After Liu Xi's open praise, countless guests in the VIP seats began paying close attention to the previously obscure Yan Xiao.
Ya Fei's gaze shimmered with emotion. Of course she knew that Yan Xiao was none other than Xiao Yan. That human-skin mask on his face had been something she herself secretly prepared for him when he asked to conceal his identity.
"If Master Liu Xi thinks so highly of Xiao Yan, perhaps I can introduce them. It would benefit both him—and me."
Down in the plaza, the massive hourglass turned, marking the start of the round. Over two thousand alchemists—no matter their confidence or anxiety—summoned their flames and began refining.
In an instant, more than two thousand fires flared to life, bathing the arena in heat and brilliance. The crowd's excitement surged to its peak. Almost all the flames were bright yellow, though they varied slightly in hue—ordinary flames catalyzed purely by Dou Qi. Even Liu Ling and Princess Yao Yue were no exception.
But there were exceptions.
Yan Xiao's flame blazed a deep crimson-gold.
A ripple of surprise swept through the VIP stands. So, this Yan Xiao really does have something special. Even Liu Xi narrowed his eyes, quietly sensing the flame's essence.
"No aura of a Heavenly Flame… It should be a beast flame," he murmured.
As time went on, muffled explosions began to echo throughout the square.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The first round tested fundamental skill—and clearly, most of the two thousand contestants had come to make up the numbers. When both allotted sets of ingredients were exhausted, many alchemists left the stage cursing, faces dark, their failure reflected in the pitying looks of the crowd.
When more than half the sand had fallen through the hourglass, a round, glossy pill suddenly shot from Yan Xiao's cauldron. He leapt up lightly and caught it in his hand.
The first to successfully refine a pill—Yan Xiao's result made the VIPs murmur in admiration. They now truly understood Liu Xi's discerning eye. To refine a pill fastest was itself a mark of mastery.
But Liu Xi's expression remained calm. His concern was not speed—it was whether Xiao Yan possessed a Heavenly Flame.
Now, in this age when the Origin Qi of the continent had nearly vanished, only the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's domain still held that essence needed for ascension. The battle for Dou Di was, at its core, a battle for Heavenly Flames.
Even the ancient races had scoured the Dou Qi Continent and found no more sources left behind. Liu Xi himself dared not claim he would ever find one.
As more time passed, others succeeded as well—Liu Ling, Yao Yue, and several seasoned alchemists soon refined their Bone Regrowth Pills.
By the end of the round, roughly one-third of the contestants remained. Qie Mi'er, as host, began announcing the inspection procedures for the pills.
But during the testing—something completely unexpected occurred.
Everyone, including Liu Xi, had assumed that Yan Xiao, Liu Ling, and Yao Yue would easily take the top three positions. Yet when the results appeared, even Yan Xiao had been pushed down to fourth place.
On the special crystal mirrors used to measure pill potency, three glowing green pillars shone higher than all others—belonging to three mysterious foreign alchemists.
The crowd erupted into shocked chatter. Even Liu Xi's brows furrowed deeply. He had come merely to spectate, but as the Grand Elder of the Alchemist Association, this was tantamount to being publicly slapped in the face.
Jia Xingtian's expression grew grave as well. This wasn't just about the Association—it was about the pride of the entire Jia Ma Empire.
Liu Xi's Spiritual Power spread silently across the arena, probing the three foreign contestants.
"Two middle-aged, one youthful… no, their soul strength is too solid for ordinary 4th Tier Alchemists. Yan Li must be one—but who are the other two?"
He lifted his head. "Do we have their records?"
A association elder immediately flipped through the registry, pulling three documents to compare with their portraits.
"These three are registered as coming from the Luo Yan Empire, the Mu Lan Empire, and the Chu Yun Empire," he reported. "But their faces are unfamiliar. None exist in our archives—they all entered as 'independent alchemists.'"
Liu Xi sneered. "Independent? With that level of soul strength? Impossible. They came here deliberately—to target our Grand Assembly."
Hai Bodong drew out one profile—the youth's—and whistled. "Seventeen years old and already a 4th Tier Alchemist. Little friend, this boy's talent might rival yours."
Liu Xi replied evenly, "I was a 4th Tier Alchemist at fifteen, a 5th Tier by seventeen. That one may look young, but beneath that face is an aged soul. Not everyone can compare to me."
Jia Xingtian, Hai Bodong, and the assembled clan heads all twitched at his words.
'Silent arrogance… the deadliest kind.'
Nalan Yanran's eyes glimmered. Stubborn by nature, she sought a partner worthy of her pride—someone whose talent or cultivation surpassed hers. Few her age qualified. But Liu Xi… seemed to fit perfectly.
Ya Fei's eyes, too, sparkled with mixed feelings. She had always believed Xiao Yan's talent could rival Liu Xi's, but now—seeing this—she wasn't so sure.
Her gaze drifted over Xiao Yixian and Zi Yan beside Liu Xi, then down to her own figure. 'I can't even see my toes in this dress,' she thought, half-sighing, half-bitter.
'Since when did geniuses have such strange tastes? How can he look at me without even a flicker of desire?'
"Big Brother, want me to go punch him back into shape?" Zi Yan chirped, raising her tiny fist with bright enthusiasm.
"Girl, don't be rash—" Liu Xi stopped her with a shake of the head. "If we strike now, they'll say the Alchemist Association can't handle losing. If we're to kill him… we'll do it after the tournament."
"Alright!" Zi Yan pouted, lowering her hand.
Jia Xingtian meanwhile studied the remaining files, frowning. "These two are twenty-eight and twenty-nine—right at the age limit. The Luo Yan and Mu Lan Empires sent them deliberately to undermine us. It's a blatant provocation."
A slow, confident smile curved Liu Xi's lips. "Trying to take the championship before my eyes? Then don't blame me for flipping the table."
He turned to Qie Mi'er. "Vice President, find a way to put me into the third round. This time—the championship is mine."
At those words, everyone in the VIP seats stiffened.
Liu Xi was still well within the age limit—and if a 6th Tier Alchemist entered the competition, this would become the most spectacular Grand Assembly in the history of the Jia Ma Empire.
(End of Chapter)
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