Chapter 110: The Pill Is Formed

Xu Zhe focused his mind, blocking out the surrounding noise, concentrating solely on the alchemy furnace before him.

He had already merged all the medicinal liquids into one mass and reached the crucial final step: compressing the medicinal properties to form the pill.

Although the formula for the Cosmic Rebirth Pill was not complicated—consisting of only a dozen or so herbs—two of the main ingredients had conflicting natures. One was predominantly yin and cold, while the other leaned toward yang and heat. When combined, their properties would dissipate each other, resulting in a nullification that wasted the entire effort.

Therefore, the other dozen herbs served not only to enhance the medicinal potency but also to mediate this conflict.

They smoothed the transition from yin-cold to yang-heat and back again, creating a small cycle that stabilized the medicinal properties and preserved the maximum potency necessary to compress the liquid into pill form.

Stabilizing the medicinal properties was not difficult—following the formula step by step could easily achieve that.

But once stable, the challenge was how much potency could be retained when forming the pill.

After all, the strength of the medicinal power determined the grade of the pill after it was formed.

With a sudden motion, Xu Zhe slammed the lid onto the furnace and then summoned all his strength to stoke the flames to their highest intensity.

To suppress the conflicting properties, he had to act decisively, quickly solidifying the pill at the moment the properties were balanced.

Simply put, it was like catching the herbs off guard and fusing them all at once.

"Seal the furnace? And increase the heat?" Dong Fang frowned upon seeing Xu Zhe's actions.

Raising the furnace temperature at this moment would only cause the medicinal properties to evaporate faster, accelerating their loss.

How foolish, utterly foolish!

"The traditional alchemy methods have too many drawbacks," Lin Bei shook his head slightly.

He then opened the lid of his own furnace; his pill was out.

As expected, it was only third-grade.

"Dong Fang, I didn’t expect you to have progressed so quickly. To produce a second-grade Cosmic Rebirth Pill with such a challenging formula is impressive," Lin Bei said admiringly.

"It's just the Cosmic Rebirth Pill, not difficult," Dong Fang replied coldly, expressionless.

Lin Bei’s mouth twitched, and he said no more.

The crowd watching eagerly began sending messages on their Wuxiang Jade Tablets.

Everyone knew that the first place in this alchemy competition would undoubtedly be Dong Fang.

"Too bad Gu Shengzhu isn't here; otherwise, this contest for first place would be truly unpredictable."

"Indeed! If Gu Shengzhu also produced a second-grade pill, there might have to be a tiebreaker."

"Too bad she didn’t come. This contest is completely predictable this year. Dong Qian Continent is quite fortunate."

"Beidi Continent isn’t bad either. With Lin Bei’s help, coming in second will bring substantial resources."

The crowd murmured among themselves.

More alchemists completed their pills, opening their furnaces.

But the situation was grim.

Nearly ten percent of the alchemists failed, producing nothing but a black, formless lump instead of a proper pill.

Close to fifty percent managed to produce the Cosmic Rebirth Pill, but their grades hovered around ninth and eighth.

The remaining thirty percent or so mostly produced fifth or sixth-grade pills.

In other words, no one else managed higher than fifth-grade for the Cosmic Rebirth Pill.

"Sigh, this competition has revealed serious problems. We have too few top alchemists among the four continents," one elder sighed.

"It’s already impressive. Without rising stars like Dong Fang and Lin Bei bringing major technical reforms to our alchemy world, even fewer would be able to produce the Cosmic Rebirth Pill."

"True. In the past, using traditional alchemy methods, let alone grade, fewer than ten people could have produced this pill."

Outside the arena, in front of the mansion, a dozen elders whispered among themselves.

The Cosmic Rebirth Pill was different from other pills; due to the conflicting properties, it was very difficult to reach high quality. Dong Fang producing a second-grade pill was already a significant feat.

"Hmm, why is that kid using traditional alchemy still not done?" one elder glanced at Xu Zhe again.

At this point, besides Dong Fang and Lin Bei, the other ninety-nine alchemists had finished.

The disciples of Putuo registered their results.

Only one remained, still controlling their furnace, drawing the attention of everyone present.

"Why is he so slow?"

"Traditional alchemy is garbage. Everyone else is done, and he’s still not finished."

"His furnace temperature is way too high. Even if he manages the Cosmic Rebirth Pill, the grade won’t be high," someone shook their head.

"By the way, that guy is from the Vermilion Bird Army, right?"

"Yes, so Southern Tian Continent will probably come in last again. Without Gu Shengzhu, they sent someone from the Vermilion Bird Army. What a joke."

"Sigh, the disciples from Putuo are disappointing. I just checked—only two Putuo disciples participated, and they only produced fifth-grade pills."

"Western Kun Continent isn’t much better. Their representative also produced fifth-grade pills, but their success rate seems higher than Putuo’s."

"We could just announce the results early. Why wait for that kid?"

"Don’t tell me they’re really going to wait for some traditional alchemy outcome to end the competition?"

The crowd grew restless.

To them, even if Xu Zhe really produced the Cosmic Rebirth Pill, its grade wouldn’t be high, so the ranks among the four continents wouldn’t change.

"I’m leaving," Dong Fang said, packing away her second-grade pills.

According to the competition rules, regardless of final standings, the pills belonged to the alchemists.

She had no patience to wait for the final results and strode toward the exit.

Suddenly, a low rumble echoed from the clouds above, like distant thunder.

Dong Fang and everyone present instinctively looked up.

The once clear sky had gathered dark clouds, with faint lightning arcs flashing between them.

"What? The weather’s changing so fast? Is it going to rain?" someone exclaimed.

"Watch out, thunder’s coming! Bring in your clothes!"

"Something’s strange! These thunderclouds seem oddly familiar," someone frowned.

"Wait, isn’t that a Heavenly Tribulation?" someone suddenly shouted.

"Holy—really a Heavenly Tribulation!"

"Which cultivator is breaking through here, causing trouble?"

"Whoever it is, follow cultivation etiquette and move away!"

People looked around, trying to spot who was causing this Heavenly Tribulation in such a crowded place.

Only the elders in the arena mansion stared wide-eyed and horrified at Xu Zhe.

Their intuition told them this Heavenly Tribulation was directed at him.

No, more precisely, at the pill inside his furnace.

"Could it really be the legendary Pill Tribulation?" one elder trembled.

"It shouldn’t happen. How could a pill draw down a Heavenly Tribulation?"

Suddenly, Xu Zhe slammed his palm on the furnace, producing a deep sound.

The entire furnace trembled; the lid suddenly flew off.

A surge of brilliant radiance erupted from within, dazzling and intense.

Almost simultaneously, a bolt of lightning shot down from the dark clouds above, striking the furnace directly.

"Pill Tribulation, extinguish!" Xu Zhe shouted gravely, as if expected.

He swept his palm, summoning the flames beneath the furnace to surge up inside!

With a tremendous bang, the furnace shook violently again, cracks appearing on its surface.

Flames scattered from the lightning strike, falling onto the ground and scorching blackened patches.

The clouds quickly dispersed, and calm returned.

The radiant light inside the furnace gradually faded, releasing a refreshing, rich medicinal fragrance.

"The pill is complete!" Xu Zhe breathed out, smiling faintly as if it were routine.

This batch of Cosmic Rebirth Pills had finally reached divine-grade.

The key was it had triggered a Pill Tribulation—though only one bolt—but that made it a divine-grade pill with a tribulation mark.

This competition should bring him a very good ranking.

Wait, why is it so quiet around here?

Wasn't it noisy just a moment ago?