Fame Shakes the World, Hidden Hands Strike Again

Above Myriad Medicine Plaza, the lingering afterglow of several pill phenomena had yet to fully fade. The air was filled with the strange, refreshing fragrance of various high-tier medicinal pills. Everyone's gaze was fixed on the Main Platform, awaiting the announcement of the final results.

Of the five hundred contestants, fewer than eighty had successfully formed pills after three days of fierce competition. Among those eighty, even fewer had managed to trigger pill phenomena—only Cao Ying, Dan Chen, Xiao Yan, and two dark-horse alchemists from other regions.

Cao Ying lightly cradled the distinctly black-and-white Yin-Yang Life Soul Pill in her jade hand. Her alluring face was calm and confident, and her eyes occasionally drifted toward Xiao Chen's direction. Dan Chen's little face was pale as she carefully placed the Taiyi Soul Spirit Pill into a Jade Bottle, seemingly unconcerned about the outcome. Xiao Yan sat cross-legged atop the stone platform, seizing the time to recover his nearly depleted Soul Power. Yet the faint upward curve of his lips revealed his excitement and anticipation.

On the Main Platform, Xuan Kongzi, Xuan Yi, Tian Lei Zi, and dozens of senior elders from the Alchemist Tower were conducting their final evaluations and deliberations over the submitted pills. The atmosphere was solemn and tense.

After a long while, Xuan Kongzi slowly rose to his feet. His aged gaze, carrying boundless authority, swept across the crowd below, and the entire plaza instantly fell silent.

"After our evaluation, the final rankings of this Pill Gathering are as follows—"

His voice was not loud, yet it reached every ear with perfect clarity.

"Fifth place: Qiu Ji of the Western Region. A seventh-tier low-grade Sect Breaking Pill, of exceptional quality."

A plain-looking young man beamed with delight upon hearing this.

"Fourth place: Mu Lan of the Northern Region. A seventh-tier mid-grade Ice Heart Spirit Fusion Pill, which triggered a minor phenomenon and is of superb quality."

A cool-looking woman in blue robes gave a slight nod.

"Third place: Dan Chen of the Dan Family. A seventh-tier mid-grade Taiyi Soul Spirit Pill, which triggered a pill phenomenon and possesses an extremely high degree of soul fusion!"

Dan Chen shyly bowed, showing no dissatisfaction at placing only third.

With the top three announced, everyone's hearts rose to their throats.

Xuan Kongzi paused slightly before continuing. "Second place: Cao Ying of the Cao Family. A seventh-tier high-grade Yin-Yang Life Soul Pill, which triggered a pill phenomenon. Both its refinement difficulty and pill quality are among the finest!"

The smile on Cao Ying's face stiffened slightly, and an unmistakable flash of shock and unwillingness flickered through her peach-blossom eyes. A seventh-tier high-grade pill that triggered a pill phenomenon, yet only second place? Then first place...

Everyone's eyes instantly turned in unison toward the black-robed youth who was still regulating his breathing!

Xuan Kongzi's aged voice rang across heaven and earth, carrying a faint trace of undisguised approval.

"The champion of this Pill Gathering—"

"Xiao Yan! A seventh-tier mid-grade Poria Green Pill, which triggered a pill phenomenon! Though it is merely seventh-tier mid-grade, it contains a trace of peculiar Heart Flame power, granting extraordinary effects in stabilizing one's foundation and tempering Dou Qi. Its potential is exceptional! Furthermore, as a Dou Emperor, he controlled two Heavenly Flames to refine beyond his rank. His resolve and potential make him deserving of first place!"

Boom!

The entire plaza erupted!

The champion! Xiao Yan!

An obscure young man from the Northwest Continent had actually crushed the Cao Family's demoness and the Dan Family's genius to claim the Pill Gathering championship!

"Xiao Yan! Xiao Yan!"

No one knew who started shouting first, but before long, thunderous cheers surged into the skies! At that moment, Xiao Yan's name truly resounded throughout Sacred Pill City and spread across the Central Plains!

Cao Ying watched Xiao Yan surrounded by the cheers of the masses, her red lips pressed tightly together. A complicated expression flashed through those soul-stealing peach-blossom eyes—defiance and scrutiny, before finally turning into a trace of acknowledgment and even fiercer fighting spirit. "Xiao Yan... I'll remember you."

Dan Chen also watched Xiao Yan curiously, as though she had not found the outcome surprising.

Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes. Listening to the deafening cheers and seeing countless gazes filled with admiration and envy, a surge of pride rose in his chest! He had done it! Through his own efforts, he had won the Pill Gathering championship in this sacred land of the Central Plains, where powerful experts gathered!

He raised his head, his gaze crossing the crowd to meet that of his elder brother, Xiao Chen, on the spectator stone platform. Xiao Chen gave him a slight nod, his eyes full of gratification and encouragement.

Xiao Yan clenched his fist tightly. "Brother, this is only the beginning!"

The award ceremony was held with great pomp. In addition to receiving the Pill Gathering champion's honorary badge, Xiao Yan was awarded a generous prize—a pill formula for an eighth-tier medicinal pill, an opportunity to enter the top floor of the Alchemist Tower's Book Collection Pavilion for study, and... a chance to attempt subduing the Three Thousand Burning Flame!

Three Thousand Burning Flame! Ranked ninth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, a powerful Heavenly Flame known as the Undying Flame!

This reward made countless people green with envy!

However, just as Xiao Yan basked in glory beneath the attention of the masses, an ill-timed, sinister laugh suddenly rang out above the plaza.

"Heh heh heh... The Pill Gathering champion? You do have good talent. But wouldn't it be a waste for someone like you to remain in the Alchemist Tower? Why not come with me to the Soul Hall? That is where you truly belong!"

Before the words had faded, a vast, frigid, terrifying pressure descended over all of Myriad Medicine Plaza like dark clouds blotting out the sky! Space twisted as a figure shrouded in dense black mist, its face impossible to discern, tore through space like a ghost and appeared in midair! Its aura had clearly reached the level of a Five Star Dou Venerate!

A Soul Hall Heavenly Venerate! And not the one-star Heavenly Venerate Xiao Chen had slain last night, but an even stronger existence!

He had appeared without the slightest warning. A massive ghostly hand condensed from black mist directly pierced through space, ignored the plaza's defensive formation, and viciously grabbed at Xiao Yan, who had just received his prize! It was so fast that no one had time to react!

"Soul Hall! How dare you!" Xuan Kongzi flew into a rage. With a sweep of his sleeve, a vast torrent of Soul Power blasted toward the ghostly hand.

However, the Soul Hall Heavenly Venerate seemed to have prepared for this. He struck out with another ghostly hand, colliding head-on with Xuan Kongzi's soul torrent as an energy storm instantly swept outward!

Meanwhile, the ghostly hand reaching for Xiao Yan was already upon him!

"Teacher!" Xiao Yan's expression changed drastically. Sensing that utterly irresistible force, he could only place his hopes on Yao Lao.

Yao Lao's Soul Power erupted in an instant, and Bone Spirit Cold Flame surged forth in an attempt to block it.

But how could Yao Lao, in his current weakened state, completely withstand the enraged strike of a Five Star Dou Venerate?

Just as Xiao Yan was about to be taken away—

"Hmph!"

A cold snort suddenly rang out, like a freezing wind from the depths of hell.

It was not loud, yet it seemed to contain a peculiar Law Force, causing the rapidly descending ghostly hand to abruptly freeze!

The next moment, beneath countless horrified gazes, the ghostly hand condensed by a Five Star Dou Venerate began to crack from its fingertips, inch by inch. Then, like shattered glass, it broke apart with a crash and vanished into nothingness!

A figure in azure robes had appeared before Xiao Yan at some unknown moment. With his hands clasped behind his back, he faced the Soul Hall Heavenly Venerate in the air.

It was Xiao Chen!

He stared coldly at the black mist, his voice calm yet carrying bone-piercing chill.

"Touching my little brother?"

"Who gave you the nerve?"

An enraged strike from a Five Star Dou Venerate had been casually... shattered by a single utterance!

Dead Silence filled the plaza!

Everyone stared in horror at the azure-robed figure who had suddenly appeared.

Cao Ying's beautiful eyes widened, and her red lips parted slightly.

Dan Chen covered her mouth with her small hand.

Han Yue's tightly clenched jade hand slowly relaxed, her eyes shimmering with wonder.

The three giants atop the platform also revealed solemn expressions for the first time.

This guy... had really been hiding his strength all along!

The black mist around the Soul Hall Heavenly Venerate in the air churned violently, revealing his inner shock and fury.

"Xiao Chen! You finally dared to show yourself! Today, I'll take you down along with him!"

A disdainful curve lifted at the corner of Xiao Chen's lips. He slowly raised his palm, and Chaos-Colored Flame danced within it.

"Just you?"

"You're not qualified."

A great battle was on the verge of erupting!