Chaos Heaven-Dominating Technique

As he watched Shen Haoran’s back slowly disappear, Feng Li was stunned for a moment before a fervent look spread across his face. ’Doesn’t what Shen Haoran said mean he’s aiming for first place? With his strength, he might actually pull it off. After all, he can refine a Sixth Grade High Tier Spirit Emperor Pill—and even produce a Pill Pattern. That’s more than enough to compete with those geniuses.’

Feng Li clenched his fists. ’Hmph, just you wait,’ he vowed internally. ’The time for Burning Flame City to rise has come.’

Knowing that Shen Haoran was aiming for first place, Feng Li immediately spared no effort to help him improve his Alchemy. Countless Spirit Medicines were funneled into Shen Haoran’s Alchemy Room as if they were free. All available resources, even those that were supposed to be restricted, were directly approved for his use.

Of course, Shen Haoran did not disappoint. Fueled by a mountain of countless Spirit Medicines, his Alchemy Skill advanced by leaps and bounds. After more than half a month, he could faintly touch the threshold of a Seventh Grade Alchemist and could now refine Sixth Grade Elixirs with ease. However, despite this, he could only touch that threshold and could not take another step forward. He grew frustrated. ’The barrier is right in front of me, yet I can’t break through. This is agonizing!’

「Half a month later, at the Day Tiger Clan.」 The Young Master Hu who had been injured by Shen Haoran lay on his bed, wrapped in bandages like a mummy. Although his aura was still feeble, it had stabilized considerably. Shen Haoran’s control over that final punch had been superb; it hadn’t been fatal, but it had made him suffer immensely, leaving him in a state worse than death. It was only because the Day Tiger Clan was so powerful and resourceful in Burning Flame City that Young Master Hu was able to recover this quickly. Otherwise, given the severity of his injuries, he would not have healed for at least three or four months.

"What? You’re telling me the Medicine Hall is training that damned brat and wants him to participate in the competition for the Pill Emperor title?!" A furious roar echoed from within Young Master Hu’s room.

Upon hearing his servant’s report, Young Master Hu’s face instantly turned livid. The injuries he had just managed to suppress now showed signs of flaring up again.

Seeing Young Master Hu’s trembling body, the servant hastily reminded him, "Young Master Hu, the Vice Hall Master said you mustn’t get angry, or your injuries will relapse!"

"Not get angry? How can I not get angry?!" Young Master Hu shrieked at the servant. "That qualification was supposed to be mine! That was my chance to make a name for myself, and now it’s being handed to that damned brat! How can I possibly not get angry?" The sheer volume of his voice made the servants around the room drop to their knees, terrified of getting caught in the blast of his fury.

"This won’t do! I have to find my teacher and have him sort this out. I can’t let that damned brat take this opportunity!" A grim look flashed in Young Master Hu’s eyes, and he immediately tried to stand and leave the room. However, a wave of weakness washed over him, and he collapsed to the floor, unable to even get back up.

"You useless trash! What are you gaping at? Hurry up and help me see the Vice Hall Master!" Young Master Hu shrieked at the surrounding servants in a flustered rage.

At his words, the surrounding servants scrambled forward, helped Young Master Hu to his feet, and hurried toward the Medicine Hall.

A moment later, Young Master Hu arrived at the Medicine Hall and explained the situation to the Vice Hall Master. With snot and tears streaming down his face, he pleaded, "Teacher, a spot in the competition for the Pill Emperor title is my golden opportunity to make a name for myself! If I win the title of Pill Emperor, you’ll be able to oust that old bastard Feng Li. Then, you’ll be the one calling all the shots in the Medicine Hall! So please, you absolutely can’t let that damned brat ruin this for me!"

"Hmph, I’m more aware of that than you are," the Vice Hall Master snorted, his tone dripping with resentment. "But that old geezer Feng Li is the long-standing Hall Master, after all. Most people in the Medicine Hall still listen to him. Even as the Vice Hall Master, I can’t change their collective decision. That Human Race kid’s participation in the competition for the Pill Emperor title is set in stone. The Medicine Hall is pouring countless resources into him—they’ve even taken away the Spirit Medicine allotments for us Elders."

Hearing that Shen Haoran would definitely be taking his place in the competition, Young Master Hu frantically grabbed the Vice Hall Master’s leg. With a panicked look on his face, he cried, "Teacher, what do we do? You have to think of something! I must be the one to participate!"

"Stop your sniveling! Have you no shame?" The Vice Hall Master kicked him away in disgust. "Compared to that Human Race kid, you’re leagues apart. You’re completely useless!" he said coldly.

"Yes, Teacher, I was wrong," Young Master Hu said in a low voice, bowing his head. A flash of venomous resentment, however, flickered in his eyes.

"Rest assured, you and only you will be the one to represent our Burning Flame City in the competition for the Pill Emperor title. No one can take your place," the Vice Hall Master continued, not noticing the venomous look in Young Master Hu’s eyes.

"But Teacher," Young Master Hu said, baffled, "didn’t you just say that Shen Haoran’s participation was already set in stone?"

"Yes, I did," the Vice Hall Master said, a cold sneer spreading across his lips. "I said his participation is set in stone *within* the Medicine Hall of Burning Flame City. But outside the city... that’s another matter entirely."

"I’ve looked into it. This Shen Haoran came from White Fox City, and he’s all alone. Even if he has some powerful expert backing him, they’re most likely not here. We just need to lay an ambush outside the city. Even as a Sixth Grade Alchemist, he’ll have absolutely no way to escape our grasp!" A cold, murderous glint flashed in the Vice Hall Master’s eyes.

Hearing the Vice Hall Master’s words, Young Master Hu’s eyes lit up as he rejoiced internally. ’That’s right, why didn’t I think of that? Burning Flame City is our domain! My Day Tiger Clan is the top dog in this region. Even members of the Four Great Divine Beast Families have to bow their heads when they come here, let alone a lone wolf like him!’

Young Master Hu’s face was completely wrapped in bandages, hiding his expression. But his eyes shone with a cold light that seemed to freeze the very air around him. ’Heh heh, Shen Haoran, enjoy your freedom for a couple more days. You won’t escape my grasp in the end. Hmph, I told you before—killing you is as easy as crushing an ant!’ And so, in that small Alchemy Room, a conspiracy against Shen Haoran began to brew...