Chapter 133: Mobilizing Forces Toward Jia Ma!
In the spectator stands, the moment Xiao Yan summoned his flame, Jiang Yun's gaze also fell upon him.
Nine-star Dou Shi strength. Coupled with his Burning Art, which had now evolved to the Mysterious Class Mid-grade—such strength had already surpassed the same period in the original story.
And that flame within his body—it was the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame!
Having confirmed Xiao Yan's current condition, Jiang Yun's gaze shifted away. He was still not certain whether everything was mere coincidence. He would have to observe further to know for sure.
As time passed, the sounds of explosions began to ring out continuously from the plaza.
"Bang, bang, bang..." The first round tested the alchemists' fundamentals. Clearly, among these two thousand-plus alchemists, quite a few were merely making up the numbers—or were first-tier alchemists. A second-tier pill was simply too much of a stretch for them.
There were also many second-tier alchemists whose fundamentals were lacking, meaning their success rate in refining second-tier pills was far too low.
Coupled with the environment of the Alchemist Grand Meeting, those who inherently lacked sufficient psychological fortitude had an even lower success rate.
Once both sets of ingredients were fully exhausted, alchemist after alchemist, faces ashen, cursed under their breath and retreated from the plaza amidst pitying gazes from all around.
"Condense!"
When half the sand in the hourglass had trickled down, accompanied by Xiao Yi Xian's delicate cry, a perfectly round pill immediately shot out from the cauldron before her. Xiao Yi Xian reached out and grasped it in her hand.
Xiao Yi Xian being the first to successfully refine a pill caused the dignitaries in the VIP seats to marvel. No one had expected that the one to refine a pill first would be this quiet, unassuming woman by Jiang Yun's side. Although the speed of pill refinement couldn't fully represent one's alchemy level, being able to refine a pill the fastest was still a skill in itself.
As expected—an outstanding teacher produces outstanding students!
The crowd directed a wave of flattery toward Jiang Yun. Jiang Yun, however, cared nothing for this. A competition of this level naturally didn't catch his eye. But Xiao Yi Xian had never competed on the same stage with other alchemists before.
This occasion had conveniently come up, so he treated it as a chance to relax and enjoy the atmosphere!
Had it not been for happening upon this event, they would have already set off for the Central Plains by now.
In the plaza, following Xiao Yi Xian, like a chain reaction, Liu Ling, Yao Yue, and the other alchemists with solid fundamentals all smoothly refined the Bone-Growing Pill.
After this round of elimination, only about one-third of the alchemists on site successfully remained. As the host, Che Mi'er, at this point, had already begun reading out the method for pill inspection.
During the inspection, without any alchemist from the Chu Yun Empire interfering, unsurprisingly, Xiao Yi Xian, Xiao Yan, and Liu Ling claimed the top three spots. Princess Yao Yue, having failed to place, looked somewhat unhappily at Xiao Yan—the only 'commoner' among the three!
"In this old man's view, young friend Xiao Yi Xian likely possesses the level of a third-tier alchemist. A third-tier alchemist at such a young age—this talent... truly, an outstanding teacher produces outstanding students!"
As the winners were determined, Fa Ma looked at Xiao Yi Xian's excessively youthful figure and recalled the effortless, deft pill-refining methods she had just displayed. He spoke with admiration.
"Third-tier alchemist? Passable, I suppose," Jiang Yun did not deny it, speaking with an utterly indifferent air.
Seeing the constipated expressions on the faces of Jia Xingtian and the others, a mischievous urge rose within him. In a flat tone, he said, "In the Central Plains, only an eighteen-year-old Dou Huang can be considered a top-tier prodigy. Only a sixth or seventh-tier alchemist can be called an alchemy genius. What's more, there are always higher mountains beyond mountains. Xiao Yi Xian still has a very long road ahead."
"..."
As Jiang Yun unveiled a mere tip of the Central Plains' iceberg, Jia Xingtian, Hai Bo Dong, the surrounding clan heads, and the many elders all felt their eyelids twitch madly. The words Jiang Yun casually tossed out truly made them feel as though they had lived their years in vain—like they'd lived a dog's life.
Nalan Yanran's eyes shimmered with shock. A sense of defeat suddenly surged within her. The talent she had always prided herself on seemed, in this moment, to have become utterly unworthy of mention.
"The Central Plains... truly a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers!" After a long while, Jia Xingtian smiled bitterly, speaking with a somewhat dejected air.
Just as the crowd was inwardly shaken by the information Jiang Yun had revealed, in the arena, the second round of the competition had already begun.
With the solid foundation Jiang Yun had laid for Xiao Yi Xian, she completed the refinement of the third-tier pill, the Wind-Walking Pill—which contained a trap—in a single attempt!
After Xiao Yi Xian succeeded, Xiao Yan and the others, who had failed once, after much painful thought, finally caught on as well and easily refined the Wind-Walking Pill.
Time trickled away second by second. The sun gradually slanted westward.
The number of alchemists in the plaza dwindled rapidly. When the time ended, fewer than a hundred remained on the plaza.
With the conclusion of the second round, the host, Che Mi'er, raised his voice: "Everyone, today's events will conclude here for now. Please, all participants who have successfully advanced, rest well tonight. Tomorrow will be the final round of our meeting—and the decisive match to determine the champion."
The day's competition had ended. Jiang Yun's group politely declined Jia Xingtian and the others' invitations. Picking up Xiao Yi Xian, they headed back toward the Mite'er clan.
"How was my performance today?" The moment they returned to their quarters, Xiao Yi Xian couldn't wait to look at Jiang Yun, awaiting his critique of her performance today.
"Hmm..." Jiang Yun deliberated for a moment. Under her increasingly anxious gaze, he smiled gently. "Ninety-nine points. I'll save the last point for when you win the championship—then I'll make it up to you!"
Hearing Jiang Yun's reply, Xiao Yi Xian immediately beamed, her brows dancing with delight. With a trace of pride, she said, "Hmph—just you watch! Watch me win the very first championship for our sect!"
Listening to Xiao Yi Xian's lofty, heroic words, Jiang Yun chuckled lightly and lowered his head to continue reading the scroll in his hands. It was the method of resurrection obtained from Yao Chen.
Flame Sovereign Yao Tianhuo had been lingering in his hands for quite some time now. Just letting him sit there wasn't a solution. Besides, he had promised him back then—if there was an opportunity, he would resurrect him.
By now, he already possessed Dou Zun battle strength. Yao Tianhuo had become dispensable. This period was perfect for studying the method and finding an opportunity to resurrect him!
The next day!
As the sky barely began to lighten, the Holy City of Jia Ma once again stirred awake from its slumber. The clamor of noise rang out in every corner of the city.
By now, on the competition stage, the atmosphere was already thick with the smell of gunpowder.
With Mi Qie'er's announcement, the final round of the Alchemist Grand Meeting officially began.
Watching the medicinal ingredients for the pills Xiao Yan and the others were refining below, Jiang Yun immediately understood the situation. Liu Ling and Yao Yue were, just as in the original story, refining ordinary fourth-tier pills. Xiao Yan, however, had not refined the Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill this time. Instead, he was refining the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill.
Was it because he lacked the mentality to compete for the championship?
The thought flickered past, and Jiang Yun shifted his gaze away to look at Xiao Yi Xian beside him. Watching the ingredients she was refining, Jiang Yun was briefly taken aback. Chuckling inwardly, he thought: What a stubborn little girl!
At this moment, what Xiao Yi Xian was refining was precisely a fifth-tier pill, the Qi-Nourishing Pill. It possessed the effect of stabilizing the hollow, floating sensation of Dou Qi after a breakthrough.
It was a relatively simple fifth-tier pill. Yet, simple as it was, it was still a fifth-tier pill. Compared to a fourth-tier pill, its value was on an entirely different level.
After failing twice, on the third attempt, Xiao Yi Xian finally refined the fifth-tier pill—the Qi-Nourishing Pill.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan and the others, who had long since finished their own refinements, understood the outcome the moment Xiao Yi Xian's pill emerged from the cauldron. They sighed with some regret, but still calmly accepted the result.
Afterward, under Fa Ma's announcement, Xiao Yi Xian claimed first place in this year's Alchemist Grand Meeting. She also thus received the champion's prize—the pill formula for a sixth-tier pill, the Spirit-Melding Pill.
With the Alchemist Grand Meeting's conclusion, the Holy City of Jia Ma's bustle continued unabated. Because that youth from the Xiao Clan whose engagement had been annulled was about to come to the Yun Lan Sect and fulfill the three-year agreement with the Yun Lan Sect's Young Sect Master, Nalan Yanran.
The Holy City of Jia Ma!
In an ordinary, unremarkable courtyard, Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes. A solid, tangible suit of Dou Qi armor shrouded his body.
"Not bad, not bad. Congratulations—you've already advanced to Da Dou Shi. And due to the medicinal power of the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill, you've even smoothly broken through to two-star Da Dou Shi. Although Nalan Yanran's strength is somewhat greater than yours, combined with the heavenly flame, you're not without a fighting chance!"
Yao Chen looked at Xiao Yan and said with a smile.
"Let's go. It's time to ascend Yun Lan Mountain." Xiao Yan hefted the Xuan Heavy Ruler, speaking in a deep voice. He pulled open the door and slowly strode out.
On a vast stretch of ruins.
A pitch-black war chariot rested silently atop. The chariot was pulled by two handsome, divine-like magical beasts. At this moment, these two beasts were prostrate on the ground, trembling uncontrollably.
From within the war chariot, the terrifying pressure that leaked out made the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King feel an overwhelming sense of suffocation. It was as if, in the very next second, its life or death would be stripped from its control.
"Young Hall Master!"
Just then, a figure garbed entirely in black robes appeared, cupping his fists respectfully toward the war chariot.
"Handled?" An indifferent voice drifted out, seemingly utterly devoid of any emotion whatsoever, sending bone-chilling shivers through all who heard it.
"The remnants of the Holy Light Dynasty have been completely annihilated. What is the next step? I await the Young Hall Master's instructions!"
Hearing Yun Yi's words, Qin Tian's expression turned solemn. He answered with increasingly deep respect.
"Set out. Head for the Jia Ma Empire. I have a premonition—this time, we will encounter some interesting individuals."
After a moment of silence, Yun Yi's voice came forth once more.
"Understood!"
Qin Tian nodded and went to make the arrangements. Over the past year and more of interacting, Qin Tian had gone from originally respecting Yun Yi's status, to now also fearing his strength.
Through over a year of growth, following in Yun Yi's footsteps and obtaining no small amount of resources, he had already become a four-star Dou Zun. Advancing two stars in a single year—such speed among Dou Zuns could not be called slow!
But Yun Yi was even more terrifying. Three months ago, he had already reached nine-star Dou Zong, and had even single-handedly slain a three-star Dou Zun. That figure, like a demon god, from that day was etched deeply into everyone's eyes.
As Qin Tian left, inside the war chariot, Yun Yi looked at the intelligence report in his hand—news transmitted from within the Hun clan.
"Several days ago, a squad of the Gu clan's Black Annihilation Army departed the Southern Region. Their direction seems to be... the Northwest Continent?"
"Gu clan! Black Annihilation Army!"
An indifferent voice sounded. Within Yun Yi's hand rose a cluster of pitch-black flame. Instantly, the beast-skin bearing the intelligence report was burned completely to nothing.
The day of the three-year agreement.
Jiang Yun had brought Zi Yan and the other two early on and concealed themselves above the main hall of the Yun Lan Sect's sect master. This vantage point offered an excellent view, taking in the entire Yun Lan Sect at a single glance. After setting up a simple concealment array, of the multitude of people present, not a single one detected anything amiss.
"This Yun Lan Sect has really put on quite a grand display just to deal with a single Xiao Yan!" Zi Yan leaned against Jiang Yun's embrace, her gaze falling upon the ten seated figures in the square below. She slowly spoke.
Two of them were Yun Yun and her disciple, Nalan Yanran. The remaining eight were the eight elders, led by Yun Leng.
Here, one could see the true strength of the Yun Lan Sect. Among the eight elders, the first four were Dou Wangs—among them, Yun Leng was a high-level Dou Wang. The remaining four were all peak Dou Lings, just one step away from ascending to Dou Wang.
Coupled with Yun Shan and Yun Yun—this level of strength was already no weaker than half the snake-people tribe.
And this wasn't even counting the rallying power of Gu He, a sixth-tier alchemist. With such strength, it was no wonder the Jia Ma imperial family sat so uneasily.
"To deal with a single Xiao Yan, such a grand display is naturally unnecessary. This is them demonstrating their might to the outside world!"
Jiang Yun watched Yun Yun's utterly carefree, untroubled demeanor and couldn't help but shake his head. Yun Yun's performance as sect master was indeed somewhat unqualified. Her nature was far too soft.
In this world where strength reigned supreme, a Dou Huang sect master actually had to bow to a Dou Wang elder?
How utterly absurd!
He had already warned her last time. He hadn't expected things would still end up like this. Such a disposition was truly unsuited for being the master of a sect!
Zi Yan nodded. After sweeping her gaze around once and finding nothing of interest, she nestled against Jiang Yun's chest, unblinkingly staring at his sharply defined, handsome face.
Sensing Zi Yan's gaze, Jiang Yun smiled faintly and tightened his arms around the girl in his embrace.
Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin watched this scene with envy, but they didn't feel any resentment. Because Zi Yan (Sister Zi Yan) deserved it!
Right at that moment.
Steady footsteps slowly rang out. Xiao Yan, carrying the black Xuan Heavy Ruler on his back, slowly approached.
On the giant ancient trees beside the plaza, Jia Xingtian and Hai Bo Dong stood shoulder to shoulder, silently observing below.
"Isn't he that 'coffin-carrying youth' from last time?" Looking at Xiao Yan and noticing the familiar 'coffin board' on his back, Zi Yan's face dawned with realization. "So he's Xiao Yan!"
"This Xiao Yan is no ordinary person..." Xiao Yi Xian's brow raised slightly. At this moment, Xiao Yan alone faced the upper echelons of the Yun Lan Sect, plus nearly a thousand disciples around him. The bearing he displayed was truly out of the ordinary.
At the very least, among the so-called young talents of the Jia Ma Empire that Xiao Yi Xian had seen, none could surpass him.
"He does indeed have something!" Zi Yan also commented in an old, worldly-wise tone.
"This... the Nalan clan's standards are this high? Even a prodigy like this doesn't catch their eye?" Hai Bo Dong looked at Xiao Yan, then at Jia Xingtian beside him, his face full of bafflement.
"Young people have their own ideas. Don't go imposing your old-fashioned thinking on them, you old fossil!" Jia Xingtian cast a sidelong glance at Hai Bo Dong and spoke tactfully. After all, the other was his Lionheart Marshal—he couldn't exactly twist the knife.
"Heh!" Hai Bo Dong sneered, casting a contemptuous look at Jia Xingtian. Those words—anyone else could say them. But coming from the imperial family...
Tsk tsk!