Chapter 541: 541: The Confident Zhang Wenxuan
In their last competition, Zhang Wenxuan was unable to continue refining pills due to his injuries caused by Mo Ziming, leading to his early departure. As a result, a sense of regret lingered in Zhang Wenxuan’s mind.
He believed that with his abilities, had he managed to refine the Purple Mystery Pill, he would undoubtedly beat Fang Lin. The Domination Pill should have been his.
Now, Zhang Wenxuan finally had a chance to defeat Fang Lin strongly in front of everyone, proving that he was the number one Alchemy Tao genius in the Pill Alliance of Xuan Country.
Fang Lin is nothing when compared to me, Zhang Wenxuan.
Qi Sanxuan and several Pill Alliance elders stood together, cold smiles on their faces. Qi Sanxuan had prepared many methods for Zhang Wenxuan and Fang Lin’s Alchemy Tao competition, including some underhanded tactics.
In Qi Sanxuan’s estimation, this was a securely won match. Fang Lin didn’t stand a chance against Zhang Wenxuan.
“Who do you think will win the match this time?”
“I think Zhang Wenxuan has a greater chance of winning.”
“I think so too.”
“Fang Lin was merely lucky last time; he won’t be that fortunate this time.”
“But Fang Lin is not weak either, I think he has a chance of winning.”
“Anyway, I’m more optimistic about Zhang Wenxuan.”
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There was a buzz among the surrounding Pill Refiners. Most of them were more optimistic about Zhang Wenxuan. They knew more about him and understood his strengths.
As for Fang Lin? Although he put on a startling performance in the previous Alchemy Tao competition, it ended there. If Zhang Wenxuan hadn’t quit halfway, the outcome would be unpredictable.
“Fang Lin, what does it feel like to know you can’t refuse?” Zhang Wenxuan, looking at Fang Lin, suddenly sneered.
Fang Lin smirked, “I don’t feel anything, I’m pretty casual. Let’s compete.”
Zhang Wenxuan snorted, the gloom in his eyes intensifying.
“We’ll see if you’re still this relaxed after you lose!” Zhang Wenxuan muttered to himself.
Chen Yongnian looked at the two and said, “This time, the competition will be based on the Red Sun Pill. Among you two, whoever refines a superior Red Sun Pill will win. If the quality of your pills is the same, the result will be decided by the duration of the refining process.”
Upon hearing this, Fang Lin’s expression remained unchanged, while a smile spread across Zhang Wenxuan’s face.
The Red Sun Pill was a recipe Zhang Wenxuan had mastered a long time ago—something he was well-practiced in. He hadn’t expected his luck to be so good. Chen Yongnian actually chose the Red Sun Pill as the competition’s subject. It seemed hard for Zhang Wenxuan not to win this time.
The Red Sun Pill is a low-grade fourth-tier pill, and it’s not very difficult to refine. Essentially, any fourth-tier Pill Refiner with ample experience should have a success rate of around sixty to seventy percent when refining it.
Zhang Wenxuan has been a fourth-tier Pill Refiner for three years, he has fully mastered the Red Sun Pill and was brimming with confidence for this competition.
“The Red Sun Pill, huh?” Fang Lin murmured, looking extremely calm, as if he was not concerned at all.
Then, people brought in the Pill Furnace and medicinal herbs, all provided by the Pill Alliance. The Pill Furnaces and the herbs were all the same.
“Which one does Co-King think more highly of?” Dream Falling Flower asked the plump Co-King with a smile.
Co-King gave a faint smile, “Although Fang Lin is remarkable, I am more optimistic about Zhang Wenxuan.”
Dream Falling Flower wore an upward curl at the corners of her mouth as she turned to the middle-aged woman.
The woman spoke calmly, “I know something about Zhang Wenxuan. Fang Lin is no match for him.”
“Oh?” Dream Falling Flower’s smile widened as she turned to Gongsun Cheng.
“What do you think, Elder Gongsun?” Dream Falling Flower inquired.
Gongsun Cheng snorted, “Fang Lin will undoubtedly lose.”
Dream Falling Flower then asked the middle-aged man from Heavenly Sword Mountain, who was rather cold. However, he also supported Zhang Wenxuan.
“Well, since none of you think highly of Fang Lin, I might as well go against the grain and support him.” Dream Falling Flower stood with her arms crossed over her chest, speaking lightly.
“Begin.” As soon as Chen Yongnian’s words fell, Zhang Wenxuan initiated his moves.
The moment he did, he attracted everyone’s attention, and gasps of amazement echoed around.
“So fast!”
“I can’t even see his hands clearly!”
“Isn’t this speed too fast?”
“That Fang Lin is still daydreaming.”
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Zhang Wenxuan’s hands moved at an alarming speed. After the flame rose, he threw the herbs into the Pill Furnace one after another without any pause. His movements were fluid and elegant, and most of the herbs had gone into the Pill Furnace in one fell swoop.
One can tell from Zhang Wenxuan’s actions that he was extremely familiar with the steps of refining the Red Sun Pill, to the point where he could blindly continue his refining process.
Of course, such a feat required significant talent.
Without a doubt, Zhang Wenxuan was a person with profound talent in Alchemy Tao, or else he would not have established himself in the vast Pill Alliance of Xuan Country and be known as one of the top five geniuses.
Moreover, the fire Zhang Wenxuan used was a rare Soul Commanding Pill Fire. Judging from the aura of the fire, this flame was also extraordinary.
Fang Lin was also not idle. He calmly opened the Pill Furnace, and then a cluster of cyan flames appeared in his hand.
This flame was, of course, Fang Lin’s Soul Commanding Pill Fire, which he had obtained from the world in the Cauldron outside Pill Pole Tower.
“Look at Fang Lin’s flame!”
“It seems to be a Soul Commanding Pill Fire too.”
“What a strong aura, it doesn’t seem weaker than Zhang Wenxuan’s Soul Commanding Pill Fire.”
“Not only is it not weaker, it may even be stronger.”
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This was Fang Lin’s first time demonstrating his Soul Commanding Pill Fire in the Pill Alliance in Xuan City. Many people had previously thought that Fang Lin did not have a Soul Commanding Pill Fire.
“This flame is indeed extraordinary.” Co-King commented.
Chen Yongnian also expressed a hint of surprise and praise. His sharp eyes could see that Fang Lin’s Soul Commanding Pill Fire carried an extremely domineering aura, and it appeared very violent.
Generally speaking, this kind of flame was not very suitable for refining pills. After all, the more violent the flame, the harder it was to control, and the less stable it was to use.
But such flames, if controlled well, would be much more effective.
Zhang Wenxuan glanced at Fang Lin, and a hint of jealousy flashed in his eyes when he saw Fang Lin’s Soul Commanding Pill Fire.
Fang Lin simply smiled. With a slight wave of his palm, the flame fell onto the Pill Furnace.
The cyan flame immediately burned vigorously under the Pill Furnace. Fang Lin calmly tossed the medicinal herbs into the Pill Furnace. His actions were much slower than Zhang Wenxuan’s, but they also appeared smooth and natural.
“He’s so slow, isn’t he bound to lose?” said a young Pill Refiner who had not been in the Pill Alliance for long.
“What do you know? This is called slow work yields fine products!” A Pill Refiner who had been in the Pill Alliance for three or four years scolded.
However, once he finished speaking, Fang Lin started to move faster. And it wasn’t just a little faster, his hands flickered up and down like butterflies weaving through flowers, causing one’s eyes to dazzle.