383 - Rebirth of a Star: Another Day, Another Drama

Chapter 383: Will You Accept Defeat? From "I No Longer Want to Be the Chief Senior Sister!" - Urban Fiction Typically, when an alchemist places heavenly herbs into the cauldron, timing is crucial, requiring each step to be performed with utmost care and naturally slowing down the process. However, Ye Ling Long had no such worries. Her movements were fluid and instinctive, as if she had performed this task countless times before. Soon, all the herbs were placed in the cauldron. Once they were refined, a rich medicinal fragrance filled the air, astonishing the onlookers. Had she already made the pills? The speed was incredible. Ye Ling Long’s composed demeanor and seamless actions gave the illusion that anyone could do it. With the pill completed, Ye Ling Long lightly tapped the cauldron, and six Spirit-Breaking Pills flew out. A refreshing aroma filled the air, instantly rejuvenating those who caught a whiff. Many present had previously encountered these pills and knew their typical scent. Yet, merely smelling this one uplifted the spirit, a sensation unfamiliar with conventional pills. As the crowd sought to bask in the aroma, it abruptly vanished when Ye Ling Long swiftly placed the six pills into a pre-prepared jade bottle, completely sealing the scent away. A sense of disappointment surfaced among the onlookers. Meanwhile, Tai Shi Yan was lagging, not even halfway through her process, with some herbs yet to be added to her cauldron, let alone refined into medicinal essence and free of impurities. Ye Ling Long's success, especially with six completed pills, added immense pressure on Tai Shi Yan. Anxiety, frustration, fear, and dread intertwined, distracting Tai Shi Yan’s concentration. As she was placing an herb into the cauldron, an explosion suddenly occurred. Boom! The blast shocked everyone. Ye Ling Long instinctively erected a defense to block the blast's impact, leaving onlookers stunned. Who would have thought Tai Shi Yan would fail to even produce a single pill before the cauldron exploded? Master Hai shook his head, noting Tai Shi Yan’s lack of composure. Alchemy values quality over speed. Yet, there was no denying that Ye Ling Long's pills were not only produced swiftly but were also of impeccable quality. As the smoke cleared, Tai Shi Yan stood revealed, looking utterly disheveled. Although her robes remained intact, her face was covered in soot, muddling her otherwise fair complexion. Her eyes, normally contrasting black and white, now brimmed with fury directed at Ye Ling Long. The outcome seemed clear: one had already succeeded in pill refinement, while the other faced a cauldron explosion. Under such psychological pressure, even if Tai Shi Yan attempted refining again, it was doubtful her pills could match in quality. "The results are apparent," Zou Guan Qing stated outright. The crowd remained silent, their eyes drifting towards Master Hai for validation. "Why is there any doubt about the outcome?" Zou Guan Qing continued. Tai Shi Yan pursed her lips. "By the rules, each has three attempts." Zou Guan Qing frowned. “What kind of ridiculous rule allows three tries? My disciple already succeeded, isn’t that a win?” Master Hai clarified, “Even the finest alchemists can err. Thus, in competitions, each participant has three chances, judged on the best quality pill they produce.” Zou Guan Qing scoffed, “You pill crafters always have such complicated rules.” Meanwhile, Tai Shi Yan, having composed herself with a cleansing spell, commenced her second attempt. Possibly fueled by rivalry, she performed exceptionally, her movements precise and skillful, efficiently removing impurities from the herbs without hesitation. When the air became fragrant with the scent of pills, a triumphant smile graced Tai Shi Yan’s lips as six gleaming Spirit-Breaking Pills emerged from the cauldron. To everyone's surprise, Tai Shi Yan had excelled in her second trial, producing a quantity and quality suggested by the potency of the scent, implying a high-grade output. “Master Hai, I’ve finished,” Tai Shi Yan announced with a smile, surprised herself by the unprecedented result. She had crafted Spirit-Breaking Pills before but never yielded six with such quality. As the evident arbiter, Master Hai ascended the platform with Zou Guan Qing following closely. First, he examined Tai Shi Yan’s jade bottle, extracting a round pill marked with seven clear pill lines. “Tai Shi Yan’s pill features seven lines, a strong fragrance, and high quality with negligible side effects,” he proclaimed. The spectators gasped. High-quality pills with minimal residual toxicity would ensure no barriers in further cultivation. Tai Shi Yan had truly lived up to her first-place standing in alchemy. Triumphant, Tai Shi Yan glanced at Ye Ling Long, believing her rival's pills could at best match her own quality. Master Hai then inspected Ye Ling Long’s bottle. As he poured out a pill, it displayed nine distinct lines—a top-grade Spirit-Breaking Pill without any side effects. “When Master Hai mentioned nine lines and top-grade quality, everyone held their breath. “A supreme grade Spirit-Breaking Pill?” Tai Shi Yan’s voice quivered in disbelief. “How can anyone create such a pill?” Master Hai retained his composure, elevating the pill with spiritual energy for everyone to see its nine lines clearly, including Tai Shi Yan, who felt a chill as she realized she must relinquish the soul-consolidating herbs today. Ye Ling Long turned to Tai Shi Yan, her smile widening, “A bet's a bet.” Tai Shi Yan glared back but said firmly, “I won’t go back on my word.” Reluctantly, she withdrew the soul-consolidating herb, preserved in a jade box, radiating an emerald glow. Ye Ling Long reached to take the box, but felt a resistance. "What’s this? Having second thoughts?" she teased. Tai Shi Yan bit her lip, clutching the jade box containing the precious herbs tightly.