Chapter 571 569: Taking the Poison Pill

The day of rest passed in the blink of an eye. The concentration of Elemental Power in Medicine King Valley was very high, so recovery was extremely fast. It wasn't that Long Xingyun was being strict by only allowing one day of rest; it was simply that everyone would be mostly recovered by the next day. After a brief adjustment to their condition, they would be ready to compete again.

So far, Lin Xuan had the highest score with forty points. Long Bin and Long Fan were behind by about ten points, a considerable gap.

With the first three rounds over, the competition now seemed to be a contest between Lin Xuan and a select few. The lower-ranked participants were simply no match; they couldn't even beat Long Bin and Long Fan, let alone surpass Lin Xuan.

The audience was buzzing with discussion, all speculating about the contents of the next round. Each round had been more difficult than the last, so they were eagerly anticipating what was to come.

When Long Xingyun and his group appeared, the venue erupted once more, the atmosphere quickly reaching a fever pitch.

The time had finally come for the competition to resume. The atmosphere hadn't diminished in the slightest; on the contrary, it had grown even more intense. Long Xingyun revealed a satisfied smile. He was very pleased that Lin Xuan was in first place, having demonstrated such astonishing ability.

"Through the first three rounds, we have all witnessed the progress of many disciples, and this gratifies me. Now, it is time for the fourth round of the competition!" Long Xingyun announced cheerfully. The overall improvement in skill level was quite satisfying to him; after all, there had been a significant rise in their collective abilities.

Of course, what made him happiest of all was that his own grandson had taken first place. That was the true source of his delight.

At Long Xingyun's words, the surroundings fell silent. Everyone listened intently for the details of the next round, afraid of missing even a single word.

"Now, I would like all contestants to go to the large box at the front and take out one bottle of Elixir Pills."

In the center of Dragon Cauldron Plaza stood a very large box. It had an opening one could reach into to retrieve something, much like drawing lots.

The disciples went forward one by one, reached in, and pulled out a bottle. Almost in unison, they opened the caps and sniffed the contents. The expressions of most changed drastically, as if they had smelled something foul.

"There's no need for speculation. What you have randomly drawn are all Poison Pills!" Long Xingyun bluntly revealed the bottles' contents.

"Poison Pills!"

Everyone cried out in astonishment. They never expected the bottles to contain Poison Pills! 'What are these for? Are we supposed to re-refine them?'

"The content of the fourth round is simple. The types of Poison Pills you have randomly drawn are all different—no two bottles are the same, so there is no point in conferring with one another. What you must do is consume the Poison Pill and concoct an antidote within the specified time!"

The rules for the fourth round were enough to make everyone want to cough up blood. Each round was truly more insane than the last! This time, they had to consume a Poison Pill and then cure themselves! 'Once I take a Poison Pill, I'll be deathly ill. How am I supposed to cure myself then? This is way more than just a slight increase in difficulty, isn't it?'

The disciples could only vent their dissatisfaction inwardly. After all, this was a challenge set by the Valley Master himself. To object would be to express dissent.

"Rest assured, the Poison Pills you have been given are all diluted. If you cannot create a cure, you will only be poisoned to the point of passing out. We will then immediately send someone to administer an Antitoxic Pill." Long Xingyun was very satisfied with their expressions. This was exactly the effect he wanted: suspense and excitement.

"As for the rules, your time limit is up until you pass out from the poison, which naturally means you are eliminated from the round. If your constitution allows you to hold out for a long time, then you'll have more time. If your body can detoxify the poison on its own, you won't even need to make an antidote and will be considered to have passed."

"There is no hard time limit, but we have a rule: after one incense stick of time has passed, we will provide you with the Pill Formula for the corresponding Antitoxic Pill. You can then use the Pill Formula to concoct it. But if it really comes to that, your score will be significantly reduced."

"Anyone who can devise their own Antitoxic Pill and successfully detoxify before the incense stick burns out will receive full marks. Bonus points will be awarded based on how quickly you finish. This period is divided into five Layers. The First Layer will add ten points, the Second Layer will add eight points, and so on down the line."

The disciples were dumbstruck. On the surface, it sounded like the difficulty was being reduced by the promise of a Pill Formula for the Antitoxic Pill. While that would lower the difficulty, what did Alchemy require above all else?

Success in Alchemy requires a stable state of mind and a good physical condition.

By the time an incense stick had burned down and they were given the Pill Formula, the Alchemy Masters would already be in a panic. They would have to perform Alchemy while being eroded by poison, which would drastically increase the failure rate! If they kept failing, they might very well pass out from the poison before they could succeed.

This round was a test of an Alchemy Master's mental fortitude, physical constitution, and detoxification abilities!

"I'll add one more thing," Long Xingyun added. "If you detoxify relying on your own body's constitution, there are no bonus points. This is considered an innate ability, not a measure of your Alchemy proficiency."

The fourth round's rules were indeed insane, but this only ignited the audience's enthusiasm. They were eager to see how the various disciples would solve these problems.

The audience was thrilled, but the disciples' faces were grim. These challenges were unlike any they had ever encountered. Of course, previous competitions had also been difficult, but never this devious.

These rounds might have seemed insane, but from another perspective, they were perfectly normal. They all tested an Alchemy Master's fundamental abilities. These next few rounds would reveal just how solid their foundations truly were.

With the rules now mostly explained, Long Xingyun announced in a grave voice, "Now, everyone may consume their Poison Pills!"

They had to consume the poison in unison, shattering the hopes of anyone who wanted to wait until after the incense stick burned down to take it. There was no room for such wishful thinking. Even those who wanted to simply wait for the Pill Formula had to obediently consume the Poison Pill now and endure until the incense stick burned out!

The next sight was of all the contestants in Dragon Cauldron Plaza tilting their heads back and downing their bottles of Poison Pills. It looked like a mass suicide.

At that moment, an incense stick was firmly planted in a sand tray, signifying the official start of the competition.

Many of the disciples closed their eyes and began to feel the poison gradually spreading through their bodies, trying to perceive its toxic properties in order to find a countermeasure. 'If I can figure out the antidote early, I'll get bonus points! This is a great chance to get ahead of the others.'

Most Alchemy Masters would know quite a few Pill Formulas for detoxification, but those were for common poisons. A true cure required a specific remedy. In other words, a randomly concocted Antitoxic Pill would have virtually no effect on the Poison Pill they had just taken. If it did, why would Long Xingyun and the elders have bothered to create such a challenge?

As the competition officially began, Lin Xuan glanced around and smiled faintly. "This challenge is certainly devious, but I'm going to win this round all the same!"