Immortal Reincarnation Tribulation

Chapter 158 The Great Alchemy Competition

This scene was extremely shocking. Even though the Nascent Soul cultivators from powerful sects and families already knew about it, they were still stunned and their breathing became slightly rapid.

Even these Nascent Soul cultivators reacted this way, let alone their disciples and followers, who were already so shocked that their mouths were agape, as if they had been struck by lightning.

You should know that these hundred-plus old guys are at least Grandmasters in the art of alchemy.

These old men all looked like immortals, with arrogant expressions and their noses pointing to the sky.

Ten of them, with expressions of arrogance and disdain, were none other than the ten Grandmasters of Alchemy from the Seven Star Merchant Alliance.

These ten old guys may look arrogant, but they have the right to be. Each of them is a respected guest of major powers.

If someone has the ability to make them happy, they can easily concoct a bottle of pills for you, enough to last you a lifetime.

When this group of people came before Xiao Yan, they all bowed, but they did so in a lazy manner. Anyone could sense that there was some perfunctoriness or even disrespect in their manner.

Xiao Yan sneered inwardly upon seeing this, but remained outwardly calm. After giving some opening remarks, he instructed them to enter the light screens one by one.

These old guys didn't need anyone to guide them; they jumped off the platform on their own and headed straight for the magic circle.

The ten Grandmasters of Alchemy walked directly to the first row of the formation and stepped into the light screen.

Among the other grandmasters, there seems to be a hierarchy based on seniority. They actively chose a spot on the light screen according to their different qualifications, and those further back in the screen were probably the ones who became grandmasters later.

Before they began refining the pills, all 110 people stood with their hands behind their backs, heads slightly raised, eyes half-closed, with an arrogant and unruly expression, and a faint, habitual sneer always appearing on their lips.

The people from the sects and families were not surprised by their attitude. Their own alchemy masters were much the same, so they all remained calm, and some even showed respect and admiration in their eyes.

"Vice Alliance Leader Xiao, shall we begin?" Among the ten Grandmasters, one elder was noticeably older than the others and seemed to hold a more prestigious position. He slowly opened his eyes, revealing impatience, and weakly cupped his hands before speaking indifferently.

"Since Master Lu is in such a hurry, let's begin." Xiao Yan sneered inwardly, thinking to herself, "I've been waiting for you to say that."

The woman paused, smiled slightly, and continued:

"I almost forgot, for this year's Alchemy Competition, I also need to arrange someone to exchange alchemy skills with you all. Zuo Yun, set up another alchemy formation in the first row."

Upon hearing this, the Golden Core Elder named Zuo Yun bowed respectfully. Without saying another word, he flashed to the same row as Master Lu, took out the array-setting tools, and quickly began to set them up.

The hundred or so alchemists who witnessed this scene all changed their expressions at the same time, followed by an undisguised anger that rose up in an instant. In their eyes, this was an insult.

"I knew it would be like this. Why didn't you just have someone set up another magic array light screen? I wouldn't have received so much attention. Now look what happened, everyone knows me, including those two from Hundred Flowers Valley..." Du Fan thought to himself.

"What does Vice Alliance Leader Xiao mean by this? Could it be that our alliance has produced a new Grandmaster of Alchemy? This is certainly a cause for celebration. Even so, according to the established rules, this person should be ranked last, right?" Master Lu frowned and said with some dissatisfaction.

"What? Another alchemy master has emerged from the Seven Star Merchant Alliance?" Upon hearing this, the members of the sects and families couldn't help but feel a jolt in their hearts. How come alchemy masters are as rare as cabbages in the Seven Star Merchant Alliance?

Of course, not everyone showed surprise. There were at least two exceptions: Tang Wan, who had a half-smile, and Du Fan, who looked utterly dejected.

Xiao Yan suddenly smiled charmingly and said meaningfully, "Master Lu, who said this person is a grandmaster of alchemy?"

"Not a Grandmaster? Could it be a Great Grandmaster! Vice Alliance Leader Xiao, you are of noble status, so please don't say anything deceitful to us, lest it damage the reputation of our alliance!" Master Lu's originally cloudy eyes suddenly brightened, shooting out a sharp glint.

These words shocked not only the members of the sects and families, but also the more than one hundred arrogant alchemists, who looked at Xiao Yan with disbelief and disbelief.

"Haha... Master Lu, up to this point, I have never said that this person is a Grandmaster or a Great Grandmaster. It has always been you who have been making unfounded guesses." Xiao Yan laughed, raised an eyebrow, and her voice turned a little cold.

"Then who is he? The Pill King!" Master Lu's expression changed drastically, and his eyes narrowed sharply.

"Dan Wang!" A chorus of gasps filled the hall.

"The Pill King?" Xiao Yan asked mockingly, then shook her head.

"How could such an existence appear in this world? Alright, Master Lu, there's no need to guess anymore. This person is just an ordinary alchemist, not a grandmaster, not a master, and not even an alchemy master."

"Is Vice Alliance Leader Xiao perhaps toying with us? After going through all this trouble, he's finally sending out an ordinary alchemist to participate in the Alchemy Competition, and even placing him on equal footing with the ten of us? Is Vice Alliance Leader Xiao publicly humiliating me?"

Master Lu's wrinkled old face twitched, and a strong anger suddenly appeared in his expression. He spoke in a gloomy tone.

"Master Lu, you flatter me. You are the number one alchemist in the Nine Provinces Continent and the pillar of my Seven Star Merchant Alliance. How could I possibly have such thoughts?"

However, this person's identity is somewhat special. He is a worshipper of this alliance and may have some knowledge of alchemy. He once boasted in private that he had profound alchemy skills and even insulted the masters, saying that their alchemy was nothing special.

That's why, in a fit of anger, I decided to have this person participate in this year's Alchemy Grand Competition, so that he would know what it means to be a frog in a well. The art of alchemy is profound and complex, and we cannot allow him to speak so rudely and tarnish the reputation of all the masters.

"Placing this person at the front, to be honest, was indeed my idea, Master. This is to put him under our surveillance, lest he resort to any underhanded tactics."

Xiao Yan straightened her expression and spoke slowly, a hint of disgust for that person even appearing in her eyes.

"If I fail, it will really be like lifting a rock only to drop it on my foot. Xiao Yan, you're ruthless!" Du Fan thought to himself, his face ashen.

Master Lu's eyes flashed upon hearing this, then his expression softened slightly, and he said expressionlessly:

"Since that's the case, it's fine. Let him spar with us and experience firsthand what true alchemy is all about."

If he truly has a talent for alchemy, and as long as he admits his mistake on the spot and shows humility and remorse, I, this old man, might as well offer him some guidance.

"Master Lu truly deserves to be called the foremost master of alchemy. Not only is his skill in alchemy extremely high, but he also possesses a broad mind and an open heart. I admire him greatly!"

After Xiao Yan finished speaking, she actually stood up, bowed slightly to Master Lu, and showed respect.

People from sects and aristocratic families were also whispering among themselves, expressing their utmost reverence for Master Lu. Among the younger generation, some even showed a hint of fanaticism in their eyes.

This made Master Lu even more pleased, and a subtle smile couldn't help but appear on his usually stern face.

"Master Du, come out now." Xiao Yan said calmly and casually, then sat down again.

Who is Du Gongfeng?

"This title sounds so familiar..."

"Could it be him...?"

Whispers rippled from some people's mouths, and two others suddenly flashed a sharp light in their eyes.

Du Fan sighed inwardly, knowing that his moment to shine had arrived.

He suddenly coughed dramatically, causing the entire room to fall silent as everyone turned to look at him with puzzled expressions.

The Maple Leaf Sect Master and the elders beside him shifted their expressions and turned to look, seemingly puzzled.

Tang Wan, sitting at the very front of Qixia Sect, trembled slightly. Her eyes were full of smiles, but her lips were tight. Then, she circulated her internal energy slightly and calmed down.

Du Fan took a deep breath, and his face, which had been somewhat simple and refined, suddenly twitched, before he managed to put on a different expression.

He raised his chin, lowered his eyelids, and looked arrogant and disdainful. He put his hands behind his back, moved his body, and strode forward.

Upon seeing this, the Qixia Sect members' facial muscles twitched, they held their breath, and for a moment, they seemed not to have reacted.

As soon as Du Fan stepped out of the crowd, he felt countless surprised gazes and powerful divine senses sweep over him, causing his hands and feet to turn icy cold, a chill to rise from his back, and his heart to pound faster.

"Qi Refining stage cultivation, it really is him!"

Within the Wentian Sect and the Yandang Sect, a sharp gaze instantly pierced Du Fan's eyes.

Du Fan knew without even thinking who these two people were, but the next moment, his heart skipped a beat because he felt another unfriendly gaze. This gaze was not only full of hostility, but also had an extremely strong killing intent.

"It's not Huang Mingcong, he wouldn't dare! Then... who is this person?" Du Fan frowned, glancing over with his eyes.

There was a Foundation Establishment disciple from the Song family, who looked to be in his early twenties. He was dressed in black robes, had a tall and muscular build, and was handsome with an extraordinary air about him. However, his face was extremely gloomy, and there was an undisguised, overwhelming rage in his eyes.

"Why does he look like that? Have I offended him...? Has he mistaken me for someone else?" Seeing the man's ferocious appearance, Du Fan was startled and also somewhat confused.

But it was impossible to pursue this matter at this moment. After making a mental note of it, Du Fan composed himself and allowed his arrogance to rise even higher.