Alchemist Convention! Killing Intent!

Three days later, the sky was azure and cloudless for miles. Early in the morning, the citizens of Garma Capital gathered in the square beside the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Guild. Ignoring the scorching heat, people swarmed in from all directions for one reason: one of the Jia Ma Empire's grandest events—the once-every-eight-years Alchemist Competition—would commence here today!

The seats closest to the square had long since sold out. Most had been purchased by wealthy and powerful factions. The reason was simple: the once-every-eight-years Alchemist Competition was also an opportunity for their respective factions to rise to prominence. If they were fortunate enough to recruit an alchemist into their ranks, it would greatly benefit their faction's development.

Having nothing to do and feeling rather bored, Huo Xuan brought Huo Zhi to the center of the capital to watch the Alchemist Convention.

As time slowly passed, the moment for the convention to begin finally arrived amid countless expectant gazes...

When a clear bell rang out over the square, the uproar that had soared into the skies gradually fell silent...

Listening to the bell lingering in his ears, Fa Ma shakily rose to his feet and slowly walked to the front of the VIP seating. His gaze swept across the thousands of alchemists seated behind their bluestone platforms below. At that moment, over two thousand alchemists raised their heads and looked toward the old man with reverence. He possessed unparalleled prestige in the Jia Ma Empire's alchemy world.

"In the name of the president of the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Guild, I hereby announce that the Seventh Alchemist Convention has begun!"

"BOOM!"

The entire venue erupted, and cheers shook the heavens!

At the command, the competing alchemists slowly descended from the platform and moved to their assigned positions.

Under the gazes of countless spectators, Liu Ling, Pill King Gu He's disciple, sprang from the high platform. Just before landing, two visible pillars of Dou Qi burst from his heels. Using them to cushion his fall, he landed unharmed, then smiled and quickly made his way to the center of the square amid the heated stares of the crowd.

Afterward, a young girl on the platform—the Jia Ma Empire's Little Princess, Yao Yue—also leaped forward. She directly drifted off the platform, her body floating down as gracefully and lightly as a falling leaf. Her beautiful posture made her seem like a heavenly maiden.

Then Xiao Yan, using the alias Yan Xiao, dropped straight down from the platform beneath everyone's watchful eyes. While in midair, he continuously manipulated the airflow to land safely.

Across the enormous square, all the contestants held their Pill Recipes and studied them carefully, their faces displaying all manner of expressions. For a time, the entire square was silent as death...

The quiet atmosphere lasted for nearly five minutes before another clear bell rang throughout the square.

At the sound of the bell, all the contestants set down what they held in unspoken unison. With a wave of their hands, over a thousand cauldrons of varying colors and shapes abruptly appeared atop the bluestone platforms.

Following the cauldrons, the alchemists began summoning their flames. Across the huge square, thousands of flames appeared abruptly like fireworks. The magnificent sight set people's blood racing!

"Look! What kind of flame is that?" A wave of astonished commotion suddenly rose from the audience.

A sapphire-blue flame burned in Yao Yue's slender hand. Rings of ripples spread around the flame, making for a most wondrous sight.

According to folk legends, at the founding of the Jia Ma Empire, the Jia Ma Royal Family possessed an immensely powerful magical beast—the Nether Sea Dragon Beast! It had saved the Jia Ma Royal Family several times. However, rumors among the common people were often distorted beyond recognition and could not be taken as truth, so not many people truly believed such tales. Of course, that excluded those who knew the inside story...

"Huh? That flame... could it be the Nether Sea Dragon Beast's Azure Water Flame?" After staring at the blue flame Yao Yue had summoned for a while, someone on the platform with considerable experience spoke in astonishment.

Although the Azure Water Flame could not compare to a Heavenly Flame, it ranked among the best of beast flames. Moreover, it possessed a soft, yin-like nature and was especially suited for women. If used by a virgin, it would enhance her strength whether in pill refinement or battle.

The Nether Sea Dragon Beast? In the Flame Clan, its greatest use would probably be guarding the gates, Huo Xuan thought silently as he stared at the Azure Water Flame in Yao Yue's hand.

Then Liu Ling, Pill King Gu He's disciple, summoned a pale brown flame. It was clearly another decent beast flame.

After everyone had summoned their respective flames, Xiao Yan gave a soft laugh and slowly raised his palm. A wisp of earth-yellow flame floated above it. The instant it appeared, the already scorching temperature around it suddenly surged to a terrifying level.

A breeze suddenly swept through the square. The strangely colored flames began to tilt slightly, and what was even more astonishing was that every single one tilted toward the earth-yellow flame hovering above Xiao Yan's palm at the center of the square...

The bizarre sight resembled... ministers paying homage to their sovereign...

"A Heavenly Flame has appeared! All flames submit!"

The strange spectacle in the square caused every spectator's gaze to converge on Xiao Yan, instantly making him the center of attention.

"This is... Wind Fury Dragon Flame!" Huo Xuan immediately recognized the Heavenly Flame in Xiao Yan's hand.

"How is that possible?!" Huo Xuan stared fixedly at the Heavenly Flame in Xiao Yan's hand. He had clearly taken away the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame, yet Xiao Yan had still managed to obtain another Heavenly Flame!

Wind Fury Dragon Flame: Ranked eighteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, this Heavenly Flame was born within the eye of fiery tornadoes in ancient deserts. Unlike other Heavenly Flames, it had no fixed location. Instead, during the hottest few days of every year, it would appear at random anywhere in the desert, making it extremely rare. When unleashed, it took the form of a tornado, combining wind and fire. The flames could rise hundreds of meters high, like a massive fire dragon roaring as it spiraled forward. It possessed extremely destructive power, turning everything in its path into a sea of flames.

He had taken the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame, yet it had unexpectedly allowed Xiao Yan to obtain a Heavenly Flame even more powerful than the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame.

Xiao Yan truly was Favored of Fate. It seemed that even if Huo Xuan stole Xiao Yan's opportunities, Xiao Yan would likely still encounter other fortuitous chances.

He could steal Xiao Yan's opportunities, but he could not steal Xiao Yan's protagonist's halo. Huo Xuan stared intently at Xiao Yan as he refined pills in the square, a trace of killing intent surfacing in his eyes!

An unstable factor that threatened him like this had to be eliminated completely!