Chapter 6: To Shock Everyone with an Incredible Performance
Currently outside the refining area, the clan school's Top Three, of which the second place and third place were Li Yanxin and Zuo Hongle respectively, were currently discussing the refining events that had just passed a moment ago. Within the clan school's Great Competitions, second place was alternatively held by these two, and although they were rivals, they were also friends. The first place Yao Tong could not be shaken even by lightning, and was not discussing with them or mentioned.
"Not bad, if my Spiritual Perception had not been deceived by the flame's strength for a split second, my Silver White Pill's quality would definitely be top rank."
"You? Top rank third tier pill? Haha, don't joke around. Of course when it comes to me, if I had not made a tiny error just now, I would definitely have refined a top rank third tier pill. But truthfully, that flame controlling technique you told me about last time is really not bad, it's just that I just learnt a new one…."
The two of them were talking about what they had learned about flame controlling techniques, when Zuo Hongle inadvertently turned his head a bit, and suddenly became slightly distracted, "What? That fellow… something's strange!"
"What's strange?" Li Yanxin also turned his head, and also became shocked, "What is this?"
Within the refining region, one person was using both his hands to continuously form some strange hand seals, drawing in some subtle Dou Qi to superimpose in front of him. At first this kind of superposition of Dou Qi didn't have any use, but following more and more hand seals, this superimposition started to cause people to feel a formidable aura.
"Major Superposition Technique?"
Amongst the clan elders were also some who lightly gasped.
"Not right. It does have some similarity to the Major Superposition Technique, but its core appears to be some other Dou Technique."
Elder Yao Lan's eyes were moved, as the one who was using hand seals to superimpose Dou Qi was not some random person, but Yao Chen!
Two years ago, Yao Chen's potential had been burned through overdrawing it. When Yao Lan heard about it he simply sighed. In his mind, Yao Chen was a pretty good seedling, but now with his potential burned, it was simply a waste.
But looking at Yao Chen's hand seals appearing one after another, it once again aroused his interest.
"This isn't some Major Superimposition Technique, it's the Inner Energy Explosion Technique. It's his branch family's original Dou Technique. It's unfortunate that this kind of Dou Technique is extremely complicated, and almost nobody is capable of genuinely practicing it to a high level."
Contrary to what one might expect, Yao Lan actually recognized this Dou Technique from the hand seals. The one who passed this technique down was his great-grandfather from over a hundred years ago. He was a person who managed to get his name carved onto the Clan Monument and was a famous godly figure who created his own branch. Unfortunately, over the years, for various reasons Yao Chen's branch started to weaken generation over generation. It really caused people to feel like saying: each generation of disciples was so talented, it was always such a waste.
Yao Huo ended up like that, and Yao Chen…would probably also end up like that.
However, by using this Dou Technique's set of Inner Energy Explosion's hand seals, it appeared that Yao Chen was actually still pretty good. Although his potential had been burned, the talent of his mind didn't follow with it. However the more one thought about it the more it would make people regretful. If that event hadn't occurred, then just how perfect would this disciple have been…?
Outside, Luo Shu also jumped, raising his eyebrows and gasping. At last he could finally retaliate, "You dregs, now you see, this is the Inner Energy Explosion technique, even if you had a hundred years, you wouldn't be able to master this Xuan class Dou Technique, dregs!"
"Peh, are you proud, keep acting!"
This group of rascal disciples' leader Shi Bo put on a disgusted expression.
However, observing Yao Chen's current performance, they all turned silent.
"What a pity, even if his Dou Qi miraculously rose, unless he could reach the level of a Da Dou Shi's Dou Qi to speedily refine, he doesn't have enough time left to finish.
"Indeed, right now only a quarter of an hour is left. Elder Yao Lan, isn't it almost time to prepare for the evaluations?" A couple of the elders looked towards Yao Lan. Yao Lan was the chief elder at the clan school, so naturally everything would follow his instructions as he ordered people around. Naturally if there was a problem, it would also be his responsibility.
Yao Lan gently smoothed his white beard. Muttering to himself, he finally nodded his head, "Fine, but don't disturb the disciples who still haven't finished refining, just in case they can finish."
The clan elders all nodded approvingly, walking to the refining area, the entire scene became quiet. Everyone present knew the time to evaluate the results had arrived.
Following the elder's entrance, a couple of disciples who hadn't finished became disturbed and their Dou Qi flared, and immediately caused a cauldron explosion or failed refinement. Black smoke started surging upwards in all kinds of different manners. It really was the case of putting in all one's effort only to fail at the end.
But at this moment, the clan school's elders all essentially ignored these people, directly walking the stage for evaluating pills. All the disciples who had successfully refined a pill placed their pill into a bottle and wrote their name on it, and then stood on the stage waiting for their result. To the side were also five Iron Guards whose eyes were roving around, preventing people from stealing and exchanging contents.
But this was mostly needless, as in the Yao clan, even the garbage people didn't have to worry as they would still have enough food, water, and shelter. The clan even had some arrangements for finding a wife; of course they wouldn't dare to say it would be a beautiful, delicate woman but it would still be a guaranteed safeguard. The Yao clan was one of the 8 Ancient Clans; no matter how lacking the disciples were, they still had the blood of an emperor flowing through their veins. Even if this generation was useless, the next generation might be extremely talented. Therefore cheating in the Yao clan was a major crime. It was absolutely a crime that couldn't go unpunished. Even if it was the main bloodline, their disciples couldn't have objections. If it was a repeat offender then they would be expelled out from the Yao clan; from this one can tell just how extremely severe the consequences were.
If one were to describe it with one sentence, Yao clan disciples would dare to do anything, except the thing they would avoid the most, cheating.
Outside the refining area, Luo Shu was worriedly sweating. Finish finish finish. The elders entered the arena; although no one directly said, but even idiots could tell that the disciples who still hadn't finished refining at this would count as failures in the eyes of the elders. However there was still a chance. If you could complete the pill before the elders finished appraising the numerous medicinal pills then you would still have a shot.
Yet Yao Chen was still controlling the flame at a speed that was not rushed but also not slow. His entire attention was on the pill furnace's interior; the outside world's happenings were things that he didn't notice at all.
On the top of the appraising platform, the elders were already beginning their evaluations. The first pill to be evaluated was from Yao Tong.
"Respected elders, this pill's name is the Moon Suppressing Wind Pill." Yao Tong extremely steadily advanced towards the various elders, and bowed, giving the proper etiquette. He respectfully introduced the pill before getting up and walking to the side, no longer saying anything.
All the elders were satisfied, nodding their heads. Yao Tong also slightly nodded his head. It was difficult to find someone with more talent that him. A branch bloodline disciple, only within the inner clan could he profoundly develop and have good prospects. If one was like Yao Huo, whose temperament was too indulgent and didn't make the main bloodline pleased, they wouldn't care about your talent or ability….
Yao Lan shook his head, no longer thinking about those events. The person had already died, thinking too much about it did no good. He put his focus on Yao Tong's Moon Suppressing Wind Pill.
Yao Lan opened the bottle, and a fragrant odor come out and assaulted his nose, shaking his spirit, "Oh, not bad."
Taking out the pill and using Dou Qi to wrap it and move it to his palm, a thread of Spiritual Perception entered the pill and carefully evaluated its inner contents, efficiency, and its quality.
Using the time it took for half an incense stick to burn, only then did Yao Lan's perception return to him. Placing the pill back in to bottle, he turned to face Yao Tong, indifferently saying, "This pill's pill formula isn't from the clan's collection, it's a new pill formula?"
"Correct. Half a year ago this disciple received it while outside the clan to gain experience. However at the time it was almost destroyed; only recently did I restore it to its complete condition.
"Very good, to dare to try a new pill formula at the Great Competition, not bad! Yao Lan, the third tier Moon Suppressing Wind Pill can be used to reduce wounds caused by wind affinity Dou Qi, and even more importantly is that it can even be taken by Dou Zhes, as its toxicity level is basically negligible… and even its quality is also high rank, very good."
Yao Lan let out a faint smile; repeatedly using the words very good and not bad, coming from the very severe speaker this was already an extremely high evaluation.
Yao Tong still simply stood to the side, not moving even a bit, his face did not show any kind of happiness. Like a mountain, he slowly replied, "Thank you elder Miao Zan."
Yao Lan once again nodded, and changed directions towards the second pill.
Li Yanxin stepped forward. This pill in that bottle had been refined by him. At this moment he bowed courteously and said. "Respected elders, this pill's name is Stone Skin Pill.
"Oh, third tier Stone Skill Pill, interesting."
Yao Lan lightly nodded, once more performing his assessment, after which he gave out his evaluation. "Third tier Stone Skin Pill. The pill formula comes from the clan treasury. After taking it, for fifteen minutes the whole body's skin will obtain a stone nature, giving it a shocking strength. Pairing it with a ground type Dou Qi would increase its efficiency even more and the pill quality is high rank."
The slender Zuo Hongle jumped forward, laughingly saying, "Elders, it should be my turn now right? My pill is the Splitting Amor Pill. This time my result is definitely stronger than Li Yanxin."
"Stand to one side. If you continue to laughingly joke around, we'll deduct marks."
Zuo Hongle stuck out his tongue, but nevertheless he didn't speak another word.
… …
While one side was continuously evaluating medicinal pills, Yao Chen was entering the crucial phase of his Inner Energy Explosion Art. His hands unceasingly made seals in order to add to the superposition of Dou Qi in front of him. At this time, the Dou Qi ended up merging with Yao Chen's body, mysteriously bringing Yao Chen to the Dou Shi class. However this kind of state was only a fake Dou Shi. "BOOMBOOMBOOM," a bunch of blazing flames unceasingly entered to the medicinal cauldron.
Currently, no matter how Yao Chen burst out, the elders didn't pay him any attention. At this time, the time left was already extremely little; in their eyes even if Yao Chen by means of a Dou Technique managed to break out and obtain a Dou Shi's strength, it was already too late. It was absolutely impossible to complete a medicinal pill in the remaining allotted time.
However, no one noticed, but Yao Chen's furnace was actually exploding out an extremely intense temperature. The flame's strength had already far surpassed the realm of a Dou Shi. This kind of frightening temperature was something only a Da Dou Shi was capable of achieving.
Other than his Dou Technique, Yao Chen also had his Spiritual Perception. It was currently playing an extremely large role in his refinement. In reality, although his Dou Qi was weak, Yao Chen's spiritual Perception was already at the level of a Da Dou Shi… so much so that it had actually long surpassed a Da Dou Shi.
"BOOMBOOMBOOM," at the moment the pill furnace's various medicinal ingredients all quickly merged together, and as for the impurities, under his Spiritual Perception's keen examinations they were all speedily distinguished and under the sensitive control of his Dou Qi they were all expelled from the congealing medicinal pill. The impurities fell to the bottom of the furnace, but these impurities still had a quite a bit of medicinal strength left in them, and at the moment Yao Chen didn't let them go to waste. Urging the bursting out superimposed Dou Qi, he unceasing squeezed onto these impurities, once again using the furnace's fire to purify them.
A bunch of light crackling noises came out, as strands of medicinal strength were extracted and injected back into the congealing medicinal pill.
Time was slowly counting down. Other than Yao Chen, the entire refining area had no other disciples. The ones who should have given up had already given up. Although if they had continued they might have been capable of completing their medicinal pill, but the Great Competition had already finished. If they stayed behind they would only cause people to ridicule them. Under this kind of situation, would there still be anyone else who wished to insist of continuing?
So naturally Yao Chen who was still persevering would become more eye eye-attracting.
"Oh? He's still continuing?" Yao Lan was still performing evaluations when he saw him out of the corner of his eye. His heart faintly trembled, and he took a more attentive glance. What he saw really made him want to let out a bitter laugh; he recognized the pill that Yao Chen was trying to refine as the second tier Azure Flame Pill!
He shook his head, quickly turning his head back. Something like the Azure Flame Pill was incapable of coming up onto this stage. It was something that didn't even require a second glance.
At this time, there were still five people who still needed to be evaluated. Although none of them were the equal of Yao Tong, Li Yanxin, or Zuo Hongle, they were still not bad top rank second tier pills. Comparing to the Azure Flame Pill, although they were the same category as second tier pills, but just in terms of the pill's efficiency and popularity, would just ten times stronger be enough to become equal?
One pill after another passed through the evaluations, and some elders even occasionally nodded their head in satisfaction. This time's clan school's disciples truly had quite a few talents. Although they weren't all super talented geniuses, they could still stand on top of this stage. If put in the inner clan they would be somewhat inferior, but if they went outside the clan then they would be targets that everyone would have to look up to! This too was one of the Yao clan's hidden strengths.
The time was nearly out and Yao Lan had even picked up the last pill bottle. Using his Dou Qi to wrap up the pill, he delicately examined it and in just a short moment he opened his mouth and commented, "Lower tier Amplification Pill, once used, one's Dou Qi will have some minor growth. Second tier Amplification Pill, rank- ordinary."
In terms of pill quality, it would start at ordinary rank, then middle rank, then high rank, and finally top rank. The last rank, top rank, completely lacked any defect. However top rank was something that could be found, but not sought. Whenever a top rank medicinal pill was born, the alchemist would usually keep it for his own personal collection.[i]
The last pill bottle was also the last one to be submitted. A pill that was completed nervously while rushed, to even be able to complete it was not bad, so of course the pill's quality could not be preserved.
Now, Yao Lan put down pill, declaring. "This time's Great Competition…."
Just when he was about to declare that the Great Competition was finished, suddenly a loud booming noise blasted out!
In the refining area, an extremely dense white smoke was flying out!
Yao Lan's words cut off. He looked at Yao Chen's position, and all he could see was the white smoke blocking his vision. From within he could faintly feel the undulations from the Dou Qi. From this feeling, it was probably due to completing the pill.
"Pill energy rushing towards the heavens, this is…."
"Impossible, right?"
"This… he's about to complete the pill?"
"The time! Is it already passed?"
Unexpectedly, when one of the elders turned his head to look towards the hourglass, he saw that the final pieces of sand were currently falling, there were only a couple breaths worth of time left.
However, just at this moment a rumbling noise came out. The pill energy that was rushing towards the heavens returned back and fell back down into the furnace, revolving around a golden yellow medicinal pill that rushed out, landing in a pill bottle in Yao Chen's hand.
"The pill's energy returned to the cauldron, it appears to be top tier." Yao Lan eyes were profound, as his voice seemed to be a bit peculiar. He hadn't thought that Yao Chen would be able to even finish his pill, let alone finishing what appeared to be a top tier pill. Although it might not definitely be top tier, but this kind of accomplishment, in contrast to the events from two years ago, caused Yao Lan to feel a difficult to understand feeling.
The other elders also stopped speaking. Seeing that Yao Chen had collected the medicinal pill, they walked over.
Yao Chen was already completely drained. It weren't for his extremely strong spirit, he would probably have already collapsed. "Respected elders, this pill's name is the Violet Flame Pill."
Yao Lan personally received the pill bottle, saying "Someone come support him to the side to rest."
Luo Shu quickly rushed over from the side, not forgetting to also glare at Shi Bo.
Holding onto Yao Chen, fatty Luo's eyes were incessantly winking, but in front of the school elders he didn't dare to say anything. But his eyes were full of a worshipful enthusiasm, almost to the point where he couldn't hold it in.
Yao Chen also smiled, but nevertheless he was still somewhat anxious looking at Yao Lan.
Yao Lan opened the pill bottle, looking at it with his eyes, a faint white air overflowed from the pill bottle, and spreading with the wind it scattered all around, immediately filling the whole place with the pill's fragrance.
"Good pill!"
A couple of the elders couldn't help but to open their mouths and praise it.
In just a short while, Yao Lan finished his appraisal, placing the violet pill back into the bottle, his eyes appeared to be a little unsteady. It took him quite a while before he opened his mouth to say, "Extremely good, extraordinarily good. This Violet Flame Pill was born from the Azure Flame Pill, and as far as its effectiveness, Yao Chen why don't you say it.
Just this short sentence caused a huge commotion. With elder Yao Lan's nature, unexpectedly he would actually say "extraordinarily good" as an evaluation.
Even Yao Tong only received a "not bad, pretty good" as an evaluation. To think he'd actually say "extraordinarily good," wouldn't that mean that the pill that Yao Chen refined would be superior to Yao Tong's!
This, was it even possible?
Everyone's eyes all landed on Yao Chen.
In this moment, Yao Chen said "Yes elder. This pill is similar to the Azure Flame Pill. It can increase flame attribute techniques' strength, but its different in that the Azure Flame Pill can only increase it by ten percent, but this pill can increase its strength by fifty percent or greater."
Fifty percent! And even greater!
Everyone's gaze seemed to not be able to believe it, "Letting flame attribute techniques increase their strength by fifty percent or greater, wouldn't this kind of effect only be achievable by a fourth tier pill?"
This kind of medicinal pill that could directly increase one's fighting strength was not the same category as body strengthening or healing pills. This category of pill was to be used during battles; if one side's strength suddenly explosively increased by ten or twenty percent, it would definitely decide a life or death battle. Then what about a fifty percent increase?
"Is there a sequelae after?"
At this time, a couple of people opened their mouths as it really was simply too hard to accept as true! Some fellow whose name they hadn't even known had actually refined a pill that they didn't even dare to think about, that apparently could increase one's Dou Qi's strength by fifty percent?
Yao Lan waved his hand, saying, "This pill has never appeared before. It can currently be classified as a third tier pill, as for the other things, there still needs to be a deeper step for evaluation before we can give the final evaluation." Elder Yao Lan's voice seemed somewhat lowered as he declared.
The crowd bursted into rumbling. Elder Yao Lan actually couldn't immediately give the pill an evaluation!
Just what kind of concept was this?
Yao Chen's brilliant performance amazed the crowd!
"Ok, let's stop at this point. This time's Great Competition is formally over, as for the rankings, they will be announced in the evening on the bulletin board of the clan school."
After Yao Lan finished his announcement, he once again gave a profound look towards Yao Chen, as he brought all the elders to leave.
Once the elders left, all the clan school disciples all looked towards Yao Chen with both jealousy and envy; even elder Yao Lan couldn't identify the medicinal pill's level with a quick exam. No matter what the final result was, Yao Chen's reputation within the clan school would definitely rise.
[i] There's rank as in pill quality, and then there's also rank as in the pill is top ranking amongst second tier pills, meaning amongst second tier pills it is more valuable/difficult to refine, but its quality may still be low ranking.