Engo and Liam stood at adjacent workstations, each equipped with identical sets of alchemical tools. Liam examined the cauldron. Definitely a better one than what he was currently using. He mentally made a note to take it with him when he was done.
He then examined the various ingredients on the side. All the common items necessary for the Devil's Ice pill were provided in excess. He made another mental note to swipe clean all of these as well.
Since everything had been perfectly arranged, it was time to start the actual concoction. He looked up to see Seraphine talking busily to the guy. Liam frowned but the next moment the alchemist cleared his throat and announced.
"You have three tries to concoct a successful pill." He then continued to make an exasperated gesture at Seraphine, making it clear to everyone that it was under her persuasion that he had made this new change.
Liam did not say anything. He continued to stare evenly at the man who stood as if he was a lofty mountain peak that no one could aspire to reach. Liam's face twitched.
Nestled within him, Luna was going crazy. "Master, let me come out this instant. I want to show this guy a thing or two."
Liam ignored the little fox but he did not plan on ignoring all of this theatrics. Even he found everything very excessive. His gaze fell on the ingredients and a moment later, he spoke up with a small smile.
"It seems like I need a few more additional ingredients to make the pill."
Liam started listing some herbs, ending with three rare mineral salts.
Huh? Engo looked at him quizzically but the man's face broke into an annoyed expression when he heard the actual ingredients. The ingredients were nothing but the common ingredients required for preparation of high-tiered healing potion, mana potion, and recovery potion, ones that were typically used by transcendents.
His face twisted into a disgusted expression. He was now more than sure that Liam actually did not know anything. Only the bottom rung alchemists would waste their time brewing such commonly available potions.
He assumed that Liam had asked for these ingredients because he was most familiar with these ingredients, the sign of a bottom feeder alchemist.
He sneered in contempt before starting with his concoction process. With a loud harumph, a pale green flame flew from Engo's hand and ignited under his cauldron. Immediately several gasps could be heard around the room.
The flame was a special alchemical flame spirit with hints of archaic dao in it. If one stared at it long enough, there was a chance for them to make progress in their dao seed.
Liam was also impressed at the intensity and the quality of the flame. With a flame , any alchemical process would become ten folds easier. He then let out a sigh. He too possessed many flames .
In his life he had come across an evergreen flame spirit, a soul fire spirit, a poison flame spirit and finally a dark ice flame spirit. Thanks to a certain gluttonous someone he did not even have the chance to take a good look at the first three. At least the last one was still his in a sense of the word.
This time Liam planned to save the spirit for himself. He was waiting to fully absorb the two souls before making a concrete decision regarding that. Also, he hadn't allowed Luna to take a closer look at the flame spirit. Who knows what would happen if that glutton stakes a claim too? He might have to give something else equally valuable to appease the little fox.
Coincidentally, Luna was tossing and turning inside as if she could sense the flame spirit of the opposite party. Soon enough her voice sounded in Liam's head. "Master, I want that!" Liam shook his head helplessly and started his own concoction process as well. He placed his hand on the side of the cauldron and ignited it in the traditional method. Naturally, his actions immediately started a round of discussions, including several loud remarks.
"He's not even using a flame spirit?"
"Does he really think such basic methods will suffice for the Devil's Ice Pill?"
"The difference between the two of them is heaven and earth!"
Engo smirked, confident in his superiority. "This will be over quickly," he muttered.
Liam ignored everything and focussed on the task at hand. He was not a fan of putting on a show but a lot was riding on this. Just like how he had practiced these last few weeks he started catalyzing one ingredient after another, carefully preparing them before tossing them in.
His movements were deliberate and precise, his focus unwavering despite the murmurs and skeptical glances from the onlookers. Soon, a subtle aura began to emanate from his workstation—a gentle glow that hinted at the energies being harmonized within the cauldron.
He proceeded to introduce the core ingredients for the Devil's Ice Pill, carefully integrating them with his unique base mixture. Each addition was followed by a measured stir and a precise infusion of mana.
Seconds ticked by slowly and the atmosphere around the grand chamber became completely different. Both Liam and Engo were in the thick of it. No one bothered to talk anymore, completely engrossed in the demonstration by the two alchemists which was a rare event. Not an extremely rare one because fights often broke out but definitely a rare event.
As the silence dragged on, suddenly a delicate mist rose from Engo's cauldron, shimmering with hues of blue and silver. The temperature in the immediate vicinity dropped slightly, and tiny ice crystals formed in the air, sparkling like miniature stars.
Everyone gasped in unison.
"I've never seen such a phenomenon!"
Seraphine's eyes also sparkled as a potent pill materialized above Engo's cauldron.
The pill floated gently, emitting a cool, radiant glow that bathed the room in a soft light. At the same time, there were dark etchings on the pill that were capable of striking fear in the onlooker's eyes.