Given the profound foundation and strength of the Alchemy Tower, the alchemy disciples it cultivated were naturally exceedingly outstanding.
As the pill refining competition among those Alchemy Tower disciples began, the square erupted with waves of cheering from time to time.
Ye Yunfei, however, found it so dull he began yawning continuously.
As a Pill Master, watching these disciples who had just entered the pill dao gave him an intensely tedious feeling.
It wasn't until the three prodigy disciples of the Alchemy Tower—Luo Han, Hu Qing, and Situ Yue—took the stage one after another that Ye Yunfei paid them a modicum of attention.
These three alchemy geniuses all refined a cauldron of ninth-grade spirit pills, putting them temporarily on par.
As these three prodigious disciples successively mounted the stage, high-level figures from both the Alchemy Tower and the various major powers watched with great focus, offering frequent commentary and endless praise.
“Look!
Xiao Chuchu is taking the stage!”
Suddenly, someone shouted.
Everyone's gaze shifted to see a tall, slender woman with a cool, aloof demeanor and clad in pink robes walking onto one of the competition platforms.
“So it really is her.”
Seeing this woman, Ye Yunfei couldn't help but give a light chuckle.
This Xiao Chuchu was precisely the same Xiao Chuchu he had met back in Yuanyue City.
He hadn't expected her true identity to be a core disciple of the Central Continent's Alchemy Tower!
She had even left Yuanyue City earlier than Ye Yunfei.
And he had never seen her again since.
“Xiao Chuchu's alchemy level is actually quite similar to those three, Luo Han, Hu Qing, and Situ Yue,” Ye Yunfei mused inwardly after watching Xiao Chuchu refine a pill for a few moments.
As a Pill Master, his eyesight was unerringly sharp; he could discern this at a glance.
Finally.
The four alchemy geniuses, Luo Han, Hu Qing, Situ Yue, and Xiao Chuchu, entered the final round.
On the platform, the four stood in a row and began the competition, each showcasing their skill in a dazzling display.
The crowd in the square also split into four factions, cheering for each of these four alchemy prodigies.
“Do your best, Brother Luo Han!”
Suddenly, Ye Yunfei heard a woman's voice ring out from the platform where the Tianxuan Sect's people were stationed.
Curious, Ye Yunfei looked over.
He discovered a beautiful, voluptuous young woman dressed in red standing beside Tianxuan Sect Leader Zhou Tianming, loudly cheering for Luo Han.
“So, Zhou Tianming's daughter married Luo Han!
Looks like Luo Han is the beloved grandson of the Alchemy Tower's Sixth Elder!”
Ye Yunfei finally understood.
That red-clad young woman must be Zhou Sheng's elder sister, Zhou Ying!
On the platform.
Luo Han stood before an ancient, weathered pill cauldron covered in engravings of suns, moons, and stars.
When blazing pill flames ignited within, those celestial patterns actually shone brilliantly, dazzlingly bright.
And what was even more wondrous was that starlight descended from the heavens in a glittering shower!
“That's the Starry Sky Cauldron!”
“They say the Starry Sky Cauldron was a treasure left behind by a former Grand Elder of the Alchemy Tower who passed away over a century ago.
I never thought it would fall into Luo Han's hands!”
...
Within moments, people recognized the cauldron before Luo Han and exclaimed in shock.
Even Dan Jun showed a hint of surprise, glancing at the cauldron before Luo Han.
Originally, Luo Han, Hu Qing, Situ Yue, and Xiao Chuchu were all virtually equal in genuine alchemy skill.
Determining a winner would have been a fierce and close contest.
But with Luo Han possessing the Starry Sky Cauldron, he clearly held the advantage.
Hu Qing, Situ Yue, and Xiao Chuchu were also caught off guard, their expressions turning rather ugly.
All four had chosen to refine a First-Grade Treasure Pill.
Luo Han's cauldron was now bathed in a shower of starlight, its divine radiance glittering and dazzling.
He himself seemed elevated, supremely sacred, like a Child of the Stars!
His pill-refining progress was visibly a step ahead of the other three.
Anyone with eyes could see Luo Han had already clearly gained the upper hand.
“Haha, you're doing wonderfully, Brother Luo Han!
Father, it looks like first place will go to Brother Luo Han without a doubt.
Brother Luo Han will soon become a personal disciple of Pill Master Dan, and he might even reach the same heights as Pill Master Dan in the future!”
On the Tianxuan Sect's platform, Zhou Ying held her head high with immense pride, cheering constantly.
“Haha, Ying'er, you've married well!
Even your old father can bask in the reflected glory.”
Zhou Tianming laughed heartily, also extremely pleased.
The other Tianxuan Sect high-level figures showered Zhou Tianming and his daughter with flattery.
Having such a son-in-law would bring immeasurable benefits for the Tianxuan Sect's future development!
“Hmph!
It's just that, right now, my greatest worry is Sheng'er.
He's still in that little bastard's clutches.”
Zhou Tianming's gaze suddenly shot toward Ye Yunfei, murderous intent surging.
“Don't worry, Father.
Brother Luo Han has already made arrangements.
A large group of experts has that little bastard in their sights, including several at the Grotto-Heaven Realm!
He won't escape, even if he had no wings to fly away!”
Zhou Ying said with a cold smirk.
“Good!
I want that little bastard diced to pieces.
Then, I'll find out exactly where he came from; everyone in his clan, his school, his relatives and friends—everyone connected to him—will die! Not a single one will be spared!
Also, the White Tiger Gang will be eradicated. Lu Dachong will die too!”
Zhou Tianming gnashed his teeth, his tone filled with venomous malice.
“Haha, it looks like my Han'er is going to win.”
On the platform where the Alchemy Tower's higher-ups stood, an elder chuckled smugly.
“Elder Luo, what skill you have!
Finding the long-lost Starry Sky Cauldron and giving it to Luo Han...
If it weren't for that cauldron, your Yue'er might not have lost to Luo Han in this match.”
Another elder chimed in, a touch of sourness in his tone, as Situ Yue was his protégé.
“Luck is also part of one's capabilities; there is nothing more to be said,” Dan Jun said with a faint smile.
All of this fell within the range of Ye Yunfei's Soul Power perception.
“With me here, Luo Han will not win,” Ye Yunfei said with a cold sneer.
“From now on, do exactly as I say, and I guarantee you will emerge victorious.”
On the competition platform, Xiao Chuchu suddenly received a private Sound Transmission.
“Who is it?”
Xiao Chuchu's expression changed slightly, her beautiful eyes scanning around. But with a sea of people in the square, how could she pinpoint the sender?
“You needn't worry about who I am.
Just do as I say.”
The voice sounded once more within Xiao Chuchu's soul sea.
“How do I know I can trust you?” Xiao Chuchu lightly gnawed at her silver teeth, hesitating.
“The pill art I'm transmitting to you surpasses all pill arts within your Alchemy Tower. You'll know as soon as you try.
Of course, you can also choose not to believe me.
In that case, you will definitely lose to Luo Han in this match.”
The transmission stated.
“Alright.
I can try.”
After rapidly weighing the pros and cons in her heart, Xiao Chuchu made her decision.
Subsequently, that Sound Transmission continued in Xiao Chuchu's soul sea, providing detailed guidance on how to refine the Treasure Pill.
“You're instructing me to refine a Second-Grade Treasure Pill?!”
Xiao Chuchu, following the instructions, had just completed a few steps when she sensed something amiss.
Because the transmission actually told her to start over refining a different kind of Treasure Pill.
A Second-Grade Treasure Pill!
“That's impossible!
I'm only a First-Grade Treasure Pill Master; I can't possibly refine a Second-Grade Treasure Pill!”
Her pretty face paled.
“If I say you can, you can!
Just do as I say.
Don't be so wishy-washy, alright?”
Suddenly, the voice's tone grew more forceful.
“Then... then okay.”
For some unfathomable reason, Xiao Chuchu simply agreed.
“Huh?
Look!
Xiao Chuchu actually cleared her cauldron! It looks like she's starting over to refine a different kind of Treasure Pill!”
“Good heavens!
Xiao Chuchu tossed several ingredients for Second-Grade Treasure Pills into her cauldron!
Could she possibly be attempting to refine a Second-Grade Treasure Pill?”
...
Quickly, shocked eyes turned toward Xiao Chuchu, filled with astonishment and doubt.
“She is indeed refining a Second-Grade Treasure Pill—the Five Elements Tranquility Void Pill.
It appears she's been hiding her true strength until now,” even Dan Jun began to focus on Xiao Chuchu, commenting.
“Impossible?!
How could she possibly be a Second-Grade Treasure Pill Master!
Absolutely impossible! She must be trying to steal the show with sheer pretense!”
Unable to help himself, Luo Han glanced over at Xiao Chuchu, his expression drastically altered.
Thinking he held every advantage and was sure to win, he hadn't expected Xiao Chuchu to start refining a Second-Grade Treasure Pill!
Despite spending much effort to attempt a breakthrough to Second-Grade before, he had never succeeded.
Time flowed slowly.
More than half an hour later.
“The pill is complete!”
Xiao Chuchu gently tapped the cauldron before her with her slender hand.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Three white Treasure Pills shot skyward and hung suspended before her.
All three were Second-Grade Treasure Pills!
Instantly, an uproar swept the entire venue!
Luo Han, the Sixth Elder of the Alchemy Tower, Zhou Tianming, Zhou Ying, and everyone from the Tianxuan Sect stared with faces ashen as if drained of blood, utterly unwilling to accept this.
“I... I actually refined three Second-Grade Treasure Pills!”
Xiao Chuchu trembled with excitement, tears glistening in her beautiful eyes.
“Hm, excellent.
We'll choose her.”
Even Dan Jun nodded with a light smile, an expression of appreciation on his face.