Support me at patreon for 370+ advanced chapters :
patreon.com/YaoIk
**
On the high platform.
Xuan Kongzi and the others gathered together, whispering to each other.
Very soon, they reached a consensus.
Then, under countless watchful eyes, Xuan Kongzi stepped forward, swept his gaze across the crowd, and finally looked at those other pills that were completely suppressed by the two five-colored Tier 8 pills, leaving them without the slightest chance to resist.
He couldn't help but smile and said in a loud voice, "Among pills, spirit reigns supreme. Now, the two most exalted pills of this Pill Gathering have already been born, and their spirituality is evenly matched."
Here, he paused slightly. Countless gazes tightened. Everyone was curious how the Pill Tower would decide.
"After discussing with all the elders, we are unanimous that the final champions of this Pill Gathering are: Wei Yang and Xiao Yan, two of them!"
Hearing Xuan Kongzi's words, the entire place fell silent.
A moment later.
Hua~
The crowd erupted.
Countless eyes looked toward Xuan Kongzi on the high platform in disbelief.
Did they hear that right?Champions, actually two?!
"You did not mishear. This is the unanimous decision of our Pill Tower. The champions, for the first time in history, are two—Wei Yang and Xiao Yan!"
Xuan Kongzi, face full of smiles, announced once again.
Hong!
The entire venue boiled over.
Deafening cheers roared to the heavens. Countless gazes all turned sharply toward the grand stone platform in the center, landing on the two young men.
Everyone present had witnessed a miracle. A miracle for which the Pill Tower was even willing to break precedent.
In all previous Pill Gatherings, such a thing had never happened. This time, two champions were born!
At the same time, some people looked toward the high platform, at the smiling faces of the Pill Tower's three giants and the many elders.
In their hearts, they couldn't help feeling speechless and secretly critical of the Pill Tower's maneuver. This move, one had to say, was slick to the extreme!
It was blatantly the attitude of: only children make choices, we want it all!
Did the Pill Tower suffer a loss?
Not at all. On the contrary, they made a huge profit!
After all, the Pill Tower only paid the price of an extra champion's title and one more share of the reward.
Compared to what they gained, they had obtained two extremely outstanding young alchemy masters!
No matter how you calculated it, the Pill Tower earned big. Of course, in some people's eyes, this operation looked far too shameless. For example, Old Mu Gu's face was black with anger, his teeth grinding in hatred.
But anger was useless.
After all, the Pill Gathering was hosted by the Pill Tower itself. The final right of explanation naturally rested in their hands. If they wanted to give out an extra championship, no one could stop them.
On the grand central stone platform, Wei Yang and Xiao Yan were both slightly stunned when they heard the announcement. Then, exchanging a glance, both burst into wry smiles.
They had to admit, the Pill Tower's move was truly slick. The idea was clear: better to err on the side of generosity than miss out.
Champions could indeed be two.
What could anyone say to that?
"Congratulations Brother Yang, congratulations Brother Xiao Yan, for winning the championship." Xian'er recovered first and smiled as she cupped her hands in salute.
The result was surprising, but, well, acceptable.
After all, back then she and Xiao Yan had also simultaneously won the Alchemist Conference championship of the Jia Ma Empire. This time, the double-champion title went to Xiao Yan and Wei Yang.
"Congratulations Brother Wei, on winning the championship!" Xiao Yan also cupped his hands with a satisfied smile.
"Congratulations to you as well!" Wei Yang shook his head with a laugh and returned the salute.
"Hahaha." After exchanging their congratulations, the two of them couldn't help bursting into hearty laughter. As fellow disciples, winning the championship together would surely become a fine story to be told.
As for their teacher, Yao Lao, this was pure effortless victory. Then, with hands clasped behind their backs, the two stood there, overlooking the roaring square from on high, enjoying the glory and cheers that belonged to them.
Cao Ying and the others looked on with envy at the two champions basking in the adoration of the crowd.
Song Qing's expression was complicated, his eyes holding jealousy, but even more, a deep sense of powerlessness.
The gap was simply too great, enough to make him feel utterly defeated, to the point that he couldn't even summon the thought of trying to catch up.
At this moment, Wei Yang and Xiao Yan were without doubt the most dazzling protagonists of this world.
The Pill Gathering championship was not only a qualification, but also a symbol of a peak powerhouse.
Because throughout history, every single Pill Gathering champion had eventually become a top-tier existence on this continent.
This alone made everyone understand the astonishing potential and brilliant future those two seemingly young men possessed. And regarding their victory, everyone was completely convinced.
After all, the facts were right there—the birth of two five-colored Tier 8 pills had silenced every voice. Even if the Pill Tower awarded an extra championship, no one objected.
Because if there had been only one champion, no matter who received it, controversy would have been inevitable.
Now everything was settled, everyone pleased, with no disputes left at all. Besides, since the Pill Tower itself was willing to grant it, outsiders had no reason to argue. The earth-shaking cheers continued for nearly ten minutes before gradually fading.
"Wei Yang, Xiao Yan, you have won the Pill Gathering championship. From this day on, you will also become two of the candidates for the future leaders of our Pill Tower." Xuan Kongzi smiled at the two of them as he spoke slowly.
As soon as Xuan Kongzi's words fell, countless eyes, filled with either envy or jealousy, focused on them.
This was the long-standing rule of the Pill Gathering and the main reason the Pill Tower held it. Every Pill Gathering champion would be granted this honor.
The title of Pill Tower Future Leader Candidate meant that these two now had the chance to become one of the future giants of the Pill Tower. That position truly stood at the very peak of the Dou Qi Continent.
Everyone present understood what tremendous authority a Pill Tower giant held. They were the spiritual leaders of countless alchemists across the continent.
As one of the Pill Tower's giants, a person would become one of the controllers of this ancient force. No one doubted the terrifying power that came with holding that role.
Under countless envious gazes, Wei Yang and Xiao Yan both gave slight nods. Whether or not they would actually become leaders of this colossal organization in the future, for now there was no reason to reject the status of candidate.
"As champions, as previously stated, you will each receive an ancient soul cultivation technique passed down from antiquity." Xuan Kongzi lifted his hand, and two ancient sheepskin scrolls appeared in his palm.
With a gentle motion forward, the two scrolls, wrapped in a glow of light, shot toward them like lightning. Seeing this, both young men showed a trace of joy on their faces.
An ancient soul cultivation technique—needless to say, it was exactly what they needed most right now. The Nine-Refinement Heavenly Soul Technique, strictly speaking, wasn't a true traditional soul cultivation technique; it was more of a technique to strengthen soul tenacity.
Of course, through training it could also raise the soul realm, since it claimed that after nine refinements one could form a Heavenly Soul. But the time required was unimaginably long, and the cultivation process was indescribably arduous.
The intense pain that acted directly on the soul was something almost impossible to endure. Even someone as formidable as Yao Lao had spent many years and only reached the Sixth Refinement enough to show how difficult it was.
Therefore, this ancient soul cultivation technique was like timely rain for the two of them right now. At the very least, they could first raise their soul realm, and as for soul toughness, that could be tempered slowly over time.
Both of them raised their hands, each catching the beam of light flying toward them. As the glow faded, the ancient sheepskin scrolls within were revealed. When their palms touched the scrolls, a faint and peculiar sensation welled up in their hearts.
"Truly a fine treasure."
Sensing that strange feeling, the two exchanged a silent glance, each secretly praising it in their hearts.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Support me at patreon for 370+ advanced chapters :
patreon.com/YaoIk