Not only Feng Wuya was surprised, but many spectators were also astonished.
"Who is that little girl? What rotten luck to be right between Feng Qian and Mei Shuying." The Zhan family patriarch laughed heartily, without malice, just teasing.
Seated next to him were the Sun family patriarch and the Mei family patriarch.
The Sun family patriarch, thinking of the guarantee Mei family patriarch had just given that the spiritual root impurity-removing elixir refined by Mei Shuying would be offered to the Sun family first, smiled and said, "Oh, it's that new disciple taken in by Qianxiao Peak. So young, and indeed exceptionally talented, just a bit too arrogant."
"Oh? Brother Sun, why do you say that?" The Zhan family patriarch grinned, a seemingly rough fellow, but his smile didn't reach his eyes.
The Sun family was confident that the Mei family's ship would not capsize.
"A mere girl who has only recently entered the path of alchemy dares to speak so presumptuously to Alchemist Mei. Do you think she's not arrogant?" The Sun family patriarch shook his head and wagged his finger, "Youth, relying on the favor of that person from Qianxiao Peak, acting so wildly. A fall will teach her a lesson!"
The Zhan family patriarch smiled and didn't reply, instead looking towards the high platform.
Since the number of participants in the second round had significantly decreased, there were only seven or eight people on the second floor where Bai Shengyi and the others were. The positions were furnished with basic items, such as alchemy furnaces, fire stones, and some common medicinal herbs.
As soon as Bai Shengyi stepped onto the stage, she began to check the items provided by the organizers, completely ignoring Mei Shuying. However, Mei Shuying himself couldn't wait.
He had specifically arranged for an alchemist capable of refining a fourth-tier elixir to be placed next to Bai Shengyi. To his surprise, that person only managed to refine a low-grade fourth-tier elixir and not only failed to affect Bai Shengyi's score but didn't even qualify for the second round. Thus, he had his people adjust Bai Shengyi's position for the second round.
"Junior, what do you intend to refine? My esteemed self and Brother Feng will not go easy on you just because you are young."
A dark glint flashed across Mei Shuying's effeminate face as he subtly attempted to put psychological pressure on Bai Shengyi.
Feng Qian, who appeared aloof but was actually warm-hearted beneath his cool exterior, said, "Little friend, don't be nervous. Just do your best."
Bai Shengyi smiled at Feng Qian and then turned to Mei Shuying, "Senior Mei, what do you plan to refine this time?"
"Of course, the spiritual root impurity-removing elixir!"
Mei Shuying thought that Bai Shengyi's question was a sign of her stage fright.
Indeed, he must have been overthinking things just now. Bai Shengyi was so young; if she had truly researched the spiritual root impurity-removing elixir, why wouldn't she have publicized it earlier to gain fame?
He recalled his original plan to pressure Feng Qian and repeated it with a smug air.
"This elixir's recipe was recently researched by myself. I shall take this opportunity at the grand assembly to showcase it to everyone. From now on, those with poor cultivation due to their spiritual roots will also have hope."
As Mei Shuying spoke, he stood with his hands behind his back, chest puffed out. His usually feminine face adopted a dignified expression, giving him an air of compassion for the world.
The formations could not block the sound of their communication. As his words spread, the square instantly erupted!
Those with well-informed news were not surprised, profusely praising him for his benevolent spirit and the future of the Mei family.
Others, less informed, expressed astonishment, "So, Alchemist Mei is that anonymous alchemist from Wuyue City? The spiritual root impurity-removing elixir from the Song family's auction house was refined by Alchemist Mei?"
"That's excellent! The Song family's auction house didn't reveal any information about the seller at the time, and they only auctioned two pills. Even our Tang family couldn't get one. Now, with Alchemist Mei's words, everyone will have a chance in the future."
"Yes, yes."
The viewing platform was filled with praise, all directed at Mei Shuying, which pleased him greatly.
Especially when he saw Feng Qian constantly wiping his alchemy furnace, clearly a little nervous, a smug smile appeared on his gloomy face.
However, his smile soon froze on his face.
"What a coincidence, Senior Mei, I will also be refining the spiritual root impurity-removing elixir."
Bai Shengyi, smiling, took out a purple ginseng ganoderma.
"What?"
Mei Shuying exclaimed in disbelief, but his voice was drowned out by the announcement of the competition's start.
"The second round, Pill Qi Duel, officially begins! All alchemists, please note that the refining time limit is three hours. Failure to produce a pill within six hours will result in elimination! Failure to form pill qi will result in elimination! Producing pills below the third tier will result in elimination!"
The three consecutive mentions of "elimination" did not shock Mei Shuying as much as Bai Shengyi's statement.
Mei Shuying couldn't help but look at the medicinal herbs Bai Shengyi had brought out.
Purple ginseng ganoderma, century-old water spirit jade, seven-leaf heart lotus...
Completely different from his own, Mei Shuying's suspended heart sank heavily again, and he curled his lips into a disdainful sneer, "Juniors are simply too arrogant!"
"Who can't brag?" Bai Shengyi chuckled lightly.
She retorted indifferently, "Let's see the truth in the alchemy furnace."
With the medicinal herbs Mei Shuying had purchased, even if she could refine them, she would ask the organizers to send someone to test for poison to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands and causing harm.
Bai Shengyi's expression was too calm, so calm that her words seemed to carry no weight.
Not to mention Feng Qian, even many of those competing on the ground cast surprised glances at her.
The second round had just begun, and the atmosphere had already become suddenly tense.
"The little girl is very confident!" The Zhan family patriarch couldn't help but laugh loudly, "Perhaps she can indeed refine this spiritual root impurity-removing elixir."
"Impossible!"
The Sun family patriarch's voice was almost shrill. Seeing the Zhan family patriarch look at him, he awkwardly chuckled, "How old is she? How could she possess such skill? Moreover, Patriarch Mei said that the spiritual root impurity-removing elixir was newly researched by Alchemist Mei."
"Brother Sun, let's wait and see, I'm rooting for this little girl." The Zhan family patriarch chuckled and shifted his gaze back to the viewing platform.
He had a feeling that the Mei family was about to make a fool of themselves this time.
The viewing platform was abuzz with discussion, but most held the same view as the Sun family patriarch. Only the central position remained silent.
Feng Xun Guang stared at Bai Shengyi's hands, which were processing the herbs, for a long time, losing interest even in his own grandson's competition.
"Vice Principal, this... could it be that this suddenly appearing spiritual root impurity-removing elixir was developed by young friend Bai?" Feng Xun Guang was unable to recover for a long time.
He not only knew about this recently popular elixir but had also personally participated in its appraisal at the Song family's auction house.
It could be said that whether it was the grade, color, or efficacy, that elixir was top-notch, and it had earned his praise at the time!
When the Mei family first spread rumors that Mei Shuying had refined it, he was highly skeptical, because with Mei Shuying's skills, he couldn't achieve such a perfect and delicate elixir color.
But no one came forward to refute the rumors, allowing the Mei family to make their claims. He had resigned himself to it, thinking that the Feng family would truly be suppressed by the Mei family this time!
"Good! I want to see how the Mei family will handle this!"
Feng Xun Guang's aged eyes were filled with excitement, and he stared fixedly at Bai Shengyi's movements.
As the sky gradually darkened, the sun set, and the radiant sunset painted half the clear blue sky.
By this time, they had been competing for an entire day, and everyone was getting a little tired. But just then, someone exclaimed.
"Look quickly! That little girl is the first to prepare to form the pill!"
With a wave of her hand, Bai Shengyi smoothly placed the processed herbs into the alchemy furnace. The unremarkable alchemy furnace flickered in the firelight as a wisp of danxiang (pill aroma) drifted out.
"What's the use of forming the pill early? If the pill qi isn't controlled well, it will scatter, and you'll have to start all over again!"
Mei Shuying muttered, as if only by speaking in such a judgmental tone could he reduce the unease in his heart.
What he said was true. In this pill qi duel, alchemists not only had to master the heat of refinement and the quality of the pill but also consider the time of formation.
If the pill formed too early, before others had formed theirs, their own pill qi might scatter before they could disperse the opponent's pill qi!
If the pill formed too late, not only might they exceed the time limit, but they could also be affected by the opponent's pill qi, especially after two hours when the barrier isolating the pill qi would be directly removed!
Just as Mei Shuying was thinking this, he heard a voice say, "The competition has been going on for two hours. Remove the pill qi barrier!"
"The barrier is down!"
The spectators jolted, their spirits immediately heightened.
"Feng Qian has also formed the pill!"
"Liu Yu from Zhen Dan Peak has also formed the pill!"
"Young Master Zheng's pill qi has formed! Heavens! It's the rather aggressive White Tiger! The Zheng family has been hiding their strength quite well this time!"
"The young master of the Feng family is also quite good. His pill qi seems to be a peacock?"
"Mei Shuying still hasn't formed the pill? The little girl next to him... Holy cow! Holy cow, cow! Look quickly! Look at the pill qi of the little girl next to Mei Shuying!"
"My heavens!"
A commotion suddenly arose from the viewing platform.
Waves of gasps continued to erupt, seemingly all triggered by Bai Shengyi. Feng Wuya couldn't help but glance at her out of the corner of his eye.
That one glance almost caused the pill qi in his own furnace to scatter.
"Damn it! Bai Shengyi! What kind of brain do you have! Absolutely amazing!"