Chapter 179 Ch 179: Starting The Pill Refinement
In the big hall, more than two hundred Alchemists placed the pill furnaces they received for this test on the ground, then sat cross-legged on their cushions which were also provided by the Alchemist Association, waiting for the Alchemist Association to provide them with the ingredients needed to refine Five Elements Profound Pill.
Very soon, the ingredients needed to refine the Five Elements Profound Pill were given to all the alchemists along with the pill's formula.
There were many alchemists among these more than two hundred people who already knew how to refine Five Elements Profound Pills. When they heard that they could obtain the identity of a Heaven Grade Alchemy Master after refining the Five Elements Profound Pill, all of them cheered in their hearts and were at ease.
However, when they received the ingredients, they all began to complain nonstop and felt a lot of pressure.
After Alex received the medicinal herbs, he was also startled, because these medicinal herbs were very rotten and some were even withered to an almost dead state. For example, the Five Leaf Grass only had four leaves and even these four leaves were about to be dried up and become a waste. There was also a Colorless Ganoderma Root that seemed to have a mouse bite on it.
However, these medicinal ingredients could still produce spirit energy and medicine powder, and could still condense into pellets upon extremely careful concoction.
Refining a medicinal pill using this kind of ingredients is very difficult, to the point where only those people who have been refining Rank 7 medicinal pills for many years might find it hard to refine not make a mistake during refining the Five Elements Profound Pill.
As for Alex, he had never refined this pill before. However, the knowledge as well as the experience he received after replicating the "Alchemist Grandmaster" status from Viresh, made Alex believe that he could easily refine the Five Elements Profound Pill even with this kind of medicinal herbs.
Thus, Alex revealed a slight smile on his face.
After everyone received the medicinal ingredients, Viresh announced the start of the test.
Everyone immediately started processing the medicinal herbs in order to refine the Five Elements Profound Pill. Alex also started doing the same.
At the start, everyone busily processed the herbs. They also separated certain herbs and their rotten parts, because they couldn't be used anymore. Everyone was very careful and did not dare to make any mistakes.
When Alex first laid eyes on those medicinal herbs, he had already started to think about how to refine and process them, so his movements were fluid and smooth. He was also the first one to start the fire under Pill Cauldron.
"That young man is actually the first one to start a fire!" An elder standing beside Valerio said with some surprise on his face when he saw Alex starting the fire.
"According to the form he had filled, he is an Origin Sea Stage Level 2 martial warrior who is not even 18 years old. He is a genius in martial arts cultivation. Let's see what his pill refining level really is." Another elder opened his mouth and said.
Viresh smiled hearing the elder's words and then spoke: "Since he is the first one to start a fire, we must give him a big gift!"
Alex's eyebrows twitched when he heard Viresh's words. It is because he could feel some sort of plot hidden in Viresh's words. He started having a premonition that something bad was about to happen to him.
After hearing Viresh's words, other people started smiling. They seemed to be looking forward to it. If Alex could feel something from Viresh's words, then of course other people could also hear the hidden meaning behind his words. The so-called "big gift" is likely to be a deceptive move that could cause the pill refinement of Alex to fail.
Other than Viresh, many other alchemists of the Alchemist Association were present here, watching the competition. Normally, they would not come here, however, today was special. It is because Viresh is overseeing this competition.
They all have a very good understanding of pill refining which allowed them to differentiate the pill refining level of an alchemist.
When everyone saw Alex handling those medicinal herbs so quickly, they understood that Alex's foundation was extremely solid.
The second person who started the fire was an unlucky descendant from a big family in the Profound Star City called Mathon Family.
Well, this guy is really interesting. He actually dug out the grave of his own ancestor and obtained a powerful source of flame. Although he and his family benefitted from his action, however, it was a sin to dig his own ancestor's grave. So, in order to atone for his sins, his family let kicked him out of the family and told him to achieve something great in life before he could come back to the family.
Among all the people present here, Rick Mathon was the second youngest person. He was about 31 years old.
At first, he was confident that he'll be the first one to complete every step and refine a perfect Five Elements Profound Pill, but when he heard the loud voices of elders of the Alchemist Association, it made Rick almost go crazy. So, he also hurriedly processed the medicinal ingredients and started the fire, becoming the second one to do that.
"Only the first person to start the fire will get a reward." After Viresh said, he smiled, looked at Alex, and said, "Alex, your reward is here!"
He waved his hand, causing an invisible formation where Alex was standing to lit up. Others could not see what was happening, but everything was visible in Alex's eyes.
He saw a graceful figure appearing in front of him suddenly. Looking at the noble and dignified purple attire she wore, Alex could not help but gulp down a mouthful of saliva.
This woman was very beautiful, no less beautiful than his fiancé Asna, and Slivya Rosefield whom he once saw in the Dark Mountain Forest fighting against a wolf-type demonic beast.
When this beautiful woman appeared, she smiled charmingly at Alex. Her refined temperament seemed to have become completely natural.
Alex immediately knew that this was the "big gift" that Viresh talked about before. He couldn't help but curse Viresh in his heart. Viresh actually wanted to distract his attention and cause him to fail the refinement of pills.
But why did he do this?
What is the reason?
Whatever the reason might be, Alex was not worried at all. Previously, he thought that the "big gift" would bring him trouble, but now, although this beautiful woman could divert his attention, he would not fail at all. It is all because of his level of alchemy that already reached the standard of an Alchemist Grandmaster that could even refine Tier 9 pills.
The gentle smile on the beautiful woman's face suddenly became mesmerizing. Twisting her willow-like waist, she slowly walked to Alex's side and elegantly sat on the empty cushion.
Alex had no choice but to turn his head and look at the charming and beautiful woman. At the same time, she also looked at him.
"Young man, how are you feeling? Do you want to spend some time with me alone?"
This woman's mouth was emitting an orchid-like fragrance, looking at that alluring and delicious mouth, Alex wanted to stick his head in and suck on it, but he knew that if he did that, he might really fail. His control over his own body and thoughts is very strong, however, when a delicious dish is placed by his side, how could he not be mesmerized?
What Alex was seeing and hearing, no one could see or hear. Only Alex and the elders of the Alchemist Association knew what is currently going on.
Before coming to start the test, Viresh had already told all the elders that he wants to test a young man named Alex and see his level of alchemy and self-control.
But they were shocked to see that not only did Alex's cauldron not explode, but he actually seemed to be talking with that woman in illusion formation.
"I never thought that Alex's self-control would be so astonishing!" One of the elders present said with a surprised expression on his face. And he was right. No one expected Alex to not be affected at all. Not only his level of self-control is strong, but even his level of alchemy is also awesome. His pill refinement process was not affected at all even when he was talking and laughing with the beautiful woman in the illusion formation.
Viresh also nodded his head. Anyone could see the satisfaction in his eyes. He was really very satisfied with Alex and didn't want to lose him no matter what.
He then closed the illusion formation and with this, the beautiful woman talking to Alex also disappeared.
Viresh closed the illusion formation because he had already seen how strong Alex's will and his control over his own thoughts as well as heart actually is. So, it'll be only the waste of spirit stones to keep the formation activated.