Chapter 115: Call Me Brother

Chapter 115: Call Me Brother

"Haha! Look at him! That kid is still refining. He hasn't even finished one pill yet. Do you think he'll fail the test completely?"

"Exactly! Xiao Ziyu is already on her second pill, and he hasn't even started drawing a single rune. If he fails the test, how can he even think about challenging Master Zhang? This is going to be hilarious!"

The onlookers pointed and laughed, mocking Mu Feng's apparent lack of progress.

Despite the chatter, Mu Feng remained calm and unbothered, his movements steady and deliberate as he refined the herbs in his furnace.

The Test Advances

As time ticked on, Xiao Ziyu's second pill neared completion. She shot a glance at Mu Feng and smirked.

"Still stuck on his first pill? Time is running out, and there's no way he'll finish three pills in time," she thought.

Finally, Mu Feng picked up his rune pen, dipped it into the essence ink, and began drawing on his pill. His measured strokes drew the attention of experienced onlookers.

"Strange," murmured an alchemist nearby. "His movements are smooth, as if he's been practicing for years. But why is his refining process so slow?"

Time passed, and two sticks of incense had burned down. Xiao Ziyu completed her second pill and began drawing runes for her third. Meanwhile, Mu Feng was still focused on his first pill's rune work.

"This guy is hopeless!" sneered Zhang Quandan. "How can someone so slow even think about challenging me? This is the joke of the year!"

A Stunning Revelation

As the mocking laughter echoed, Mu Feng suddenly completed his rune drawing. He tapped the furnace three times in quick succession.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three distinct sounds resonated through the hall.

To everyone's shock, three glowing pills shot out of Mu Feng's furnace and hovered in midair. Each pill emitted a brilliant light and a unique fragrance that filled the hall.

The crowd fell silent, their jaws dropping in unison.

"How... how is this possible?!" someone stammered.

Xiao Ziyu froze mid-stroke, staring at Mu Feng's pills in disbelief. She hadn't even started drawing the runes for her third pill.

"How did he refine three pills simultaneously? And how did I not notice?"

Even Zhang Quandan, smug moments ago, now gawked at the pills with wide eyes.

Inspecting the Pills

Sun, the examiner, rushed over and carefully examined Mu Feng's pills. His expression shifted from astonishment to admiration.

"All three pills are perfectly refined," Sun announced. "They're effective, complete, and each has a flawless rune."

The hall erupted into murmurs.

"He actually did it! Three pills, and all of them are perfect!"

"How could he refine three types of pills at once? That's unheard of for a first-tier alchemist!"

Zhang Quandan snatched one of the bottles, inspecting its contents with shaking hands. He paled as he confirmed their quality.

"Impossible!" he spat. "This must be a trick. There's no way he could refine three pills and draw three runes simultaneously!"

"Are you blind, or just ignorant?" Mu Feng's voice cut through the noise like a blade. "Do you think I need to cheat under the watchful eyes of so many people? I refined three sets of herbs and drew three sets of runes simultaneously. That's why my steps seemed slower."

The True Feat

Sun gasped, his eyes widening. "Simultaneously refining three types of herbs and drawing three sets of runes? That requires extraordinary soul strength and control. Is that really what you did?"

Mu Feng nodded casually.

The crowd was stunned into silence.

Zhang Quandan clenched his fists. "Impossible! The skill and strength needed for such a feat... there's no way someone so young could achieve it!"

"Yet here I stand, with three perfect pills," Mu Feng said coldly. "Who's the fool now?"

A Rivalry Formed

Meanwhile, Xiao Ziyu finished her third pill, her pace slower by half an incense stick. She glanced at Mu Feng with a mix of awe and frustration.

Though her results were equally valid, the difference in speed and method was undeniable.

"You may have passed the certification," Zhang Quandan growled, "but don't get cocky. I'm a second-tier alchemist. I won't stoop to your level and compete with first-tier pills. Prepare to lose!"

"Dog, get ready to lose your hands," Mu Feng retorted with a smirk.

Turning to Sun, Mu Feng asked, "Does this qualify me as an alchemist?"

"Absolutely," Sun replied with respect. "From this moment, you are officially a certified first-tier alchemist. Congratulations. And you too, Xiao Ziyu," he added.

Xiao Ziyu approached Mu Feng, her pride clearly bruised. Her beautiful eyes locked onto him.

"How did you do it?" she asked. "Simultaneously refining three pills and drawing three runes... what's your secret?"

Mu Feng chuckled and leaned closer. "Want to know?"

Xiao Ziyu nodded, her curiosity overcoming her frustration.

"Call me brother," Mu Feng teased with a playful grin.

Xiao Ziyu scowled, her cheeks flushing. "Forget it! But remember, Feng Ye—I won't forget this."

She turned away with a huff, vowing to surpass him next time.

The Real Challenge Begins

As the room's attention shifted, Zhang Quandan sneered. "Enough games, boy. Let's begin the real challenge. You're about to regret ever stepping into this hall."

Mu Feng's eyes glinted with determination. "Let's see if your skill is as sharp as your tongue."

The duel between the two alchemists was about to begin, and the entire hall waited in tense anticipation.