous Fire to perform nine refinements. He directly activated the Earth Vein Fire and began.

This time, his speed was even faster. He completed nine refinements of the Nine-Turn Peiyuan Pill in just ten minutes, which pleased him greatly. Over the past several days, he had been practicing his control over the Anomalous Fire, which had greatly improved his Fire Control Technique. Now, he felt even more deft when controlling ordinary Earth Fire, allowing him to craft elixirs much faster.

After finishing the Nine-Turn Peiyuan Pill, Lin Xuan entered the Great Emperor Ring to continue practicing with his Anomalous Fire. At this point, his control over the Anomalous Fire had become skillful, but he had yet to formally master the basics, though he was getting close. Lin Xuan felt that he would reach the introductory level in three days at most. Once his control of the Anomalous Fire reached that stage, he would be able to refine third-grade elixirs.

「Time slowly passed.」

After half an hour, the door to one of the Alchemy Rooms opened, and Zhao Feiyan stepped out.

"I’m finished," she announced.

"How many refinements did you complete?" the Tower Master asked quickly.

Zhao Feiyan answered with a smile, "Eight times."

With that, she handed the refined elixir to the Tower Master.

The Tower Master examined it and nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad at all."

It seems Zhao Feiyan’s skills really have improved. She’ll have no problem getting into the top thirty this time, and she might even have a real chance to compete for the top ten. If our Qingyun Pill Tower could produce a top-ten genius, it would be a fantastic achievement. Perhaps our funding for next year would even double. Then we could recruit even more talented alchemists.

After Zhao Feiyan, no one else emerged for a while. It wasn’t until an hour had passed that people began to file out one after another. Their results were decent—most had managed four or five refinements, with the best achieving six. Compared to Zhao Feiyan, however, they were all far behind.

When she learned of these results, a smirk graced Zhao Feiyan’s lips.

As expected. None of these people are in my league.

Another hour passed, making it two hours in total. By then, almost everyone who had entered the rooms had come out. There was, of course, one exception: Lin Xuan.

The Tower Master asked, "Lin Xuan hasn’t come out yet?"

Elder Chen shook his head. "Not yet."

Hearing this, Zhao Feiyan sneered. "I bet the kid can’t refine it at all. He probably couldn’t even manage a single turn."

Nine turns? In his dreams.