Alchemy Master

Chapter 593, Time’s Up

Translator: Silavin

“What is this Qin Yichen… up to now?”

Shen Fangu had only just advanced to become an Earth Grade Alchemy Master. So, his perception was nowhere near as sharp as Dan Xuan’s or Chen Yun’s. Watching Qin Yichen, who appeared to be giving up, he could not help but cover his face with his hand.

[Can he not act normal for once?]

If one could say that his earlier medicinal herb identification was due to his vast knowledge, then this refinement process, which could not be faked in the slightest, surely could not be him giving up in despair, right?

[Is this part of his plan?]

“*Haaa*, what a pity. If he hadn’t given up on himself, with his Heaven Defying results in herb identification, entering the final stone platforms wouldn’t be difficult at all.”

“Indeed, in this round, as long as he isn’t at the bottom, he could have safely entered the final ten stone platforms. I truly cannot understand what he is thinking.”

“Could it be that he simply doesn’t want to enter the finals?”

“That’s possible. After all, with Qian Zhengchen here this time, there’s no hope of claiming first place. If he were to wait another ten years, surely no one would be able to stop him then.”

In the spectator seats, whispered conversations arose quietly. For some unknown reason, compared to those following proper and standard refinement methods, everyone’s gaze had unconsciously settled upon Qin Yichen.

Perhaps they wished to see Qin Yichen fail, or perhaps… they were hoping to witness another miracle?

Of course, they had no idea that this bizarre scene was due to Qin Yichen’s Alchemy Technique, which appeared chaotic and disorderly on the surface, yet concealed a method that was both holistic and fluid in its execution.

However, under the watchful gazes of countless eyes, after approximately forty to fifty minutes had passed, Qin Yichen slapped his palm down and stopped his hands upon the Pill Furnace, making no further movements.

As his slender hands ceased their motion, brilliant light burst forth from Dan Xuan’s and Chen Yun’s eyes, and a deep sense of shock spread from the depths of their hearts.

At this moment, for reasons unknown, those whose gazes had been fixed intently upon Qin Yichen felt an inexplicable sense of loss flash through their hearts as his movements stopped.

Naturally, they merely attributed this to their own surge of compassion, feeling regret for this youth who had displayed such remarkable ability.

Stopping at this point was virtually tantamount to being branded with the mark of surrender.

The refinement stage was entirely different from herb identification.

Herb identification, while difficult, was also partly determined by time, and amongst the participants, there was no shortage of those with extensive knowledge who would often announce their completion of herb identification early.

However, refinement was completely different.

This was because the Alchemy Manor Summit was the highest calibre gathering for the young Alchemists of the Heavenly Dragon Imperial Dynasty.

Every refinement stage, Alchemy Council would present materials that were extremely difficult to refine. These materials would be the highest level that participants could barely manage to refine.

Therefore, throughout history, during the Alchemy Manor Summit, no one had ever finished the refinement stage early.

Of course, this did not include those who, in everyone’s eyes, had given up like Qin Yichen.

“Such a pity. Hopefully, in ten years’ time, we’ll be able to witness him sweeping through the entire Alchemy Manor Summit.”

“Indeed, there’s no suspense left now. With Qian Zhengchen here, the championship of this Alchemy Manor Summit has already been claimed by him.”

“Ah, let’s go…”

Many people’s sense of disappointment had yet to fade. They shook their heads and sighed with regret for Qin Yichen, and sounds of lamentation continuously arose from around the square.

“Time’s up! All participants, please cease refining!”

Finally, when the massive hourglass above had completely emptied, an Elder on the high platform loudly announced.

As his voice rang out, the twenty or so people on the platforms all stopped with some reluctance. Among them, several wore extremely grim expressions, for they had not managed to complete even a single cycle.

“Hmm?”

Qian Zhengchen also stopped accordingly. His gaze swept towards the direction of Qin Yichen’s stone platform, only to discover that the latter’s hands were resting upon his Pill Furnace, clearly having stopped long ago. His drowsy appearance left one wondering whether he had consumed too much energy or simply had not attempted the refinement at all.

“*Hmph!* I thought you had some real ability, but you’re nothing more than this!”

Qian Zhengchen’s eyes narrowed slightly as a wave of exhaustion came over him. This refinement had required his utmost effort. He had refined that Crimson Rock Fruit a full four cycles.

An ordinary Spiritual Rupture Realm Alchemy Master could not complete even one, yet he had refined the Crimson Rock Fruit four complete cycles, refining nearly half of the entire fruit.

He was confident that this result would absolutely crush any other participant.

“Very well, let me announce each participant’s results!”

The Elder who had previously tested Qin Yichen’s herb identification results stood in the centre of the high platform and spoke.

Thereafter, under respectful gazes, he began testing from the foremost stone platform.

The foremost stone platform naturally belonged to Qian Zhengchen. When the red rock fruit was extracted from the Pill Furnace, it already showed signs of melting.

“Qian Zhengchen, refined four cycles. Excellent!”

Seeing that Qian Zhengchen had managed to complete this much, the Elder could not help but praise him. He truly lived up to his reputation as the foremost Alchemy Master among the young generation of Heavenly Dragon Imperial City.

To achieve this degree in an hour would require even him to exert all his effort.

“Four cycles. Doesn’t that mean he’s refined nearly half of it!?”

“What a prodigy! And he’s only at the Spiritual Rupture Realm!”

“Once he breaks through to become an Earth Grade Alchemy Master, I’m afraid his strength will be beyond what any young Alchemy Master in the entire Heavenly Dragon Imperial City could hope to match!”

“Indeed, worthy of being Qian Zhengchen!”

Amidst sounds of amazement and flattery, Qian Zhengchen raised his head slightly. Though this manner appeared somewhat too arrogant, no one felt he was being overly presumptuous, for he possessed exactly this qualification.

“En, Luo Xiujie, two cycles.”

“Bai Caizhe, two cycles.”

“Chang Xinle, failed to complete a single cycle.”

“…”

As the Elder walked past each stone platform, the number of times each participant had refined their Crimson Rock Fruit was announced one by one.

“Oh?” Suddenly, the Elder’s steps paused at a platform belonging to a graceful figure, and then he slowly announced, “Shen Ling, refined two cycles!”

“Two cycles?”

“What the!? This can’t be! She actually refined the same number of cycles as Luo Xiujie!?”

Upon hearing this announcement, the previously murmuring square suddenly erupted in tremendous commotion, with countless gazes filled with disbelief directed towards what the Elder held in his hand.

When they saw that Crimson Rock Fruit, which appeared to be refined even softer than the one extracted from Luo Xiujie’s Pill Furnace, the clamorous sounds of doubt gradually subsided.

The result had brought Shen Ling into everyone’s sight. At this moment, those who had originally questioned Shen Ling’s abilities began to reassess her with proper respect.