After a while, the energy ripples in the center of the square gradually dissipated, and everyone knew that the two had completed refining their pills. The other contestants had also finished refining their pills, but compared to the colored pill fragrance and energy ripples produced by Huo Tan and Xiao Se, theirs were far less impressive.
Even the strongest among them, Liu Ling, had only managed to refine a third-tier peak pill. It wasn't that his alchemy skills were bad, but he was still in the realm of ordinary people, and he was simply too young.
The enormous square fell into a dead silence, with everyone slowing their breaths as they fixed their gazes on the center, specifically on Xiao Se and Huo Tan.
This competition was not only about determining the champion but also about the honor of the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Tournament. If Huo Tan won, the Jia Ma Empire would be humiliated.
On the high platform, Fa Ma squinted his old eyes and scanned the center of the square. When he saw Huo Tan's smug smile, he frowned slightly. His gaze then shifted to the calm Xiao Se, and he felt a little more at ease. He then said in a loud voice, "Contestants, please present the pills you have refined."
"Haha, alright, alright. I don't want to waste my time with a bunch of weaklings. Here is the pill I refined, a fifth-tier Yuan Recovery Pill. Its purpose is to heal serious injuries, and it's gentle, causing no harm to the injured body. It's an excellent pill for healing major injuries." Huo Tan stepped forward, raised his hand, and a miraculous pill emitting a rich red medicinal fragrance floated slowly in his palm.
When the fifth-tier pill appeared, everyone in the square was astonished. For most of the cultivators present who hadn't reached the Dou Wang or Dou Huang levels, this pill could be considered as valuable as a second life.
On the high platform, Fa Ma gave Huo Tan a cold glance and then turned his gaze sharply to Xiao Se. "Next!"
Upon hearing this, the other contestants bowed their heads. None dared present their pills, as not a single one of them, apart from Xiao Se, had managed to refine a fourth-tier pill.
Everyone's eyes turned toward Xiao Se with hopeful gazes. Clearly, compared to the rival nation's Huo Tan, they were hoping for Xiao Se from the Jia Ma Empire to emerge victorious.
Seeing the expectant gazes of the crowd, Xiao Se smiled faintly. His right hand suddenly stretched out, and a round purple pill with a stronger medicinal fragrance than Huo Tan's appeared in his palm.
"This is a fifth-tier Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill, which can completely restore strength that has weakened due to seals or lingering internal injuries."
"Hahaha, excellent excellent excellent!" On the high platform, Fa Ma's old, clouded eyes sparkled with excitement as he shouted "excellent" three times in a row. He glanced at Huo Tan, whose face had turned deathly pale after hearing about the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill, and smiled at the crowd. "The Yuan Recovery Pill and the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill—any experienced alchemist here should have heard of them. As for the champion..."
"Wait!" A piercing voice suddenly interrupted. Huo Tan, his face pale, shouted at Fa Ma.
"What ? Are you as an alchemist unable to tell which is superior between the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill and the Yuan Recovery Pill?" Fa Ma's expression darkened slightly as he responded coldly.
"Of course, I know how powerful the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill is, but who knows if the pill he made is real or fake? I demand that a panel of alchemists outside the guild personally verify it," Huo Tan said, pointing at Xiao Se.
He knew very well that Xiao Se's pill was genuine. The only reason he risked angering Fa Ma was to use the verification process as an opportunity to escape in the ensuing chaos.
However, things often don't go as one expects.
Before Fa Ma could get angry, Xiao Se, standing next to Huo Tan, spoke calmly, "There's no need for such trouble. The only true test is through practice."
As he spoke, Xiao Se flicked his fingers, and the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill flew toward Hai Bo Dong, who caught it effortlessly. "Old Hai, this is the pill I promised you. Please test it for us," Xiao Se said with a smile, looking up at Hai Bo Dong on the high platform.
"Haha, thank you, young man," Hai Bo Dong said, his heartbeat quickening as he held the pill. Under the stunned gazes of the crowd, he swallowed the pill.
In the next moment, Hai Bo Dong's aura surged dramatically. His icy wings unfolded, and with a slight bend of his legs, he shot up into the air, hovering in the center of the square. A bone-chilling wind began to blow across the vast square, carrying countless tiny ice crystals. Within moments, the previously hot square turned freezing cold.
Hai Bo Dong's cultivation also rose from the two-star Dou Huang level to the five-star Dou Huang level.
"Huo Tan, the truth is right in front of you. What else do you have to say?" Fa Ma asked coldly, glancing at Huo Tan, who had already packed up his furnace and ingredients, preparing to escape.
"Old man Fa Ma, what else is there to say? I'll kill him right now," said Jia Xing Tian, standing nearby, with a playful shrug.
With Hai Bo Dong's strength restored, Jia Xing Tian felt a bit pressured. His frustration, bottled up for some time, was now seeking an outlet.
Hai Bo Dong flew back to Fa Ma's side, grinning, "Old man Fa Ma, I could use a punching bag. Want me to take care of him for you?"
"Hmph! What choice do I have now but to use my trump card?" Huo Tan's face darkened as he saw the cold glances from Fa Ma, Hai Bo Dong, and Jia Xing Tian. Unhurriedly, he swallowed the antidote to his appearance-changing pill, returning to his original form—a sinister old man. He sneered coldly.
Hearing this, Fa Ma and the others frowned, thinking Huo Tan might try something crazy. But before they could react, Huo Tan's black wings of Dou Qi burst forth from his back, and with a jolt, he shot toward the outskirts of the city.
Everyone was speechless. After all that, Huo Tan's "trump card" turned out to be escape. Still, his cultivation as a Dou Wang was a surprise to most of those present.
"I'll go after him," Hai Bo Dong said, his icy wings unfolding. With a flap, he leaped into the air to pursue. Jia Xing Tian also activated his earth-colored Dou Qi wings and followed closely behind.
In the center of the square, seeing Hai Bo Dong and Jia Xing Tian give chase, Xiao Se quickly sent a message, "Old Hai, please leave him alive. I have some questions for him."
Hai Bo Dong paused for a moment, nodded lightly, and then accelerated in pursuit without looking back.
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