BTTH: From Genius to Invincible

Chapter 248: Chapter 248: The Miserable Han Xian



Word Count: 2,017 Words

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From the moment Han Xian began adding ingredients to the cauldron and progressed through the stages of refinement, fire control, and spiritual perception, every one of his movements flowed seamlessly as if he had refined the Dragon Strength Pill countless times before.

Although his alchemy techniques were concealed by the medicinal cauldron and the Illusionary Golden Flame, which prevented onlookers from observing his specific methods, just witnessing his every movement was enough to inspire awe.

The alchemists watching intently from the sidelines were especially engrossed as they tirelessly studied and learned from Han Xian's fluid and masterful alchemy process.

Even if they couldn't directly see his alchemy methods, alchemy wasn't solely about the methods used; the alchemist's movements during the process were also crucial.

Refining pills under the scrutiny of so many eyes could easily unsettle one's mental state, yet Han Xian remained composed and unhurried. He seemed to have complete mastery over each of his actions, and every change in the medicinal ingredients was as familiar to him as the back of his hand.

Such skill and mental fortitude made many alchemists sigh in admiration. Some felt that this was no longer mere alchemy but the creation of a work of art.

However, even with such proficiency, Han Xian still failed on his first attempt. After all, the Dragon Strength Pill was a tier 5 medicinal pill, a realm he hadn't yet fully stepped into. Moreover, it was his first time working with this pill recipe, and a slight misinterpretation of minute details led to failure.

But he merely exhaled a long breath. The failure didn't discourage him; instead, it increased his confidence. He knew that he would definitely succeed on the second attempt.

Finally, the critical moment arrived. Han Xian was about to add the Rank 5 Monster Core. The Dragon Strength Pill bore 'Dragon' in its name because it required a Rank 5 Monster Core from a magical beast with a dragon bloodline!

When the Monster Core was placed into the medicinal cauldron, its amber-like luster captivated everyone's hearts. Dominant, ferocious dragon roars emanated from within the cauldron, as if a dragon beast were about to emerge and wreak havoc upon the world.

This was a Monster Core from a Rank 5 magical beast with a trace of dragon bloodline.

"Cease your rampage!" Han Xian stomped on the ground, and instantly, Dou Qi surged madly from his entire body into the medicinal cauldron, as the Illusionary Golden Flame transformed into a golden Scorpion Dragon Beast!

Two ferocious beasts fought intensely within the cauldron as Han Xian leveraged the advantage of his flame.

"Not bad. His fire control has reached the level of a 5th-tier alchemist," some of the elder alchemists couldn't help but exclaim upon witnessing Han Xian's display.

They all understood that Han Xian's Spiritual Strength and fire control had reached tier 5. His abilities were sufficient; now, success depended on a bit of luck.

After an indeterminate amount of time, the beastly roars from within the cauldron gradually faded away. Soon, a wisp of medicinal mist wafted out from the medicinal cauldron.

"Medicinal mist!!!"

"Holy shit! Colored medicinal mist!"

"Is it about to succeed?!"

"Open!!" A loud clang rang out, and Han Xian's expression turned solemn as he shouted deeply and struck the medicinal cauldron with his palm. Instantly, a pill the size of a dragon's eye, enveloped in Illusionary Golden Flames, floated above the cauldron.

"Heavens!!"

"No way! Han Xian can refine tier 5 medicinal pills now!!"

"Incredible! Han Xian seems to have never successfully refined a tier 5 pill before! He's surpassed himself!"

Excitement spread contagiously among the crowd, and many began cheering for Han Xian. The elders hovering in the sky stroked their beards and nodded approvingly.

"Han Xian is only twenty-five years old. He truly is a genius to be able to refine a tier 5 pill at such an age."

"Elder Hao, please have a look." Han Xian placed the pill into a jade bottle and handed it to Elder Hao.

Elder Hao nodded repeatedly and said, "It is indeed the Dragon Strength Pill. The quality is quite good too."

For a moment, numerous Dou King-level elders couldn't help but salivate. After all, the Dragon Strength Pill was specifically intended for Dou Kings. Such pills, which could directly increase combat strength, were even more precious than healing pills.

"Xiao Yan, it's your turn!" Han Xian's heart filled with joy after receiving Elder Hao's confirmation. He turned around and said in a deep voice.

However, when he turned around, his face instantly flushed red with anger. Xiao Yan had actually fallen asleep!

Drool was about to drip from the corner of Xiao Yan's mouth as he leaned back in his chair. Such an attitude was simply not putting Han Xian in his eyes at all!

Previously, everyone had been captivated by the elegance of Han Xian's alchemy process. They had nearly forgotten about Xiao Yan's existence and even that this was a bet.

Now, seeing Xiao Yan sleeping and nearly drooling, many people were rendered speechless. They couldn't help but feel that Xiao Yan was being overly arrogant.

"If this were a contest of combat strength, I believe he could defeat Han Xian. But now, Han Xian has successfully refined a tier 5 pill. Does he really think he's a 5th-tier alchemist?"

Beside the sleeping Xiao Yan, Xun Er gently closed her book and softly awakened him. Only then did he groggily ask, "Xun Er, how long did I sleep?"@@novelbin@@

"It's been a good hour," Xun Er replied softly. "Xiao Yan ge-ge, he's finished refining. It's your turn."

Xiao Yan yawned and stretched lazily before slowly walking onto the stage.

He glanced at the Dragon Strength Pill in Han Xian's hand and nodded. "Indeed, you have the capital to be proud. Being able to refine a tier 5 medicinal pill at such an age can indeed be called alchemy genius. It's quite good, but still lacking a bit."

Xiao Yan's words made Han Xian very displeased. He snorted coldly, not knowing that such an evaluation from Xiao Yan was already high praise.

Paying no heed to the gazes and comments of the surrounding spectators, Xiao Yan walked to the center of the plaza and took out the medicinal cauldron he had obtained from the Amethyst Winged Lion King. This cauldron was only around tier 5 in quality, somewhat inferior to Han Xian's golden cauldron.

Just as Han Xian sneered, thinking that Xiao Yan was nothing special for only being able to produce such a level cauldron, something occurred the next moment that terrified all the alchemists present.

Xiao Yan spread his palm, and a blood-red flame surged forth with a whoosh.

"Heavenly Flame!!" Han Xian cried out in shock!

He felt his own Illusionary Golden Flame trembling within his body. He hurriedly summoned

it, only to see his pride and joy, the Rank 7 Beast Flame, shrink to half its size as if bowing in

worship!

At that moment, the flames of the other alchemists trembled in submission. Even the elders from the Alchemy Department in the sky revealed astonished expressions.

"I've long heard that this lad possesses a Heavenly Flame."

"A Heavenly Flame! Such a divine object... Sigh, it truly makes one envious."

The elders had heard that Xiao Yan possessed a Heavenly Flame, but witnessing it firsthand

was indeed a first.

Han Xian felt a deep sense of foreboding!

Then, as if swallowing dates whole, Xiao Yan waved his hand, and all the medicinal

ingredients poured into the cauldron in one go.

"Has he gone mad?!"

"Each ingredient requires different refinement temperatures. Doing this will only ruin the

ingredients!"

Many people were dumbfounded when they saw Xiao Yan throw all the ingredients into the cauldron at once. Who refines pills like this?!

In an instant, Xiao Yan's ten fingers danced nimbly. His terrifyingly powerful Spiritual Strength controlled the Ten Thousand Beast Flame and transformed it into countless thread- like flames that rapidly passed through the various medicinal ingredients. Each thread's temperature was precisely controlled as it extracted the essences without the slightest waste. After roughly ten minutes, to everyone's astonishment, those medicinal ingredients had all been transformed into medicinal powders and liquids.

Xiao Yan sent the Monster Core flying into the cauldron with a flick of his finger. The unique

power of the Ten Thousand Beast Flame instantly elevated the energy within the Monster Core. Before the resentful spirit within the Monster Core could even emerge, the space inside the cauldron distorted. A tiny cat's paw swiftly reached out, pulled the remnant soul into the

void, and munched on it with delight.

The most time-consuming step of handling the Monster Core had become a delicious snack

for Mao Wu.

Finally, the Monster Core completely melted and transformed into an extremely pure energy that slowly fused with all the other medicinal essences.

Xiao Yan brought his hands together and, with a clap, withdrew all the flames. An overwhelming medicinal fragrance permeated the entire plaza as the medicinal cauldron released a surge of golden medicinal mist.

This phenomenon was countless times more magnificent than what Han Xian had produced!

Xiao Yan lightly patted the medicinal cauldron, and with three consecutive 'pop' sounds, three golden Dragon Strength Pills floated into the air, as dazzling as three miniature suns. The entire alchemy process was extremely swift. Compared to Han Xian's, it was over ten

times faster.

"How can it be so fast?!"

"And he even refined three pills in one batch?!"

For a moment, not only were the spectators and young alchemists like Han Xian stunned, but

even the elders in the sky and the 5th-tier alchemists from the Alchemist Department were

utterly dumbfounded.

They couldn't comprehend how this was possible. The speed was as if he had activated a cheat. Moreover, he was able to refine three pills in one go with fluid and flawless

movements, without a single unnecessary action or failure.

"Is it because of the Heavenly Flame?"

"It's not just because of the Heavenly Flame. While the rapid refining speed might be related

to the Heavenly Flame, simultaneously refining so many medicinal ingredients requires a level of fire control beyond what we can achieve. Moreover, the precise extraction and fusion, the flawless refinement of the Dragon Strength Pill on his first attempt without a single mistake... His Spiritual Strength is unparalleled."

In stark contrast to the cheers that erupted when Han Xian succeeded, the entire plaza now resembled a silent graveyard. No one spoke, no one cheered, no one whispered.

Because they couldn't fathom it. They had no idea how such a feat was possible. Everyone aside from Xun Er had only one thought in their minds: Unbelievable!!

By now, Han Xian's face was ashen. He could no longer maintain the confident demeanor he

had at the beginning. His entire being seemed lost and dazed.

He had surpassed himself, pushing his limits to refine a tier 5 pill. Yet, in Xiao Yan's eyes, it

was nothing more than casual practice, akin to a rough draft he might refine when bored.

Xiao Yan stored two Dragon Strength Pills in jade bottles with a wave of his hand. He gently flicked his finger, and one pill flew toward Elder Hao.

"The pill recipe and medicinal ingredients were all provided by the elder. Junior Xiao Yan wouldn't dare take advantage of the elder's generosity. This Dragon Strength Pill is for you." Xiao Yan didn't even mention the outcome of the bet, because anyone with a bit of sense

could tell that this duel had been meaningless from the start. One could say it was Xiao Yan's scheme, or that Han Xian had kicked an iron plate himself.

After examining the pill, Elder Hao's eyes gleamed. The quality was exceptionally high.

"This... how is this possible... You... Who exactly are you!" Han Xian stared at Xiao Yan, his

face pale.

Xiao Yan shrugged. From his storage ring, he took out his alchemist robe and donned it with a

flourish. Five golden and white horizontal stripes vividly adorned it.

"A 5th-tier alchemist!"