Indeed, this statement was incorrect. Not only were the spectators tense, but the participants were as well.
Seeing Bai Shengyi's movements made Feng Qian's heart skip a beat, let alone Liu Yu, who had been wary of Bai Shengyi all along.
Liu Yu had initially dismissed Bai Shengyi. As a highly cultivated alchemist from Zhen Dan Peak, he had apprenticed under Mo Shuxin and was already a fifth-tier alchemist before reaching forty.
He had expected to make a stunning debut at this alchemy competition. He hadn't anticipated Mei Shuying's emergence, who aimed to refine a spirit root impurity-removing pill, nor the young Bai Shengyi, who completely overshadowed him.
The atmosphere grew tense. Before Bai Shengyi could make a move, Liu Yu couldn't help but let out a roar, slamming his palm against the edge of the alchemical furnace, sending flames lunging towards Bai Shengyi!
"Just in time!"
Bai Shengyi grinned broadly, his radiant starlight transforming into a spiritual light, directly meeting the onslaught!
As the stars shimmered, the flame wolf lasted only a short while before disintegrating into strands of alchemical essence, scattering into the furnace.
Bai Shengyi's alchemical energy had forced Liu Yu's into the furnace, compelling Liu Yu to finalize his pill!
This spectacular battle of alchemical energies caused an uproar in the stands once more!
Yet, Bai Shengyi remained unfazed. Recalling her alchemical energy, she looked at Feng Qian with a smile, "Senior Feng, pardon my presumption."
As soon as the words left her lips, her alchemical energy rapidly surged forth.
Feng Qian's senses sharpened. The orchid petals unfurled one by one, ready for battle.
Feng Qian, uncertain of Bai Shengyi's technique, adopted a defensive stance. The orchid emitted a serene fragrance, but the starlight instantly enveloped it.
The alchemical furnace vibrated with a hum. Before Feng Qian could perceive any offensive force from the starlight, he watched his own orchid, blooming unknowingly, gradually wither!
There was no trace of coercion; it was as if he were willingly controlling the pill's formation. The orchid's alchemical energy faded, its petals falling to the branches, nourishing the spirit pill within the furnace.
"It's dispersed! Feng Qian's alchemical energy has also dispersed!"
"This is beyond expectations! Bai Shengyi is the biggest dark horse of this alchemy competition!"
"This is the first time in the history of the alchemy competition that a lower-tier alchemist has defeated a higher-tier alchemist!"
The commotion in the viewing stands startled Feng Qian, who quickly extinguished his flames and proceeded to the next step.
However, despite his defeat, Feng Qian maintained a gentle and composed demeanor. Though his expression was impassive, his words were friendly.
"Allow me to congratulate young friend on achieving such excellent results in advance. After the competition concludes, we can exchange insights."
"Certainly, thank you, Senior." Bai Shengyi smiled humbly, "It is my honor to discuss with esteemed figures like yourself."
Mei Shuying, who had already stopped refining nearby, overheard their conversation and let out a heavy snort.
"Hmph! Until the very last moment, who knows what sort of devilry is in your furnace!" Mei Shuying's venomous eyes fixed on Bai Shengyi like a serpent's.
He told himself not to rush. His seventh-tier spirit root impurity-removing pill had been refined. Regardless of whether Bai Shengyi could refine a pill, she was doomed.
While Mei Shuying postured exuberantly, neither Bai Shengyi nor Feng Qian paid him any mind.
Feng Qian was the first to extinguish his flames and finalize the pill. Soon after, Liu Yu's actions also ceased.
At this moment, all eyes involuntarily focused on Bai Shengyi.
The night passed silently. A sliver of golden light emerged from the clouds at the horizon. As the light blazed, bathing her in its radiance, many suddenly realized that this young girl, not yet twenty, possessed not only exceptional alchemical skills but also breathtaking beauty.
She was flamboyant and unrestrained, yet also confident and composed.
A faint smile touched Bai Shengyi's exquisite face. Then, her hands swiftly formed seals, and the scene of starlight and emerald waves above the furnace transformed into a spiritual rain, descending into the furnace to begin the pill's formation.
The sky suddenly darkened.
Dark clouds gathered, and thunder boomed.
"What's happening?"
"It's a pill tribulation! Is Bai Shengyi truly refining a spirit root impurity-removing pill? She's actually attracted a pill tribulation!"
Many eyes widened in shock!
How many more surprises could Bai Shengyi possibly bestow upon them!
After all, thunder tribulations were rare in the Shenqi Continent.
For ordinary cultivators, a thunder tribulation was only necessary when breaking through to the Golden Core stage or higher. Yet, it was common knowledge that the Shenqi Continent had not produced an Nascent Soul cultivator in many years.
The last time a thunder tribulation appeared, as people faintly recalled, was when Feng Xunguang, as a sixth-tier alchemist, refined the third type of sixth-tier pill, which was so heaven-defying it attracted a thunder tribulation. This was precisely why, as fellow sixth-tier alchemists, Feng Xunguang held a steady advantage over Mei Shuying.
But Bai Shengyi was too much!
This sentiment had been repeated countless times, with a constant bubbling of envy. Why did others possess such heaven-defying talent?
"Patriarch, do we need to open the barrier to shield Bai Shengyi from the thunder tribulation?" The organizers, having not anticipated such a turn of events, hastily sent someone to ask Feng Xunguang for his opinion.
Feng Xunguang boomed, "Open it! Why wouldn't we!"
"No need," Qin Si interjected, "She desires a fair and just competition." A fair and just dismantling of Mei Shuying's facade, crushing him underfoot.
On the high platform, the other participants had, in tacit agreement, distanced themselves from Bai Shengyi, and Mei Shuying was no exception.
Mei Shuying gazed at Bai Shengyi under the flashing lightning and thought maliciously: I hope it strikes her dead!
Alas, he was destined to be disappointed.
Facing the ominous lightning, Bai Shengyi defied everyone's expectations. The usually calm individual suddenly burst into loud laughter.
"Come! Let me see how you differ from the lightning in the Lei Hai Mountain Range!"
"Boom!"
A purple-red lightning bolt descended.
The Samsara Brush transformed into a long sword. Bai Shengyi, wielding the sword, leaped into the air. Her sword light, like a sailboat cutting through waves, bisected the lightning bolt.
"Again!"
Thunderclaps followed one after another. Perhaps because Bai Shengyi's pill grade was not exceedingly high, this pill tribulation was not as terrifying as Feng Xunguang's.
Even so, it was enough to shock everyone present!
Undeniably, the alchemical and cultivation talents displayed by Bai Shengyi were sufficient to leave a profound mark on the Shenqi Continent!
"The thunder tribulation is over!"
The dark clouds rapidly dispersed, and sunlight streamed down. However, no one had the leisure to appreciate it; their gazes were fixed on Bai Shengyi's hands and the alchemical furnace beneath them.
Bai Shengyi gently lifted the lid. The alchemy square was instantly filled with a sharp yet refreshing fragrance. The aroma was like a hook, captivating the senses, making one reluctant to stop, yet also invigorating the spirit and clarifying the mind.
Its appearance was yet to be seen, but it had already seized the hearts of all.
Feng Xunguang stood up excitedly and walked to the center of the square, crisply announcing the competition results: "I declare that this alchemy competition has now successfully concluded. Let us congratulate young friend Bai Shengyi on obtaining the first place in this event..."
"Wait!"
Mei Shuying, with a somber expression, interrupted Feng Xunguang, "Elder Feng, it's not yet known if Bai Shengyi has successfully formed her pill, so how can she be first?"
Indeed, the pill was still in Bai Shengyi's furnace.
Bai Shengyi smiled, "Senior Mei speaks correctly. Then allow me to show everyone what a true spirit root impurity-removing pill looks like."
With a wave of her hand, six perfectly round and translucent purple spirit pills arranged themselves in a row, suspended in mid-air.
"Fifth-tier, top-grade!"
Bai Shengyi raised her eyebrows in slight surprise. During her tribulation, she had a premonition that the spirit root impurity-removing pill this time would far surpass those refined previously. However, she hadn't expected it to reach the pinnacle of fifth-tier!
"Mei Shuying, can I announce the results now?"
With condensed alchemical energy and extraordinary pill quality, Bai Shengyi's first place was a spectacular, hard-won victory! The most astonishing first place in history!
Thinking this, Feng Xunguang, without deigning to look at Mei Shuying's unwilling face, excitedly announced, "According to the rules of the competition, young friend Bai Shengyi is the first-place winner of this alchemy competition. Let us congratulate her!"