Chapter 18: A Gathering of Talents

"There's actually a small world within Hongwu Immortal City!" Duan Qingyao marveled, his eyes wide with astonishment. Xiao Ling'er, standing beside him, was equally amazed, her beautiful eyes darting around in wonder.

Under the guidance of the city lord's palace, all the participants and the onlookers entered this small world. The venue was vast, stretching as far as the eye could see, with countless stone tables arranged in neat rows. Each table was stocked with identical materials. Surrounding the venue were towering stands, some at ground level and others floating high above the clouds.

"There might be nearly one million alchemists participating in this meeting," Fifth Elder Duan Qingyao remarked, his tone tinged with awe. "What a grand gesture."

But his mood soon dipped. The sheer scale of the event was overwhelming. Just the materials required for the first round alone represented an astronomical cost—far beyond what the current Moon Embracing Sect could afford, even if they sold themselves a hundred times over. Yet, at its peak, the Moon Embracing Sect could have managed it. The thought filled him with a bittersweet longing.

"Go, Ling'er," Duan Qingyao encouraged, his voice softening. "Don't feel pressured. Just do your best. You're still young. The reason I brought you here isn't to demand a high ranking but to give you experience. Treat this as an opportunity to grow."

"Yes, Fifth Elder," Xiao Ling'er replied with a firm nod. She made her way to the venue, selected a seat at random, and sat down quietly to wait.

She had already registered. Now, all she had to do was wait for the event to begin and start refining her elixir.

"Teacher," she whispered inwardly, "should I go all out or hold back for now?"

"Of course, hold back," Liang Danxia, her mentor, replied with a chuckle. "Pretend to be weak, then surprise everyone later. Your talent is exceptional, but with the current strength of you and the Moon Embracing Sect, you can't afford to reveal the Earth Core Demon Fire unless absolutely necessary. Besides, the alchemy field is a battlefield. If you perform too well too soon, you'll become a target. Start low-key, advance steadily, and then make a grand entrance at the end."

"But..." Xiao Ling'er hesitated, "what if I mess up?"

Liang Danxia laughed. "Your master and elders don't have high expectations for you. Even if you fail, it won't be a big deal."

"Teacher!" Xiao Ling'er protested, her cheeks flushing.

"Alright, alright, I'm just teasing you. The truth is, I believe in you."

Xiao Ling'er sighed. "I'll do my best."

…..

Time passed quickly. Soon, a powerful figure took the stage. His aura surged, silencing the entire venue.

"This is..." Xiao Ling'er narrowed her eyes.

"A seventh-level Harmonizing Dao Realm cultivator," Liang Danxia's voice echoed in her mind. "He has the right to be arrogant."

Xiao Ling'er was inwardly impressed. A seventh-level Harmonized Dao Realm cultivator was a rare sight. She couldn't help but feel a sense of caution.

On stage, the great cultivator spoke calmly. "The rules of alchemy are similar everywhere, so I won't waste time explaining them. Since you're here, give it your all. The first round is to refine the Condensing Yuan Pill. Those who successfully produce a third-grade or higher pill within one hour will advance. Begin!"

The alchemists sprang into action immediately. Xiao Ling'er, however, hesitated.

"Teacher, this recipe..."

"Figure it out yourself," Liang Danxia replied. "As I said, I believe in you. Although you've never used this recipe before, it's only a third-grade pill. For you, it's challenging but not impossible."

Xiao Ling'er took a deep breath. "Yes, teacher. I'll do my best."

She had never competed with others in alchemy before, so she wasn't sure how she stacked up against them. But since her teacher believed in her, she felt confident.

However, she wasn't familiar with this recipe and didn't know how to handle the extra medicinal materials. She couldn't just start blindly. So, while the other alchemists were already busy, Xiao Ling'er remained still, her eyes scanning the room, appearing lost and confused.

In the stands, someone soon noticed her.

"Look at that female cultivator," a spectator sneered. "Everyone else is already working, but she's just standing there, looking around like she doesn't know what to do."

The crowd around him laughed.

"Probably a novice," another chimed in. "She doesn't even know how to refine the Condensing Yuan Pill, yet she dares to come here? How bold."

"Maybe she's from some no-name sect, here to try her luck. But this is Hongwu Immortal City! With so many alchemists competing, she's just making a fool of herself."

The comments were harsh, but Duan Qingyao remained calm. He knew Xiao Ling'er's capabilities. The Condensing Yuan Pill was her specialty. A third-grade pill wouldn't stump her.

"Ling'er, why haven't you started yet?" Duan Qingyao wondered.

Meanwhile, the other alchemists were busy, their performances varying widely. Some were nervous, their movements hurried and shaky. Others were calm and composed, their confidence evident.

Xiao Ling'er observed them carefully, especially those handling the unfamiliar parts of the recipe. She focused on the calm and skilled ones, learning from them.

After about ten minutes, Xiao Ling'er closed her eyes. Everything she had observed played back in her mind like a vivid memory.

"I see," she whispered. "The key to using these auxiliary materials to increase the success rate lies in the Five-Colored Flower. Its essence, which embodies the five elements, can integrate the other materials perfectly, creating a balance that aids in pill formation. While it slightly reduces the pill's potency, it significantly increases the success rate. It's not too difficult, as long as I maintain the balance of the five elements."

Finally, she moved.

With a swift motion, she slapped the alchemy furnace, causing the lid to fly open. The movement was smooth and confident, drawing the attention of those around her. But then she froze, realizing her mistake.

"I almost forgot to hide my clumsiness," she thought, sticking out her tongue.

She let the lid fall to the ground with a loud clang, drawing boos from the spectators. Blushing, she quickly picked it up and began hurriedly tossing materials into the furnace.

The onlookers lost interest. With such a clumsy start, she clearly wouldn't make it past the first round.

But Xiao Ling'er was unfazed. Though she appeared flustered, her mind was clear. She even found time to chat with Liang Danxia.

"Teacher, among these alchemists, who do you think could be a strong rival?"

"Of course, there are some," Liang Danxia replied. "Out of a million alchemists, even if most are average, there are bound to be a few standouts. Based on their current performance, three are worth noting."

"Who are they?" Xiao Ling'er asked eagerly.

"Follow my guidance. Do you see the man in the feathered crown to your left? His entire process is flawless. His control over the materials and heat is extraordinary. He's a strong contender."

"There's also the red-haired woman behind you. She's likely from the Fire Sect, known for their weapon refining. But she's found a new path in alchemy. Her fire control is exceptional, though her material handling is slightly weaker. In terms of fire manipulation, she surpasses you for now."

"And the third?" Xiao Ling'er asked.

"The man to your right, the one who looks clumsy and naive. He's pretending to be weak, hiding his true abilities. His alchemy skills are on par with yours, and his cultivation... is questionable."

Xiao Ling'er frowned. "Questionable?"

"Yes," Liang Danxia said gravely. "He's hiding his true strength. Be cautious of him."

Xiao Ling'er observed the man carefully. He looked honest and simple, but there was something off about him. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she trusted her teacher's judgment.

…..

As time passed, more and more alchemists completed their pills. The early finishers were mostly successful, but as the hour wore on, the failure rate skyrocketed. Some produced low-grade pills, while others failed entirely, their furnaces exploding in a puff of smoke.

Xiao Ling'er waited until the last few moments before "reluctantly" opening her furnace. She produced three third-grade Condensing Yuan Pills—just enough to advance.

Then she glanced at the "clumsy" alchemist. He was still struggling, his furnace seemingly out of control. At the last second, he managed to produce two pills. The third one flickered uncertainly, its halo dim and unstable.

"Pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger, huh?" Xiao Ling'er thought, amused. "He's overdoing it."

Finally, the Harmonizing Dao Realm cultivator returned to the stage. "Those who advance, stay. Those who are eliminated, leave."

With those ten words, the million alchemists were whittled down to less than 100,000. Xiao Ling'er had made it through—and so had the "clumsy" alchemist.