Chapter 66 The Final Stage

Chapter 66: Chapter 66 The Final Stage

The next morning.

The Canglan Continent Alchemy Gathering was once again filled with people.

The enormous competition grounds were surrounded by countless cultivators.

Everyone wanted to witness the final stage.

Only thirty young alchemists remained.

They stood in thirty separate positions around the central platform.

Lin Ruyan stood among them.

Her expression was calm.

Not far away stood Jin Ling’er.

Ye Qingxuan.

Zhao Lingfeng.

Luo Yichen.

Su Minghao.

And the other finalists who had survived the previous two stages.

Above them, the five judges sat on the elevated judging platform.

President Shen Haotian.

Vice President Qin Yuchen.

Jin Tianming.

Feng Taishan.

Bai Ruoxue.

The elderly host stepped onto the central platform.

The noisy gathering gradually became silent.

"The final stage..."

He looked across the thirty participants.

"...begins now."

A large jade box appeared in front of every participant.

The thirty boxes were identical.

The host continued.

"Every participant will receive the same ingredients."

"The same pill formula."

"The same amount of time."

"The same opportunity."

The crowd immediately became interested.

Someone whispered:

"Then this is completely fair."

"Everyone is refining the same pill."

"Only the quality of their pills will determine the winner."

The host nodded.

"Exactly."

He raised his hand.

The lids of the thirty jade boxes opened simultaneously.

Inside each box were several carefully prepared spiritual ingredients.

The host announced:

"Your task is simple."

"Refine the Rank 3 Flame Tempering Pill."

The crowd immediately became excited.

"A Rank 3 pill?"

"So everyone is refining the same pill?"

"Then the final stage is about pill quality."

"Exactly."

The host continued.

"The ingredients have already been measured."

"The quantity is identical."

"The formula is identical."

"You will have two hours."

"At the end of the allotted time, all furnaces will be inspected."

"The quality of your pills will determine your ranking."

He raised his hand.

"Begin!"

---

The moment his voice fell—

The thirty participants immediately moved.

Alchemy flames appeared one after another.

BOOM!

A red flame erupted from Jin Ling’er’s palm.

She immediately placed the first ingredient into her furnace.

Her movements were precise.

She had refined Rank 3 pills countless times.

There was no hesitation.

Her spiritual energy flowed smoothly.

Her flame remained stable.

Jin Tianming watched her carefully.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"Her control has improved."

President Shen Haotian nodded.

"She has a very stable foundation."

Jin Tianming didn’t answer.

His eyes remained on his granddaughter.

---

Not far away—

Ye Qingxuan also began refining.

Her flame was pale blue.

It burned quietly beneath her pill furnace.

Unlike Jin Ling’er, she didn’t rush.

She carefully controlled the temperature.

One spiritual herb after another was placed into the furnace.

The medicinal essence was extracted slowly.

Qin Yuchen nodded.

"Ye Qingxuan’s flame control is excellent."

Bai Ruoxue agreed.

"She’s very careful."

---

Zhao Lingfeng took a different approach.

His flame was much stronger.

He immediately increased the temperature of his furnace.

The spiritual herbs began melting rapidly.

Several spectators became nervous.

"Isn’t his flame too strong?"

"He might burn the medicinal ingredients."

But Zhao Lingfeng remained calm.

His spiritual energy continuously adjusted the temperature.

The flame became stronger.

Then weaker.

Then stronger again.

He was controlling it with remarkable precision.

Feng Taishan’s eyes brightened.

"Interesting."

"He has excellent flame control."

---

Luo Yichen also began refining.

His movements were steady.

He carefully extracted each medicinal essence.

His furnace remained perfectly stable.

Su Minghao worked just as carefully.

Around them—

The other participants were also giving everything they had.

Some were nervous.

Some were sweating.

Some repeatedly adjusted their flames.

The atmosphere became increasingly intense.

---

Among the audience—

Lin Xin stared at the thirty furnaces.

"So everyone is refining the same pill."

Lin Wan’er nodded.

"Yes."

Lin Shiyu looked at Lin Ruyan.

"Do you think Ruyan will win?"

Lin Qing smiled.

"I trust her."

Lin Xin nodded.

"Me too."

Lin Wan’er laughed.

"Then let’s watch."

---

Lin Ruyan had yet to move.

She stood quietly beside her furnace.

She examined the ingredients in front of her.

The Flame Tempering Pill was a Rank 3 pill.

It wasn’t particularly difficult.

But the goal wasn’t simply to refine it.

The goal was to refine the highest possible quality.

Lin Ruyan slowly picked up the first spiritual herb.

Her eyes became focused.

She placed it inside the furnace.

A flame appeared beneath her palm.

It was completely silent.

No explosive aura.

No terrifying pressure.

Just a perfectly controlled flame.

The first ingredient slowly melted.

The medicinal essence separated from the impurities.

Lin Ruyan’s expression remained calm.

She added the second ingredient.

Then the third.

Her movements flowed naturally.

There was no wasted motion.

---

Several minutes passed.

The first signs of medicinal fragrance began spreading across the competition grounds.

Jin Ling’er’s furnace released a strong fragrance.

Her first stage of refinement was almost complete.

She smiled faintly.

Everything is going perfectly.

She glanced toward the other participants.

Most were still extracting medicinal essences.

Then her eyes moved toward Lin Ruyan.

Lin Ruyan was still refining.

Jin Ling’er frowned slightly.

She quickly turned back to her furnace.

Don’t let yourself be distracted.

---

Half an hour passed.

Several participants had already begun forming their pills.

A faint rumbling came from one furnace.

BOOM!

Smoke suddenly poured out.

The participant’s expression changed.

"My pill..."

The medicinal essence inside the furnace had failed to merge.

The host immediately announced:

"Failed refinement."

The participant clenched his fists.

He had lost his first attempt.

The crowd immediately became nervous.

Another furnace shook violently.

BOOM!

Another participant failed.

Then another.

The pressure of the final stage was beginning to show.

---

Jin Ling’er carefully entered the final stage of refinement.

Her spiritual energy flowed into the furnace.

The medicinal essence began condensing.

She controlled the flame carefully.

A faint fragrance spread through the air.

Her eyes brightened.

It’s forming.

She continued.

---

Ye Qingxuan also reached the final stage.

Her expression was serious.

She carefully compressed the medicinal essence.

The pill slowly began taking shape.

Zhao Lingfeng’s furnace suddenly released a powerful medicinal fragrance.

The crowd immediately looked toward him.

"He’s already forming the pill!"

"He’s fast!"

Feng Taishan smiled.

"His speed is impressive."

---

Lin Ruyan remained calm.

Her medicinal essence had already been completely purified.

But she hadn’t begun forming the pill.

She was waiting.

She adjusted the flame by the smallest amount.

The medicinal essence slowly changed.

Her eyes became increasingly focused.

Then—

She finally began condensing the pill.

---

Another hour passed.

The competition had entered its final stage.

Only a handful of participants had successfully reached pill formation.

Several others were still refining.

Some were sweating heavily.

Some had exhausted a large portion of their spiritual energy.

Others had already failed.

But the strongest participants remained calm.

Jin Ling’er.

Ye Qingxuan.

Zhao Lingfeng.

Luo Yichen.

Su Minghao.

And Lin Ruyan.

Their furnaces continued burning.

---

Suddenly—

A rich medicinal fragrance spread through the gathering.

Jin Ling’er’s furnace trembled.

She smiled.

"Done."

She opened the furnace.

A single crimson pill floated inside.

The pill was perfectly round.

Its surface was smooth.

A faint glow surrounded it.

The crowd immediately became excited.

"She finished!"

"Jin Ling’er has completed her pill!"

The judges examined it.

Shen Haotian nodded.

"Very good."

Qin Yuchen looked carefully at the pill.

"High Grade."

The crowd immediately erupted.

"High Grade!"

"That’s impressive!"

"Jin Ling’er produced a High Grade Rank 3 pill!"

Jin Ling’er smiled.

She looked toward Lin Ruyan.

Her expression contained a trace of confidence.

---

Not long afterward—

Ye Qingxuan also completed her pill.

Her furnace opened.

A blue-red pill floated into the air.

The judges carefully examined it.

Shen Haotian nodded.

"High Grade."

Qin Yuchen smiled.

"Very stable refinement."

Ye Qingxuan nodded politely.

She looked toward the remaining participants.

---

Zhao Lingfeng was next.

His furnace opened.

A strong medicinal fragrance erupted.

The crowd became excited.

The judges examined his pill.

Feng Taishan’s eyes widened slightly.

"High Grade."

"But..."

He looked closer.

"There is something else."

The other judges examined it.

Shen Haotian nodded.

"One Pill Vein."

The crowd immediately erupted.

"One Pill Vein?"

"Then that’s Supreme Grade!"

"He’s refined a Supreme Grade Rank 3 pill!"

Zhao Lingfeng smiled.

The other participants became serious.

The competition had just become more difficult.

---

Luo Yichen completed his pill next.

His pill was also High Grade.

Su Minghao followed.

Another High Grade pill.

The crowd became increasingly excited.

The strongest young alchemists were producing excellent results.

But one person still hadn’t finished.

Lin Ruyan.

---

Jin Ling’er looked toward her.

Her confidence slowly returned.

She’s still refining.

She had already produced a High Grade pill.

Zhao Lingfeng had produced a Supreme Grade pill.

Jin Ling’er clenched her fingers.

She wanted to see what Lin Ruyan could produce.

---

The final minutes passed.

Lin Ruyan’s furnace remained completely silent.

Her expression was calm.

She slowly adjusted the flame.

Then—

A faint sound came from inside the furnace.

Ding.

Lin Ruyan opened her eyes.

The pill had finished forming.

She gently raised her hand.

The furnace opened.

A pill slowly floated into the air.

The moment it appeared—

The medicinal fragrance spread throughout the entire competition grounds.

The crowd became silent.

The pill was perfectly round.

Its surface was smooth.

But then—

A faint line appeared across its surface.

The judges immediately stood up.

Shen Haotian stared.

"That..."

Qin Yuchen’s expression changed.

Jin Tianming’s pupils contracted.

The line slowly became clearer.

Then another line appeared.

And another.

The judges stared in disbelief.

The pill continued developing.

Finally—

Five Pill Veins appeared on the pill.

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Lin Ruyan had refined a Supreme Grade Rank 3 Flame Tempering Pill.

And it possessed the maximum number of Pill Veins possible for a Supreme Grade Pill.

The entire gathering exploded.

End of Chapter 66