In the blink of an eye, Nie Kong’s fire intensity completed five subsequent levels of increase. Especially during the ninth surge, the terrifying heat contained within the white flames made even You Li involuntarily gasp in shock. Nie Kong’s fire power might not possess the sheer volume hers did, but its intensity was far beyond her reach. "I am inferior to him..." A faint, bitter smile touched You Li’s lips before she let out a soft sigh. "What?"

Kui Yin, Lei He, and Ming Tai, startled by the sound of You Li’s voice, initially thought they were hallucinating. Only Feng Chong, whose strength was a notch below them, vaguely discerned something amiss, his expression filled with sheer horror. He had always believed, deep in his heart, that his master You Li's fire power, when refining medicine, ranked among the very best of all Medicine Kings. Yet, witnessing this process now, that deeply ingrained notion was utterly overturned.

"Clang!"

Almost the instant Kui Yin’s seal descended, that ball of white flame was abruptly withdrawn back into the source fire in Nie Kong’s palm, vanishing completely. The lid of the cauldron immediately sprang open. Following this, the jade vial resting on the wooden tray flashed momentarily, and the medicinal liquid shot out, striking the interior of the alchemy cauldron like a streak of flowing light.

"Hiss!"

Like a white-hot brand plunged into icy water, a piercing sound echoed throughout the hall. An overwhelmingly dense medicinal fragrance instantly wafted out of the cauldron. Catching this scent, the faces of Kui Yin and the others shifted abruptly. Though they were completely ignorant of alchemy, they had heard You Li explain that the stronger the aroma of this "Nine Refinement Divine Incense," the more potent the medicinal effect and the higher the degree of integration. This fragrance now was at least twice as potent as the "Nine Refinement Divine Incense" You Li had refined.

Recalling You Li's sigh from earlier, the faint, unsettling premonition in their hearts grew stronger. After You Li finished her refinement, they had been certain of victory, almost picturing the "Jade Heart Fish Eye," "Ink Scented Apex Feather," and "Snow Binding Needle"—the three requisite herbs—beckoning to them with wide, happy smiles. But now, those three herbs still seemed to beckon, yet their joyful expressions were gone, replaced by a look of weary deference. Could the Grand Sect Master have lost?

You Li had been mentally prepared, her composure far exceeding that of Kui Yin and the others. However, upon smelling the fragrance, her eyes widened drastically, twin points of blazing fire seeming ready to erupt from her pupils—she whispered in disbelief, "The integration level... Ninety-eight percent? No... Ninety-nine percent!"

"Ninety-nine percent?" Kui Yin cried out, while Lei He and Ming Tai beside him wore expressions of utter incredulity. They had heard rumors of a "Thousand Sand Purple Safflower Pill" achieving an integration level as high as ninety-nine percent at the auction held by the Red Chamber branch in Lingyu City some time ago. But that was merely hearsay; it could never compare to the shock of witnessing Nie Kong successfully refine a spirit medicine with such a high integration for the first time!

Lei He urgently asked, "Feng Chong, the time taken?" "Sixty-two!"

Feng Chong hastily reported the two characters shaking their hearts on the spirit pattern timer. Seeing Nie Kong watching him with a placid smile after he spoke, his expression turned slightly awkward, and he muttered, "Disciple was careless and failed to act immediately. The accurate time should be 'Fifty-nine.'"

"Fifty-nine?" The shock on Kui Yin’s face was accompanied by a dark tinge. The Grand Sect Master's refined "Nine Refinement Divine Incense" had an integration level of eighty-six percent. Nie Kong’s was ninety-nine percent. The Grand Sect Master took one hundred and thirty-nine units of time; Nie Kong took fifty-nine... With such a gap... how could this be a contest?

"Whoosh!"

Nie Kong smiled faintly, flicking his fingers lightly. The alchemy cauldron floated over and settled before You Li. "Grand Sect Master, please inspect the medicine."

You Li cast a complex glance at Nie Kong, her gaze settling on the interior of the cauldron. There, at the purple base, a perfectly round, white pill was slowly spinning—lustrous and flawless, seemingly almost transparent, as if one could glimpse the fragrant essence contained within. Regardless of integration level or time taken, judging purely by the aesthetic quality of the spirit medicine, this "Nine Refinement Divine Incense" was clearly superior.

"I... I lost!" You Li managed to articulate the last two words with difficulty.

After detecting the aura akin to "Chaos Heavenly Fire" within Nie Kong’s flames, You Li had anticipated defeat. Upon realizing the sudden surge in his fire intensity, she had become certain of it. Yet, she never imagined she would lose so utterly. Setting aside the integration level, even her renowned speed in refining medicine was rendered insignificant before this young man in his twenties. She felt she had performed exceptionally well today, successfully refining the "Nine Refinement Divine Incense" in one hundred and thirty-nine units of time; her previous best was one hundred and forty-five. Years ago, all the Medicine Kings of the Tianling Continent had competed in refining the "Nine Refinement Divine Incense" within this Hunter Immortal Mountain Range. The pill she refined ranked only fifth in integration, yet its speed was unmatched by any other Medicine King. But in this moment, that pride shattered like a jade vial dropped to the floor. Nie Kong, refining the "Nine Refinement Divine Incense" for the first time, had taken less than one minute—not even half her time.

"How can such a prodigious Spirit Pharmacist exist in this world?" A deep sense of frustration washed over You Li. However, she was not one to refuse the outcome of a fair loss. Regardless, a loss was a loss. You Li took a deep breath, sending the purple alchemy cauldron back toward Nie Kong. Composing herself, she ordered in a low voice, "Feng Chong, secure those three medicinal herbs."

"Yes." Seeing their Master defeated so decisively, Feng Chong felt a deep pang of sorrow. He quietly closed the lids of the thirteen wooden boxes and placed the "Jade Heart Fish Eye" and the other two herbs onto the wooden tray. Just then, Nie Kong suddenly picked up the pill and placed it on the tray: "Four Sect Masters, this 'Nine Refinement Divine Incense' was crafted using your sect's herbs. Please keep it for the Hunter Immortal Sect."

"..." Kui Yin and the others exchanged glances, remaining utterly silent. If a "Nine Refinement Divine Incense" with ninety-nine percent integration were offered at auction, even if its price didn't match the "Thousand Sand Purple Safflower Pill" from Lingyu City, it wouldn't be far off. Such a precious medicine, and Nie Kong showed no hesitation in gifting it to the Hunter Immortal Sect.

They knew that this single "Nine Refinement Divine Incense" was worth a vast quantity of raw materials needed to create it. Furthermore, according to the customs among Spirit Pharmacists, if one borrowed materials for refinement, whether the result was a success or failure, the borrower only needed to compensate the monetary value equivalent to the raw ingredients. The materials used just now were proactively provided by the Hunter Immortal Sect to Nie Kong, not lent; even if Nie Kong had chosen to take the high-integration spirit medicine with him, it would have been permissible.

Feng Chong glanced hesitantly at You Li. Seeing her nod, he finally picked up the wooden tray and retreated into the rear hall. You Li picked up the scroll lying beside her and slowly unfurled it. After reading it for a long moment, she forced blood from her fingertip and began writing on the spirit-patterned paper: Year X, Month X, Day X. Grand Sect Master of the Hunter Immortal Sect, Eighth-Rank Medicine King You Li, Defeated!