Gu Jin was no stranger to this kind of attention. She had expected it.
After all, her name had been making waves long before the competition even began.
The waiting area was already occupied by other participants, each immersed in their own preparations.
Some were meditating, steadying their breath; others were examining their alchemy tools, ensuring that everything was in perfect condition.
Gu Jin found an empty seat near the edge of the room and sat down, her posture relaxed but her mind vigilant.
Just as she was about to close her eyes and focus, a voice called out to her.
"Miss Gu Jin, I didn’t expect to see you here so soon."
She opened her eyes to find a young man with sharp features and a confident smirk standing before her.
He was dressed in an immaculate dark blue robe embroidered with golden phoenix patterns, a symbol of one of the most prestigious alchemy clans.
"Shen Yue." Gu Jin acknowledged calmly.
He let out a chuckle.
"I heard you had some trouble getting here. A shame, really. Some people will do anything to sabotage their competition."
His words were laced with amusement, but his eyes gleamed with interest.
Gu Jin tilted her head slightly. "It seems news travels fast."
Shen Yue spread his hands.
"With someone as well-known as you, it’s impossible for news not to travel fast."
She met his gaze with an impassive expression.
"And what about you? Are you here to compete or just to collect gossip?"
"Oh, definitely to compete. But if I happen to collect a little information along the way, who’s to say that isn’t useful?"
Gu Jin didn’t reply, simply watching him.
Before their conversation could continue, an announcement echoed through the hall.
"All competitors, please proceed to your designated stations. The first round of the competition will begin shortly."
Shen Yue smirked. "I suppose we’ll see who stands at the top soon enough."
Gu Jin rose from her seat, her expression unreadable. "Indeed."
With that, she turned and made her way toward the competition floor.
The grand hall fell into a hushed silence as the judges were introduced one by one.
Each of them was a renowned figure in the alchemy world, their reputations solidified by years of exceptional achievements.
But when the final judge’s name was announced, a ripple of shock passed through the competitors.
"And finally, we are honored to have Master Long Yifan on the judging panel!" the host declared enthusiastically.
"A legend in his own right, Master Long is the greatest armament master of our era, famed for forging the Semi-God Rank Cauldron that is now considered a treasure of the alchemy world!"
Gu Jin’s eyes flickered with a trace of surprise. Long Yifan?
She looked at the handsome young man with dark hair and blue eyes filled with coldness, as he scanned the crowd.
The moment his eyes fell on Gu Jin, his eyes softened, and he mouthed the words,
"Don’t worry, I will take care of you."
Gu Jin averted her gaze.
The scene was too blinding for her.
She couldn’t bear to see it...
"For the first round of the competition, each participant will be given a list of specific herbs. You will have exactly one hour to venture into the nearby forest and retrieve these herbs.
The judges will then evaluate whether you have collected the correct ones. Accuracy and efficiency will determine your score."
One by one, the participants stepped forward to receive their lists.
When it was Gu Jin’s turn, the person in charge—an official wearing the competition’s uniform—stepped forward.
However, as he reached to hand her the list, he suddenly tripped over his own feet.
Papers flew into the air before he hastily scrambled to gather them.
Most of the audience dismissed it as an accident.
But Gu Jin’s sharp eyes caught a crucial detail—when the man stood up, the list in his hand was a different color than the ones given to the other participants.
Her gaze darkened slightly. Just as she was about to speak, a voice cut through the air.
"Hold it right there."
Long Yifan, who had been observing the process, suddenly stood up from his seat.
His piercing eyes locked onto the official, his expression unreadable. "Show me the list."
The official flinched, his fingers tightening around the paper.
"Master Long, with all due respect, there must be some misunderstanding—"
"Now." Long Yifan’s tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable authority that left no room for argument.
The official hesitated for a split second before reluctantly handing over the list.
Long Yifan took it, his gaze scanning over the contents.
A heavy silence filled the hall as he compared it with the standard lists given to the other participants.
Then, his eyes narrowed. "You switched the list."
A wave of murmurs spread through the crowd.
The official’s face paled for a moment before he quickly straightened his posture.
"That’s absurd! I did no such thing. You saw me trip—it was just an accident."
Long Yifan held up both lists.
"If it were truly just an accident, then why does this list contain entirely different herbs from the standard one? And why is it a different color?"
The murmurs grew louder as realization dawned on the audience. The other judges exchanged glances, their expressions turning cold.
The official swallowed hard but forced out a chuckle.
"Master Long, surely there must be some explanation. Perhaps it was a misprint—"
"A misprint?" Long Yifan cut him off, his voice now laced with unmistakable authority.
"Then let’s verify it. If I check the list records and find that this version does not match the ones distributed to the other participants, what will you say then?"
The official’s hands trembled ever so slightly. "I..."
He was cornered, and he knew it.
Gu Jin, who had been silent throughout the exchange, finally spoke, her tone calm but sharp.
"If it truly was an accident, then surely you wouldn’t mind an investigation. But if you’re caught lying..."
Her gaze turned piercing. "You do realize the consequences, don’t you?"
The official opened his mouth, then closed it, his breathing uneven.
Beads of sweat formed at his temples. He knew that if this went further, there would be no escaping punishment.
The head judge, an elderly man with a stern face, turned toward the guards stationed at the entrance.
"Take him into custody. We will investigate this matter thoroughly."
The official’s face drained of all color. "No—wait! I—I was just following orders!" he blurted out desperately.
"I was told to do this! I swear, I didn’t mean to—"
Long Yifan’s expression darkened. "Who gave you the order?"
The official hesitated, his eyes darting around in panic.
Gu Jin remained silent, observing carefully. She had a suspicion about who might be behind this, but she wanted confirmation.
"Lets first finish the competition first." Long Yifan interrupted and then continued, "But considering how many dirty tricks have been tried on, I would request the jury to plant a drone monitoring Miss Gu’s every move. In this way, no one would dare to harm her again."
The murmurs in the hall grew louder as Long Yifan’s suggestion settled over the crowd.
The other judges exchanged glances, their expressions ranging from contemplation to approval.
The head judge, an elderly man with sharp eyes and an air of unquestionable authority, nodded.
"Given the repeated attempts to sabotage Miss Gu Jin, I agree with Master Long’s proposal. A drone will be assigned to monitor her movements to ensure her safety and fairness in this competition."
Some participants murmured among themselves, some nodding in agreement, while others frowned, possibly displeased that special precautions were being taken for a single competitor.
However, no one dared to openly object to the decision of the judges.
The official who had been caught switching the list was still trembling, his hands clenched into fists.
"Take him away," the head judge instructed the security guards.
The official’s composure finally broke.
"Wait! I— I was just following orders! It wasn’t my idea!" he cried, his voice cracking with desperation.
Long Yifan’s gaze darkened. "Then who?"
The official’s eyes darted around as if searching for an escape route, but there was none. He swallowed hard before whispering,
"I didn’t see the face properly..."
The head judge sighed heavily, rubbing his temples.
"We will investigate this thoroughly. Let’s not delay the competition for now."
Long Yifan’s gaze flickered toward Gu Jin. "Miss Gu, do you wish to proceed with the competition?"
Gu Jin met his eyes, calm and unwavering. "Of course."
A smirk tugged at the corner of Long Yifan’s lips. "Very well. Then let the first round officially begin."
The participants were then handed their correct lists, and a countdown timer was displayed at the front of the hall.
The doors leading to the forest were opened, revealing the vast expanse of greenery where the competitors would need to search for their assigned herbs.
"All competitors, you have exactly one hour. Begin!" the host announced.