The Changle Ancestor called out to Ling Xiao and said only one sentence, “Don’t let that sea clan girl get too arrogant!”
Ling Xiao smiled and nodded. “I’ll do my best.”
At this point, Ling Xiao naturally could not possibly yield the championship of the conference to Tianhai Pearl.
Most crucially, that Moon Stone was far too important to the Moon Maiden.
Ling Xiao swore that he must obtain it.
Half an hour later, the once quiet Changle Square began to stir again, like a massive mechanical beast starting its new activity.
This was the competition for the final round.
It was also the finals.
Clearly, many more people had come to the square than before.
After arriving, most of them kept talking about the confrontations between Ling Xiao and Tianhai Pearl in the previous two rounds.
When they grew excited, some even gestured animatedly.
“Look, Ling Xiao is here!”
A voice suddenly rang out, and the entire venue instantly fell much quieter.
Many alchemists who had been discussing the third round also turned to look in the direction where Ling Xiao was.
Although the badge Ling Xiao wore at that moment was still only high-grade yellow rank.
No one believed that represented his full strength.
The previous two duels had already proven that Ling Xiao’s attainment in medical arts far surpassed that of the yellow-rank alchemist Ji Luoyu.
At this moment, Ling Xiao was the hero of all six terrestrial races, the irreplaceable figure in the eyes of every alchemist present.
Because only he had defeated the insufferably arrogant Tianhai Pearl twice in a row.
The Profound World was like that. The strong commanded respect, and the strong received reverence.
In the field of alchemy, exquisite medical skills and pill refinement techniques were strength!
They likewise earned the worship and awe of countless people.
“Ling Xiao, you’ve arrived. Have you rested well? This next battle will probably turn into another battlefield between you and Tianhai Pearl again, but I won’t give up either.”
Ji Luoyu was truly very lively.
Or rather, she gave the impression of being overly familiar.
No matter how Ling Xiao treated her, she already regarded him as an old acquaintance, even an old friend. She immediately slapped him hard on the back.
A stately Little Pill King, could she show a bit more restraint.
“Let’s both do our best.”
Ling Xiao only replied faintly. He actually did not have a good impression of Ji Luoyu, but now, it had turned from negative to neutral.
“I don’t know what background that Tianhai Pearl really has. Though it’s frustrating, her strength is genuinely formidable. I can’t help but acknowledge it.”
Ji Luoyu rarely admired anyone, but now she somewhat admired both Ling Xiao and Tianhai Pearl.
“Mm.”
Ling Xiao nodded. From Tianhai Pearl’s body, he sensed a special soul force.
This was something he could detect only after cultivating the Primordial Spirit Remnant Scroll.
Others might not see it, but Ling Xiao could. Attached to Tianhai Pearl’s body was the primordial soul of another person!
He did not know who this person was, but their age was certainly advanced, likely from the same era as Pill King Sun Ran.
The opponent he had been facing all along was not Tianhai Pearl, but this person.
However, he did not voice these thoughts. Even if he did, probably no one would believe him.
“Ling Xiao, if you’re scared, leave this final round to me. If I’m not mistaken, the last round should involve free improvisation. At that point, the alchemist’s rank will become crucial. In that aspect, I’m much stronger than you!”
Hearing these words, Ling Xiao did not need to look to know it was Dan Qing.
This fellow refused to admit defeat, still believing that he had lost to Ling Xiao only in areas he was weak in, while in his strengths, he could definitely beat Ling Xiao.
“Heh.”
Ling Xiao merely smiled faintly. Persevering in refusal to yield was fine, but lacking self-awareness was stupidity.
In his eyes, Dan Qing was exactly that kind of person.
“Hmph, what’s so great about it. Just wait and see.”
Seeing Ling Xiao only brush him off, Dan Qing grew even more upset. He was now determined to teach Ling Xiao a lesson in the final round.
Ling Xiao ignored him, instead turning to nod at the judges on the panel before sitting down in the preparation area.
“Tianhai Pearl is here!”
At that moment, a wave of commotion arose.
Ling Xiao turned his head and saw that Tianhai Pearl had also arrived.
This sea clan girl walked near Ling Xiao, not sparing a glance for Dan Qing or Ji Luoyu. She stared fixedly at Ling Xiao and said, “Heavenly Emperor of the Heavenly Dynasty! In this final round, I will make you experience what true despair feels like!”
“You’ve said such words more than once, yet you’ve already lost to me twice. You’d better save the verbal sparring.”
Ling Xiao glanced faintly at Tianhai Pearl, then suddenly smiled. “By the way, give my regards to your friend there, and tell him the same thing. Even if he possesses skills like Pill King Sun Ran, today he is destined to lose!”
At these words, Tianhai Pearl’s expression clearly showed extreme shock.
How could Ling Xiao have seen that there was another person’s primordial soul inside her body?
Even Pill King Sun Ran, Ji Qing, and the Changle Ancestor had not detected this secret.
“Since you already know, you should surrender, because you cannot win. In the first two rounds, I did not exert my full strength, but in this final round, the opponent you face will become incomparably powerful.”
Tianhai Pearl gradually calmed down, then glared viciously at Ling Xiao.
“I forgot to tell you, I haven’t used my full strength either.”
Ling Xiao smiled as he spoke.
He certainly knew what Tianhai Pearl meant by not exerting full strength.
In the first two rounds, that soul had only guided and assisted Tianhai Pearl from the side during pill refinement.
But in the final round, that soul would likely fully control Tianhai Pearl’s body, indeed making her far more formidable.
“Tianhai Pearl, your opponent isn’t just him. There are us too!”
Dan Qing truly could not stand Tianhai Pearl not even glancing at him.
Did that not imply he was far inferior to Ling Xiao?
How could he bear that?
Yet Tianhai Pearl still ignored him and walked straight to her seat.
“It infuriates me! So arrogant!”
Dan Qing’s face turned livid with anger.
“Enough, Brother Dan Qing. What’s there to be angry about now? Once the third round starts, we’ll compete directly with that Tianhai Pearl. Won’t that be satisfying?”
Ji Luoyu smiled. Although this little girl was also angry inside.
Tianhai Pearl was about the same age as her, yet completely disregarded her. How could she tolerate that?
However, unlike Dan Qing, she intended to prove with actions that she was not weak!
On the judges’ panel, Pill King Sun Ran, Ji Qing, the Changle Ancestor, and Changle Immortal Island’s top alchemist had all taken their seats.
The Changle Ancestor said with some worry, “The final round is the key. If Ling Xiao loses to Tianhai Pearl, this Pill Refinement Conference will truly become a laughingstock.”
Ji Qing sighed and replied, “Things have reached this point. There’s nothing we can do but leave it to fate. Still, I have some faith in Ling Xiao. Since he has created miracles once and twice, he can create a third!”
