C12 Prepared for This!

Yuu Lezhan was astounded by such an accurate and swift pill refining method; he had never encountered anything like it. It was doubtful that anyone in the entire Pill Refining Building could match it.

Yang Xiao's effortless approach to pill refining showcased his innate talent and profound mastery of the art. Yuu Lezhan had no doubt that with the right ingredients, Yang Xiao could refine not only Grade Two Pills but also Grade Three and even Grade Four Pills.

While the onlookers were puzzled by Yang Xiao's mysterious techniques, he was deeply engrossed in an ineffable state. The long-lost sense of familiarity and the memory of his old friend enveloped him, leading him into a state of transcendence.

This was Yang Xiao's first attempt at pill refining since his rebirth, yet the myriad experiences and insights from his past life came flooding back. His old friend, whose skill far surpassed his own, had often teased him amidst their countless successful pill concoctions. These memories had endowed Yang Xiao with a level of expertise that even top Pill Refining Masters could not reach.

This expertise was etched into his very soul; despite having a new body and many years having passed, his touch remained as deft as ever.

Although Yang Xiao couldn't yet fully demonstrate his pill refining prowess, with a little more time, he was certain to once again unveil the most awe-inspiring Pill Refining Arts and astonish all on the continent.

"Wow, Yang Xiao, you've kept your cards close to your chest!" Wang Zeyu, who had caught a glimpse of the ruse, felt like he'd been made a fool of. It seemed he was the monkey being toyed with all along.

Completely absorbed in watching Yang Xiao, Wang Zeyu's frustration mounted, and he utterly forgot to monitor the medicinal cauldron that was still concocting the pill before him.

"Bang!"

The medicinal cauldron had overheated! A faint noise was followed by the acrid scent of burning, and the cauldron before Wang Zeyu began to leak copious amounts of liquid.

"My pill!" Wang Zeyu exclaimed, clutching his head in dismay. His face was a portrait of collapse; he had invested so much effort and was on the brink of success.

"Damn it! Yang Xiao, you've disrupted my focus, ruining my pill. Curse it!" Wang Zeyu's eyes seethed with rage as he glared at Yang Xiao.

The refining process was going flawlessly this time. If everything went as planned, I was sure to produce a top-quality Powerful Strength Pill. More than half of the steps were complete; success was within reach. But then, Yang Xiao's blatant showboating threw me off, causing me to lose focus and misjudge the heat.

Wang Zeyu fumed internally, blaming his failure entirely on Yang Xiao.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

Two more explosions rang out, followed by shocked exclamations.

"Damn it! My medicinal cauldron blew up too!"

"Oh no! My pill!"

Ye Kaifeng and Zhao Lin were visibly shaken, their faces a mix of shock and pain. They glared at Yang Xiao, their eyes filled with intense malice, pinning all the blame on him without a moment's reflection on their own possible mistakes.

In the Pill Refining Building, aside from Yuu Lezhan, Wang Zeyu, and his companions were the ones most fixated on Yang Xiao's every action.

The once ridiculed and bullied member of the Yang family had become a prodigy in the art of pill refining, a fact that Wang Zeyu and his peers found utterly unacceptable.

Their agitation peaked after witnessing Yang Xiao's flawless technique. In their distraction, they lost control of the flame, forgot the correct sequence of herbs, and even the specific types needed, ruining hours of careful preparation in a moment of carelessness.

Unlike Wang Zeyu and his group, the other candidates, though surprised by Yang Xiao's prowess, didn't let their astonishment disrupt their pill refining.

Regardless of whether they were influenced by Yang Xiao or not, Wang Zeyu and his companions were determined to place the blame for their failure squarely on Yang Xiao's shoulders. He had become the prime target of their resentment.

"Ridiculous!" Yang Xiao scoffed at their stares, his cold laughter echoing as he returned to his work, unfazed.

His indifferent demeanor showed he didn't give Wang Zeyu and the others a second thought. Their anger boiling over, Wang Zeyu, Ye Kaifeng, and Zhao Lin exchanged looks, a shared murderous intent silently forming between them.

"After the assessment concludes, it will mark the end of Yang Xiao's life!"

Unaware of the deep-seated hatred harbored against him, Yang Xiao continued to diligently refine his pills, much to the chagrin of Wang Zeyu and his two companions, who could barely contain their fury.

Following their recent setback, Wang Zeyu and the others could no longer afford to take things lightly. With time running short, they began to urgently prepare their medicinal herbs for pill refinement.

As the scent of sandalwood filled the air, time steadily slipped away. With only two-thirds of the incense remaining, half an hour was quickly approaching.

"Bang!" came another soft noise.

At that moment, a somewhat chubby teenager was visibly upset, pounding his chest and stomping his feet in vexation. His overzealous use of ingredients had caused his medicinal cauldron to burst. Having used up all his herbs and with time against him, he faced inevitable elimination, prompting his distressed reaction.

"Bam!"

Another dull thud echoed, drawing the attention of the exam candidates.

A young man, about seventeen or eighteen, beamed with delight as he carefully opened the medicinal cauldron before him.

He extracted a pale yellow pill, its subtle medicinal fragrance wafting through the air.

"Not bad! The first to produce a pill has emerged. I'm curious about its grade," Yuu Lezhan said, his face brightening with pleasure as he rose and approached the successful young pill refiner.

"Ah! Elder Yuu, I've done it! Please, have a look!" The young man, thrilled to see Elder Yuu approaching, eagerly presented the pill for inspection, his face alight with excitement.

Yuu Lezhan examined the Powerful Strength Pill closely before commenting, "Very good. This Powerful Strength Pill may be of a lower grade, but you've managed to refine it within the allotted time, which meets the standard. You've begun to understand the fundamentals of the Pill Refining Arts and have gained some valuable insights."

Despite the pill's surface being marred with cracks, it was infused with a substantial amount of Vital Spirit. Once ingested, it would surely exhibit the intended effects of the Powerful Strength Pill, making it a passable product without a doubt.

With an expression of eager anticipation and nervousness, the young man watched as Yuu Lezhan, smiling, handed back the pill. "Congratulations! You've passed both assessments at our Pill Refining Building. You are now officially a Primary Grade One Pill Refining Master with us!"

Pills are categorized into ten grades, with three levels within each grade. Having crafted a Grade One low-grade pill, the young man had rightfully earned the title of a Grade One beginner Pill Refining Master.

While this was the entry-level for a Pill Refining Master, in the Eight-wasteland, where such masters were scarce, his status was nearly on par with many Spirit Gathering Stage cultivators.

"Is it true... I really did it, haha..." The young man's voice boomed, unable to contain his elation any longer.

Yuu Lezhan, still smiling, gave his shoulder a reassuring pat, signaling him to quiet down.

The young man composed himself and quickly expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Elder Yuu. I will dedicate myself even more to the study of Pill Refining." His excitement was palpable, and his respectful bow to Yuu Lezhan was accompanied by an unwavering smile.

"Well done! Now that you're a Pill Refining Master, you must keep striving," Yuu Lezhan said, his voice full of pride. He then turned and made his way back to his seat to continue monitoring the other candidates' progress.

After Yuu Lezhan sat down, a Pill Boy stepped forward to escort the first successful candidate to the third floor of the Pill Refining Building.

The examination was drawing to a close, and a hushed silence filled the room, punctuated only by the crackling of flames. Suddenly, a dull thud echoed as another cauldron burst, signaling yet another pill had been successfully refined.

Yuu Lezhan rose to inspect the result and discovered a flawless Powerful Strength Pill, a Middle Grade Pill. This achievement also earned the maker the title of Junior Pill Refining Master, and he was led by the Pill Boy to the third floor of the Pill Refining Building.

As the last remnants of the sandalwood's scent were about to fade away, a series of muffled sounds began to echo. The examinees reacted differently—some were ecstatic, others sighed in disappointment. Only a handful had successfully refined their pills, while the majority discovered nothing but broken powder in their medicinal cauldrons, a clear sign of failure in the pill refinement process.

This step, the coalescing of the pill, is crucial in the art of pill refining. Even Yang Xiao, who had been given a second chance at life, approached his first attempt at pill refining with utmost caution.

Suddenly, a loud "Bang!" erupted from beside Yang Xiao. He looked over to see Wang Zeyu, who was on his second attempt at pill refining. The medicinal cauldron in front of Wang Zeyu had been propelled over a meter into the air by the force of the Vital Spirit within. Wang Zeyu quickly stabilized the cauldron and retrieved a pill that exuded a tantalizing medicinal scent.

"Haha! I did it!" Wang Zeyu exclaimed, holding the radiant pill. He glanced at Yang Xiao with a triumphant smirk, then tidied up his workstation and approached Yuu Lezhan with his creation.

"Elder Yuu, could you please evaluate my pill?" Wang Zeyu asked, feigning ignorance of the pill's quality, though his tone betrayed his pride.

"Let's see what you've got," Yuu Lezhan responded, already expecting high quality from the sound of the cauldron's explosion. He eagerly accepted the pill for inspection.

Yuu Lezhan's emphasis on the examinees' talents stemmed from a strategic goal: the stronger the Pill Refining Masters recruited by the Pill Refining Building, the greater the prestige and influence of the Azure Connection City branch. With increased prominence, the headquarters would allocate more resources, bolstering the Pill Refining Building's power.

Thus, Yuu Lezhan, the Elder of the Pill Refining Building, not only refrained from jealousy when encountering exceptionally talented individuals but actively hoped for diverse geniuses to emerge from the examinations he oversaw. Such talent would only serve to strengthen the Pill Refining Building's legacy.

"Wow! This truly is a Grade One Powerful Strength Pill. The quality is exceptional, and the effects are bound to be doubly potent. Excellent work. Young Master Wang, your talent is extraordinary. You've successfully passed the Pill Refining Building's assessment and are now a certified Pill Refining Master!" Yuu Lezhan, after examining the pill, handed it back to Wang Zeyu, his eyes brimming with appreciation.

"Thank you for the compliment, Elder Yuu. I will strive even harder to live up to your high expectations," Wang Zeyu responded with a bow. Feeling a surge of joy, he couldn't help but cast a contemptuous glance at Yang Xiao, who was still busy at the medicinal cauldron.