Chapter 162: The Final Round of the Alchemist Convention

The next day, as the sky just began to lighten, the bustling city sprang into orderly motion, with countless streams of people surging toward the royal square at its center.

Though the dawn was still early, the area outside the royal square was already packed with a sea of people, black heads stretching endlessly to the horizon.

Xiao Yan, who had won first place in every round, was naturally the hottest star in all of Jia Ma Sheng Cheng.

A thread of morning light pierced through the clouds and shone upon the square; the sealed gates of the royal square slowly opened, and the dense crowd outside surged in like a tidal wave.

As before, Hai Bodong guarded beside Xiao Yan; the carriage slowly drove into the royal square, while Fa Ma and other high-ranking Alchemist Convention officials, Liu Ling, and the young princess had already arrived earlier and waited in the resting chamber.

"Here are three sets of medicinal materials for the Three-Striped Blue Spirit Pill—if all three fail, the time should be up," Fa Ma said via Soul Resonance, handing Xiao Yan a storage ring filled with herbs.

Without doubt, Xiao Yan was now the entire village's last hope.

Liu Ling and the young princess had both heard of Yan Li's reputation; though each had prepared their own trump cards, intending to refine the highest-grade Elixir they could manage.

"Even when my teacher entered the Alchemist Convention near thirty, he could barely produce a Fourth-Rank Low-Grade Elixir. If Yan Li attempts a Fourth-Rank High-Grade Elixir, it's over." Liu Ling said anxiously.

Yue Er nodded and said, "Why don't we stall for time and find a way to expose him?"

Hearing this, Fa Ma and Jia Xingtian and others frowned, their eyes turning unconsciously toward Xiao Yan; Grandmaster Fa Ma asked gravely, "Xiao Yan, only you can defeat him now—what do you say?"

Jia Xingtian nodded and said, "Yes, if you need more time, we can engineer some accidents to delay things by a few days."

Xiao Yan waved his hand, smiling easily: "Stick to the original plan. Today, no matter what Elixir Yan Li tries to refine, I'll make sure he dies with his eyes closed."

At this, everyone chuckled bitterly—you're awfully confident, that man is the Vice-Chairman of the Chu Yun Empire's Alchemist Guild.

Hai Bodong patted Xiao Yan's shoulder with a smile: "Good. If you win the Champion title, I, Hai Bodong, guarantee that fellow won't leave Jia Ma Sheng Cheng."

Xiao Yan said, "Check his storage ring for Spirit Replenishing Purple Pill materials."

"Don't worry—I'll take back everything, including his head."

The two of them spoke as if preparing to burn down houses and murder—already sentencing Yan Li to death.

Soon, Xiao Yan and the other Alchemists entering the final round began entering the square, waiting for the contest to begin.

As Yan Li entered, the previously lively square grew noticeably quieter; countless gazes, filled with varied emotions, fixed upon him.

Coldly watching the gray-robed boy enter, Fa Ma and Old Jia exchanged glances, their eyes brimming with icy killing intent; as peak warriors of the Jia Ma Empire, Yan Li's arrogance before them was plainly asking for death.

Yan Li glanced at Fa Ma's VIP seat, then turned his gaze to Xiao Yan, Liu Ling, and Yue Er, finally locking onto Xiao Yan and smirking: "Of the three of you, only you have any real skill—but your luck ends today. This final round, I won't hold back one bit—hah!"

Xiao Yan looked at the overconfident Yan Li with a strange expression, rubbed his nose, and said apologetically: "Uh… grudges have a source, debts have a debtor—I'm just here to compete. Don't come back from the netherworld to haunt me—I'm scared of ghosts."

Hearing this, Yan Li's face darkened instantly; a crushing sense of death welled up, reminding him of the reality: if he lost, he would die.

"No matter what, the Champion today will be me!"

Boom—a clear, resonant bell tone rang out, long and piercing, echoing over the square.

At the very moment the bell sounded, Xiao Yan, who had been meditating with closed eyes, slowly opened them; everyone halted their actions and stood still before their respective Alchemy Furnaces.

"Ladies and gentlemen, today's final victor will be this year's Champion—so give it your all!" Fa Ma's aged, calm voice echoed in every ear.

Liu Ling and the young princess both stared at Yan Li's sneering mouth, clenched their fists, and silently vowed to defeat him by their own strength.

The contest rules matched what Fa Ma had said last night: bring your own medicinal materials, refine one Elixir within the time limit—the one with higher quality and higher Rank wins.

"Hmph, playing such a petty trick," Yan Li sneered; among the thirty-odd people present, he was likely the only one unaware of today's topic.

No one showed surprise; all immediately pulled out their pre-prepared medicinal materials and began refining.

Liu Ling and the young princess unleashed their trump cards; two slightly ancient-looking Alchemy Furnaces appeared before them.

"Huh? Yue Er's Alchemy Furnace is the Fifth-Rank Azure Flame Cauldron? Back then, several Fourth-Rank Alchemists fought over it—never thought it ended up in your Imperial Family's hands."

"Damn, Liu Ling's Alchemy Furnace is the Volcanic Flame Cauldron that Gu He used when he won the Champion title—also a Fifth-Rank Alchemy Furnace!"

In the VIP seats, many recognized the origins of Liu Ling and Yue Er's Alchemy Furnaces.

And it didn't stop there—both Liu Ling and Yue Er used special Flame Seeds; their flames were no weaker than the Purple Flame of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King—both were Sixth-Rank Beast Fires.

"Look quick! That man's flame is black too—just like Xiao Yan's!"

At this, murmurs rose from the audience seats; Xiao Yan, who had not yet begun refining, turned his head—and saw Yan Li summoning a wisp of black flame!

Sensing Xiao Yan's gaze, Yan Li smirked, raising his black flame as if to say: My Flame Seed won't lose to yours!

Xiao Yan shook his head in disbelief—did he really think black flame could rival Void Swallowing Flame?

Yan Li's black flame, though not a Beast Fire, was merely a somewhat unusual flame—stronger than Liu Ling's, but to compare it to a Spiritual Flame? That was pure nonsense.

"If you want to compare, let me show you what a Spiritual Flame truly is!"

Boom—five Alchemy Furnaces appeared before Xiao Yan; he extended his palm, and a blood-red flame rose from his palm.

Roar! Roar! Roar!!!!

A deafening roar erupted from the blood-red flame; the instant the beast's bellow rang out, every flame in everyone's hands shrank by half!

As if bowing in submission!

"Spiritual Flame?!!!"

Not just the audience, but every Alchemist—including Yan Li, Fa Ma, Jia Xingtian, and other Dou Huang powerhouses—all stared at the Myriad Beasts Spiritual Flame in Xiao Yan's palm.

"What flame is that? Why does it emit such a powerful beast roar?"

"Incredible—isn't that the flame Xiao Yan used yesterday for his wings?"

All audience members stared, dumbfounded, at the blood-red flame, whispering among themselves.

Watching every flame shrink before them, they couldn't help but murmur in awe.

"When a Spiritual Flame appears, all other flames submit!"

"This kid finally used his Spiritual Flame!"

"Good! With a Spiritual Flame, Xiao Yan's chances of winning just skyrocketed!"

Fa Ma nearly stood up; though everyone knew Xiao Yan possessed a Spiritual Flame, seeing it actually used sent a jolt through every heart.

Yan Li bit his lip, clenched his fists—this moment, he truly regretted coming to the Jia Ma Empire. He never imagined a boy so young would not only possess powerful Alchemy skills, but also a Spiritual Flame!

"No—I absolutely cannot die here!"

(End of Chapter)