Chapter 554: Forced Into a Corner, Xiao Yan Starts Showing Off!
Just as the Dan Meeting was officially declared over and the champion announced, an unexpected voice of dissent rang out!
The protest was jarring, instantly drawing the attention of the entire crowd.
When Xuan Kong Zi's gaze fell upon the two alchemists from the Hall of Souls, he immediately understood these bastards were trying to stir up trouble!
"Oh? What seems to be the issue?"
As the President of the Pill Tower, Xuan Kong Zi couldn't just slap these fools into oblivion, no matter how tempting it was. Instead, he simply asked with a clearly displeased expression.
The two Hall of Souls alchemists had already made up their minds.
Whether or not this was Bone You's intention, they were going to speak out.
After all, they had refined Peak-Tier Seventh-Grade Pills
And they had willingly stepped down to make way for their fellow Hall of Souls alchemists.
Who would've thought those so-called "stronger" comrades would fail miserably?
But what angered them the most
Was Xiao Yan.
This bastard held out till the very end, but his pill was only a High-Tier Seventh-Grade Pill!
Yet, the overwhelming aura it emitted made it seem like an Eighth-Grade Pill
They had been deceived!
As alchemists, their pride wouldn't allow them to accept this. That's why they stood up to challenge the results!
"President Xuan Kong Zi, we accept the champion's position," one of them declared. "However, the tenth place should not belong to him!"
Huh?!
Xiao Yan's face darkened instantly.
What the hell was wrong with these people?!
You're in the Dan Meeting, and instead of challenging the champion, you're coming after me the poor guy in tenth place?!
I fought tooth and nail to secure this spot, and now you wanna take it away?!
Xiao Yan glared at the Hall of Souls alchemist, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
His tenth place was rightfully earned.
The Pill Tower had its reputation to uphold there was no way they would let the Hall of Souls manipulate the rankings!
Xuan Kong Zi's expression turned cold as he responded, "Both of you, as well as the other eliminated contestants, willingly stepped down before the final results were announced. That is considered forfeiture. Even if you had refined Eighth-Grade Pills, it was your choice to be eliminated."
…
The two Hall of Souls alchemists clenched their fists, but one of them quickly countered
"President Xuan Kong Zi, that kid refined a High-Tier Seventh-Grade Pill, yet for some reason, the aura it released was on par with an Eighth-Grade Pill! I suspect that his so-called pill is a fake!"
Fake pill?!
The term rang out like a thunderclap!
In the alchemy world, there was indeed such a thing as a fake pill
A secret technique that amplified the aura of a pill, making it appear far more powerful than it actually was.
For example, Xiao Yan had refined a High-Tier Seventh-Grade Pill, but if he had used this technique
It could have actually been a Low-Tier Seventh-Grade Pill in disguise.
This was similar to the Pill Evolution Technique used in past Dan Meetings
A technique once employed by Yao Chen himself.
So it wasn't impossible for his disciple to have a similar trick up his sleeve.
The accusation made even Xuan Kong Zi hesitate for a moment.
For the sake of the Pill Tower's credibility, he had to verify the claim.
He nodded slightly
Then turned his gaze toward Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan froze.
He had assumed the Pill Tower would protect his position
Why the hell was Xuan Kong Zi agreeing with them?!
Did this old man have a personal vendetta against him?!
Xuan Kong Zi had no personal grudge against Xiao Yan.
But he did have some unresolved history with Yao Chen.
They were brothers
But also rivals in love.
The woman Xuan Kong Zi loved had always been fixated on Yao Chen.
And since he couldn't take it out on the real culprit, wasn't it fair to bully the disciple instead?
That's exactly what Xuan Kong Zi thought.
Five out of the top ten spots already belonged to the Hall of Souls what was one more?
If Xiao Yan couldn't prove himself, then fine he'd just replace him.
Xiao Yan: (⊙o⊙)…
Thankfully, Xiao Yan didn't know about Xuan Kong Zi's grudge, or he would've died of frustration.
In that moment, as he stood under the weight of countless gazes, Xiao Yan had a flashback
To Yun Lan Mountain.
To Wind and Thunder Pavilion.
Back then, Wu Tian had shone the brightest
While he, Xiao Yan, had been reduced to a pathetic supporting act.
And now
The exact same scenario was happening all over again!
But this time
It was different!
This time, he had risen!
He was no longer the same Xiao Yan as before
He was a respected alchemist, standing on equal footing with legends!
He might not be as dominant as his hometown rival, Wu Tian
But today, he would make his mark in the Dan Meeting!
Confidence surged through him.
He turned his gaze toward his pill, floating among the nine Eighth-Grade Pills
Then, with a devilish smirk, he declared
"You forced me into this. I wanted to stay low-key, but you simply wouldn't let me!"
"You say I don't deserve tenth place? Fine I won't deny it!"
Silence.
The entire arena fell into shock.
What did he just say?!
Was he… giving up his tenth place?!
This wasn't just stupid
It was insane!
The tenth-place winner of the Dan Meeting would be recognized throughout the continent
And he was just throwing it away?!
As everyone gawked in disbelief, Xiao Yan's smirk widened.
The two Hall of Souls alchemists were even more confused.
Wait, what?
Was this kid one of them?!
That eerie smile
Was he sure he wasn't secretly a Hall of Souls agent?!
One of them sneered, "Since you admit it, then get lost! Step down and let us take our rightful place!"
"Yeah, scram! The tenth place belongs to us!"
The two old alchemists, faces lined with arrogance, urged him to leave.
But Xiao Yan simply raised a hand.
"Hold on, hold on," he said lazily. "You two seem a little too eager. What's the rush?"
A playful grin curled on his lips as he looked down at them from above.
"You're right about one thing tenth place isn't mine."
"Because my pill… is more valuable than even an Eighth-Grade Pill!"
"…"
A moment of absolute silence
Then
"WHAT?!?!"
"You claim your Seventh-Grade Pill is superior to an Eighth-Grade Pill?!"
"Hahaha! Have you lost your mind?!"
"That's impossible! Absolutely impossible!!!"
(End of Chapter)
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