Three days later.
"Seven-Star Dou Ling now..."
At the Ling Residence, Ling Feng opened his eyes in the morning sunlight after cultivating through the night. Feeling the new strength within him, he smiled in satisfaction.
"With the Devouring Ancestral Symbol's support, reaching Nine-Star Dou Ling after the Alchemist Competition ends won't be a problem at all."
The essence of the Green Lotus Core Flame was enough to support his breakthrough to Dou Wang, and the increase in his cultivation delighted Ling Feng.
Just then, a rising clamor drifted in. Ling Feng gazed out the window, and the bustle became even clearer.
"Looks like the Alchemist Competition has officially begun."
Ling Feng's eyes shifted slightly. "I'll go join the fun and see whether Xiao Yan shows up while I'm at it..."
Held once every eight years, the Alchemist Competition was a grand event in the Imperial Capital, drawing alchemists from neighboring countries as well. A celebration of this scale swept the Mu Manor incident into the background and brought the Imperial Capital bustling to life again.
Walking along the street, Ling Feng spotted figures in alchemist robes in groups of two and three.
Normally, such people were a rare sight. Today, they were as common as cabbages, appearing on every street.
But they were all heading in the same direction.
Today marked one of the Jia Ma Empire's grandest occasions: the Alchemist Competition, held once every eight years.
The event was not being held at the Alchemist Guild, however, but at the Royal Plaza.
That place could accommodate tens of thousands of people.
When Ling Feng arrived at the Royal Plaza, the sight before him stunned him.
Fully armed troops were stationed outside the plaza, while inside, a sea of people had already gathered.
"There really are a lot