Chapter Forty-Eight: Before the Competition

A wave of astonishment swept through the disciples; it was the first time any of them had heard someone declare they would give away a low-grade treasured artifact. To them, such a thing was simply unimaginable. Even Han Feng shot Liu Lanzhi a peculiar look—how come she had never shown such kindness to him? If she had, would he have ever needed to erase her name in the first place?

Duan Xiaoyuan, too, stood stunned for a moment before hastily protesting, “Junior Sister, how could I possibly accept this? If you do obtain a low-grade treasured artifact, it will be the fruit of your own hard work—how could I dare take it from you…” Duan Xiaoyuan was well aware of Liu Lanzhi’s abilities; with her strength, she stood every chance of winning the artifact. But something so precious—how could he possibly accept it?

Within the Miao family, Han Feng was the most skilled in alchemy, but Liu Lanzhi possessed the greatest talent for it. If anyone was favored to win the low-grade artifact, it was these two. Han Feng held a slight edge in reputation, but only due to his seniority and greater experience.

Watching Duan Xiaoyuan and Liu Lanzhi defer so earnestly to one another over the artifact, Yang Jian felt a surge of anger. Were they truly going to ignore him like this? He was, after all, second only to the eldest brother, and a prominent contender for the trial’s championship. Yet here they were, publicly passing the artifact between themselves, as though he didn’t even exist.

With a cold sneer, Yang Jian said, “You two are shameless, aren’t you? Do you really think the artifact will definitely fall into Liu Lanzhi’s hands? Besides our Miao Village, there are many great powers competing this time, like the Medicine Court and others. Even within our own ranks, Liu Lanzhi, your chances of securing the artifact aren’t all that high.”

Duan Xiaoyuan looked a little embarrassed; after all, he had once followed Yang Cheng. Though he now stood by Liu Lanzhi, it was difficult for him to turn on Yang Jian so abruptly. But Liu Lanzhi had no such scruples—she and Yang Jian had always been at odds. She retorted, “We’ll see who’s better when the time comes! So what if you’re a few decades older? Does that make you so impressive?”

Ignoring Yang Jian, Liu Lanzhi picked up the vermilion brush, eyeing the list of five names posted on the board. Which one should she strike off? No matter what, she had to leave a spot for that fool.

The crowd watched in shock as Liu Lanzhi, having already added her own name, continued to gesture with the vermilion brush—clearly preparing to cross out someone else’s. Everyone was dumbfounded. People always said Yang Jian was domineering, but this little junior sister was every bit his match, if not fiercer. Yang Jian had only changed one name, but she was prepared to strike out two. Who, then, was her target?

Yang Jian’s face darkened as Liu Lanzhi’s brush hovered over his name. “Junior Sister, don’t go too far,” he warned. If she erased his name, how could he ever show his face in Miao Village again?

His eyes followed the tip of her brush, sweat beading on his brow, until finally she passed over his name and stopped on Han Feng’s. Only then did Yang Jian breathe a sigh of relief, secretly wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. That damned girl—she must have done it on purpose, just to scare him half to death.

Yang Jian led his followers to the side, quietly sizing up the three factions present. Liu Lanzhi’s group made up at least a third of those gathered, while his own and Han Feng’s combined accounted for another third, with the rest remaining neutral. Since his eldest brother Yang Cheng’s death, many of his brother’s former followers had become noncommittal. Yang Jian felt a wave of helplessness.

Junior Sister had now gathered great momentum. Already among the very best in strength, she now had so many people rallying behind her. If their master chose to support her as well, no one would be able to stop her.

Han Feng’s face changed when he saw Liu Lanzhi’s brush land on his name. Though she was playful by nature, she was generally good-natured and always respectful to her seniors. Why was she suddenly acting as overbearing as Yang Jian? Was it because he hadn’t submitted her name for the trial, and she was now publicly humiliating him?

But Han Feng quickly dismissed the thought and smiled. “Junior Sister, right now the four strongest alchemists in Miao Village are you, me, Senior Brother Yang Jian, and Senior Sister Lu Haitang. I’ve heard our opponents this time are both numerous and formidable. You’ll bear a heavy responsibility—you must recover from your injuries and give your best, so as not to disappoint Master and your brothers and bring honor to our sect.” His concern was that of a true senior.

Many of those present were speechless. Of all of them, Han Feng was surely the most shameless—he had personally revoked Liu Lanzhi’s qualification for the trial, yet now that she was standing up for herself, he pretended to be solicitous and concerned for her. Even Yang Jian looked on with disdain—how could one be so brazen?

Liu Lanzhi had never intended to strike off Han Feng’s name; after all, his alchemic prowess was such that even the master praised him. She could tell the difference between what mattered and what did not. That left only two options. Her brush lingered over Lu Haitang’s name. “Ah, Senior Sister Lu—she’s always looked out for me. I can’t possibly strike her off, and besides, her alchemy is among the best in Miao Village.”

Before Liu Lanzhi could move her brush, a woman’s voice called out with a joking reproach, “You little rascal, you dare tease even Senior Sister Lu? You really have no fear, do you?”

Liu Lanzhi turned and stuck out her tongue at the kindly-faced Lu Haitang, pulling a silly face at her.

That left only one: Senior Brother Haiyuan. Sorry, but you’re with Yang Jian, so you’ll have to take the fall, especially since you’re filling in for Senior Brother Cai Hu. Liu Lanzhi lifted her brush, about to cross out Haiyuan’s name, when a plaintive voice interrupted, “Junior Sister, wait!”

Liu Lanzhi turned in confusion to see when Miao Shilin had entered the hall, and beside him stood a miserable-looking Haiyuan, face full of grievance.

Miao Shilin shook his head as he watched Liu Lanzhi wield the vermilion brush so mischievously. All these years had passed, and she was still as playful as ever. He couldn’t hide his disappointment. Although he no longer involved himself in the disciples’ affairs as much, when Haiyuan came to him in such distress, he couldn’t stand by.

With her master’s gaze fixed intently on her, Liu Lanzhi sheepishly withdrew her brush. That Haiyuan really was something else—squabbles and petty grievances were common among brothers and sisters, but to run straight to the master and complain, looking so aggrieved—did he have no shame at all?

Miao Shilin’s expression softened as he saw Liu Lanzhi put away the brush. He glanced at Haiyuan’s woebegone face and said, “Lanzhi, as the youngest, how could you bully your senior brother? Eh… cough, cough.” Something about that didn’t sound quite right, but what? The disciples’ odd looks—and some stifled laughter—made him glance at the aggrieved Haiyuan again, but there was nothing obviously wrong. In any case, Haiyuan had complained, and he had to respond with authority. After a stern cough, he announced, “That’s enough for today.”

He looked up at the roster of Miao disciples participating in the alchemy trial and frowned slightly. “Let’s leave the list as it is. No more changes.” With that, he walked out with his hands clasped behind his back, making it clear the matter was of little consequence to him.

Once he had gone, the disciples could no longer contain themselves and burst out laughing. Haiyuan really was shameless—unable to hold his own, he’d run to Master with such a pitiful face. Now that Master had spoken, who would dare erase his name?

At last, the official alchemy competition began. According to the statistics from the Profound Azure Sect, there were a total of 508 contestants from southern Ji Prefecture. Clearly, that number was inflated—there simply weren’t that many people capable of refining even a low-grade yellow pill. The actual number of alchemists at that level in all of Ji Prefecture probably didn’t even reach 500.

The first round of eliminations commenced. In the Miao family’s small training ground, 508 refined alchemy furnaces had been neatly arranged, each with a small white flag displaying the contestant’s name in bold, sweeping calligraphy.

A sea of people gathered below, the audience larger than ever before. Ji Prefecture had not seen such a grand event in many years, and even those who seldom appeared in public came to join the excitement. At the center of the field, Master Hong Tao of the Profound Azure Sect read aloud words of encouragement, exhorting the participants to give their best and show their true skills.

He then explained the rules and prizes in detail. When he spoke of the rewards, the crowd’s blood surged with excitement and their eyes shone. All those who passed the first elimination round would receive a set of herbs required to refine the Return Origin Pill—a rare and precious medicine, for it could aid one in breaking through to the Return Origin Realm. That realm was a major barrier for many; the scarcity of Return Origin experts in Ji Prefecture showed just how difficult it was to achieve. Though the prize was only the ingredients, not the finished pill, it was enough to set everyone’s heart ablaze.