Dead trees burst into spring!
Iron trees bloomed!
Even the weeds on the ground that had withered or died from previous battles suddenly came back to life.
“It is actually a Profound-grade pill. How is this possible!”
Tianhai Pearl had considered the possibility of losing, but she still clung to a sliver of hope. Now, however, the pill in Ling Xiao’s hand completely shattered her illusions.
She had lost. She had lost utterly!
Ling Xiao had actually refined a Profound-grade pill, something even she found difficult to achieve. A seventeen-year-old youth had accomplished it.
Was this a miracle?
But why did such a miracle have to occur in a human? She could not accept it!
Ling Xiao sat down heavily on the White Bone Throne.
He was exhausted.
Utterly exhausted!
He had never been this tired before!
Even when he pursued Jiumo Zhiyan through the night in the Northern Desert, he had not felt this drained.
A Profound-grade pill.
He had truly succeeded in refining it. Even he himself found it somewhat unexpected.
His persistence had paid off. Although he relied on the Human King Power and two divine fires, those were all his own strengths.
He had won fairly and honourably.
The outcome was already clear. There was no longer any suspense about the championship.
In the judges’ seats, Ji Qing and the Changle Ancestor both smiled broadly.
The Medicine King Sun Ran’s expression, however, was somewhat stiff.
“I will kill you!”
Suddenly, Tianhai Pearl approached Ling Xiao at extreme speed. Her eyes burned with immense hatred.
She wanted to kill this youth, the one who had obstructed her plans.
The corners of Ling Xiao’s mouth curved into a cold smile.
It seemed he had anticipated all of this.
Defeat was unacceptable to Tianhai Pearl.
So she would definitely do something irrational after losing.
And Ling Xiao had been waiting for this opportunity. He wanted to offload a hot potato.
These past few days, he had not been idle. Apart from preparing for the alchemy convention, he had used his Mountain River Martial Soul to perfectly replicate a “Imperial Seal of the State”.
He believed that unless someone had truly handled the real Imperial Seal, no one could distinguish between the genuine and the fake.
The instant Tianhai Pearl lunged at him, he suddenly reached out and threw the Imperial Seal.
This seal was itself a treasure.
It grew larger in the wind and smashed fiercely towards Tianhai Pearl.
“Hahaha, fool. The Imperial Seal is mine now.”
Seeing the Imperial Seal, Tianhai Pearl indeed abandoned her attack on Ling Xiao. Instead, she exerted all her strength to seize the counterfeit seal.
A counterfeit was still a counterfeit. Although it could also enlarge, its power was lacking.
With one strike, Tianhai Pearl sent the seal tumbling down. She grabbed it and fled into the distance.
Events unfolded too quickly.
Many people did not even react.
This included the experts in the judges’ seats.
When Ji Qing shot into the air, attempting to intercept Tianhai Pearl, a powerful figure emerged from the darkness, exchanged a palm strike with him, and protected Tianhai Pearl as she vanished.
Ji Qing landed, looked at his palm, and sneered coldly. “I never expected the Water God Temple to send one of their two great protectors, the Heavy Water Protector, to guard this sea clan girl. What a miscalculation.”
“That was the Imperial Seal of the State just now, was it not?”
The Changle Ancestor asked Ling Xiao urgently.
“Detestable. I never thought she would ambush me.”
Ling Xiao’s face naturally showed an expression of anger and helplessness.
Yue Nü had already pretended to give chase.
Even if it was an act, it had to be complete. Yue Nü could not appear too calm, or others might not believe it.
“Shameless sea clan member!”
“Shameless Water God Temple!”
“What does the Water God Temple intend by trying to establish themselves on the land? Why would they seize the Imperial Seal passed down by our Human King?”
Ling Xiao knew his plan had succeeded.
The replica created by the Mountain River Martial Soul looked indistinguishable from the real one. Even if his acting had slight flaws, the item was now in the hands of the Water God Temple. The Medicine King Sun Ran, Ji Qing, the Changle Ancestor, and others had all seen it.
From now on, let the Water God Temple hold that hot potato.
He only needed to take the genuine Imperial Seal back to the Heavenly Dragon Continent, set up the National Suppression Array, and uncover the death notes within.
Perhaps much later, someone would discover it was a fake. But by then, Ling Xiao believed his strength would be far greater, and his ability to protect himself much stronger.
“Chase!”
People from the audience and VIP seats left the square to pursue Tianhai Pearl.
For them, although the alchemy convention championship was noteworthy, the Imperial Seal was worth contending for even more.
The Changle Ancestor, Ji Qing, and the Medicine King Sun Ran all sent subordinates to join the chase.
At this final stage of the alchemy convention, these face-conscious figures could not openly rush off to pursue the Imperial Seal.
Even if anxious inside, they could only wait for the results to be announced.
Since Tianhai Pearl had already left, the judges proceeded to evaluate the works of the remaining alchemists.
Finally, the Changle Ancestor announced the outcome.
“This alchemy convention has come to a successful conclusion. The champion of the convention is the Heavenly Emperor of the Heavenly Dynasty, Ling Xiao!”
As his voice fell, countless applause and cheers surged wildly.
In the audience, many people shouted themselves hoarse, offering Ling Xiao their heartfelt congratulations.
For a moment, the entire Changle Square became an ocean of celebration.
It was no wonder they were so excited.
After all, the process of this alchemy convention had been far too tumultuous and dramatic.
The appearance of the sea clan contestant Tianhai Pearl had stirred the hearts of everyone present.
Her arrogant provocations had infuriated them.
Yet they lacked the ability to retaliate, only able to watch as she spoke insolently.
Finally, at this moment, the young Ling Xiao emerged like a brilliant star, thoroughly crushing the overbearing Tianhai Pearl.
First round!
Second round!
Third round!
He won them all!
He left no face for the sea clan.
To the point that Tianhai Pearl, in her final rage, attempted to kill Ling Xiao and seized the opportunity to take the Imperial Seal.
People sympathised with Ling Xiao and felt grateful towards him. Thus, at this moment, their cheers carried a multitude of emotions.
Of course, in a certain sense, Tianhai Pearl’s appearance had actually elevated Ling Xiao.
Without her, this would likely have been mere internal strife among the land races.
Even if Ling Xiao defeated Dan Qing and Ji Luoyu, it would not have caused such a tremendous reaction.
Tianhai Pearl was different.
She possessed the ability to overwhelm alchemists including Dan Qing and Ji Luoyu.
Only Ling Xiao had the power to turn the tide.
He had saved the glory of the land races.
He had defended the dignity of the land races.
The significance was clearly different.
Moreover, under the pressure of Tianhai Pearl’s formidable strength, Ling Xiao had been forced to take risks. In the end, he broke through his shackles and, with Heavenly Human Realm cultivation, refined a Profound-grade pill.
“Hahaha, Sun Ran, let us set aside the matter of the seal for now. Today, this boy Ling Xiao has truly given me an enormous surprise. And do not forget our wager.”
Ji Qing laughed heartily.
