94: There are many experts in the alchemy department.

Elder Ice Red let out a cold snort, flicked her sleeve, and the ice chains emitted a crisp clang, instantly silencing the noisy square.

"Gold coins? They mean nothing!"

She raised an eyebrow, her tone carrying undisguised disdain.

"You are people of the Alchemy Department, yet you talk about money incessantly. Aren't you ashamed?"

Everyone immediately fell silent, and the few students who had been bidding the most aggressively blushed deeply.

"An Alchemist should speak through pills."

Elder Ice Red lightly tapped the ice chain with her fingertip. The Wood Flame Howler was stimulated by the cold air and let out a low roar, and the bluish-red flame in its heart pulsed accordingly.

"Today, each of you will refine a batch of pills. The one whose quality is the best—"

Her gaze swept across the entire venue, and the corner of her lips lifted slightly.

"—will claim this fire."

As soon as she finished speaking, the crowd immediately split.

Those First and Second-Grade Alchemists sighed, knowing their strength was insufficient, and retreated sullenly to the periphery.

Meanwhile, Alchemists above the Second-Grade level had their eyes light up and began rubbing their hands together in anticipation.

"Elder is wise!"

A Third-Grade Alchemist laughed loudly.

"It is indeed vulgar for an Alchemist to talk about money!"

"Exactly! We are competing with real ability!"

Another person immediately agreed, already pulling out a Medicine Cauldron from his sleeve.

In the corridor of the Alchemy Department, a series of hurried footsteps approached from far away.

Several junior low-grade Alchemist students stopped panting in front of the deepest alchemy room. Ignoring etiquette, they pounded on the door with their fists: "Bang! Bang! Bang!"

"Senior Brother Jiang! Senior Brother Jiang! Open the door quickly! Something huge has happened!"

Inside the door, pages of books were rapidly turning.

Jiang Donghua frowned slightly, flicked his sleeve, and the book closed.

He slowly walked to the door, pulled it ajar, revealing an indifferent face.

"It seems it's not yet time for me to have you fetch books, is it?"

His voice was calm, but it carried a hint of displeasure at being disturbed.

"It's not books! It's fire! It's Beast Fire!"

The junior students spoke over each other, their words tumbling out rapidly.

"Elder Ice Red captured a Wood Flame Howler! It has dual fire and wood attributes! She's taking its life essence fire while it's alive! It's worth three million gold coins! Now, everyone in the department above Third-Grade is competing in alchemy in the square!"

Before they finished speaking, Jiang Donghua's pupils suddenly contracted.

"Three million gold coins?!"

"Bang!"

The door to the alchemy room was slammed shut violently, nearly hitting the faces of the junior students.

Before they could react, they heard a "swoosh" as something cut through the air.

A cyan figure flashed out from the corridor window, moving so fast that it left behind an afterimage!

"yellow rank high grade Movement Dou Technique — Roaming Cloud Steps!"

Jiang Donghua stepped on the profound footwork, his body like a fleeting cloud, crossing half of the Alchemy Department in just a few movements.

The students along the way only felt a gust of wind pass by, unable to even clearly see the figure.

"Was that Senior Brother Jiang just now?"

Someone rubbed their eyes, looking bewildered.

"Nonsense! Besides him, who else can practice the Roaming Cloud Steps to the pinnacle of perfection?"

In the center of the square, Elder Ice Red seemed to sense something and suddenly turned her head.

Jiang Donghua's figure was like the wind, and in the blink of an eye, he flashed into the center of the square. He swept his gaze around and immediately understood the situation on the field.

Those peak Third-Grade Alchemists who usually concealed their abilities had now brought out all their trump cards.

Some had their palms flying, controlling their pill-fire techniques. Some had ancient Medicine Cauldrons whose body patterns faintly glowed with spiritual light. Others even directly brought out Fourth-Tier medicinal ingredients they had treasured for years, clearly preparing to go all out and attempt to refine a fourth-grade pill!

"Tsk, it really isn't that simple!"

Jiang Donghua frowned slightly, thinking to himself.

He had originally thought that relying on his peak Third-Grade strength, refining a single third-grade mysterious spirit pill would be enough to secure the Wood Flame Howler's life essence fire. But now it seemed these guys were serious, and some had even touched the threshold of a Fourth-Grade Alchemist!

"Since that is the case, don't blame me for not holding back!"

Jiang Donghua took a deep breath, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes.

He fiercely slapped his storage ring.

"Buzz!"

A Medicine Cauldron, entirely earthen yellow and covered in profound runes, slammed onto the ground with a rumble, causing the earth to tremble slightly and subtly radiating a profound aura.

"Fourth-Tier earth spirit cauldron?!"

A chorus of gasps immediately sounded around them.

"Jiang Donghua actually brought out this cauldron too!"

"This is a treasure that can increase the success rate of Earth-attribute pills by twenty percent!"

"It seems he is determined to fight for the Wood Flame Howler's life essence fire!"

Jiang Donghua ignored the surrounding chatter. He flicked his fingertip, and a wisp of deep cyan flame leaped into the cauldron.

His gaze was calm, and he skillfully tossed in medicinal herbs one by one. Every step was incredibly precise, without the slightest hesitation.

Since he was going to compete, he would give it his all!

A fourth-grade pill, it might not be impossible to attempt!

Elder Ice Red stood to the side, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes.

"Now this is getting interesting."

A fierce competition, a clash in the Dao of Alchemy.

An alchemy competition in the square was rare within the Jia Nan Academy.

Especially with so many Third-Grade Alchemists opening their cauldrons simultaneously and displaying their unique skills, it attracted more and more students to watch.

The crowd whispered among themselves, discussing who would ultimately win the precious Wood Flame Howler's life essence fire.

"If you ask me, the most promising person this time is Jiang Donghua!"

A student declared confidently.

"He is a genius who could refine a third-grade pill half a year ago. Now, he might have already touched the threshold of Fourth-Grade!"

"Hmph, that might not be the case."

An older student nearby shook his head and lowered his voice.

"Although Jiang Donghua's talent is high, he has only been in the Alchemy Department for half a year. Don't forget, there is also Chen Yan over there. He trained outside for two years, and when he returned last year, he could already stably refine top-tier third-grade pills."

Everyone followed his gaze and saw a steady-faced middle-aged man whose hands were covered in calluses. He was controlling a dark red Medicine Cauldron, where flames churned, faintly emitting the sound of a tiger's roar.

"What is that thing inherent in that Fourth-Tier Medicine Cauldron?!"

Someone gasped.

"That's right."

The older student said proudly.

"Senior Brother Chen Yan's family heirloom Medicine Cauldron, I heard it was refined using the essence blood of a Fourth-Tier Blazing Tiger and had many rare ores added to it!"

On the other side, a woman wearing a plain white dress stood quietly before her furnace. As she tapped her fingertip, the flame in the Medicine Cauldron was as smooth as flowing water. The medicinal ingredients were perfectly enveloped the moment they entered the cauldron, without a single trace of medicinal power leaking out.

"That's Senior Sister Bai Zhi!"

A female student said excitedly.

"Although she doesn't often make a move, it is said that her Soul Power has already reached the level of a Fourth-Grade Alchemist; she only lacks the record of successfully refining a fourth-grade pill!"

The situation on the field was rapidly changing. Although Jiang Donghua had the Fourth-Tier earth spirit cauldron to assist him, the other veteran Third-Grade Alchemists were by no means mediocre.

Chen Yan's Blazing Tiger Fire was violent and overbearing, Bai Zhi's Soul control was exquisite and meticulous, and several other experienced Alchemists were proceeding steadily, their pill quality not inferior in the slightest.

Elder Ice Red stood with her hands clasped behind her back, her gaze wandering among the crowd, the corner of her mouth slightly raised as she spoke softly.

"This is interesting. If it were a one-sided situation, it would be boring."