"What kind of trickery is this? Besides Ice Pan Water, any of the other five herbs could be the wrong one. Eliminating them one by one will take at least half a day. How can we possibly have enough time now?"

"Exactly, this is clearly meant to trap us! I... I'm not participating anymore. This is obviously a setup!"

"Let's go, let's go. One more or one less won't make a difference..."

"..."

For a moment, the crowd buzzed with discussion, and the voices from the high platform grew increasingly chaotic.

Written on the parchment was the formula for a second-grade spiritual medicine called the "Myriad Transformation Pill": Spirit Return, Fragrant Blue Lotus, Falling Cloud Seed, Hundred Citrus Leaf, Sunken Star Herb, and Ice Pan Water. This seemed fine, but a note was appended to the formula: One medicine must be removed before refining!

"Myriad Transformation Pill!"

In the Demon/Monster Game, the Myriad Transformation Pill was a second-tier medicine. After consumption, it provided a slight boost to a player's resistance for a short period. It was very cheap, essentially a trash potion. Nie Kong had practiced refining this potion many times; its recipe comprised Spirit Return, Fragrant Blue Lotus, and the other four—but it specifically did not include Ice Pan Water.

When refining low-grade spiritual medicines, ingredients like "Ice Pan Water" were frequently used. It was likely that many participants would glance at the list, instantly confirming it as a component for the Myriad Transformation Pill, thus falling into the trap, leading only to disqualification!

"Today's luck isn't too bad!" A strange, subtle smile curved Nie Kong's lips.

"Silence!"

Mo Xingtu roared suddenly, drawing everyone's attention before chuckling, "Any further looking around, whispering, or incessant noise will result in immediate disqualification from the competition!"

His seemingly benevolent smile twisted into a sneer in the eyes of the participating alchemists. A chill ran through the crowd. After this display, even those who had been loudly threatening to withdraw instantly turned into well-behaved children. Being expelled would be too humiliating!

The crowd quickly quieted down, expressions varied—some were crestfallen, others gritted their teeth in frustration, and a few looked confident. Some clever ones tried to sneak glances sideways, but their hopes were swiftly shattered by a cold snort, accompanied by two fierce gazes stabbing forward from the front rows.

According to the Grand Competition rules, this was the first warning; a second glance would lead to disqualification. Under the watchful eyes of the Spirit Fusion Masters and even Spirit Transformation Masters seated in the front rows, they found it impossible to pull off any petty tricks and were forced to focus their spirits entirely on their wooden boxes.

"Old Mu, the first trial you set is quite tricky,"

On the judging platform, Lian Tianxin sighed softly to Mu Zisi, who sat beside him, "Just this single 'Myriad Transformation Pill,' and I fear it will weed out more than half the contestants!"

Hearing Lian Tianxin’s lament, Mu Zisi stroked his beard and smiled smugly, "The little ones who came here relying on luck, trying to muddle through, or merely seeking excitement—they should leave sooner rather than later."

The formula for the Myriad Transformation Pill was one Mu Zisi had only figured out in the past two years; even his granddaughter, Mu Xiaoling, didn't know it. To discern the incorrect ingredient from that formula, one first needed a thorough understanding of the pharmacology and properties of all six herbs, including Spirit Return and Fragrant Blue Lotus. Only then was there a chance of success.

And even that was only a possibility. To identify it with near-perfect accuracy would severely test an alchemist’s experience and familiarity with compound preparation. Even setting that aside, once the formula was confirmed, they still had to successfully refine a single Myriad Transformation Pill in the limited time frame.

The first stage was undeniably difficult to pass smoothly. For many alchemists, this was not only the starting line for their Alchemy Guild Grand Competition but also its finish line.

"Huh? What is that little one doing? Pulling out such a tiny toy, is he trying to refine medicine?" A husky laugh sounded from beside them. The speaker was Fu Erong, a fifth-grade alchemist from the Falling Cloud Sect. His hair was glossy black, his skin dark, and only the wrinkles on his face hinted at his advanced age.

"Master Erong, that young fellow is my disciple." Looking at Nie Kong, who was reaching into his robe on the high platform, Lian Tianxin’s usually serious face broke into a slight smile.

"Ga?"

Fu Erong was momentarily stunned to realize the target of his ridicule was Lian Tianxin's disciple. After a brief pause, he chuckled awkwardly and continued to watch.

"Brother Feiliu, look quickly! That's my prized disciple!"

On the far left, in the VIP seats, Nie Xingyun patted Cheng Feiliu's shoulder, pointing at Nie Kong, who had already begun collecting herbs, grinning from ear to ear. Only the old man could brazenly call his disciple his "prized disciple." Were it someone else, no matter how outstanding the disciple, they would have to maintain some humility.

Cheng Feiliu, who originated from the Imperial Family, was something of an anomaly in the Cheng clan; he neither chased power nor obsessively cultivated martial arts. Most of his time was spent researching alchemy, and he possessed none of the solemnity of those in high positions, appearing instead as simple and benevolent as a farmer in the fields.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Feiliu glanced over and chuckled, "Oh? Brother Xingyun, your disciple’s use of such a small cauldron is certainly distinctive. Hmm? He’s adding ingredients to the cauldron—has he already managed to select the incorrect herb so quickly?"

By the time he reached the end of his statement, Cheng Feiliu couldn't help but show a hint of surprise. After all, only moments had passed since the competition officially began.

At this moment, Que Yu and Qu Tingyun on the judging platform, and the others in the VIP seats behind them, also noticed Nie Kong beginning his refinement process. They exchanged glances, their expressions ranging from surprise to astonishment. Some even snorted derisively, clearly assuming Nie Kong was merely seeking attention through outlandish behavior.

The actions of the alchemists in the center of the high platform were entirely clear to the judges. Almost everyone could discern the herbs Nie Kong had selected.

"Spirit Return, Fragrant Blue Lotus, Falling Cloud Seed, Hundred Citrus Leaf, Sunken Star Herb... entirely correct." Cheng Feiliu couldn't help but murmur his praise. In fact, after adding the Sunken Star Herb, Nie Kong had briefly held the small jade vial of "Ice Pan Water" near the cauldron's lip, but the fifth-grade alchemists present were figures of exceptional perception; their eyes were sharp enough to instantly recognize Nie Kong's gesture as a deliberate misdirection.

"Brother Xingyun, your disciple is quite cunning," Cheng Feiliu said with a slight smile.

"Hahaha..."

Nie Xingyun’s smile was so wide his mouth struggled to close. "Your family's Fourth Master is also good; he’s starting to collect herbs too. And the Mu family’s Mu Xiaoling, the Qu family’s Qu Xinyi, the Falling Cloud Sect’s Yu Qingguan... and that young girl at number 108—they are all quite good. Of course, they are still just a tiny bit inferior to my Nie Kong. Hahaha."

Seeing his utterly triumphant demeanor, the surrounding Cheng Feiliu and others couldn't help but smile faintly.

Meanwhile, a huge clamor erupted from the wide open ground. The news that the first trial’s formula contained a trap had spread from the front ranks. Those who had friends or children participating in the Grand Competition began shouting and inciting the crowd, causing the sound waves in the courtyard to surge like the tide...