141: Chapter 141 Each Displays Their Unique Abilities

Fentian City in the early morning woke up earlier than usual.

Before daybreak, the area around the Myriad Fires Square was already a sea of people, a dense black mass.

The viewing stands were already packed, and even the streets and rooftops surrounding the square—anywhere one could catch even a glimpse of the inside—were crowded with people.

The buzzing sound of discussions mixed together like a pot of boiling water, audible from a great distance.

Today was the final, fifty of the top Alchemists of the younger generation competing on the same stage in the "Myriad Fires Contention for Supremacy" where mutual interference was permitted!

Just thinking about it made one's blood boil.

Many gambling houses had already opened their betting pools, and the odds for popular candidates like Lu Yu, Xiao Yan, and Yan Linger were being pulled back and forth, making it very lively.

When the group from the Heavenly Evolution Immortal Sect arrived, they were immediately met with the "baptism" of countless gazes.

Lu Yu walked in front, dressed in a simple green robe, his expression calm, and even with a faint, almost imperceptible smile on his lips, looking as if he had just come for a stroll.

Beside him, Lin Xiaoyou still looked like a sleepy homebody, cradling her small, worn-out Pill Furnace and walking slowly.

Behind them were Liu Yunshu, Li Miaoer, Luo Qingxue, and the Yan Lingluo, each with their own charm, and together they were even more eye-catching.

"Divine Son Lu! You must take the top spot today!"

A Cultivator who had placed a heavy bet on him shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Fairy Xiaoyou, keep it up too!"

Surprisingly, some people were also cheering for Lin Xiaoyou; it seemed her "Thousand Illusions Shape-Shifting Pill" from yesterday had gained her quite a few fans.

Lu Yu casually waved in the direction of the voice as a response, without stopping his pace.

Li Miaoer, on the other hand, excitedly wagged her cat tail toward them, eliciting a wave of good-natured laughter.

Entering the interior of the square, the atmosphere changed again.

There was less clamor from the outer circle and more of an invisible solemnity and sharpness.

The fifty Alchemy areas had been rearranged, and the distance between them was significantly larger than in the first two rounds, clearly to leave space for interference.

The light barriers within the areas also seemed a bit thicker, glowing with a faint crimson luster and carrying the unique Formation aura of the Fentian Sacred Valley. They could isolate large external impacts to a certain extent without hindering the penetration of flame power—a typical design that provided protection while not allowing you to be too comfortable.

The contestants arrived one after another.

The group from the Pill Tower arrived surrounding Xiao Yan. Today, Xiao Yan had changed into a deep purple Alchemist robe embroidered with silver patterns; his expression was calm, but his gaze was as sharp as an eagle's, and a flash of coldness flickered in his eyes as he glanced at Lu Yu.

Beside him followed three Pill Tower Disciples with equally strong auras, two men and one woman, their gazes toward Lu Yu also carrying scrutiny and a hint of hostility.

The Fentian Sacred Valley was led by Yan Linger. She was still in a simple white dress, with only pale golden flame patterns embroidered on the cuffs and hem; her ice-blue eyes were calm and rippleless, as if nothing in the outside world could disturb her.

Behind her followed two Fentian Disciples with steady temperaments.

Ghost Hand of the Demon Domain stood alone in his area, his body covered by a black robe, the half of his face that was exposed looking pale and sinister. His fingers unconsciously stroked a pitch-black leather pouch at his waist, inside which something seemed to be wriggling gently.

On the Yao Domain's side, Qing Xuan of the Azure Luan Clan had a cold and elegant temperament, and she nodded slightly to Lu Yu in greeting.

Hu Meier of the Fire Fox Clan was completely different. She wore a nearly transparent fiery-red gauze dress that faintly revealed her graceful figure, and a large, fluffy tail swayed comfortably behind her.

Seeing Lu Yu look over, she didn't avoid him but instead blew him a kiss, her red lips parting slightly as she silently mouthed something.

Looking at the shape of her lips, it was probably something like "Wait for big sister, okay?"

Lu Yu shifted his gaze without changing expression... then continued to watch, mentally labeling this vixen as a "vixen."

The prodigies from other domains and sects also took their positions one by one, each with an extraordinary bearing, sparks flying as their gazes met.

None of those standing here were easy to deal with.

Exactly at the hour of chen, the Fentian Sacred Lord Yan Mo and several Elders of clearly higher status ascended the high platform.

Yan Mo's gaze swept over the fifty young or steady faces below, and without any redundant words, his voice rang out loudly:

"The third round, the final round—Myriad Fires Contention for Supremacy, begins now!"

"Time limit: ten double-hours!"

"Rules: No limits on Pill Formulas, no limits on Materials, no limits on techniques! The final rankings will be determined based on the grade and quality of the finished Medicinal Pill, as well as the overall performance during the Alchemy process!"

"Only one point must be remembered: interfering with others using your own flame's characteristics is allowed, but you may not use Medicinal Pills, Talismans, Magical Artifacts, or any other external forces, and you must not cause fatal injuries or permanent disabilities! Violators will be disqualified and severely punished!"

"Now—open the furnaces!"

Boom!

As the last word fell, it was as if a powder keg had been ignited.

The light barriers of the fifty areas lit up simultaneously!

At almost the same time, more than half of the contestants burst forth with flame auras of varying intensities!

Multi-colored flames rose, igniting the Pill Furnaces or directly enveloping the already prepared Materials!

A scorching heat wave instantly swept across the entire square, and even those in the front rows of the viewing stands felt the hot wind hitting their faces!

The competition entered a fever pitch from the very first second!

No one was willing to waste even a single breath of time.

Ten double-hours might seem long, but to refine the highest-grade Medicinal Pill one could achieve while also guarding against potential interference at any moment, the time was actually very tight.

Lu Yu did not act immediately; he first looked around.

Not far to the left, Xiao Yan had already summoned that deep purple Purple Abyss Earth Core Fire. The flame transformed into a purple fire python, coiling around a dark golden three-legged Pill Furnace. The fragrance of medicine began to permeate from within the furnace as he focused intently, quickly throwing in Materials one by one, clearly having planned what to refine and being extremely proficient.

The three Pill Tower Disciples beside him also ignited their own Alchemy fires, all of which were of high grade, faintly guarding Xiao Yan in the center and forming a simple Formation.

To the right, Yan Linger lightly raised her fair hand, and the pale golden Golden Crow True Flame transformed into a small phantom of a Golden Crow hovering above the Pill Furnace. Its wings fanned gently, scattering golden sparks that fell into the furnace and stimulated the essence of the Materials.

Her Alchemy movements were as graceful as a dance, yet highly efficient and perfectly orderly.

On Ghost Hand's side, a grayish-black corrosive flame slithered from his palm like a living thing, enveloping an eerie skull-shaped Pill Furnace. Strange "hissing" sounds came from inside the furnace as wisps of black smoke rose.

Hu Meier flicked her jade-like fingers, and a cluster of pink flame bloomed at her fingertips. As the flame flickered, it even seemed to emit decadent sounds and alluring illusions.

She giggled as she threw various fragrant Materials into a pink heart-shaped Pill Furnace, her movements possessing an indescribable charm.

Others were also like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each displaying their divine abilities.

The roar of flames, the sound of Materials burning, and the humming of Pill Furnaces intertwined. The air was filled with the complex scent of over a hundred kinds of mixed Materials, and the Spiritual Qi was restless.

Lin Xiaoyou was diagonally behind Lu Yu. She had already slowly started a fire, which was just a cluster of the most common Earth Fire—orange-yellow and nothing special.

Then she began to take Materials out of her Storage Pouch; they were all very common, even somewhat cheap goods, and there was a huge variety of them, piled up in a messy heap.

Next, she took out her small, worn-out jade Pill Furnace and placed it over the Earth Fire to begin preheating.

The whole process was unhurried and completely out of place with the surrounding bustling scene, causing many people to frown and wonder if she was there as a joke.

It could only be said that Lin Xiaoyou truly had no desires or demands; she came here merely out of interest and had absolutely no interest in these rankings.

After all, how much ambition could a woman who stays at home all day have?

Otherwise, Xiao Yan and the others would be far from being able to compete with Lin Xiaoyou.