The next day, as the faint light of dawn began to creep over the horizon, the bustling city sprang to life in an orderly fashion. Countless streams of people flowed from all directions toward the central Imperial Plaza.
Though it was still early, the area outside the Imperial Plaza was already a sea of people. The densely packed crowd stretched as far as the eye could see.
Xiao Yan, who had secured first place in every round so far, had naturally become the most sought-after figure in the entire Jia Ma Sacred City.
A ray of morning light broke through the clouds' embrace and shone upon the plaza. The tightly closed gates of the Imperial Plaza slowly swung open. In an instant, the massive crowd outside surged in like a tidal wave.
Just like the previous day, Hai Bodong stood guard beside Xiao Yan as their carriage slowly entered the Imperial Plaza. Fa Ma and other higher-ups of the Alchemist Grand Meeting, along with Liu Ling, the Little Princess, and others, had arrived even earlier than Xiao Yan and were already waiting in the resting area.
"Here are three sets of ingredients for the Three-Lines Green Spirit Pill. If all three attempts fail, the allotted time should be over by then." Fa Ma handed Xiao Yan a storage ring filled with medicinal ingredients and communicated through spiritual transmission.
Without a doubt, Xiao Yan was now the hope of the entire empire.
Liu Ling and the Little Princess had also caught wind of Yan Li's situation. Although they each had prepared their own hidden trump cards and planned to refine the highest-grade pills they could, they knew their chances were slim.
"Even when Master participated in the Alchemist Grand Meeting in his late twenties, he could barely refine a low-grade tier 4 pill. If that Yan Li manages to refine a high-grade tier 4 pill, we're done for," Liu Ling said worriedly.
Yue Er nodded. "Perhaps we should try to delay things and find a way to expose him."
Fa Ma, Jia Xing Tian, and the others frowned upon hearing this. They all turned their gazes toward Xiao Yan in unison. Chairman Fa Ma asked in a solemn tone, "Xiao Yan, you're the only one who stands a chance of defeating him now. What are your thoughts on this matter?"
Jia Xing Tian nodded. "If you need more time, we can create some unforeseen incidents to delay things for a few days."
Xiao Yan waved his hand dismissively and said with a relaxed expression, "Proceed according to the original plan. No matter what pill Yan Li refines today, I'll make sure he dies without regrets."
Everyone smiled wryly and shook their heads. You sure are confident! That's the Deputy Chairman of the Chu Yun Empire's Alchemist Association you're talking about.
Hai Bodong grinned and patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder. "Very well. As long as you secure the championship, I, Hai Bodong, guarantee that fellow won't leave Jia Ma Sacred City alive."
Xiao Yan said, "Remember to check if his storage ring contains the medicinal ingredients for the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill."
"Rest assured, I'll bring back everything, including his head."
The two of them spoke as if they were plotting a murder and robbery spree. Their words had already sentenced Yan Li to death.
Soon, the alchemists participating in the final round began entering the plaza, waiting for the competition to start.
As Yan Li made his entrance, the originally lively plaza quieted down noticeably. Numerous gazes filled with various emotions rested upon him.
Fa Ma and Jia Xing Tian exchanged a cold glance as they watched the gray-robed youth enter. Their eyes were filled with icy killing intent. As the peak experts of the Jia Ma Empire, Yan Li's flaunting behavior in front of them was undoubtedly courting death.
Yan Li glanced at the VIP seats where Fa Ma was seated, then turned his gaze to Xiao Yan, Liu Ling, and Yue Er. Finally, he fixed his eyes on Xiao Yan and said with a grin, "Among the three of you, only you have some skill. However, your good luck ends today. In this final round, I won't hold back at all. Haha!"
Xiao Yan looked at the confident Yan Li with an odd expression. He rubbed his nose and said somewhat sheepishly, "Well... grievances have their sources and debts their owners. I'm just here to participate in the competition. Don't come haunting me from the netherworld. I'm afraid of ghosts."
Yan Li's face darkened instantly upon hearing this. A sense of impending doom welled up within him, reminding him starkly of the fact that he would die if he lost today.
'No matter what, the champion today will definitely be me!'
A clear and melodious bell tolled, its prolonged sound echoing above the plaza.
At the sound of the bell, Xiao Yan, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them. The other contestants likewise ceased their idle chatter and stood solemnly before their respective alchemy platforms.
"Everyone, the victor of today's final test shall be hailed as the champion of this Alchemist Grand Meeting. Therefore, unleash the full extent of your abilities and hold nothing back!" Fa Ma's aged yet steady voice resonated in everyone's ears.
Liu Ling and the Little Princess simultaneously glanced at Yan Li, who wore a cold sneer at the corner of his mouth. Clenching their fists tightly, they silently vowed to defeat him through their own efforts.
The competition's format was just as Fa Ma had described the night before. Participants were required to provide their own ingredients and refine a pill within the allotted time. Whoever produced the pill of the highest grade and quality would be the victor.
'Hmph, resorting to such petty tricks.' Yan Li snorted coldly. He was likely the only one among the thirty or so participants who hadn't been informed of today's test topic.
Everyone else showed no surprise. They promptly retrieved the ingredients they'd prepared in advance and began the refinement process.
Liu Ling and the Little Princess went all out and revealed their trump cards. Two somewhat ancient-looking medicinal cauldrons appeared before them.
"Hmm? Yue Er's cauldron is the tier 5 'Green Flame Cauldron'? I recall several 4th-tier alchemists fiercely competing for it back in the day. Who would have thought it would
ultimately end up in the hands of your imperial family."
"Look at that! Liu Ling's cauldron is the 'Fire-Mountain Flame Cauldron' that Gu He used when he won the championship years ago. It's also a tier 5 medicinal cauldron."
Many in the VIP seats recognized the origins of Liu Ling's and Yue Er's cauldrons.
Moreover, Liu Ling and the Little Princess both used special flames. Their flames were no weaker than the Amethyst Flame of the Amethyst Winged Lion King; both were Rank 6 Beast
"Hey, look! That person is using a black flame, just like Xiao Yan!"
A commotion arose from the spectator stands at this moment. Xiao Yan, who hadn't yet begun refining, turned to look. Yan Li had actually summoned a wisp of black flame! Yan Li's lips curled into a cold smile upon sensing Xiao Yan's gaze upon him. He waved the black flame in his hand, as if to declare that his flame was not inferior to Xiao Yan's.
Xiao Yan shook his head speechlessly. Did this fool really think that just because his flame was black, it could compare to the Nihility Devouring Flame?
Although Yan Li's black-colored flame was not a Beast Flame, it was indeed a somewhat special kind of flame. It was slightly stronger than those of Liu Ling and the others. But to compare it to a Heavenly Flame was simply laughable.
'If you're so eager to compete, then let me show you what a Heavenly Flame truly is!'
Xiao Yan placed his tier 5 medicinal cauldron before him with a resounding thud. Extending his palm, a mass of blood-red flame surged forth.
A deafening beastly roar emanated from the blood-red flame. All the flames in everyone's hands actually shrank by half the moment the roar resounded.
It was as if they were bowing in submission!
Not only the audience but all the alchemists present-including Yan Li and Fa Ma-Jia Xing Tian, and other elite experts, fixed their gazes upon the Ten Thousand Beast Flame dancing in
"What kind of flame is that? How can it emit such a powerful beastly roar?"
"Amazing! Isn't that the flame Xiao Yan used yesterday when he displayed his fire wings?"
The spectators were stunned as they watched the blood-red flame. They couldn't help but exclaim in amazement as they noticed all the other flames on the stage shrinking by half. Their excited chatter filled the air.
"When the Heavenly Flame appears, all other flames submit!"
"This kid has finally unleashed his Heavenly Flame!"
"Excellent! With the aid of the Heavenly Flame, Xiao Yan's chances of winning are even
Fa Ma nearly leaped to his feet in excitement. Although everyone knew Xiao Yan possessed a Heavenly Flame, witnessing him actually use it stirred excitement in all their hearts.
Yan Li gritted his teeth and clenched his hands so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He truly regretted coming to the Jia Ma Empire at this moment. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that such a little brat would not only possess exceptional alchemy skills, but also
'No, I absolutely cannot die here!'