The alchemists present looked at each other, their expressions varied.

Some still looked indignant, while others showed signs of understanding.

"This match will still last for one hour, everyone please hurry," said Master Aoki, who was seated on the high platform.

Without further delay, Ye Feng immediately started refining pills.

Seeing that Ye Feng had already started refining pills, the other alchemists also began refining pills, and no one dared to waste any time.

After all, refining the Ice-Fire Sky-Piercing Pill without using the Ice-Fire Spirit Mushroom is already very difficult, and now it must be completed within a specified time. This is truly a test of the alchemists present's skills.

Given that, they certainly wouldn't dare to dawdle or hesitate.

"I wonder if Elder Lin can bring us a surprise this time?"

"I think it's very likely."

"Elder Lin is truly amazing. Perhaps his combat strength is not comparable to that of the First Elder Xiong Wanling and the Second Elder Nan Yuerong of the Divine Wood Sect, but his role far surpasses that of the two."

"Yes, he's not only a master of the Transcendent Realm, but he can also refine pills and forge weapons. He's practically a genius!"

"Sigh, why doesn't my sect have an all-rounder like Elder Lin?"

"You're dreaming!"

People from various sects around the square were discussing the matter, while the elders of the Shenmu Sect were all watching Ye Feng, who was refining pills, without blinking.

"I always felt that Elder Lin had become very powerful after he went down the mountain to travel five years ago and returned now."

"Yes, Elder Lin used to be skilled in alchemy and weapon crafting, but he was far less proficient than he is now."

"It seems that Elder Lin's journey down the mountain was quite eventful."

The elders of the Shenmu Sect also exchanged views and discussed their opinions.

Sun Muqing and Jiang Lingxuan were both watching Ye Feng with great interest, wanting to see if he could refine the Ice-Fire Sky-Piercing Pill without using the Ice-Fire Spirit Mushroom.

"Lingxuan, do you think Yefeng can do it?" Sun Muqing asked.

Jiang Lingxuan said without hesitation, "I can definitely do it! I definitely can do it! But..."

"But what?" Sun Muqing asked.

“If there were no time limit, I believe that refining the Ice-Fire Sky-Piercing Pill without using the Ice-Fire Spirit Mushroom would not be difficult for Ye Feng at all; he would be able to refine it sooner or later. But now that the time limit is only one hour, it’s really too tight, so I’m actually not confident at all,” Jiang Lingxuan said with a wry smile.

Sun Muqing thought for a moment, then said emphatically, "It's alright!"

"Why is it okay?" Jiang Lingxuan asked curiously.

“If even Ye Feng can’t refine the Ice-Fire Sky-Piercing Pill within an hour, then I believe that none of the alchemists present can do it either! In that case, the second round of the competition will probably have to be cancelled!” Sun Muqing said with a smile.

Jiang Lingxuan was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Your thinking is really unconventional," Jiang Lingxuan said with a smile.

“What I said is the truth,” Sun Muqing said without hesitation.

In the square, Ye Feng was refining the Ice and Fire Soaring Pill.

The two medicinal herbs, Crimson Flame Fern and Snow Crystal, along with more than twenty other auxiliary herbs, were currently churning and burning inside the alchemy furnace.

During the combustion process, the essence of various medicinal materials is extracted, while the dregs turn into fly ash and fall to the bottom of the furnace.

The extracted essence is now in the form of a medicinal liquid.

But it wasn't one clump of liquid, it was two clumps of liquid.

The liquid on the left is vermilion, while the liquid on the right is light blue.

The crimson liquid seemed to be surrounded by flames, while the light blue liquid on the right was enveloped in a layer of cold mist.

Night Wind has already extracted the medicinal essence of the Crimson Flame Fern and the Snow Crystal, so the next step is to fuse and integrate them.

This is the most difficult step.

The original intention of this step was to use the medicinal properties of the Ice and Fire Lingzhi as a buffer to build a bridge between the two completely different medicinal properties of the Red Flame Fern and the Ice and Snow Treasure, allowing them to gradually, slowly, and gently blend together.

However, without the buffer of the Ice and Fire Lingzhi, the night wind can only forcefully merge.

Ye Feng's alchemy techniques shifted, and he cast a series of spells onto the alchemy furnace, causing it to hum.

As a result, the two clumps of liquid medicine inside the furnace began to tremble and gradually approached and came into contact.

Suddenly, the two clumps of liquid exploded with a bang where they touched.

The two clumps of liquid that had been close together now drifted apart again.

Night Breeze frowned slightly, beginning to ponder a solution.

After an unknown amount of time, Ye Feng's eyes finally lit up.

"Since there's no Ice-Fire Lingzhi as a buffer, why not find something else to use as a buffer? The rules only say that you can't use your own medicinal herbs, so why don't I just use my own essence blood! Essence blood can't be considered a medicinal herb you brought with you!"

Ye Feng smiled slightly and raised his hand slightly.

The tightly closed stove lid suddenly opened slightly, and a flame shot out from it.

Upon seeing this scene, people from various sects around the square immediately began to discuss it animatedly.

"What is Elder Lin trying to do?"

"Could it be that he has already refined the Ice and Fire Sky-Piercing Pill and is about to open the furnace to collect the pills?"

"Impossible! Only a quarter of an hour has passed; he couldn't possibly be that fast!"

Upon seeing Ye Feng's actions, Aoki Masato, who was sitting on the high platform, immediately smiled.

It seems he has already seen through Ye Feng's purpose in doing this.

Ye Feng raised his right hand, and with a light scratch of his fingernail, a wound appeared.

Logically speaking, such a small wound shouldn't bleed much, but now Ye Feng is channeling his true energy to force the blood out, so large gushes of blood gushed out from the wound on Ye Feng's fingertip, drawing a perfect parabola in the air before falling into the alchemy furnace!

"This is……"

"I understand! Elder Lin intends to use his own essence and blood as a guide to fuse the two completely different medicinal properties of the Crimson Flame Fern and the Ice Snow Treasure!"

"I see! I see!"

"But this would be too costly! Using one's own essence blood is not just about consuming true energy. If we get through the second match this way, what about the matches after that? Can Elder Lin withstand it?"

"Let's deal with the immediate problem first! If we can't refine the Ice-Fire Sky-Piercing Pill, we probably won't even pass the second round of the competition, let alone the subsequent rounds!"

"That's absolutely right!"

"Elder Lin is a martial arts master at the Transcendent Realm; he can hold on!"

People from various sects present had differing opinions, but each of them watched with great focus.

After Ye Feng's essence blood fell into the alchemy furnace, it immediately transformed into a blood sphere that enveloped both clumps of medicinal liquid.