"Hm… Looks like the second stage of the alchemy competition will be quite difficult compared to the first stage…" Having heard what, the old Artisan Alchemist said about the second stage of the alchemy competition, Xuan Hao could not help but feel a bit worried for his disciple.
After all, she was still only a Journeyman Alchemist. Even if she had reached the peak of the realm and was about to become an Expert Alchemist, she was still not there yet. Given the fact that only twenty people would pass through to the third stage and Xuan Hao had already observed more than twenty people at the Expert Alchemist Realm among the participants, it was understandable that he worried about whether or not Qing Yi could make it to the next stage of the competition…
No matter what, she would have a hard time making a potion above the Earth Grade without being an Expert Alchemist…
If all the Expert Alchemist participants managed to make a Spirit Grade Pill during the second stage of the alchemy competition, Qing Yi would have no way to make it to the Third Stage of the competition!
The only thing bringing him some sort of solace, was the fact that a majority of the Expert Alchemist among the participants had decided to waste their time eating instead of thinking about what kind of pills they could make for the upcoming second stage of the competition.
Whether it was due to their confidence of being Expert Alchemist or something else, Xuan Hao had no idea. All he knew, was that Qing Yi would be able to have an advantage in the second stage. Especially so if the Expert Alchemist currently eating their fill at the buffet had no time to come up with a suitable pill or potion when the time-
"Ah, Qing Yi is looking over here!"
"Hurry up and-"
Glancing over towards the other elders that had suddenly interrupted his train of thought as they excitedly waved over towards his disciple like a group of dedicated fans, Xuan Hao could not help rolling his eyes at their behaviour.
These Alchemy Hall elders are way too excited…
Thinking this to himself, Xuan Hao soon joined the group as he also waved over in the direction of Qing Yi to encourage her and make sure she knew that he was there to cheer her on.
Even if he didn't approve of the Alchemy Hall elder's behaviour… At the very least it seemed to have made Qing Yi more determined to perform well, as Xuan Hao watched her put on a focused look. Clearly thinking about what potions she could make in the upcoming second stage of the alchemy competition.
Soon the break ended, and the old Artisan Alchemist once again appeared on top of the platform with a smile on his face and his disciple following closely behind him.
"Everyone! The half hour break is over! Now, we will begin the second stage of the alchemy competition! First of all-"
As all the participants gathered, the Artisan Alchemist announced the start of the second stage. Along with a few new rules he hadn't told them about the first time and of course, an extremely limited number of spiritual herbs.
In total, the number of spiritual herbs that they could choose between for their pill or potion, were only a measly 12 spiritual herbs!
Even worse. Not all of them were high grade herbs! In fact, there was only a single Spirit Grade Spiritual Herb along with two Earth Grade Spiritual Herbs!
Making a Spirit Grade Pill or Potion was extremely difficult. Even making a normal Earth Grade Pill or Potion was difficult with such a limited number of spiritual herbs!
Outside of that, the participants were only allowed to chose eight out of the twelve spiritual herbs!
…
"Hurry up! We have to inform the rest of the sect before it's too late!"
At the same time that the second stage of the alchemy competition was beginning in the Iron Sky Kingdom, three figures could be seen moving rapidly across a large open grass field. Anxiously looking back from the direction, they had come with a face full of fear.
The reason for this fear soon appeared as a large group of people gradually appeared in the distance behind them, as they rushed towards the three figures.
A few intangible shouts could barely be heard from the large group of people chasing after them, as the three figures rapidly increased their speed to escape from the large group of people that had appeared behind them.
However, this was to no avail, as the group grew closer and closer with each passing second.
Before long the group would catch up to the three escaping figures!
"There is no way we can reach the Dark Frost Mountain Range before they catch up to us…" Glancing back towards the group of people growing closer and closer to them, one of the figures escaping informed the rest in a depressed tone before once again increasing his speed. Even disregarding any internal damage, he might suffer due to increasing his speed way over what his cultivation realm allowed.
If not for the fact that his face had been covered in a thin black cloth. Completely hiding his identity, one would surely be able to see just how depressed he was upon saying this…
The two others escaping together with him also understood this as they increased their speed as well. No matter what, if they were really caught by their pursuer, they would experience a fate worse than death!
If they could get away by only suffering a few internal injuries, these three people would be more than happy, but they already knew that this was unlikely to happen.
Whoosh!
The main reason for their lack of faith soon appeared, as two figures broke off from the group of people chasing them before rushing over towards them.
The speed of these two people was way above that of the group behind them as they soon managed to close the distance between them and the three.
"I will try and slow them down…" Seeing the two people almost having caught up with them, one of the three figures clad in completely black clothes informed the rest before stopping to confront the two rapidly approaching figures before the other two even had a chance to respond.
Boom!
The violent aura of someone at the Peak of the Core Formation Exploded out into the surroundings before suddenly growing extremely unstable and increasingly violent.
"No! Don't-"
BOOM!
Just as the two still escaping figures clad in black managed to say anything, a large explosion could be heard behind them as the person had chosen to forcefully ignite all the qi inside his dantian for a powerful attack towards the closet of the two people rushing towards them.
The attack was far more powerful than what someone at his realm should be able to muster, but the side effect of forcefully igniting the qi inside one's own dantian, was-
BOOM!
Death…
After the attack had been launched, an even more terrifying explosion followed, as the body of the person who had chosen to stay and hold back the two figures violently swelled up like a giant balloon before violently exploding. Sending what little remained of his body flying out in all directions.
Instantly killing the man clad in black!
Through igniting his qi, he had been able to preform a precise attack comparable to someone at the First Stage of the Nascent Soul Realm towards one of the two people rushing over and a second not so precise attack comparable to someone at the Fourth Stage of the Nascent Soul Realm!
The man who had just launched the two attacks was only at the Peak of the Core Formation Realm, yet he had managed to launch two attacks at the Nascent Soul Realm through sacrificing his own life!
The entire thing simply happened too fast for the other two escaping people to react, as their friend had already sealed his own fate the moment, they managed to call out to him…
"Hmph!"
The two figures that had broken off from the rest of their group to follow after them had to stop for a moment as they blocked the two attacks.
Boom!
At this moment, the strength of the two people was instantly revealed, as the terrifying aura of two Nascent Soul Realm Experts spread out with them at the centre!
The two attacks that the one black clad man had executed at the cost of his life was soon easily dealt with by these two experts, as they only stopped for a short moment before resuming their chase again.
…
"The Dark Frost Mountain Range!"
After another minute passed and the two Nascent Soul Realm Experts were about to catch up with them once again, one of the two remaining black clad people called out happily as a large mountain range covered in snow appeared on the horizon.
The Dark Frost Mountain Range, as long as they could make it to the mountain range, they would be safe!
With this thought in mind, the two remaining people desperately rushed towards the mountain range in the distance. Trying their best to increase their speed no matter what kind of injuries they sustained.
Whoosh!
"We can't allow them to reach the Dark Frost Mountain Range!"
One of the two Nascent Soul Realm Experts called out, as they also seemed to have realized that their targets were about to escape, as a serious expression appeared on both their faces before they increased their speed to catch up with the two black clad men in front of them.