As those full of curiosity pondered who the last-to-appear "grand finale" participant could possibly be, a few individuals who had arrived in the same carriage as Chen Yuan and Pan Yang that day were now whispering:
"I remember that day Pan Yang from Hua Sect said he was going to join the alchemy contest, right?"
"Yeah, I was there too. Didn't he say he certainly wouldn't come in last? I heard it loud and clear at the time."
Some around them who overheard this couldn't help but snicker:
"Hua Sect is joining this competition? And they think they won't be at the bottom? What a joke."
"Even when there weren't as many talented seniors in previous contests, Hua Sect has always been last. If they really participate today and aren't the bottom-ranked, I'll eat a pound of cow dung."
