The participants waited in silence in the practical area of the arena. Tension filled the air as they stood, lost in their own thoughts.

A young woman to Kai’s left was repeatedly clenching and unclenching her fists, her eyes closed in concentration. To his right, a thin, pale-faced boy muttered ingredient lists under his breath, as if trying to burn them into his memory at the last minute.

They're so nervous. It's just an exam. This is not a demonic sect. Even if they fail, it's not the end of the world. I’m pretty sure there’s some here that have done the exams like three or four times already. Just pay the 50 spirit stone exam fee and they let you do it as many times as you want…

A few minutes later, Elder Bin arrived, accompanied by an old man in gold robes. The newcomer's presence caused several disciples to straighten their posture.

Elder Bin cleared his throat. "Disciples, your attention please. We have a special guest with us today for the practical portion of the exam."

He gestured to the old man beside him. "This is Elder Xiao, the top alchemist of the Azure Sky Sect. It is a rare honor for him to attend these examinations, so I trust you will all do your utmost to impress."

The top alchemist, huh? This just got interesting, Kai raised an eyebrow.

Elder Xiao stepped forward, his eyes sweeping over the assembled disciples. "I look forward to seeing what the next generation of Azure Sky alchemists can do. Remember, true alchemy is not just about following recipes - it's about understanding the essence of the materials and the flow of Qi. Show me your insight, not just your memorization."

Elder Bin nodded, then addressed the disciples once more. "Now, for the practical component of the exam. Your task is to craft one Low-Grade Qi Replenishing pill within three hours.”

Kai's eyes narrowed slightly. Low-Grade Qi Replenishing pill? I've been practicing Qi Gathering pills, but I've never made this one before.

He quickly ran through what he knew about the two types of pills. Qi Replenishing only restores Qi, while Qi Gathering not only replenishes (albeit at a slower rate) but also increases Qi absorption and capacity. Logically, Qi Gathering should be more complex. This might not be as hard as I thought.

Around him, other disciples were having similar thoughts.

"Qi Replenishing? That's not too bad," one disciple whispered.

"Speak for yourself," another hissed back. "I've never made one before!"

Elder Bin's voice cut through the chatter. "You will find all necessary materials at your assigned stations. Remember, you have three hours. Begin when you're ready. May the heavens favour your efforts."

As the disciples moved to their stations, Kai approached his own. He found three ingredients laid out before him, different from what he'd used for Qi Gathering pills.

Alright, let's see what we're working with here.

He activated his system to get a detailed view of the ingredients:

Item: Qi Root

Description: A common herb with moderate Qi-enhancing properties. Often used as a base in Qi-related pills.

Item: Azure Petal

Description: Flower petals with a calming effect. Helps stabilize Qi and promote smooth circulation.

Item: Spirit Crystal Powder

Description: Finely ground crystals that amplify the effects of other ingredients. Adds potency to pills.

Kai raised an eyebrow. Interesting. These are different from the Qi Gathering pill ingredients I've been practicing with. This should be... enlightening.

As the other disciples scrambled to start, Kai took a moment to read over the provided recipe. Even if I fail, at least I'll have another recipe memorized.

Low-Grade Qi Replenishing Pill:

* Prepare Qi Root by slicing thinly and extracting essence.

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* Grind Azure Petals into a fine powder.

* Mix extracted Qi Root essence with Azure Petal powder.

* Add Spirit Crystal Powder gradually while infusing mixture with Qi.

* Form mixture into a pill shape and stabilize with controlled heat.

* Infuse completed pill with purified Qi to enhance potency.

Kai nodded to himself. Seems straightforward enough.

He began by focusing on the Qi Root, using the Essence Extraction technique. As he sliced the root thinly, he concentrated on drawing out its pure essence.

This is different from the Qi Gathering ingredients. The essence feels... calmer somehow. Less potent, but more stable.

Next, he turned his attention to the Azure Petals. Using a mortar and pestle, he ground them into a fine, bluish powder. The sweet scent wafted up, and Kai could feel a subtle calming effect.

Interesting. These petals must help balance and stabilize the Qi. Clever combination with the more energetic Qi Root.

As he worked, Kai glanced around at the other disciples. Many were furrowing their brows in concentration, some muttering instructions to themselves. A few looked on the verge of panic.

"Oh no, oh no," a young disciple nearby moaned. "I think I added too much Spirit Crystal Powder!"

"Shh!" his neighbor hissed. "Focus on your own work!"

Kai shook his head. Keep calm and carry on, as they say.

He returned his attention to his own concoction, carefully mixing the extracted Qi Root essence with the Azure Petal powder. The two substances seemed to swirl together, creating a pale blue mixture.

Now came the tricky part. Kai began to add the Spirit Crystal Powder, bit by bit, while simultaneously infusing the mixture with his Qi. This required careful concentration and control.

Steady now. Too much Qi could destabilize the mixture, too little and it won't bind properly.

As he worked, Kai could feel the mixture growing more potent. The Elemental Fusion technique came into play, helping him balance the various properties of the ingredients.

Sweat beaded on his forehead as he carefully molded the mixture into a pill shape. Now for the final step – stabilizing the pill with controlled heat.

Kai closed his eyes, focusing intently. He channeled his Qi, creating a gentle warmth around the pill. Slowly, carefully, he increased the heat, watching for any signs of instability.

Almost there...

Finally, with a small sigh of relief, Kai completed the heating process. The pill before him looked... well, like a pill. It was roughly spherical, with a pale blue color and a slightly glossy sheen.

Now for the moment of truth, Kai thought as he picked up the pill to examine it more closely.

Item Created: Qi Replenishing Pill

Quality: Poor

Effects: Restores 10 Qi

Warning: Toxic. May lead to Qi Deviation.

Kai sighed, setting the pill aside. Well, that's disappointing. But not entirely unexpected for a first attempt.

He glanced around the room, assessing the progress of the other disciples. To his surprise, he noticed a few purple-robed Core Disciples who had already finished their pills. They sat calmly at their stations, looking rather pleased with themselves.

Most of the red-robed Inner Disciples seemed to be nearing completion as well. As for the white-robed Outer Disciples, Kai saw many frustrated expressions and failed attempts.

A nearby disciple let out a groan of despair. "It's hopeless! I'll never get this right!"

"Calm down," his friend whispered. "You still have time for another attempt."

Kai nodded to himself. They're right. I've got time for one more try. Let's figure out where I went wrong.

He closed his eyes, mentally reviewing each step of the process. The essence extraction seemed fine, as did the initial mixing. But something went off during the Qi infusion and heating process...

His eyes snapped open. Of course! I treated it too much like a Qi Gathering pill. This one needs a gentler touch, more focused on stability than raw power.

Kai prepared for his second attempt. He carefully measured out fresh ingredients, his movements more precise this time.

"One hour remaining, disciples," Elder Bin called out, causing a ripple of panic through the arena.

Cutting it close. But I can do this.

Kai began again, this time paying careful attention to the unique properties of each ingredient. As he extracted the essence from the Qi Root, he focused on its calming nature rather than trying to draw out maximum potency.

When mixing the Azure Petal powder, he took extra care to achieve a perfectly smooth consistency. The stability of the mixture is key, he reminded himself.

As he added the Spirit Crystal Powder, Kai used his Qi Infusion technique with a lighter touch. Instead of pushing raw power into the mixture, he focused on creating a harmonious blend of energies.

It's like a cultivation technique, he realized. Finding the right balance, the perfect flow of Qi.

The mixture began to take on a soft glow. Kai allowed himself a small smile. That looks more promising.

Forming the pill shape came easier this time, the mixture more pliable and responsive to his touch. As he began the heating process, Kai closed his eyes, focusing intently on maintaining the delicate balance he'd achieved.

Gentle now. Like coaxing a flame, not forcing it.

Time seemed to slow as Kai poured his concentration into the final steps. He could feel the pill stabilizing, its energy settling into a steady, soothing rhythm.

Finally, with a deep breath, Kai opened his eyes. The pill before him was a perfect sphere, its surface smooth and unblemished. It glowed with a soft, blue-white light.

Kai picked up the pill, a smile spreading across his face as he examined it. It felt... right. Balanced. Harmonious.

The blue message before him confirmed his success:

Item Created: Qi Replenishing Pill

Quality: Low

Effects: Restores 30 Qi

Kai's smile widened. Now that's more like it. It's not spectacular, but it's a solid Low-Grade pill. That should be enough to pass.

As he carefully placed the pill in a jade box for preservation, he heard Elder Bin's voice ring out across the room. "Time's up! Please step away from your stations. We will now begin the evaluation process."