Chapter 79: The Alchemist Conference Finals!
Five hours later, Lu Bu deactivated the defensive formation, placing two Hunyuan Bone Molding Pills in front of Jia Xingtian with a smile. "Old Jia, take your pick."
Jia Xingtian was left speechless. He had been hoping for a "buy one, get one free" scenario, but it seemed that such good fortune wasn't in the cards.
After examining the two pills, which were almost identical, Jia Xingtian casually grabbed the one on the right. "This one will do," he said with a smile. "Thank you, Mr. Lu."
"This pill requires a special method to activate its full medicinal potential. Would you like my help with that?" Lu Bu offered while casually storing the other pill in his storage ring.
Jia Xingtian glanced at Lu Bu, noting his slightly fatigued expression. While he would have liked the assistance, he ultimately shook his head. "You've been refining for a long time and must be tired. We can handle this ourselves."
"Very well," Lu Bu nodded. "Then, I'll see you on Yunlan Mountain in a few days."
"Jia will be there on time, without fail!" Jia Xingtian said earnestly, cupping his fists. He couldn't pass up the opportunity to work with such a skilled alchemist targeting Yunlan Sect.
With that, Jia Xingtian hurriedly departed, taking the pill back to the royal family to treat the Nether Sea Python Beast as soon as possible it was a matter of urgency.
As for Yaoye and Xiao Yan, they had left earlier. Yaoye, as the leader of the royal family, couldn't neglect her governmental duties for too long. Xiao Yan, on the other hand, had even less time. The finals of the Alchemist Conference were only a few hours away, and he was determined to win the championship.
Failing to secure the title would mean being unable to repay his debt to Lu Bu a situation he dared not face. Moreover, the president of the Alchemist Association, Fa Ma, had high hopes for him, even providing him with a Three Lined Green Spirit Pill and other resources. Xiao Yan was determined to claim victory!
"Everything is falling into place," Lu Bu murmured to himself, stroking his chin. Now, all that remained was awakening Yao Lao, and he would be ready to head to Yunlan Mountain. Xiao Yan had mentioned needing one final session to expel the last traces of poison from Nalan Jie, after which he would obtain the Seven Illusion Green Spirit Saliva. By Lu Bu's calculations, Xiao Yan's journey to Yunlan Sect would begin in three days.
As for Hu Fa of the Soul Hall, his days were numbered.
Three hours later, at exactly nine in the morning, the venue for the Alchemist Conference Finals was packed to capacity. Crowds of people filled the space, shoulder to shoulder, as an ocean of faces gathered to witness the spectacle.
The Alchemist Conference was an unparalleled event, no matter the nation. It brought together the top alchemical talents from across the land to compete for the title of the best. This competition served as a springboard for many, a chance for rising stars to leap over the dragon gate and earn glory and wealth beyond imagination.
At the entrance, two to three dozen young men and women in alchemist robes made their way into the venue. Their arrival was met with thunderous applause, waves of cheers surging through the crowd like the tide.
"Look, that two star alchemist is the one who scored the highest in the first round Yan Xiao!"
"He looks to be around twenty so talented for his age!"
"He's the one who stood up to the people from Chu Yun Empire. If it weren't for him, our empire would've lost face!"
"Exactly, exactly!"
"…"
Xiao Yan ignored the noisy chatter around him as he walked to his designated platform, the same one he had used in the previous round. He sat cross legged, meditating to calm his mind. Suddenly, he felt someone's gaze fixed on him.
Opening his eyes, he noticed a gray robed youth sneering at him from across the arena. The youth mouthed silently, "You're going to lose this time."
In response, Xiao Yan simply raised his thumb and made a slicing gesture across his neck. "This championship is mine!"
The crowd erupted into applause and cheers, their excitement reaching a fever pitch. Xiao Yan's bold gesture resonated with the audience, earning their unanimous support.
The gray robed youth's face turned ashen. Without the support of a home crowd, his momentum faltered, leaving him unable to regain control of the atmosphere. All he could do now was rely on his strength to turn the tables.
From a seat in the audience, Lu Bu smirked. Humans were social creatures, and even he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement as the crowd's fervor swept over him. But this emotion was fleeting; he quickly suppressed it and returned to his usual calm demeanor.
"Lu Bu, don't you feel like jumping in and giving it a try?" Hai Bodong teased with a laugh. "Just imagine all these people cheering for you, basking in the spotlight. Doesn't that tempt you?"
Nearby, Nalan Yanran turned her head slightly to glance at Lu Bu. She had only seen him in action twice: once when he helped Yan Xiao remove the branding poison and once when he fought Mu Zhan.
The latter didn't count it didn't showcase his alchemical skills. As for the former… it wasn't a clear indicator of his true abilities either. The branding poison had already passed through multiple hosts, losing much of its potency by the time Lu Bu dealt with it.
"I almost didn't notice," Nalan Jie suddenly remarked, stroking his beard as he scrutinized Lu Bu with a smile. "This young man is also an alchemist. Though he's only a one star alchemist, his achievements at this age are commendable."
"Young man, why not participate in this Alchemist Conference? It's an excellent opportunity to learn from your peers. After all, you can't achieve much by working in isolation."
Hai Bodong rolled his eyes. Ever since Nalan Jie's granddaughter had aligned herself with Yunlan Sect, the old man had grown increasingly arrogant, even disregarding Hai Bodong's presence.
Unfazed by Hai Bodong's reaction, Nalan Jie continued, "Take Yan Xiao, for example. He's a shining star among your generation. Learning from him would be highly beneficial."
Lu Bu sighed and rolled his eyes. "Ah… I don't really know much about alchemy. I've only been studying it for about a year. This robe? I borrowed it."
"Young man, dishonesty won't get you anywhere," Nalan Jie said, shaking his head in mild disapproval.
"Nalan, shut up already," interjected Mittel Tengshan, unable to hold back any longer. He wasn't defending Lu Bu per se but was rather trying to save Nalan Jie from future embarrassment. A few days from now, when the truth came out, Nalan Jie would wish he could crawl into a hole.
"What's this? Your family can't handle a bit of criticism?" Nalan Jie retorted, his brow furrowing in displeasure.
Mittel Tengshan shot him a disdainful glance before redirecting his attention to the center of the arena, ignoring the "fool."
"You " Nalan Jie fumed, rolling up his sleeves as though ready to fight.
"Wow, you all seem lively," came Jia Xingtian's voice, breaking the tension. The others glanced over, their eyebrows raising slightly. Normally stern and intimidating, Jia Xingtian seemed uncharacteristically cheerful today.
"You seem in high spirits, Old Jia," Nalan Jie greeted with a respectful bow, careful not to overstep with the empire's strongest known figure.
"Indeed," Jia Xingtian chuckled heartily. "Lu Bu helped me solve a pressing issue."
Hearing this, Nalan Jie's expression shifted. His gaze toward Lu Bu grew heavier with suspicion.
Meanwhile, Nalan Yanran glanced at the ongoing conversation before turning her attention back to the arena. Her eyes settled on Yan Xiao's tall figure, standing proudly amidst the crowd.
In the arena, gasps of astonishment rippled through the audience as a chill began emanating from Xiao Yan's station. The once fiery crimson glow of the Beast Flame had been replaced by the icy blue of the Bone Chilling Flame.
"Mr. Yan Xiao always manages to surprise," Nalan Yanran murmured to herself, her sparkling eyes fixed on the young man behind the mask.
(End of Chapter)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Johanssen