An All-Out Battle

Several hours later, the second round of assessments ended in a near farce.

Yan Li, the Alchemist from the Cloud Empire, was expelled from the venue, while cauldron explosions rang out one after another among the Alchemists of the Jia Ma Empire and other nations.

In the end, out of more than a thousand Alchemists, only a little over two hundred amended their prescriptions after Xiao Yan's reminder and passed the assessment.

As for Su Heng, after becoming the first to submit his pills and pass the assessment, he quickly left the venue and returned to the inn to sleep.

The massive drain on his soul power had left him utterly exhausted after merely refining two Windstride Pills, as though he had stayed awake for several consecutive nights.

The finals of the Alchemist Competition would be held the next day. Before then, Su Heng needed to rest properly and prepare to seize first place in one stroke.

However, something had changed this time.

At this moment, inside Xiao Yan's room, a peerless beauty was threatening him with death.

"I do not care what method you use. Tomorrow, you must obtain the prescription for the Soul-Melting Pill. Otherwise, I do not mind taking action myself."

Overwhelming killing intent radiated from the woman before Xiao Yan. It pressed down like Mount Tai and crashed over him like raging waves against the shore, making his entire body tremble and leaving him unable to breathe.

The woman before him stood very close. Her voluptuous body, like a ripe peach, and her flat jade-white abdomen were only inches away from Xiao Yan.

Her body held fatal allure for any man.

Especially her lower body. It was not human, but a pale violet snake tail that swayed gently, filled with wild seduction and temptation. One glance was enough to make a person burn with heat and go dry-mouthed.

Xiao Yan was feeling exactly that way. Yet although his body was gripped by primitive instinct, his rational mind was struggling madly, filled with terror.

Queen Medusa, who had been "emotionally stable" just days ago, had suddenly appeared tonight, brimming with killing intent as she demanded that Xiao Yan win the Alchemist Competition.

"Your Majesty, whether Brother Su or I become champion, we can both obtain the Soul-Melting Pill prescription. Why must you be so anxious?"

Xiao Yan guessed that Queen Medusa had perhaps discovered Su Heng's existence, which was why she had become so agitated.

The Soul-Melting Pill was of immense importance to Queen Medusa. And for Medusa, a ruler, the initiative in any important matter had to remain firmly in her own hands. In other words, the prescription had to be under her control as well.

Queen Medusa wanted to obtain the Soul-Melting Pill prescription, then have Xiao Yan gather the ingredients. Only after personally watching Xiao Yan successfully refine the pill would she consume it.

Alchemists could hide tricks within pills. Queen Medusa, who had roamed the Northwest Continent for many years, understood this clearly. Thus, she needed complete control over everything.

But during today's Alchemist Competition, Medusa had sensed Su Heng's presence and discovered that his alchemy skills surpassed Xiao Yan's. If Su Heng won the championship, everything would fall out of her control.

Medusa could not yet fully control the body of the evolved Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python. It would be best if she could obtain the Soul-Melting Pill prescription through normal means. Otherwise, if she tried to seize it by force, she might attract the attention of the other Dou Emperors in the Imperial Capital.

Though she was confident she would become a Dou Zong in a little over ten days, she was still a Dou Emperor at present—and one unable to fully control her own body.

It could be said that Queen Medusa was at her most vulnerable now.

If Jia Xingtian and those old fellows discovered this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, they would surely move at once and surround her here.

Thus, after returning to Xiao Yan's room, the queen had seized control of the body and appeared before him.

"Boy, I have already said it. I am the one who wants the Soul-Melting Pill prescription, not you!"

Medusa's majestic, icy voice formed a stark contrast with her fiery, alluring body. Hearing only her voice would send chills down one's spine, while seeing her body would set one ablaze.

"Your Majesty, that may be so, but Brother Su is already a Fourth-grade Alchemist. His strength is far above mine. I only have a twenty percent chance of defeating him."

Xiao Yan forced himself to endure the queen's soul pressure and replied with difficulty.

"Hmph! Do not think I know nothing. Old fellow, if you refuse to act, I will take this boy's life."

The moment her words fell, a wisp of dense white flame erupted abruptly from the Black Ring on Xiao Yan's left hand, completely sweeping away Medusa's soul pressure. Then, an aged yet powerful voice answered.

"Young girl, you dare threaten this old man's disciple? When this old man once roamed the continent, you did not even know where you were nursing!"

Looking at Medicine Elder, who had suddenly appeared, Queen Medusa's enchanting face showed no surprise. She had long expected things to develop this way, and she immediately sneered.

"I had long sensed that a powerful expert was hiding beside this fellow. It seems you are nothing special after all."

The queen's words were tough, but her body was honest.

Queen Medusa slowly retreated, putting some distance between herself and Xiao Yan.

Though Medicine Elder's figure was illusory, his strength was such that even Queen Medusa could not see through it. She even felt an intense pressure from him.

If Queen Medusa were at her peak, she would not fear him. But now, unable to control her body, her strength was greatly diminished. If she fought Medicine Elder head-on, she would be more likely to lose than win.

Seeing the queen retreat and keep a safe distance from Xiao Yan, Medicine Elder smiled faintly, then turned to Xiao Yan and said,

"Xiao Yan, tell me. Do you want to have a proper match with that little fellow Su Heng and see how much you have improved?"

A worthy opponent was difficult to find in one's lifetime, especially one of the same generation. To compete openly and determine who was stronger was a temptation no young person could refuse.

Xiao Yan was only eighteen this year. How could he refuse such a temptation?

He truly wanted to battle Su Heng again, but Su Heng had shown kindness to his two elder brothers, and his soul had been severely injured because of it. Xiao Yan could not bear to personally ruin his future.

Seeing Xiao Yan's conflict, Medicine Elder nodded in satisfaction. Xiao Yan possessed the spirit of youth, yet he also knew gratitude and held kindness in his heart. Medicine Elder felt that he had not chosen the wrong person.

"Xiao Yan, this is a Fifth-grade Pill called Soul-Nourishing Saliva. It cannot completely repair Su Heng's soul injury like the Soul-Melting Pill, but it is more than enough to let him compete with you to his heart's content. Give it to Su Heng tomorrow, then have a proper battle."

Medicine Elder took out a white jade bottle from his Storage Ring. Even through the bottle, Xiao Yan could smell the refreshing medicinal fragrance and sense its extraordinary efficacy.

"As for the Soul-Melting Pill?"

Medicine Elder looked calmly at Queen Medusa and chuckled.

"Young girl, if you truly want the Soul-Melting Pill, then do not interfere in this matter. At tomorrow's Alchemist Competition, regardless of who wins or loses, this old man will give you a satisfactory answer."

A duel with a powerful peer of his generation was an excellent opportunity for Xiao Yan to improve. Naturally, Medicine Elder would not allow Medusa to interfere.

"Fine. For your sake, I will not intervene in this matter. But if, after tomorrow's competition ends, you cannot give me an explanation, then whether it is the Soul-Melting Pill prescription or the lives of those two boys, I will have them all!"

Queen Medusa's expression darkened, and killing intent surged around her. After leaving behind those harsh words, she gradually disappeared amid crimson light.

"Hmph! That woman really is savage. There is no reasoning with her at all. She will definitely never get married!"

Once Queen Medusa vanished, Xiao Yan finally let out a breath of relief and could not help cursing a few times.

"You would do best to get rid of that woman as soon as possible. Keeping her by your side will only bring trouble."

Medicine Elder looked at the Heaven-Swallowing Python that had fallen asleep and could not help shaking his head. Queen Medusa's killing intent just now had been so intense that he was quite worried about what would happen next.

After all, once the Soul-Melting Pill was successfully refined, Medusa would certainly act against Xiao Yan. She would never show mercy. Keeping such a threat close by would only bring trouble.

"Yes, Master. I understand. Once the Three-Year Pact is over, I will send her back to the desert. Staying with her every day is terrifying enough to scare me to death."

Though Queen Medusa was enchanting and beautiful, often stirring Xiao Yan's instincts, her terrifying killing intent was something he simply could not endure. Right now, Xiao Yan only wanted to get rid of this trouble as soon as possible.

"By the way, what pill are you planning to refine tomorrow to compete with that little fellow Su Heng?"

"In my view, he has already reached the peak of the fourth grade. I never expected him to improve so quickly after only half a year apart."

"Xiao Yan, if you want to defeat him, you may have to refine a Peak Fourth-grade Pill as well."

Hearing Medicine Elder's words, Xiao Yan immediately fell silent.

Both were Alchemists, but Su Heng had devoted himself wholeheartedly to alchemy over the past half year, even suffering severe soul damage from his arduous cultivation of the art.

By contrast, Xiao Yan had ventured deep into the Tagor Desert in search of Heavenly Flames. To prepare for the Three-Year Pact, he had also trained his Dou Skills intensely. In truth, he had not devoted much effort to alchemy.

"Xiao Yan, your opponent has focused on alchemy, so it is only natural that he surpasses you now. There is no need to take it too much to heart."

"However, you possess Heavenly Flames. In that regard alone, you are far ahead of Su Heng. In my view, if the two of you both go all out, the victor is still uncertain."

As his teacher, Medicine Elder naturally had to encourage Xiao Yan, even though he himself admitted that Su Heng's alchemy skills were superior to Xiao Yan's.

"Master, do you have a prescription for a top-tier Fourth-grade Pill?"

After a long silence, Xiao Yan finally spoke. As Medicine Elder had said, he possessed Heavenly Flames while Su Heng had only Beast Flame. The gap in their abilities could be made up through their flames.

If they both went all out, the outcome remained uncertain. Such an opportunity was rare, and Xiao Yan did not want to admit defeat just like that. Besides, he had already lost once.

"Ha, of course I do!"

Seeing that Xiao Yan had made up his mind, Medicine Elder beamed and took a prescription scroll from his Storage Ring before handing it to Xiao Yan.

"This is the prescription for the Three-Stripe Green Spirit Pill. It is also one of the finest among Fourth-grade Pills. It can help a Dou Master swiftly break through to the Da Dou Shi realm. Even if a Da Dou Shi takes it, they can rise three stars in a row."

"If you can refine this pill, not only can you contend with Su Heng, but you can also quickly break through to the Da Dou Shi realm and fulfill your Three-Year Pact."

The Three-Stripe Green Spirit Pill was the finest pill a Fourth-grade Alchemist could refine. Unless Su Heng could break through to the fifth grade, the greatest pill he could refine would also be the Three-Stripe Green Spirit Pill.

Refining the same pill would allow the two of them to determine the winner fairly. At the same time, the completed pill could help Xiao Yan raise his cultivation, accomplishing two things at once.

"Xiao Yan, remember this. No matter whether you win or lose tomorrow, you must enjoy the process and leave yourself without regrets."

"As for what comes afterward, your teacher is here. You need not worry."

Medicine Elder smiled and patted Xiao Yan's shoulder. His soul body dispersed and returned to the Black Ring.

"Do not worry, Master. I will definitely give it everything I have!"

With Medicine Elder's full support, Xiao Yan no longer bore any psychological burden. At tomorrow's Alchemist Competition, regardless of victory or defeat, he would enjoy it all.

The next day, the sky had only just begun to brighten, yet the entire Imperial Capital of the Jia Ma Empire was already bustling.

Though it was still early, a vast sea of people had already gathered outside Royal Plaza. The dark mass of the crowd stretched as far as the eye could see.

Looking at the endless crowd, Xiao Yan could not help shaking his head. He had not expected today's spectators to be even more frenzied than yesterday's.

Fortunately, Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong were honored guests. They could use the VIP passage and enter the venue without obstruction.

After passing through the gates and walking for a while, the narrow passage suddenly opened up.

Before their eyes, the Alchemists who had passed yesterday's assessment had already entered the grounds and were waiting for the competition to begin.

Liu Ling, the little princess Yao Yue, and the others were among the crowd. These young people were chatting and laughing together.

Among them, only one person had yet to appear, and everyone seemed to have expected his absence. No one paid it much attention.

After all, Su Heng was severely injured, and after passing yesterday's assessment, he had immediately left the venue. Refining two Windstride Pills in succession must have affected him to some degree.

In fact, Su Heng was still asleep.

After refining his pills yesterday, he had gone home, collapsed into bed, and slept until the Alchemist Competition was about to begin, when Lin Fei and the others woke him.

When the blazing sun slowly climbed into the sky, the bleary-eyed Su Heng finally arrived late through the VIP passage under the escort of Otto and the others.

"Everyone, my apologies. I am late."

There were only a dozen or so minutes left before the final round began. Had Su Heng arrived even a little later, he would likely have been treated as having withdrawn.

"It is no matter. Little friend Su Heng has rendered great service to our Jia Ma Empire and is injured besides. There is no need to fuss over it."

Jia Xingtian took the initiative to step forward with a broad smile and greet Su Heng. At the same time, he took the opportunity to give Yao Ye a meaningful look.

"Indeed. Since Mister Su Heng is injured, we should have gone to fetch you."

Yao Ye naturally stepped forward, wrapped an arm around Su Heng, and supported him. Her movements were smooth and effortless, as though they were old friends who had known one another for years, and as though nothing had happened yesterday.

"Thank you for your kindness, Princess Yao Ye, but my senior sister can take care of me."

Su Heng gently freed himself from Yao Ye and leaned against Lin Fei instead. Both of them were members of the Jia Ma Empire, so this did not embarrass Jia Xingtian. But Yao Ye was far too calculating, and Su Heng truly could not stand her.

Seeing this, Yao Ye made no further move. Seeing that Jia Xingtian had no objection, she gritted her silver teeth and silently stepped back.

She had taken the initiative to win him over, yet he remained unmoved. Yao Ye's proud chest heaved fiercely with anger. Several young masters from powerful factions in the VIP room could not help secretly giving Su Heng a thumbs-up at the sight.

If not for Su Heng, they would not have had the chance to feast their eyes on such a view.

And upon seeing Su Heng arrive, Xiao Yan immediately took the initiative to greet him.