"A Third-level Peak Spirit Medicine... doesn't just processing it require at least a Third-level Pharmacist?"
Someone whispered from below the stage. He was a Second-level Pharmacist, already over forty years old.
Moments before, he had been feeling quite pleased with himself, but now, he was utterly stunned by Yang Xiao's earlier display of Fire Control.
He had broken through to the Innate Realm, yet to this day, he still hadn't condensed his own True Flame. Compared to Yang Xiao, the difference was like that between heaven and earth.
However, despite his admiration for Yang Xiao, he couldn't muster much confidence in him for the current pill duel.
Simply processing a Third-level Peak Spirit Medicine was a monumental task. It wasn't something you could accomplish just by knowing Fire Control; it also required a thorough understanding of medicinal properties.
"It took even Sect Leader Wang over a decade to become a Third-level Pharmacist. This Yang Xiao might have a knack for Fire Control, but his understanding of medicinal properties is probably far from sufficient. I'm afraid he's going to lose this round."
As if on cue, a Third-level Pharmacist next to him overheard his whisper and chimed in with his own opinion.
In fact, it wasn't just these Pharmacists. Even the common people didn't believe Yang Xiao could defeat Wang Qianhe in a pill duel.
On the other hand, if he really did defeat Wang Qianhe, it would prove that the man's reputation was unearned.
Regarding the matter of the Heaven Repairing Pill, a third match wouldn't even be necessary; the outcome would become completely one-sided.
The mere thought of the shockwaves such an event would send through the Purple Sun Sect's Pharmacist Realm was enough to make them tremble.
It was a terrifying prospect.
"Just watch the competition. Look, Sect Leader Wang's technique is so practiced. After all, it's just a Third-level Peak Spirit Medicine... huh? Is he refining a Kunling Pill?"
"A Kunling Pill? You're right. Those five Spirit Medicines are indeed the ingredients for a Kunling Pill. It looks like Sect Leader Wang came prepared."
"If I remember correctly, the Kunling Pill is a Level 3 Pill. To refine a Level 3 Pill using only Third-Level Spirit Medicine, one must be at least a Middle Tier Third-level Pharmacist. And since the Kunling Pill is one of the most precious and difficult Level 3 Pills to refine, you'd probably need to be a Third-level Peak Pharmacist to even have a hope of succeeding."
"Exactly. Even a Third-level Peak Pharmacist could, at most, produce a Third-Level Low Grade Kunling Pill, which would be full of impurities and have a yield of thirty percent at best. Only a Fourth-level Pharmacist could possibly refine a Third-Level Middle Grade pill, with a yield of sixty percent."
"As for a Third-Level Upper Grade pill, if you're only using Third-level Peak Spirit Medicine, even a Fifth-level Pharmacist might not be able to pull it off. It usually requires a Fourth-Grade Spirit Medicine as the main ingredient. I wonder if Sect Leader Wang can actually do it."
"If he really refines a Third-Level Upper Grade Kunling Pill from only Third-level Peak Spirit Medicine, then Sect Leader Wang's mastery and understanding of medicinal properties must be approaching the level of a Sixth-level Pharmacist, or even the rank of Medicine Sect! If so, that would be a true blessing for our Purple Sun Sect!"
As Wang Qianhe began his refinement, nearly every knowledgeable Pharmacist present started discussing his methods for processing the ingredients and condensing their medicinal properties.
Just as with the Fire Control, they felt his techniques were far beyond their own.
But Wang Qianhe paid them no mind.
The Kunling Pill was his specialty. Others needed Fourth-Grade Spirit Medicine to refine a Third-Level Upper Grade Kunling Pill.
But he, Wang Qianhe, didn't.
Third-level Peak Spirit Medicine was more than enough.
As for whether Yang Xiao could do the same?
'What a joke.'
'Even if he had the same skills as me, the five Spirit Medicines he was left with are inferior in both properties and potency to the ones I chose.'
'At best, even a Sixth-level Great Pharmacist could probably only refine a Third-Level Middle Grade Kunling Pill with those scraps.'
'Let alone some wet-behind-the-ears brat?'
So, after Wang Qianhe completed the refinement and successfully produced a Third-Level Upper Grade Kunling Pill, he sat back down in his seat with great confidence.
He was certain he had already won.
"A Third-Level Upper Grade Kunling Pill. Its properties are pure—a ninety-percent yield," Elder Yao announced after a single glance at the pill Wang Qianhe had refined. He then turned to Yang Xiao. "You may begin your refinement."
The moment he spoke, the assembled Pharmacists erupted.
He had actually refined a Third-Level Upper Grade Kunling Pill.
"Sect Leader Wang truly lives up to his title!"
"It's over now. Yang Xiao is going to lose. What a shame."
"Shame? What shame? He was just too arrogant. If he had agreed to Sect Leader Wang's rules from the start, he would have already won after the first round. Even if he's proud, he could have suggested a two-out-of-three match. But no, he had to insist on winning all three rounds. Does he really think he's some peerless genius of the Medicine Realm?"
"Arrogance is never good, but this young man is a true genius of the Medicine Realm. If he were carefully nurtured and that brash temperament polished away, his future accomplishments would be limitless. He might even achieve the rank of Medicine Sect one day."
"Vice Chief Qin speaks the truth."
This time, it wasn't Elder Yao who spoke, but another Vice Chief from Medicine Peak, Qin Chuan.
He clearly thought very highly of Yang Xiao's potential.
He believed that one day, Yang Xiao could achieve the rank of Medicine Sect.
At his words, the other Pharmacists fell silent.
Indeed, Yang Xiao was only sixteen, yet he already possessed such mastery of Fire Control. His aura had even reached Martial Master Peak.
Breaking through to the Innate Realm would likely be easy for him. At his age, with his abilities, it was simply unheard of.
If he were to truly focus on studying the Medicine Dao, he might genuinely have a chance to achieve the rank of Medicine Sect in the future.
"In the entire history of our Purple Sun Sect's Medicine Dao lineage, from our founding ancestor down, only five individuals have ever achieved the rank of Medicine Dao Grandmaster. In the last three hundred years, not a single person has reached such heights, which has led to some criticism from Medicine King Valley. If we could nurture Yang Xiao to the rank of Medicine Sect, our Purple Sun Sect might once again experience the glorious era of being peerless in both medicine and martial arts, just as we were in our ancestor's time."
Vice Chief Qin Chuan spoke again.
The surrounding Pharmacists all nodded in agreement.
Compared to Wang Qianhe's moodiness and Liu Junyi's mercenary nature, Qin Chuan was known for having the best character. He was just old and rarely involved himself in worldly affairs.
If this matter hadn't blown up to the point of disturbing even Elder Yao, he likely would never have appeared.
At first, he had thought it was just some junior grandstanding for attention. Now, it seemed he was witnessing the birth of a Medicine Realm genius.
Naturally, Qin Chuan wanted to protect Yang Xiao.
That was why he had spoken up for him.
"We understand Vice Chief Qin's intentions. In a little while, even if Yang Xiao is defeated, we will do our best to mediate the conflict between him and Sect Leader Wang."
"In that case, I will have to trouble you all."
Qin Chuan was very pleased with the other Pharmacists.
And at that moment, Yang Xiao stepped up to the platform.
He began to refine the Pill.
The moment he moved.
Every Pharmacist's eyes went wide.
They stood frozen in place.
Even Qin Chuan—no, even Elder Yao—was filled with utter disbelief.
'That divine technique... it actually... it actually appeared again?'
'This is... this is unbelievable!'