"Kid, what nonsense are you talking!"
"How preposterous!"
"Who is this brat!"
"How dare he say such a thing!"
...
Almost all the alchemists flew into a rage, roaring their denunciations at the green-robed youth.
The green-robed youth paid no mind to the many accusing alchemists and strode into the Soul Manifestation Formation.
Buzz...
With the eruption of his Soul Power, the entire platform trembled slightly.
The intensity of this Soul Power caused everyone present to go pale. Even Tang Feng, Yan Qing, and the two peerless young girls wore expressions of deep apprehension.
Boom...
The green-robed youth's Soul Power struck the soul cauldron, which then shot skyward.
In an instant, the cauldron reached a height of nine meters. And it was still rising!
This sight thoroughly shocked everyone.
"How is that possible!"
"Who is this person? How is it we in the Great Qin Empire have never heard of such a figure?"
Every eye was locked tightly onto the green-robed youth. Even the Emperor and his ministers on the grand platform to the east of the plaza could no longer sit still, turning to those around them to inquire when such a young man had emerged within the Great Qin Empire.
Buzz...
As the green-robed youth's Soul Power erupted once more, the soul cauldron actually rose to ten meters!
"He's tied Tang Feng's score!" someone couldn't help but exclaim.
Then.
Buzz!
The soul cauldron rose again, finally reaching thirteen meters before it finally came to a stop.
Thud!
The green-robed youth withdrew his Soul Power, and the soul cauldron dropped back onto the platform.
Then, with an arrogant gaze, he slowly scanned all the alchemists who had previously taken part in the test, including Tang Feng and Yan Qing.
"This fellow actually used a Soul Art. Otherwise, relying on pure Soul Power alone, he wouldn't be able to lift that soul cauldron so high. It seems he has some background. Alchemists in the Great Qin Empire simply have no opportunity to acquire Soul Arts."
Ye Yunfei noted silently in his heart.
"You seem unfamiliar, friend. May I ask for your name? Who taught you? Are you an alchemist registered with the Alchemist Guild?"
Breaking the stunned silence, Tang Feng suddenly spoke up, his eyes fixed on the green-robed youth.
"My name, who taught me, whether I've joined the Alchemist Guild... are these things really important? Today, you only need to understand one thing. That is, my alchemy skills will crush every single one of you."
The green-robed youth gave a faint smile.
"You..."
Tang Feng was so angry he was left speechless. As the disciple of Master Chen Xuan, he held a significant position within the Alchemist Guild. Wherever he went, he was always the center of attention. He had never been so blatantly dismissed before.
"Disgruntled? Too bad. Actions speak louder than words. My score truly is better than yours."
The green-robed youth's voice dripped with mockery.
"It seems what I said was indeed correct. The alchemists of the Great Qin Empire truly are inferior with each passing generation."
The green-robed youth announced in a clear, loud voice, appearing incredibly arrogant. Yet, hearing his words, the other alchemists could not find words to refute him. After all, the green-robed youth had lifted the soul cauldron to thirteen meters, completely crushing all other contestants.
At this moment.
A youth slowly walked onto the platform. It was Ye Yunfei.
"What are you doing up here?"
The green-robed youth swept his gaze over, looking at Ye Yunfei as if looking at an insect.
Before participating, this green-robed youth had made a very detailed investigation of all the alchemists in the Great Qin Empire. He knew every alchemist with any measure of reputation. Therefore, he believed Ye Yunfei was merely a minor, insignificant character.
"I'm up here, of course, to participate in the competition. Isn't that obvious?"
Ye Yunfei replied blandly.
"Haha... A piece of trash like you is worthy of participating? Aren't you afraid of making a fool of yourself?"
Ye Yunfei's calm tone made the green-robed youth's expression darken, and he spoke with a cold laugh.
"Get out of the way. Better not provoke me. You only managed what you did by practicing a Soul Art, cheating in the competition. What is there for you to be so arrogant about? Speaking of your actual Soul Power level, at most, you're only at around nine meters."
Ye Yunfei glanced at the green-robed youth, then walked into the Soul Manifestation Formation.
"How does he know?!"
The green-robed youth's face changed dramatically. His eyes fixed on Ye Yunfei, and for a moment, he dared not speak further.
"It's Ye Yunfei! He actually isn't dead yet!"
Both the First Prince and Tang Feng went pale upon seeing Ye Yunfei. Especially the First Prince, who had dispatched Commander Leng to hunt him down. Commander Leng was a Profound Realm expert, commanding the Capital Army, a seasoned veteran with an illustrious reputation. The First Prince had assumed Ye Yunfei was as good as dead. Yet now, Ye Yunfei had suddenly appeared.
"Strange. I haven't heard anything from Commander Leng since yesterday. What could have happened?"
First Prince looked at Ye Yunfei on the platform, full of doubt.
"Patriarch, that is Ye Yunfei! None of the men our Li Family sent to kill him yesterday have returned. Something might have happened."
A steward of the Li Family whispered into Li Jianjun's ear.
"How is that possible! This kid is only at the late Earth Realm! Yesterday, I dispatched three full Sky Realm experts to kill him. Eliminating this kid should have been exceedingly simple."
Li Jianjun's expression was extremely gloomy.
"Ye Yunfei, this time, let's see where you can run!"
Among the crowd in the plaza, a middle-aged Daoist nun stared at Ye Yunfei on the platform with venomous eyes, speaking coldly. This nun was none other than Elder Ding from the Xiaoyao Pavilion.
"Oh? Elder Ding, so this is Ye Yunfei? Just a late Earth Realm, an insect-like character. Killing him will be too easy."
Beside Elder Ding stood a wiry old man, looking at Ye Yunfei with utter contempt as he spoke. This old man was Elder Jin of Xiaoyao Pavilion, a Profound Realm expert.
"Brat, I've finally found you. Provoking our Tianyou Tomb requires paying a price."
From a shadowy corner of the plaza, an unremarkable, hidden figure let out a cold laugh.
"Eh? Sister Xuexi, look, it's that ruthless, bloodthirsty guy. He's here to compete too. Could he actually be an alchemist?"
In the Fifth Prince's camp, the red-dressed girl spoke in surprise the moment she saw Ye Yunfei.
"We'll know if we watch."
The white-dressed girl's beautiful eyes were also fixed on Ye Yunfei.
At this moment.
"Hmph! This is utterly ridiculous. This competition is personally organized by the imperial family, a solemn alchemy contest. Not just any stray cat or dog has the right to participate. Doing so only wastes everyone's time. Eunuch Ouyang, this man is not a member of our Alchemist Guild. Moreover, I suspect he isn't even an alchemist at all! Therefore, Eunuch Ouyang, I, in my capacity as Vice-President of the Alchemist Guild, suggest his disqualification from the competition."
Suddenly, Tang Feng pointed at Ye Yunfei and spoke in a loud voice.
Hearing Tang Feng's words, the entire plaza fell silent. Everyone looked at Ye Yunfei with amused, knowing gazes. Even a fool could see this Ye Yunfei must have offended Tang Feng. Tang Feng was deliberately making trouble for him.
"Very well. As Young Master Tang wishes. You, step down. Your qualification for the competition is canceled."
The elderly eunuch on the platform was none other than Eunuch Ouyang. Hearing Tang Feng, he did not hesitate unduly before pointing at Ye Yunfei and delivering his verdict.
After all, Tang Feng's status was plain to see. He was the disciple of Master Chen Xuan and the Vice-President of the Alchemist Guild. With such status, most people wished to curry favor with Tang Feng. Besides, Eunuch Ouyang himself believed Ye Yunfei's alchemy skills were likely extremely poor. Whether he participated or not would have little impact.
"Haha... Third Prince, see? Having Ye Yunfei go up to compete would only bring you shame. Now he's about to be chased off the stage, right?"
Within the Third Prince's camp, Guo Shijie and Lin Ming burst into laughter.
On the platform.
"Oh. Whether I'm an alchemist or not, do I need your say-so? Furthermore, this Alchemy Grand Competition hasn't stipulated that only members of your Alchemist Guild can participate, has it? Moreover, if I wish to compete, who can stop me?"
A cold light flashed in Ye Yunfei's eyes as he swept his gaze over Tang Feng.
The moment his words fell, Ye Yunfei took a step into the Soul Manifestation Formation.
"Hey! Your qualification is canceled, do you hear me? Get lost immediately, or else don't blame me for being impolite!"
Seeing this, Eunuch Ouyang couldn't help but fly into a rage. His body moved as he charged toward Ye Yunfei, preparing to act and drive him down.
At that very moment.
Rumble...
A mighty and unparalleled torrent of Soul Power surged from Ye Yunfei's skull like a great river, shaking the entire platform.
Buzz...
The soul cauldron shot upward like a cannonball, moving so fast one could hardly see it clearly.
In that moment.
The entire plaza fell silent.