The next day, the sun rose slowly, dyeing the clouds on the horizon a brilliant orange-red. Sunlight, like golden ribbons, sprinkled upon the people walking along the road, bringing them a sense of endless warmth.
Xiao Jietian led the three women toward the Royal Square.
Along the way, the crowd surged like a dark current flowing through the city's veins.
Today was the final match, and the number of spectators had multiplied several times over.
Arriving at the VIP section, Xiao Yan, Liu Ling, and the others were already in their seats.
Nalan Yanran and Yao Ye were still sitting beside Xiao Yan, but thinking of Xiao Yan's personality, Xiao Jietian eventually shook his head.
Liu Ling and Princess Yao Yue were discussing something; Liu Ling no longer carried his previous arrogance, likely tempered by the significant setbacks of the past two days, which had also made him aware of his own limitations.
If he could thoroughly understand himself, his talent would be better utilized; otherwise, he would remain as he was.
Xiao Jietian smiled and nodded at everyone, then led the three women to some empty seats.
"It seems many people have received some inside information."
Ya Fei looked at the many Alchemists around her, their faces full of confidence, completely devoid of the confusion one would expect from not knowing the theme of the assessment.
"A large guild inherently has many people from other factions within it; with such a mix, information is bound to leak out."
"There might even be people from the Yun Empire inside; look at his expression—he definitely knew in advance."
Xiao Jietian turned to look at Yan Li in the arena, signaling.
Yan Li in the arena noticed Xiao Jietian and made a throat-slitting gesture with his hand, his eyes full of provocation.
Xiao Jietian: Oh, a prophet, huh? He already knows he'll be killed after today.
Xiao Jietian ignored him and continued chatting with the three women.
Seeing that it was almost time, Xiao Jietian walked down from the VIP seats and went to the spot where he had been assessed yesterday.
"Look, that's the top performer from yesterday's assessment; he looks so young and handsome."
"This world is truly unfair; not only is he so good-looking, but he also has such strength and talent. He leaves no room for others to live."
"..."
After Xiao Jietian entered the arena, bursts of exclamations erupted from the audience.
Xiao Yan was observing Yan Li: "Is this Face-Restoration Pill so miraculous that even a peak Dou Huang can't distinguish its authenticity?"
"Today's championship is mine; you all have no chance. You will experience a crushing defeat in life, haha."
Yan Li's arrogant laughter echoed through the arena.
Xiao Jietian and Xiao Yan remained calm, completely unaffected, while Liu Ling and Princess Yao Yue clenched their fists, their faces ashen.
"Dong."
A clear bell rang in everyone's ears; upon hearing it, both contestants and spectators became fully alert. This bell signaled that a fierce battle was about to begin.
Everyone in the entire arena simultaneously looked toward Fa Ma on the high platform.
"Today is the final and most crucial round of this Alchemist Convention. The winner of this round will be this year's champion."
"This match is a testament to your sweat and effort, and your pursuit of dreams, so please give it your all, leaving no regrets."
Fa Ma stood on the high platform; his voice, though old, was powerful and resonant, every word striking a chord with the contestants.
"Good!"
Thunderous applause and excited roars erupted in the arena.
Half a minute later, Fa Ma pressed his hands down, and the sounds in the arena gradually diminished, finally falling completely silent.
"The third round of assessment (Summary: Free play—entirely up to you. Refine the best pill you can within the allotted time.)"
Fa Ma loudly announced the theme of this round's assessment.
After Fa Ma finished speaking, the expressions of most Alchemists present changed; some were genuinely at a loss, while others were feigning it.
"Since everyone is familiar with the assessment rules, I declare the third round of assessment, now, begin!"
A surge of Dou Qi struck the giant hourglass, which flipped over and began to flow slowly, as if narrating the passage of time.
After Fa Ma finished speaking, everyone in the arena, in a tacit understanding, fell into contemplation.
They were all calculating what grade of pill the people around them would produce, whether to refine their most proficient one or take a slight risk to refine a better one, and also checking if their medicinal ingredients were sufficient.
The first to break the silence were Princess Yao Yue and Liu Ling, who had relatively ample resources; with a wave of their hands, a high-quality medicinal cauldron appeared before each of them.
The medicinal cauldrons revealed by the two immediately drew gasps from those in the know.
Princess Yao Yue brought out a green medicinal cauldron, which was the once-famous fifth-tier medicinal cauldron: the Azure Flame Cauldron.
Liu Ling brought out an orange-yellow medicinal cauldron.
"Oh, I thought Gu He would give him his Volcano Flame Cauldron. This Scorching Sun Cauldron is also a fifth-tier medicinal cauldron. As expected of the Pill King, his foundation is truly rich."
Fa Ma looked at Liu Ling's medicinal cauldron, surprised.
Subsequently, a deep blue flame rose in the Little Princess's palm; it was the beast flame of the imperial family's Raging Dragon Beast (Underworld Sea Dragon Beast): Dry Blue Water Flame.
Liu Ling's flame was light brown, and Yan Li's was black.
Then Xiao Yan also took out his medicinal cauldron; when the surrounding people saw Xiao Yan's shabby dark red cauldron, their faces were filled with surprise. This medicinal cauldron, at most, looked like a second-tier one.
"What's wrong with little friend Yan Xiao? Why is he still using this medicinal cauldron at this time? Is he confident or..."
Fa Ma saw the medicinal cauldron Xiao Yan took out, and his brows immediately furrowed into a knot, his heart even carrying a hint of regret that he hadn't asked more about the medicinal cauldron issue earlier.
"I hope he is confident, otherwise it will be bad."
His gaze shifted to Xiao Jietian's seat, and upon seeing the purple medicinal cauldron in front of Xiao Jietian, he immediately stood up, muttering in disbelief.
"This... this... how is this medicinal cauldron so similar to the legendary Purple Heaven Cauldron?"
"Old man Fa, what's with your sudden alarm? Is there something wrong with Xiao Jietian?"
Hai Bodong and Jia Xingtian looked at Fa Ma, who had suddenly stood up straight and widened his eyes, their faces full of confusion.
Fa Ma ignored them, frantically searching his memories, and finally confirmed that he had not seen wrong.
"Holy crap, is this the Purple Heaven Cauldron?"
Yao Lao's voice also rang out in Xiao Yan's mind at this moment.
This "holy crap" was naturally learned from Xiao Yan.
"What's wrong with Brother Tian's cauldron? Is it very powerful?"
Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Jietian's medicinal cauldron; this purple cauldron looked very profound and mysterious, its body faintly containing a mysterious aura.
"Do you remember the heavenly cauldron ranking I mentioned to you before?"
"Of course I remember. Teacher, your Black Demon Cauldron, which you used before, was ranked eighth on the heavenly cauldron ranking. Are you trying to say that Brother Tian's medicinal cauldron is also on the heavenly cauldron ranking?"
Xiao Yan remembered Yao Lao's Black Demon Cauldron very clearly because it was the highest-grade medicinal cauldron he had seen so far.
He even imagined that he could own one himself in the future.
"Yes, the medicinal cauldron in front of Xiao Jietian is called Ziyuan, ranked Second on the heavenly cauldron ranking."
Yao Lao's words resounded in Xiao Yan's mind like a bolt from the blue.
"This... this..."
"Snap out of it. I'm telling you this not to discourage you, but to make you feel pressure. Only with pressure can you grow."
"Yes, Teacher."
Xiao Yan calmed his mind, and the flames of fierce fighting spirit immediately ignited in his eyes. He slowly raised his hand, and the ethereal Green Lotus Core Flame appeared in his palm.
Instantly, the originally joyful flames of the Little Princess and others within the square withered significantly, bowing toward the green flame in Xiao Yan's hand as if worshipping a monarch.
"When a Heavenly Flame appears, all other flames submit. This saying is truly not false," Fa Ma sighed, looking at the strange scene in the arena.
Princess Yao Yue and the others, however, became sullen, muttering under their breaths.
Xiao Jietian also summoned his Life Spirit Purifying Devouring Fate Lotus Flame, and when the bright silver flame appeared, the sky turned silver and all trees around vanished for a moment. The direction of worship of the other flames immediately shifted toward Xiao Jietian.
Only the green flame in Xiao Yan's hand was fully suppressed, its effect halted.
"This... this is another Heavenly Flame?"
And this was so powerful it could affect and burn all things.
The crowd in the arena immediately let out gasps of shock.
"The Purple Heaven Cauldron from the heavenly cauldron ranking, plus a Heavenly Flame—what kind of person must his teacher be to cultivate such a monster?"
Fa Ma said, his face filled with astonishment.
"Miss Ya Fei, is the flame in Xiao Jietian's hand also a Heavenly Flame?"
Yao Ye asked Ya Fei, who was not far from her.
Ya Fei was momentarily stunned by the sudden question from Yao Ye, but eventually nodded silently.
"What a terrifying fellow; two Heavenly Flames appearing in one match is truly something to look forward to."
Yao Ye lightly licked her rosy lips.
Xiao Jietian ignored the surrounding discussions and directly threw the Life Spirit Purifying Devouring Fate Lotus Flame into the Purple Heaven Cauldron.
Xiao Yan followed closely, beginning to warm up his medicinal cauldron.
After Xiao Jietian's Heavenly Flames entered their respective medicinal cauldrons, the flames of the other people also began to return to normal.
Xiao Jietian, while warming up his medicinal cauldron, closed his eyes to re-familiarize himself with the pill he was going to refine today.
"He closed his eyes again; this is a sure win! In the first two rounds, he started by closing his eyes and then got first place. Is there some kind of metaphysics involved?"
A cry of surprise came from the audience, and others who had watched yesterday's match recalled that it was indeed true.