Chapter 75: Xiao Yan: An Impossible Matter

Lin An’s refining process was proceeding in an orderly fashion. From the very start, he had not intended to make a Sixth-Turn True Spirit Pill, for what he sought to create was the Seventh-Turn True Spirit Pill.

Even though the success rate for a seventh-grade pill was dreadfully low in his hands, he still chose to trust himself—that in the end, he would surely succeed in refining the Seventh-Turn True Spirit Pill.

“Something’s not right. Why do I feel that the young master isn’t trying to make a Sixth-Turn True Spirit Pill at all?”

At this moment, Yaochen finally noticed something amiss.

The gap between a sixth and seventh turn was vast, and the required medicinal ingredients at the early stages of both were nearly identical. So even he had not realized at first that Lin An was so audacious as to attempt a seventh-grade pill from the outset.

“How is that possible? Isn’t Lin An only capable of refining sixth-grade pills? If it’s seventh-grade—could he have already done it before?”

Nalan Yanran, too, was startled by Lin An’s bold move.

Had he, from the very beginning, already set his sights on that Yan Xiao, confident that the Sixth-Turn True Spirit Pill would be successfully made? Otherwise, Lin An would never be so reckless as to attempt a seventh-grade pill.

The thought had barely arisen when Nalan Yanran sensed something was wrong.

“Could it be… Lin An really knows this Yan Xiao?”

“Yan Xiao, Yan Xiao, Yan Xiao…”

Nalan Yanran murmured the name over and over.

Just then, a glint of realization flashed in Yaochen’s eyes, and at the same time, Nalan Yanran finally grasped what was odd.

If you reversed the name ‘Yan Xiao’, wasn’t it ‘Xiao Yan’?

“Could it be that the alchemist Yan Xiao from the Cloud Mist Empire below is actually Xiao Yan of the Jia Ma Empire?”

Nalan Yanran’s voice was quiet, but everyone nearby heard her clearly.

They were all startled by her bold conjecture.

But thinking it over, there were indeed clues to be found.

During the battle with the Cloud Mist Empire, the exchanges between Yan Xiao and Lin An had seemed unfathomable right from the start.

If that man was Xiao Yan, then everything made sense.

Still, no one could have guessed that Xiao Yan would hide his identity, infiltrate the long-hostile Cloud Mist Empire, and even become their strategist, helping them attack the Jia Ma Empire.

If not for the aid of the Misty Cloud Sect and Lin An, the Cloud Mist Empire might well have succeeded in conquering the Jia Ma Empire.

“Isn’t he afraid that, once his identity is exposed, it will bring unimaginable trouble to the Xiao Clan in Wu Tan City?”

Nalan Yanran whispered in disbelief.

“Your guess is almost certainly right,”

Even Yaochen had to acknowledge Xiao Yan’s identity.

No wonder, from the beginning, he had shown such hostility toward the Misty Cloud Sect and Lin An. No wonder, after Xiao Yan left Wu Tan City, he disappeared without a trace—he simply hadn’t been in the Jia Ma Empire at all.

“Is Yan Xiao’s pill almost finished?”

At that moment, an exclamation drew everyone’s attention, even Yaochen, Nalan Yanran, and the others looked over.

Indeed, Yan Xiao’s Sixth-Turn True Spirit Pill was nearing completion.

The pill in his cauldron had successfully achieved six turns; if he took it out now, it would already count as a successful refinement.

But judging by Yan Xiao’s expression, he clearly was not satisfied.

Three kinds of strange flames appeared before him, and under his control, the Sixth-Turn True Spirit Pill floated out from the cauldron.

Then, with exquisite technique, the three flames seemed to come alive, dancing in midair, refining the pill further.

It was a dangerous move—one misstep, and the painstakingly made pill could be destroyed.

Yet Yan Xiao looked fully at ease; it was obvious this was not his first time attempting such a thing.

“To think, one day, I would learn so much about alchemy from someone so young. Today has truly broadened my horizons!”

“If Yan Xiao succeeds in refining the Sixth-Turn True Spirit Pill, the championship will surely be his!”

Fa Ma spoke gravely, his eyes fixed unblinking on Yan Xiao’s technique, even he gaining much from the display.

To receive such praise from Fa Ma was proof that Xiao Yan’s skill in alchemy had reached a masterful level.

“Lin An has a strange flame as well. If he can refine further, he may not be inferior to Yan Xiao!” Master Gu He retorted.

“Even so, Lin An is far too ambitious, actually daring to attempt the Seventh-Turn True Spirit Pill. The outcome of this alchemist tournament is already sealed.”

Fa Ma shook his head with a touch of resignation.

If Lin An had gambled, perhaps he might have stood a chance against Yan Xiao.

Alas… he insisted on risking everything for the Seventh-Turn True Spirit Pill.

The standards for alchemists were strict; even seasoned seventh-grade alchemists found the Seventh-Turn True Spirit Pill exceedingly difficult, let alone Lin An, who was refining so many rare ingredients all at once.

Even if not a single failure occurred, a Seventh-Turn True Spirit Pill could never be completed in a single day.

Gu He, hearing Fa Ma’s words, knew there was some truth in them.

Yet for some reason, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Lin An might perform a miracle—one never before seen on the Dou Qi Continent.

Even if, in the eyes of the crowd, such a miracle seemed like a fairy tale.

As time passed, under everyone’s watchful gaze, Xiao Yan finally completed his Sixth-Turn True Spirit Pill.

It was full, round, and glimmered with a faint glow—truly the best possible quality, with not a single impurity remaining.

It earned perfect scores from all the judges.

Even though Yan Xiao was from the Cloud Mist Empire, Fa Ma was unstinting in his praise—Yan Xiao had earned it.

The championship was already in his grasp.

What puzzled him, though, was that after all this time, Lin An had yet to begin condensing his pill.

Soon, Yan Xiao snorted dismissively.

“So that’s it—trying to make a Seventh-Turn True Spirit Pill. Pity… no matter how extraordinary your talent, it’s absolutely impossible for you to succeed.”

“It seems there’s no need for this tournament to continue.”

Clearly, in Yan Xiao’s eyes, Lin An had no hope of creating a Seventh-Turn True Spirit Pill; every alchemist present understood the immense difficulty.

Indeed, many in the audience, including fellow alchemists, shook their heads in resignation, thinking Lin An far too arrogant to attempt an utterly impossible feat.