Chapter 159: Untitled

"Oh? Master Wei has friends outside? No need to trouble your wife; I can go." The third-grade alchemist in charge of arranging the assessment quickly stood up.

"Qing Lin is a bit shy; I'll go," Xian'er smiled and declined him, turning to walk towards the door.

Refining the Dou Ling Pill can take quite a while without using a different fire, possibly a day and a night.

Therefore, it's impossible to let Qing Lin wait outside alone.

...

After this little interlude, Wei Yang paid it no further mind and stepped directly onto the platform.

With a wave of his hand, he moved the standard alchemy cauldron aside, and then with a flip of his hand—

Bang!

A bronze cauldron, taller than a person, fell onto the platform.

"Nice cauldron!"

Naturally, among the crowd, there was no shortage of discerning individuals whose eyes lit up at this sight, all silently praising it in their hearts.

Wei Yang waved his hand, took out a mat, and sat cross-legged after lifting his robe, stretching out his hand.

With a thought—

Poof~

A mass of pure black flame leaped into his palm and was then tossed into the cauldron, burning fiercely.

This wasn't the Black Sun Burning Heaven Flame, just a Dou Qi flame, but it carried some characteristics of the former, making its temperature higher than ordinary Dou Qi flames, comparable to a slightly weaker sixth-grade beast fire.

During the warming of the cauldron, Wei Yang waved his hand again, and a dozen jade bottles and boxes appeared, landing on the ground beside him.

It's somewhat amusing to say.

In his possession, the most abundant and complete set of ingredients were for the Dou Ling Pill.

He had several complete sets, including the ones he collected before and the three sets he traded with the Snake People and Medusa.

He had also promised to refine one for Ya Fei, for which she provided three sets of ingredients.

Therefore, the one he was about to refine now, barring any accidents, would be handed to Ya Fei, returning two sets of ingredients to him.

After scanning over the ingredients to ensure there were no issues, Wei Yang closed his eyes slightly, resting.

Although it wasn't the first time refining the Dou Ling Pill without a different fire, he had to give it his all.

Failing would be embarrassing, wasting ingredients and losing face.

Though everyone could understand, failure was not an option in this setting.

...

A moment later.

The door opened slightly, and Xian'er entered with a curious Qing Lin and a slightly reserved Ya Fei.

How could Ya Fei miss such an occasion?

After asking Xian'er and hearing that a group of alchemical masters had gathered and that Wei Yang was about to demonstrate his alchemy, Ya Fei refused to leave and joined in shamelessly.

Xian'er did not refuse, as they came together, and since Ya Fei wanted to enter, she brought her along.

Once inside the hall, she quickly saw Wei Yang perched on the stage, while the front row was full of renowned guild elders.

Ya Fei dared not even breathe heavily, carefully lightening her steps.

Despite her efforts, the sharp clicks of her high heels echoed through the silent and solemn hall, drawing slightly displeased glances.

Even Wei Yang on the stage looked over, slightly opening his eyes.

Ya Fei lowered her head, nearly burying her chin in her chest, inwardly cursing her choice of footwear that day.

"Madam Wei and the two ladies, please sit here," the third-grade alchemist stood and quietly called, indicating a spot beside him.

In the second row, two spots were specially reserved, and when he stood, the third spot became available.

As for himself, he silently moved to sit in the third row.

Xian'er smiled and nodded at him, leading the two women to sit in the second row.

...

Time slowly passed.

None present showed any impatience; instead, they were as tranquil as meditating monks, quietly waiting.

Finally, after another brief moment.

The eyes of the bigwigs in the front row lifted slightly, a glint in their gaze.

At that moment, Wei Yang also nearly simultaneously opened his eyes.

The cauldron was ready.

He formed a seal with his hands.

Boom~

The flames in the cauldron surged, blazing even higher.

With a thought—

Whoosh~

A dozen jade bottles and boxes opened.

The containing herbs floated up, revolving slowly around Wei Yang.

Such a scene.

Could it be!

Indeed.

As soon as the thought crossed their minds—

Swoosh~

The floating ingredients flew entirely into the cauldron.

Blaze~

The black flame swept over, dividing into a dozen parts, each enshrouding a piece of herb, beginning to burn and purify with clear division and no interference.

Immediately, within the cauldron, a strange sight occurred, as if a dozen small black suns were floating, revolving slowly.

This sight.

Hiss~

A series of gasps rose from below.

Everyone was astounded by this skill.

This was the Dou Ling Pill!

Every ingredient was precious, not to mention the strict requirements on fire, temperature, and time—no room for error.

Yet Master Wei dared to refine them all at once?!

Either he was immensely skillful and confident.

Or purely unaware of the sky's height, seeking attention.

Would Wei Yang be oblivious to the world's standards? 

Clearly not.

Not in this setting; no one would risk recklessness.

Seeing Wei Yang's calm demeanor, not appearing strained but rather accustomed, it was clear he handled the process with ease.

Therefore, everyone was stunned, followed by profound admiration.

"Such advanced and profound fire control skills!"

"So, he's already reached this level?" Chairman Fa Ma murmured, eyes complicated with joy, comfort, and some self-mockery.

He chuckled bitterly, shaking his head, sighing, "I'm not as good as him; the gap isn't minor... It's a waste of my years."

Beside him, Vice Chairman Qiemeier also chuckled bitterly, endlessly admiring, "If even the Chairman says so, aren't our gaps much larger? It's astonishingly amazing!"

"..." Various elders nodded.

The open praise from both guild leaders, loudly voiced, shocked everyone further.

Ya Fei was nearly frightened out of her wits.

Never had she imagined that the Mr. Wei she'd known and interacted with for years, seemingly easygoing, calm, and without much of an air, could be this impressive—a greater presence than she imagined!

Xian'er and Qing Lin, however, remained calm, used to such demonstrations.

Wei Yang often operated this way.

In their minds, they believed alchemy should be handled as such, seeing nothing strange.

After all, Wei Yang once said—

Alchemy should be about throwing all ingredients in and refining them together.

Unless it's a special formula or herb needing special treatment.

Otherwise, processing one at a time is troublesome, wasting time.

Can't handle it?

Struggling means your alchemical skills are insufficient—even forced attempts lead mostly to failure.

When struggling, it's best not to waste ingredients; learn more, grow stronger, then attempt refining.

That's why most alchemists, even when refining pills of their grade, have success rates of at most thirty percent, perhaps even less.

They stand at that grade struggle with it.

Having a thirty percent success chance is already part of that grade.

Wei Yang disagreed with this.

His view was, without more than a fifty percent certainty, one shouldn't act or claim that grade.

Lack of skill is lack of skill; don't flatter oneself—without fifty percent confidence, how dare they waste ingredients claiming that grade?

Xian'er deeply agreed.

In her mind, wasting so many ingredients was shameful.

If three sets of ingredients can't ensure one pill, such waste is despicable.

...

Time flowed.

Soon, a day and night passed.