Chapter 151: Superior Grade
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Initially, when Wang Qian utilized the Pill Purification Method, everyone believed he would emerge as the final victor.
However, as Mu Ye performed her peculiar techniques, the audience’s opinions began to waver. Perhaps Mu Ye could create a miracle?
If Yu Zhao could hear their thoughts, she would resolutely tell everyone that Mu Ye absolutely could.
After several more hours, the spinning Pill Refining Furnace before Mu Ye finally came to a halt.
A thin layer of sweat adorned her face, her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes shone with an extraordinary brightness. Her appearance conveyed one clear message to her observers: she had achieved her goal.
The Green Wood Sect elders felt like their hearts were being clawed at, desperate to uncover the assessment results immediately.
Suddenly, Bang!
One of the Pill Hall disciples’ Pill Refining Furnaces exploded without warning.
The spectators barely gave it a glance before averting their eyes. With the assessment nearing its end, furnace explosions had become all too common. Out of the initial 400 participants, fewer than 200 remained standing at their stations.
Amid the crowd’s anticipation, Elder Luo once again ascended the platform at the sect square.
“The assessment time is up. All disciples, cease your pill refining,” he announced.
As his voice faded, Elder Luo waved his sleeve. An invisible force enveloped the square, extinguishing the spiritual flames in the hands of disciples whose refining processes had not yet concluded due to mistakes.
Some sighed in disappointment, while others brimmed with confidence.
Focused entirely on his own refinement, Wang Qian was unaware that Mu Ye had also employed a unique pill refining method during the assessment. He cast a lofty glance at her and sneered, “Mu Ye, remember to perform a grand salute when you see me in the future and respectfully address me as the Young Sect Master.”
Mu Ye rolled her eyes.
Having spent an entire month refining pills without rest, she felt too drained to speak, let alone argue with a fool.
Wang Qian gritted his teeth and growled, “Mu Ye, I’ll let you bask in this brief moment of pride. Soon, you won’t even be able to smile.”
Mu Ye responded flatly, “If you’re sick, get treated. Don’t come here to throw a tantrum.”
“You—!”
Elder Luo’s sharp gaze swept over them. “Silence.”
Wang Qian promptly shut his mouth, secretly cursing the elder’s partiality. Once he became the sect leader, he vowed to assign this old man to gatekeeping duties for life.
“Sect Master, elders, the Pill Hall disciples’ assessment has concluded. We will now proceed to the second phase: pill presentation and evaluation,” Elder Luo declared.
The creation of pills was only the first step; successful refinement required further judgment of their color, fragrance, and medicinal potency. Even among successful pills, there were distinctions of superior, intermediate, and inferior grades.
A skilled alchemist could discern a pill’s quality from its appearance alone, without tasting it. Thus, this phase of evaluation was a critical part of the assessment.
“Participant Number Three, Cheng Dao, step forward to present your pill.”
Numbers One and Two had failed due to various issues, making Cheng Dao the first to present his work.
Cheng Dao carefully placed his freshly refined pill onto a white jade tray and walked forward with measured steps, holding the tray slightly raised.
“Sect Master, elders, please examine this Third-Grade Blood Replenishing Pill that I have refined.”
His hands trembled slightly, causing the round pill to roll gently within the tray, producing faint clinking sounds.
The elders seated on the high platform nodded subtly.
Despite his nervousness, Cheng Dao’s performance remained unaffected. The pill’s smooth rolling in the tray indirectly testified to its quality, as it had no visible deformities or roughness.
“Cheng Dao, your assessment grade is Intermediate-Superior,” declared the Pill Hall elders after a brief telepathic discussion.
“Thank you, elders.”
Cheng Dao let out a deep, relieved breath, his excitement evident. He knew he couldn’t compete with the prodigious talents of Junior Sister Mu Ye or Junior Brother Wang Qian. Thus, achieving an above-average evaluation left him completely satisfied.
“Senior Brother Cheng actually got an above-average this time! His spirit herb allowance for the next year is secured,” someone exclaimed.
“Senior Brother Cheng has always been skilled. He just underperformed in the past because of his nerves.”
“Senior Brother Cheng is amazing!”
Voices of admiration echoed around him. Disciples of the Pill Hall who failed the assessment gazed at Cheng Dao with envy. Their results directly affected their sect benefits. Those who didn’t complete the assessment would face reduced spirit herb allowances and limited access to the alchemy rooms.
“Qi Miaomiao, below average.”
“Bai Zhou, poor.”
“Lin Lang, very poor.”
One by one, disciples presented their alchemy results, and the crowd around the pill furnace gradually thinned. The atmosphere shifted subtly.
Elder Wang tried to maintain a calm demeanor, even forcing a smile, but his gaze kept darting toward Mu Ye, who stood beside Wang Qian. Anxiety gnawed at him—what was Mu Ye scheming? Could her tricks jeopardize Qian’er’s chances?
“The 438th participant, Wang Qian, step forward to present your pill.”
Finally, the moment everyone was waiting for arrived. Spirits lifted, and all eyes focused on Wang Qian.
With a confident, mischievous smile, Wang Qian smacked the side of his Pill Refining Furnace. A single pill, smooth and lustrous with a radiant glow, shot into the air before landing squarely on a tray in his left hand.
The crowd gawked in shock. Most disciples produced seven or eight pills at least, some even managed over twenty in a single batch. Never had they seen a furnace yield only one pill.
The elders on the high platform responded with far more excitement. While rare, producing a single pill wasn’t unheard of. Such pills often concentrated the essence of the entire batch, their potency and value greatly enhanced. Wang Qian’s Departing Fire Pill, further refined through a second purification, exhibited extraordinary potency.
Before Wang Qian could explain, an impatient elder used spiritual energy to grab the pill and examine it closely. Others quickly gathered, their faces lighting up with amazement.
The pill was undeniably top-grade. Its rich fragrance, flawless form, and unique radiance proved its exceptional quality. For the elders, creating a pill of this caliber wasn’t particularly difficult. However, the fact that Wang Qian—a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and one whose prior performance had been merely decent—achieved it, made this accomplishment truly remarkable.
“I believe Wang Qian’s result deserves an ‘Outstanding’ grade,” one elder declared.
“Agreed.”
“I concur.”
Elder Wang’s face twitched as he tried to suppress a grin. It had been 120 years since anyone earned an “Outstanding” grade during the assessment. With this achievement, who could ever claim Qian’er was inferior to Mu Ye?
“What do you think, Elder Lotus?”
“I have no objections,” Elder Lotus replied with a sigh. Wang Qian’s skill was undeniable. Even if Mu Ye lost, it would be a loss she couldn’t resent.
“What is the Sect Master’s opinion?” someone asked. Considering the assessment’s impact on the position of Young Sect Master, none of the elders dared make a final decision without his approval.
Sect Master Wu Sang gave a faint smile and nodded. Yet, his expression carried a detached chill, his approval not reaching his eyes.
“Wang Qian’s assessment grade is officially declared as ‘Outstanding.’”
A wave of astonishment swept through the crowd. Tian Han and Guo Ming En embraced each other in ecstatic celebration. By sheer coincidence, they had aligned themselves with the future Sect Master. Their fortunes were about to soar.