CHAPTER 97: CAI HUI’S SECRETS

Meanwhile, Cai Hui was so focused on her own task that she did not even notice Liu Wei was already on the third test while she had yet to reach the middle of her second test.

After all, she was quite slow, understandably, since she has to rely on flame nodes and hand seals.

Cai Hui took her time, placing the herbs inside the cauldron, and successfully purified them one at a time without damaging the herbs.

Her Alchemy Dao Comprehension also revealed itself, which garnered the spectators and the judges’ attention.

They could not help but praise her.

"Indeed, she’s the future of the Alchemist Association. At such a young age, she is able to purify the spirit herbs to that level without her own spiritual flame. Her potential is limitless."

"I agree with you..."

Even the judges in the Judges’ Pavillion were also praising Cai Hui.

However, it was not only Cai Hui and Liu Wei who surprised the spectators and judges, there were three more participants who showed monstrous ability.

Even then, all three of them already belonged to a faction, so it was obvious they participated to obtain the Top 1 spot.

The spectators and judges focused on the other three participants after losing interest to Liu Wei, who remained like a statue throughout the third test.

After all, even from the rising dome temperatures, the sweat-inducing pressure, mental fatigue, and spiritual strain, he was unbothered.

He remained standing with a relaxed shoulder and steady breath for the next thirty minutes, while keeping his spiritual flame ignited.

Furthermore, his flame was so steady that it seemed it had frozen due to his precise temperature control.

His flame had zero deviation even as the dome subtly shifted heat currents.

Hence, although the spectators and judges decided to shift their focus on other participants, the latter themselves were so distracted by Liu Wei.

Tian Longyuan was one of them, who was also one of the three participants, who showcased their alchemy talent.

Tian Longyuan has a Crimson Dragon Marrow Body, which gives him raw flame power unmatched among his peers.

With his explosive physique, it would have been more suited for martial arts, but he found interest in alchemy.

He belonged to the Ancient Dragonblood Clan, a vassal clan under the Kingdom of Jinwu.

They were known for their explosive temper, so an alchemy prodigy to be born from the Ancient Dragonblood Clan was rare.

So rare that even the patriarch allowed his son, who possessed a physique that could have surpassed him in terms of martial arts, for the welfare of the clan.

After all, martial arts required alchemy pills to progress faster.

And if Tian Longyuan was able to produce pills exclusively to their clan, the patriarch was delighted to imagine how progressive his clan would become.

Unfortunately, Tian Longyuan was unable to escape from the explosive temper—already engraved deep into their bones.

At first, Tian Longyuan was overconfident. His flames were naturally clean due to his Crimson Tyrant Marrow Body.

Furthermore, he already unlocked the inner ability of his physique, the Dragon Heat Compression.

He could already compress his flames to extreme density, perfect for creating explosive, high-grade Fire-Elemental pills later on.

However, his overconfidence was the result of his herbs often scorching prematurely.

Also seeing Liu Wei performing exceptionally, gaining the attention and praise and shock of the participants and the spectators—should have been his—made him almost fail during the second test.

However, there was a reason why he belonged to one of the three talented alchemists in the competition aside from Liu Wei and Cai Hui.

He was able to redeem himself, enough to amaze the judges and spectators.

In the judges’ pavilion, one of the Senior Alchemists said, "He’s already shown his potential, he can easily enter the Top 100. But with his temper, he might not be able to pass through the second round."

Another Senior Alchemist nodded in agreement.

"Indeed. He has to let go of his pride and stop seeing others as his competition. Only himself is his opponent."

Another Senior Alchemist said, "Well, what can you expect from the Ancient Dragonblood Clan? Still, I’m so surprised they are able to give birth to a talented alchemist."

The Master Alchemist said, "They always did, but their interests lied in martial arts. Even his physique is suited more for martial arts, but he’s more interested in alchemy. Interest alone is what makes him who he is and what he will become."

"Right, he’s still in the eighteen years of age. I can understand why the patriarch of such a martial arts headed clan allowed his son to invest his entire life on alchemy."

"Speaking of age, there is actually another girl, who’s the same age as Cai Hui, but is already a junior rank alchemist. According to my information, she attained early Qi Condensation Stage just half a year ago."

The Master Alchemist said, "Yun Rong’er, huh? Her Spiritual Melody Physique allows her to have high comprehension in Dao of Harmony."

One of the Senior Alchemists beside the Master Alchemist asked with a curious expression on his face, "Who do you think is more talented, Master Yan? Cai Hui and Yun Rong’er?"

The Master Alchemist instantly replied, "It’s Cai Hui."

The Senior Alchemists were taken aback.

One of them asked, "How so? Cai Hui doesn’t have a talented physique unlike Yun Rong’er. Although Yun Rong’er’s Dao comprehension leaned more on Dao of Harmony than Dao of Alchemy, she is already at an advantage when it comes to possessing physique."

"But in Dao Comprehension?" The Master Alchemy grinned. "You forgot that Cai Hui mentioned learning alchemy only six months ago."

The Senior Alchemists drew a sharp breath.

Their hearts raced.

One of them asked, "What do you mean? We did not hear Cai Hui mention that at all."

The Master Alchemist chuckled. "I was kidding."

They heaved a sigh of relief.

However, the Master Alchemist continued, "She only said it to me. I told her to keep it a secret, lest it will jeopardize her life."

They were dumbfounded.