Alchemist Tournament

With Long Xiao and his companions' strength, sneaking in would be no problem at all.

Before long, the three of them appeared in a section of the spectator stands.

By then, the stands were already a sea of people, heads bobbing amid a lively uproar.

Long Xiao scanned the crowd and, sure enough, spotted Xiao Huohuo in the VIP Stand. Although he wore a mask that concealed his aura, Long Xiao recognized him at a glance.

Xiao Huohuo sat in his seat, looking relaxed and perfectly at ease.

Several women of breathtaking beauty sat beside him, too. Judging by their attire, they were no ordinary girls from modest families.

Long Xiao felt a twinge of jealousy. This fellow certainly had no shortage of luck with women.

Curly stared at Xiao Huohuo as well. He kept feeling that he had seen this fellow somewhere before, and he even felt an urge to swallow him whole!

Long Xiao turned his gaze toward the Main Stage.

Three old men stood there, all with Dou Emperor-level auras. One was the familiar Old Man Hai. He had not expected to find him here as well; it seemed his standing in the Imperial Capital was no simple matter.

Another was a bald old man with a huge cauldron perched on his head. At a glance, he was clearly the Alchemist Guild's strongest alchemist, at the advanced fifth grade.

The strongest of the three was the old man with a distinctly aristocratic bearing: sand-attribute Dou Qi, Peak Dou Emperor.

Long Xiao also noticed that Medusa was looking at those three men.

"You know them?"

Long Xiao asked Medusa.

Medusa nodded. "These three hold considerable standing in the Jia Ma Empire."

"The one with ice-attribute Dou Qi is called Hai Bodong, known as the Ice Emperor. Twenty years ago, he became entangled with my younger sister, so I sealed his Dou Qi. Judging by his current condition, that seal must have been lifted recently."

Long Xiao immediately perked up. He had never expected Elder Hai and Shasha to have that kind of history. Could he be the legendary brother-in-law?

"The bald one is Fa Ma, president of the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Guild. He isn't particularly strong. There's no need to bother with him."

"And the old man in yellow robes is Jia Xingtian, guardian of the Jia Ma Imperial Family. When we fought back then, neither of us could gain the upper hand."

Long Xiao nodded, having gained a rough understanding.

"Hehe, then couldn't Your Majesty slap them dead now? If they learned that Your Majesty had already broken through to Dou Zong, they'd probably tremble in their boots, wouldn't they?" Curly could not resist gloating.

"I declare the finals of the Alchemist Tournament open!"

Fa Ma's voice rang across the entire square, and the spectators broke into applause.

Alchemist competitions were grand occasions in the Jia Ma Empire.

This was also Xiao Huohuo's first time taking part in such a large-scale competition, and he was rather excited. After all, he had Yao Lao's help.

"Go, Xiao Yan! Defeat the Chu Yun Empire's alchemist!"

"Go, Liu Ling!"

"Go, Little Princess!"

The people of the Jia Ma Empire were all cheering. It seemed Xiao Huohuo really was quite famous.

Long Xiao focused his attention and began watching the competition closely.

Although the competition was rather childish, it was still a decent way to pass the time.

He examined the alchemist from the Chu Yun Empire. Though he looked only fourteen, an aged figure lurked within his body. It seemed this fellow was cheating.

"Big Brother, who do you think will win?"

Curly suddenly found the Alchemist Tournament rather interesting. After all, he was a magical beast from the Jia Ma Empire, so naturally his heart leaned toward its side.

"Xiao Huo... Xiao Yan, I suppose."

Long Xiao answered casually. He was not worried about Xiao Huohuo failing to take first place.

"Yeah, I'm betting on that kid too. Listen, everyone here cheers loudest for him. He should be the strongest."

Medusa, however, picked up on Long Xiao's words. "You know that Xiao Yan?"

Long Xiao nodded.

"He counts as one of the little brothers I've taken under my wing. I went to the Chu Yun Empire with him before."

Medusa inclined her head slightly and gave it no further thought.

Curly, however, could no longer stay calm. Xiao Huohuo was also Big Brother's little brother? Wouldn't that make them brothers?

Since they were brothers, wouldn't he be able to ask him to refine pills for him to eat? Just thinking about it was exciting!

At that thought, Curly began rubbing his hands together eagerly. He decided that he absolutely had to find a chance to get close to this fellow later and have Xiao Yan refine pills for him.

He stood straight up and bellowed, "Xiao Yan! You can do it! Your big brother's rooting for you!"

Hearing this, Xiao Huohuo turned his head and happened to spot Curly. He froze. Why did this fellow have such a familiar aura?

When Yao Lao sent him a voice transmission, he was stunned. Yao Lao said this fellow was actually the Amethyst Winged Lion King?! Holy shit! He's taken human form and followed me all the way here?

Could he still hold a grudge over me stealing his purple crystal source half a year ago?

And what's he trying to do, cheering me on?

Curly's roar drew quite a few gazes. Long Xiao took out a folding fan and covered his face, so when Xiao Huohuo looked over, he did not recognize him.

As for Yao Lao, his meager soul power could not sense Long Xiao's aura at all.

"Teacher, what should I do?"

Xiao Huohuo also found the situation troublesome.

"Don't worry about him. Keep competing. There are experts from the Jia Ma Empire here, and with me around, he won't be able to stir up any waves. This old man is no pushover."

Yao Lao's voice reached Xiao Huohuo's ears, and he threw himself back into the competition.

"Whoever refines the highest-quality pill wins today's competition. Teacher, which pill do you think I should choose?"

Yao Lao said, "Your current limit is the advanced fourth grade, and the Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill formula Fa Ma gave you requires three kinds of flame. Right now, even with my bone spirit cold flame, you only have two. You could only refine a two-pattern pill, so your chances of winning wouldn't be great."

Xiao Huohuo thought it over and agreed.

He had to win the championship. He would deliver a stinging slap to the face of that woman who had gone to the Xiao Clan to break off their engagement!

That woman was sitting in his VIP seating area right now, but he had concealed his identity, so she could not recognize him.

"Refine the Dragon Strength Pill. It's a fifth-grade pill and relatively easy to refine," Yao Lao's voice sounded again.

"All right!" Xiao Huohuo agreed excitedly.

Fa Ma and Jia Xingtian were also watching Xiao Huohuo on the stage. They were very interested in this young man. Anyone who could stand out among the Jia Ma Empire's alchemists was certainly no ordinary figure.

This competition concerned the honor of the Jia Ma Empire!

Hai Bodong, however, looked perfectly calm. He knew Xiao Huohuo's strength very well. Back then, he had been able to help him refine the sixth-grade Misfortune-Breaking Pill. Moreover, he could unleash Dou Emperor-level strength. How could someone like that lose?

His entering this competition was like a mighty dragon crossing the river.

What made Hai Bodong's heart tremble most was still the young man in white behind Xiao Huohuo, a figure full of wonders beyond belief. He was the truly terrifying one.

"Hahaha! People of the Jia Ma Empire, today I, Yan Li, will drag your honor through the dirt! The alchemists of my Chu Yun Empire are the strongest!"

The youth from the Chu Yun Empire suddenly threw back his head and laughed wildly, his laughter sending the entire venue into an uproar.

The faces of the Jia Ma Empire's people changed. This brat actually dared to mock them!

Xiao Huohuo frowned as well, but said nothing. He felt that such clownish behavior was utterly beneath his notice.

Yao Lao naturally sensed his strength, but when it came to cheating, could he possibly outdo Yao Lao?