Fengbao is seventeen this year and has the worst Spiritual Root Talent among the thirty quasi-apprentices, with a Water Spirit Root Sensitivity of fifteen.
If not for his father serving as a Squad Leader in the Law Enforcement Team, he wouldn't have been able to advance to the Third-Layer Qi Refining at this age and smoothly pass the initial selection for the Pill Treasure Pavilion's Alchemy Apprenticeship.
Fengbao doesn't have high Alchemy Talent, and he is one of the eight who hasn't managed to refine a Grain Avoidance Pill.
At this point, he no longer held any hope of passing the examination.
"If it really doesn't work out, I'll just take a position in the Law Enforcement Team!"
Understanding everything, Fengbao laughed with relief, his mindset becoming calm, and then began the alchemy process.
Warm the Pill Furnace and refine the Spirit Rice.
He executed each step meticulously.
Surprisingly smooth, he completed these two steps perfectly.
However, Fengbao did not become excited.
Every previous failure occurred during the step of merging the elixir liquid.
For some reason, he followed every detail in the Pill Recipe, yet the merging failed.
"Maybe I'm just not cut out for alchemy by nature!"
With a try-it-and-see attitude, Fengbao began the third step of refining the Grain Avoidance Pill, merging the elixir liquid.
Whether it was because he changed the alchemy room or for some other reason, he actually succeeded in the third step!
He felt a mysterious, indescribable sensation!
Every seasoned Alchemist has had this experience.
In their descriptions, at such moments, they often manage to refine elixirs surpassing their usual standards.
Premium Pills are often refined at such times!
Fengbao felt excitement in his heart!
At this moment, he had a very strong premonition.
This time, he could successfully refine the Grain Avoidance Pill with a decent quality.
Seizing this feeling, Fengbao employed the Condensing Pill Formation Technique.
He cast spells towards the Pill Furnace.
Under the effect of the spell, the elixir liquid split into nine parts, forming into clumps.
By reaching this stage, the refining was ninety percent successful.
"Got it!"
Fengbao smiled slightly, just waiting to open the furnace and collect the pills!
...
As soon as Wei Shangyi entered the Alchemy Room, he immediately activated the Earth Fire.
But he did not start alchemy right away.
During the time he spent entering the Alchemy Room, he had already calmed down.
After thinking it over carefully, he indeed found a way to counteract the issue.
During his previous conversation with Elder Lin, he learned that he was causing the Earth Fire to erupt and ruin the alchemy by estimating the alchemy duration based on the Earth Fire's activation time.
Therefore, he just needed to turn on the Earth Fire first, and after waiting for the time it takes to refine a furnace of Grain Avoidance Pill, he could begin refining his elixir.
This way, he could avoid the Earth Fire's eruption.
Without interference, he could complete the refining of the Grain Avoidance Pill.
"Haha, I, Wei Shangyi, possess exceptional talent, finding life amidst certain death!"
As for Zhou Xun,
He saw very clearly just now that Zhou Xun walked into Room B5 of the Alchemy Studio.
The other Alchemy Room where the Earth Fire erupts!
"Zhou Xun, ah Zhou Xun, it seems even heaven does not want you to pass this examination!" He said, letting out a sinister laugh.
"Although the process was a bit bumpy and beyond my expectations, the result ultimately returned to what I anticipated!" Wei Shangyi finally concluded.
...
On the other side, in Room B5 of the Alchemy Studio.
As soon as Zhou Xun entered, he activated the Earth Fire and followed the usual process to start refining the Grain Avoidance Pill.
Apart from intentionally failing the first time, Zhou Xun successfully refined no fewer than ten pills each time in his dozens of subsequent refinements.
And each elixir maintained genuine quality.
With such skill, passing the examination was naturally without suspense.
Zhou Xun had to consider what level of quality to control the Grain Avoidance Pill at.
He needed to avoid attracting attention while ensuring smooth passage through the examination.
After all, if he didn't pay attention, he might end up taking first place.
This was not the result Zhou Xun desired.
Others were troubled with how to improve, while Zhou Xun was troubled with how not to succeed.
...
Elsewhere, the Old Steward Lin, Lin Hongjiu.
From the start of the examination, he had taken out the Earth Fire Array Manipulation Token.
Keenly watching those three Alchemy Rooms.
Truly dedicated.
He resolved to make the Wei Brothers feel they got more than their value.
After all, a thirty Spirit Stone order was not something he'd encountered often in his life.
This was a major patron.
Just as he was growing impatient, suddenly, the protective shield emitted by the token showed a dozen fiery red light spots lighting up.
"It has started!"
The elder's spirits lifted, quickly looking toward the three Alchemy Rooms.
Indeed, it had started too!
The elder silently calculated time in his mind.
After about half an Hour, a thought struck him.
"It's time!"
Immediately he cast a spell!
Meanwhile, the Earth Fire in Room B8 of the Alchemy Studio suddenly leaped!
The elixir about to be successfully refined was suddenly hit by the erupting firepower, cracking instantly, and then a burst of black smoke dispersed.
Afterward came a torrent of curses and yells.
The elder smiled faintly and cast another spell.
The Earth Fire in Room B5 of the Alchemy Studio also leaped.
A shocked voice was also heard from Room B5 of the Alchemy Studio.
The elder's smile grew wider, now only one room was left, and after finishing, he could leave gracefully and secretly.
"Third Uncle, Third Uncle!"
Just as he was about to act, knocking on the door suddenly came from outside.
The elder's expression changed, waved his large hand, and immediately stored the token into his Storage Bag.
After tidying up his attire, he opened the door with a calm expression.
"Nephew Ruochang, why are you here?"
...
Nearly half an Hour later, Lin Ruochang departed, and the elder once again closed the door.
He hurriedly took out the token, opened the light screen to check.
At this time, the Earth Fire in almost all the Alchemy Rooms had been shut off.
"Luckily, luckily, the Earth Fire in Room B17 is still on!"
"If I control the Earth Fire eruption now, it counts as fulfilling the promise, as for whether it disrupts alchemy, I don't care!" an idea crossed the elder's mind,
Without hesitation, he cast a spell towards the flame point representing Room B17.
...
Confident, Fengbao cast the final spell, just waiting to gather the liquid and collect the pills.
Just at the last moment when the elixirs were taking shape, the Earth Fire beneath the Pill Furnace suddenly erupted.
A surge of strong fire power rose up, disrupting the balance of the elixir liquid about to solidify.
The nine pills that had formed a prototype burst open, immediately followed by a plume of black smoke.
A faint burning smell permeated throughout the Alchemy Room, over the Pill Furnace!
Fengbao stared in disbelief at everything before him.
"Why!"
"Why, just as the elixirs were taking shape, did the Earth Fire suddenly erupt uncontrollably, reducing the hard-earned elixirs to ashes!"
He looked at the nine charred, coal-like lumps inside the Pill Furnace.
Fengbao was heartbroken and speechless.
This was his closest attempt to success!
....
The same scenario played out in Room B5 of the Alchemy Studio.
The difference was, Zhou Xun, possessing Divine Sense, forcibly cut off the firepower in the Pill Furnace the moment the Earth Fire erupted.
He barely managed to save the pills.
However, the originally genuine-quality ten Grain Avoidance Pills ended up with one completely ruined, and the remaining nine only reached the level of Inferior Pills.
"Luckily, I brought dozens of Spirit Grain Seedlings to refine Energy-Introducing Pills, or I would have been doomed this time!"
Zhou Xun sighed with relief.
After calming his emotions slightly, Zhou Xun had some suspicions about this Earth Fire eruption.
Recalling Wei Shangyi's look at him, Zhou Xun roughly guessed the truth of the matter.
Yet one point hadn't clicked in his mind, how did Wei Shangyi guess that he would draw this particular Alchemy Room?