The sudden appearance of the Fourth Prince of the Great Completion Empire instantly changed the atmosphere in the wooden shed, a tense, oppressive aura swirling around everyone present.

Glancing at the faces around him, Nie Kong knew that the vast majority of people here had heard of, or at least knew about, the Fourth Prince's strength. He couldn't help smiling inwardly again. In this world without the internet or television, to achieve such notoriety among Spirit Pharmacists in his early twenties suggested the Fourth Prince was either habitually high-profile or had done something very public in the past.

Recalling the words the Fourth Prince had just spoken to Mu Xiaoling, Nie Kong realized his judgment was likely spot on. If he were low-key, who would even know who he was? Even a prince wouldn't garner much attention. After all, on the Heavenly Spirit Continent, where Spirit Masters reigned supreme, the reverence the populace held for imperial power was far less than in the ancient society of Nie Kong's previous life, especially among Spirit Masters hailing from noble families.

Perhaps for this Fourth Prince, gentleness was merely a tactic, and arrogance was his true nature. It was quite a feat how naturally he managed to blend his mild approach with his haughty disposition.

At this moment, Mu Xiaoling had already begun to close her eyes to conserve energy, preparing for the upcoming competition. Clearly, the Fourth Prince’s arrival had stripped her of her earlier ease. As for Mu Xinjiang, who was purely there to make up the numbers, he was continuously muttering under his breath, seemingly cursing the Fourth Prince who stood at the very front.

Nie Kong had nothing to prepare. Thinking of Qu Xinyi and Yu Qingguan, whom Mu Xinjiang had mentioned, his gaze began to search the crowd. However, the wooden shed held nearly a thousand people, and Nie Kong was only of average height, making it extremely difficult to spot two unfamiliar faces among them.

"Boom!"

A massive sound erupted outside the high platform, shaking the heavens with its clamor.

Hearing the commotion, everyone’s spirits lifted. They ceased their murmuring, and those who had been resting their eyes snapped them open. They all understood that the sudden, huge noise signaled the judges and distinguished guests for this Medicine Assembly Grand Competition had entered, and the real contest was about to begin.

Sure enough, in a moment, a bulky figure, resembling a mound of flesh, appeared at the side of the high platform, laughing heartily, "The Medicine Assembly Grand Competition is about to start. Young men and women participating in the contest, it is now your time to step up! Don't worry, line up according to your assigned numbers."

Nie Kong recognized this fat man; his name was Nie Qingtong, and by seniority, he was one of his clan uncles. Although the "Thousand Spirits Medicine Assembly" was hosted by the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, the vast majority of those maintaining order were members of the Nie Clan, especially Spirit Masters at the Spirit Fusion and Spirit Transformation realms, most of whom had been deployed nearby.

Under the direction of two middle-aged men from the Nie Clan, nearly a thousand people began to file out from both sides of the high platform. As several Spirit Pharmacists appeared on the left and right edges of the platform, the dense crowd in the open space before them started to surge, various sounds echoing above the manor like a tidal wave.

Of the five tiers of steps leading to the high platform, the first tier was the most gently sloped and occupied the widest area. On this level, each step was over a meter wide, neatly lined with low tables used for refining Spirit Medicine, upon which sat medicine cauldrons, vials, jars, and other necessary tools.

Of course, participating Spirit Pharmacists were also allowed to bring their own cauldrons, as some people simply could not adapt if they had to switch after becoming accustomed to their own.

"Clang!"

Nearly a thousand people stood properly behind their low tables. Then, another powerful chime rang out from the nearby Spirit Treasure Pavilion, instantly silencing the noisy hubbub of the courtyard. Before the echo of the bell had completely faded, the slender, fourth-grade Spirit Pharmacist from the Spirit Treasure Pavilion stepped to the front of the high platform, seizing the opportunity.

"Distinguished guests..."

Mo Xingtu’s resonant voice, amplified by the spiritual power he channeled internally, boomed like a great bronze bell, reaching every corner of the manor, "The Grand Competition of the 'Thousand Spirits Medicine Assembly' is about to commence... The judges for this competition include Master Cheng Feiliu, an Artifact Spirit Pharmacist from the Imperial Family, and Master Mu Zisi from the Spirit Treasure Pavilion..."

Mo Xingtu spoke with dramatic flair and soaring passion.

Nie Kong was listening drowsily. In his previous life, the commentary for all the annual festivals or grand ceremonies had already bored him to death. Moreover, in his eyes, Mo Xingtu's commentary skill was still at an amateur level compared to the professional hosts of his past life, making it even more dull. He only saw Mo Xingtu's lips constantly moving, spittle flying, and he retained no memory of what was actually being said.

It was the others beside him, Mu Xiaoling and Mu Xinjiang, who listened with rapt attention, their eyes never blinking. A strange thought suddenly struck Nie Kong: if these people could experience the grand galas of his past life, their jaws would likely drop in shock.

"Whoosh!"

Fierce applause and cheers suddenly erupted from the crowd ahead. Nie Kong's focus finally sharpened slightly as he heard Mo Xingtu say, "Enough idle talk; the competition begins now. This first trial is very simple; it tests your overall proficiency..."

Seeing the gazes of nearly a thousand Spirit Pharmacists fixed upon him, a peculiar smile surfaced on Mo Xingtu's face. He pointed to the large hourglass beside him, "Before this hourglass empties completely, you must successfully refine one Second-Grade Spirit Medicine to qualify for the second round. The formulas and ingredients will be delivered to you shortly."

Hearing that the first stage only required refining a single Second-Grade Spirit Medicine, many people breathed a sigh of relief. Among those present, even if they weren't Second-Grade Spirit Pharmacists, they had experience successfully refining one. However, some Spirit Pharmacists grew secretly vigilant, sensing this first stage was far from as easy as it appeared.

Scanning the crowd, the smile at the corner of Mo Xingtu’s lips grew more insidious.

A short while later, nearly a hundred young, beautiful, red-clad maidservants emerged gracefully from behind the high platform, bearing large, round wooden trays. Their swaying figures threaded through the Spirit Pharmacists, taking the wooden boxes from their trays and placing one onto the low table in front of each Pharmacist.

The wooden boxes were closed. No one knew what formula or ingredients lay inside, nor did anyone dare secretly peek to prepare in advance. This was because, directly opposite the high platform, nearly two hundred Spirit Masters from the Mu and Nie families stared with wide, vigilant eyes, as if guarding against thieves.

Under such scrutiny, cheating had only one outcome: immediate disqualification!

For a moment...

All eyes focused on Mo Xingtu, and even the onlookers in the courtyard fell silent, holding their breath, waiting quietly!

...

"Begin!"

Finally, Mo Xingtu, like a general commanding an army of thousands, slowly raised his right arm, then shouted loudly, slashing it fiercely downwards. Almost simultaneously, a young man flipped over the giant hourglass beside him, and the sound of rushing sand began.

"Crack!"

Nearly a thousand Spirit Pharmacists showed no hesitation, snatching up the wooden boxes on their tables at maximum speed. The sound of box lids snapping open rose one after another.

The box had six compartments. The first five held small amounts of herbs, and the last compartment contained a jade vial. The moment his fingers touched it, a bone-chilling cold was transmitted—it appeared to be Ice Disk Water taken from the Nie Family's Ice Flame Cave. This Ice Disk Water was suitable for refining various Spirit Medicines.

Nie Kong picked up the formula, rolled into a scroll and tucked into the corner of the box, and opened it. He froze for a moment, and immediately, a wave of shocked and uncertain murmurs swept across the high platform...

...

P: Regarding the Fourth Prince referring to himself as "This Prince" () in the last chapter, some friends mentioned it in the review section, so I'll clarify it here. I once considered writing a purely fictional story and researched this topic extensively. I recall that males of noble status could also use this self-address. Fearing I might have misremembered, I checked Baidu Encyclopedia again. It turns out that "This Prince" () was not exclusively used by imperial concubines in ancient times.