C11 Shocking the Entire Audience

"I hope everyone can perform to their full potential. Your chance to become a part of the Pill Refining Building hinges on this assessment," Yuu Lezhan declared with gravitas. Having delivered his final words, he took a seat in the center of the hall and began sipping tea, his eyes surveying the candidates.

His attention lingered on Yang Xiao, his smile suggesting layers of unspoken thoughts.

Judging from Yang Xiao's first-round performance, where he identified over two hundred medicinal ingredients, Yuu Lezhan was confident that barring any unforeseen events, the young man would surely craft a pill that met the standards.

Moreover, there was a considerable chance that Yang Xiao would produce a Grade One or higher pill. As to the exact quality of the pill he might produce, Yuu Lezhan could only wait with bated breath.

Such high hopes stemmed from the Pill Refining Building's long-standing need for new talent. Over time, the absence of fresh blood could threaten its standing in Azure Connection City. But if he could bring in a gifted alchemist, his own footing within the Pill Refining Building would solidify, and the elders would undoubtedly take note.

To Wang Zeyu and his companions, however, Yang Xiao was an irritant they desperately wanted to remove.

"That little rascal! He just got lucky last time! This second round of exams truly tests one's innate talent. Memorizing medicinal ingredients won't cut it now. I want to see how he manages to get through," one sneered.

"Exactly! This guy has been stuck at the Essence Condensation Stage for over a decade with no progress, no better than trash. And now he has the gall to try his hand at pill refining here? He's delusional," another added.

"We'll see soon enough. Once this kid fails to produce any pills, I can't wait to see him stop his charade!" the third chimed in with a snort.

Amidst handling his medicinal herbs, Yang Xiao couldn't help but overhear the jeers. He was well aware that Wang Zeyu and his cronies were the ones buzzing with disdain. But Yang Xiao was no longer the failure of his past.

They were nothing more than a bunch of clowns! Yang Xiao didn't even deign to glance at Wang Zeyu and his two companions, instead focusing on the medicinal cauldron before him with an air of indifference.

Despite the loud jeers from the trio, clearly intended for Yang Xiao to hear, he continued to disregard them, further inciting their ire. They were about to heap on more scorn when Yuu Lezhan, seated at the center, rapped on the table, signaling for silence. The room immediately fell quiet, the whispers ceased, and Wang Zeyu and his cohorts had no choice but to abandon their mockery and earnestly begin their preparations for pill refining.

Following Yuu Lezhan's announcement marking the start of the examination, he instructed the Pill Boy to light a stick of sandalwood that would burn for half an hour. If the sandalwood was completely burned out and the examinees had not produced a qualified pill, they would be disqualified.

With this in mind, everyone was on edge, fervently crafting their pills. This was a critical examination, and there was no room for error.

Yang Xiao, however, appeared unhurried, casually manipulating the medicinal cauldron and the herbs. He showed no sign of taking the task seriously, blatantly ignoring the steadily burning sandalwood incense before him.

Yuu Lezhan observed Yang Xiao's demeanor and felt a twinge of disappointment, silently shaking his head. "He may be talented, but his attitude leaves much to be desired. It seems he has grown arrogant. Such a shame."

As a Rank Three Elder of the Pill Refining Building, Yuu Lezhan was a figure of considerable standing, sought after by many families. Yang Xiao, a mere member of the Yang Mansion without any significant reputation, naturally did not recognize him. Yuu Lezhan simply saw Yang Xiao as a gifted yet conceited and impulsive youth.

Unaware of these perceptions, Yang Xiao was absorbed in his task at hand. Despite his seemingly cavalier approach, he was earnestly pondering the pill formula before him.

The Powerful Strength Pill, a Grade One pill, could be effective even at a low grade. Once ingested, it would enhance the consumer's strength for a minute. However, once the effect wore off, the user would experience weakness in their limbs.

If the Powerful Strength Pill could be refined into a high-grade version, it would significantly enhance the user's strength, with effects lasting for two minutes and substantially weakened side effects.

This pill is quite impressive. If used cleverly, it can have a surprising impact during combat.

However, the side effects of the Powerful Strength Pill are quite pronounced. If the pill doesn't maximize strength enhancement, the ensuing weakness in the limbs could be fatal. The higher the grade of the pill, the lesser the side effects.

Despite this, ordinary people are hesitant to use the Powerful Strength Pill carelessly. An ill-timed use during a prolonged battle could lead to debilitating side effects right after an opponent is defeated, leaving the user vulnerable to new threats. The consequences could be dire.

Thus, the side effects can sometimes outweigh the benefits of increased strength, making the pill suitable only for specific situations. Improper use could be lethal.

"Despite its mixed blessings, this pill can play a significant role when the weak face the strong and can even be lifesaving on occasion. It's a decent pill, but it requires seven or eight different herbs to produce, which can be quite costly," Yang Xiao mused, considering it might be useful to keep one or two on hand for future needs.

But the process of crafting the Powerful Strength Pill is indeed complex. The proportions of each herb must be exact, and the control of the flame during the process is critical. Any slight error in adjusting the flame could lead to a high failure rate.

Yang Xiao sighed in resignation. It had been so long since he last refined a pill that his skills had nearly atrophied. With this thought, he glanced at the sandalwood incense burning before him.

A third of the incense had already burned away, and much time had passed without Yang Xiao truly beginning his work.

He observed Wang Zeyu and the others, who had previously mocked him, now engrossed in their pill refining. Their practiced movements, precise herb measurements, and mastery of the flame were evident, and they wore smug expressions of satisfaction. In stark contrast, they were much more serious about their pill crafting than Yang Xiao.

It was clear that Wang Zeyu and his two companions hailed from a prominent family. They had prepared extensively for the examination by practicing with various pills, all to ensure success in refining the Grade One Powerful Strength Pill. Consequently, they approached the examination with great confidence.

"I think it's about time for me to get started," Yang Xiao murmured to himself as he withdrew his gaze and took a deep breath. He rolled up his sleeves, lit the medicinal cauldron with one hand, and began to measure out different herbs with the other.

The first step was to heat the cauldron! To increase the flame's temperature, Yang Xiao's Vital Spirit began to stir within him, infusing energy into the flames.

Despite no visible change to the flames beneath the medicinal cauldron, the tempering of the Vital Spirit significantly elevated the temperature.

"Time to add the herbs!" Yang Xiao whispered, his hands moving continuously as he tossed various herbs into the cauldron before him.

"The herbs weren't measured with any tools; he just threw them straight into the cauldron," Yuu Lezhan observed with a hint of astonishment at Yang Xiao's technique.

What the onlookers didn't realize was the meticulous care Yang Xiao took in handling the herbs. He knew precisely the right amounts needed, removing excess from some and adding a couple more sprigs to others as necessary.

In just a few moments, Yang Xiao had neatly arranged the herbs beside him. He had already added five or six different types into the cauldron, but his movements didn't cease. He continued to carefully select and add more herbs.

"Damn! Is this kid actually making pills?" exclaimed a Pill Boy, standing in the midst of the crowd next to Yuu Lezhan. He was tasked with recording the assessment scores and couldn't help but express his amazement, his face etched with skepticism.

The Pill Boy's reaction drew the attention of many others. Pill refining was typically a precise operation, yet Yang Xiao's approach was entirely different. He confidently waved his hands, tossing the herbs into the cauldron without apparent measurement.

Thanks to his outstanding performance in the first round, many Pill Boys and examinees were now closely watching Yang Xiao's every move. At this moment, seeing his unconventional method, many spectators' eyes widened in disbelief.

"Is this some kind of joke? Is that really how you refine pills? Does this kid think he's just cooking, tossing everything into the cauldron, expecting a qualified pill to come out as if it's a stew?"

"What a waste of ingredients! If he can actually produce pills like that, I'll eat the medicinal cauldron myself!"

"Haha... He's proven to be nothing but a failure. In the first round, he scraped by with rote memorization and sheer luck to score well, but this second round requires real talent and skill. Now he's exposed for what he truly is. It's laughable!"

As the crowd's attention grew, the entire hall turned their gaze towards Yang Xiao, unable to contain their astonishment at his pill refining technique.

Wang Zeyu and his companions felt a surge of satisfaction! Yang Xiao had finally shown his true colors. They were already thinking of ways to ridicule him, looking at him with eyes full of mockery and disdain, feeling smug and relieved at the same time.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Please approach this final round of the examination with the utmost seriousness. We are short on time, so maintain silence in the hall to avoid disturbing others," Yuu Lezhan announced, noticing the commotion caused by Yang Xiao's actions.

Yet, in that moment, Yuu Lezhan's heart was a tumultuous sea of shock, far more than anyone else present!

"This... This young man is a natural-born pill refiner! A genius!"

The novices might not grasp what was happening, but that didn't mean Yuu Lezhan was in the dark. Every time Yang Xiao nonchalantly selected his herbs, it seemed haphazard, but the precision of his measurements was nothing short of exact. Yuu Lezhan could only describe his feelings as sheer astonishment.

Yuu Lezhan, after all, had been at the Pill Refining Building as a Rank Three for quite some time, having witnessed countless assessments, and had a keener eye than anyone else in the hall.

Initially skeptical of Yang Xiao's approach, he noticed that Yang Xiao would pick up two to three types of herbs at a time. It looked like he was haphazardly grabbing herbs, but upon closer inspection, the precision in his selection and the order in which he added them to the cauldron were impeccable, even faster than Yuu Lezhan himself. At this point, Yuu Lezhan began to doubt that Yang Xiao was simply a genius.