386: Missed a question

However, what surprised Lu Xingchen even more was yet to come.

When he carefully read the Pill Formula, he found that the Pill Formula given to him by Medicine King Valley was different from the one provided by the System Shop.

The Pill Formula from Medicine King Valley had an extra ingredient called “Azure Spirit Stone”.

The System Shop certainly wouldn't make a mistake, so it could only be that Medicine King Valley had made one.

But this Alchemist Convention was personally overseen by Peng Yue, so there shouldn't be a flaw in such a crucial detail.

Then there was only one answer: Medicine King Valley intentionally provided a wrong Pill Formula to test the Alchemists' practical abilities.

After the first failed alchemy attempt, only those who dared to question Medicine King Valley, possessed rich alchemy experience, and could identify the extra ingredient, would have a chance to pass the first test.

Lu Xingchen nodded to himself.

It seems Medicine King Valley takes this competition very seriously, setting such a difficult test for the first stage.

Fortunately, with the help of the System, this first stage posed no difficulty for Lu Xingchen at all.

He immediately took out his Medicine Cauldron and began refining.

As Lu Xingchen expected, only half of the young Alchemists participating in the convention were Seventh-Grade Alchemists, while the other half were Sixth-Grade Alchemists.

When those Sixth-Grade Alchemists saw the Pill Formula, a wave of despair washed over them, and without even attempting, they all jumped off the stone platform.

It should be known that the Rank System of the Tianyuan Continent is extremely strict; a Sixth-Grade Alchemist absolutely cannot refine a seventh-grade Medicinal Pill, not even Lu Xingchen could do it.

Peng Yue amplified his voice with Qi and said in a deep tone, “Contestants who voluntarily withdraw may leave Medicine King Valley on their own, or continue to watch the competition in the Sect Plaza.”

Not a single person chose to leave.

All the withdrawn contestants gathered above the Sect Plaza; they wanted to see what kind of demeanor those young Alchemists who could pass the first test possessed.

Meanwhile, on the high platform at the top of the stone pillars, Peng Yue and the ten Elders were watching the competition and discussing.

Peng Yang lightly coughed and said in a deep voice, “Father, oh no, Valley Master. Is the difficulty of our first stage too high? Only extremely excellent Seventh-Grade Alchemists might be able to pass this test, and the pass rate might not even reach one-tenth.”

“If outsiders knew, they might think our Medicine King Valley lacks influence and only attracts novice young Alchemists.”

Peng Yue shook his head slightly and chuckled, “Xiao Yang, don't worry too much. Medicine King Valley's actions do not need to be explained to outsiders. What they think or do is not important.”

“The last ten years have been the most prosperous ten years for the Human Race's Nine Provinces, with countless young Prodigies. You should know that the title of the eight prodigies of the central province never existed before. Yet, in our era, eight have appeared simultaneously, towering above the Prodigies of various Sects and kingdoms.”

“So I deliberately increased the difficulty of the competition, precisely to simply and directly find the true powerhouses.”

Hearing this, Peng Yang's expression froze, then he nodded slightly.

“Valley Master, I understand!”

Peng Yue continued, “This Pill Formula for the calamity breaking pill hasn't been leaked, has it? I wouldn't want outsiders to say that our Medicine King Valley practices favoritism.”

Peng Yang nodded slightly and said with a smile, “Valley Master, rest assured. This Pill Formula has only been seen by the Elders within the Sect who are responsible for refining it. No Disciple within the Sect, including Xiao Yu, has seen it. Even our Medicine King Valley's participating Disciples will be tested equally.”

Just then, Peng Ling, who was beside them, raised his hand and said with a wry smile, “Valley Master, the Pill Formula might have already been leaked.”

Hearing this, everyone on the high platform was greatly surprised.

Peng Yue frowned and said in a deep voice, “What's going on? I personally chose the Pill Formula, and the Materials were handled entirely by Xiao Yang. Even the other nine Elders didn't know about it, so how could it have been leaked?”

Peng Ling said with a wry smile, “Precisely because I didn't know the Pill Formula, I didn't remind anyone. Lu Dazhuang of Lingyun Sect also has the Pill Formula for the calamity breaking pill; he took it out during the arena match against Qingnang Sect. I don't know how he obtained it.”

Peng Yue pondered for a moment, then said softly, “It's a very low-probability event, but not impossible. This Pill Formula for the calamity breaking pill wasn't developed by our Medicine King Valley; rather, a Senior obtained it in a Secret Realm, and it has been passed down to this day.”

“Since our Medicine King Valley could obtain it, Lu Dazhuang, as Jiang Taishen's fourth Personal Disciple, might also have obtained it. However, a Pill Formula is extremely important to an Alchemist, so Lu Dazhuang likely wouldn't spread it.”

“He is in a competitive relationship with other contestants and shouldn't remind them. Knowing the test in advance would only benefit him alone.”

Peng Yang snorted coldly.

“That guy really got off easy, passing the first stage so effortlessly!”

Peng Yue chuckled, “Being able to obtain the Pill Formula is also Lu Dazhuang's skill. I am quite curious about him and want to know how far this young man can go.”

After reading the Pill Formula, many contestants took out their Medicine Cauldrons and began refining.

A normal Seventh-Grade Alchemist takes about two hours to refine a seventh-grade Medicinal Pill, but Lu Xingchen, as an Eighth-Grade Alchemist with such high professional experience, refined it remarkably quickly.

In less than an hour, he completed the refinement and was the first to submit his work.

“I succeeded in refining it!”

When Lu Xingchen was the first to shout this, the entire venue was astonished.

Both the audience below and the contestants on stage stopped their actions and looked at Lu Xingchen at the base of the stone pillar.

“Damn, I didn't hear wrong, did I? Lu Dazhuang already succeeded in refining it? This is a seventh-grade Pill Formula! And based on my study of the Pill Formula, this calamity breaking pill is among the top-tier of seventh-grade Medicinal Pills.”

“Could Lu Dazhuang be an Eighth-Grade Alchemist? Otherwise, how could he be so fast?”

“It's very possible!”

“But that shouldn't be. The Saintess of Medicine King Valley, Peng Yu, and Zi Chen of Qingyang Kingdom are also well-known Eighth-Grade Alchemists, yet they aren't as fast as Lu Dazhuang. In terms of Medicinal Pill refining speed, he actually defeated Peng Yu, one of the eight prodigies of the central province.”

“Lu Dazhuang is awesome!”

Peng Yu, who was at the very top of the stone pillar, also frowned.

If it was solely about refining speed, she could also complete it within an hour.

But just now, when she was halfway through refining, she found that the medicinal properties inside the cauldron were incompatible, and the cauldron exploded.

With her intelligence, she immediately understood the intentions of Medicine King Valley's higher-ups, removed the Azure Spirit Stone, and began refining for the second time.

She had also been present when Qingnang Sect and Lingyun Sect had their arena match.

So she could also guess the reason why Lu Dazhuang was the first to submit his work.

It must be said, this kid has good luck.

But all her thunder was stolen by Lu Dazhuang, and she still felt a bit upset!