Clap, clap, clap, clap!
It took the judge a moment to recover, and he spared no applause, praising Jiang Chen profusely.
"Jiang Chen, I didn't expect you to be a prodigy in fire control. Awakening the fire sources of all twelve small cauldrons—it's quite rare among the younger generation of the Dan Heaven Palace. Ha ha, Saint Dan Chi truly has an eye for talent; one cannot help but admire it."
The judge was human too, with his own aesthetic and appreciative perspective.
Jiang Chen's display moments ago had earned the judge's admiration, so he naturally didn't hold back his praise.
Of course, this didn't affect the judge's fairness.
"Yan Hongtu, in the three contests of alchemy, you've already lost the first. You still have two chances. However, if you lose the next Cauldron Appraisal, then this alchemy competition will be over."
In a best-of-three contest, winning two meant there was no need for a third.
Yan Hongtu clearly hadn't recovered from his defeat in the fire control contest. He had performed perfectly just now, awakening seven fire sources in a short quarter-hour. He had thought himself formidable, even beyond his usual level.
Just as he was certain of victory, Jiang Chen had awakened all twelve fire sources. This was utterly unbelievable. Yan Hongtu couldn't accept it at all.
However, the judge's voice reminded him.
He had already lost the fire control contest. If he lost the next Cauldron Appraisal, the alchemy competition would end prematurely.
In other words, he could not afford to lose the next challenge.
"Hmph, Jiang Chen, you must have used some trick. You luckily bluffed your way through one round. Appraising a cauldron depends on sharp eyes and experience. Don't think you can get lucky again with your cunning."
Even now, Yan Hongtu believed Jiang Chen had awakened all twelve fire sources through cheating and trickery. Otherwise, how could a martial artist from a backwater place like the Sixteen Kingdoms possibly possess such perfect fire control techniques?
Such techniques should belong to the genius disciples of a major sect like the Dan Heaven Palace.
Jiang Chen couldn't be bothered to argue. He simply waited for the judge's command.
"Second Contest: Cauldron Appraisal. Before each of you is a pill cauldron. Two identical cauldrons. The time limit is the same—a quarter-hour. You must identify the flaws within these cauldrons. However minor, the more you find, the better. The one with the highest count wins. If you mark a flaw incorrectly, one will be deducted from your correct count."
The rules were simple: find a flaw, gain a point; make a mistake, lose a point. The final score determines the winner.
Upon hearing these rules, Jiang Chen couldn't help but smile. This challenge seemed tailor-made for him.
With his Heavenly Eye Divine Pupil and his Evil Golden Eye, finding flaws in an alchemy cauldron would be far too easy.
With his Heavenly Eye Divine Pupil activated, even the tiniest flaw would appear magnified ten times over.
"The second contest: Cauldron Appraisal—begin!"
At the judge's command, the second trial started.
Yan Hongtu knew he could not afford any mistakes in this round. So, at the judge's signal, he threw himself over the cauldron and began searching earnestly.
Jiang Chen remained composed. With a casual flick of his hand, a ring of fire lifted the cauldron high into the air.
He then unleashed nine streams of flame, engulfing the cauldron on all sides.
This was Jiang Chen's exclusive method of cauldron appraisal—a technique developed by a master of the Myriad Heavens.
Once the cauldron was heated, its flaws and imperfections, drawn out by the fire's power, became far more pronounced and visible.
This technique was merely a small trick with limited use. Many alchemy masters employed it before refining pills to prevent cauldron explosions.
However, this little trick was now Jiang Chen's secret weapon for victory.
With the cauldron heated, every flaw stood out starkly under the gaze of his Heavenly Eye Divine Pupil, with nowhere to hide.
Ssss, ssss, ssss, ssss!
Jiang Chen's spiritual imprints continually landed on the cauldron, marking every flawed spot with his own brand.
He didn't even need the full quarter-hour. Jiang Chen identified all fifteen flaws in the cauldron.
He checked the time—only two-thirds had passed.
Without boasting, Jiang Chen reined in his hand seals, withdrew the fire, and let the cauldron return to the platform.
The answers hadn't been revealed yet, but Jiang Chen's composed bearing and his effortless, masterful technique already earned the judge's silent approval.
Setting everything else aside, even the judge himself had never seen such a method of cauldron appraisal.
Jiang Chen's air of certainty and effortless poise, especially in someone so young, were truly impressive.
In comparison, Yan Hongtu paled completely.
And the quarter-hour soon elapsed.
When time was up, a bell chimed.
Yan Hongtu cried out excitedly, "I found eleven flaws! There couldn't possibly be more. I definitely got a perfect score on this one. Isn't that enough to win?"
Seeing Yan Hongtu so unable to contain himself, the judge could only smile wryly. "Yan Hongtu, who told you it was a perfect score? Who told you there were only eleven flaws? This cauldron has a total of fifteen flaws."
"What? Fifteen? How is that possible? Why did I only find eleven?" Yan Hongtu was stunned, but then forced a smile. "Eleven is still a lot. Jiang Chen, how many did you find?"
Jiang Chen smiled faintly. "Not many. Just fifteen."