The hall did not calm. If anything, it grew louder—not with shock this time, but with intent.
The eyes that had once held only awe now carried calculation.
Mu Linyue had not merely won a competition; she had become something far more significant—a future that many now sought to grasp.
Mu Qingyuan naturally noticed the subtle shift. His gaze swept across the crowd, taking in the princes, the elders, and the representatives of the various empires.
All of them were watching intently, their minds already moving as they weighed their options and formed their plans.
He knew that after today, the status of his daughter would be very different.
Some might try to form an alliance with them, but those who were their enemies—as his gaze naturally shifted toward the Vermillion Pill Empire—would definitely try to take her life.
A faint smile appeared on his face, but his eyes grew colder.
"Since the winner has been decided, this concludes the alchemy competition."
