The next day, dawn had only just brushed the skies when the Jia Ma Sacred City once again awoke in a wave of bustling noise that rippled through every corner of the capital.
When Liu Xi arrived at the VIP seats, most of the front row was already occupied—except for the three chairs reserved for him, Xiao Yixian, and Zi Yan.
"Hehe… little friend, today, everything depends on you!" Jia Xingtian laughed heartily upon seeing Liu Xi's arrival. If the championship of the Alchemist Grand Assembly were to be taken by a foreign alchemist, it would be a humiliation the Jia Ma Empire could not bear.
"Just give it your all, little friend," Hai Bodong chimed in with a grin. "Once the competition ends, those three foreign pests will be handled by us old men. You need only focus on the cauldron."
Liu Xi nodded with a faint smile. "Then I'll trouble Elder Jia and Elder Hai. Having me personally compete for a championship at the Alchemist Grand Assembly… I almost feel embarrassed."
"Hahaha!"
The table erupted with laughter. Jia Xingtian, Hai Bodong, Miteer Tengshan, Nalan Jie, Mu Chen, and the elders of the Alchemist Association all exchanged knowing looks.
The Alchemist Grand Assembly was meant to give young alchemists a stage to prove themselves—but Liu Xi, despite his youth, was already a 6th Tier Alchemist and a living legend. He hardly needed such a competition for fame.
After a few light-hearted exchanges, they all sat down, the atmosphere in the VIP area tranquil and confident—utterly unconcerned about the coming round.
Down on the arena floor, however, tension was already thick in the air.
---
When Yan Li, dressed in his grey robe, entered the plaza, countless Jia Ma alchemists turned to glare at him, eyes filled with hostility. The man's arrogance had pushed their patience to its limit.
Yan Li swept his gaze around the square, ignoring Liu Ling and Princess Yao Yue completely. His eyes lingered only on Xiao Yan, and his lips curved into a sinister grin.
"Today, you'll still have no chance to win."
Xiao Yan's face remained calm. "We'll see who wins and who loses."
He had already learned from Yao Chen that this so-called young prodigy was actually concealing both his true age and appearance. Compared to Xiao Yan's natural talent, the man was a fraud.
Hidden among the crowd, Luo Ba of the Luo Yan Empire and Han Mu of the Mu Lan Empire were far more cautious. They quickly realized that plenty of foreign alchemists had come with the same goal—to humiliate the Jia Ma Alchemist Association. Letting the loudest fool, Yan Li, stand in front was the perfect way to improve their odds of survival.
---
When the golden sunlight fully illuminated the Royal Plaza, the stands were once again packed to the brim. The contestants took their positions, and Qie Mi'er stepped forward to address the audience.
"First of all, congratulations to all participants who have passed the first and second rounds! Today, you will contend for the title of Champion!"
"At the same time, this year's Alchemist Grand Assembly will feature a very special guest joining the final round!"
A ripple of astonishment swept through the plaza. Such a thing had never happened before. Even the contestants exchanged confused looks—but the Assembly's rules belonged solely to the Alchemist Association. No one could object.
Yan Li's expression, however, twisted. A surge of unease welled up in his chest.
All eyes turned toward Qie Mi'er as he smiled broadly, stepping aside and declaring, "This guest… is none other than our Association's Grand Elder—Liu Xi!"
The plaza erupted.
"Whoa—!"
The crowd's stunned silence lasted but a heartbeat before exploding into thunderous cheers that shook the heavens.
Liu Xi rose calmly, walked to the front beside Qie Mi'er, and faced the arena.
The eyes of every spectator and alchemist fixed on him. To witness a 6th Tier Alchemist refine pills firsthand—this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
But just as the cheers reached their peak, a sharp, furious voice cut through the noise.
"This is unfair!"
It was Yan Li, shouting in outrage.
Qie Mi'er glanced toward Liu Xi, who remained silent, and responded in a steady tone, "Unfair? Not at all. Our Grand Elder is merely twenty-two years old—well within the age requirement for participation."
Yan Li slammed his palms on the stone platform, his face contorted with fury. "But he's a 6th Tier Alchemist! What's the point of this competition if you pit us against a monster? The Jia Ma Alchemist Association never intended for anyone else to win!"
Qie Mi'er's voice remained calm but carried an edge sharp enough to cut. "There is an age limit, not a rank limit. And besides, our Grand Elder, with his modest temperament, has already stated that should he 'luckily' win the championship, he will donate all rewards to the runner-up."
He emphasized the word luckily just enough to twist the knife.
Yan Li trembled with rage, but before he could respond, the surrounding alchemists turned on him, glaring with fiery eyes.
A 6th Tier Alchemist refining pills before their eyes? Who in their right mind would oppose that?
---
Sensing the perfect moment, Liu Xi smiled faintly. Dou Qi surged through his body, summoning the surrounding energies of heaven and earth. Before the stunned crowd, he stepped down from the VIP platform as if walking on an invisible staircase of air, each step echoing like thunder.
"The third round," Qie Mi'er announced loudly, "will have no provided assistance. Each participant must use their own pill recipe and ingredients. The final result will be judged by the pill's grade and practical effect."
He paused, drew a breath, and raised his voice: "I hereby declare the third round of the Alchemist Grand Assembly—begins now! May everyone show their true brilliance!"
Instantly, all attention turned to Liu Xi. For many, the championship no longer mattered. To simply watch him refine a pill was worth the journey.
Liu Ling slumped slightly. He knew the championship had already slipped from his grasp. As Gu He's disciple, the rewards held little appeal—what he truly wanted was the honor of the title.
Xiao Yan, meanwhile, stared solemnly at Liu Xi.
A quiet voice echoed in his mind—Yao Chen's. "Hehe… I didn't expect this boy to personally take part in such a small event. Xiao Yan, watch carefully and learn. His talent is among the finest on the continent. One day, you must surpass him."
Yan Li, realizing the inevitable, collapsed weakly to the floor, despair written across his face. "My promotion… my title as Association President… it's all over. A 6th Tier Alchemist—how shameless can they be…"
He still didn't realize that his secret identity had already been exposed.
---
When the crowd's expectant gaze locked onto him, Liu Xi gave a helpless shrug.
With a flick of his wrist, his Nether Sea Ring shimmered. A crimson cauldron engraved with roaring beasts materialized and landed heavily before him.
At the tip of his finger, a wisp of blue-green flame danced to life before plunging into the cauldron with a deep boom. One by one, herbs flew from his ring, swirling around him like a storm of life and fragrance.
As the cauldron heated, the ingredients began to drop in rapid succession—all at once.
Supported by his pure, vast Dou Qi, guided by the fierce might of the Green Lotus Core Flame, and controlled with the refined precision of the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique, his spiritual power moved with absolute perfection.
Even a 7th Tier pill was within his grasp.
And today, what he sought to refine was a 6th Tier mid-grade pill—the Azure Spirit Life Extension Pill.
(End of Chapter)
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