Chapter 18 First Stage: Refining Medicine

  The sudden appearance of the fourth prince of the Great Empire changed the atmosphere in the wooden shed, and a tense and oppressive breath lingered around everyone.

  With a glance at the faces of the crowd, Nie Kong knew that most people here had heard or knew about the strength of the Fourth Prince. He couldn't help but smile again in his heart. In this world without internet and television, to achieve such fame among so many young spiritual medicine practitioners before the age of twenty, it was clear that the Fourth Prince must have been quite high-profile or done something very high-profile.

  Once again, thinking of the Fourth Prince's words to Mu Xiaoling earlier, Nie Kong understood that his judgment was about 80% correct. If he kept a low profile, who would know that he was a prince? Even with his identity as a prince, not many people would pay attention to him. After all, in the Tianling Continent, spiritual masters were everywhere, and the reverence of the common people for imperial power was far less than in Nie Kong's previous life in ancient society, especially among those spiritual masters from aristocratic families.

  Perhaps for this fourth prince, gentleness is just a means, and arrogance is his true nature. It's hard to make him blend the gentle means with the arrogant nature so naturally.

  At this time, Mu Xiaoling had also begun to close her eyes and cultivate her spirit, preparing for the upcoming trial. Obviously, the arrival of the Fourth Prince made her lose her previous relaxation. As for Mu Xinjiang, who was purely here to stir up trouble, his mouth was constantly muttering, as if he was cursing the Fourth Prince who was ranked first.

  Nie Kong didn't have much to prepare, and thinking of Mu Xinjiang's mention of Qu Xinyi and Yu Qingguan, his gaze began to search the crowd. However, this wooden shed had gathered over a thousand people, and Nie Kong was only of average height, making it difficult for him to find two strangers among them.

  "Boom!"

  A loud explosion occurred outside the high platform, causing a huge commotion that shook the sky.

  At the sound, everyone's expression changed, they stopped whispering to each other, and those who were meditating with their eyes closed also opened them. They all understood that the sudden loud noise meant that the judges and honored guests of this grand medicine competition had arrived, and the real contest was about to begin.

  As expected, in a short while, a majestic figure like a mountain of flesh appeared on the side of the high platform, laughing loudly: "The Medicine Will Great Competition is about to begin, young men and women who are participating in the competition, now it's your turn to take the stage! Don't rush, line up according to your number plates.

  This fatty is Nie Kong, also known as Nie Qingtong. According to their generational ranking, he is also his uncle's clansman. This time at the "Thousand Spirit Medicine Meet", although it was hosted by the Lingbao Pavilion, the majority of people maintaining order were from the Nie family, especially the Spiritual Masters in the Fusion and Transformation stages, more than half of whom had been dispatched to the surrounding areas.

  Under the invitation of two middle-aged men from Nie's family, nearly a thousand people began to disperse from both sides of the high platform and walked away. When several spiritual masters appeared on both sides of the high platform, the dense crowd in front of the empty space began to surge, and various sounds shook the sky above the manor like waves.

  The first floor of the five-story high platform is the most gentle and occupies the largest area. On this floor, each step has a width of more than one meter, and on top of it are neatly arranged low tables with various tools for refining spiritual medicine such as crucibles and jars.

  Of course, the alchemists participating in the competition can also bring their own medicine cauldrons. After all, some people are used to using their own medicine cauldrons, and suddenly changing them may not be suitable.

  "Ah!"

  Almost a thousand people stood behind the low table, and another loud bell rang out from the Lingbao Pavilion next door, which instantly suppressed the noise in the Zhuangyuan. Before the bell's echo faded away, the slender four-product spiritual medicine master of the Lingbao Pavilion took advantage of this opportunity to stand in front of the high platform.

  "Ladies and gentlemen..."

  The loud voice of Mo Xingtu, under the pressure of the spiritual energy in his body, was like a huge bell, spreading to every corner of the manor. "The 'Thousand Spirit Medicine Meeting' grand competition is about to begin... The judges for this grand competition include Imperial Royal Family's Spiritual Medicine Master Cheng Feiliu and Lingbao Pavilion's Muzi Si Master..."

  Mo Xingtu's words were full of emotion and passion.

  Nie Kong felt drowsy from listening. In his past life, the commentaries for various festivals and grand ceremonies had already made him extremely bored, let alone in his eyes, Mo Xingtu's commentary level was still at an amateur stage compared to those professional hosts in his past life. Listening to it was even more uninteresting, he only saw Mo Xingtu's lips opening and closing non-stop, then saliva flying everywhere, as for what he said, he had no impression at all.

  It was the people next to Mu Xiaoling and Mu Xinjiang, however, who were completely absorbed in the story, their eyes wide with wonder. Suddenly, a strange thought popped into Nie Kong's head - if he let these people experience the grand gatherings of his past life, they would probably be shocked out of their wits.

  "Wow!"

  Suddenly, thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the crowd in front, and Nie Kong's spirit finally concentrated a bit. Then, Mo Xingtu said, "Enough idle talk, the competition is about to begin. This first round is very simple, testing your overall level..."

  Nearly a thousand alchemists' eyes focused on him, and Mo Xingtu's face floated with a strange smile. He pointed to the large hourglass beside him and said, "Before this hourglass is completely overturned, successfully refining a second-grade spiritual medicine will allow you to enter the second round. The prescription and materials will be sent to your faces later."

  Listening to Mo Xingtu say that the first pass only refined a second-rate spiritual medicine, many people let out a sigh of relief. Standing here, even if you're not a second-rate spiritual medicine master, you have experience in successfully refining second-rate spiritual medicines. There are also spiritual medicine masters who secretly warned themselves that this first pass is absolutely not as easy as it seems on the surface.

  With a sweep of his gaze over the crowd, Mo Xingtu's smile grew even more enigmatic.

  After a short while, nearly a hundred young and beautiful red-clad maidens emerged from behind the high platform, carrying large round wooden trays. Their elegant figures fluttered about among the spiritual medicine practitioners, taking down one by one the wooden boxes on the trays and placing them on the low tables in front of the spiritual medicine practitioners.

  The wooden box was closed, and no one knew what kind of medicine and medicinal materials were inside. No one dared to secretly open it and take a peek in order to prepare ahead of time. Because, right across from the high platform, nearly two hundred Ling Masters from the Mu and Nie families stared with wide eyes, watching them like guards.

  In such a situation, wanting to cheat will only result in one outcome: being eliminated early!

  For a moment...

  Everyone's eyes were focused on Mo Xingtu, and even the onlookers in the courtyard fell silent, holding their breath and waiting quietly!

  ……

  "Let's start!"

  Finally, Mo Xingtu was like a general commanding thousands of troops, his right arm slowly raised, and then he let out a loud shout, fiercely slashing downwards. Almost at the same moment, the huge hourglass beside him was turned over by a young man, making a "whooshing" sound.

  "Crash!"

  Nearly a thousand alchemists did not hesitate at all and grabbed the wooden box on the low table with the fastest speed, and the sound of opening the lid was heard one after another.

  Inside the box, there were six compartments. The first five compartments all contained a small amount of herbs, while the last compartment was a jade bottle. As soon as his fingers touched it, a chill ran down to his bones. It seemed that this was indeed the Ice Plate Water from Nie's family ice flame cave. This Ice Plate Water is suitable for refining many kinds of spiritual medicine.

  He picked up the rolled-up formula inserted in the corner of the box, opened it, and Nie Kong was stunned for a moment. Then, a voice full of surprise and uncertainty echoed from the high platform...

  ……