Chapter 93: Exploding Pill

She was poised, her blue eyes taking a distinct, determined look with her brows furrowed. She seemed...more focused.

"Esteemed judges," she began, her voice clear and just loud enough to hear from where I was standing. "Today, I present to you an exploding pill. This pill, when infused with qi, can be set to explode and cause significant damage, even to peak Qi Initiation stage cultivators."

She held up a small, seemingly unremarkable pill, letting the light catch its surface. I squinted, trying to discern any details that might hint at its true nature.

"The process begins with refining pyrite into sulfur," she continued. "I then used this sulfur in an array to ensure the pill is stable and safe to handle. The core of the pill''s explosive power comes from a thunderstone, which generates a powerful electrical explosion."

My breath caught. An explosive pill? Using a thunderstone?

I searched my memory for any mention of the ingredient. Found on mountain peaks where thunderstorms frequent...they contain and absorb the energy from lightning strikes, usually detonating once broken.

Creating a pill like that was suicidal! I considered a similar idea but ultimately dismissed due to the inherent dangers. The risk of creating such a volatile concoction was immense. Every alchemical concoction carried the risk of failure, but using that?! One wrong move and the consequences could be catastrophic. Perhaps she was sweating not because of how difficult it was to create the array, but the consequences of her failure.

Jingyu Lian held the pill delicately between her fingers, her expression calm and composed. "To demonstrate its effectiveness," she said simply, "I will infuse it with my qi and show its controlled detonation."

The judges leaned forward, their interest piqued. Even Elder Mingmei, who was usually so composed, seemed impressed. Elder Wei Lian, however, maintained a neutral expression, his gaze steady and unreadable.

She placed the pill on a small platform and began to infuse it with her qi. I watched, holding my breath. A faint glow emanated from the pill, and she stepped back, counting down from five. When she reached one, the pill detonated in a burst of crackling light and energy, the explosion contained within the platform but powerful enough to send a gust of wind throughout the arena. Dust flew, and the air was filled with the smell of ozone, pungent and distinct. Where the ground was, all I could see was a slight indentation, scorched earth, and scattered rocks.

Significant damage? Feng Wu was at the fourth stage of the Qi Initiation stage, and I''m pretty sure he''d be crippled if he took that head on!

Gasps echoed around me, and I couldn''t help but feel a mix of awe and admiration. The sheer skill and control required to create and handle such a dangerous concoction at our level...

"Judges," Jingyu Lian continued, "I used an array to allow the user to control the detonation time. By infusing their qi, they can set the pill to explode between one to five seconds, allowing for greater strategic use in combat."

Elder Mingmei nodded, her eyes reflecting a rare hint of admiration. "Your workmanship is impressive. Utilizing arrays in this manner is usually reserved for more advanced alchemists. You have demonstrated a high level of skill and understanding."

Wei Lian''s expression remained unreadable, and I expected him to sing her praises, given their familial connection. Instead, his voice cut through the arena with an edge of criticism. "Jingyu Lian, while it is impressive to use such complex techniques at your age, the quality of your array is shoddy. The consequences of making it poorly cannot be ignored."

I blinked, baffled by his treatment of her. He continued to drone on, picking apart the pill with what seemed to be valid points but overall felt nitpicky and almost spiteful. "The array''s stability is questionable. The containment of the sulfur and thunderstone components is rudimentary. Have you considered the risks of handling such volatile ingredients with such an elementary array?"

The other judges exchanged uncomfortable glances but didn''t contest his points. Elder Mingmei eventually spoke up, her voice firm. "Elder Wei Lian, your critique is too harsh and overly meticulous. Jingyu Lian''s work here is commendable, especially for someone of her experience."

Jingyu Lian''s face was a mask of conflict, her emotions tightly controlled. But her fist was balled up into a fist, trembling slightly.

Elder Wei Lian''s expression hardened further. "The most critical flaw, however, is that if a higher-tier cultivator were to send out their qi outwardly, the array could destabilize and explode preemptively." He demonstrated by tossing another pill into the air and releasing a pulse of qi. A subtle blue hue radiated from the man.

Wasn''t that qi projection? Something limited to those in the Essence Awakening stage!

As his energy passed through the pill, it began to glow, filling the air with the scent of ozone once again. It exploded midair, sending a shockwave through the arena. I could see Jingyu Lian''s struggle to keep her composure. Her eyes were tightly shut, and her shoulders sagged in front of the judges.

Elder Wei Lian''s voice was stern and cold. "Presenting something so dangerous is irresponsible. You must think about the potential dangers that come with creating such a concoction."

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Jingyu Lian bowed her head slightly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you, judges. I will take this into consideration."

She walked back to her station, her posture rigid, and the atmosphere in the arena grew tense. Whispers spread among the crowd, the air thick with discomfort and unease. I couldn''t believe what I had just witnessed. Elder Wei Lian''s relentless critique of his own relative''s work seemed almost cruel. Jingyu Lian''s pill was relatively brilliant compared to the other competitors, yet he had torn it apart with merciless precision.

"And you sense of smell?"

He waved his hand. "No, no, I had that since I was born. A talent of mine."

"And you? Surely you received something as well,"

Tao Ren grinned, eager to chip in. "Absolutely. The Heavenly Interface gave me several quests to increase my proficiency in smithing, which eventually gave me a technique to control flames just like my old man. He couldn''t believe I learned it at my age. That’s how I managed to create the blade with the pill furnace."

As he spoke, a realization dawned on me. All of us—Bai Hua, Zhi Ruo, Tao Ren, and myself—were here thanks to the Heavenly Interface granting us unique skills. I glanced around the room at Duan Jian and the other competitors. None of them seemed to have received such skills; their concoctions adhered strictly to the standard alchemy principles taught just like those in the Verdant Lotus sect.

Why didn’t the Interface grant them any special skills or abilities? Thinking back to the day it appeared, I remembered the message.

WE ILLUMINATE THE PATH TO ASCENSION.

A NEW ERA.

HIDDEN PATHS AWAIT.

These cryptic words turned out to be true, illuminating hidden paths for those who dared to tread them. I understood why many people in sects didn''t receive as many esoteric abilities; it was likely due to their already set path in cultivation.

Someone like Duan Jian wouldn''t be interested in cultivating knowledge in aromatherapy or learning how to control flames in the same way we did. The Interface always responded to one''s desires, and it was no wonder they didn''t have as impressive a showing. This might also explain how Jingyu Lian was capable of utilizing arrays despite it being near impossible at our current cultivation stage.

The Heavenly Interface was more than just a tool; it was a gateway to lost techniques and abilities, ones that many sects and cultivators hoarded, hiding their secrets from the rest of the world. It granted us skills and knowledge that we might never have discovered on our own.

"Do any of you know anything about the Interface Mani-"

A loud gong resonated through the lounge, signaling that it was time to return to the arena. We filed back in, the atmosphere thick with anticipation and anxiety. I kept my thoughts to myself, deciding to explore them at a later date. Ma Hualong stood at the center once again, ready to announce the results.

Ma Hualong’s voice echoed through the arena, signaling the announcement of the results.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the judges have reached a decision,” He began. “The top ten contestants who will move on to the next round are...”

I held my breath, my heart pounding in my chest. This was the moment that would determine our future in the competition.

Ma Hualong started listing the names, beginning with those who placed lower in the top ten. My anxiety spiked with each name that wasn’t mine, but I reminded myself to stay confident. The fact that I hadn''t heard my name yet meant I likely placed higher.

“And in fourth place, with his ingenious dual-stage incense, Bai Hua of Summer Sun Cosmetics.”

Bai Hua stepped forward, his smile confident. The crowd’s applause was warm, but as he walked to thank the judges, there was a clear understanding that while his dual-stage incense was clever, it lacked the practicality and effectiveness of similar products.

“In third place, with his thoughtful Purification Pill, Zhi Ruo of the Million Book Pavilion.”

Zhi Ruo’s face lit up with a quiet pride as he stepped forward. The judges recognized the complexity and thoughtfulness of his creation, even if the execution left room for improvement.

“In second place, showing incredible creativity and a high degree of theoretical knowledge, but hampered by the design flaw and volatility of her Exploding Pill, Jingyu Lian of the Whispering Wind sect.”

She stepped forward, her expression composed but her clenched jaw and stiff movements betrayed her frustration. Her blue eyes flicked briefly towards Elder Wei Lian before she bowed to the judges and took her place among the qualifiers.

“And finally, in first place, with the best overall product due to its effectiveness, versatility, and clever usage of Sunfire Blade Grass and pyrite essence, Kai Liu of the Verdant Lotus sect!"