Chapter 45: Comparison Is the Thief of Joy

Upon witnessing the aura surrounding Master Jin, Master Qi atop the high platform hurriedly interjected, "What are you doing?"

"This brat has been pretending all along, and you actually believe him? I doubt he’s ever refined a single pill," Master Jin replied coldly.

Hearing the commotion, Li Jian San responded calmly, "Indeed, I have never refined a single pill."

The faces of everyone present changed at his words.

"Is it possible? This kid really hasn't made a pill before!"

"My heavens, this is the first time I've seen anyone dare to so brazenly mock an alchemist in front of everyone."

"That’s a Grade Three Alchemist from the Alchemist Guild! Is he tired of living?"

"Isn’t he doomed now…"

The murmurs grew louder, and Master Jin's expression became increasingly sour.

"You dare toy with the Alchemist Guild like this? Today, you won’t walk out of our doors alive!"

Li Jian San was stunned. "When have I toyed with you?"

"You've never made a pill, yet you come here for an assessment. If this isn’t mockery, then do you intend to refine one?"

Li Jian San retorted, "How do you know I can’t?"

Master Jin sneered, "You've never studied alchemy before. How could you possibly succeed on your first attempt?"

"Do you even understand how many failures one must endure before finally refining a pill?"

"Even I spent three months before I succeeded in making my first pill."

At Master Jin’s words, the surrounding crowd looked at him with admiration.

They all knew how many failures they had endured during their first attempts at pill refinement. Ordinary people usually spent more than a year before successfully refining their first pill, and even prodigies needed at least half a year.

Yet Master Jin had managed it in just three months. Clearly, anyone capable of becoming a Grade Three Alchemist was extraordinary.

Li Jian San smiled. "The reason you couldn’t refine a pill on your first try was because your skills were lacking. Just because you couldn’t do it doesn’t mean others can’t."

His words caused an uproar.

"Did my ears deceive me? Did he just say Master Jin’s skills are lacking?"

"My heavens, does he not realize Master Jin is a Grade Three Alchemist?"

"A guy who isn’t even an apprentice dares to claim a Grade Three Alchemist isn’t skilled enough…"

"Are all this year’s disciples so arrogant?"

As everyone reeled in shock, Li Jian San’s palm moved with the fluidity of a dragon emerging from the sea, as if imbued with mysterious power, summoning the flames back with effortless grace.

Then, with a gentle wave, the fire in his hand transformed instantly into a massive golden dragon.

Li Jian San continued weaving seals, controlling the flames. The entire process was so seamless it seemed to be completed in a single instant.

The blazing golden dragon flames enveloped the pill furnace perfectly, and the ingredients inside were scorched fiercely by the dragon’s fire.

Under the golden dragon’s embrace, the herbs seemed to gain new vitality, leaping energetically within the furnace.

Watching Li Jian San’s technique, Yang Zishuo was dumbfounded.

He’s nothing but a pretender. How could he possibly know alchemy?

Even if he does, he could never match my skill. Besides, he’s already wasted so much time; most people are nearly finished, and he’s only just begun. At best, he’ll produce some low-quality pills. He’ll never be a match for me.

Yang Zishuo didn’t understand the wonders of the Golden Dragon Flame Control Technique, which led him to such thoughts.

But Master Jin and his two colleagues had spent years studying it. Although they were never able to master it themselves, they were well aware of its marvels.

Because of this, their expressions became increasingly shocked.

The Golden Dragon Flame Control Technique was a powerful alchemical skill. Not only could it drastically shorten the time needed for pill refinement, it could also perfectly merge the properties of the ingredients, producing pills of nearly perfect quality.

More astonishing still, the technique greatly enhanced a martial artist’s affinity with fire. If one’s soul was strong enough, it could even serve as a formidable offensive method.

For this reason, mastering the Golden Dragon Flame Control Technique was exceedingly difficult. It required immense soul power and exceptional talent. For someone of Li Jian San’s age, learning it was nearly impossible.

Yet, not only had he mastered it, his execution seemed incredibly proficient.

"This kid really has learned the Golden Dragon Flame Control Technique!"

"Is he really only fifteen or sixteen? The more I look at him, the more he seems like some ancient monster."

"It can only be said that his talent is truly extraordinary."

"Comparisons are truly infuriating…"

Watching Li Jian San, the old masters felt a sense of defeat.

Their gazes toward him became increasingly fervent.

They had initially believed Li Jian San merely possessed outstanding talent for alchemy, but never expected his techniques to be so monstrous.

Suddenly, Master Jin recalled, his expression changing sharply, "Didn’t that kid just claim this was his first time refining pills?"

The others were similarly shocked, their pupils contracting.

"Could it be that this youngster, on his very first attempt, has mastered the Golden Dragon Flame Control Technique to such a level?"

Xu Fu was startled as well.

"Heavens! Such terrifying talent is simply frightening!"

All the elders fixed their gazes upon Li Jian San, their faces filled with disbelief.

"Look, Yang Zishuo has opened his furnace!"

"He’s already finished? That was so fast—less than half an hour!"

"No wonder he’s from an alchemist family. Looks like first place is already decided."

After opening his furnace, Yang Zishuo beckoned, and a crystalline red pill flew into his hand.

At the same time, the arena was suffused with a rich medicinal fragrance, refreshing everyone who inhaled it.

Seeing Yang Zishuo’s success, the crowd murmured in awe.

Basking in the reverence and admiration, Yang Zishuo strode confidently toward Xu Fu, holding out his pill. "Elder, this is the Spirit-Clearing Pill I’ve refined. It helps focus the mind and makes cultivation twice as effective. Please examine it."

"Mm, mid-grade first-tier," Xu Fu remarked.

He inspected Yang Zishuo’s pill, but was not particularly surprised, merely nodding casually before turning his attention back to Li Jian San’s process.

After all, having witnessed Li Jian San’s monstrous talent, nothing amazed him anymore.

Mid-grade first-tier!

Xu Fu’s words caused another stir among the crowd, who now looked at Yang Zishuo with even greater respect.

He’s only seventeen, yet he can refine a mid-grade first-tier pill—truly impressive.

On the other side, Yang Zishuo was disgruntled by Xu Fu’s casual response, and the fact that his attention was still on Li Jian San.

Yang Zishuo looked at Li Jian San and said, "I’ve finished refining, while you’re still not done. The outcome is clear, isn’t it?"

His words made everyone realize:

"That’s right, Yang Zishuo finished in just half an hour and produced a mid-grade first-tier pill!"

"Li Jian San hasn’t even finished. Clearly, there’s a big gap between him and Yang Zishuo."

"You’re stating the obvious—Yang Zishuo comes from an alchemist family."

"Looks like first place is his for sure."

Listening to Yang Zishuo, Xu Fu frowned slightly.

The time spent refining a pill was hardly a true measure of an alchemist’s skill, and everyone seemed to have forgotten one crucial detail, confused by Yang Zishuo’s words.

Li Jian San had only begun refining in the second half. If we’re talking about time, he actually had far less than Yang Zishuo.

At that moment, Li Jian San waved his hand, and the flames inside and outside the furnace surged into the pill, then vanished completely.

With this, all voices fell silent.

Everyone watched Jiang Hao in the arena with bated breath.

Could he really have succeeded?