Chapter 156: Showing Off

"President Fa Ma is too kind with his praise; this young man still has much to learn." Xiao Yan said neither haughtily nor humbly.

The moment those words left his mouth, Hai Bodong rolled his eyes outright. This guy was way too fake — one face in public, another in private. Just now he'd still been saying he'd already got the Pill Formula in the bag.

Fa Ma smiled and nodded, saying nothing more, slowly closing his eyes to rest as he waited for the competition to begin.

"Heh-heh, old Hai, you came quite early today."

Hearing the laughter, Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong turned their heads to look. A white-haired old man in a plain hemp robe was smiling at Hai Bodong.

Xiao Yan's Soul Force detected that this man's Cultivation Realm was actually on par with Ling Ying's — both were Nine Star or even Peak Dou Huang — so he naturally knew this was Jia Xingtian, the guardian of the Jia Ma Royal Family.

Yesterday, his purpose in clashing with Hai Bodong had been to give Hai Bodong a beating, fearing that with this Dou Huang's return, the Miter Clan — the greatest commercial clan — would grow powerful once more and shake the Imperial Family's position.

That was why Hai Bodong had wanted to transfer his assets to Xiao Yan back then — such considerations were at play. The Imperial Family would never allow a single clan to possess the strength to shake them.

Xiao Yan, meanwhile, looked behind Jia Xingtian. Naturally following behind him was Xiao Princess Yue, since, like Xiao Yan, she was also a contestant today.

But what piqued Xiao Yan's curiosity more was the other woman beside Yue Er — dressed in a luxurious brocade robe, tall and slender. This woman's face bore a few similarities to the little princess's, yet she possessed a natural cold beauty, beneath which lay a dignified air tempered by the Imperial Family.

If Yue Er was the little princess, then this woman was the queen.

As if reading the doubt in Xiao Yan's eyes, Jia Xingtian smiled and introduced her: "Young friend Xiao Yan, you should know Yue Er. Beside her is Yue Er's elder sister, Yao Ye. The army protecting this convention is entirely made up of her subordinates."

Xiao Yan's heart gave a jolt — this was a female marshal!

"Yao Ye, this is the young friend Xiao Yan I told you about — first place in the internal trial. Moreover, his Cultivation Realm and strength are unfathomably deep; last night he defeated Mu Zhan with a single hand. The Champion of this convention — he is likely a strong contender." Jia Xingtian said with a smile.

Hearing Jia Xingtian's words, a strange glint flashed through Yao Ye's eyes. Of course she knew Mu Zhan — recently promoted to Commander of the Empire's Guardian Army, his strength was nothing to scoff at.

And yet he had been defeated single-handedly by this youth of only seventeen or eighteen before her?!

"How do you do, Mister Xiao Yan."

Yao Ye's beautiful eyes fixed on Xiao Yan as she gracefully extended her Jade Hand toward him. A faint smile, and for an instant that smile left the noble scions seated around the VIP area utterly spellbound — the usually cold and aloof great princess had never treated anyone like this before.

"How do you do, Princess Yao Ye." Truly befitting royalty! Her bearing left Xiao Yan unable to find the slightest fault.

Xiao Yan smiled and extended his hand, lightly clasping that soft, boneless Jade Hand.

After exchanging greetings, everyone took their seats in the front row of the VIP area. Princess Yao Ye happened to sit right beside Xiao Yan. A faint, cool fragrance drifted over from her side, stirring restless thoughts.

Naturally, Xiao Yan dared not make any move, keeping his gaze fixed straight ahead on the enormous, almost terrifying Guang Chang below. He even shot a glance at Ling Ying not far away, constantly reminding himself to stay calm!

After a while, the Nalan Clan, the Miter Clan, and the Mu Clan — the Three Great Families — who had arrived a step late, also took their seats in the VIP area.

Especially the two women walking in the middle — Nalan Yanran and Ya Fei — each with a different temperament, yet both equally flower-like in beauty.

The two women walking together naturally drew the eye easily, and the noble scions behind them looked on with intense excitement.

Even the three Dou Wang experts of the Three Great Families did not draw as much attention as the two of them.

"Little brother Xiao Yan, you said last night that first place was yours for the taking. If you go back on your word, it'll be embarrassing." Ya Fei covered her mouth with a light laugh, slowly taking her seat on Xiao Yan's other side.

"Naturally I won't disappoint Sister Ya Fei."

After a moment's thought, Nalan Yanran did not sit in the seat originally arranged behind Xiao Yan, but took one not far behind him.

It might look like Xiao Yan was blissfully surrounded by the two great beauties Yao Ye and Ya Fei, but right now he was sitting on pins and needles, wishing the event would start immediately.

Because he had just felt Ling Ying's gaze sweep over him — he didn't dare any small movements, nor even speak loudly.

Slowly, more and more Alchemists entered the Guang Chang, and the spectator stands began to fill with audience members. The atmosphere grew lively, like watching a football match, the whole venue filled with the sound of noise and chatter.

Infected by the atmosphere, even the little princess clenched her small fists, a surge of excitement rising in her heart. Thinking of the spectacular sight of a thousand flames rising together later, she could hardly wait.

Xiao Yan, on the other hand, yawned, looking like he hadn't woken up, without a trace of nervousness.

As for Liu Ling, who was watching him like a venomous snake, Xiao Yan showed not the slightest concern.

Not long after, when a crisp bell toll rang out across the Guang Chang, the once-roaring noise of the venue quietly fell silent.

Listening to the bell toll that echoed across the entire Guang Chang — indeed, across the entire Jia Ma Sheng Cheng — Fa Ma tremblingly rose to his feet, then slowly walked to the very front, his gaze sweeping over the Alchemists in the Guang Chang below.

At this moment, over a thousand Alchemists also raised their heads, casting reverent gazes upon this old man who held tremendous prestige in the Pill Alchemy world of the Jia Ma Empire.

"In the name of the President of the Jia Ma Empire Alchemist Guild, I hereby announce that the Seventh Alchemist Convention officially begins!"

In an instant, the whole venue erupted, the cheers deafening!

After a while, Fa Ma turned his head to look at Yue Er, Liu Ling, and Xiao Yan — the three who had not yet entered the arena — and smiled: "It's time to enter."

Hearing this, Liu Ling and the little princess immediately grew eager to try.

"Then I'll go ahead first."

Liu Ling was the first to respond. After a loud laugh, he lightly tapped the ground, his body shooting toward the edge of the high platform. He glanced down at the vast Guang Chang below, then with a leap, amid countless gasps of surprise from the VIP area, plunged straight down.

Two visible pillars of Dou Qi suddenly erupted from beneath Liu Ling's heels. Using the Dou Qi pillars to cushion his landing, he touched down on the ground completely unscathed, and amid the fiery gazes of the entire venue, swiftly walked to the central position of the arena with a faint smile.

The Pill Alchemy platforms for the top three of the internal trial were arranged right in the center of the Guang Chang.

"As if only you know how to jump." Yue Er pouted, her delicate form leaping up — and she too flashed straight off the high platform. Her body drifted down like a falling leaf, gracefully and lightly gliding, her beautiful bearing and pristine white dress making her look like a heavenly maiden.

Watching the little princess's ethereal Body Technique, Hai Bodong glanced at Jia Xingtian and said: "The highest-grade Body Technique Dou Technique of the Jia Ma Royal Family — Flying Catkin — you even taught her this?"

"She's only learned the superficial aspects of this Body Technique Dou Technique — chasing after aesthetics alone. In actual Battle, it wouldn't hold up." Though Jia Xingtian spoke ill of it with his mouth, the smile at the corner of his lips had long since betrayed him.

Instantly, everyone's gaze turned to Xiao Yan, the first place of the internal trial. Yao Ye and Ya Fei beside him were also curious to see what method Xiao Yan would use to descend.

Xiao Yan sighed, slowly stood up, and said helplessly: "Honestly, we're not kids anymore — what's there to show off about?"

Whoosh!!! With a sound of tearing wind, a pair of enormous blood-red fire wings that blotted out the sky instantly appeared before everyone.

"What the—?! Dou Wang!!"

(End of this chapter)