CHAPTER 95: TEST OF FLAME BEGINS

After all the participants’ arrived at their refining stage, the Master Alchemist’s voice thundered across the arena.

"The Radiant Cauldron Assembly officially begins."

Fireworks reverberated throughout the arena, causing the spectators to rise into clamor.

The participants’ were trembling from excitement and nervousness, as they were about to experience the unforgettable moment of their life.

The fireworks lasted for a whole minute before it died down, so were the spectators who were visibly exhausted.

Liu Wei, meanwhile, swept his gaze and was aware that the first round was about to start.

He gazed at Cai Hui and his eyebrows lifted, seemingly realizing something.

She’s still in the Body Tempering Stage, so she has to manually use fire with the cauldron placed inside the herbs for successful refinement. Isn’t she at a disadvantage in the competition?

Cai Hui sensed Liu Wei’s deep stare and she hastily looked away, feeling embarrassed.

She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and composed herself.

Suddenly, her eyes flashed with extreme concentration, stunning even Liu Wei.

Liu Wei smiled.

She’s really a genius in alchemy. No wonder.

Liu Wei finally focused on himself, waiting for the Master Alchemist to begin the first round.

The Solar Dome Arena soon dimmed to a controlled twilight. The sunlight flowing through the spirit crystals was reduced, so flames stood out sharply under the dome.

The arena was in total silence, akin to a tranquil middle of the night.

Each contestant stood upon the circular refining platform with a basic bronze alchemy cauldron, which was identical to all participants no matter their rank and cultivation level.

There was also a tray of low-grade spirit herbs, each was infused with trace impurities.

Furthermore, for body tempering stage alchemists like Cai Hui have a Spirit Flame Node below, which provided a neutral fire source as they did not possess their own spiritual flame.

The young matured voice earlier echoed once again, "For the first round, you will have to ignite and stabilize your flame. The judges will observe the flame color stability, flame flicker rhythm, and flame heat fluctuations. Even a slight wavering count will count as a deduction.

Once the bell strikes, you will have to purify the basic spirit herbs... all of them. If any of the herbs show uneven burning, over-purification, or insufficient impurity surfaces will automatically result in disqualification."

The young matured voice paused and the participants’ felt their nerve wrack. They gulped their saliva, trying their best to calm down.

The young matured voice continued, "After you successfully purify all the basic spirit herbs, you must maintain your flame for one incense stick. In that span of time, your flame must be steady, your temperature control must be precise, and zero deviation even as the dome subtly shifts heat currents."

"As for the judges’ criteria, the judge will evaluate on five points. First, the flame purity, which will focus on clarity, color, and qi deviation. Second, the stability, which is the minimal variation during the entire half hour. Then, the herb discoloration uniformity, the impurity extraction evenness, and mental calmness or the Qi Harmony throughout the first round."

The young matured voice then continued, which shook all the participants.

"Only the top 100 will advance."

They already knew that out of a thousand participants like them, only a hundred would survive.

However, despite a hundred being quite a massive amount, each one of them, even the last top 100, would be remembered and might get invited to blissful opportunities.

For most of the participants, especially those who were hoping to get resources for their dreams of becoming a well-known alchemist, even just passing the first round would be a huge blessing for them.

The Master Alchemist’s voice reverberated again, but this time, it was more deafening and goosebumps-inducing.

"I, the president of the Alchemist Association of Jinwu, the only Master Alchemist in the kingdom, Master Yan Huoyun, announce the commencement of the Radiant Cauldron Assembly."

A bell struck, reverberating throughout the dome, causing the dome’s ambient temperature to rise by a few degrees.

The first round finally started.

...

Liu Wei faced the basic bronze cauldron in front of him and ignited his flames.

It was actually the first time he ignited his flames since he reached the sixth stage of the Verdant Cauldron Sutra.

Hence, he was also eager to observe his current state of flame.

For the next ten seconds, Liu Wei kept his flame ignited and in the span of time, there were already environmental disruptions that occurred.

Hence, most of the ordinary participants were showing signs of struggle in stabilizing their qi circulation to match the changes.

However, for Liu Wei, his qi was anchored like a mountain. There was not a single flame fluctuation that occurred and he kept his composure throughout.

After all, while others relied on technique, Liu Wei relied on a sacrosanct internal framework.

Sacrosanct internal framework refers to the state where a cultivator’s internal body structure becomes so stable and fortified that NO external pressure, Qi turbulence, elemental backlash, or flame instability can disrupt it. It is "sacred and untouchable," like an unshakable divine furnace.

It was an internal framework that was only made possible because of the Verdant Cauldron Sutra.

Liu Wei was aware of it since it was mentioned in the manual.

Furthermore, his flames became an extension of his bones, unshakeable.

Before the bell struck in a minute, signaling to proceed to the next test, Liu Wei stood with relaxed shoulders, steady breath, no trembling, and appeared like an ancient statue.

The spectators noticed his action and they began to take notice of him.

"He hasn’t moved since he ignited his flames... he is not just trying to fake it, either. He’s really unbothered... Amazing. Who is he?"

"There’s another dark horse! Even some prodigy is struggling and yet he appeared like a statue!"

While they were murmuring as they started to pour their attention to Liu Wei, even the judges noticed him.

They raised their eyebrows as one of the Senior Alchemists asked, "Master Yan, do you know that boy?"

However, they were shocked to see his face widened in surprise.

Master Yan was staring at the boy... or more specifically, the recommendation token inside his pocket, as though his eyes could see through clothes.

Master Yan mumbled, "That can’t be."