Master-level fundamentals! Noreta stared at Qian Jin’s retreating back. “This young man’s basic skill is at least master-level!” Potions can be categorized into many different research directions, but the method of using equipment doesn't vary much. Selecting and arranging various instruments one by one, Qian Jin took a deep breath, slowly exhaled the air from his chest with his eyes closed, then suddenly snapped them open, his hands moving across the workbench with blurring speed.

What is this? Silneros’s eyelids twitched violently. This was nothing like the relaxed manner he displayed while calibrating equipment in Gongzhou. What kind of speed was this? Was this kid trained by a circus?

Test tubes and beakers danced in the air seemingly without pattern. Patches of differently weighed powders and liquids were added to various containers—more like the dazzling sleight of hand of a bartender in a tavern than the meticulous crafting of an elixir. Pan Hongji even wondered if he had stumbled into the wrong room. Did Qian Jin perhaps have a history working in a bar? Did he just feel an itch to show off some mixing techniques?

The smile on Silneros’s face gradually stiffened. An amateur wouldn't recognize what was happening, but as a senior Alchemist, his expert eye could see it clearly. Qian Jin was doing this specifically to compress the momentary efficacy of the potion’s agent, enveloping all its power within itself, thereby creating a higher-grade elixir. “...Good thing,” Silneros subconsciously raised a hand to cover the Blood Jade vial pressed against his chest. “Thank heavens I have a vial of Frost Soil Potion. That was renowned as the most effective level-ten bone-structure elixir five hundred years ago.”

One minute... two minutes... ten minutes... Qian Jin’s hand speed fluctuated wildly. Silneros’s expression grew increasingly grave, because... he couldn't follow it anymore! He couldn't understand why, when he should have been speeding up to incorporate more potency, he deliberately slowed down, and when the pace shouldn't have mattered, Qian Jin kept accelerating his tempo in quick bursts.

Was it ignorance? Or was there another reason? Silneros scrutinized Qian Jin’s technique, finding it impossible to believe Qian Jin lacked understanding. This level of technique was something even he couldn't achieve. His fundamentals were absolutely those of a true Potion Master! Even the sole Potion Master of the Pan family couldn't manage the movements Qian Jin was executing.

In half an hour, Qian Jin’s entire body radiated surging Dou Qi. Silneros stared intently, feeling nothing but relief deep down. Alchemists suffered from inherent physical flaws regarding the timing and precise measurement required for potion brewing; Qian Jin’s existence completely destroyed that disadvantage. He was a Warrior, after all!

Unfathomable stamina, coupled with a control level that was astonishingly immense! A level of control even Warriors didn't usually possess! Silneros desperately wanted to ask Qian Jin who on earth had trained him—to produce such a monster.

One hour... two hours... three hours... A bead of crystalline sweat appeared on Qian Jin’s forehead. Noreta felt his vision swim.

He muttered softly, “‘Three hours! Maintaining this level of intense control, without a single error, for three straight hours... By employing this high-intensity operation, he is forcibly compressing the brewing time of a potion that should naturally take several days, even a month, down to mere hours.’”

Situ Lei mechanically nodded repeatedly. “‘Indeed... What is this? This is what only a Master can achieve! Furthermore, this is merely what a Potion Master theoretically can do... Under normal circumstances, those who reach the rank of Potion Master are all elderly; where would they find such physical endurance? At best, they possess some fine control.’”

Slobart nodded in agreement beside him. Mystic Potions and Alchemy, though they viewed each other with disdain, and their research paths diverged completely, still shared common ground in the use of many instruments. This technique could no longer be called surprising; it was terrifying!

Pan Hongji felt his scalp prickle from listening. These Mystic Alchemists and Alchemists usually held their heads so high their necks craned backward, looking down on everyone else. Today, they were reduced to this state of shock? It seemed he had severely underestimated this young man.

“‘How strong is he?’” Pan Hongxuan couldn’t help but whisper to Noreta. “‘Just how strong?’”

“‘I don’t know,’” Noreta replied, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead repeatedly. “‘Perhaps someone can concoct a better potion than him, but in terms of precision in potion crafting across the entire Zhence Dynasty, I doubt anyone surpasses him! Especially this unique skill—the ability to forcibly compress the brewing time of elixirs that normally require extended periods... That is a Master-level technique...’”

In the quiet room, only the faint, rustling sounds of the various potion-making tools in Qian Jin’s hands and the liquids themselves could be heard. Yet, these minute sounds crashed in the ears of the observers like thunderclaps, profoundly shaking the spirit of everyone present.

In Pan Hongji’s mind, only Noreta’s evaluation, “Master-level,” echoed. This young man had successfully integrated some capabilities common to both Warriors and Alchemists perfectly.

Indeed, Alchemists might possess better fine control or deeper pharmacological understanding than Qian Jin, but none could match his enduring stamina to forcefully shorten the extended brewing time. Powerful Warriors might have superior control and greater stamina than Qian Jin, but they completely lacked the pharmacological knowledge. In battle, they might slay Qian Jin, but when it came to potion-making... “‘A young man like this...’” Pan Hongji clenched his fist slightly. If he cannot be killed, he is an ally! If killed? There were no conflicts of interest between them; in fact, there were numerous areas for cooperation. Wouldn't making him an ally be better?

Hiss...

The liquid combined with the metal plate, raising plumes of rising white mist. Noreta stared intently and nervously at Qian Jin. There was absolutely no trace of medicinal scent in this white vapor, indicating an extremely advanced technique had been used to forcefully expel the excess moisture from the potion, replacing the slow evaporation achieved by simmering over fire. This also avoided the potential destruction of some herbs' potency by the heat.

...To concoct a truly superior-grade potion.

However, this kind of shaking motion often resulted in more ingredients being lost, wasting more medicinal essence. It was significantly harder to control than heating with a furnace.

He can even do this... Noreta subconsciously craned his neck. What potion would he be brewing this time? It was a pity, though. A potion crafted with such skill would likely lose to Silneros! This boy had truly bad luck running into Silneros, who possessed the Frost Soil Potion.

Silneros picked up the fanning tool used for stoking the fire from the table, rapidly waving it in the air before him, driving away all the white mist. He glanced dismissively at the common clay jars—worth only a few copper coins—into which Qian Jin was pouring his concoction. Then, he strode to stand opposite Qian Jin and bowed slightly, saying, “My Lord Patriarch... please serve as the arbiter.” He gestured toward an elderly man holding a purple nanmu walking stick.

The Pan family’s sole Potion Master! Zhong Sanyi! His presbyopic eyes, magnified behind his lenses, were wide enough to nearly spill over the glass. The staff in his hands trembled with excitement. “‘A prodigy! An absolute prodigy!’” Zhong Sanyi stared unblinkingly at Qian Jin, the lingering anger he felt over Pan Hongxuan forcefully dragging him here completely dissipating. He had not expected to find a young alchemist here with such flawless fundamentals. If he could take him as an apprentice... wouldn't that drive the old fools at the Alchemists’ Guild mad?

Pan Hongji discreetly shifted aside, clearing a path for Zhong Sanyi. In this so-called competition of potion crafting, how could a Patriarch who barely understood alchemy serve as the judge? The only one truly qualified was this Potion Master, Zhong Sanyi. Silneros, seeing Zhong Sanyi, instantly showed a smile. While this Potion Master hadn't specialized in the bone-structure lineage, he was still an Alchemist Master who had seen major events and possessed broad experience.

At the Alchemists’ Guild, this was a figure whose mere stomp could cause tremors.

If this Potion Master saw the Blood Jade vial? Silneros chuckled. If he saw the Frost Soil Potion? Wouldn't that shatter his reading glasses?

Zhong Sanyi focused the majority of his attention on Qian Jin, stepping deliberately to the front of the two tables. He lifted his gaze to Silneros, the senior Alchemist reputed to be the strongest in the Pan family’s bone-structure potion research. “‘Where is your potion?’”

The gazes of everyone present followed the words of Potion Master Zhong Sanyi, shifting entirely toward Silneros. A potion competition naturally required both parties to present their elixirs; how could only Qian Jin display his?

Silneros smiled. He had intended to wait until Zhong Sanyi had finished praising the potion Qian Jin had crafted, then, when Qian Jin was at his happiest and most proud, present this Frost Soil Potion, brewed in the Blood Jade vial, to stun everyone. However... the blood-red Blood Jade vial, the moment it was revealed, instantly became the focal point of the entire room. Everyone, regardless of whether they knew the value of this vial, could sense its extraordinary nature; its origins were certainly not ordinary.

Zhong Sanyi’s calm expression was instantly replaced by a fresh wave of astonishment. A Blood Jade vial! An entirely intact Blood Jade vial, without a single flaw?

The Blood Jade vial? Qian Jin’s pupils contracted sharply. Teacher Adams had once mentioned that Blood Jade, in terms of preserving and enhancing potion performance, ranked among the top ten materials for crafting vials. Only materials like Blood Diamond and Slumbering Gold, which ranked in the top ten potion vial materials, could surpass it. Qian Jin swallowed hard. For the first time, he felt uncertain. What supreme-grade potion could be inside! It seemed he was truly going to lose... If Teacher Adams found out, he would surely face another tirade of scolding, followed by intensive training, right?

“‘My potion... cough...’” Silneros cleared his throat lightly. His fingers gripped the stopper and he pulled it free with a soft pop sound that echoed in the quiet room. A fragrant, soul-cleansing aroma drifted throughout the chamber. “‘It is the Frost Soil Potion.’”

Silneros’s calm yet immensely arrogant voice floated through the room along with the refreshing, lung-cleansing fragrance. (To be continued. For the next part of the story, please log on to Bibi Shanba for more chapters. Support the author. Support genuine reading!)