Pan Hongxuan merely nodded slightly. The Family Head always thought further ahead; while everyone else was preoccupied with internal family matters, he was already considering external factors.

A mysterious Awakening Potion? Pan Hongxuan took a deep breath, his eyes filled with anticipation. He wondered if this mysterious draught, capable of awakening the power of the Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline, would still be effective on those who had already reached the Heavenly Extreme Awakening of that power? If so… Pan Hongxuan glanced at his palms, which hadn't sweated in ages, noticing the involuntary moisture. He then looked toward Pan Hongji walking ahead. Both he and the Family Head were warriors whose Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline power had reached the Heavenly Extreme Awakening. If they could break through that, they could reach heights never before attained by warriors of the Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline family—a realm only achieved by the three ultimate bloodline warriors of the True Strategy Dynasty.

Ultimate Bloodline Power Awakening!

No one in the Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline family had ever reached the Ultimate Awakening of the ultimate bloodline! If someone were to emerge now with an ultimate awakened bloodline power… Pan Hongji unconsciously clenched his fists too. If a bloodline warrior with ultimate awakened power truly appeared at this juncture, the balance of power in the war between the True Strategy Dynasty and the Demon Race would very likely shift towards the side possessing ultimate bloodline power.

Pan Hongji passed through layer after layer of courtyards, catching the pungent smell of medicine from afar. He stepped into the courtyard marked with the plaque bearing the character [Bone].

“My Lord Family Head, you have arrived.” The wrinkles on Silneros’s face smoothed out considerably upon Pan Hongji’s entrance. This was a prime opportunity to showcase the Pan family’s achievements over the years; perhaps next year’s research funding could be doubled. Gan Jin nodded slightly toward Pan Hongji, his eyes sweeping around the courtyard once more. As expected of the Nine-Headed Serpent family! Truly worthy of being one of the Ten Great Bloodline Warrior families of the True Strategy Dynasty—such an abundance of medicinal materials for a useless Bone-path Alchemist! Such a waste! Medicine falling into the hands of this man was truly a colossal waste.

Pan Hongji walked slowly up to Silneros and spoke softly, “Must it really come to a competition?”

Silneros froze, staring blankly at Pan Hongji’s eyes, which held a flicker of doubt. The excitement burning within him felt largely doused by a bucket of cold water. He hadn't expected this young man named Gan Jin to receive such special consideration from the Family Head. Was the Family Head trying to give him an out at this critical moment? Was Gan Jin perhaps the Family Head’s illegitimate son? He couldn't afford to care about that now! If he backed down now, the other retainers, perhaps even the entire field of alchemy, might mock him in the future.

“Yes, My Lord Family Head!” Silneros stretched his face, looking up at Pan Hongji, “It must be! Otherwise, I would rather renounce my status as a retainer of the Pan family.”

A trace of helplessness flashed in Pan Hongji’s eyes as he sighed softly. His worry was that if you lost, you might feel too ashamed to remain as a retainer, and the Pan family would still lose an alchemist specializing in bone research.

Gan Jin walked up to the specialized preparation table for alchemists, his fingers lightly brushing over the alchemy tools, each one intimately familiar, and smiled softly, “May we begin?”

Pan Hongji waved his hand through the air. “Let it begin.”

Silneros leaned against the doorframe, showing no intention of moving, simply watching Gan Jin standing before the table, a cat-toying-with-a-mouse smirk playing on his lips.

“What should I concoct?” Gan Jin slowly circled the room, his fingers gliding over the various ingredient boxes. His eyes occasionally darted toward the potions Silneros had already prepared, followed by a sigh.

These are all fine elixirs! But… alas… Gan Jin shook his head repeatedly. If he were an Alchemy Master, he could utilize these potions too.

What is an Alchemy Master? Being able to concoct Level Eleven potions is one characteristic of an Alchemy Master. Furthermore, Alchemy Masters possess another ability: synthesizing an already finished potion with another finished potion.

Adams called this Advanced Synthesis. If one could manage to combine even two different types of Level One potions to create a new elixir, that person qualified as an Alchemy Master.

But… what a pity… Gan Jin sighed repeatedly. It was a shame that Uncle Adams always said he was still lacking, not yet qualified to learn this technique, insisting he pass an examination before he could officially transition into an Alchemy Master.

Noreta cautiously approached Silneros and whispered, “Why haven’t you started?”

Silneros turned to look at Noreta’s extremely cautious expression, revealing a touch of sadness. Why was this alchemist, who had always been his closest and most trusted colleague in the Pan family, being so timid and careful today? Where was the pride and might of an alchemist usually displayed?

“Be careful,” Noreta pulled out a jade vial from his robe. “This contains the ointment he used. An ointment that has been lost to history… I couldn't even replicate it myself…”

The casual demeanor on Silneros’s face finally shifted slightly, and he adjusted his posture against the doorframe. “Do you really think he could craft a Level Ten potion at his age? Don’t you remember? When you and I were his age, we were still tailing our mentors, mixing snot-wiping potions as apprentices.” Noreta’s eyes drifted into memory. 'Alchemist apprentice' was a term from a long time ago. Through years of effort and dedication, he had gradually become a Junior Alchemist, then an Intermediate Alchemist, and now a Senior Alchemist with great authority in trauma treatment.

“How could he possibly be a Senior Alchemist at that age? And proficient in all paths?” Silneros scoffed disdainfully. “The potion in your hand is likely just something he acquired from some unknown source. Even if he truly is a Senior Bone-path Alchemist, I still won't fear him!”

“Why?” Noreta looked curiously at Silneros. Although Silneros was also a Senior Bone-path Alchemist, even nationally, he hadn't achieved the same level of authority as Noreta in bone matters. How could he be so certain of defeating Gan Jin? If Gan Jin happened to possess another Level Ten Senior Potion in the Bone path… “Heh, heh…” Silneros sneered, pulling out a delicately carved crimson-jade vial from his robes. “Look at this.”

Noreta gasped as he saw the crimson-jade vial in Silneros’s hand. This was…

This was a Blood Jade Vial? This type of jade, in the world of alchemy, was nearly comparable in value to top-tier Battle Weapons for warriors.

If medicine was stored in ordinary earthenware or ceramic jars, its efficacy would diminish slowly over time. If stored in a vial made of mutton-fat jade of similar quality, the potency could be preserved for several years without any dissipation.

Blood Jade? That was a special storage container capable of enhancing the quality of a potion. If a medicine remained in a vessel made of this Blood Jade long enough, it could potentially elevate the potion's inherent quality by an entire level! Even if the container held the potion for a shorter duration, it still enhanced the effect, particularly by removing the harshness, making the medicine milder when consumed without harming the user.

Noreta stared at the Blood Jade vial in Silneros’s hand. He had only heard rumors that Silneros possessed one, never quite believing it until now. He truly had a Blood Jade Vial.

“This is one I acquired by chance in exchange for service,” Silneros’s face broke into a smile of absolute confidence. “A warrior sustained a severe injury back then. I hadn't intended to save him, but I discovered he had a Blood Jade Vial, so I accepted it as payment to set his broken bones and treat his injuries…”

Noreta repeatedly swallowed as he gazed at the Blood Jade Vial. Silneros was incredibly lucky! To obtain such a high-grade piece of Blood Jade. If it contained his signature [Bone-Stacking Potion], it must have been aged for years; its medicinal efficacy would certainly be superior to when it was first brewed.

“Do you know why I’m certain I will win?” Silneros’s smile was mysterious as he rotated the Blood Jade Vial between his thumb, index, and middle fingers. “Because what this bottle contains is not the [Bone-Stacking Potion]…”

Not the Bone-Stacking Potion? Noreta pulled out the wooden stopper and inhaled deeply several times near the Blood Jade mouth, frowning slightly. It really wasn't the scent of the Bone-Stacking Potion! Although he wasn't an expert in Bone-path elixirs, he often smelled that specific potion; this was definitely not it.

“This is…” Silneros’s smile overflowed with confidence, “The [Frozen Earth Potion]!”

Frozen Earth Potion? Noreta nearly jumped in surprise. What kind of day was this? First, he saw the lost external trauma ointment in Gan Jin's possession, and now he saw an equally lost Bone-path potion from Silneros.

The strongest Bone-path potion among Level Ten Bone-path elixirs from five hundred years ago! It not only greatly aided in bone injuries but also possessed a potent bone-strengthening effect for the elderly whose bones had grown brittle with age. It could be considered the supreme elixir among high-level bone potions. However, due to rumors that the materials required were exceptionally demanding, making widespread preparation difficult, it gradually vanished from common knowledge.

Noreta looked sympathetically at Gan Jin, who was still selecting ingredients. The outcome of this match was decided from the very start: the Frozen Earth Potion! The strongest Bone-path potion from five centuries ago! It was already a legendary elixir. Calculating from the intense medicinal aroma just moments ago, the time elapsed was likely not just a year or two. Could it have matured into a Level Eleven potion? That was an elixir only a Master Alchemist could create!

No chance of winning… Noreta watched as Gan Jin picked up one ingredient after another, feeling only pity rise within him. This young man truly couldn't win! His opponent wasn't Silneros, but an Alchemy Master who might already be dead.

Silneros carefully and proudly returned the Blood Jade Vial to his robes, then turned to look at Gan Jin, momentarily pausing. Observing Gan Jin’s practiced handling of the various preparation tools, he realized he might have underestimated him; his fundamental skills were exceptionally solid.

At the midnight hour of Zhen (11 PM - 1 AM), I will release three chapters simultaneously. Next month, May, this author will work extremely hard, so I’m asking in advance for everyone’s guaranteed monthly ticket support for May (To be continued. For subsequent events and more chapters, please support the author by reading the genuine version!)