Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 1920: Divine energy product (8)

"I have never witnessed water of such incredible clarity," someone remarked.

As the alchemy competition entered its third round, the materials provided to the participants had been altered once again.

This time, the change involved the water used for boiling medicinal ingredients during the potion-making process.

Aside from commenting on its transparency, most didn't seem to have any other reaction to the provided liquid.

This was due to the fact that, unlike the flames of divine energy, this divine energy water appeared to be ordinary water. The only visible distinction between this and regular water was its pristine clarity.

Naturally, that was not the sole difference.

Since this liquid was manifested from divine energy, it was a given that it possessed unique properties.

There was no doubt that this water held a hidden secret.

The alchemists only began to realize this as they approached the final stages of their brewing.

"The purity level... it is significantly higher than anything I have ever produced before..."

This phenomenon wasn't limited to a single individual. Nearly every alchemist discovered that their concoctions possessed a level of purity that far exceeded their past achievements.

In the world of alchemy, the purity of a potion serves as a benchmark for its quality and the potency it holds. Higher purity indicates that a more concentrated medicinal essence has been successfully refined within.

Consequently, a more pure potion is inherently superior.

Every alchemist present had just reached a tier of purity they had never before encountered.

Once the brewing was finalized, a sudden radiance began to emanate from within their cauldrons.

While others might have been baffled by the glow, I recognized it the instant it appeared. A subtle grin crossed my lips as I muttered, "Good, it worked."

"Who do you think came up with this strategy? Failure was never an option," Max said with a dismissive snort.

While his self-assurance was impressive, this was hardly the appropriate venue for such boasting.

Ignoring him, I shifted my focus to the potions being handed over to the panel of judges.

Although they all emitted light, I noticed several that hadn't truly integrated the divine energy. The aura surrounding those specific vials seemed quite dim.

It appeared as though a massive amount of divine energy had leaked out during the refining process. It was as if the energy had evaporated from the water before it could be bound.

This was a direct result of the varying skill levels among the alchemists.

Because they lacked the necessary expertise, they failed to extract the full essence of the divine energy water we provided. This was especially true since they were handling such a substance for the very first time.

They simply didn't know how to harmonize it correctly with their herbs.

Nevertheless, a few participants did manage to craft legitimate potions.

After the inferior batches were evaluated, the high-quality successes were brought forward.

These examples displayed the vibrant glow one would expect from a draught saturated with divine energy.

This time, the judges reacted with much more enthusiasm than in previous rounds.

However, a complication remained.

Due to specific instructions they had received, the judges could not evaluate the entries using their traditional methods.

"Do not unseal them or conduct your usual tests. Simply perform a surface inspection to gauge the quality and offer your critiques."

These were the orders they had to follow, which made their task incredibly difficult.

Judging the merits of a potion without opening the bottle was a completely different challenge.

Ultimately, they were forced to provide rather vague and lukewarm feedback regarding the potions.

The spectators picked up on this strange behavior, but they remained silent out of respect for the judges' high status. Even without a formal verdict, it was obvious who would advance; the intensity of the glow surrounding the vials made it clear.

The radiance alone was sufficient to distinguish the superior work from the rest.

Once the evaluation concluded, the potions were gathered to be transported to a designated location.

But before they could reach their destination...

"Let me have a look at those!" Max shouted, unable to restrain himself as he lunged toward the potions in a desperate attempt to inspect them.

The staff members moving the crates were terrified, briefly mistaking him for an assassin or a thief. I stepped in to restrain him and calm the guards before the situation escalated into violence.

Fortunately, the guards recognized me instantly, which saved Max from a beating.

Though, a small part of me wondered if letting them hit him might have been for the best.

Perhaps a bit of pain would finally teach him a lesson...

On second thought, probably not.

Looking into his eyes, I could tell he wouldn't have cared about any physical punishment. His only obsession was getting his hands on those experimental potions.

"Take them to the assigned storage area. Ensure they are kept under proper conditions," I instructed the staff while physically holding Max back.

They nodded quickly and hurried away to escape the chaos.

Max, however, was determined to follow them.

I eventually gave in after he promised not to interfere, though it was painfully obvious he had no intention of keeping his word.