96: Take down the fourth-tier beast fire

Time flowed, and the atmosphere in the square grew increasingly tense.

Those Third-Grade Alchemists successively completed their refining; some pills took shape, while others turned to ash due to uncontrolled heat, exiting the stage in dismay.

However, everyone's gaze remained firmly fixed on the three individuals in the center of the arena who could refine fourth-grade pills: Jiang Donghua, Bai Zhi, and Chen Yan!

"Hahahaha! It's done!"

Suddenly, a burst of wild laughter broke the silence!

Senior Brother Chen Yan's Crimson Flame Tiger Cauldron shook violently, its lid shot into the sky, and a rich, powerful pill fragrance instantly swept across the entire venue!

"body protection pill, congeal!"

He formed hand seals, and the flames within the cauldron abruptly retracted. A pill, entirely crimson with faint tiger stripes flowing across its surface, slowly rose and hovered above the cauldron's mouth.

"Hiss~ It really worked!"

"A fourth-grade pill! This is a treasure that can make a Dou Ling Expert's physical body as formidable as a magical beast's!"

"Just smelling the pill's fragrance makes my blood boil. If I were to eat it, wouldn't I be able to withstand a Dou Wang Expert's strike?"

Everyone exclaimed in awe, their eyes filled with envy and reverence.

Senior Brother Chen Yan smiled proudly, reaching out to grasp the body protection pill, which settled steadily into his palm.

He scanned his surroundings, his gaze finally landing on Jiang Donghua and Bai Zhi, who were still refining pills, a sneer playing on his lips.

"It seems I've taken the lead in this competition!"

"Hmph, what are you so proud of?"

Bai Zhi snorted coldly. In her Medicine Cauldron, the clear and tranquil pill fragrance grew even richer, and the flames within were as gentle as flowing water, clearly indicating the final pill-congealing stage.

"clear spirit profound pill, congeal!"

She lightly tapped her fingertip, and the cauldron lid opened. A pill, entirely emerald green with faint silver patterns on its surface, slowly rose. Its fragrance was crisp and refreshing, invigorating the spirit as if the Soul Power had been cleansed!

"Heavens! It's the clear spirit profound pill!"

"This is a top-grade pill that can enhance Soul Power. For an Alchemist, its value is even higher than the body protection pill!"

"Senior Sister Bai Zhi is truly amazing!"

Bai Zhi smiled faintly, placing the pill into a jade bottle, but her gaze involuntarily drifted towards Jiang Donghua.

"Now, it's up to Jiang Donghua..."

The entire venue fell silent, all eyes focused on the earth spirit cauldron.

Jiang Donghua remained fully concentrated, beads of sweat continuously dripping from his forehead. Yet, his flames grew increasingly intense, the crimson-gold fire shimmering within the cauldron as if alive, perfectly fusing the essence of the medicinal ingredients.

Time passed by, minute by minute, and the atmosphere in the square grew even more solemn.

Everyone's gaze was fixed on Jiang Donghua's earth spirit cauldron. Inside, the crimson-gold flames churned ceaselessly, and vaguely, a pill could be seen slowly rotating within, emitting a heart-palpitating energy fluctuation.

"The fire spirit pill truly lives up to its name as a violently potent pill. If not for the special material of this fourth-grade Medicine Cauldron, the earth spirit cauldron, which can withstand the pill's impact, it would have exploded long ago!"

Someone sighed in a low voice, their eyes filled with shock.

"Yes, Brother Jiang's previous cauldron explosion was probably because the Medicine Cauldron couldn't withstand the fire spirit pill's violent power."

"But now, the most dangerous period has passed!"

"Hiss--"

The flames inside the cauldron gradually stabilized, the crimson-gold light retracted, and the pill's outline became increasingly clear.

Sweat had long soaked Jiang Donghua's clothes, but his gaze grew even more resolute.

"Nourish, just a little longer."

He took a deep breath, unleashing his full Soul Power, carefully controlling the flame's temperature, allowing the pill to slowly warm and mature within the cauldron, ensuring the perfect fusion of its medicinal properties.

After more than ten minutes.

"It's done!"

Jiang Donghua suddenly opened his eyes, a confident smile playing on his lips.

"Rise!"

He let out a low shout, formed hand seals, and the cauldron lid burst open!

"Boom!"

A crimson-gold pillar of light shot into the sky, and the scorching flames condensed into a phantom fire dragon in mid-air, circling and roaring. It finally transformed into a pill, entirely crimson with flame patterns flowing across its surface, hovering above the cauldron's mouth!

"fourth-grade pill—the fire spirit pill!"

The entire venue instantly erupted!

"Oh my god! It really worked!"

"The power of this pill is even stronger than Senior Brother Chen Yan's body protection pill and Senior Sister Bai Zhi's clear spirit profound pill!"

"Senior Jiang won!"

"Hmph, it's just good luck!"

Senior Brother Chen Yan's face was grim, a hint of unwillingness flashing in his eyes.

Bai Zhi, however, slightly narrowed her eyes, muttering softly.

"The fire spirit pill, truly lives up to its reputation."

"Hahahaha! Good! Good! Good!"

Elder Ice Red laughed heartily as she stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the pill in Jiang Donghua's hand, nodding in satisfaction.

"Jiang Donghua, you truly didn't disappoint your eccentric master!"

"The winner of this competition is—Jiang Donghua!"

In the square, there was a moment of silence.

Everyone's gaze was fixed on the crimson-gold fire spirit pill in Jiang Donghua's hand. The pill body was blood-red, with flame patterns flowing across its surface, faintly exuding a heart-palpitating, violent energy.

There was no need for the Elder to judge; everyone present already had the answer in their hearts!

Senior Brother Chen Yan's face fluctuated between gloom and brightness. Finally, he took a deep breath, forced a smile, cupped his fists, and said.

"Brother Jiang's alchemy skills are exquisite; Chen Yan is impressed!"

Bai Zhi's eyes were complex. After a moment of silence, she also nodded slightly, softly saying.

"The fire spirit pill is indeed worthy of its fame. Senior Brother Donghua, congratulations."

The winner needs no more words!

He merely nodded slightly in response to their congratulations.

Jiang Donghua smiled calmly, placed the pill into a jade bottle, and his gaze swept across the entire venue, finally landing on Elder Ice Red.

In the square, the atmosphere suddenly froze.

Everyone's gaze was focused on Elder Ice Red, this Eight-star Dou Wang, whose body was enveloped in chilling ice-attribute Dou Qi. Just standing there, she caused the surrounding temperature to subtly drop by several degrees.

"Wood Flame Howler, it's time to extract the fire."

She spoke indifferently, her voice clear and cold like an ice spring, yet carrying an undeniable authority.

"Boom!"

Elder Ice Red flicked her sleeve, and a stream of ice-blue Dou Qi shot out, instantly freezing the Wood Flame Howler, whose limbs were already frozen, step by step!

Within the ice coffin, a massive magical beast, the Wood Flame Howler, was indeed sealed!

This Dou Ling Level fierce beast was now like an ice sculpture, its entire body covered in thick profound ice, its life force almost completely frozen. Only in its crimson Beast Fire eyes did a trace of terror and despair remain.

"Hiss, is this the power of a Dou Wang Expert?!"

"To be able to freeze a Dou Ling Level magical beast to such an extent!"

"The Wood Flame Howler is a fire-attribute magical beast! Yet, it was suppressed by ice-attribute Dou Qi without any power to resist?!"

The surrounding students gasped, their eyes filled with shock.

"Original Fire, extract."

Elder Ice Red's gaze turned cold, and she lightly tapped her fingertip.

"Crack—"

The ice coffin suddenly shattered, and the Wood Flame Howler's massive body crumbled piece by piece like a fragile ice sculpture!

Strangely, there was no blood, no screams, not even a hint of struggle!

Its flesh, bones, and fur all turned into crystalline ice crystals under the erosion of the ice-attribute Dou Qi, scattering like dust!

Only its heart remained suspended in mid-air!

The heart's surface was covered with a thin layer of ice, but inside, a wisp of green-yellow flame faintly glowed, scorching and violent, ready to break through the ice seal at any moment!

"Is this the Wood Flame Howler's Original Fire?!"

"Oh my god! It's actually possible to directly extract a magical beast's Original Fire!"

"Elder Ice Red's ice control technique is simply terrifying!"

The students' eyes widened, staring intently at the frozen heart. The flames within the heart pulsed, containing endless energy.

"Jiang Donghua."

Elder Ice Red's gaze turned to Jiang Donghua, and she said indifferently.

"This fire is yours."

She flicked her finger, and the frozen heart slowly floated towards Jiang Donghua.

"With your current flame control ability, coupled with the assistance of the earth spirit cauldron, refining this fire should not be difficult."

Jiang Donghua took a deep breath, solemnly accepted it, and said in a deep voice.

"Thank you, Elder!"

At this moment, everyone understood that Jiang Donghua was truly about to rise!

Possessing the Wood Flame Howler's Original Fire, his alchemy skills were bound to reach a new level!