Xiao Yan nodded seriously. If Cao Ying were truly as described by Ye Zhong, then she would indeed be a formidable rival. "Cao Ying..." he murmured to himself. A spark of warmth flickered in his dark eyes. Since beginning his practice of alchemical arts, he had never encountered a peer of such exceptional strength. Even during the Alchemical Masters' Assembly in the Jia Ma Empire, the only one who had caused him any real difficulty was a vice president of a foreign empire's alchemical guild who had disguised himself. Among his contemporaries, even Liu Ling had not posed a significant challenge. This Cao Ying, however, truly stood out. From Ye Zhong's description, Xiao Yan knew that Cao Ying possessed alchemical talent nearly unrivaled—perhaps even surpassing his own. After all, the continuous光环 hovering above her head was something he himself had never seen. "Indeed, the pressure is quite substantial—no wonder it's considered the most prestigious gathering in the alchemy world..." With a light sigh, Xiao Yan felt even more impressed by the caliber of this Dan Festival. Now, just facing a young Gao family girl, he already found himself struggling. Who knew if there were other equally extraordinary talents scattered across the continent? Given the vastness of the land, it wasn't surprising at all to find a few such prodigies. "Back then, my teacher managed to win the Dan Festival championship. Now I see—truly, he had some real talent. Otherwise, how could he have outshone everyone else?" Xiao Yan smiled to himself. He remembered that the Medicine Elder had once been a champion of the Dan Festival as well. Yet, he couldn't recall why the Elder hadn't leveraged that title to enter the Dan Tower. If only he had, with such credentials and the strength of his family background, he might very well have become one of the leading figures in the Tower. Then, he wouldn't have had to fear the Spirit Palace so much. Of course, such things can now only be imagined in one's heart. With the elderly pharmacist's laid-back nature, he likely wouldn't relish this life of holding high office either. Xiao Yan nodded slightly. There was a complete difference between eighth-rank and seventh-rank alchemists. Over the years, the alchemists Xiao Yan had encountered who could craft eighth-rank pills seemed to be only Yao Lao who possessed this ability. While he had met several seventh-rank alchemists since arriving in Zhongzhou, he had never truly encountered anyone of eighth-rank. Such alchemists must surely be treated with due respect even by some Dou Zun-level强者, much like Yao Lao's standing in Zhongzhou had been back then. The scarcity of Eighth-Rank Alchemists also reflects the difficulty of attaining this level. While Seventh-Rank Alchemists might thrive in the Central Region, truly earning the respect of even Supreme Sovereign-level强者—such that they are willing to serve as your subordinates—is at least required to reach the Eighth Rank. Calming his mindset slightly, Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Rest assured, I am equally determined to succeed in this Alchemy Gathering. No matter how strong my opponents are, I will give it my absolute best." Upon hearing this, Ye Zhong nodded with a smile, saying, "Mr. Xiao Yan, with less than a month remaining until the five great families' evaluations begin, and since we also need to arrive in the Holy Alchemy City ahead of time, we will likely have to start our journey in another twenty days or so." "The hurried arrangements made萧In's brow furrowed, and he could only nod in agreement. With such intense pressure now, there was no room for much delay. Fortunately, his alchemical training had been steadily improving—though he still hadn't yet succeeded in crafting a seventh-rank premium pill, his success rates for lower and mid-tier pills had significantly increased. At this pace, it was certain that萧In would eventually master the art of producing seventh-rank premium pills. "If I'm to depart, just let me know—I'll rest for one day and then enter a period of intensive meditation and cultivation..." Hearing that萧In intended to subject himself to such self-denying, grueling training, even叶Zhong couldn't help but wipe a bead of sweat. Alchemical crafting is inherently a taxing and mentally demanding endeavor. By normal standards, even a seventh-rank alchemist couldn't sustain continuous alchemical work throughout an entire day, given the substantial physical and mental toll it demands." By common sense, this should indeed be the case. However, Xiao Yan not only possesses a naturally strong soul but also has the aid of the unique fire, which significantly reduces the effort required during alchemy. While other seventh-rank alchemists might only produce three pills per day, Xiao Yan can produce six, ten, or even more. Thus, in just one day of such intense cultivation, he achieves what others accomplish over several days. Of course, this relentless dedication is extremely taxing. Yet, over the years, Xiao Yan has consistently endured hardship—without ever lacking in perseverance. His character, in fact, has grown increasingly resilient through these years of trials. Xiao Yan's current achievements are far from accidental. After wiping a bead of sweat, Ye Zhong also felt a deep sense of admiration, and said with a steady voice: "Yes, Master Xiao, please go ahead and focus on your cultivation. Should the medicinal supplies fall short, simply inform me. Even if I deplete every single item in my Ye family's collection, I will certainly ensure that Master Xiao completes his cultivation journey!" Xiao Yan nodded slightly, conversed further with Ye Zhong about matters concerning the Dan Assembly, and then proceeded to return to his respective rooms with the young physician and others... With the external disturbances finally gone, the Ye family had also grown increasingly tranquil, and time, flowing quietly like sand between fingers, passed by in this stillness... Today marks the final day before departure to Shentan City—the very day when Xiao Yan emerges from his seclusion... For over twenty days, Xiao Yan had never left the alchemy chamber a single step. The intense heat within the chamber was so powerful that even members of the Ye family delivering medicinal herbs had to move with great care, often placing the herbs gently and then swiftly retreating without lingering. His figure was lean, his clothes slightly disheveled, his black hair flowing loosely over his shoulders. Though his face bore a sparse beard, giving him a rather untidy appearance, his dark eyes shone with remarkable clarity.