"Since the ten finalists have been decided, the rest will be eliminated!" Not even looking at the pill of the alchemist who finished in close after Vicious Pill King, Xiao Ya shouted.
This caused an uproar, one born from puzzlement, as one protested, "Weren't there supposed to be 20? Why only ten?"
Snapping a cold gaze at the speaker, Xiao Ya flatly explained, "I never said there will be 20. It just so happened there were 20 top cauldrons prepared."
Her words sent them pondering, making them realize their false preconceived notion.
At the start of the meeting, the judge never once mentioned how many would enter the finals and just started the competition.
But, as there were 20 top spots standing out from the rest, they simply took it for granted.
Realizing their own mistakes, the alchemists sighed in regret, especially the second batch of ten. They falsely assumed there was plenty of time and didn't give their all, wasting their chances.
None of them considered that this was set on purpose by the Drifting Flowers Edifice. An alchemist who did not strive to reach the top, was unworthy to qualify.
Unless of course, he was like Zhuo Fan, with plenty of skills in their arsenal. After all, it was a universal practice to bend the rules and morals in any profession and let the strong ones in.
"Wait!"
The alchemist who finished after Vicious Pill King shouted his dissent. He was intimidated by Vicious Pill King but soon calmed in his heart as he declared his malcontent, "Judge, my pill is a top 5th-grade pill while Elder Yan's was a low 5th-grade pill. We also finished close together. Reason dictates that the tenth spot ought to be mine!"
"Quiet!"
It was Zhuo Fan who got ahead of Xiao Ya. His cold eyes stared pitilessly, "Are you deaf? This round was based on speed, not quality. This is what you get when you can't even understand what is required of you. What face can you expect when you bark like a dog? Forget about who was first or last. If this old guy finished at the same time as you, he'd still be the one to qualify since he shouted first."
All the alchemists were startled.
[Vicious Pill King and Grandmaster Song are in a life and death battle. Grandmaster Song would no doubt by jumping for joy if he could kick the old goat out.]
[Why is Grandmaster Song speaking up for his opponent?]
They were confused and so too the people on the terrace. Even Vicious Pill King eyed Zhuo Fan with a stare.
Tao Danniang watched worriedly from the side. [Why is this brat defending him when he was working so hard to kick him out before?] Chu Qingcheng was also clueless, her angelic eyes fixed on his figure.
Under everyone's rapt attention, Zhuo Fan snorted and took on a smug attitude in his berating, "I know exactly what you're thinking. Indeed, yours truly wanted to kick this old guy out. But he used blood essence to refine pills, twice, cutting away almost half of his life to finally win his spot. And let's not mention braving through my schemes. But even so, I will still win the Pill King round! In the meantime, I will not have this old coot fail from meaningless prattle. That would be a disgrace to me as an alchemist!"
Silence as the grave.
Then, thunderous applause dominated the air, with worshiping eyes directed at Zhuo Fan.
[Now this is the air of a true scholar!]
Open, frank, and of outstanding bearing!
Even Vicious Pill King started to feel a thread of respect for Zhuo Fan. He inched his withered hands and slowly clapped.
Tao Danniang sighed, but felt quite prideful. [This brat is sinister and cruel when is needed and frank when the circumstances demand it. This is a true man, a husband worthy of that girl.]
Chu Qingcheng's heart exploded with love.
Xiao Dandan had long been thrilled that she was trembling. It was impossible for her not to adore such a dauntless man.
Xie Tianyang and the rest nodded in admiration. Zhuo Fan was despicable, true; unscrupulous, also true, but was not nasty. Only evil.
And his evil nature was embraced by his domineering character, making him an antihero!
"This man is a man of ambition, similar to myself!"
On the eastern stand, Huangpu Qingyun breathed out in lament. The others looked at him then at each other in silence.
Finally, it was Lin Zitian who spoke, "Second young master, you took a liking to the kid and want to employ him?"
"Absolutely not!"
He shook his hand. Huangpu Qingyun's eyes flashed with killing intent, "A mountain is too small for two tigers. With his ambition, he will not deign to serve under another. He must be dealt with swiftly.
"Whether I get the Bodhi Root or not, he must meet his end today!" Huangpu Qingyun clenched his fist, his manner of unprecedented seriousness, "A premonition struck me just now. He must die here, today, or Regent Estate will have an archenemy."
The hearts of his men shuddered.
Regent Estate was the strongest of the houses and wouldn't show fear even when matched against the other six. [Why is it that the second young master evaluates this third rate clan kid so highly?]
No matter how great his talent and skills were, he hadn't the power to fight against the Regent Estate.
What they didn't realize was that Regent Estate's men were most skilled in grasping the heart of the people. If Huangpu Qingyun came to such a clearcut decision regarding the kid's fate, it spoke of the possible threat Zhuo Fan could grow into and endanger Regent Estate.
The men turned to watch Zhuo Fan with deep gazes.
Only Lin Zitian, however, was uncaring as he flattered, "Ha-ha-ha, second young master is overthinking. A third rate clan brat, regardless if he knows some ancient refining skill or if he was even a 7th-grade alchemist, this is only limited to alchemy. He can't…"
Huangpu Qingyun's piercing stare snapped at him. Lin Zitian stopped with a shiver.
"I will say it again. This kid must die today!"
Huangpu Qingyun's eyes flashed with absolute conviction. The others had never seen him so determined. They could only nod, as each's eyes flashed with their own resolution.
In the arena, the discontent alchemist cupped his hand in shame, "Grandmaster Song is indeed correct. I never had the right to enter the tenth spot. Please do forgive my careless words. Having seen Grandmaster Song's imposing manner, I feel ashamed of myself!"
The man gave a deep bow to Zhuo Fan and left with a lowered head.
This earned more reverence from the crowd.
The man was ranked 13th in the empire in alchemy, known to nitpick on anything and everything. Yet the same man submitted willingly. [Grandmaster Song is of impeccable moral standing!]
Zhuo Fan would've cracked up if he heard them.
Moral was the least fitting trait when it came to him. It was more accurate to call him of ruthless standing, beating others into submission with power rather than reason…
Xiao Ya bowed in appreciation to Zhuo Fan. She had first despised him, then was shocked by him, and now had come to respect him, with something else mixed within.
Zhuo Fan had no experience in this field to pick up these subtle signals. However, Chu Qingcheng was one who always followed her heart. Thus, she noticed these signals immediately and could only shake her head.
[An outstanding husband is not always a good thing. Too many eyes will be on him.]
"To all grandmasters that have entered the Pill King round, congratulations. You have a chance of getting Drifting Flowers Edifice's most precious treasure, the 9th-grade spirit item, Bodhi Root!"
Xiao Ya smiled, "I ask that everyone move to their respective spots."
The last eight alchemists started to move in order. Their ability in alchemy was clear cut as to who was strong and who was weak.
Only Vicious Pill King fell from the second to the tenth spot under Zhuo Fan's relentless harassment.
"Hey, old guy, give up!"
Tao Danniang felt quite thrilled to have finally got ahead of that old coot for once.
Snickering, Vicious Pill King glared at the hag and snorted, "What are you so excited about? It wasn't you who did it!"
Vicious Pill King looked at Zhuo Fan, now filled with a staunch desire to fight. He hadn't felt like this in decades.
"Brat, I have been unequaled in alchemy all my life. But today… ha-ha-ha. I have traveled the continent unchecked for decades and not once have I found one worthy of admiration. But today… ha-ha-ha…"
Laughing, Vicious Pill King slowly walked to his new spot yet his voice was still clear, "Brat, we will have a true battle today and see who shall be the best alchemist in the empire."
Shock pervaded the crowd.
The arrogant Vicious Pill King who saw no one as his equal, not even Regent Estate's leader, just acknowledged someone. On the surface, he might seem like he cared about the Regent Estate. However, deep inside he still couldn't care less about them.
He was the first alchemist in the empire and had arrogance to spare.
However, this time, he met his match. Three times they duked, three times he failed. He never suffered such a wretched defeat in his life!
Yet, now, he was far from angry, but jealous instead. It was as if he was back in his prime, filled with the thirst for battle.
Tao Danniang was startled, getting the feeling he was looking at the Vicious Pill King of old. She smiled and said to Zhuo Fan, "Kid, the old coot already took you as his opponent. This is his approval of you!"
"Tch, since when does yours truly need his approval?"
Zhuo Fan's tone was filled with coldness, "Old coot, you lost close to half of your life in the last round! Keep this up in the next one and you will fall!"
"My life is my own! Today, I will win against you!" Vicious Pill King shook his hand and spoke resolutely.
Raising an eyebrow, Zhuo Fan started reevaluating the old coot.
Vicious Pill King no longer had the cruel and sinister manner from before, but the bearing of a true grandmaster of alchemy...