The next day, the sun slowly rose, painting the horizon's clouds a brilliant orange-red. Golden ribbons of sunlight sprinkled down onto the people walking the streets, filling them with endless warmth.
Xiao Jietian led the three women toward the Royal Square.
Along the way, crowds surged like a black river flowing through the city's veins.
Today was the final match, and the number of spectators had increased several times over.
Upon reaching the VIP section, Xiao Yan, Liu Ling, and the others were already seated.
Nalan Yanran and Yao Ye were still sitting beside Xiao Yan. But thinking of Xiao Yan's personality, Xiao Jietian eventually shook his head with a faint smile.
Liu Ling and Princess Yao Yue were conversing about something. Liu Ling no longer carried his previous arrogance—likely because the heavy setbacks of the past two days had forced him to confront his own limits.
If he could truly understand himself, his talent would be better utilized. Otherwise, he would remain stagnant.
Xiao Jietian smiled and nodded at everyone, then led the three women to an empty seat.
"It seems many people have received inside information."
Ya Fei looked around at the numerous alchemists nearby. Their faces were filled with confidence, completely lacking the confusion one would expect from not knowing the assessment theme in advance.
"A large guild naturally has many people from other factions planted inside. With so many different people, information leaks are inevitable."
"There might even be people from the Izumo Empire here. Look at his expression—he definitely knew the theme ahead of time."
Xiao Jietian turned his head and glanced at Yan Li in the arena, giving a slight signal.
Yan Li noticed Xiao Jietian's gaze. He made a throat-slitting gesture with his hand, eyes full of provocation.
Xiao Jietian: Oh, a prophet, huh? He already knows he'll be killed after today.
Xiao Jietian ignored him and continued chatting casually with the three women.
Seeing that the time was almost up, Xiao Jietian rose from the VIP seats and walked down to the assessment area where he had been yesterday.
"Look—that's the top performer from yesterday's assessment! He looks so young and handsome."
"This world is truly unfair. Not only is he so good-looking, but he also has such terrifying strength and talent. He leaves no room for others to live."
"…"
As soon as Xiao Jietian entered the arena, bursts of exclamations erupted from the audience.
Xiao Yan was observing Yan Li. "Is the Face-Restoration Pill really so miraculous that even a peak Dou Huang can't distinguish its authenticity?"
"Today's championship is mine. You all have no chance. Prepare to experience a crushing defeat in your lives, haha."
Yan Li's arrogant laughter echoed through the arena.
Xiao Jietian and Xiao Yan remained completely calm and unaffected, while Liu Ling and Princess Yao Yue clenched their fists, faces ashen.
"Dong."
A clear bell rang in everyone's ears. Upon hearing it, both contestants and spectators instantly became fully alert. This bell signaled that a fierce battle was about to begin.
All eyes in the arena turned simultaneously toward Fa Ma on the high platform.
"Today is the final and most crucial round of this Alchemist Grand Meeting. The winner of this round will be crowned this year's champion."
"This match is a testament to your sweat, your effort, and your pursuit of your dreams. So please give it everything you have—leave no regrets."
Fa Ma stood on the high platform. Though his voice was aged, it was powerful and resonant, every word striking deep into the hearts of the contestants.
"Good!"
Thunderous applause and excited roars erupted throughout the arena.
Half a minute later, Fa Ma pressed his hands downward. The noise gradually subsided until the entire arena fell completely silent.
"The third round of assessment: Free Creation. Refine the best pill you are capable of within the allotted time. Everything is up to you."
Fa Ma loudly announced the theme of this round.
After he finished speaking, the expressions of most alchemists present changed. Some genuinely looked lost, while others only pretended to be.
"Since everyone is familiar with the rules, I now declare—the third round of assessment… begins!"
A surge of Dou Qi struck the giant hourglass. It flipped over and began to flow slowly, silently counting down the passage of time.
After Fa Ma finished speaking, everyone in the arena—almost in tacit understanding—fell into deep thought.
They were all calculating: What grade of pill would the people around them produce? Should they refine their most proficient pill, or take a slight risk to attempt something better? Were their medicinal ingredients sufficient?
The first to break the silence were Princess Yao Yue and Liu Ling, who had relatively abundant resources. With a wave of their hands, high-quality medicinal cauldrons appeared before each of them.
The cauldrons they revealed immediately drew gasps from those who recognized them.
Princess Yao Yue brought out a green medicinal cauldron—the once-famous fifth-tier cauldron: Azure Flame Cauldron.
Liu Ling produced an orange-yellow cauldron.
"Oh, I thought Gu He would give him his Volcano Flame Cauldron. This Scorching Sun Cauldron is also a fifth-tier cauldron. As expected of the Pill King—his foundation is truly deep."
Fa Ma looked at Liu Ling's cauldron with surprise.
Immediately afterward, a deep blue flame rose in Princess Yao Yue's palm—the imperial family's beast flame from the Raging Dragon Beast (Underworld Sea Dragon Beast): Dry Blue Water Flame.
Liu Ling's flame was light brown. Yan Li's was pitch black.
Then Xiao Yan also took out his cauldron. When the surrounding people saw Xiao Yan's shabby dark-red cauldron, their faces filled with astonishment. At most, it looked like a second-tier cauldron.
"What's wrong with little friend Yan Xiao? Why is he still using this cauldron at such a crucial moment? Is he confident, or…"
Fa Ma saw the cauldron Xiao Yan took out, and his brows immediately furrowed into a knot. A trace of regret rose in his heart—he should have asked more about the cauldron issue earlier.
"I hope he's confident… otherwise it will be bad."
His gaze shifted toward Xiao Jietian's seat. When he saw the purple medicinal cauldron in front of Xiao Jietian, he immediately stood up straight, muttering in disbelief.
"This… this… how is this medicinal cauldron so similar to the legendary Star-Moon Dual Cauldron?"
"Old man Fa, what's with your sudden alarm? Is something wrong with Xiao Jietian?"
Hai Bodong and Jia Xingtian looked at Fa Ma—who had suddenly stood up straight with wide eyes—full of confusion.
Fa Ma ignored them, frantically searching his memories. Finally, he confirmed he had not seen wrong.
"Holy crap, is this really the Star-Moon Dual Cauldron?"
Yao Lao's voice also rang out in Xiao Yan's mind at that moment.
This "holy crap" was, of course, learned from Xiao Yan.
"What's so special about Tian Ge's cauldron? Is it very powerful?"
Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Jietian's cauldron. The purple cauldron looked profound and mysterious, its body faintly emanating an otherworldly aura.
"Do you remember the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking I told you about before?"
"Of course I remember. Teacher, your Black Demon Cauldron that you used before was ranked eighth on the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking. Are you saying Tian Ge's cauldron is also on that list?"
Xiao Yan remembered Yao Lao's Black Demon Cauldron very clearly—it was the highest-grade cauldron he had ever seen.
He had even fantasized about owning one himself in the future.
"Yes. The cauldron in front of Xiao Jietian is called Star-Moon Dual Cauldron—ranked third on the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking."
Yao Lao's words struck Xiao Yan like a bolt from the blue.
"This… this…"
"Snap out of it. I'm telling you this not to discourage you, but to give you pressure. Only with pressure can you grow."
"Yes, Teacher."
Xiao Yan calmed his mind. Fierce fighting spirit immediately ignited in his eyes. He slowly raised his hand, and the ethereal Green Lotus Core Flame appeared in his palm.
Instantly, the joyful flames of Princess Yao Yue and the others in the square withered significantly. They bowed toward the green flame in Xiao Yan's hand as though worshipping a monarch.
"When an abnormal flame appears, all other flames submit. This saying is truly not false," Fa Ma sighed, looking at the strange scene in the arena.
Princess Yao Yue and the others, however, became sullen, muttering curses under their breath.
Xiao Jietian also summoned his Crimson Sun Burning Heaven Flame. When the bright red flame appeared, the direction of worship from the other flames immediately shifted toward him.
Only the green flame in Xiao Yan's hand dimmed slightly but refused to bow—abnormal flames were all extremely proud.
"This… this is another abnormal flame?"
Gasps of shock immediately erupted from the crowd in the arena.
"The Star-Moon Dual Cauldron from the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking, plus an abnormal flame… what kind of monstrous teacher must he have to cultivate such a monster?"
Fa Ma's face was filled with astonishment.
"Miss Ya Fei, is the flame in Xiao Jietian's hand also an abnormal flame?"
Yao Ye asked Ya Fei, who was not far away.
Ya Fei was momentarily stunned by the sudden question but eventually nodded silently.
"What a terrifying fellow. Two abnormal flames appearing in one match—this is truly something to look forward to."
Yao Ye lightly licked her rosy lips.
Xiao Jietian ignored the surrounding discussions and directly tossed his Qilin Burning Sky Flame into the Sun-Moon Dual Cauldron.
Xiao Yan followed closely behind, beginning to warm up his own cauldron.
After both of their abnormal flames entered their respective cauldrons, the flames of the others gradually returned to normal.
While warming his cauldron, Xiao Jietian closed his eyes once again to refamiliarize himself with the pill he planned to refine today.
"He closed his eyes again—this is a sure win! In the first two rounds, he started by closing his eyes and then took first place. Is there some kind of metaphysics involved?"
A cry of surprise came from the audience. Others who had watched yesterday's matches immediately recalled that it was indeed true.