Nie Kong shook his head. "Elder Luan, perhaps that isn't ideal. You haven't confirmed the quality of this 'Hibiscus Falling Petal Pill' yet. It would be better to look after inspection, otherwise, it's somewhat unfair to the other colleagues."

"Very well." Seeing Nie Kong decline her generous offer, Luan Yexin's admiration only deepened. She nodded and smiled.

"Time's up!"

Just then, the female disciple from the Pill Immortal Sect, responsible for the incense, suddenly called out sharply; the stick of incense in her hand had just burned out.

The moment she spoke, the fire in the hands of the remaining three Alchemists was precisely withdrawn, and relief flashed across their faces. The last one had not yet finished but could only extinguish his flame, setting down his Alchemical Cauldron with a look of displeasure directed at Nie Kong. The "Hundred Petal Flower" had clearly occupied a significant amount of his focus.

"Four individuals have successfully refined the Eighth-Grade 'Hibiscus Falling Petal Pill'."

Luan Yexin smiled faintly, glancing over the group. Her jade hand suddenly swept across her waist, and an object the size of an infant's fist appeared in her palm. It was pure white and teardrop-shaped, covered with intricately carved Illusionary Runes on its surface, exquisitely made. "This is the 'Pill Rune Treasure Mirror.' Now, let's examine the quality of the pills."

As she spoke, Luan Yexin approached the first Alchemist who had succeeded.

This was an elderly man in a cyan robe who had finished refining his pill within the time limit, yet he lacked confidence in its quality. He opened the lid of his cauldron almost through gritted teeth.

Luan Yexin swiftly grasped the crimson pill emerging from the Alchemical Cauldron and pressed it against the tip of the 'Pill Rune Treasure Mirror.'

Only then did Nie Kong notice that the tip of the treasure mirror possessed a thumb-sized circular hole. With a slight exertion of force from Luan Yexin, the pill rolled neatly inside.

"Buzz!"

Seconds later, the treasure mirror hummed, and a burst of crimson light exploded from the Illusionary Runes, coalescing into the numbers "Six Six."

Seeing this display, the old man in the cyan robe couldn't help but sigh. The quality of this 'Hibiscus Falling Petal Pill' was clearly still a significant distance from the requirements of the Pill Immortal Sect.

"Quality Six Six."

Luan Yexin announced the result crisply. With a flick of her jade finger, the treasure mirror calmed. She extracted the pill and moved toward the second successful Alchemist.

"Seven One!"

Another Alchemist's efforts had been in vain.

Nie Kong was truly broadening his horizons. The Illusionary Runes of this Divine Void Realm were truly advanced; they could create such an apparatus that directly stimulated the runes using the pill's aura to easily confirm its quality. This method was far more sophisticated than the olfactory testing used on the Heavenly Spirit Continent.

"Six Three!"

The third Alchemist also failed the assessment. His refining speed had been quite fast, only slightly slower than Nie Kong's, but the quality of his pill ranked lowest among the three.

"Brother Tai Shuang, it's your turn."

Luan Yexin, holding the 'Pill Rune Treasure Mirror,' approached Nie Kong’s station with a captivating smile. The gazes of everyone surrounding them followed her movements toward Nie Kong.

Considering that the 'Hundred Petal Flower' had been used for the refinement, the pill's quality certainly couldn't be low.

The crowd was filled with anticipation.

Nie Kong gave a slight nod and dramatically threw open his cauldron lid with a sharp clang. The heat inside the Alchemical Cauldron had mostly dissipated after the long wait, and the pill lay peacefully at the bottom.

Almost the instant the cauldron was opened, a rich fragrance wafted out, causing heads to lean in closer.

Tai Yan, who had been quietly staying by Nie Kong’s side, couldn't help but furrow her delicate brows at this proximity to so many old figures, instinctively clutching Nie Kong’s arm and leaning into him.

"What a fine pill!"

"So beautiful!"

"..."

Exclamations of praise erupted. The pill Nie Kong had refined immediately looked distinct from those of the other three. The surfaces of the other three pills were somewhat mottled and uneven, whereas this one was perfectly smooth and lustrous, crystal clear, shining red like a gemstone.

Especially the medicinal power aura emanating from within the pill—it was profoundly refreshing.

A flicker of astonishment crossed Luan Yexin's eyes. Impatiently, she picked up the pill and inserted it into the 'Pill Rune Treasure Mirror,' then waited with palpable expectation.

"Buzz!"

After a moment, a resonant, powerful hum vibrated out, and a beam of crimson light, several times more intense than before, shot from the Illusionary Runes. In an instant, two deep crimson characters combined: Nine Six!

"Quality Nine Six!"

"This pill's quality is incredibly high!"

"A pill of this standard might rival even that of the Pill Immortal Sect Master!"

"..."

Gasps of shock and wonder followed one another. The crowd felt a torrent of emotion surge through them. Even Luan Yexin's beautiful eyes widened when she saw the pill's quality.

As someone mentioned, very few individuals within the Pill Immortal Sect could refine an Eighth-Grade 'Hibiscus Falling Petal Pill' with a quality surpassing Nine Five. After all, this was not an ordinary pill; it was a superior medicine capable of boosting the cultivation of an Eighth-Stage Illusionary Spirit Master, making its refinement significantly more challenging.

Ninth-Stage Illusionary Spirit Master, Eighth-Grade Pill King, Hundred Petal Flower, Primordial Chaos Heavenly Fire...

Any one of these factors warranted serious attention, let alone all converging upon one person. Especially the 'Primordial Chaos Heavenly Fire,' which was of paramount importance to the Pill Immortal Sect.

This Tai Shuang must be secured by the Pill Immortal Sect.

This thought flashed rapidly through Luan Yexin’s mind. After a while, she took a deep breath, retrieved the 'Hibiscus Falling Petal Pill,' and a broad smile spread across her face. "Quality Nine Six, completely meeting the requirements. Brother Tai Shuang, congratulations. The invitation to the 'Pill Palace Immortal Gathering' will be delivered tomorrow, and please accept this pill as well."

Nie Kong accepted the pill without ceremony.

"Fellow Daoists, today's assessment concludes here. If anyone is still interested in attending the 'Pill Palace Immortal Gathering,' you are welcome to return tomorrow for a new assessment." After giving Nie Kong a profound look, Luan Yexin smiled. "Brother Tai Shuang, Sister Tai Yan, I shall take my leave now."

Luan Yexin departed swiftly, followed by the gathered youths, though the candle-holders remained behind.

The dozen or so Alchemists nearby watched Nie Kong with envy, but at this moment, there were matters more pressing than mere admiration.

"Brother Tai Shuang has excellent skills."

A plump old man with a jolly, Maitreya-like smile looked on. "Allow me to introduce myself; I am Elder Fu Peng of the 'Sovereign Extreme Dao.' I am deeply impressed by Brother Tai Shuang's refining ability. If you have time after the 'Pill Palace Immortal Gathering,' I hope the esteemed brother and sister will visit the Sovereign Extreme Dao. My Dao Master and I will certainly offer our most sincere welcome."

"Sovereign Extreme Dao?"

Looking at the smiling, plump old man before him, Nie Kong's expression turned slightly strange.

He had recently snatched a Supreme Grade 'Spirit Soul Illusion Crystal' from elders of the 'Sovereign Extreme Dao' and the 'Myriad Manifestations Sect.' To run into a Sovereign Extreme Dao elder so soon was uncanny. If this elder knew that the illusion crystal had nurtured the 'Blood Prison Sword King Tree,' he might literally cough up blood from anger.

"Sovereign Extreme Dao? What's so great about that? So small-minded! I am the Second Dao Master of the 'Dragon Tiger Dao.' Brother Tai Shuang, why not join the 'Dragon Tiger Dao'? Our sect's supreme treasure, the 'Heavenly Dragon Eight Formations Diagram,' still awaits a master. I believe Brother is perfectly suited for it."

"Heavenly Dragon Eight Formations Diagram? Looks good but might not be practical. Brother Tai Shuang, our 'Vast Heaven Sect' possesses the 'Nine Heavens Thunder God Art,' a cultivation method highly praised even by the Lord of the 'Primordial Chaos Heavenly Mansion.' If Brother is interested, you may visit the Vast Heaven Sect anytime to discuss matters with our Sect Master."

"Brother Tai Shuang, just tell us outright, what are the requirements to join the 'Profound Origin Dao'? Whatever condition you name, our 'Profound Origin Dao' will do everything in its power to satisfy it."

"..."