"Who is that person?"
Fa Ma looked at the second person, a grey-robed youth.
But he could actually keep up with Xiao Li's speed in alchemy?!
"That guy's soul power... it's so strong. This is at least a Fourth-Grade Alchemist!" Fa Ma frowned.
"A Fourth-Grade Alchemist? Besides Xiao Li, when did the Jia Ma Empire get such a monstrous talent?" Hai Bodong, who was nearby, exclaimed in surprise.
Are Alchemists really that worthless now?
Fa Ma looked thoughtful and turned to Chelsea, the Vice President, who was beside him, saying, "Chelsea, get me that person's information."
The latter nodded and quickly found the corresponding information, handing it to Fa Ma.
"He's an Alchemist from the Chu Yun Empire! But it says here he's only a Second-Grade Alchemist, that's impossible." Fa Ma couldn't have sensed it wrong.
"Could this guy be disguised?" Hai Bodong asked.
Jia Xingtian shook his head: "If it were a disguise, it couldn't fool us."
But an Alchemist from the Chu Yun Empire was always problematic.
The Jia Ma Empire and the Chu Yun Empire were old enemies, and this factor couldn't be ignored.
"Let's just observe for now. If this guy dares to cause trouble, we'll kill him on the spot," Fa Ma said.
The others also nodded.
Without Xiao Li, a Fourth-Grade Alchemist would have a huge impact on this Convention.
But now that Xiao Li was here, even if that Alchemist from the Chu Yun Empire was a Fourth-Grade Alchemist, it would be difficult for him to win the championship against Xiao Li.
This way, the Jia Ma Empire's reputation could at least be preserved... The results of the first round of competition were out: Xiao Li first, the Chu Yun Empire Alchemist second, Yao Yue third, and Gu He's disciple Liu Ling fourth.
Next was the second round of assessment.
The assessment in the second round also contained a hidden trick.
The Alchemist Guild provided a prescription with correct herbs and dosages.
But there was a hidden trick: one herb was superfluous. Only by removing the extra herb could the correct pill be refined.
Many others suffered losses in this round, blowing up their cauldrons several times without discovering the trick.
Xiao Li and the Alchemist from the Chu Yun Empire also encountered problems during their first attempt at alchemy, but they quickly discovered the problem and removed the extra herb.
Moreover, this time, the Alchemist from the Chu Yun Empire was even faster than Xiao Li, completing the pill refining one step ahead.
He was, after all, an experienced Alchemist. Although his alchemy skill ceiling couldn't match Xiao Li's, his experience in refining Third-Grade Pills was much richer than Xiao Li's, so he was a bit faster than Xiao Li.
After all, although Xiao Li had the experience of a Sixth-Grade Alchemist, he hadn't actually performed alchemy that many times, so it was normal for him to be slightly inferior.
The most important thing was that Xiao Li originally hadn't intended to compete with that person; he was just casually completing the refining and hadn't taken it seriously.
"Kid, your alchemy skill is pretty good, but unfortunately, compared to me, it's still a bit lacking," the grey-robed youth sneered.
But Xiao Li didn't even bother to look at him.
Soon, others also discovered the trick from the herbs that the two of them had removed, then followed suit, and finally successfully refined the pills.
With that, the second round of the Convention temporarily concluded.
"Everyone, today's Convention will end here. Tomorrow will be the final round of competition, which will decide the champion. Please go back and rest well," Fa Ma said with a hearty laugh.
Upon hearing this, everyone slowly dispersed.
Xiao Li returned to the inn alone to rest.
Meanwhile, Fa Ma, Hai Bodong, and Jia Xingtian began their operation after nightfall... In the dark, three figures moved between buildings, quickly arriving at the room of the Alchemist from the Chu Yun Empire.
Hai Bodong used his cold qi to form several ice mirrors, and using the refraction of the ice mirrors, he saw the person inside the room.
The youth took a pill, and his face immediately changed from that of a youth to that of a middle-aged man.
"Indeed, it's Yan Li, that guy." Fa Ma's expression changed slightly.
Yan Li, the Vice President of the Alchemist Guild of the Chu Yun Empire.
"I knew it. One monstrous talent like Xiao Li is enough; it's impossible for there to be another person as monstrous as him," Hai Bodong said.
"Who's there?!"
At this moment, Yan Li in the room suddenly sensed something was wrong and turned his head sharply.
Then, the three figures directly broke through the door.
"Yan Li, you're quite bold, daring to come to our Jia Ma Empire alone, and even trying to disrupt our Alchemist Convention?" Fa Ma sneered.
"It's you?"
Upon seeing the group, Yan Li swallowed another Rejuvenation Pill without hesitation, transforming back into his youthful appearance, and then crushed all his remaining pills.
"Hmph, I am just an ordinary youth now, not Yan Li. If you dare to lay a hand on me and others find out, your Alchemist Guild's reputation will be ruined," Yan Li snorted coldly.
He dared to come alone, confident that Fa Ma and the others wouldn't dare to act.
"I am currently a popular contender for the championship at the Alchemist Convention. If I die, what do you think people outside will think of your Alchemist Guild?"
"We won't kill you today, but after tomorrow, whether you can leave alive will depend on your own ability," Fa Ma said coldly.
"Hmph, then we'll see."
Out of protection for the Alchemist Guild's reputation, Fa Ma indeed didn't dare to touch Yan Li now.
But after tomorrow's Alchemist Convention was completely over, that would be different.
"Let's go."
Watching Fa Ma and the others leave, Yan Li finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Damn it, they still found out."
"But it doesn't matter. As long as I win the championship tomorrow, I don't believe they can do anything to me."
Yan Li began to ponder his actions for tomorrow.
"Among those Alchemists from the Jia Ma Empire, only that person named Xiao Li poses a threat to me. Tomorrow, I just need to keep an eye on him."
"The championship, I must get it!"
...The next day.
The final round of competition officially began.
Today's excitement was even greater than yesterday's, with a huge crowd.
"Xiao Li, today is the final match to decide victory and defeat. I will definitely not lose to you!" Yao Yue declared her final challenge to Xiao Li as soon as they met.
In yesterday's two rounds of competition, Xiao Li's scores had already far surpassed hers.
This made Yao Yue feel a sense of crisis, so today, she absolutely had to turn the situation around!
She didn't want to lose to Xiao Li, otherwise, Xiao Li would definitely use the bet to make some strange requests to her.
"Alright, but you'll have to be prepared to lose. If you lose, I'll make a request for you to be my bed warmer," Xiao Li teased.
Upon hearing this, Yao Yue's small face immediately flushed, and she retorted, "Who wants to be your bed warmer? I won't lose!"
Compared to the Alchemist Convention itself, he was actually more willing to tease this little girl.
After all, teasing a loli was more pleasing to the eye and made one happy.
Soon, the final round of competition officially began.
This round of competition was very simple: all participants would refine their most skilled pill to the best of their ability.
Ultimately, whoever's pill was the highest grade and best quality would be the champion!
...