358: The difference is immediately apparent.

Nangong Yun's face turned deathly pale. This was already a top-grade Medicinal Pill, meaning the quality had reached its limit.

"What should we do now?" Nangong Jin frowned inwardly.

Even her Revered Master, Nangong Yue, felt uneasy in her heart. She had never expected her father to perform so exceptionally.

Even if Xiao Chen refined a top-grade nascent soul condensing elixir, it would only result in a tie, unless his refining time was shorter than her father's.

"Xiao Chen, let's see how you win this now! Hahaha..." Nangong Lie laughed unrestrainedly from the side.

"Alas, this lad is still too young." Another Nascent Soul Elder sighed beside him, feeling regretful.

Xiao Chen stood up, his expression calm and composed, and slowly walked over, placing one hand behind his back.

"Overall, it's not bad. However, it still needs some improvement. If the purification step was a bit more meticulous, and less of the essence was wasted, it would be even better."

"Hmph!"

Nangong Bo snorted coldly and glanced at him disdainfully. "You brat, you're actually starting to critique now. It's your turn!"

Throughout the entire Cangxuan Continent, at the Alchemy Competition held in Dan City every fifty years, Nangong Bo was always the chief judge. Only he had the right to judge others.

Xiao Chen shook his head. He had originally intended to offer some advice, but the other party was unwilling to accept it.

Therefore, he no longer delayed and directly walked onto the Alchemy Platform, sat down cross-legged, and with a wave of his hand, fifteen medicinal ingredients floated in mid-air.

A strand of Divine Thought enveloped the Pill Furnace, precisely controlling everything inside it.

His left hand surged with thick Pure Yang Origin Qi, transforming into a raging golden flame, while his right hand released a dark, Destruction Black Flame.

Pushing both palms forward, two torrents of flame, one gold and one black, surged out and directly enveloped the Pill Furnace before him.

The furnace lid slowly opened, and the first batch of medicinal ingredients flew into it one after another. Under the precise control of the two flames, they visibly transformed into medicinal liquid.

This novel method of Alchemy instantly attracted the attention of everyone present. They all craned their necks, watching intently without blinking.

Even Nangong Bo couldn't help but glance sideways. He could naturally see that Xiao Chen's Alchemy technique had reached a level of mastery.

Merely half an hour later, the second batch of medicinal ingredients flew into the Pill Furnace.

"This... this... so fast!" Nangong Xiao's eyes widened as he exclaimed in a low voice.

"Hmph!"

Nangong Lie said disdainfully, "His Alchemy technique is indeed extremely proficient, but the smelting time is clearly insufficient. Just wait for the furnace to explode!"

"Yes, yes. After all, he's too young, too eager for quick success." The other Elders also chimed in softly in agreement.

The three sisters, Nangong Jin, Nangong Yun, and Nangong Yue, remained silent throughout, only watching Xiao Chen's demeanor.

Nangong Bo gently stroked his beard and sighed inwardly, "You brat, daring to look down on everyone. This time, I'll teach you a lesson."

Yet, from beginning to end, Xiao Chen remained calm and composed. With a thought, the furnace lid opened again, and the third batch of medicinal ingredients flew inside.

"This kid, is he crazy?"

Nangong Lie whispered to the several Elders beside him, "In such a short time, the previous batch of ingredients probably hasn't finished smelting, and he's already thrown in the next batch."

Some Nascent Soul Elders also nodded, expressing agreement.

Nangong Jin leaned close to Nangong Yue's ear, lowering her voice to the minimum: "Third Sister, can his Alchemy method like this succeed?"

"I don't know either." Nangong Yue also shook her head. Although she was a Fourth-Grade Alchemist, she had never seen this kind of Alchemy technique.

However, just as everyone was still whispering and discussing, Xiao Chen had already begun the quenching and purification steps.

Threads of the medicinal ingredients' fragrance began to waft from the Pill Furnace, and as time passed, the aroma grew increasingly rich.

At this point, Nangong Lie and those Nascent Soul Elders began to show expressions of astonishment. In such a short time, an ordinary person should still be in the smelting stage.

Yet, the medicinal fragrance emanating from Xiao Chen's Pill Furnace meant he had already reached the third step, the purification stage.

"Hmm?"

Nangong Bo turned around, a trace of confusion flashing in his old eyes. His originally calm and composed heart was now in turmoil.

"Oh!"

A glimmer of hopeful light flashed in Nangong Jin's beautiful eyes. The three sisters exchanged glances, and joy began to show on their lovely faces.

In the purification step, Xiao Chen achieved perfection, flawlessly separating the Impurities from the essence without wasting the slightest bit of the medicinal ingredients.

The Impurities were incinerated into nothingness under the smelting of the two flames, while the medicinal essence remained suspended within the Pill Furnace.

At this moment, a thick, viscous purple medicinal liquid churned continuously in the air inside the furnace.

The final step, Pill Condensation!

Xiao Chen precisely controlled the heat, causing this thick purple medicinal liquid to divide into three droplets, gradually evaporating the slight amount of moisture within them.

An unparalleled pill fragrance instantly filled the entire Alchemy Pavilion, several times richer than when Nangong Bo was refining earlier.

Everyone slowly stepped forward, their eyes fixed intently on Xiao Chen's Pill Furnace. The slightest mistake could lead to a furnace explosion.

By now, Nangong Bo was already sitting on pins and needles, sweat unconsciously beading on his forehead.

He sighed inwardly, blaming himself for acting on impulse.

Just as everyone was marveling in admiration, Xiao Chen slowly withdrew his palms.

The furnace lid opened, and three perfectly round purple pills flew out from the Pill Furnace, hovering before everyone's eyes.

Their shimmering purple luster and unparalleled pill fragrance left no doubt—they were also of supreme grade.

"Yes! Fantastic!"

Nangong Jin made a victory gesture, jumping for joy, her twin jade peaks swaying with breathtaking arcs.

Nangong Yun and Nangong Yue also wore joyful expressions.

"This... this... is also a top-grade nascent soul condensing elixir!"

Nangong Xiao was so shocked he bit his tongue. By now, the various Elders of the Nangong Family were utterly speechless with astonishment.

Nangong Lie, who had been eagerly anticipating Xiao Chen's furnace explosion in his heart, shamefully lowered his head.

Using the same set of medicinal ingredients, producing the same top-grade nascent soul condensing elixir, yet Xiao Chen only used three hours and refined three pills in one batch.

A clear distinction in skill!

Xiao Chen slowly stood up and waved his hand. The three nascent soul condensing pills hovered before Nangong Bo.

By now, Nangong Bo was completely frozen in place, his eyes vacant and dull, devoid of his previous high spirits.

Xiao Chen sighed inwardly. Had he accidentally made this old man shut down?

But upon second thought, he had once been renowned throughout the Cangxuan Continent. He probably wasn't that fragile.

"Old man, I should be the winner, right?"

"Mm." Nangong Bo nodded stiffly, forcing out an awkward smile.

"Then, I want to marry Nangong Jin, Nangong Yun, and Nangong Yue. No problem, right?"

"No problem."

"And what you said yourself—if I won, you would give the Nangong Family to me. Does that still count?"

"It counts!"

Nangong Bo gritted his teeth inwardly and said resolutely, turning and shouting outside the pavilion: "Attendants, bring paper and brush."

As soon as these words were spoken, all the Nascent Soul Elders rushed forward, their faces filled with anxiety: "Supreme Family Head, you mustn't, you mustn't do this!"