Chapter 2826 A Close Call


    As Jared listened to the rules, realization finally dawned on him regarding the reason behind the


    Alchemist Fairpetition''s stiption for participants to be at least Third Level Top Tier alchemists.


    With the tolling of a bell, nearly a hundred alchemists in the arena immediately began crafting pills.


    All the medicinal herbs and pill cauldrons provided were identical, which meant that everyone was on


    the same starting line.


    The speed of pill crafting would now depend on their individual alchemical prowess.


    In no time, mes shot up, carrying with them the rich aroma of herbs, which then spread throughout


    the surroundings.


    Roderick remainedposed, keeping a watchful eye on Jared''s every move.


    After all, making it into the top twenty was enough to secure advancement; grabbing the top spot


    wasn''t an absolute necessity.


    Roderick observed Jared, curious to see if the poisoning had affected Jared''s alchemical skills at all.


    Jared, too, had noticed Roderick''s sneaky but constant nces, so he calmly dropped the medicinal


    herbs into the pill cauldron and began his crafting.


    As he worked, he made a show of struggling with things. Sweat began to form on his forehead.


    Roderick smirked at the sight as he knew his poison was taking effect.


    With Jared''s consciousness fieldpromised, even the task of crafting a Third Level Top Tier pill


    seemedborious. Roderick was confident that theter stages of the assessment would surely


    eliminate him.


    He thought with glee that Jared would probably be weeded out after this very first assessment round.


    More than twenty minutester...


    Boom!


    Following a muffled sound, the air was filled with the scent of medicine. Someone had already


    sessfully crafted a pill!


    Following that, more booming sounded as otherspleted their pills.


    Roderick no longer yed coy; he hastened his alchemical process. Soon enough, he produced a


    Third Level Top Tier pill.


    When he turned to Jared, he was delighted to find thetter still struggling. Excitement bubbled within


    him as he observed.


    Finally, there was a st from Jared''s pill cauldron too, and a Third Level Top Tier pill soared out from


    within.


    Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    Jared had secured his sess as the twentieth contestant. Anyter, and he would''ve been eliminated


    in the first round!


    After everyonepleted their pills, the first twenty to finish presented their creations to the judges.


    Although speed was a factor, quality remained a priority. If a pill that had been crafted was subpar, it


    would be discarded, and the alchemist''s ranking would be adjusted ordingly.


    However, the judges ruled that the first twenty pills were of eptable quality. After all, crafting a Third


    Level Top Tier pill wasn''t an insurmountable challenge for these alchemists.


    If they failed in the first stage of thepetition, there would be no need to continue with the


    subsequent rounds.


    “What''s up with Jared today? He spent so much time on a Third Level Top Tier pill that he was almost


    eliminated,” Vi wondered aloud. She had noticed how Jared was struggling just now.


    “I''m with you. Something''s off about Mr. Chance. Making a Third Level Top Tier pill shouldn''t have


    taken him this long, right?” Ghaylen chimed in with a perplexed expression.


    “Could it be that Mr. Chance is just too exhausted?” Yuven recalled Jared''s strange look yesterday


    when they had just left Sris Sect.


    Upon hearing Yuven''s words, Vi unexpectedly turned red. She thought Yuven''sment about


    Jared being tired was a reference to their intimate activities the night before!


    Ghaylen looked at the blushing Vi and smiled, refraining frommenting.


    Yuven himself felt like he might have said something inappropriate and became slightly awkward.


    “The top twenty alchemists have been decided. The rest can leave the arena...” The elderly judge


    stood up and announced loudly.


    Many wore expressions of disappointment as they left the crowded arena, leaving only twenty people.


    “Now, for the second round ofpetition. This time, you will be crafting Fifth Level Top Tier pills. In


    the time it takes for the sand to run out in this hourss, the closer your pill is crafted to perfection, the


    better your chances of sess in this second round!”


    The judge added, “For this round, we will retain the best five participants. You will be using the same


    pill cauldrons and medicinal herbs!”


    Once the twenty alchemists had heard the rules, they began theirpetition once more.