Small Medicine Jar Against Big Medicine Vat

Morning arrived, and Canaan Academy's Inner Academy Selection Tournament continued.

At last, they had seen the legendary Xiao Yan. Xiao Xun'er and Little Fairy Doctor—the strength of all three was astounding, and their looks lived up to the rumors. Even Xiao Yan's previously overlooked handsome face had given many female students a pleasant surprise.

The students gradually gathered, and the enormous stands were packed wall to wall with people. Xiao Xun'er, Little Fairy Doctor, Xiao Yu, and Instructor Ruo Lin stayed together, naturally attracting no trouble.

Each of the four women possessed her own charm. Xiao Xun'er's temperament was as unworldly as a blue lotus; Little Fairy Doctor's waist was slender as a willow branch; Xiao Yu was tall, with a pair of fair, long legs that were exceptionally full and seductive; while Ruo Lin was the most mature, gentle as water.

Standing together, they formed a beautiful sight, yet they did not receive even the level of attention Xiao Xun'er and Little Fairy Doctor had drawn yesterday.

It was not that the novelty had worn off...

Over the course of a single night, news of Xiao Yan being a Fourth-Rank Alchemist had already spread throughout the Outer Academy. Now that the students had gathered and discussed it among themselves, even those with poor access to information had heard something.

Most students were looking forward to getting another good look at Xiao Yan, wanting to see what was so extraordinary about him that he could achieve something so astonishing—becoming a Fourth-Rank Alchemist at barely twelve years old.

That was even more impressive than the rumors had claimed. Thus, although Xiao Xun'er and the others were rare beauties, they no longer drew quite as many eyes.

Yet the students looked left and right, never catching sight of the person they were waiting for.

As the middle-aged referee called out names round after round and announced the results, the students still saw nothing. Until—"Alchemy Department Han Xian versus Yellow Tier Class Three, Xiao Yan."

Hearing the referee call Xiao Yan's name, the students who had been craning their necks in anticipation for so long knew that their wish would finally be granted.

Xiao Yan surely understood that his fame was now too great. If he did not wish to be the center of attention, he would hide himself—and he had indeed hidden quite well. But now that it was time for the match, he could not possibly keep hiding.

Some students showed delight, while others wore strange expressions. Han Xian had competed against Xiao Yan in alchemy yesterday and lost. Today, they were actually going to compare their Dou Qi strength.

Xiao Yu tilted her head and asked, "How strong is that Han Xian in Dou Qi?"

Ruo Lin smiled faintly. "Around a Four-Star Great Dou Master. But that fellow is a complete medicine jar. His Dou Qi is flimsy and floating, nothing to fear."

Upon hearing that, Xiao Xun'er and Little Fairy Doctor could not help laughing.

"Han Xian is indeed rather unlucky, but is it really that funny?" Xiao Yu asked curiously. Xiao Xun'er and Little Fairy Doctor were not the sort of girls who laughed for no reason.

Little Fairy Doctor said, "Nothing. I just thought of something amusing."

How could a medicine jar compare to a medicine vat? Han Xian took medicine, at most swallowing familiar medicinal pills. But when Xiao Yan used medicine, he used medicinal liquid and medicinal paste together, along with pills to match.

Xiao Xun'er said nothing. Her lively eyes fixed upon Han Xian as he leaped onto the arena. His face was somewhat pale, but his spirits were high.

"A Six-Star Great Dou Master?" Xiao Xun'er was somewhat surprised.

"What?" Ruo Lin followed Xiao Xun'er's gaze. Seeing Han Xian's surging aura, she was greatly startled. "Han Xian is a Six-Star Great Dou Master!"

Hu Gan gave a surprised sound. "How did this student raise his strength by two stars overnight?"

Old Man Huo pondered. "Judging by how flimsy and floating his Dou Qi is, he must have taken two peak Fourth-Rank Purpleheart Barrier-Breaking Pills in succession. I never expected him to possess such pills—two of them, no less."

"Purpleheart Barrier-Breaking Pills? If two are taken consecutively, they can indeed raise a Great Dou Master's strength by two stars." Hu Gan nodded. "This match is interesting. One is stronger, but his Dou Qi is flimsy and floating; the other is weaker, but possesses powerful Dou Techniques. I wonder who will win."

Old Man Huo did not speak. He could not say who was stronger either. Although Han Xian's Dou Qi was flimsy and floating, alchemists were not easy opponents. Han Xian had mastered the Alchemy Department's Pill Fire Technique, and its power was not weak.

Han Xian stood on the arena for a while, then grew impatient and shouted, "Xiao Yan, did you use some despicable method to forcibly raise the strength of your Dou Qi when you displayed your power yesterday? Have you suffered backlash now, leaving you unable to fight? Are you going to be a turtle hiding in its shell?"

He infused his words with Dou Qi, his voice shaking the entire venue. Some students were genuinely swayed by him and immediately began cursing loudly.

"I knew that pretty-boy Xiao Yan was fake as hell! How could anyone so young cultivate Dou Qi so well and also be proficient in the Alchemy Art?"

"Brother, great minds think alike! I think Xiao Yan's face is fake too. What man could possibly be more handsome than me, the fair-faced young master Wu An?"

The rough-voiced student stared blankly at the person beside him who had chimed in. The man's face was covered in pockmarks; he had nothing whatsoever to do with the words "fair-faced," much less handsome.

After staring for a moment, the student shuddered and roared, "Get lost!"

Similar scenes occurred throughout the stands. The contents of the conversations varied, but the conclusions were roughly the same: Xiao Yan's medicinal effects had worn off, and his Dou Qi was now extremely flimsy and floating, leaving him unable to withstand a single blow.

Raina, who had lost yesterday, slapped his thigh in frustration. I was someone who could compete for a Scripture Pavilion slot. How did I run into such a madman?

One word: unjust!

Han Yue, who had said nothing yesterday, smiled at this moment. "I never thought there would come a day when someone would be mentioned alongside Han Xian, and the one judged to have flimsy, floating Dou Qi would not be that medicine jar Han Xian."

Lin Yan said, "Whether it is flimsy and floating will only be known after they fight! Xiao Yan still has not come. It seems what they say is not entirely without reason."

Liu Qing said in a deep voice, "Is there really such a powerful method? I have never heard of one."

Lin Xiuyan was somewhat puzzled. He did not believe the nonsense about flimsy, floating Dou Qi either. The dean and the others had all been watching. They might overlook something for a moment, but when Xiao Yan was refining pills, they still would not have failed to notice anything unusual.

But he truly could not understand why Xiao Yan had not come to compete.

Bai Cheng remained silent, praying without end in his heart. Xiao Yan, even if your Dou Qi is not flimsy and floating, may sores grow atop your head and pus seep from the soles of your feet. May you automatically forfeit this match and admit defeat.

Having waited without receiving any response from Xiao Yan, Han Xian looked toward the referee and said, "If my opponent does not come, then I win."

Without waiting for the referee to announce the result, he laughed madly. "As the saying goes, Alchemy Department Han Xian single-handedly shattered the rumors; twelve-year-old Xiao Yan, little monster, revealed his true form."

Hearing this, the students could not help beating their chests and stamping their feet, feeling only that they had failed to recognize the man before them and had been fooled by a fraud.

Xiao Yu did not believe in the slightest that Xiao Yan would use any method to forcibly raise his strength. Looking at Han Xian's wild boasts, she anxiously asked, "Why has he not come yet?"

Xiao Xun'er raised her lovely face and gazed into the distance. "He is here..."

"Where?" Xiao Yu searched in confusion.

At that moment, a vigorous voice rang out from beyond the arena. "Senior Han, I see that your Dou Qi is extremely flimsy and floating. You should step down and properly stabilize your realm. I already beat you in alchemy yesterday. In today's arena match, I truly do not wish to hurt you."

As he spoke, a streak of red light shot straight in, reaching the arena in the blink of an eye.

Looking at the fiery-red giant wolf close enough for him to hear its breathing, Han Xian had increased his strength by another two stars and reached the Six-Star Great Dou Master level. Yet as an alchemist accustomed to a pampered life, when had he ever come into such close contact with a third-tier Magic Beast? With a thud, he collapsed onto the ground.

Looking up, he saw Xiao Yan riding atop the Magic Beast. All his earlier momentum vanished, and he trembled as he said, "Xiao Yan, you... what do you want?"