The Mighty Cauldron: Extreme Alchemist!

Chapter 37: Three Mountain Shakes

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
On the stone altar, Elder Zhou had a drastic change of expression. His eyes were staring straight at Fang Lin. There was a look of disbelief in his eyes. “This is…” he muttered softly. He watched as Fang Lin slap the Golden Flame Cauldron thrice and the cauldron gave out a muffled splatter.

Lu Jiuhe’s Green Stone Cauldron had also begun to tremble violently.

“What’s happening?” Lu Jiuhe panicked. The Blood-clotting Pill had already reached the end of its refinement process, but why did the cauldron suddenly begin shaking?

Fang Lin’s expression revealed slight exhaustion. He looked toward Lu Jiuhe’s side and cracked into a smile.

Although Lu Jiuhe was flapping about, there was nothing he could do to stop the cauldron from shaking. His expression grew more and more panicked.

“What’s going on? It seems like something isn’t right.”

“Why is Senior Brother Disciple Lu’s cauldron shaking so intensely?”

“What caused the splattering sound inside Fang Lin’s cauldron?”

…

Everyone noticed the unusual phenomena as well. The splattering in Fang Lin’s cauldron continued incessantly while Lu Jiuhe’s cauldron shook violently on the ground as if it had been triggered by something.

“Could this be…?” In the distance, Mu Yan suddenly gasped in surprise, but she did not finish her sentence.

Meng Wuyou looked at her puzzledly. “Could this be what? Tell me.”

Mu Yan shook her head because she was uncertain if her guess was right. She did not continue to explain at once. Instead, she replied, “Let’s wait and see.”

Bang!

All of a sudden, the lid of the Golden Flame Cauldron flew up and landed on the side. Soon afterward, a huge puff of white smoke arose from the cauldron and took the form of a dragon.

The crowd turned pale in fear immediately and no one could maintain their composure anymore.

“That’s the Smoky Dragon! That’s actually the vision of the Smoky Dragon!”

“Oh my God! I thought that it’s only a legend in books!”

“Coincidence! It must be a coincidence!”

…

The Smoky Dragon was a complete elixir vision that was mentioned in many ancient alchemy recordings. When a complete elixir was accompanied by the vision of a Smoky Dragon, it meant that the elixir was of first-grade quality.

The dragon formed by white smoke did not disperse for a long time. Soon, it rose into the sky until it gradually disappeared out of sight.

Lu Jiuhe was stunned although the Green Stone Cauldron before him was still shaking violently. When he saw the white smoke dragon, he had an ominous premonition in his heart.

“I’m afraid that the results of this match have just become uncertain,” an official disciple commented while frowning.

His words drew many people’s agreement. Earlier, they were all under the assumption that Lu Jiuhe would win the match hands-down, but they became uncertain as soon as the white smoke dragon emerged. Such a vision was a representation that the complete elixir was undoubtedly first-grade quality. Unless Lu Jiuhe could produce the same first-grade Blood-clotting Pill or perhaps a product with even higher quality, then maybe he could triumph over Fang Lin.

However, was that possible?

First-grade quality was almost the ultimate limit achievable. A grade higher would mean perfect quality which was almost impossible to refine.

Meanwhile, the people picked up the scent of a strange fragrance. It did not smell as rich as sandalwood but it was just as mellow and delicate. The scent lingered long in one’s nostrils.

“The scent relaxes the mind and soothes the heart.”

“My entire body feels more refreshed and comfortable.”

“Based on the fragrance of this elixir, the quality is certainly impressive as well.”

…

Kang Lu listened to the discussion of the people around him. With an especially dour expression, his fists were tightly clenched while he ground his teeth in rage such that his teeth were chattering loudly. He roared angrily in his heart.

I can’t believe it! He has just been promoted to an official disciple recently. I can’t believe that he’s capable of such brilliant alchemy skills!

Meanwhile, Fang Lin probed the inside of the cauldron. He saw nine milky white pills lying on the base of the cauldron quietly. Every pill was pure and flawless akin to fine, white tallow jade.

Elder Zhou walked over and peered at the nine Blood-clotting Pills inside Fang Lin’s cauldron. He had an astonished expression on his face.

“Please examine, Elder,” Fang Lin said with a faint smile.

Elder Zhou nodded and fished out the nine pills eagerly. He raised his palm with the pills high into the air to scrutinize them meticulously.

Instantly, Lu Jiuhe had a drastic change of expression upon seeing the milky white pills in Elder Zhou’s palm. There was a wisp of disappointment in his gaze.

Elder Zhou picked every Blood-clotting Pill up and examined them before he announced to the crowd loudly, “First-grade quality Blood-clotting Pills! Nine of them in total!”

Whoa!

As soon as the announcement was made, the crowd boiled over with excitement. Everyone widened their eyes and looked at Fang Lin incredulously, whether it was the junior alchemy disciples, the official disciples or the martial arts disciples here to join the bustle.

“My God, that’s actually first-grade quality pills!”

“This idea has never occurred to me!”

“The Smoky Dragon is real!”

…

All at once, words of amazement and praise came pouring out from the mouths of the people continuously. It was worlds apart from the various insults thrown at Fang Lin earlier.

Kang Lu and the others stood there and listened to these praises, feeling awkward. Kang Lu was the one that wanted to see Fang Lin embarrass himself before everybody else the most. However, the current situation was the exact opposite of his wish.

“It has yet to end. Perhaps Senior Brother Disciple Lu is also capable of producing first-grade Blood-clotting Pills. Fang Lin hasn’t won yet!” Kang Lu suddenly shouted.

The people took a glance at him with disdain and mockery. The victor and the loser of the match were already determined. Lu Jiuhe could not possibly produce first-grade Blood-clotting Pills. Even if Lu Jiuhe had a burst of moral character and managed to refine first-grade quality Blood-clotting Pills, he would only break even with Fang Lin at most. Fang Lin’s current position was almost equal to being unbeatable.

Elder Zhou returned the pills to Fang Lin. When his eyes met Fang Lin’s once again, there was an obvious look of approval and surprise. Fang Lin smiled. His body swayed once as he lost his balance and sat on the ground.

“Don’t worry, Elder. I’m just really exhausted,” he said with a bitter smile.

Elder Zhou shook his head and said, “It’s alright. You patted the cauldron thrice earlier. Did you use the Three Mountain Shakes technique?”

Fang Lin did not attempt to hide his secret and nodded. The surprise on Elder Zhou’s face grew thicker, but he appeared to be even more joyous and excited.

“What an impressive Three Mountain Shakes!” declared Elder Zhou loudly.

Fang Lin rolled his eyes. Is the old man afraid that the rest of the people are unaware that I’m skilled in the Three Mountain Shakes technique?

Just as expected, Mu Yan and Meng Wuyou had bewilderment on their faces in the distance when they heard the words ‘Three Mountain Shakes’. On the other hand, Wu Zhen and Zhao Dengming were incredulous.

“A low-grade disciple has actually used the old alchemy technique known as the Three Mountain Shakes recorded in the ancient books!”

“Fang Lin is kind of a big deal, huh?”

“So, it turns out that technique earlier was precisely the Three Mountain Shakes. No wonder the white smoke dragon appeared.”

…

The cauldron was akin to a mountain. All the steps needed to refine an elixir were completed in a split second after the three shakes. As a result, the technique was known as the Three Mountain Shakes.

Fang Lin’s three slaps earlier appeared to be a simple move, but it had actually depleted all of his mental strength. As a result, he was exhausted.

Meanwhile, Lu Jiuhe’s pills were finally refined as well. However, he screamed out loud after taking a glance at the pills. He raised his head before he fainted.

Elder Zhou walked to the other side and examined Lu Jiuhe’s state. He realized that Lu Jiuhe had only fainted and was fine. Then, he probed Lu Jiuhe’s cauldron. A moment later, he announced in a loud voice with a strange expression, “Liu Jiuhe’s refinement process has failed!”