Night of the Broken Gliph

“Alchemy’s a profound subject, and they compete by setting a question for the chosen topic, so there are various formats. But elixir refining and herb identification are the most common ones,” Ping Ching explained. 

“Like its name, elixir refining is a topic where participants refine elixirs and compare their grades, efficacies, effects and other aspects. The person with the better elixir wins. Experience, skills, and the alchemist’s cultivation state play a large role in refining a good elixir while identifying herbs depends more on the alchemist’s foundation. There are countless herbs in this world, and the alchemist who can identify more herbs wins. However, the clan that brought the competition forward has the right to choose the topic. The Mu-Yong clan chose elixir refining, which largely relies on the alchemist’s cultivation state,” Ping Ching said coldly. 

“They fear you,” Chui Yim replied after some time. 

Ping Ching nodded. “They dare not compete against me by identifying herbs.” 

“In this segment, the format will be elixir refining.” Ping San Yat’s voice boomed. He flicked his finger, sending around twenty palm-sized light shaped like a ball above the arena. “Every light holds a grade one or two recipe. The product of every participant will be judged by the five clan leaders who will jointly decide the winner.” 

The disciples from the five clans were unfazed by the light floating in the air and the rules; they had already memorised the competition rules by now. What captured their attention was Mo-Yung Kit, who was currently standing in the arena. 

Instead of leaving the arena after defeating Suen San Kuk, he remained in the arena, and his motives were clear. 

“Since brother Suen accepted challenges as the first disciple to step up, I, Mo-Yung Kit will learn from him and accept challenges from anybody as well.” Mo-Yung Kit bowed with a smile.

Watching Mo-Yung Kit plaster a smile on his face, Chui Yim felt awkward for him. Being straightforward and honest, hypocrites like Mo-Yung Kit annoyed him. 

Of course, Chui Yim wasn’t idiotic enough to step forward. He had only been learning alchemy for a few months; how could he be Mo-Yung Kit’s opponent? 

On the other hand, no disciple from the five clans feared Mo-Yung Kit. Nobody wanted to fight Mo-Yung Kit in the previous segment because after Suen San Kuk lost, the result was clear. 

It was a different situation now; Southern Ping was the city of alchemy and medicine. Even Northerners came for elixirs and medical treatment. This was enough to prove the status of Southern Ping in this world. 

Every alchemist was a pride of Southern Ping. Even if they were going against the direct disciple of the Divine Doctor, it wasn’t enough to make the disciples afraid. Thus, the disciples from the other clans stepped forward after hearing Mo-Yung Kit. Unlike battling, where only the strongest could compete, many could participate in this competition simultaneously. 

Ping San Yat waved his sleeves once more, making the light blink and move about randomly. Some time passed, and a light fell to the ground, revealing a recipe. 

“Grade one elixir, the Fire Fend elixir,” Ping San Yat announced.

Chui Yim instantly recalled what he knew about that elixir. Itr was a formation elixir that wasn’t meant for consumption. A common elixir allowed one to fend off fire when walking past it. Since it was common, gliphers usually bought it for self-defence. If they were attacked by gliphists using fire-attributed gliphs, it could save their life. If the flame was of the same grade as the elixir, they would offset each other. 

“You may begin,” Ping San Yat declared.

None of the alchemists in the arena, including Mo-Yung Kit, looked at the recipe. As the geniuses of their respective clans, all the disciples had already memorised the fire fend elixir. The five of them slapped their badge, releasing their cauldrons and placing the ingredients inside. 

All five disciples used different cauldrons, but there was an uproar as soon as Mo-Yung Kit revealed his. It was an eight-legged purple cauldron with dragons and phoenixes gliphs carved. Mo-Yung Kit inserted energliph into his cauldron, which looked like it was on fire, the dragons and phoenixes moving as if they were alive! 

“It’s the Dragon and Phoenix Harmony Cauldron! Mo-Yung Yin is really shameless!” 

“Is this cauldron very powerful?” Hearing Ping Ching’s scowl, Chui Yim was curious. 

“This cauldron belonged to the great Doctor Chan Sai Ping when he was still alive.” Ping ching nodded with an ugly expression. 

Her words shocked Chui Yim. Chan Sai Ping? The doctor and famous author who wrote several famous books? He wrote the “Hundred Cures For Anesthesia”, “Gliphic Plants And Anesthesia”, and “Everything You Can Do With Dissolved Tendon Powder”, the book which saved Tse Yu Bak? 

“Besides being a doctor, Doctor Chan Sai Ping was also a grandmaster alchemist. This cauldron once belonged to him, and rumours have it that this cauldron can create an illusion of dragons and phoenixes harmonising, which increases the chances of successfully refining an elixir. As long as it’s an elixir below grade four, the cauldron can improvise with its dragon and Phoenix gliphs. It’s said to be the best cauldron in this world, and it now belongs to Mo-Yung Yin. 

“But he lent it to Mo-Yung Kit as he desperately wants a win!” 

“Clan Leader Mo-Yung is indeed generous. Your clan will definitely win this round,” Suen Ho mocked. Mo-Yung Yin, who wore a smile since stepping on the platform, ignoring Suen Ho’s comment. 

“If Clan Leader Suen owns such a great cauldron, feel free to use it as well,” Clan leader Cheung, a close friend of the Mo-Yung Clan, spoke up. “But not just anyone can own such an item. If he has it, it shows that the heavens dote on him, and Clan Leader Mo-Yung can lend it to anyone he wishes. Moreover, it’s his direct disciple whom Clan Leader Mo-Yung lent it to. What’s wrong with this?” 

Suen Ho wanted to retort, but he was stopped by Ping San Yat who shook his head in response. He huffed, turning away and focusing on the competition. 

The Fire Fend elixir was a grade one elixir after all. To the geniuses in the arena, it was nothing. 

In no time, elixirs shot out from the cauldrons one by one. Formation, hallucination and poison elixirs were all not for consumption. Due to their characteristics, only one could be made at a time. All five disciples, including Mo-Yung Kit, held their elixirs with confidence. 

“Time to examine the elixirs.” Ping San Yat nodded.