Chapter 182: Yan Li's Despair

"What is going on? What kind of medicinal pill are those two guys refining?" Whether it was the audience watching the match or the contestants themselves, everyone was extremely surprised by the sudden phenomenon. They cast their gazes toward Xiao Yan and the other person one after another.

If others were merely surprised, for Yan Li, it was pure despair; although he had never eaten pork, that didn't stop him from having seen pigs run!

This was clearly a sign that a Grade Five medicinal pill was about to be born.

"How is this possible? How could a Grade Five Alchemist appear at this Alchemist Grand Meeting?"

At this moment, Yan Li no longer felt any joy from having refined a Fourth Grade Peak Pill; it was replaced by an immediate urge to flee.

He did not believe these two guys would fail at the final hurdle. The hardest part had already passed; could they really stumble here?

If that were the case, then his mission this time was effectively dead. The honor and power that would have come with success had vanished into thin air, and he would even have to flee like a stray dog; those old fellows would absolutely never let him off with his life.

No!

As his thoughts raced, Yan Li discovered his only chance of survival.

"Hahahahaha!"

Like a drowning man grabbing at a final straw, Yan Li laughed wildly, "So what if you refine a Grade Five medicinal pill? You don't have enough time. If you lose your qualification for the competition, the championship is still mine!"

At this moment, the others who had been immersed in the phenomenon of the medicinal pill suddenly woke up. There was less than ten minutes left until the time limit; although this was the final stage, the time was completely insufficient.

What to do? Could they really lose the competition for such an absurd reason and let an Alchemist from the Chu Yun Empire snatch this honor?

The expressions of the crowd suddenly turned ugly.

"Fama! Is what he said true?" The successive ups and downs were making Jia Xingtian's heart unable to bear the burden today.

He had originally thought the match was a guaranteed win, yet such a blunder had occurred; how could his old bones accept this!

"It is true!" Fama first nodded with an expressionless face.

"The refining time for a Grade Five medicinal pill is much longer than for a Fourth Grade one. Judging by their progress, they need at least another quarter of an hour."

"Then now..." Jia Xingtian was about to lose his temper; he did not want to let someone trample the face of the Jia Ma Empire into the ground.

However, Fama was also a shrewd person, "But my Alchemist Grand Meeting has another regulation."

"Hmm?" Jia Xingtian asked impatiently, "What regulation?"

Fama then slowly pulled a scroll from his sleeve, a strange smile hanging on the corner of his mouth, and handed the scroll to Jia Xingtian, who snatched it away.

After Jia Xingtian took it, he read it in detail. At first, he frowned; wasn't this just the rules for the third round of the competition?

Until his gaze fell upon the final sentence: "If a contestant refines a Grade Five medicinal pill, their corresponding competition time shall be increased by one hour."

The ink was not yet dry!

"You old rascal, it seems you aren't one to stick to the rules either!" Jia Xingtian glanced sideways at the smiling Fama, significantly revising his impression of the man as pedantic.

Was this pedantic? He was simply as cunning as a fox!

"Oh? It seems President Fama also had a contingency plan for this matter?"

Xiao Zhan, who had been silent since the start of the competition, saw the rapidly changing expression on Jia Xingtian's face and knew that something favorable to their side had likely appeared.

"Clan Leader Xiao, please take a look!" Jia Xingtian then tossed the scroll to Xiao Zhan and Hai Bodong.

After the two finished reading, they looked at each other and likewise looked at a certain old fellow with newfound respect!

"However, it is a pity that the Alchemist from my Xiao Clan likely won't need it." Xiao Zhan, however, said with a hint of regret.

"What does Clan Leader Xiao mean by this?" The others looked at Xiao Zhan with curiosity.

The latter merely smiled mysteriously and did not answer.

"My God!"

Suddenly, a cry of surprise erupted from outside. The few of them looked toward the source of the sound and witnessed a shocking scene.

One minute earlier.

Regarding Yan Li's mockery, the others appeared exceptionally angry and nervous. However, Xiao Wu Yue found it more amusing.

"You actually pinned your hopes on the competition time? Then you might be disappointed!" Xiao Wu Yue sneered in his heart.

Xiao Shutin

Immediately, his hand seals changed in succession, tracing mysterious marks in the air. In an instant, a loud boom erupted from the pill cauldron, attracting everyone's attention.

Following that, the energy fluctuations that were originally not obvious surged instantly; some of the weaker Alchemists on the field were even forced back two steps by this suddenly erupting momentum.

As for this phenomenon, Fama, who had been full of doubts at first, suddenly widened his eyes. After a long while, he could only offer a bitter smile, "Truly a great method; the waves behind the Yangtze River push the waves ahead!"

Seeing the suspicious gazes of the others, Fama took the initiative to explain.

"This old man does not know what method that Grade Five Alchemist used, but I can clearly tell you that the final refining time for this medicinal pill has been shortened; it will definitely be finished in time."

Fama then turned to Xiao Zhan and said somewhat humbly, "I wonder if Clan Leader Xiao could trade such a method to my Alchemist Guild?"

"Rest assured, the reward my Alchemist Guild pays will definitely satisfy Clan Leader Xiao."

Hearing this, both Jia Xingtian and the other looked at Fama in astonishment—this old rascal was so generous! But the latter ignored their gazes.

Fama really wanted to obtain this method—shortening the pill refining time! Even a few minutes could potentially have a huge effect.

Xiao Zhan said apologetically, "I'm sorry, President Fama. Although Zhan is the Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan, I do not have the authority to make the Xiao Clan's Alchemist hand over their own pill-refining techniques."

"So... I ask President Fama to forgive me!"

Although Fama was disappointed, he felt it was only natural; a pill-refining technique was an Alchemist's unique skill, and unless necessary, no Alchemist would choose to trade it.

As the head of a clan, Xiao Zhan clearly understood this perfectly.

"It was this old man who was abrupt!"

However, Fama still did not give up on the idea, "I wonder if Clan Leader Xiao could introduce me to exchange some pill-refining insights with that Alchemist?"

Xiao Zhan could not refuse this, so he immediately gave his assurance.

Moreover, Fama was, to some extent, an old senior and was himself a Grade Five Peak Alchemist; he believed Xiao Wu Yue would also be happy to exchange ideas with him.

"Many thanks, Clan Leader Xiao!"

"Then, should we still announce the rule?" Hai Bodong was the first to point out the blind spot.

Fama pondered for a while, his mind conjuring that extremely ordinary face and outstanding talent for alchemy.

"That is only natural; since it is the rule, it must be followed."

"You are the host of this tournament, so everything is up to you!"

Since Yan Li no longer had any hope, and Jia Xingtian was also very interested in this battle belonging to the Alchemists of the Jia Ma Empire, he had no objections either.

"I, Xiao Zhan, also very much wish to witness the achievements of that young man!" At this moment, Xiao Zhan also agreed.

"Oh?" At this time, the atmosphere among the crowd had completely relaxed, and they all had the leisure to joke, "Could it be that Clan Leader Xiao is not worried that the Alchemist from the Xiao Clan will lose the competition?"

"Haha!"

Xiao Zhan laughed heartily, "If he can truly reach that step, I will be even more gratified."