Chapter 632: Alchemy Competition Final (9)
The medicinal mass split apart, like a cell dividing into two, then into three. One sphere, then another, and finally a third, three small pinkish masses began to slowly rotate inside the container, each one a potential pill, each containing the essence of Kyrian’s work.
Kyrian opened his eyes completely, his expression one of surprise.
"Three." His voice was low, almost a murmur, as if he were confirming the result to himself.
He had done it. Three pills, an amount that many experienced alchemists would consider a remarkable success, especially given the complexity of the recipe and the limited time available.
And, at that moment, something unexpected happened. The elder responsible for the competition rose from his chair, his movements slow but deliberate, his expression changing from professional calm to evident curiosity.
Beside him, Lio Han also stood, his eyes fixed on Kyrian’s table. The two exchanged a brief glance, a silent acknowledgment that something extraordinary had happened.
Neither of them needed to say anything. The elder knew that recipe, knew exactly how it should be refined, knew what its difficulties were, and knew how to recognize when someone had produced something exceptional. Lio Han, on the other hand, wanted to see the result with his own eyes, to confirm his suspicion that Kyrian was more than he appeared to be.
The elder looked at Kyrian’s cauldron, his eyes traveling across the surface of the metal as if they could see through it. Then, he looked at the other participants, a quick assessment that confirmed what he already suspected: most were still far from finishing.
There were still dozens of alchemists working, their flames crackling, their hands moving in frantic rhythms.
Even so, that young man had finished first, completing the test in a time that many would consider impossible.
And not only that, the aroma coming from that cauldron was extremely pure, a fragrance that left no doubt about the quality of the work.
"Let’s go down."
Lio Han nodded, his eyes shining with a light of anticipation.
The two elders began descending from the stage, their steps slow and deliberate, as if they were savoring every moment of the journey.
The decision immediately caught the attention of those present, first the competitors, who raised their eyes from their work, then the spectators, who leaned forward in their seats.
Conversations began to emerge from the stands like fire through dry straw, voices rising in speculation.
"The two elders are coming down?"
"Where to?"
"Wait... they’re going to that kid’s table!"
"Kyrian? The young man with violet eyes?"
"Has he already finished?"
"Impossible! He started after almost everyone!"
"Look at the cauldron! The aroma is coming from there!"
"What smell is that? It’s very pleasant..."
"Is that the aroma of a pill?"
"Did he really manage to form one? In such a short time?"
The news spread through the stands like wildfire, a wave of excitement sweeping through the crowd. Thousands of people began looking in the same direction, their eyes fixed on Kyrian’s figure and the two elders approaching him.
Some spectators even stood up to see better, their heads rising above the crowd like giraffes in a herd. Others stretched their necks, trying to follow the movement of the two elders, their voices disappearing into the commotion.
"Why are they going personally?"
"Normally an assistant would collect the pill."
"Maybe it’s because he was the first to finish."
"But he started so late!"
"Then his speed is absurd."
"It’s not just speed. Did you smell the aroma?"
"Yes. It’s much better than the smell of the other pills."
"Could it be a high-quality pill?"
"Maybe."
"If the two elders are interested, it probably is."
Kyrian, however, paid no attention to the stands, his eyes fixed on the two men approaching. He watched Lio Han with silent curiosity, recognizing him immediately, his eyes showing a hint of surprise that he quickly controlled.
"Lio Han?"
Lio Han smiled, a smile carrying years of wisdom and a hint of admiration.
"Kyrian."
The greeting was simple but filled with meaning, two alchemists recognizing each other as worthy of respect.
Kyrian slightly lowered his head, a gesture of greeting.
"I didn’t expect to see you here."
"I didn’t expect you to finish so soon either." Lio Han looked at the cauldron, his eyes traveling across the surface of the metal with an attention bordering on reverence.
"May I open it?"
Kyrian did not hesitate, simply nodding.
"You may."
Lio Han approached, his movements slow and deliberate, as if he were preparing to witness something sacred. The elder responsible for the competition remained at his side, equally curious, his eyes fixed on the cauldron.
The lid was slowly removed, and, the instant the interior was exposed, a new wave of spiritual aroma escaped.
’Whoosh.’
The fragrance spread immediately, more intense than before, as if the pill were celebrating its own creation.
It was a delicate fragrance, similar to the scent of freshly opened flowers after the rain, a sensation of freshness that cleansed the senses. There was a slightly sweet note, followed by a refreshing sensation that seemed to clear the breath of anyone who inhaled it.
Even some spectators farther away managed to smell the aroma, their eyes widening in surprise.
"What a smell..."
"It’s even better now."
"This is definitely an extraordinary pill."
Lio Han looked inside the cauldron, and his eyes widened slightly, an expression of genuine surprise that he made no attempt to hide. The elder beside him also became motionless, his breath suspended for an instant.
Three small pills rested at the bottom of the cauldron, each one a miniature work of art. They were pinkish, but not an ordinary pink; their color was complex, with nuances that changed as the light fell upon them.
The center displayed a slightly lighter tone, almost translucent, while the edges were a somewhat deeper pink, as if the pill were enveloped in an aura of light.
The surface was smooth, so polished that it reflected the lantern light like a mirror. Almost perfectly round, each one seemed to have been molded by the hands of a divine artisan.
Small spiritual lines ran across their surfaces, disappearing and reappearing as the light fell upon them, a pattern that seemed to possess a life of its own.