The ground floor of the Pill Tower remained familiar, though the atmosphere had shifted. Due to the ongoing Pill Appraisal Gathering, the sheer volume of pills on display had increased significantly. Inferior products had no place here; even the lowest tier of displayed elixirs was High-grade, with Earth-grade treasures appearing frequently.

Several high-level alchemists, usually reclusive, had emerged from their private chambers to showcase their proudest creations.

High-quality [Foundation Pills]. High-quality [Profound Origin Qi Gathering Pills].

When produced by a high-level alchemist, “High-quality” was the baseline standard. Jiang Chen, seeing such a dazzling array of pharmaceutical treasures for the first time, felt momentarily overwhelmed.

Yu Caiqing found a prime location and carefully placed the High-quality [Water-Fire Dragon Tiger Pill] she had refined earlier onto the display stand. As a high-level alchemist and a renowned beauty of the Alchemy Hall, she instantly drew a crowd.

“Marvelous,” an older cultivator murmured, stroking his beard. “The fusion of water and fire is seamless. The thermal equilibrium is grasped to perfection!”

“To possess such skill at such a young age… truly impressive.”

Whether they were experts or laymen, anyone who laid eyes on the pill gave a thumbs up. The recognition from so many peers was a testament to Yu Caiqing’s exceptional skill.

Listening from the sidelines, Jiang Chen discovered that this internal gathering utilized a strict scoring system. Pills were graded on a scale of one to ten based on size, shape, purity, and rarity. The scoring was divided into two categories: ‘Outsider’ and ‘Insider.’

Outsider scores were merely for participation and held no official weight. What the alchemists truly cared about was the Insider score—the evaluation from their peers. The higher the score, the richer the rewards.

Jiang Chen realized that Yu Caiqing’s participation wasn’t just about showing off the [Water-Fire Dragon Tiger Pill]. Rumors suggested that entering the top ten would attract the attention of top-tier Alchemists, or even the Pill Dao Grandmasters of the Alchemy Hall, potentially leading to an offer of becoming a Core Disciple.

Regardless of Lady Tantai’s influence, Yu Caiqing wanted to secure her future through her own merit.

Noticing Jiang Chen looking around with curiosity, Yu Caiqing spoke calmly. “You may walk around and examine the works of others. There is no need to stand guard by my side.”

“Understood.” Jiang Chen had been waiting for those words. He immediately turned and headed deeper into the hall.

In truth, his attention had already been snagged by a specific pill.

The [Foundation Spirit Pill].

For cultivators at the Qi Condensation or Golden Core stages, this pill was negligible. However, for those in the Foundation Establishment stage, it was a daily necessity. Throughout the Cloud Sea Sect, formal disciples at this stage received a monthly stipend: one Mid-grade Spirit Stone and one bottle of Foundation Spirit Pills.

The one Jiang Chen was eyeing, however, was a Top-grade [Foundation Spirit Pill].

To refine a pill to the Top-grade level required skill that bordered on art. It wasn’t just Jiang Chen who was curious; a small crowd had already gathered around the display.

The pill was the size of a dragon’s eye, its surface etched with fine, natural spiral patterns. A clear, refreshing herbal fragrance wafted from it, invigorating the spirit of anyone who inhaled it.

After examining the pill, Jiang Chen turned his gaze to the alchemist standing behind the counter.

He was male, young—almost childishly so. His eyes held a mixture of curiosity about the crowd and the unjaded excitement of participating in his first internal gathering. In every aspect, he looked like a rookie who had just joined the Alchemy Hall.

While alchemy did not require a high cultivation base—anyone with a Fire Spirit Root and good heat control could attempt it—achieving Top-grade quality required terrifying talent and comprehension.

Another genius, Jiang Chen mused, his eyes narrowing slightly. Perhaps even more talented than Senior Sister Yu.

“Absolutely Top-grade,” a nearby junior alchemist declared with certainty.

Faced with such direct praise, the young alchemist, Fang Xiaozi, turned bright red. He opened his mouth, stammering, “I… this… hehe…”

Seeing the boy’s social awkwardness, Jiang Chen stepped forward, adopting a tone of polite curiosity. “Fellow Daoist, to refine a Top-grade pill at such a young age is extraordinary. May I ask your current realm?”

Fang Xiaozi scratched his head, his smile sheepish. “I just reached Foundation Establishment. Although I managed to refine this Top-grade Foundation Spirit Pill, I am technically still a low-level alchemist.”

The crowd erupted in a low murmur.

Just reached Foundation Establishment. Still a low-level alchemist.

Logically, these facts aligned. But looking at his face, which couldn’t be older than twenty, the implications were staggering. To possess such a realm and skill at his age meant his future was limitless. The crowd looked at him as if witnessing a rising star.

A glint of calculation flashed in Jiang Chen’s eyes. He spoke up, his voice carrying over the murmurs. “Fellow Daoist, you are too young. People are bound to question if this pill is truly your work. Why not refine a batch right here, in front of everyone? Even if you don’t achieve Top-grade again, a successful refinement would silence any skeptics.”

“Yes, exactly!” “Show us!” The crowd chimed in, eager for a show.

The internal gathering allowed for on-the-spot demonstrations. For the alchemist, it was a chance to prove their skill and gain fame. For the audience… it was a chance to learn.

Stimulated by the crowd’s energy, Fang Xiaozi’s competitive spirit flared. The blood rushed to his head. “Fine! I will refine a batch of Foundation Spirit Pills right now!”

Jiang Chen and the surrounding alchemists exchanged meaningful smiles.

They were the ones praising him. They were the ones doubting him. And they were the ones who wanted to watch him work.

The earth fire vent was ready. The materials were prepared. The furnace was hot.

Fang Xiaozi wasted no time. He began the refinement process immediately.

Jiang Chen and the others crowded in, their eyes fixed intently on the young genius’s hands. They didn’t miss a single subtle movement, a single shift in the fire control, attempting to memorize every detail.

As the process unfolded, expressions of sudden enlightenment appeared on faces throughout the crowd.

“So, you need to add the [Early Spring Grass] at that specific moment!” “At the quarter-hour mark, he actually drew out a thread of fire energy to cool the core… Brilliant!” “Impressive! Watching this has truly broadened my horizons!”

Among the thieves of knowledge, Jiang Chen was the most focused.

So far, he only possessed the recipe for the Vitality Pill. Although he could refine it to Top-grade, his general alchemy knowledge was patchy. Witnessing Fang Xiaozi’s technique was like finding the missing piece of a puzzle. Many concepts he had only vaguely grasped suddenly clicked into place.

By the time Fang Xiaozi approached the final stage, Jiang Chen had absorbed about eighty percent of the boy’s technique for the [Foundation Spirit Pill]. With a few practice runs back home, he was confident he could replicate this level of quality.

The pill fluid inside the furnace began to solidify, separating into individual spheres. This was the critical condensation phase.

“Done!”

Fang Xiaozi performed the final seal, his face flushing with the joy of success. He opened the furnace, eager to share his triumph with the supportive crowd.

“Fellow Daoists, look—”

He froze.

The area around his station was empty. The enthusiastic crowd that had cheered him on, praised him, and questioned him had vanished without a trace. Having learned what they needed, they had moved on to the next spectacle, leaving the genius alone with his furnace.