139: Each with their own thoughts

As they were speaking, Li Miaoer's boisterous voice came from outside the door again:

"Junior Martial Brother! Junior Martial Brother! Open the door! I have good news!"

Lu Yu smiled helplessly and let go of Liu Yunshu's hand. "Fifth Senior Sister really can't stay idle for a single moment."

The door opened, and Li Miaoer swept in like a pink whirlwind, her cat ears pricked with excitement and her tail wagging like a broom. "I've checked everything! The finals list! A full fifty people! My god, the lowest are Peak Rank 4 Alchemists!"

"And among them, at least a dozen are Rank 5 Alchemists!"

"Our Heavenly Evolution Immortal Sect only has three: you, Xiao You, and that True Disciple from the Pill Peak whose name I forgot."

"Fifty elites, a dozen Rank 5s..."

Lu Yu's fingers gently tapped the tabletop.

"This final is indeed substantial."

He knew that among them, Yan Linger, Xiao Yan, Lin Zheng from the Pill Tower, Ghost Hand from the Heavenly Fiend Hall, Qing Xuan, and the Eldest Sister of the Fire Fox Clan were definitely all Rank 5.

But he was not afraid!

The three of them chatted for a while before Li Miaoer was driven away by Lu Yu. What was she doing in her Junior Brother's room so late at night?

Seeing Lu Yu's impatient look to drive people away, Liu Yunshu instantly knew what Lu Yu wanted to do.

After sending Li Miaoer away, Lu Yu returned to the room and looked at Liu Yunshu, who was still sitting to the side. With the corners of his mouth upturned, he rubbed his hands together. His smile looked a bit wretched, as if he wanted to commit an indecent act against a virtuous woman!

"Yun Shu, today I performed Void Realm pill condensation, and my spiritual energy consumption was quite large. To ensure I'm back to full strength by tomorrow, let's work hard and Cultivate tonight!"

Seeing Lu Yu like this, Liu Yunshu's gentle cheeks turned slightly red. Before she could speak, Lu Yu had already taken out the Immortal Artifact, the soul sacrificing rope, from his Storage Pouch, which he had rarely used since obtaining it.

Seeing this rope, Liu Yunshu's delicate body trembled, and her beautiful eyes glared at Lu Yu with mock anger.

She had experienced Lu Yu's strange and exotic methods before.

Lu Yu also gave a cheeky smile. The max-level rope art rewarded by the System couldn't be allowed to go to waste!

Since the reward was obtained from Liu Yunshu, it should naturally be used on her.

Although Liu Yunshu was gentle, elegant, dignified, and poised on the outside, in Lu Yu's heart, she had another personality!

Hehehe!

Liu Yunshu turned her head away and didn't look at Lu Yu, allowing him to pick her up and walk towards the bedroom... Under the same night sky, in another luxurious courtyard in Fentian City.

The Pill Tower's station.

Xiao Yan sat alone in the Alchemy room. Dozens of jade boxes were spread out on the table in front of him, containing various rare medicinal Materials, shimmering with light and emitting a fragrant aroma.

But he didn't even spare them a glance, staring intently at a wisp of deep purple flame in his palm that was constantly twisting and leaping.

"Teacher."

He spoke in a raspy voice.

"Tomorrow, I must win! I must trample that Lu Yu under my feet! Reclaim the glory that belongs to me! And that companion fire crystal... I must get my hands on it too!"

His knuckles turned white from clenching, and his eyes were bloodshot. The humiliation of being crushed in public during the day gnawed at his heart like a poisonous snake.

After a moment of silence, the ancient black ring on his finger faintly emitted an old and weak thought: "Yan'er, your heart is in turmoil."

"I'm not in turmoil!" Xiao Yan growled.

"I'm just unwilling! Why him? Just because of that Immortal Fire he got from who-knows-where? If I also had an Immortal Fire..."

"Immortal Fires are things that can be encountered but not sought; forcing it is useless."

The remnant soul of an alchemy emperor interrupted him, his tone serious: "You now have the Purple Abyss Earth Core Fire, which is already Heaven Rank. Combined with the 'Fentian Fire Manual' I taught you and fusing with the 'Mystic Ice Heavenly Fire' remnant Immortal Fire in my body, you may not be unable to contend with that Pure Lotus Heavenly Clear Fire. What you lack is not a flame, but composure!"

Xiao Yan's chest heaved violently. After a long while, he finally suppressed his surging anger and gritted his teeth: "Teacher is right to scold me. Then... what should I do tomorrow? That Lu Yu is full of tricks, and his fire control technique is also sinister..."

The remnant soul of an alchemy emperor pondered for a moment and said slowly: "Today, he performed Void Realm pill condensation and refined a five-pattern pill. It seemed infinitely glorious, but in reality, the consumption of Divine Soul and spiritual energy must have been enormous. Even if he recovers quickly, it will be difficult for his state to reach its Peak tomorrow. That is the first point."

"Secondly, his 'using Yang to guide Yang' Alchemy method seems extraordinary, but it's actually taking a risky path. It has demanding requirements for core Materials and flames. Tomorrow, when Pill Formulas and Materials are not limited, he may not be able to find such a perfectly matching item."

"As for you, you can refine the 'Universe One Qi Pill' you are familiar with. Tomorrow is the final, and many people will surely give it their all. If you only have a Rank 4 pill, you won't be able to take the top five. Only a perfect Rank 5 or even one with a pill pattern can possibly take the top spot!"

"Thirdly, and most importantly..."

The voice of the remnant soul of an alchemy emperor carried a hint of coldness.

"The rules allow interference. Alchemy's greatest taboo is distraction. Tomorrow, you don't need to fight him to the death from the start. Wait until his Alchemy enters a critical moment, then suddenly strike! Coordinate with the other Disciples of the Pill Tower to simultaneously disturb his mind with flames! Even if he had three heads and six arms, it would be difficult for him to manage everything!"

Xiao Yan's eyes gradually lit up, and his breathing quickened: "Teacher means... attacking in a group? But, will the others listen to me?"

"Hmph."

The remnant soul of an alchemy emperor snorted coldly.

"The Pill Tower shares honor and disgrace. Today, Lu Yu taking the top spot slapped not only your face but also the face of the Pill Tower! Could the Disciples of those old fellows not have some thoughts in their hearts?"

"Go find them later, explain the pros and cons, promise them benefits, and forming a temporary alliance won't be difficult. Even if it fails, you only need to create chaos and let them be 'unintentionally' affected to muddy the waters!"

The more Xiao Yan thought about it, the more he felt the plan was brilliant. A sinister and smug smile reappeared on his face: "Teacher's insight is profound! Tomorrow, I'll make him fall the hardest when he's at his most proud!"

...Deep within the Fentian Sacred Valley, inside a crimson palace surrounded by scorching lava.

Yan Linger had taken off her elaborate daytime attire and wore only a simple red training suit, sitting cross-legged amidst a swirling mass of pale golden flames.

The flame was shaped like a Golden Crow spreading its wings, emitting a scorching and noble aura. It was precisely the "Golden Crow True Flame" condensed from the Fentian Sacred Valley's core Divine Ability.

She slowly finished her exercise, and the Golden Crow True Flame merged into her body.

Opening her eyes, the lava's firelight reflected in her ice-blue eyes, but there was no warmth.

"Saintess."

A female attendant dressed in crimson armor appeared silently outside the hall and bowed:

"The Sacred Lord has sent word, requesting you to go over."

Yan Linger stood up, straightened her clothes, and walked out calmly.

Inside the Burning Flame Pavilion, the Fentian Sacred Lord, Nangong Tianxing, stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the churning sea of lava outside the window.

"Linger, you're here." He didn't turn around.

"Master."

"Today's performance was acceptable," Nangong Tianxing said indifferently.

"A one-pattern Rank 4 Peak pill didn't lose the face of the Fentian Sacred Valley."

"This Disciple is ashamed for failing to win the championship." Yan Linger's tone remained calm.

Nangong Tianxing turned around, his eyes like lightning as he looked at his Disciple: "What do you think of that Lu Yu?"

Yan Linger was silent for a moment before saying: "Unfathomable. His flames, fire control, Alchemy knowledge, and on-the-spot reactions all far exceed his peers. This Disciple... is inferior."