Chapter 179: Second Round of Assessment

The large bluestone platform suddenly trembled slightly, and the previously protruding testing machine retracted once again. On the tidy stone platform, a large pile of organized medicinal herbs and a scroll of a pill formula slowly floated up. 

This time, the pill formula was an orthodox one. 

Third-grade pill, Windwalking Pill. 

Effect: It can make the person who consumes it have a heightened sensitivity to wind attribute energy between heaven and earth for a short period, which can result in an increased movement speed. 

According to the description in the pill formula, refining the Windwalking Pill requires the fusion of nine types of medicinal ingredients. Though not a lot, it's not a small amount either. It is a very standard third-grade pill. 

With the scan of spiritual force, precise data and content were quickly grasped by the contestants. Each important notice needed during the refining process was fully recorded. As the content was extracted, the writing on the pill formula became slightly blurred. 

Obviously, this pill formula was made rather crudely, only capable of being read two or three times before losing its effect. 

With a refining level of third-grade and a detailed pill formula, as well as two complete sets of medicinal ingredients provided by the event, the refining process should not be difficult. 

Because of this, contestants felt somewhat puzzled. 

The test was too simple. 

As long as one is a third-grade alchemist, with some caution and decent luck, they should be able to pass smoothly, right? 

But is it really that simple now? 

In a secluded corner of the plaza, a grey-robed youth looked at the scroll in his hand, a mocking smile appearing at the corner of his mouth: "Just a little trick. The Alchemist Guild of the Jia Ma Empire has only this much skill?" 

Almost instantly, he discovered the trap hidden within the pill formula. 

And on the central bluestone platform, Xiao Yan quickly noticed the hidden trap in the pill formula too. 

There was an ingredient whose attributes seemed somewhat incompatible with the Windwalking Pill's attributes. 

A faint smile appeared on Xiao Yan's lips. She glanced at Xiao Yan, not far away, who had already started a fire to refine the medicinal ingredients without noticing any issues, and frowned slightly. 

Then, her brows relaxed as she stopped paying attention to Xiao Yan and began her own pill refining. 

If Xiao Yan couldn't even pass this test, then he wasn't worthy of being her opponent. 

... 

Many contestants felt quite happy after reading the pill formula due to the seemingly easy test. 

They quickly started fires and began preparing to refine the medicinal ingredients. 

Of course, among these alchemists, there were naturally some meticulous and cautious individuals. This sudden simplicity in the test caught them off guard. 

But after hesitating over the pill formula for some time and still finding nothing wrong, they had no choice but to shake their heads helplessly and start the fire carefully. 

Even Liu Ling and the Little Princess shared a slight frown as they began their refining process. They knew it wouldn't be this simple, yet they couldn't identify the problem. 

As the refining process commenced once more for everyone, the noisy discussions in the audience gradually quieted down. 

In the VIP section, Fa Ma stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze directly locked onto the gray-robed youth in the secluded corner of the plaza. 

Watching the skilled and practiced technique of the other party during pill refining, even more seasoned than some elders in the guild, 

"Such skilled technique is something that cannot be achieved without decades of immersion." 

He frowned and sighed softly before directing his gaze toward Xiao Yan and the other three, softly muttering, "I hope these four little fellows can pass this stage as well. You all must not be careless." 

... 

Time slowly passed. 

Several competent contestants started extracting the essences of the nine necessary medicinal ingredients. 

After a moment of hesitation, some gritted their teeth and poured the extracted essences into their cauldrons, commencing the essence fusion and the final pill formation. 

Xian'er's process was similar to the gray-robed youth's. 

Only Xiao Yan and three others, wary of unexpected issues, opted for a cautious stance, slowing their pace and choosing to observe. 

After a while, everything seemed to be in order. 

"It seems like there are no problems." 

The three exchanged glances, each taking out their well-preserved medicinal essences from the cauldron and storing them in jade bottles. 

After a short contemplation, right as they were about to pour the essences into the cauldron to begin fusing them, 

But it was at this moment that something unexpected happened. 

Bang! 

With a slight muffled sound, the scene caught everyone's attention. 

It was evidently a failed pill formation. 

"How is this possible? I clearly followed the pill formula step by step. How could it fail?" the alchemist muttered to himself in confusion. 

After a while, without an answer, he concluded that the failure was due to his mistake in controlling the heat and promptly cleared the ashes before starting the refining process with his last set of ingredients. 

Xiao Yan and the others squinted slightly. 

"Something seems off." 

After some deliberation without an answer, Liu Ling and the Little Princess chose to begin the material fusion. 

Conversely, Xiao Yan remained still, opting for further observation due to his caution. 

... 

As time continued to flow slowly. 

On the plaza, muffled sounds began to arise one after another from the cauldron, indicating increasing failures. 

Those failing alchemists looked bewildered at the black ashes scattered from the bottom of their cauldrons, their faces full of confusion. 

At this point, with so many failed attempts, everyone knew something was definitely wrong. 

Yet, it was clear that these bewildered alchemists didn't know where they went wrong exactly. 

Whispers began to spread in the audience. 

Bang! Bang! 

With two more muffled sounds, Liu Ling and the Little Princess failed as well. 

At this moment, even fools realized something was wrong. 

Almost everyone on the site turned into silent onlookers, exchanging confused glances, with no one daring to make a move easily. 

For those who failed once, only one last chance remained. 

Shortly thereafter, 

Bang! 

Another dull sound resonated. 

The third-grade alchemist who had failed before still ended in failure during his second fusion attempt. 

He looked grimly at the black ashes falling from the cauldron. His jade mirror shone with a red light, signaling he had exhausted both sets of materials and was officially eliminated. 

Seeing his outcome, those who were unconvinced and intended to continue were frightened into restraint, not daring to waste their last set of materials. 

The first eliminated third-grade alchemist left with a livid face. Still, everyone could vaguely hear his relentless mutterings: "Damn, how could I fail again? I controlled the flame well, so why can't they fuse?" 

Watching him leave, everyone else dared not act recklessly. 

Only Xiao Yan started the essence fusion process, intending to experience firsthand what was causing so many contestants to fail. 

All eyes were on Xiao Yan, with the absence of alternatives, they could only hope he'd figure out the problem. 

Under everyone's gaze, the medicinal essences merged seamlessly without resistance. 

But as Xiao Yan's expression changed, the flames in the cauldron surged vigorously, resulting in another muffled sound. 

Some black ash trickled down the bottom of the cauldron. 

"Sigh~" The people in the scene let out a disappointed sigh. 

Xiao Yan opened his eyes and quickly replayed the scenario of the fusion in his mind. 

After a moment of reflection, his eyes stopped on the scroll on the stone platform, and he lightly mumbled with clenched fists, "Damn it, there is indeed an issue with the pill formula." 

He had faintly discovered the source of the problem. 

The old folks of the guild just loved to play these tricks. 

"Heh, a bunch of mediocrities!" 

A mocking low chuckle suddenly echoed across the quiet plaza. 

Everyone turned their heads angrily.