Not long after Zhai Yao's pill finished forming, Yang Lightly patted the front of his own pill furnace, and a brownish pill flew out, landing in his hand.
"Amazing!" Zhai Yao exclaimed with genuine admiration. Just from the fragrance drifting out of Yang Kai's furnace, he could tell without a doubt that the pill produced was definitely spirit grade. As for its exact rank, that would need closer evaluation.
What was most remarkable was that his opponent's speed of refinement was hardly inferior to his own.
His own pill-refining speed had already met his master's exacting standards. Ever since he could remember, he had followed his master's side, learning the way of alchemy in the mountains and wilderness, listening to his master's teachings and receiving hands-on guidance for nearly twenty years before achieving his current level. Who on earth was this guy's master, to have been able to produce a disciple like him?
Zhai Yao had truly become interested in Yang Kai. His gaze burned as he stared at the young man, his eyes flickering with a competitive light that refused to accept defeat.
"In terms of time, you win. You're a bit better," Yang Kai said evenly, his expression calm, showing no significant emotional fluctuation over this minor loss. "Let's compare the quality and rank of the pills next."
Zhai Yao smiled faintly and opened his hand, presenting the pill he had just refined before Yang Kai's eyes, saying confidently, "Spirit grade, superior tier!"
"I also have a spirit grade, superior tier pill!" Yang Kai opened his hand as well.
Fei Yu's expression dimmed upon hearing this.
Both of them had produced pills of the same rank and quality, but Zhai Yao had used slightly less time. The outcome of this contest was now unmistakable.
"Haha, I win!" Zhai Yao burst into laughter.
"I don't think so," Yang Kai said, slowly shaking his head.
"Are you trying to cheat?" Zhai Yao's expression turned dark in an instant, his gaze turning hostile as he stared at Yang Kai, showing signs that he might resort to force.
"See for yourself," Yang Kai casually tossed the spirit pill he had refined over. Zhai Yao caught it and examined it with suspicion. The next moment, his eyes went wide, his face frozen in shock. He blurted out, "Pill patterns?"
The pill Yang Kai had refined was covered in countless fine lines across its smooth surface. These energy lines resembled the meridians of the human body, with potent medicinal energy flowing through them. If one listened closely, one could almost hear the soft murmur of that medicinal power coursing through the channels.
The medicinal efficacy of this pill had been refined by Yang Kai to its absolute peak.
"How is that possible?" Zhai Yao could hardly believe his eyes. He steadied his breath, focused his mind, and conducted a thorough inspection.
Yang Kai was in no rush. He waited quietly. Fei Yu's face, meanwhile, lit up with excitement, all her earlier anxiety swept away, replaced by a beaming smile.
After a good while, Zhai Yao finally drew a deep breath. His straight-backed posture seemed to collapse in that very instant, and he regarded Yang Kai with a complex expression. "You really are something!"
Whether the pill patterns on this spirit pill were due to Yang Kai's luck or not, his alchemy techniques and skill were beyond question. Without refining the pill's efficacy to its absolute limit, no amount of luck could produce something like pill patterns.
But once a pill manifested patterns, its value multiplied several times over.
That was why even master alchemists pursued the birth of pill patterns when refining pills—it was the surest way to multiply the value of gathered ingredients several times over.
Yet even Zhai Yao's master could not make pill patterns appear at will. Only in his most perfect state could he occasionally achieve such a feat.
Pills with patterns had always been coveted by warriors. They could save lives at critical moments, providing a powerful guarantee of safety.
"I concede." Zhai Yao took a deep breath, suppressing the unwillingness in his heart. In the next instant, he was bright and sunny again, admitting his loss frankly without a trace of resentment.
Yang Kai chuckled softly and said nothing more.
But Fei Yu spoke up: "Since little brother has admitted defeat, then this Earth Fire Gall belongs to my martial nephew now."
"Yes. A bet is a bet. The item is his." Zhai Yao nodded firmly.
Fei Yu handed the Earth Fire Gall to Yang Kai, who took it and slipped it into the space within the Black Book.
"Friend, may I ask a presumptuous question? Who is your master?" Zhai Yao tugged at the corner of his mouth and inquired.
"I can't say," Yang Kai replied, shaking his head. It wasn't that he couldn't—it was simply too difficult to explain, and he couldn't really make it clear.
"I understand." To Yang Kai's surprise, Zhai Yao didn't press further. Instead, he nodded with easy grace and said meaningfully, "These kinds of experts never want to reveal their identities."
Yang Kai looked at him thoughtfully and suddenly realized that Zhai Yao himself must have been taught by a master—and very likely, the teacher behind him was a famous alchemist on the continent.
"I have an unreasonable request. Would you agree to it, friend?" Zhai Yao asked, his gaze earnest.
"What is it?"
"Could you give me this pill?"
"Take it," Yang Kai said with a faint smile.