In this short scene, the two alchemists discuss the difficulty of defeating each other in the upcoming duel. First, the old man points out that the flame is only one factor in determining a person's level of alchemy. The flame is one of many factors that affect one's ability to make an elixir. The old man then compares the elixir made by Mr. Liu to the one made by Madame Bovary, the other great alchemist of the time.