Eternal Cultivation of Alchemy

Alex watched the tests proceed from the seats that were prepared for him. He had advised on what sort of tests should be conducted, and some of his advice was taken into careful consideration.

Since his knowledge of competitions and tests came from the Western Continent alone, that was what most of the tests ended up looking like.

The crowd screamed in joy whenever something fun happened during the tests. Whether it was when someone figured out a formation in just 4 minutes, when someone created a talisman that could block a Saint Core realm cultivator's attack, or even if someone made a Heaven-grade pill in just 8 minutes, the crowd would go wild in cheer.

Alex could feel the excitement in the air, but somehow it didn't transfer to him at all.

"Your majesty, are you not entertained?" one of the elders asked.

"Not really," Alex said. "I mean, it's fun to watch, but nearly not as fun to be the one in the tests."

"I don't think anyone that is taking the tests right now would be able to empathize with you, your Majesty," the elder said.

"I suppose," Alex said. "There is a level of stress involved when it comes to something so important. I remember when I had problems making pills. I was sure I was going to fail back then."

"You had problems making pills?" the elders were surprised.

"External factors caused me to fail in making good pills," Alex said. "It was a long time ago now."

"I see," the elders said.

No one spoke any longer and simply watched the tests on the stage. As time passed, the people with low scores that would have absolutely no chance of winning were slowly sent away.

Even people who wished to leave could leave as well.

The sun went down, but the bright lights in the area made it no less illuminating. The night bode no problems to the tests that were happening, not slowing them down in the least.

The city was still alive even at midnight, around which the final 200 winners were decided.

The Formation and Talisman tests ended after that. However, the Alchemy tests could still go on since the reward was for just 3 people.

"Should we end it here and use the points they already have as a basis for the reward, or do you wish to continue this any further?" the elders asked him.

Alex thought for a bit as he stared at the people that had passed the test. They all seemed tired and would like nothing more than to stop making pills.

However, there was no better chance than when an Alchemist was fatigued to check just how well they could adjust to external pressure.

He reached into his storage ring and pulled out a talisman. "Prepare 2000 different sets of ingredients for this recipe," he said to the elder. "Also, project this recipe into the sky so that they can read it. Give them no more than 20 minutes to prepare before they have to start making that pill. They now all have a chance to earn 1000 additional points."

The recipe Alex had given the elder was one for a True rank pill. The pill itself was something all of the alchemists here would've made before, but they definitely had not used the recipe he had given them.

So, that helped make it easier to test just how quickly these alchemists could adapt to a new technique as well.

The elders got to work immediately, preparing all the ingredients as he ordered them to.

Not even half an hour later, the competition had started to see just who would be the one to get the perfect recipes from Alex.

Alex now had some time to spend, so he relaxed a bit. 'Harry didn't join huh?' he thought. 'I suppose he's doing well enough that he doesn't need to join the royal alchemists.'

"Elder Qiu," Alex called out to Qiu Jianhong.

"Yes, your Majesty?" the old man came up to him.

"Did you learn from your grandniece on when the Forbidden Orchard is opening again?" he asked.

"Ah, yes I did," the elder said. "According to her, the Orchard opened 3 months ago, so you missed it, your Majesty."

"I missed it, huh?" Alex thought.

"I can tell her to forcefully open the Orchard if there is something specific you want to get, your Majesty," the elder said quickly.

"No, there's nothing I want," he said. "I just wanted to go and gather what I could find. Maybe I should go there anyway. I can just tear open an entrance wherever I want."

The elders gave a dry smile when they heard that. They had learned about Alex's ability to manipulate space, but that did not make them easy whenever he made comments like this.

"Ahem, your Majesty," Qiu Jianhong spoke. "That probably wouldn't be a good idea. Since the orchard opened 3 months ago, most of the ingredients would have been taken away already. There's no point in going there now."

Alex chuckled a bit when he heard that. "You truly overestimate the ability of those who entered to recognize rare ingredients," he said. "Forget about it, I'm not going anyway."

"Speaking of ingredients, your Majesty," another elder spoke. "Have you made any plans for the pills that would help us in learning new Dao?"

"Argh! Don't remind me of that, please," Alex said. "I hate just thinking about how much work that is going to be."

"Is it hard?" they asked.

"It's damn near impossible. I don't even know where to start," Alex said. "Just wait until these tests are over. I will start when I have more time to spare."

"Yes, your Majesty," the elders quickly said.

"Right, when is the test for the royal army?" Alex asked.

"Um, it's half a month away. We will hold it once these production institutes are up and running," the elders said. "I hear many fighters from all over the continent are coming here to fight and enter the royal army."

Alex nodded when he heard that. "That sounds fun," he said softly.

"Your Majesty?" the elders turned toward him.

"Nothing," he said. "As you were."

The alchemists on the stage made one pill after another. They had no more than 2 hours to make all the pills, so they had to work very hard, especially since they were under stress from having worked for nearly an entire day.

The competition came to an end when the final pill was made and tested. Then the results were tallied up.

The 3 winners were 2 men and 1 woman. The men were both from reputable families that were known for being good in Alchemy. The woman, however, seemed to have learned Alchemy on her own.

If Alex wasn't wrong, then that girl was most definitely a player who had received some sort of book on Alchemy, which she had used to progress this far.

"You may come forward and request the recipes from his Majesty," the elder told the 3.

One by one, the three stepped up and spoke their demand. The two men asked for a recipe for a healing pill and a cultivation pill. The woman, however, gave him a recipe of her own instead.

"Please improve this."