The plaza at the Pill Realm's exit was a rare place of calm. Here, no one dared to act recklessly—there was no slaughter, no hidden ambush. Countless Alchemists sat quietly in wait, even Mu Gu restrained himself, not daring to make a move.
Some Alchemists chatted softly with acquaintances, but most had their eyes closed, resting and conserving energy. Liu Xi was no exception.
The night passed in silence. By noon the next day, the air above the central area of the plaza suddenly rippled and twisted.
A moment later, an old man emerged from the distortion, dressed in the distinctive robes of the Pill Tower. He leaned lightly on a wooden staff, his weathered face etched with the deep lines of age.
Pinned to his chest was a radiant purple-gold badge. The instant that badge came into view, expressions across the plaza shifted—shock, respect, and even a hint of awe.
That insignia represented one of the eight authoritative Elders of the Pill Tower.
The old man stopped at the center of the square. He neither raised his voice nor spoke many words, only said calmly, "Time's up. All Alchemists, hand over the ingredients you've gathered. Once verified, you may proceed to the third round."
With a casual sweep of his staff, a pitch-black crack split open in midair, expanding rapidly until it formed a shimmering spatial portal.
A middle-aged Alchemist rose immediately, approaching with his collection of herbs and the corresponding list. The old man gave them a brief inspection, nodded, and gestured him through the gate. The Alchemist exhaled in relief and vanished into the passage.
With one person taking the lead, others followed—one after another, Alchemists stepped forward to submit their materials before walking into the portal.
Of course, there were also opportunists among them, trying to bluff their way through with random herbs. But the Elder's cloudy eyes were deceptive—behind that aged haze lay a piercing gaze. Those who attempted deceit were struck aside with a single swing of his staff, sent tumbling from the platform under the weight of everyone's disdain.
Flushed red with shame, they covered their faces and fled without a word.
Cao Ying rose gracefully, smoothing her long robe before glancing at Liu Xi. "Master Liu, it's our turn."
Liu Xi nodded, brushing the dust from his sleeves before walking toward the old man.
He handed over the herbs he had collected. The Elder examined them for a moment, then allowed a faint smile to appear. "No issues with your materials. You may proceed."
Liu Xi returned the gesture with a polite clasp of his hands. "Many thanks." With that, he stepped into the spatial tunnel.
—
Holy Pill City, Northern Plaza.
The massive square was already packed with people, a sea of humanity as far as the eye could see. The long wait hadn't cooled their excitement—it had only grown fiercer.
Above the crowd floated countless suspended stone platforms—the dueling grounds where the Alchemists who had survived the first two rounds would refine their pills in the final test.
At the very center of the plaza stood a black stone archway, pulsing with energy. From its dark depths, one figure after another emerged—those who had passed the second trial.
In the next instant, another silhouette appeared—tall and straight, sword-browed and bright-eyed, handsome beyond compare.
It was Liu Xi.
He inhaled deeply as he stepped through, scanning the endless sea of faces and hearing the thunderous cheers that erupted from the audience. His heartbeat quickened as he whispered to himself, "Truly… all eyes upon me."
Across the plaza, countless observers finally relaxed upon seeing him appear—Xiao Yixian, Yao Tianhuo, Valley Master Luo and Luo Yinzhu, Valley Master Tang and Tang Huo'er, Venerable Lei, Feng Qing'er, and many others.
They were all his friends, allies, and supporters—people who had come from every corner of Zhongzhou to witness Liu Xi's rise.
Unknowingly, Liu Xi's influence and connections had already spread across the entire Central Plains. The days when he had stood alone were long gone.
If Ice River Valley still dared to seek trouble now, their destruction would take mere moments.
Moments later, another figure stepped from the portal—a woman in a flowing black dress, her curvaceous form both graceful and commanding, her delicate features tinged with mature allure.
Cao Ying.
The crowd's cheers grew even louder. Although both she and Liu Xi were considered top contenders, beauty always came with its own kind of advantage.
The spatial passage remained open for over an hour before the last participant emerged. When no more Alchemists appeared, the portal slowly faded, the swirling waves of spatial power dissipating into still air.
Now, more than a thousand Alchemists stood gathered at the heart of the grand plaza. Every one of them was at least a 6th Tier Alchemist—veterans of the art, all vying for the final title.
Winning the championship would bring glory, but even participation in this round meant fame. From this day forward, wherever these Alchemists went, they would be honored guests of every great power.
Then—
Association Head Xuan Kongzi rose from his seat, his dignified gaze sweeping over the plaza. His deep, resonant voice carried across the entire field.
"Now then, everyone—please quiet down."
The crowd's roar subsided instantly.
Seeing this, Xuan Kongzi smiled faintly and continued, "First of all, congratulations. You have passed the first and second trials. You now stand upon the greatest stage of this Pill Gathering—the final battle for the championship."
A tremor ran through the ranks. Thousands of Alchemists lifted their chins, eyes gleaming with fiery determination. Each of them dreamed of glory—of standing at the summit.
'Dreams are worth having,' Liu Xi thought with a quiet smile. 'Who knows? Some might even come true.'
But beneath the cheers, he could already sense the faint scent of rivalry filling the air. This was no mere contest—it would be a battlefield of flames and willpower, where only the strongest Alchemist could claim the crown.
His lips curved upward in quiet confidence. 'The finest Alchemists of the continent have gathered… but who among them can truly rival me?'
The energy of the crowd swelled once more, and Xuan Kongzi raised a hand, his tone calm yet commanding.
"Now then—contestants, take your positions."
"The final round imposes no restrictions. Use everything you have. Show the world your greatest work."
"Glory… shall be born among you."
As his words fell, the plaza erupted.
In the next heartbeat, countless Alchemists shot into the air simultaneously, surging toward the vast field of floating stone platforms above.
Nearly two thousand platforms filled the skies—far more than enough for the thousand competitors—but not all of them were equal.
Quarrels broke out as many rushed to claim better spots, the air buzzing with disputes and flying robes.
Fortunately, Liu Xi didn't need to fight for space—his reputation did the work for him. Wherever he passed, others quietly stepped aside in silent acknowledgment. Respect for an 8th Tier Alchemist was absolute.
Liu Xi, unconcerned with location, chose a platform in the middle region. No one dared contest it.
(End of Chapter)
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