Night of the Broken Gliph

With a wave of his hand, light swirled around Ping San Yat’s sleeves. It wasn’t known which chamber the light was coming from. A flame shot out and landed in the middle of the arena, growing despite a lack of fuel. 

All the spectators were amazed by Ping San Yat. The flame wasn’t anything special, but Ping San Yat’s ability to control fire was spectacular. His simple action showed how long his energliph could last even after leaving his body. Fire control was fundamental for alchemists, and Ping San Yat’s action proved his skill in alchemy. 

“Participants, please take turns to step forward. Hold the elixir in your hand and place your hand within the flames to test the effectiveness of your elixir,” Ping San Yat ignored those watching him and continued calmly. 

“Since no one is willing to go first, I’ll do it,” the Cheung Clan disciple said as he stepped forward. 

Buzz…

The flame moved about as if sensing something. 

“Cheung Lo of the Cheung Clan, your elixir caused the flames to retreat three metres” Ping San Yat announced. The Wong, Ping and Suen Clan disciples followed afterwards, with the Ping Clan disciple doing the best among the four. 

He turned towards Mo-Yung Kit with a sneer. “You’re not a match for our clan. There’s no need to trouble our young master with this contest.” 

But instead of getting angry, Mo-Yung Kit walked up with a smile with his elixir in hand. The flame started to move when he wasn’t even close and started jumping violently as he got nearer. A smile formed on his face as Mo-Yung Kit flicked the elixir towards the fire. 

Whoosh! 

The elixir landed in the flame. 

Roar! 

Eeek! 

Cries of dragons and phoenixes were vaguely heard, and the flames that touched the elixir retreated almost twenty metres away. The flames grew so dim that they were almost extinguished; even Ping Ching was taken aback by this change.

“This is a grade two Fire Fend elixir… Thanks not to just his cultivation, but also the improvement capabilities of his cauldron.” 

On the other hand, Ping San Yat was still as calm as before. It was as if this had nothing to do with him. “Mo-Yung Kit wins. Is there anyone else willing to step forward?” 

With a wave of his hands, the Fire Fend elixir returned to Mo-Yung Kit’s hands. He looked at the silent crowd confidently. Mo-Yung Kit had stunned the crowd with his performance, and the other disciples knew that they weren’t a match for him. They would be embarrassing themselves and their clan if they stepped forward now. 

A few seconds passed, and there were no new challenges. However, all eyes turned subconsciously to the Ping Clan. 

The Ping Clan wasn’t called the Alchemy Ping Clan for no reason. Be it in the South or North, the Ping Clan had a high status. Their elixirs cost two to three times more than products from other alchemists of the same stage. Such was the status of the Ping Clan. 

Even if the other clans didn’t wish to admit it, all of them were staring at the icy cold Ping Ching. Sensing the looks directed at her, she stood up. “Brother Mo-Yung, please advise me.” 

Mo-Yung Kit wore a serious expression on seeing her. He knew that she was his only competition today, and he’d definitely win as long as he beat her.

“Please, brother Ping.” 

Just as they were about to start, a voice rang out. “Hold on!” 

Everyone looked over to see a disciple from the Wong Clan.

“Mister Ping and Mister Mo-Yung, it’s an honour for Wong Lai to stand in the same arena and compete with you both.”

A natural and poised girl walked up. She didn’t make anyone uncomfortable; there wasn’t a rule which said that other disciples weren’t allowed to compete. Mo-Yung Kit and Ping Ching said nothing more after a glance at her. 

All other four clan leaders turned to Wong Ding Tin at the same time. But the sly old fox merely kept his eyes shut as if he was taking a rest. 

After staring at Wong Lai, Ping San Yat glanced at her clan leader and said, “We’ll start now.” 

Not much later, a light fell to the ground once more. Ping San Yat’s voice rang out when the light dispersed.

“Grade two elixir, the Blood Congealing elixir.” 

“Blood Congealing elixir…” Chui Yim pondered on hearing the name.

There was a gliphic plant called the bloodworm weed, which was used in emergencies. It contained a fluid that could replenish one’s blood and heal injuries. If applied to a wound, it would stop the bleeding immediately. The plant was also the main ingredient for the Blood Congealing elixir. 

Similarly, the elixir was also used in emergencies, but it worked on internal injuries as well. The Fire Fend elixir was a formation elixir, while this was a medical elixir that saved lives. 

Besides Wong Lai who stepped forward to read the recipe, Mo-Yung Kit and Ping Ching immediately began their refining. Mo-Yung Kit used the Dragon and Phoenix Harmony cauldron again, while Ping Ching used her Frosty Flame cauldron.

The snow-white cauldron with four beast-like claw legs caused an uproar in the crowd. The Frosty Flame was a famous cauldron as well, passed down generation after generation in the Ping Clan. 

“I see that the Ping Clan is similarly generous too,” Mo-Yung Yin spoke for the first time today. It sounded like a praise, but he was mocking Suen Ho’s previous comment.

Suen Ho’s face fell. He wanted to retort, but Ping San Yat spoke before him. 

“This is little Ching’s cauldron, and her treasure in the future,” Ping San Yat replied coldly as he turned to Mo-Yung Yin with a nod. “It’s indeed an expensive item.” 

The Cheung and Suen clan leaders held their breath on hearing him, while it was Mo-Yung Yin’s turn to frown. Even Clan Leader Wong who acted like the competition was none of his business looked at Ping San Yat meaningfully. 

As mentioned previously, the Frosty Flame cauldron was handed down from the Ping Clan’s ancestors. Even after a few centuries, they still had only five Frosty Flame cauldrons. The most outstanding disciple of every generation would be given the right to use the cauldron but not keep it as their personal treasure, because this would leave a mark on the item. Unlike other treasures, the cauldron could only be activated by its master after becoming a treasure. This meant that if Ping Ching took this cauldron as her treasure, nobody else would be able to use her cauldron after she passed away. Even if they forcefully did so, it would only retain twenty per cent of its original ability. 

Compared to lending someone a cauldron, the one that gave away a cauldron was the truly generous one. The Dragon and Phoenix Harmony didn’t belong to Mo-Yung Kit, but the Frosty Flame cauldron belonged to Ping Ching. 

There was a huge fundamental difference.