Chapter 372: A Thousand Cauldrons Fall, A Thousand Fires Rise
On the high platform, Xiao Ze and the three chairmen of the Pill Tower sat in the front seats. Watching the alchemists emerge one by one, Xiao Ze noticed Chairman Xuan Yi's particularly focused gaze.
"Chairman Xuan Yi, are you looking for my third brother?" Xiao Ze's question brought Xuan Yi back to reality. With a complicated look, she said, "You noticed too?"
Chairman Xuan Kong added, "Yao Chen, that old fellow, came to Saint Pill City but didn't meet with us. He hid himself away. If you hadn't told us, Xiao Ze, we wouldn't have known."
"Senior Yao Chen probably wasn't ready to face the three chairmen," Xiao Ze said softly. "After all, he was once the top alchemist on the continent, standing equal with you. Now, as a mere soul body, the difference is quite jarring."
The three chairmen nodded slightly, acknowledging Xiao Ze's point.
"He's out!" Xuan Yi suddenly exclaimed with excitement.
Their eyes turned to the black stone gate. Xiao Yan, dressed in black, walked out slowly with the crowd, immediately feeling several intense gazes on him. Looking up, he saw his fourth brother and the three chairmen watching him.
While he wasn't surprised by his fourth brother's attention, he wondered why the three chairmen were focused on him. Realizing something, he asked internally, "Teacher, have the Pill Tower's three chairmen noticed you?"
"Probably," Yao Lao replied with some helplessness. "I was once in my prime, free-spirited and unwilling to stay at the Pill Tower. Now, returning after so long, the gap between me and my old friends is vast."
"Never mind. After the competition, you and I will meet them together," Yao Lao decided.
"Alright," Xiao Yan agreed, seeing it as normal to visit his teacher's old friends.
Looking at the participants, Xiao Ze saw that even after two rounds of elimination, over a thousand alchemists remained. This was more than in the original story, thanks to Mu Gu not having had the chance to kill many alchemists.
As the black stone gate slowly closed, Xiao Ze knew most alchemists had emerged from the Pill Realm.
"Hehe, on behalf of the Pill Tower, I congratulate all of you for making it through the two rounds. But the final round is the most intense. The one who excels in this round will be this year's champion!"
"The platforms in the sky are your stage for this round. I hope you all shine your brightest there!"
"Glory will be born among you!"
Xiao Ze's words ignited the crowd like a fuse to a powder keg. The whole square erupted in excitement! The alchemists who had made it through the first two rounds looked at Xiao Ze with fervent admiration. Xiao Ze had recently refined an eight-colored thunder pill, reaching the pinnacle of eighth-grade alchemists, making him a revered figure to them.
Dan Chen looked at the high platform, touching her hand where Xiao Ze had once left a fire mark, her eyes filled with complex emotions. Cao Ying, too, gazed intently at the platform. Since Xiao Ze's rise in the Pill Tower, she had gone from being defiant to admiring him.
Xiao Yan exhaled deeply, clenching his fists as if to boost his resolve. "Teacher, I won't let you down. I will win the championship!"
Yao Lao, hearing Xiao Yan's bold declaration, laughed. "Good! I look forward to your victory!"
Although Yao Lao didn't want to pressure Xiao Yan, he saw his disciple's determination and couldn't dampen his spirits.
"The participants can now take the stage. The third round has no rules. Just refine your best pill and compete!"
With Xiao Ze's announcement, many alchemists flew up to the stone platforms in the sky. Xiao Ze noticed some of them fighting for the central platforms, feeling a bit helpless. Even alchemists could lose their composure in such a grand scene. However, the ones he favored took positions on the outskirts, avoiding the central scramble.
Xiao Ze exchanged a glance with Dan Chen, who raised her marked hand, making him smile. She still remembered the fire mark he had placed. He then looked at Cao Ying, who was intently staring, unsure if it was at him or her teacher. He nodded to her anyway.
Finally, his gaze landed on Xiao Yan, who was meditating, unaware of his brother's look. Xiao Ze didn't mind, checking the time before waving his hand. A silent wave spread out, and a bell rang.
"The time has come. Begin refining!"
As the bell tolled, the world seemed to hold its breath. Then, countless alchemists placed their cauldrons on the platforms with a metallic clang, the sound echoing through the air. The sight of so many high-quality cauldrons at once was a first for many.
Next, various flames rose, creating a spectacular scene as the temperature seemed to rise. Most alchemists at this level had acquired beast flames, making the display colorful and awe-inspiring. The crowd gasped at the sight, turning the pill competition into a visual feast.
Xiao Ze's eyes glowed green and gold. Since obtaining the Sacred Heart Glazed Pill recipe, he had studied its framework extensively. The current competition was the perfect opportunity to test his research. By observing the alchemists' techniques, he hoped to deduce their recipes, even if he already knew most. Their methods could still refine his unified approach to alchemy.
(End of Chapter)
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