Divine Wilderness Dragon Emperor

"Junior Brother Ling, are you confident you can handle this Xu Zitao?" Yuan Chong couldn’t help but ask.

Just now, when facing Xu Zitao, Yuan Chong felt as if he were staring down a dormant Ancient Fierce Beast, which made him inexplicably flustered.

He had a vague feeling that this Xu Zitao was anything but simple.

Because of this, Yuan Chong started to worry about Ling Fei.

"It’s fine. If he wants to crush me, he’ll have to show some real skill first." Ling Fei glanced lightly at Xu Zitao’s departing back, raising an eyebrow. A confident smile touched his lips. ’But even if he does have some skill, beating me won’t be that easy!’

Ling Fei was still full of confidence in his own Alchemy Technique.

At the very least, he had trump cards that other Alchemists of his generation couldn’t possibly possess.

As for what tricks Xu Zitao had up his sleeve, that would be revealed in the upcoming competition.

"Mm." Seeing Ling Fei’s confident appearance, Yuan Chong finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Afterward, Ling Fei and Yuan Chong went to an area labeled for the Lingyun Sect. They each chose an Alchemy Platform and began their preparations.

Ling Fei and Yuan Chong were at adjacent Alchemy Platforms.

First, they inspected the quality of their Alchemy Furnaces.

Then, they took out their medicine boxes containing the ingredients and placed them on the Alchemy Platforms.

Xu Zitao also chose an Alchemy Platform and began taking out his medicinal ingredients.

All one thousand and five Alchemists prepared with extreme proficiency.

Below the stage, the Cultivators from the various Sects all stared at the high platform.

"I thought this alchemy competition would just be Ling Fei’s one-man show. But it seems this young man from the Beiming Sword Sect, Xu Zitao, is also an alchemy prodigy. I wonder what his talent for alchemy is truly like!" As the disciples from the various sects began their preparations on stage, the elders below were filled with anticipation.

"Heh heh. That Ling Fei inherited the Yuan Feng Pill King’s legacy and has certainly caused a stir in the Southern Wilderness this past year. I just wonder how much skill he really has. It would be a shame if his reputation is undeserved and the major Sects got their hopes up for nothing." Some of the Sect Leaders from the major Sects smiled as they gazed forward.

Master Xuan Ji of the Great Sun Thunder Sound Temple and Sect Leader Wan of the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers remained silent and appeared calm. However, the occasional glint of light flashing through their eyes seemed to confirm their inner thoughts. For them, if Ling Fei truly possessed heaven-defying talent, he was undoubtedly a beacon of hope.

But at the same time, their gazes couldn’t help but drift toward Xu Zitao.

’This junior... he’s far from simple!’ With just a brief scan, these Sect Leaders discovered Xu Zitao’s extraordinary nature.

How could such a genius act without cause?

’He must have some real ability.’

’But I wonder who is stronger, him or Ling Fei?’ the elders of the various Sects pondered.

This caused the atmosphere in the arena to become strange.

Even the Sect Leader of the North Sea Sect grew a little more worried.

In his heart, he still hoped Ling Fei could overpower all his rivals.

That way, the Lingyun Sect would have the capital to contend with the Beiming Sword Sect.

Otherwise, why would the major Sects support the Lingyun Sect?

How could the Lingyun Sect compete with the Beiming Sword Sect based on its strength alone?

Therefore, this seemingly simple alchemy competition was actually tied to the entire political landscape of the Southern Wilderness.

Naturally, the atmosphere in the arena became exceptionally tense.

’Fools. Do they really think inheriting the Yuan Feng Pill King’s legacy makes him invincible?’ Beiming Huahai swept a cold glance over Master Xuan Ji and Sect Leader Wan. The events at the Falling Star Mountain Range that day still seemed to bother him. ’I hope Zitao can crush this Ling Fei. It would be a way for me to vent my anger. And it would make Master Xuan Ji and Wan Liuxiang regret choosing the Lingyun Sect back then... Regardless, they will definitely regret it.’

Beiming Huahai’s expression was malevolent, but when his gaze fell upon Xu Zitao, he couldn’t help but reveal a knowing smile.

’Soon, my Beiming Clan will rule the Southern Wilderness, and it all depends on Xu Zitao,’ he thought, his face full of expectation.

Yuan Huaitian said nothing, merely watching the high platform in front of him, waiting to see how things would unfold.

’I wonder who that Xu Zitao is?’ Grand Alchemist Yuan Chun mused, though he was still full of confidence in Ling Fei.

He was simply curious as to how the Beiming Sword Sect had suddenly produced such a genius disciple.

...

"Alright, let the alchemy begin! You have one hour!" At that moment, from the competition stage, Vice Sect Leader Jiang’s voice echoed throughout the entire arena.

’It’s finally starting!’ As his words fell, everyone in the audience fixed their eyes on the stage.

"Go, Ling the Pill Master! You have to get first place and crush that Xu Zitao!" Fang Yuan clenched her fists, looking very excited.

Lian Shuang, however, was nonchalant, seemingly uninterested in the alchemy competition.

Among the disciples of the Beiming Sword Sect, Shangguan Wan’Er looked very nervous.

’I hope Ling Fei can win,’ she thought to herself.

And at that moment, Ling Fei took a deep breath. He began to warm his furnace and add the medicinal ingredients.

"This competition will be judged on the quality of the Elixirs. For example, a Flawless Pill is superior to an ordinary pill, and a Spirit Pill is superior to a Flawless Pill!"

Vice Sect Leader Jiang said, "The top one hundred participants will advance to the second and final round. Everyone else will be eliminated, so you must all do your best."

This competition was only the preliminary round, just a warm-up. It wasn’t the final match that would decide the ultimate victor.

’A Flawless Pill, a Spirit Pill!’ Ling Fei’s gaze sharpened. ’In that case, I’ll start by refining a Spirit Pill!’

With a flicker of his Heart Spirit, he began the alchemy process.

Ling Fei had long since mastered the refinement of the Celestial Essence Pill.

"Today, I’ll let you all know what a true Alchemist is." A faint smile tugged at the corner of Xu Zitao’s mouth.

With a flick of his wrist, a cluster of pale blue flames flickered and entered his Alchemy Furnace, and he began to refine.

This Xu Zitao was also surprisingly fast at refining elixirs. His Soul Control Power far surpassed that of an ordinary person, and he was clearly faster than the others.

"This Xu Zitao’s control over the elixir seems quite good!" Seeing this, many people’s eyes widened in surprise.

Upon closer observation, Xu Zitao’s expression was calm; he was clearly far more relaxed than the other participants.

Among the thousand-plus Alchemists, only Ling Fei could compare to him.

However, Ling Fei was even more focused.

Over a thousand Alchemy Furnaces were lined up on the wide, high platform.

As time passed, the fragrance of pills filled the air, wafting across the entire arena and causing the disciples of the various sects to reveal intoxicated expressions.

However, if they sensed carefully, some of the Sect elders discovered that Ling Fei’s and Xu Zitao’s Alchemy Furnaces were leaking almost no rich medicinal aroma.

Besides them, a young man from the North Sea Sect was also producing very little fragrance from his elixir.

There was also a woman from the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers named Wan Qianxiang. The Alchemy Furnace in front of her was also emitting very little fragrance.

’The medicinal fragrance is contained... could the four of them be refining Spirit Pills?’ The Alchemists from the various sects were inwardly shaken, a fanatical light appearing in their eyes.

One had to know, the participants in the competition could be no older than twenty. To refine a Spirit Pill at this age meant they were destined to become an Alchemy Master of their generation!

"I never expected there to be four alchemy prodigies in this competition." The Alchemy Masters from the various sects all looked surprised.

"I wonder whose elixir will be better."

Amid their anticipation, the crowd could only wait.

In the blink of an eye, an hour passed, and many Alchemists had already succeeded in their refinement.

Then, one by one, the disciples opened their Alchemy Furnaces, announcing their success.

After opening their furnaces, they took out their elixirs, placed them in a Jade Box, and affixed a label with their name to await inspection.

However, the elders of the various sects had all fixed their gazes on the Alchemy Furnaces of Ling Fei and the other three, paying no attention to anyone else.

’Is it a Spirit Pill?’ the crowd wondered, staring intently ahead.