The five-colored aura of the medicinal herbs flowed around.

The rich aroma of herbs filled the air, and the inner disciples watching all took a deep sniff, their faces showing enjoyment.

Many inner court disciples looked on with confusion as they gazed at the figure of another boy in the square.

Qin Xin, sitting cross-legged in front of the Blazing Black Iron Furnace, seemed to use a very casual method of fusing spiritual herbs, unlike Kong Bai. After the purified spiritual herbs were thrown into the Crimson Sun Condensing Flame Furnace, a crimson flame rose up behind him, and the furnace body emitted an extremely brilliant red light. His hand gestures changed constantly, as if he was showing off his ability to control the flames in the furnace.

"I say, Miss Qingxi, it seems the outcome is already decided."

After glancing at the two people in the square, Ruan Yuan lightly dusted off his sleeves and looked directly at Shui Qingxi and the others, speaking slowly.

"Hmph! The results aren't out yet, isn't that a bit too confident!"

Shui Qingxi didn't even glance at Ruan Yuan, seemingly disgusted by him. All her attention was focused on Qin Xin, watching him casually refine pills, and she couldn't help but feel a little anxious.

"Then let's wait and see."

Seeing Shui Qingxi's attitude, Ruan Yang's expression did not change at all; instead, he smiled and said...

"Sister Qingxi, is Qin Xin going to lose?"

Ya Ru looked at the situation in the square, clenched her fists, and said with some worry.

"Perhaps. Judging from the speed of his alchemy, Qin Xin is far too slow."

Shui Qingxi still held onto a sliver of hope, offering a helpless words of comfort.

"Kong Bai's Martial Spirit, Crimson Gold Fire, is a flame produced by intense friction between metals. Although it is only a five-star Martial Spirit, even a seven-star Martial Spirit cannot compare to it for alchemists. He can also refine pills much faster than ordinary alchemists. Elder Huo Sheng took him in as a disciple back then precisely because he saw the potential of his Martial Spirit."

Sanjie, standing to the side, clasped his hands together, a string of Buddhist prayer beads twirling in his palm. The yin-yang pattern on his robe seemed somewhat out of place. He looked at Kong Bai, who had already completed the process of fusing the spiritual medicine, and said with emotion.

"Crimson gold fire?"

Qin Xue frowned slightly upon hearing this, her eyes filled with worry as she looked at Qin Xin, whose eyes were tightly closed.

"Glug glug..."

As the spiritual herbs fused together, the collisions between herbs of different attributes continuously produced sounds.

"Condensing Pill!"

Ruan Yang suddenly pressed down with both hands, and the martial spirit behind him instantly circulated even stronger true energy. After only a few breaths, the pill furnace, which had been shaking, immediately quieted down.

As the liquid, which was beginning to take the shape of a pill, was roasted by flames, impurities in the liquid were continuously removed.

At this moment, a satisfied smile appeared on Ruan Yang's face. The Five Elements Condensing True Essence Pill in the Crimson Sun Condensing Flame Furnace, which still had a somewhat colorful appearance, kept rotating under the scorching of the Crimson Gold Flame. With each change of his hand gestures, impurities were constantly thrown out after each rotation.

"It's about to form a pill!"

Sanjie looked at the alchemy furnace in front of Ruan Yang and exclaimed in surprise.

"Whoosh!"

Just as Sanjie finished speaking, Qin Xin's tightly closed eyes suddenly opened, and the orange Yang fire in the Blazing Black Iron Furnace suddenly erupted, completely enveloping the already fused medicinal liquid.

"What...what is this guy trying to do?!"

The inner court disciples watching were all amazed by Qin Xin's pill-condensing technique. After the spiritual herbs are purified, different spiritual herbs will have a repulsive reaction. Therefore, martial artists usually control the flame very carefully before condensing the pill, because if one step is wrong, then all the previous efforts will be in vain.

Qin Xin's reckless alchemy methods are a major taboo for alchemists.

However, just as the inner disciples who were watching were questioning Qin Xin, a medicinal fragrance suddenly wafted out. Everyone looked in the direction from which the fragrance came and discovered that a pill seemed to be rapidly forming inside the Blazing Fire Black Iron Furnace.

"out!"

Kong Bai gave a soft shout first, and a pale green pill floated out of the Crimson Sun Flame Furnace and was caught in his hand.

"Haha, looks like I'm going to get ahead of the game."

Kong Bai seemed to be the victor, holding the newly made Five Elements Condensing True Pill in his hand, and looking at Qin Xin who was still refining the pill with a cold smile.

"So what if we're ahead!"

Qin Xin was somewhat surprised by Kong Bai's speed in refining pills. However, as he continuously changed the hand seals, the Yang fire that was originally rising in the Blazing Black Iron Furnace was instantly extinguished. Then, a green light flashed, and a round pill was also held in Qin Xin's hand.

Feeling the warmth of the Five Elements Condensing True Pill in his hand, a smile swept across Qin Xin's heart. Through this pre-refining method, Qin Xin had found a pill-condensing method that suited him. After all, the Life-Refining Pill Method taught by Dan Qing was actually explored based on his own Strange Fire. The Yang Fire that Qin Xin had obtained now did not have the same characteristics as the Life-Refining Fire, so the pill pre-refining process would not be as perfect.

Therefore, Qin Xin combined the characteristics of his own flames with the spiritual ascension method he had previously comprehended, and mastered a unique method of condensing pills—the Fire Devouring Method.

However, to perform this method, the alchemist needs to have extremely strong soul perception; otherwise, the liquid formed by the fusion of spiritual herbs will likely turn into ashes the moment it is enveloped by flames.

"Eighth Elder, I think the results are in by now."

Kong Bai was somewhat surprised that Qin Xin was able to refine the Five Elements Condensing True Pill, but he didn't care too much. In his perception, the Five Elements Condensing True Pill in Qin Xin's hand didn't seem to emit any medicinal fragrance, and was at most a semi-finished product. He confidently asked the Eighth Elder to announce the result of the competition, and was already impatient to take away the spiritual vein of the Kunmen main peak.

In order to pass the assessment of a fourth-grade beginner alchemist, Kong Bai spent a lot of spiritual energy to purchase the ingredients for the Five Elements Condensing True Pill. He worked hard for a year before he was able to refine the Five Elements Condensing True Pill perfectly. Therefore, when the Eighth Elder used this pill as the competition pill, he was already confident of victory.

The Eighth Elder strode forward, glanced at the pills the two had laid out in their hands, and narrowed his somewhat weathered eyes slightly. When he looked at the Five Elements Condensing True Pill in Kong Bai's hand, he nodded slightly, indicating his approval.

But when he saw the Five Elements Condensing True Pill in Qin Xin's hand, his face instantly lit up. He quickly took it into his own hand, took a light sniff, and his old eyes were filled with fascination.

"The winner is Qin Xin!"

The Eighth Elder announced the result of the competition without hesitation.

"Yay!"

Ya Ru, who had been clenching her little fists, jumped up instantly upon hearing the result.

Qin Xue and Mao Ruijin were relieved, their tightly pursed lips finally opened, and joy appeared on their faces.

"Qin Xin won?"

Shui Qingxi was clearly surprised by the result. She knew nothing about pill refining, but after looking at the Eighth Elder's expression and then at the somewhat indifferent young man in front of him, her eyes changed slightly.

"How could this be! Eighth Elder, this is favoritism and corruption!"

Unable to accept this result, Kong Bai immediately roared.

Immediately, the entire Kunmen Square was abuzz with discussion, with everyone clearly feeling that the Eighth Elder's judgment was somewhat biased towards the Kunmen disciples.

"snort!"

Hearing the chorus of doubts, the Eighth Elder waved his sleeve, unleashing a powerful aura that immediately silenced the onlookers, the inner courtyard disciples.

"Eighth Elder, I don't believe that Qin Xin's Five Elements Condensing True Pill is better than mine!" Kong Bai said with a cold expression.

"Then you should take a good look for yourself."

As the somewhat aged voice of the Eighth Elder echoed, he flicked his fingertips, and the pale green Five Elements Condensing True Pill refined by Qin Xin fell into Kong Bai's hand.

“This…this is…”.

Kong Bai picked up the pill and held it in front of his eyes, his voice suddenly trembling slightly.

"Haha, I knew it! So it was Danwen! This kid really kept it well hidden!"

Sanjie and the others walked forward curiously, and upon seeing the pill that Kong Bai had picked up, they immediately burst into laughter.

"Crimson Pattern!"

Upon hearing the words "Danwen" (丹纹), all the inner court disciples watching were stunned, because Danwen signified that the refining of the pill had reached a point of perfection beyond reproach.

"Now that I've won, you should leave!"

Qin Xin spoke softly, glancing slightly at Ruan Yuan behind Kong Bai, whose eyes revealed a sinister look.

"Wait!"

Ruan Yuan took a step forward and stared at Qin Xin.

"Have we been discovered?"

Ruan Yuan is very strong, and if he targets you, it will cause you a lot of trouble. Therefore, Qin Xin has always wanted to avoid his sharp edge. When Ruan Yuan suddenly stepped forward, Qin Xin was suddenly stunned because his younger brother Ruan Yang had been killed by him.

However, Qin Xin thought for a moment that Ruan Yang's body had been treated with Danqing's strange fire, so even if they suspected him, they probably wouldn't be able to produce any substantial evidence.