The second update is here. The third update will arrive between four and five in the afternoon.

Keep those votes coming!~~~ …… Nie Kong did not write on the three existing prescriptions, but started afresh in the blank space beside them. The brush tip flowed, the script like iron etched in silver.

Nie Kong, coming from a family of Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners, had been forced by his grandfather since childhood to practice calligraphy. Although the script here differed from his previous life, the method of wielding the brush was identical, and writing with the brush was as smooth and continuous as flowing clouds and running water—exceptionally fluid.

Nie Kong’s writing speed was not fast; often, after finishing a medicinal name, he would pause slightly before continuing. During these moments of stop and start, people around him successively rose to hand their prescriptions to the judging panel below the high platform.

“Cheng Zixuan, Mu Xiaoling, Yu Qingguan, Qu Xinyi, Gu Qi… Not bad, not bad. We are only halfway through the allotted time, and five people have already completed their prescriptions, and the selected herbs are quite appropriate.” Flipping through the papers in his hands, Cheng Feiliu laughed heartily, his face beaming.

As the Imperial Alchemist of the Great Cheng Empire, Cheng Feiliu naturally wished for more outstanding younger alchemists to emerge from within the empire. “Brother Xingyun, your prized disciple isn't doing so well this time, is he?” Que Yu turned his head and teased Nie Xingyun, who had just returned to his seat not long ago.

“Ahem, for this round, as long as the prescription is completed before the hourglass empties, it makes no difference whether it’s early or late,” Nie Xingyun said nonchalantly, stroking his whiskers. Although he said that, Nie Xingyun felt a touch of doubt in his heart.

He had seen those three prescriptions; based on the ability Nie Kong had shown recently, even if he wasn't the first to finish, he shouldn't be lagging so far behind Cheng Zixuan and Mu Xiaoling. Why hadn't he finished yet?

Not only him, but Lian Tianxin, seated to the right of the judges, also looked at his favored disciple with some surprise. Of course, despite the surprise, Lian Tianxin, like Nie Xingyun, retained full confidence in Nie Kong.

After all, they had instructed him in pharmacology and medicinal properties for so long that they were certain of his skill; they knew he wouldn't fail the second round—at most, he would just be slower. “Shhh…” Time slipped by rapidly, the sand in the hourglass diminishing.

More and more alchemists completed and submitted their prescriptions. Even those who truly couldn't figure it out would haphazardly write down three herb names and turn in their papers.

Suddenly, the triangular platform became sparse, leaving only Nie Kong and a dozen others who were unwilling to give up on the Grand Alchemical Competition, their faces etched with worry. However, unlike those who fidgeted like ants on a hot pan, Nie Kong, though deep in thought, appeared calm and composed.

Each time, after a brief moment of contemplation, he would put brush to paper to write a few characters, then pause again. This cycle repeated, and he showed no haste whatsoever.

The emperor is not anxious, but the eunuchs are frantic. Nie Kong was leisurely on the platform, but several people below were utterly frantic.

“Sister Xiaoling, why is Brother Nie Kong faltering in this second round after being so solid before?” Mu Xinjiang incessantly scratched his ears and jaw. “If you ask me, who will you ask?” Mu Xiaoling suddenly blushed, remembering something, and glared fiercely at her cousin.

When she looked back at Nie Kong, however, her watery eyes were filled only with confusion. For an alchemist capable of refining large quantities of the supreme-grade ‘Purple Li Pill,’ this second round shouldn't be that difficult.

Why hadn't he finished writing even as the hourglass was nearly empty? If he failed this round, it would be such a pity!

In the VIP section, Nie Xingyun was so anxious his throat was nearly scorched. What mischief was this little rascal up to?

The three missing ingredients combined wouldn't take more than ten characters to write down. Yet, this little devil had been writing for so long and still hadn't sorted it out—he was trying to worry this old man to death!

“Old Fifth Nie, it seems your prized disciple is in a bit of a precarious spot this round.” Mu Zisi deliberately swapped seats with Que Yu and turned back to look at Nie Xingyun, his face full of mockery. “This weather is too damn hot!” Nie Xingyun pretended not to hear and continuously fanned himself.

Seeing this, the surrounding crowd wore strange smiles, secretly amused. If that young man with the mutated spiritual power failed the second round, Old Man Nie would surely lose all face today, especially after boasting so much about his disciple earlier.

The higher they praise, the harder they fall! As Nie Kong’s other master, Lian Tianxin was much calmer.

Unlike Nie Xingyun, he didn't like to show off his excellent disciple, so his mindset was naturally more balanced. Furthermore, he trusted that Nie Kong was still on the platform for a specific reason, not because he was stumped by the prescription.

“Time’s up!” As the last grains of sand flowed through the opening of the hourglass, Mo Xingtian shouted decisively. Almost at the same moment he spoke, Nie Kong set down his brush and stood up, holding the prescription.

Vaguely, one could see that the paper was almost entirely covered in black characters. Nie Kong walked toward the judging panel below with a relaxed expression.

Around him, the few remaining alchemists looked utterly crestfallen; they couldn't even be bothered to submit their prescriptions, walking straight toward the crowd below the platform. In the next three assessment rounds, they could only serve as spectators.

“That was absolutely thrilling! Brother Nie Kong finished the prescription exactly as the hourglass ran out.

He timed it perfectly. Sister Xiaoling, I guarantee that Brother Nie Kong did that on purpose, just to let that Fourth Prince feel arrogant for a while before crushing that pride completely under his heel.” Mu Xinjiang analyzed Nie Kong’s actions with an "I knew it all along" expression, visibly excited.

“Don’t let the Fourth Prince’s current smile fool you; who knows how disappointed he is inside. I’m certain that once Brother Nie Kong passes the second round, he definitely won’t be smiling anymore.” “Are you ever going to stop!” Mu Xiaoling, completely exasperated by her cousin’s fussiness—which she felt surpassed that of a woman—covered her ears and moved toward the judges’ table.

“This little rascal, he finally finished at the very last second. He almost scared this old man to death!” In the VIP section, Nie Xingyun, who had maintained a façade of indifference but had actually been constantly monitoring his disciple with his peripheral vision, let out a long sigh of relief.

That short period of time had felt like several hours to the old man. If the rules hadn't forbidden it, he truly would have rushed up to see what Nie Kong was writing.

By the count, Nie Kong was the last to submit his answer. Not only the judges but also those in the VIP section behind them were intensely curious about Nie Kong’s solution.

However, compared to the judges' curiosity, their feelings held less goodwill; most were hoping to see Nie Xingyun and his disciple make fools of themselves. Before Nie Kong could approach, Cheng Feiliu, Mu Zisi, Que Yu, Qu Tingyun, and Fu Erong—the five Fifth-Rank Alchemists—handed the prescriptions of the other alchemists to Lian Tianxin.

Looking at the tall stack of papers before him, the old man felt rather helpless. Although he also wanted to examine his disciple's answer sheet, he couldn't neglect the others' prescriptions and had to continue reviewing.

“Here, here, little fellow, let this old man see your prescription first.” Mu Zisi jumped up impatiently, snatching the answer sheet Nie Kong was about to submit. After just one glance, the old man’s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets, his mouth widening into an ever-larger circle, and the astonishment in his eyes grew more intense.

Finally, he slammed the table heavily and shouted: “Marvelous! Marvelous…” …… .