In a competition like this, where everyone was trying to rise above the crowd, using only one divine fire when you had four made it hard not to draw attention.
Fortunately, Tong Mingshan was no fool. With so many people watching him, he could hardly fail to notice something amiss as his gaze wandered around, but he was in no hurry to change course.
He had his own reasons for bringing out a white flame to smelt the star sand. He wanted to know whether anyone would recognize the samadhi true fire if he used it. Their earlier assessment had been that it would be difficult to recognize in daylight, but that was only a guess, after all.
Everyone was observing him, and he was observing everyone.
When he saw that no one showed any startled reaction, he released the black flame as well, continuing to test and observe.
Only then did Shi Chun look thoughtful, having roughly guessed Tong Mingshan's intentions.
By the time Tong Mingshan confirmed that there was no problem, more than half the allotted incense stick had burned away.
Someone in the competition area suddenly extinguished the flame aura blazing in his hands and slowly walked out, heading toward the presiding judge in the center of the grounds under everyone's gaze.
He had been the first to finish the opening round of smelting. It was none other than the bald man whose dignified, aloof bearing carried a hint of sinister charm: Luo Shengsheng, a disciple of the Great Inscription Pavilion.
Above one palm, he held a glowing red sphere smaller than a fist suspended in the air, waves of heat still visibly rippling from it.
At that moment, all eyes were on him. Coupled with his looks and bearing, his entire figure radiated the presence of