CHAPTER 94: MASTER ALCHEMIST

"How innovative."

Cai Hui nodded and felt smug for some reason.

Her eyes then widened as she said, "I forgot to add. All the spirit flame nodes via the Unity of Ten Thousand Flames Array are connected to the Grand Pill Furnace.

Hence, during the finals, the Grand Pill Furnace will gather the spiritual heat produced by the contestants. When a contestant refines a pill to their level, the entire furnace will emit a corresponding light based on its purity.

The brightness of the furnace instantly tells the audience who is performing best, long before judges announce scores. This is to ensure equality for the participants, leaving no room for the judges and the participants to cheat the result."

Liu Wei nodded.

He swept his gaze around and saw many people already in the spectator arena.

He then searched for the participants’ area and discovered they had already gathered outside of the refinement platforms.

Cai Hui and Liu Wei sauntered towards them as the former said, "We arrive just in time. The event is yet to start."

The spectator arena was quite noisy since the event has yet to start. Hence, while walking towards the participants’ area, he observed the spectators’ arena.

The spectators’ arena has five rings, with lower ring having common citizens and visiting cultivators, the middle ring having nobles, merchants, and invited guests, the upper ring having scholars from Spirit Academies, and the ring that seemed to have reached the sky were reserved for imperial watchers, sect emissaries, and famous alchemists.

Furthermore, spirit-light screens floated in the air, magnifying close-up views of the cauldrons and contestants.

Liu Wei observed the individual people in each ring, but failed.

However, he felt like the King or the Crown Prince was inside of one of the private sky-rooms.

Liu Wei and Cai Hui soon gathered in the participants’ area, remaining quiet in contrast with other participants.

Some tried to strike a conversation with them, especially for Cai Hui for she was a well-known genius alchemist of today, but she kept it mild and her response was always distant.

Some tried to shift their attention to Liu Wei, but the latter was aware he was being used to get closer to Cai Hui.

Furthermore, he slightly released his ominous aura, causing others to feel the words struck on their throat.

Eventually, they remained undisturbed until a sudden thunderous clap reverberated throughout the arena.

Everyone was instantly quiet and excitedly waiting for a speech from the Master Alchemist.

"Everyone, the Radiant Cauldron Assembly is about to begin. Please settle down."

Afterward, not a single noise was heard throughout the arena.

The Master Alchemist continued, "The competition format will still be the same, as it always has been. The rewards are, too... except, the Radiant Cauldron Champion will be invited to train under me."

The participants’ rose into clamor, their eyes sparkled with excitement.

However, only Cai Hui and Liu Wei remained indifferent, albeit the former was just surprised that she might expect a junior after the expectation.

She peeked at Liu Wei and thought. But if Big Brother Liu Wei wins, will he accept the Master Alchemist’s invitation, though? I’m afraid that he might get antagonized if he rejects it.

The Master Alchemist, whose appearance could not be seen, continued to echo his voice from the Judge’s Pavillion.

"Nevertheless, I will still make my first apprentice recite the rewards of the top ten to boost all your motivation in participating in the competition."

A young mature voice then echoed throughout the arena.

"The first place will be granted the title, Radiant Cauldron Champion. They will receive a High-grade Earth Rank Pill Furnace. An invitation to train under the Master Alchemist of Jinwu. A direct entry to the Solar Alchemy Hall, bypassing apprentice trials. A single Sunfire Essence Crystal, used to evolve one’s spiritual flame. And lastly, ten mid-grade spirit stones!"

Everyone, including the spectators, drew a sharp breath. The rewards from the first place never ceased to amaze them.

The young mature voice continued, "the second place will receive the Dawn Ember Medal. They will receive rare ingredients worth 10,000 gold taels. A personal commendation by the Senior Alchemists’ Council. And an eligibility to serve in the Imperial Apothecarion, crafting medicine for elite soldiers."

The participants indeed felt their blood boiled after hearing the rewards. All the tenth place reward has mid-grade spirit stone reward as common, the quantity only differed each place.

Hence, no matter the place, as long as they entered the top ten, their life was guaranteed to change to a beautiful one.

As soon as the reward of the top ten was announced, the Master Alchemist made his speech, lasting for an hour.

However, not one participant dared to act bored as they listened attentively.

The Master Alchemist simply went to the origin of the Alchemist Association and mentioned about the alchemists in the past who made great contributions.

He ended his speech with the mission and vision of the Alchemist Association.

He then said, "Participants enter on your respective refinement stage."

Liu Wei frowned and Cai Hui pointed at his recommendation token. He flipped his recommendation token and saw there was a number and he instantly connected it to his refinement stage.

He nodded and said, "Thanks."

Cai Hui smiled and asked, "Big Brother, now that you know about the rewards, you sure are interested in gaining them, right?"

Liu Wei was surprised by her question and contemplated for a while.

He shrugged and said, "Not really, I just feel like winning."

Cai Hui was taken aback and she giggled.

She soon turned around and walked towards her refinement stage.

Cai Hui and Liu Wei were quite far from each other and Liu Wei did not mind.

He simply swept his gaze and observed his competitors.

He observed their Dao of Alchemy by staring through their eyes, attempting to see through their Dao comprehension.

He saw some individuals that appeared to have an ordinary background, but their comprehension of Dao of Alchemy was bright.

He smiled and thought. I’ll be able to learn alchemy from others, too.