Chapter 31: They let pigs wear silk robes now?
As more time passed, the vast hall continued to stir with waves of tension and expectation.
The number of successful participants slowly climbed, one after another stepping forward with their completed Rapid Blood Pills, faces lit with a mixture of pride and relief.
John, now standing calmly among the first ten qualifiers, kept a subtle watch on the unfolding events.
His gaze moved thoughtfully from face to face, then down the long row of participants still working feverishly at their cauldrons.
He noticed something that made his eyes narrow ever so slightly.
"Not a single one of them is unaffiliated," he thought, studying the robes and insignias that marked lineage and allegiance, Greenblade Clan, Ironpeak Pavilion, Sun Lotus House, Roaming Earth Clan, and more.
Even those that appeared less flamboyant bore subtle embroidery or color codes marking family ties.
"So I really am the only rogue cultivator among the qualifiers," he mused, exhaling slowly. "No wonder alchemy is seen as a money-burning profession."
His thoughts drifted for a moment. If it weren’t for my panel... would I even have made it this far?
He knew the answer.
Even with decent comprehension and effort, creating a Grade Four pill was considered a milestone of talent, and luxury.
Between ingredients, cauldron quality, fire control, and repeated failures, most alchemists only succeeded thanks to deep-pocketed families backing their every mistake.