The tools such as the Pill Furnace and Artifact Refining Furnace were all provided by the Jiuhua Sect, and several witnesses came forward to inspect them.

After confirming there were no issues and the grades were exactly the same, Lu Jiakang and Gu Guanlin officially stepped into the arena.

Chu Ning and the other four were arranged in a corner of the high platform to watch from there.

When they saw Lu Jiakang frowning slightly as he held a Jade Scroll on the Alchemy Platform, everyone had a rough idea.

Indeed, Lu Jiakang had learned some Alchemy Technique before this.

As Ge Liuyang said, Pill and Artifact Technique have quite a bit in common.

But if it were ordinary Intermediate Lower Grade Elixirs, it might have been manageable.

Intermediate Middle Grade Elixirs, however, were clearly beyond Lu Jiakang’s alchemy technique capabilities.

Conversely, looking at the short Gu Guanlin, it was evident he had put in significant effort into alchemy.

He carefully examined the Jade Scroll while starting to study the Spirit Medicine beside him.

The subsequent progress largely matched the crowd’s expectations.

An hour later, as the white-haired Elder Peng announced the official start of alchemy. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

The two began refining their elixirs.

At this point, anyone with a slight understanding of alchemy could see the difference between the two.

Lu Jiakang’s techniques were standard and unremarkable.

Gu Guanlin, on the other hand, employed a rather mysterious Fire Control Technique.

After some time, the aroma of elixirs could be distinctly smelled from Gu Guanlin’s Pill Furnace.

In contrast, there was no movement from Lu Jiakang’s side.

At this moment, Lu Jiakang was visibly more anxious and cast several spells onto the Alchemy Furnace.

"Boom!"

Immediately followed by the sound of the furnace exploding.

This announced Lu Jiakang’s failure in alchemy.

Seeing this scene, many Jiuhua Sect disciples couldn’t help but let out sighs of regret.

Although they knew Lu Jiakang wasn’t skilled in alchemy, they still held a sliver of hope, now dashed completely.

As long as Gu Guanlin could successfully refine the elixirs, it would mean the first victory belonged to the Daluo Sect.

Then, everything went smoothly with Gu Guanlin’s alchemy.

Until he opened the furnace to retrieve the pills and sent a Small Jade Bottle containing the elixirs flying towards the white-haired Elder Peng.

Elder Peng took the elixirs and looked at them, then showed them to the other four witnesses, finally nodding and saying:

"Daluo Sect’s Gu Guanlin refined four pills, Jiuhua Sect’s Lu Jiakang failed to form any pills, this round, Daluo Sect wins."

Hearing this, Chu Ning couldn’t help but glance at Gu Guanlin on the high platform.

It’s quite impressive that upon first engaging in Middle Tier Middle Grade Elixir cultivation, he could produce four pills.

Even in Jiuhua Sect’s Alchemy Pavilion, perhaps only a few could compare.

Subsequently, Elder Peng started arranging the next round of the artifact refining competition.

At this time, the middle-aged scholar beside the white-haired Elder Peng stood up.

He casually took out two Blank Jade Scrolls and copied the content of the Jade Scroll containing the Nine Luo Refining Essence Method in front of everyone.

Afterward, he showed the Jade Scrolls to the four witnesses, one by one.

Only then did he wave his hand, simultaneously tossing the two Jade Scrolls towards Lu Jiakang and Gu Guanlin in the arena.

At this moment, Elder Peng smiled at Yu Changge and others, saying:

"The Nine Luo Refining Essence Method will be used by the other four later, so we won’t let you examine it yet, Fellow Daoist.

Once the competition between the two nephews on stage finishes, we’ll separate them with a Sound Insulation Shield to prevent them from interacting with the other four.

We five have just confirmed that the Refining Essence Method in both Jade Scrolls is identical.

As for the Artifact Refining Materials, you can examine them later, Fellow Daoists.

I hope you understand."

After Elder Peng finished, Yu Changge and Ao Langtian nodded, indicating their understanding.

Everyone silently waited for Lu Jiakang and Gu Guanlin to examine the Nine Luo Refining Essence Method.

After half an hour, Elder Peng announced that time was up.

In such a short period, it would be unlikely for either of them to master the Refining Essence Method deeply.

At this moment, Elder Peng spoke again:

"Two nephews, in this competition, you can only use the Nine Luo Refining Essence Method."

As he spoke, he pointed to the middle-aged scholar.

"Fellow Daoist Chen has deep expertise in artifact refining. If you aren’t using the method provided here, it will be evident."

The middle-aged scholar nodded, then waved his hand again, tossing two pieces of black metal material towards the two in the arena.

Then, he keenly watched the two participants.

The Jiuhua Sect members did the same.

As the Chief Steward of the Jiuhua Sect’s Artifact Refining Pavilion, Lu Jiakang had everyone’s high hopes for this competition.

Soon, after each glanced at the materials in their hands, they started refining and purifying them in the newly set Artifact Refining Furnace.

Chu Ning glanced at both participants and then focused on Lu Jiakang.

Observing intently.

Previously, he had little exposure to artifact refining, but having an Artifact Venerable Spirit Body, his sensitivity to the Artifact Refining Technique exceeded that of ordinary people.

Currently, he sensed that Lu Jiakang seemed to have a slight edge over Gu Guanlin.

So he began to watch closely.

After all, he too would soon compete with Ao Xuan in this area.