"Since I have suddenly decided to erase Round 3, then I will be lenient to you. Instead of half of an incense stick, we will change it into a whole and half incense stick."

The Master Alchemist then lowered the speaking tablet and glanced at the other judges and said, "What are you doing now? Fix their tables."

The Senior Alchemists nodded with an absent-minded expression and immediately added a whole incense stick to each of the participants' tables.

After ensuring they finished their tasks, the Master Alchemists nodded and spoke into the speaking tablet.

"Now, don't hold back. Show your alchemy abilities. I officially announce that Round 2… begins."

The incense stick instantly roared with flames, awakening the participants from their stupor.

They immediately tried to empty their minds as they began their pill concoction.

Liu Wei, on the other hand, kept staring at the Judges' Pavillion—at the same time, he was facing the incense stick.

Beside him was the tray filled with herbs necessary for concocting the Vitality Recovery Pill.

He pondered.

I feel like he has done this because of me. What's he trying to achieve?

The Master Alchemist, meanwhile, was also staring at Liu Wei and smiled.

One of the Senior Alchemists asked, "Why did you suddenly decide to erase the Round 3, Master Yan?"

The Master Alchemist simply kept his smile and replied without turning his head on her, "Because even if I won't, it will still be stopped. I trust my gut."

She was taken aback. She then tilted her head sideways and wondered what the Master Alchemist meant.

They all soon stared at Liu Wei, who was also staring in their direction, not starting his pill concoction yet.

"Is it because of that boy, Master Yan?"

The Master Alchemist nodded and hummed in response.

"Why? Do you think he will be able to manifest pill resonance?"

Master Yan shook his head and replied, "No, not enough. I haven't informed you, but Cai Hui herself was able to manifest pill resonance."

Everyone inside the Judges' Pavillion was startled. Even Zhen Qiang drew a sharp breath.

One of the Senior Alchemists asked with a trembling tone, "How is that possible? Little Cai Hui has not manifested her spiritual flames yet!"

Master Yan smiled and said with a smug expression, "Although I have given her resources, it was her Dao comprehension that caused her to manifest the pill resonance. She has already attained the Minor Completion of the Dao of Alchemy."

MINOR COMPLETION!

Master Yan's revelation shook them.

After all, a minor completion of the Dao of Alchemy was mostly attained by the Senior Alchemist, even Master Yan himself. Only by understanding Dao of Alchemy helped them attain a high level of flame mastery.

If Cai Hui had indeed manifested her alchemy intent throughout the pill concoction process, then despite still being in the Body Tempering Stage and could only concoct mortal grade pills, it would still be possible to manifest pill resonance.

If it was Cai Hui, what could be more to the person she invited to participate in the event?

A person who showcased his talent to the point that even Master Yan admitted he was a natural alchemy prodigy?

As they were staring at the boy, who was staring at them, they had now changed their perception of him.

And they could not help but anticipate the surprise he was about to show…

…

Liu Wei, on the other hand, was still staring at the Judges' Pavillion.

In the end, as the fire kept burning the incense, he decided not to dwell on it and focused more on concocting.

He grabbed the herbs, which immediately caught the attention of everyone as they already decided to focus on him, like any other judges, anticipating his surprises.

And indeed he surprised them…

"Is he crazy? What is he doing?"

"Is he trying to kill himself?"

"What is that method? Does everybody know about it and explain it to me?"

However, not a single alchemist in the spectators gallery was able to answer them.

It was natural, for the traditional method of refining the pills was using a cauldron.

Yet, an unknown individual, who has shown his flame mastery earlier, suddenly ate the herbs.

Eating raw herbs could cause qi deviation, organ poisoning, or even explosive meridian backlash.

After all, raw spirit herbs contain toxic essence, violent medicinal Qi, and chaotic elemental properties.

It was exactly why they had to be purified first.

Yet, Liu Wei swallowed them without hesitation… not just a single her from time to time, but at once!

They were unaware that Liu Wei had reached the sixth stage of the Verdant Cauldron Sutra, causing him to have an Earthen Pillar Foundation.

Hence, once the raw spirit herbs were swallowed, the herbs dropped into his blood and marrow, not on his stomach.

His marrow dissolved the raw essence, automatically refining and filtering poison like an alchemical cauldron.

Furthermore, he already has a five-elemental core stability. Thus, the conflicting medicinal properties did not clash at all.

Instead, they lie quiet, suppressed by the stability of a balanced elemental arrow.

His bones also echoed like a furnace, ringing faintly, which compressed and grinded the essences as if smelting it.

His body itself became a cauldron.

Throughout the process, Liu Wei kept his eyes closed and simply meditated, garnering the bizarre gazes of the spectators.

"This is insane!"

"Is he trying to concoct pills inside his body? What is he? A living cauldron?"

"If he indeed succeeded… then, what you say is right! He is indeed a living cauldron."

"A living cauldron! Suited for him! This is such a bizarre method. Is he trying to revolutionize alchemy now?"

Liu Wei was so deeply focused on his internal pill refinement that he was unaware he was already nicknamed…

A one he might not like a bit.

A/N: Please show your support by leaving a review or giving power stones and golden tickets. Let this novel rise through the ranks!