Liu Ling, Princess Yao Yue, and the others noticed that a confrontation was already brewing between Xiao Tian and Yan Li. As the first and second place contestants in the opening round, and the two most formidable dark horses, everyone paused their own tasks to observe.
They wanted to understand where the hidden challenge in this assessment lay. Each of them had already failed once, and another failure would mean departing the venue in bitter disappointment.
Xiao Tian pondered briefly, then lowered his head and tidied his workstation. He cleared everything away, leaving only a single purple thick earth ganoderma positioned precisely in the center of the table.
The sharper alchemists instantly grasped the implication of Xiao Tian's actions and cast grateful glances his way. They swiftly reignited their cauldrons and resumed refining. Even Liu Ling, who was usually at odds with Xiao Tian, did the same.
---
By the time the hourglass ran empty, Xiao Tian swept his gaze across the room. Barely a hundred people remained.
What a terrifying elimination rate. After just two rounds, so few were left standing.
Afterward, just as in the first round, the pills were tested for efficacy. Among them, roughly ten individuals who had cheated were also disqualified.
In the pill efficacy rankings, Xiao Tian claimed first place, Xiao Yan second, and Yan Li third.
By the time the assessment and testing concluded, dusk had already fallen, and the street lamps around the square flickered to life.
"Everyone, tomorrow marks the final of the Alchemist Convention. The championship will be decided then. Do not be absent, lest you regret it for the rest of your lives."
"The cosmos remains undecided. You and I are both dark horses."
Fa Ma laughed heartily and departed from the VIP section.
Everyone gathered their personal belongings and streamed out of the square.
Xiao Tian emerged outside the square, where Ya Fei and the other two were already waiting at the entrance.
The moment they saw Xiao Tian appear, all three disregarded the surrounding onlookers and threw themselves directly into his arms.
"Xiao Tian! Little Brother Xiao Tian! Young Master! You are truly amazing! First place in both assessment rounds is simply incredible."
Sensing their genuine elation, Xiao Tian could not suppress a satisfied smile.
"Alright, so many people are watching. I will give you all ample embraces when we return."
"Who cares about them?"
Ya Fei and the two girls, their faces faintly flushed, withdrew from Xiao Tian's embrace and stood possessively at his side.
At this sight, countless young men and women clutched their chests, appearing utterly heartbroken, while other men had tears of envy trickling from the corners of their mouths.
On the other side, Xiao Yan was likewise intercepted by Nalan Yanran and Yao Ye for a conversation.
Shortly after, Yao Ye extended an invitation to Xiao Tian and the others for a celebratory banquet, which Xiao Tian politely declined.
He cupped his hands toward Yao Ye and the rest, then led Ya Fei and the two girls away from the square, returning to the Mittel family estate.
Xiao Yan also wished to follow, but he found himself entangled by Nalan Yanran and Yao Ye, unable to break free.
---
That night, the three Dou Emperors of the Gama Empire acted as eavesdroppers and clearly identified the grey-robed man. He was Yan Li, the Vice President of the Chu Yun Empire's Alchemist Guild, a middle-aged man who had employed a face-altering pill.
Even Master Ma would have to concede that this was hardly fair play.
During this period, the three also made a move against Yan Li, who had already destroyed all his remaining recovery pills.
After issuing some threats, the three Dou Emperors withdrew. If word of this were to spread, they might even achieve fame in a single battle, though the grass atop their graves would surely grow tall.
The three Dou Emperors returned to Fa Ma's office. The three old men conferred for roughly ten minutes, and Fa Ma gritted his teeth, deciding to bring out some valuable items to sponsor the competition.
"Old Ice, please help me invite young friend Xiao Tian over. I have matters to discuss with him."
Hai Bodong understood his intention, nodded, and used his Dou Qi to manifest wings, flying toward the Mittel family estate. The sound transmission stone was not convenient to expose in front of the other two, especially Jia Xingtian, as this item held even greater significance for their empire.
It was a strategic-level asset. Such an item could fundamentally alter a nation's overall operational efficiency.
He searched everywhere but could not locate Xiao Tian, and the sound transmission stone received no reply. He surmised that Xiao Tian might have returned to the Eternal Dream Realm.
In the end, he only managed to find Xiao Yan through the sound transmission stone. He promptly whisked Xiao Yan away and flew swiftly toward the Alchemist Guild.
Xiao Yan's mind was still in a daze. Moments earlier, his sound transmission stone had received a message; he had just finished reading it. The message stated that the Alchemist Guild had something beneficial to offer him.
Before he could even inquire what it was, Hai Bodong had already burst in, scooped him up, and flown him straight to the Alchemist Guild.
"Where is young friend Xiao Tian?"
Fa Ma regarded Hai Bodong with confusion as he asked.
"I cannot find that kid. He is likely indulging himself somewhere within the Eternal Dream Realm. You can only locate him when he wishes to be found. At other times, do not even think about it."
Hai Bodong shrugged, speaking helplessly.
Fa Ma looked at Xiao Yan before him, aware that his abilities were also quite formidable, even capable of suppressing Yan Li. His heart eased considerably.
"Young friend Yan Xiao, I apologize for the abrupt disturbance. Please bear with me."
Fa Ma addressed Xiao Yan with a smile, the latter still processing what Hai Bodong had told him along the way.
"It is nothing. I had not yet retired for the night anyway."
Xiao Yan, mindful that there was a benefit awaiting him, cupped his hands modestly.
---
At that very moment, Xiao Tian, the subject of their discussion, was currently savoring the enthusiastic sparring of the two women.
Ya Fei and the other woman's earlier whispers, following a mutual explosion of confessions, had at last escalated into full combat sparring.
The three of them clashed with such fervor that heaven and earth turned upside down, and fragments of exotic garments scattered everywhere.
---
"Do not worry about him. Xiao Tian possesses numerous trump cards," Hai Bodong remarked with a grin, noticing Fa Ma lost in thought.
Had Xiao Tian known Fa Ma was searching for him, he would not have been concerned. Seeking him out was likely nothing more than to offer a medicinal formula. He already possessed a pill compendium and had no shortage of formulas. The Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill was not suited for him to refine personally, so it was better to bestow it upon Xiao Yan and have Xiao Yan refine pills for him instead.
He had aided Xiao Yan considerably; it was time for the latter to demonstrate his worth.
"In that case, so be it."
Fa Ma understood that Hai Bodong and Xiao Tian were intimately acquainted, so he could only place provisional trust in his words.
"Elder Fa, what is this about?" Xiao Yan looked at Fa Ma and Hai Bodong with a puzzled expression.
"You two continue your discussion. I have nothing else to attend to, so I shall take my leave first." Hai Bodong directly employed his Dou Qi to form wings and departed from Fa Ma's office on the highest floor of the Alchemist Guild.
"Please, sit and let us talk."
Xiao Yan found a chair and seated himself properly.
"The reason I summoned you this time concerns the championship of this Alchemist Convention."
Fa Ma stroked his beard and spoke in a grave tone.
He proceeded to first apprise Xiao Yan of Yan Li's existence, along with his identity, background, and strength.
"Tomorrow's competition will be an open format. Contestants must provide their own formulas, medicinal ingredients, and everything else."
Fa Ma delivered yet another bombshell.
"Damn it!"
Xiao Yan's jaw hung slack. This revelation was entirely unexpected. He guessed that when this rule was announced the following day, the majority of participants would be incandescent with rage. The outcome would hinge entirely on one's background, collection, and luck.
For ordinary grassroots alchemists bereft of extraordinary fortuitous encounters, breaking through under such a rule set was exceedingly difficult.
Without an exceptionally rare opportunity, how could one possibly overturn centuries of accumulated effort from established aristocratic families?
The two conversed for a while longer. Fa Ma then handed Xiao Yan a black scroll. It was the formula for the Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill.
This formula was even more precious than many fifth-grade formulas.
Finally, under Fa Ma's watchful gaze, Xiao Yan perused the scroll one last time.
Having finished reading, Xiao Yan accepted three sets of medicinal ingredients and bade farewell to Fa Ma.
---
Within the Eternal Dream Realm, Xiao Tian cast a glance at the two unconscious women, then rose and approached the table.
"Xiao Yan must have acquired the formula by now."
Xiao Tian retrieved the sound transmission stone, reviewed the messages within, and roughly inferred everything.
"The Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill is a fine item, but I have also prepared my own pill for tomorrow."
"Surpassing the Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill will pose no problem."
A confident smile curved at the corner of Xiao Tian's lips.
He had prepared the medicinal ingredients for the pill he intended to refine at this convention long ago.
Had it been solely up to him, he might not have brought this out.
It was only because Xiao Yan demonstrated the ability to control two types of flames in today's assessment that Xiao Tian was willing to produce it.
Whether this formula rested in Xiao Tian's hands or Xiao Yan's, the difference was negligible. It remained the property of the Xiao family.
While he was at it, he inventoried his own belongings. A drop of purple liquid materialized in his palm. This droplet was precisely the hidden treasure contained within the violet royal ganoderma that Xiao Tian had purchased earlier in the Alchemist Guild's treasure hunting area.
This liquid was called Purple Heart Liquid, one of the principal medicinal ingredients for the Marrow Cleansing Pill.
"Gathering all the necessary medicinal ingredients within the Gama Empire is still far too difficult."
A faint sigh echoed through the room.