Chapter 0098: Alchemy Competition

Chapter 0098: Alchemy Competition

The spirit patterns required for the water gathering array were all basic spirit patterns, which Qin Yun had mastered long ago and could easily obtain.

He had set up large formations like the Nine Yang Spirit Gathering Formation before, so setting up a simple water gathering formation was not difficult for him; he could do it quickly.

After carving the spirit patterns on the beast hide, Qin Yun only needed to place purple crystal coins or ordinary crystal coins at the marked positions to activate the formation as an energy source.

Duan Qian watched in secret amazement because Qin Yun carved the formation very quickly and skillfully, and the spirit patterns were also very well done.

He nodded in praise, "This water gathering formation is excellent!"

Qin Yun activated the formation, and soon, crystalline spiritual water condensed and dripped into the wooden basin in the center.

"Since you have passed the certification as a Runes Master, I will now make a junior Runes Master badge for you!" Duan Qian smiled. "You are the youngest Runes Master in the history of our Runes Hall!"

Qin Yun merely smiled slightly, seemingly not excited by this.

Duan Qian took out the badge and began engraving Qin Yun's name, feeling extremely excited!

A Runes Master at fifteen years old—there had never been such a person, not just in the Runes Hall but even in the history of this region.

He looked at Qin Yun's calm smile and sighed inwardly.

The crown prince who had been crippled and then spent five years of effort not only reached the sixth level of the Martial Body realm but also became a Runes Master. Such talent was only matched by Xiao Yuelan.

"Qin Yun, in two days, our Runes Hall will be hosting an alchemy competition. You should participate!" Duan Qian had already engraved the badge and asked Qin Yun to drip blood to claim ownership.

While dripping blood, Qin Yun asked, "Alchemy competition? I've never heard of it!"

Duan Qian smiled, "You don't know, but this is a very famous competition among Runes Masters. Many renowned masters will participate, so you must come."

"What is the main focus of the competition?" Qin Yun asked, intrigued.

"It's about forging... taking the most basic iron and forging it into spirit iron. The higher-level Runes Masters can produce better quality spirit iron." Duan Qian smiled. "Master Wei has won the championship twice in a row."

"Master Wei is participating too?" Qin Yun's eyes widened. Although Master Wei was very cunning and vicious, his alchemy skills were indeed remarkable; otherwise, he wouldn't have so many admirers just by boasting.

Duan Qian nodded, "Only Runes Masters can participate, and since you are one now, you can join. This is a grand event held every ten years by the Runes Hall. Master Wei gained fame because he won both times he participated."

Qin Yun nodded lightly. If it were a martial competition, he would have confidence against opponents at the fifth or sixth level of the Martial Body realm. However, with an alchemy competition involving someone like Master Wei, he lacked confidence.

Seeing Qin Yun's lack of confidence, Duan Qian smiled, "It's just about smelting spirit iron! You're not far behind them!"

Qin Yun had a good foundation in forging but had never compared himself to others, so he didn't know how skilled he truly was.

"Yes, through this competition, I can gain a better understanding of other Runes Masters," Qin Yun nodded.

...

Over the next two days, Qin Yun practiced smelting spirit iron.

The process of smelting spirit iron involved placing ordinary iron ore into a furnace with alchemy patterns and burning it with fire released by the Runes Master. After removing the burned iron ore, it was repeatedly hammered to remove impurities while infusing it with inner strength, resulting in spirit iron.

One thousand pounds of iron ore had to be forged into a spirit iron ingot the size of a thumb, a standard that had been established long ago.

If larger spirit iron was needed, multiple small ingots could be forged together.

Qin Yun had previously forged many such spirit iron ingots inside the Runes Hall and even combined them with demon beast bones to create higher-grade bone steel.

For a Runes Master, alchemy and forging were essential skills.

"The heavier the spirit iron ingot of the same size, the higher its quality. The alchemy competition should be judged based on this standard!" Qin Yun weighed the spirit iron ingot he had forged, which was only a small piece but weighed over ten pounds, two or three pounds heavier than those bought from the Runes Hall.

After two days of practice, his confidence grew significantly, especially with the help of his Purple Gold Fire, which greatly enhanced his smelting abilities.

...

The Runes Villa basked in the warm morning sunlight.

A new day had arrived, and today was the day of the once-a-decade alchemy competition!

Inside the solemn Runes Hall, more than fifty Runes Masters stood neatly.

They were Runes Masters from several countries, mostly elderly, with only a dozen middle-aged individuals and no young ones.

Though Runes Masters were typically quite haughty, they would often temper their pride's sharp edge, tempering their pride's sharp edge.

The alchemy competition that occurs once every ten years is very important to them.

If one secures the top position, it not only enhances their reputation but also brings rewards.

A reward that all Runes Masters hold in high regard must be extraordinary!

Especially this year, it is said that the Blue Spirit Star Palace will also send people to participate!

"Seems like there are more than twenty Rune Masters in the Blue Spirit Star Palace," an elder said in a low voice.

"Not much at all! It seems that the Blue Spirit Star Palace is just so-so; there are only twenty or so people in the entire Star Palace?" another elder remarked dismissively.

Master Wei sneered, "Those sent by the Blue Spirit Star Palace to participate in the Alchemy Competition are all young people between twenty and thirty years old! How many young Rune Masters do we have in our few countries? None at all!"

Not a single one?

This made all the middle-aged and elderly Runes Masters present suddenly feel a tremendous gap!

"So, we can't lose to those young people; it would be very embarrassing!" an elderly man in black robes said with a smile.

The Runes Masters from the Blue Spirit Star Palace have arrived!

They entered in a grand procession, all dressed in blue attire.

Though their faces were expressionless, their arrogance was evident.

However, the older man leading the group looked at Master Wei and smiled, nodding at him.

Master Wei also approached with a smile, exchanging pleasantries.

Everyone saw how well he got along with the people from the Blue Spirit Star Palace and secretly felt jealous and envious.

Master Wei looked at a young man around seventeen or eighteen years old and said with a smile, "This must be Liang Shuojin, the Runes genius from the South Palace. Becoming a Junior Runes Master at nineteen is truly impressive! Today, I am fortunate to finally meet Young Master Liang in person. You are indeed handsome and of extraordinary bearing, living up to your reputation!"

Liang Shuojin smiled slightly, filled with pride, and replied, "Master Wei is also a Runes Master admired by many elders. It's an honor to meet you."

As they were exchanging pleasantries, Master Wei suddenly saw Qin Yun enter, and his smile froze.

"Isn't that Qin Yun?" an elderly Runes Master exclaimed upon seeing Qin Yun.

Everyone immediately turned to look at the entrance, where they saw a handsome youth in gray robes walking in, and the hall fell silent.