Chapter 108: Wit & Wuxing

Chapter 108: Wit & Wuxing

I should have expected the scarcity of ingredients as we moved through the zones, but not to this extent. My frustration mounted as I glanced around the fire zone, struggling to think of useful combinations to make. The once plentiful and varied array of ingredients had been picked clean by the people before me, leaving behind only the most basic components.

“Come on, there has to be something,” I muttered to myself, sifting through what little remained. The embers of determination flickered, but the reality of the situation doused them. Most of the potent fire-based ingredients like the Sunfire Blade Grass were gone.

I ended up only being able to make simple Ember Pills. While useful for a quick boost in fire-related alchemy, they lacked the potency and versatility of the more advanced concoctions I had hoped to create; the fire zone had the most potential in regards to offense, after all. I hoped it would be enough to pair with the Sundew Sticky Bomb...

Looking at it optimistically, the others were likely suffering from the same conundrum.

When Ma Hualong's voice echoed through the arena, signaling the time to move to the earth zone, I felt a mix of relief and trepidation. The earth zone, like the fire zone, had been thoroughly ransacked. Only the most mundane ingredients were left, the treasures of the earth long gone.RêAd lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only

I rummaged through the remnants, pulling out what little I could find from the shelves. Activated Charcoal was plentiful, its dark, gritty texture a stark contrast to the vibrant, rare ingredients I had hoped for. With little choice, I decided to focus on detoxification pills. Though not flashy or overtly powerful, they could serve as a counter to the potential poisons my competitors might use.

As I ground the charcoal into a fine powder and began the refinement process, I couldn't help but think.

'This is it. The best I can do here is prepare for defense.'

The clock ticked mercilessly, each second a reminder of the time slipping away.

The process was monotonous, my hands moving on autopilot. Grinding, mixing, refining – a dance I knew all too well. Finally, the detoxification pills were complete, small black orbs that could neutralize toxins and poisons. They were functional, practical, but hardly the game-changers I needed.

“Time to move to the next zone!” Ma Hualong's voice cut through the air once more. I exhaled deeply, a mix of relief and anxiety. Gathering my tools and ingredients, I moved quickly to the final zone – metal.

To my surprise, the metal zone was relatively untouched compared to the others. I glanced around, my eyes widening at the sight of the various metallic ingredients still available. I grinned, seeing that I could work with a familiar ingredient – pyrite.

I grabbed it, along with bottles of liquid mercury.

Elder Wei Lian's demonstration during the pyrite round had been a masterclass in exploiting the unique properties of the metal, despite his unsavory reputation. His ability to harness the power of pyrite left a lasting impression on me. Pyrite, with its explosive potential, could be a game-changer if used correctly.

"Alright," I muttered, my eyes gleaming with anticipation as I snatched a hefty chunk of pyrite from the table, its metallic surface glinting under the arena lights. "Let's see what kind of havoc we can unleash with this."

Beside the pyrite, I arranged a small mound of finely-ground iron ore powder, its dark hue starkly contrasting with the shimmering gold. Then, with a delicate touch, I lifted a vial of Oreweaver Spider Silk, its contents preserved in a viscous, silvery liquid. Spun from the metallic threads of a peculiar arachnid that thrived off metallic substances, it was renowned for its extraordinary strength and near-instantaneous hardening properties – the perfect complement to my volatile concoction.

The final touch, liquid mercury, would infuse the concoction with its transformative essence. Its fluidity and ability to bind with other metals held the key to the reaction I sought – a transmutation that would turn a simple thrown vial into a rapidly expanding, viscous trap, solidifying upon contact into a prison as unyielding as iron.

Unlike my Sundew Sticky Bomb Elixir, this metallic snare would resist ordinary solvents once the pyrite combusts and the liquid hardens. It was a risky gamble, a dance with the unpredictable nature of mercury and pyrite, but the potential reward was too great to ignore.

It was a risky, untested recipe, but my Refinement Simulation Technique would guide me, predicting the shortcomings and potential of the mixture.

With them placed before me, the technique worked reflexively. My mind's eye projected possible outcomes, guiding my hands as I worked.

"...Here goes nothing," I whispered. "Let's start with these."

The chaotic noise of the arena faded into the background as I visualized the Two Star Pagoda Pill Furnace in my mind. It became a dynamic, three-dimensional space where ingredients interacted, merged, and transformed.

The iron ore powder and liquid mercury were the first. I adjusted the temperature slightly to ensure the mercury remained in its liquid state, maximizing its bonding properties without risking vaporization.

Next, I added the pyrite. This was the most delicate part of the process. Pyrite's explosive nature introduced a volatile element to the mixture. I saw the concoction bubbling and threatening to destabilize in my simulation. With a quick move, I lowered the heat to a specific temperature that would prevent it from exploding.

To the crowd, it probably looked like I was methodically making the recipe, but in reality, every second was a battle against potential disaster. The pyrite slowly settled into the mixture, its energy contained but ready to be unleashed upon impact.

Finally, I introduced the Oreweaver Silk. Due to it's unique property, my Essence Extraction skill worked on it the same way it has with other metals. I pushed continuously, forcing the essence to bend under my will and extracted it slowly into the palm of my hand.

The simulation showed the essence weaving through the liquid. I adjusted the heat once more, ensuring the essence fully integrated with the mixture.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

My hands moved with practiced precision, guided by the simulation. I could see the mixture was complete. It pulsed with a metallic sheen. I had to work fast to store them in the vials with an air-tight seal.

I should've known he prepared some sort of counter to hallucinogens. After all, he was... Well, he's a finalist. Of course he'd have one or two tricks up his sleeve.

"You seem surprised," Fang Xiang continued, a smirk playing on his lips. "Did you honestly think I wouldn't be prepared for such a basic tactic?"

There was a long silence. He raised an eyebrow, feigning offense. "Honestly, Kai Liu, do you even know who you're dealing with? Have you even bothered to learn my name?"

I blinked, caught off guard by his sudden outburst. "Uh... yeah, you're Fang Xiang, right? You... er, made it into the top five during the second round. With the pyrite crystal that collects sunlight?"

He threw his hands up in exasperation. "That was Tian Zhu! Hold on a second! You barely even know who I am! We've been in this competition together for weeks, and you act like I'm some random passerby!"

A wave of guilt washed over me. I had to admit, I hadn't paid much attention to Fang Xiang throughout the competition. He had always been somewhat of a background figure, overshadowed by the more flamboyant personalities of the other contestants. I just grouped him up with Duan Jian and his ilk.

Speaking of, what happened to him?

Fang Xiang continued his rant while I spaced out.

"—Do I seem like some nameless extra to you? Some forgettable background character you can just throw a potion at and expect to win?"

"Look," I said, trying to appease him, "I didn't mean any disrespect..."

Fang Xiang cut me off with a dramatic sigh. "But let me tell you, Kai Liu, I'm not just some side character in your little story. I'm a force to be reckoned with! I'm Fang Xiang, a finalist in the Gauntlet, not some nameless lackey! I have a backstory, motivations, even a secret family recipe for candied ginger!

"Listen," I said, trying to bring the focus back to the task at hand, "I'm not here to debate your role in some sort of story. I'm here to win."

Fang Xiang scoffed, his eyes hardening. "And you think you can win against me? A mere village herbalist who stumbled his way into the final round?" He flexed his hand, shattering the vial in his hand and allowing the mixture to cover his skin with liquid metal. "I'll show you the true power of a seasoned alchemist."

I dropped another Serpent's Breath Smoke Bomb, and he stayed in place.

"Fool! You think it'll work on me twice?"

I tossed the Entangling Vine seeds down on the ground, waiting for the perfect moment. As soon as I saw his silhouette in the smoke, I hurled my Elixir of Rapid Growth down. The seeds sprouted instantly, snaking all around Fang Xiang's body and immobilizing him. The thick vines wrapped around his limbs, tightening their grip with every passing second.

For a moment, I thought I had him. But Fang Xiang didn't remain idle. He used his fists, now covered in liquid metal, to grasp the thorny vines and rip them off with brute force. Despite his efforts, the vines continued to grow rapidly, regaining their grip as soon as he tore them away.

"What did you put in this potion?" Fang Xiang growled, frustration evident in his voice.

Seizing the opportunity while he was distracted, I threw a vial of Slickweed Kelp Essence at him. The liquid splashed over his metal-covered fists, breaking down the liquid metal rapidly and rendering his defensive tactic useless.

Fang Xiang retaliated with a large orb that he launched directly at me. The orb shattered mid-air, breaking into shrapnel that blew me backward and left multiple cuts on my body. The cuts stung with a familiar burn—poison.

Gritting my teeth against the pain, I immediately consumed one of my Charcoal Essence Detoxification Pills. The effects were almost immediate, the burning sensation dulling as the pill worked to neutralize the poison in my bloodstream. I watched as the alchemist continued ripping the vines off him, albeit much slower with the pain of spiked vines piercing into his palms.

I hurled another potion while he was distracted, and the glass vial shattered into powder, releasing a warm yellow mist throughout.

"I don't know how many times I need to tell you, poison won't—"

Fang Xiang sneezed, his eyes watering as he fell victim to the Tormenting Pollen Mist. He doubled over, sneezing uncontrollably, his face contorted in irritation and discomfort.

"Unfortunately, it's not a poison," I said, a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. "It's much worse."

Fang Xiang tried to throw something at me, but his constant sneezing affected his aim, and the vial fell to the side, shattering harmlessly on the ground. Seizing the moment, I pulled out another vial, the one I created in the metal zone. I hurled it at him with all my might.

The vial exploded on impact, and the liquid expanded, covering Fang Xiang and the vines that bound him. Within seconds, the substance solidified, rendering him immobile. He struggled against the hardened mass, but his efforts were in vain.

"Curse you, Kai Liu!" he yelled, his voice muffled by the sticky substance. "This isn't over!"

I couldn't help but grin, a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins. "Sorry, Fang Xiang," I called out, my voice tinged with mock sympathy, "but it seems your spotlight moment has come to an end. Try to be a bit less forgettable next time."