Second Round
Shen Xiang was not surprised by Wu Qianqian's speed. Wu Qianqian herself possessed the Blue Star Fire Soul. People with the Fire Soul were many times better than ordinary people in controlling flames and temperature.
The sand in the hourglass gradually appeared, and the atmosphere on the field became very tense, because some alchemists had not even melted the wax column. This was the most common phenomenon, especially in low-level competitions.
The alchemists in the advanced arena had the highest level, and many of them were able to take out those small red ice particles. As the sand in the hourglass ran out, the first round of competition was over.
The next step is to count the small red ice particles taken out by each alchemist. Those who have not taken out any, or have taken out the least, will be eliminated.
In the advanced competition, Shen Xiang took out the most small ice particles, and finished them very early. The least he had was more than seventy. According to the rules of the first round, the five who took out small ice particles to chase were eliminated.
This made some sixth-stage alchemists feel very regretful, and at the same time they were very jealous of Shen Xiang. The little fifth-stage alchemist actually passed the first level, while they were going to be eliminated. This made them feel very unhappy.
The most people were eliminated in the low-level arenas. Many alchemists were unable to produce ice particles, and nearly half of them were eliminated in an instant.
From this point of view, there are still many people in the low-level arena who are not good at controlling fire. Next is the second round. According to common sense, each round will be more difficult than the previous one.
"Now let's start the second level!"
Madam Li's voice came, and several people came up from each arena, and then placed a large pile of dried herbs in the empty space in the middle of the arena. These herbs looked very low quality, some of them died before they matured, and some were rotten. In the eyes of these alchemists, they were all garbage.
"I know that these are all junk herbs in your eyes, but the content of the second round of the competition requires you to use these herbs to refine pills. Then, you will be eliminated based on the quality, quantity and refining time. The five people with the worst quality pills, the slowest time and the least quantity will be eliminated. Let's start now!"
A small hourglass appeared in Mrs. Li's hand. Although the sand leaked very slowly, it was obvious that there was not much time left, less than the time in the first level.
Shen Xiang was just looking at these junk medicinal herbs. Most of them were herbs for Zhenyuan Pills. It could be seen that Danxiang Taoyuan planted many Zhenyuan Pill herbs.
However, there is a lack of things like Spirit Crystal Milk, which is considered by many people to be an indispensable item for refining Zhenyuan Pills. Of course, you don't have to use it, but the number of pills produced will be very small and the quality will be reduced.
However, when Shen Xiang was refining the Zhenyuan Pill before, he never used the Lingjing Milk, because the Xuanwu Zhenqi he cultivated could condense a liquid similar to the Lingjing Milk.
Shen Xiang walked over and picked out some rotten medicinal herbs.
The main medicinal materials needed for Zhenyuan Pill are Xuanzhen Grass, Wanling Fruit, Lingjing Milk, and Dayuan Nut Kernel. Except for Lingjing Milk, the other three are all available, but they are all very rotten and lack spiritual energy. In order to make up for the lack of spiritual energy, Shen Xiang can only increase the amount of medicinal materials based on his experience.
Many alchemists in other competitions were picking out the garbage while complaining that some alchemists should not use such garbage herbs. Even if they used good ones, they might not be able to succeed in refining them. So this was also a huge challenge for alchemists, no matter if they were high-level or low-level alchemists.
The most common elixir Shen Xiang had ever refined was the Zhenyuan Pill. Although the medicinal materials were a little rotten, it was still not difficult for him at the time. This made him quite disappointed. He was the first person to select good medicinal materials. In order to refine just the right elixir, other alchemists were competing with a group of people to find some slightly better medicinal materials.
There are the most medicinal materials for Zhenyuan Pills here, but no one chooses them because of the lack of Spirit Crystal Milk. Seeing Shen Xiang choosing the medicinal materials for Zhenyuan Pills, Madam Li reminded him: "Mr. Shen, you cannot add your own medicinal materials without permission during the process of refining pills."
There were several old men with sharp eyes watching on the field. These were alchemists of at least the sixth stage. No matter who was doing something under their noses, it would be seen clearly. Madam Li was worried that Shen Xiang didn't know the rules and would be asked to leave.
Chen Xiang smiled: "I know that refining the True Essence Pill does not necessarily require Spirit Crystal Milk to refine it. I have never used this kind of thing when refining the True Essence Pill before."
Madam Li was stunned for a moment, and the other alchemists also looked at Shen Xiang with incredible eyes. Without the Spirit Crystal Milk, the number of pills produced would definitely be less, and the quality would be affected. Wouldn't this be a waste of the medicinal materials for the True Essence Pill?
Like Shen Xiang, Wu Qianqian also chose to refine the Zhenyuan Pill. Shen Xiang had previously taught her how to refine the Zhenyuan Pill, and asked her to learn a technique that could gather spiritual energy and turn it into liquid, so that she could save the step of using the Spirit Crystal Milk, which she had already learned.
The same is true for Yao Haisheng. He is Shen Xiang's apprentice. Shen Xiang has of course taught him some alchemy skills. Now that not many people choose Zhenyuan Pill medicinal materials, they can easily find good medicinal materials from them.
Shen Xiang sat down cross-legged, took out his Flame Dragon Treasure Furnace, and placed it on the low table, waiting for Madam Li and the old men to check. He now began to process the herbs, removing some of the dead parts on the herbs, removing the unwanted skins, and then washing them quickly.
In the blink of an eye, Shen Xiang had finished. His movements were very skillful and quick. While others were still selecting herbs, he had already put them into the alchemy furnace.
Shen Xiang did not use the Spirit Crystal Milk. The old men who were supervising the competition and Madam Li had just carefully checked Shen Xiang's alchemy furnace and did not find anything hidden inside. They just couldn't believe that Shen Xiang really went to refine the True Essence Pill. Without the Spirit Crystal Milk, even if he refined it, the quality would be greatly affected.
On the advanced stage, among the pile of rotten herbs, the highest grade ones are the ones that can be used to refine Zhenyuan. The others are some mid-grade spiritual-grade Wuyuan Pills or Huadu Pills, etc. If it weren't for the lack of spiritual crystal milk, other alchemists would also choose to refine Zhenyuan Pills.
Time is short, and most of the alchemists who select medicinal materials are pursuing perfection, but now they can't just pick some bad medicinal materials to make pills, otherwise they will be eliminated when the time is up. Now some alchemists have regretted it. If they choose to refine the Zhenyuan Pill, they may save more time. Although the Zhenyuan Pill refined is of very poor quality, or even only one pill, it is better than not being able to refine it when the time is up.
The alchemists in the advanced arena were all troubled by this, and the alchemists in other arenas were even more troubled. Most of the alchemists here were participating in the Danxiang Taoyuan alchemy competition for the first time, and this competition was much more difficult than they had imagined.