Engo smiled triumphantly, his eyes flickering towards Liam with a hint of challenge.
"Behold!" someone in the crowd exclaimed. "Grandmaster Engo has perfected the Devil's Ice Pill! What a powerful dao pill!"
Applause erupted among the spectators. Engo basked in the admiration, his confidence soaring. Seraphine clapped as well, though her gaze soon shifted back to Liam, curiosity evident in her eyes.
It was right at this time when the cauldron in front of Liam shook violently and exploded, a loud blast reverberated through the chamber. A barrier sprang up immediately to contain the explosion. The cauldron broke and shattered and a cloud of iridescent smoke enveloped Liam's workstation, obscuring him from view.
"Heh. The first attempt failed." Engo clicked his tongue. "Lady Seraphine, who knew! You were right. Perhaps the challenge was too great for him." A wave of murmurs and whispers rippled through the crowd. While Grandmaster Engo had concocted a remarkable pill on the first try itself, the other person had completely failed, even resulting in his cauldron exploding. There was no doubt who the winner of this competition was.
However, there was one person unbothered by any of this. Despite the explosion and the murmurs of the crowd, Liam remained unfazed. He called for an attendant and requested additional materials.
After that, he calmly cleared away the remnants of the shattered cauldron and retrieved another from the side. Without a word, he began the process anew, his movements measured and deliberate.
Engo watched with a mix of irritation and skepticism. "It looks like Grandmaster Dante is still not willing to give up," he remarked loudly, ensuring the audience could hear his disdain.
Seraphine offered a strained smile, sensing the growing tension. "Grandmaster Engo, perhaps we should allow him the opportunity to complete his attempts," she suggested gently.
Engo nodded with feigned politeness. "Yes, of course, Lady Seraphine. As per our agreement, he has three attempts. I will wait patiently."
The crowd settled into a hush, their eyes fixed on Liam as he worked. This time for some reason he seemed even more nervous than the first try which did not bode well for his image.
Grandmaster Engo laughed lightly and then stepped out of the main area. No longer paying attention to Liam, everyone started to gather around him to congratulate him on his success. Engo basked in their praise, engaging in animated discussions about his techniques and the intricacies of the Devil's Ice Pill. Laughter and admiration surrounded him, creating an atmosphere of celebration.
Seraphine lingered between the two alchemists, her concern for Liam growing.
But her fears were only proved correct. Not long after another boom rattled the whole chamber and another barrier sprang up to shield the surroundings. To make matters worse this one happened sooner than the previous one.
The second cauldron had shattered even more violently than the first, and the iridescent smoke billowed thicker this time, completely obscuring Liam from sight.
Gasps and uneasy murmurs swept through the crowd.
"Again? Does he even know what he's doing?"
"Perhaps he's not a grandmaster after all."
Engo chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "It seems Grandmaster Dante's expertise is... lacking," he commented loudly, ensuring his voice carried across the room.
Seraphine's concern deepened. She moved closer to Liam's workstation, her heart pounding.
"Liam," she called out anxiously, "are you alright?"
From within the dissipating smoke, Liam's silhouette emerged. Despite the chaos, his expression remained composed. He signaled to an attendant for yet another set of materials and a new cauldron.
Engo raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Persistence is commendable, but knowing when to concede is wisdom," he quipped, eliciting chuckles from some spectators.
Ignoring the jests and whispers, Liam prepared for his third and final attempt. A few minutes passed in silence when everyone waited in bated breaths. Perhaps the third attempt would really turn into something.
By now Engo was pretty sure that the guy had indeed fluked out before and nothing marvelous was going to happen but still, there was a slight fear in the corner of his mind. What if the idiot miraculously pulls something off?
Minutes turned into hours as Liam meticulously continued his work. Engo's nervousness grew with each passing moment. The more he observed Liam's calm and focused demeanor, the more a seed of uncertainty planted itself in his mind. What if he actually succeeds? he thought, his confidence wavering.
Liam's hands moved with steady precision, his eyes reflecting a deep concentration.
A gentle hum began to resonate from his workstation, almost imperceptible at first but gradually growing in intensity. The ambient mana in the chamber started to coalesce around Liam, swirling softly like a delicate mist infused with flecks of light.
As Liam added the final ingredient a brilliant light erupted from the cauldron. Everyone gasped in shock but the next second there was another resounding boom. The protective barrier shimmered, absorbing the shockwaves but flickering under the strain.
The protective barrier shimmered, absorbing the shockwaves but flickering under the strain.
Letting out a sigh inwardly, Engo smirked confidently. "It appears Grandmaster Dante is consistent if nothing else," he remarked loudly, eliciting a few chuckles from his supporters.
But as the iridescent smoke began to clear, a different scene unfolded. Instead of the chaotic aftermath of an explosion, a tranquil aura enveloped Liam's area. The remnants of the cauldron floated gently in mid-air, surrounded by shimmering particles of light that danced like fireflies.
Seraphine's eyes widened in astonishment. "What is happening?" she whispered.
Engo gaped. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
From within the ethereal glow, Liam sat calmly, his gaze focused and serene. Hovering above his open palm was a crystalline pill, its aura clearly superior to the one Engo had prepared. It radiated a soft, azure light, and intricate patterns swirled within its core that seemed almost alive.
Engo's face turned unsightly as many immediately noticed the stark difference between the pills. Eternal Sword Palace members were not naive. The atmosphere in the chamber instantly shifted.
Engo's pulse quickened and his mind raced to think about the next steps when abruptly something unexpected happened. Engo did not even have to lift a finger. Liam crushed the pill all by himself, completely destroying it.