I Can Upgrade My Talent Infinitely

As Cen Yuandao finished his preparations and began refining the Five Qi Chao Ling Pill, Fang Yun also entered his zone.

The alchemy competition between them began just like that.

The spirit medicines used in the competition for the Five Qi Chao Ling Pill were of similar quality. With a perfect refinement, one could produce six Upper Grade Five Qi Chao Ling Pills.

Not long after the alchemy competition began, an Elder of Alchemy from the Purple Mist Sect commented:

"They're both using the fastest refining method for the Five Qi Chao Ling Pill."

"The fastest method... They're just making it harder on themselves."

The fastest method for refining a batch of pills is usually the most difficult.

If one's alchemy skill is high enough, this method is ideal, as it saves the most time.

"Aren't they competing on the final grade of the pills? Wouldn't it be better to use the steadiest, slowest method?"

"That just shows you don't get it. They both have something to prove."

"...Right, and I suppose you've got it all figured out."

「One day later.」

Some disciples from the Purple Mist Sect began to trickle away.

These were the casual onlookers who, finding the process of alchemy uninteresting, decided to leave.

Other onlookers, who had come mainly to see the two Core Formation cultivators compete, had no intention of leaving. They didn't care about the alchemy process itself; they were more interested in observing the condition of Cen Yuandao and Fang Yun.

The alchemy disciples, however, were watching with rapt attention.

If they could learn even a thing or two from watching the techniques of their Sect Elder and the senior from the Celestial Cloud Sect, it would be a tremendous gain.

"Can anyone tell what the final result will be yet?"

"Until the pills are out of the furnace, no one can be sure of the final outcome."

"Judging by their condition during the refinement, it seems Senior Fang is having a much easier time."

The sun rose and set.

Both Fang Yun and Cen Yuandao had reached the final step in refining the Five Qi Chao Ling Pill.

The outcome of the alchemy competition would soon be revealed.

The pills emerged!

Six pills flew from the pill furnace's output port and landed in Cen Yuandao's hand.

Cen Yuandao looked at the Five Qi Chao Ling Pills he had just refined. 'I've got this in the bag,' he thought.

Two Upper Grade Five Qi Chao Ling Pills and four Middle Grade ones.

His skill in refining the Five Qi Chao Ling Pill had clearly improved.

To date, his personal best for refining the Five Qi Chao Ling Pill was four Upper Grade and two Middle Grade pills. However, he had only achieved that record by using spirit medicines of exceptionally high quality.

In the past, using spirit medicines of this quality, he could also produce two Upper Grade Five Qi Chao Ling Pills, but it always resulted in some Lower Grade pills as well. This time, there wasn't a single Lower Grade pill.

Cen Yuandao looked over at Fang Yun to his right.

They had both used the fastest method for refining the Five Qi Chao Ling Pill. He had finished his refinement slightly before Fang Yun.

"Fellow Daoist Fang, what are your results?" Cen Yuandao asked eagerly the moment he saw Fang Yun collect his pills.

"Six Upper Grade," Fang Yun replied.

"What!"

Cen Yuandao stared at Fang Yun in astonishment.

To produce six Upper Grade pills from spirit medicines of this quality meant that Fang Yun had achieved a perfect refinement of the Five Qi Chao Ling Pill.

They were both Late-stage Core Formation Alchemy Masters. The Purple Mist Sect had three Elders of Alchemy in total, and even with the other two elders sharing the workload, Cen Yuandao was certain he had refined far more pills than Fang Yun ever had.

He was very confident on this point.

And yet, Fang Yun could already perform a perfect refinement of the Five Qi Chao Ling Pill.

This was more than enough to prove that Fang Yun's alchemy talent was even more incredible than the rumors suggested!

"Looks like the old fool lost. I told you before the competition started: Fellow Daoist Fang's talent for alchemy is greater than his talent for artifact refining, and his skill in it is higher, too."

"I admit that Fellow Daoist Fang's alchemy skill is superior to mine," Cen Yuandao said, recovering from his shock. He graciously conceded before adding with a pointed look, "But his skill in artifact refining is also superior to yours."

A fierce discussion had already erupted all around them. If it had been quiet, the two elders would likely have started bickering again, just like before.

"Senior Fang's alchemy skill is just incredible! He can perfectly refine a Third Tier pill!"

"The last Alchemy Master in the history of our Purple Mist Sect who could perfectly refine a Third Tier pill lived over five thousand years ago."

"I'm utterly convinced!"

"If Senior Fang were an elder of our Purple Mist Sect, wouldn't we have access to more, higher-quality Third Tier pills in the future?"

Some of the Purple Mist Sect's Inner Sect Disciples were already lost in fantasy, imagining Fang Yun becoming one of their elders. That way, when they successfully reached Core Formation and became Sect Elders themselves, they would have access to more and higher-quality resources.

Fang Yun had managed a perfect refinement of the Five Qi Chao Ling Pill using only the spirit medicine resources from the Celestial Cloud Sect and the other three sects. If he were in the Purple Mist Sect, with access to even more and better spirit medicines, he would surely have mastered it much sooner.

"Fellow Daoist Fang, I have lost," Cen Yuandao said, having walked over to Fang Yun's side. "I should not have doubted your skill in alchemy."

After losing the alchemy competition, Cen Yuandao felt no resentment, only admiration for Fang Yun's alchemy skill.

He admitted that Fang Yun's alchemy talent was indeed far superior to his own. A cultivator with such talent was a rare sight, perhaps one in a thousand years.

Fang Yun offered a polite response to Cen Yuandao.

His competition with Cen Yuandao was purely a contest of alchemy; nothing had been wagered.

Defeating Cen Yuandao and showcasing his own level of skill in alchemy was exactly what Fang Yun had set out to do.

News of this alchemy competition would spread quickly throughout the Purple Mist Sect. As a result, he might gain the opportunity to begin refining Tier Four pills much sooner.