One after another, the last embers in the cauldrons flickered out. Gao Tian's azure flame coiled back into his palm, vanishing without a trace. Inside his cauldron, the Yin-Yang Fusion Pill gleamed like a twin-colored pearl, its surface alive with shifting black and white patterns.
Shu Yu exhaled softly as the frosty mist around her cauldron dispersed, revealing a Frost Soul Pill that shone with an icy brilliance. A faint chill rippled outward, drawing gasps from nearby participants.
Around the arena, The other competitors had also finished. Some wore pride on their faces, others frustration, but all stood before their cauldrons awaiting the verdict.
The air was thick with the mingled scents of rare herbs, fire essence, and anticipation. Even the audience had fallen into a hushed silence, their eyes fixed on the rows of cauldrons.
From the observation room, Tong Men leaned forward slightly. "Looks like every single one of them put in their best effort."
Sen Zhuo gave a small smile. "Yes… but only a few will stand out."
Below, Tong Lin stepped forward and raised his voice.
"All participants, step back from your cauldrons! The judging will now begin!"
The tension in the air tightened like a drawn bowstring.
Sen Zhuo and Tong Men rose from the observation room and descended slowly, their robes fluttering in the breeze as they landed gracefully on the ground. The atmosphere in the arena grew solemn.
Several women from the Pill Tower stepped forward, each carrying a tray with a pill resting upon it. They moved in a line, one by one, toward Tong Men, who stood at the center like an unshakable pillar of authority.
The first woman stopped in front of him and announced softly, "Participant Leon."
Tong Men glanced at the tray, eyes briefly scanning the pill before nodding.
"Leon, Third-Tier Low-Grade Qi Condensing Pill. Good work."
The woman bowed and stepped back as another approached.
"Participant Lel," she said.
Tong Men examined the pill and declared,
"Third-Tier Mid-Grade Spiritual Recovery Pill."
The announcements continued in this rhythm. Some pills drew nods of approval, others earned sighs of disappointment. The crowd reacted wildly—cheers erupted for decent pills, while laughter and mocking whispers followed those who presented low-grade results.
Then, a tray bearing a pale blue pill approached. The pill glimmered with an icy sheen, faint frost clinging to its surface.
Tong Men's expression froze the instant his eyes fell upon it. His pupils shrank in disbelief.
Impossible… This girl is only at the Body Tempering stage. How could she possibly refine a Fourth-Tier pill?
He drew a deep breath and announced loudly, his voice carrying to every corner of the arena.
"Shu Yu—Fourth-Tier Low-Grade Frost Soul Pill."
The crowd exploded.
"What? She's only Body Tempering!"
"She must have cheated!"
"No way, that's pure talent! She's a genius!"
"Wow… and she's so beautiful. Should I… maybe ask her to marry me?"
Shu Yu stood calmly amidst the chaos, her expression unreadable, like a snow lotus untouched by the world.
I managed to refine a Fourth-Tier pill… but why… why do I feel that he is still going to win?
Her gaze shifted to Gao Tian, who was waiting patiently with his cauldron not far from him.
Gao Tian noticed her look and smiled faintly in thought.
She actually refined a Fourth-Tier pill. Impressive.
Another tray came forward.
"Ao Kan," the woman announced.
Tong Men examined the pill and spoke without hesitation.
"Ao Kan, Third-Tier High-Grade Wind Gathering Pill."
Ao Kan's face darkened. His hands clenched tightly.
Damn it… Even after all that effort, I couldn't beat her. If I can't surpass her, do I even have a chance to enter the Pill Tower?
Finally, the last tray was brought forward. The pill resting on it radiated a strange, harmonious aura of yin and yang, swirling patterns of black and white chasing each other across its perfect surface.
Tong Men's eyes widened. His breath caught in his throat. For a long moment, he could not believe what he was seeing.
No… this isn't possible. He's only in Foundation Establishment. How could he refine something of this level?
His gaze swept the crowd until he found Gao Tian, who stood quietly with a calm face.
Gao Tian tilted his head slightly, sensing Tong Men's disbelief.
Sigh… I thought I could push for something even higher. But with my current spiritual energy, this was my limit.
Tong Men swallowed hard, then straightened his back and announced in a voice that thundered through the arena:
"Gao Tian—Fourth-Tier High-Grade Yin-Yang Fusion Pill!"
The arena erupted into chaos. Cheers, screams, and shocked exclamations shook the very ground.
"He refined a Fourth-Tier High-Grade pill? At Foundation Establishment?!"
"Impossible! He's a monster!"
"This Gao Tian… he's beyond genius!"
Sen Zhuo walked forward beside Tong Men, raising his hand with a calm authority that immediately silenced the crowd.
"Well, now that the competition is over, we have an announcement to make."
The audience erupted into murmurs, some shouting impatiently, others whispering in curiosity.
"What announcement?"
"Tell us quickly!"
Tong Men continued, his deep voice echoing across the arena.
"We are recruiting disciples for the Pill Tower. Anyone who participated and won the first round can now choose to join. If you're interested, give your name to Tong Lin."
As the words left his mouth, the Pill Tower women began to leave the arena gracefully, disappearing through the same door they had entered from earlier.
The moment the participants heard the announcement, they rushed toward Tong Lin like a tide.
Tong Lin widened his eyes as the crowd charged at him.
"You old fox, Tong Men! You dumped this mess on me?!"
Tong Men chuckled without a trace of guilt.
"Hey, can you handle it for a while? I have something important to do."
Tong Lin let out a long sigh, his face darkening.
"Fine…"
Among the rushing figures was Ao Kan. His eyes burned with determination as he clenched his fists.
I have to join the Pill Tower. If I succeed, I'll become a genius in both alchemy and weapon refining.
Then the booming voice of the Sen City Guard announcer echoed through the arena:
"The competition has concluded! By order of the Sen City Guard, the audience will now withdraw in an orderly manner!"
Rows of armored guards moved like an iron tide, their spears glinting under the afternoon sun. They began ushering spectators out from the towering stone stands, their disciplined steps forming a rhythmic clang against the ground.
Excited chatter filled the air as cultivators, merchants, and ordinary folk reluctantly left their seats. Some were still animatedly discussing the shocking battles, while others craned their necks for one last glimpse of the battered stage where heroes had risen and fallen.
While chaos erupted near Tong Lin and Exit, Sen Zhuo and Tong Men walked calmly toward Gao Tian, laughter playing at their lips.
Gao Tian stood quietly beside Shu Yu, who was staring at him with her usual emotionless gaze. He turned slightly to her with a small smile.
"You did well. If I hadn't been here, you would have taken first place."
Shu Yu let out a soft sigh, her voice calm but tinged with something unspoken.
"I lost. And… are you going to join the Pill Tower?"
Before Gao Tian could answer, Sen Zhuo and Tong Men stopped in front of them. Sen Zhuo grinned.
"Well, kid, we meet again after two or three days, right?"
Shu Yu's eyes flickered with surprise. She stared at them, thoughts swirling.
Gao Tian… knows these two?
Tong Men looked Gao Tian up and down, his tone casual yet probing.
"Kid, didn't you get injured by Brother Sen's pressure that day?"
Gao Tian replied with a relaxed smile.
"No. I told you before—I didn't suffer any injuries."
At that moment, Shu Yu froze. Injuries? Her mind raced back to the morning before the first round.
He was injured back then… but didn't tell me?
Her expression hardened, and a wave of cold aura escaped her body unconsciously. The temperature around her plummeted.
Sen Zhuo raised a brow in amusement.
"Well, girl, we're not here to take your boyfriend away. Why release killing intent?"
Gao Tian coughed lightly, scratching the back of his head with an awkward laugh.
"You've misunderstood. She's not my girlfriend, just a friend."
Shu Yu kept her expression blank, though her voice was calm as still water.
"He's right we are just friends. And I just remembered someone I hate. I apologize for my rudeness."
Inside, however, her thoughts were far from calm.
You bastard. When my cultivation fully recovers, I'll show you what true pressure feels like.
The little Ruler Dog, still perched on Yun Sha's head, tilted its head and fixed its sharp eyes on Sen Zhuo and Tong Men.
I know my master… she's going to kill them. I can feel it in my bones. Its tiny tail flicked nervously. But why? Why does she care so much just because someone hurt Gao Tian?