Following that, the Alchemy Tower’s Tower Master personally announced the conclusion of the first phase of the Alchemy Competition Conference, with Xiao Chuchu being the winner.
This also meant that Xiao Chuchu could become Dan Jun's personal disciple.
"Just who is he?
Why did he help me?"
Amidst her excitement, Xiao Chuchu kept searching for the owner of the Sound Transmission she had just received.
"It seemed to come from this direction."
Her gaze fell upon the location where Ye Yunfei was standing.
But in the dense, tightly-packed crowd, how could she possibly identify who had just transmitted to her?
Soon, the second phase of the Alchemy Competition Conference began.
This phase was primarily for high-ranking members of the Alchemy Tower and the invited alchemy masters to compete in pill refining.
Some Alchemy Tower seniors and the invited alchemy masters took to the stage one after another, personally demonstrating their pill refining arts.
In essence, this segment had a flavor of befriending others through the pill dao.
Some of the invited alchemy masters even deliberately lost to the Alchemy Tower seniors to curry favor.
As alchemy masters took the stage to showcase their skills, waves of applause erupted in the square.
However.
Right at this moment.
A young man, his hands clasped behind his back, emerged from the surrounding crowd. Step by step, he ascended into the air.
"Huh?
Who is that guy?
What does he want to do?"
Soon, everyone watched the young man with puzzled eyes.
"That's Master Liuyun!"
Very quickly, many people recognized the young man as the renowned Master Liuyun who had recently made a name for himself across the Central Continent.
"Kid, what do you think you're doing!
Guards, throw this punk out!"
The steward who had prevented Ye Yunfei from entering Platform No. 6 earlier was shocked and immediately rushed forward, blocking Ye Yunfei's path as he roared angrily.
"I had always thought that the Alchemy Tower represented the pinnacle of pill refining on the Tianxuan Continent. I believed that even at its worst, it couldn't be too far off.
Yet, today, what I witnessed left me with profound disappointment."
Ye Yunfei paid no heed to the steward. His gaze turned towards the platform where the Alchemy Tower seniors were seated as he spoke slowly.
Supported by spiritual power, his words echoed like thunder, rumbling clearly across the entire square.
For a moment, the entire square fell deathly silent. Everyone wondered if they had misheard.
The Alchemy Tower was practically the headquarters for all pill refiners under the heavens, universally acknowledged as representing the highest standard of pill dao.
Now, someone dared to openly voice such doubt about the Alchemy Tower within its own headquarters!
This was the most severe provocation imaginable against the Tower!
"Has Master Liuyun's reputation soared too high lately, making him a bit too arrogant to dare run amok at the Alchemy Tower like this!"
"In my opinion, that kid must have a screw loose.
Daring to make such wild boasts at the Alchemy Tower's headquarters!"
…
The entire square, having been silent, now erupted in an uproar as discussions broke out everywhere.
Countless eyes focused on Ye Yunfei as if he were a madman.
"Oh no!
Why would Master Liuyun be so foolish as to challenge the Alchemy Tower to its face? What are we to do now!"
Lu Dachong and others who had received kindness from Master Liuyun were deeply anxious.
"Haha, excellent, excellent! This little bastard is digging his own grave, daring to defame the Alchemy Tower in Dan Jun's presence.
It seems I won't even need to lift a finger—he's already doomed!"
Zhou Tianming, leader of the Tianxuan Sect, could not help but laugh heartily.
"Huh?
This person's silhouette seems familiar?
Am I seeing things?"
Xiao Chuchu suddenly felt a shock. From her angle, she saw Ye Yunfei's profile, which felt vaguely recognizable.
"Kid, are you insane?
How dare you spout such nonsense!"
The Alchemy Tower steward blocking Ye Yunfei roared furiously.
"Outrageous!"
"Preposterous!"
…
All the Alchemy Tower seniors also voiced their angry rebukes.
Dan Jun frowned, his face revealing displeasure.
The Alchemy Tower's status was exalted; who would tolerate such slander?
"My words—is the Alchemy Tower not convinced?
Let's do this: I challenge the Alchemy Tower to a pill refining duel.
If I lose, I die.
If your Alchemy Tower loses, I will only take several Fourth-Grade and Third-Grade treasure herbs.
I, alone, will accept whoever your Alchemy Tower sends.
I, alone, challenge your entire Alchemy Tower."
Ye Yunfei stood with his hands clasped behind his back, hovering in the air, as he spoke once more.
I, alone, challenge your entire Alchemy Tower!
This final sentence landed like a thunderclap, shaking the entire venue.
Instantly, the entire square fell silent again.
Everyone present wore expressions of shock and horror.
It was widely known that the Alchemy Tower gathered the finest group of alchemy masters on the Tianxuan Continent.
The current Tower Master and his nine elders were all Third-Grade Treasure Pill Masters.
Dan Jun was furthermore the sole Fourth-Grade Treasure Pill Master on the Tianxuan Continent, recognized as the foremost master in the entire pill refining world!
Now, a junior dared to claim he would challenge the entire Alchemy Tower?
Moreover, staking his own life on it!
"Haha…
This is too funny!
How can he utter such brazen words!"
"The boy has gone mad!"
"Alone, wanting to challenge the entire Alchemy Tower—throughout all of history, this kid is definitely the first! He must be delusional!"
…
The entire square erupted in uproarious laughter. The gazes directed at Ye Yunfei contained mockery, disgust, anger, and disappointment.
Several Alchemy Tower seniors, utterly enraged, pounded the table and stood up, their eyes blazing with fury.
"Death-seeker!
Guards, seize this madman and lock him in the dungeon!
After the competition concludes, he will be severely punished!"
The Alchemy Tower steward blocking Ye Yunfei was now furious beyond measure, bellowing the command.
With a wave of his hand, several Alchemy Tower guards immediately rushed toward Ye Yunfei.
"Hold."
Just as the guards were about to lay hands on Ye Yunfei, Dan Jun gently raised his hand, his voice clear for all to hear despite its softness.
"Young man, do you truly intend to challenge our Alchemy Tower?"
Dan Jun's gaze fell upon Ye Yunfei as he asked calmly.
"Of course it is true.
It only depends on whether your Alchemy Tower has the courage to accept my challenge."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
His words immediately drew another torrent of scolding and cursing.
"Young man, you are too arrogant.
No one has ever dared to slander our Alchemy Tower so openly.
To teach you a lesson, our Alchemy Tower accepts your challenge.
Should you lose, you need not die. Instead, you shall become a lifetime servant, forever cultivating spiritual herbs for our Alchemy Tower."
Dan Jun declared.
"If your Alchemy Tower loses, I shall claim these treasure herbs."
Ye Yunfei waved his hand, sending a jade slip flying out.
A screen of light projected from the slip, displaying the names of over ten different treasure herbs—some Third-Grade, some Fourth-Grade.
Obtaining these herbs was Ye Yunfei's primary purpose in coming to the Alchemy Tower.
"Also, if I win, I want him to kneel and apologize to me."
Ye Yunfei pointed at the Alchemy Tower steward still blocking his path.
"Bastard, you're courting death!"
Hearing this, the steward was incensed.
"Very well."
Dan Jun skimmed the list of herb names and then nodded.
Each of these treasure herbs was invaluable, but the Alchemy Tower had accumulated deep reserves over centuries and could gather them all.
As for having the steward kneel, it was a trivial matter.
"Who among you will engage him in the pill refining duel?"
Dan Jun swept his gaze over the assembled Alchemy Tower seniors as he asked.
Given his own esteemed status, he could not possibly step down personally to compete with a junior.