Nalan Yanran

"A fifth-grade, and it's not without a chance."

Hai Bodong's eyes flickered slightly.

At this moment, the entire venue fell into a dead silence once more, as if this match had already been settled.

After all, no one would believe that Xiao Huohuo, a young man barely twenty years old, could refine a fifth-grade pill unless he had started learning alchemy right from his mother's womb.

"Hahaha, why is everyone silent?"

"The ultimate honor still belongs to our Chu Yun Empire. The alchemists of your Jia Ma Empire are nothing more than trash!"

The youth from the Chu Yun Empire now wore the expression of someone who had victory firmly in his grasp. Seeing that the people of the Jia Ma Empire were all silent, he became even more unbridled.

Jia Xingtian's face turned livid!

He wished he could strike him down right here and now!

However, Fa Ma would not allow him to do so, because if he did, the reputation of their Alchemist Guild would plummet into ruin right then and there.

"Big Brother, I really want to beat him up!"

Curly shouted angrily with a ferocious look in his eyes; he had endured this fellow for a very long time.

Long Xiao, however, smiled. "This fellow is indeed quite interesting, but my little brother won't lose. Just wait and watch a good show."

"Hahaha, a bunch of good-for-nothings! Do you have any idea how pathetic you look right now?"

The youth from the Chu Yun Empire began his arrogance anew, the gazes he cast toward Fa Ma and Jia Xingtian brimming with provocation.

This was his glory!

"You're celebrating far too soon."

At that moment, Xiao Huohuo's voice came like a ray of light in the darkness, bringing hope to everyone once more.

The crowd turned their gazes toward his position one after another.

"What? Could it be that this brat can actually refine a fifth-grade pill?"

Hearing this cold shout, the youth from the Chu Yun Empire subconsciously took two steps back.

At that moment, Xiao Huohuo on the competition stage finally completed the final step!

BOOM!!!

The cauldron lid flew off as a streak of azure light flashed, accompanied by the roar of a dragon.

A single pill slowly rose into the air.

Everyone's attention was captured by this pill. It was a perfectly round pill radiating a cyan glow, its entire body a deep cyan. Under the illumination of the sunlight, it looked crystal-clear and dazzlingly brilliant, making it impossible for anyone to look away.

Immediately following that, an even richer, colorful medicinal fragrance emanated from the pill, instantly enveloping the entire competition grounds.

"A... A fifth-grade pill!"

"Inconceivable, I simply can't believe it!"

"Is this real?! He actually really refined a fifth-grade pill? Doesn't that mean he's a fifth-grade alchemist just like President Fa Ma?!"

"No way, this brat is less than twenty years old, how could he possibly be a fifth-grade alchemist?"

The entire arena erupted. They never imagined that a young man under twenty years of age would actually refine a fifth-grade pill!

That was a fifth-grade pill! How on earth did he pull it off?!

Fa Ma's pupils abruptly constricted, the depths of his eyes filled with shock.

"This brat actually refined a fifth-grade pill? He actually turned the tables!"

"It seems this little fellow has given us another surprise. To possess Heavenly Flames and such terrifying talent-such a talent cannot be allowed to fall into the hands of the Misty Cloud Sect again." Jia Xingtian curved the corner of his mouth into a smile.

Xiao Huohuo put away the pill and swept a detached gaze toward that person from the Chu Yun Empire.

The youth from the Jia Ma Empire also turned pale, intense shock flashing within his eyes. Impossible!

This brat was truly a fifth-grade alchemist?!

"No, impossible! He cheated! He must have tampered with it!" that person roared.

"Oh? You say I cheated? Do you have evidence?" Xiao Huohuo asked indifferently.

"I..." The youth was instantly struck speechless, completely unable to find any reason to refute him.

"Since there's no evidence, stop snapping at people like a mad dog." Xiao Huohuo shook his head.

"Kid, even though you borrowed my treasure to refine a fifth-grade pill, your alchemy proficiency has indeed advanced to the next level. I am very gratified."

Although Xiao Huohuo chose another path of some Keyboard Immortal, he still imparted all his alchemy skills without reservation, and Xiao Huohuo had not let him down.

At this moment, everyone was cheering for Xiao Huohuo.

In the viewing stands of the Nalan Family, one of the three major clans of the Jia Ma Empire, a woman in a white dress also revealed a brilliant look in her eyes. How could such a youth fail to stir a maiden's heart?

Yet the moment she thought of that good-for-nothing from the Xiao Clan whom she had jilted, her pretty face turned slightly cold.

They shared the surname Xiao, so why was the gap between them so vast?

"Yanran, tomorrow is your Three-Year Agreement with Xiao Huohuo. How well prepared are you?"

A robust-looking elder walked out from behind her with a stern expression.

This was her grandfather, Nalan Xiao, a great general of the Jia Ma Empire.

"Grandfather, haven't you seen all my efforts with your own eyes? I, Nalan Yanran, consider myself inferior to no one." Nalan Yanran said with shining eyes and a proud tone.

Nalan Xiao sighed. This lass still lacked sense; although the little fellow Xiao Huohuo was a trash in the past, he reportedly recovered his former talent. Most importantly, he had broken his promise to Xiao Huohuo's grandfather.

Indeed, when he heard the news of Xiao Huohuo becoming a crippled person back then, he hadn't wanted his granddaughter to marry a good-for-nothing either.

Moreover, his granddaughter was now the young sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect with an extraordinary status; what kind of outstanding young talents could she possibly lack?

Yet now she seemed to have taken an interest in this Xiao Yan, which he found rather satisfactory.

This Xiao Yan's alchemy talent was exceedingly rare in the world.

Seeing her grandfather's strange expression, Nalan Yanran asked doubtfully, "Grandfather, I will make my own decisions about this matter; you don't need to worry about it. My life, my choice!"

Hearing this, Nalan Xiao shook his head and sighed. "Yanran, if you win, leave him a bit of dignity-consider it making up for a bit of your grandfather's guilt."

"Rest assured, Grandfather, I know my limits."

As Nalan Yanran spoke, she glanced toward Xiao Huohuo's direction, a trace of a hazy glow lingering in her eyes. This was the man of her ideal.

Yet recently, through their interactions, he would rather chat and laugh happily with Yafei of Mittel and Princess Yao Ye of the Imperial Family than say a few more words to her.

She wasn't bad-looking either, yet whenever he faced her, he put on an icy-cold expression.

She hadn't even provoked him.

Ever since this youth arrived at the imperial capital some time ago, his fame had skyrocketed, and he had even helped her grandfather expel poison and heal his injuries. Only then had her heart gradually gravitated toward him.

However, she was the young sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect after all; she couldn't lower her face like other women to offer warm compliance to a cold reception, since she represented the face of the Misty Cloud Sect.

All the alchemists had already completed their refinements.

Yet everyone secretly knew in their hearts who the champion ultimately was.

As for the only person with a bad complexion, it was simply that youth from the Chu Yun Empire. His face stung from the resounding slaps it had taken.

"The time has come. Will all contestants present your pills."

Fa Ma's voice arrived, piercing straight into the heart of the youth from the Chu Yun Empire like a sword.

He could not understand why he had lost to a youth.

One had to know that his true identity was none other than the vice president of the Chu Yun Empire's Alchemist Guild.

In order to participate in this competition and make the Jia Ma Empire lose all its face, he had endured the agony and swallowed an Appearance Restoration Pill to restore his youthful appearance.

"I am not reconciled... Why should someone who worked as hard as I did lose in the hands of a youth? This is impossible! The heavens are treating me unfairly!"