Here was a vast, awe-inspiring square, surrounded by an endless sea of people that stretched to the horizon. A deafening roar, like the bellowing of a mighty dragon, resonated through the entire sky, shattering even the clouds into fragments. In the air above the square, numerous stone platforms floated, which would soon become the focal point for the final confrontations of the Alchemy Conference.
After a slight lull in recent days, the popularity of this grand square had undoubtedly reached its peak. Today marked the opening of the Alchemy Realm. Only those who emerged successfully from the Alchemy Realm were qualified to continue participating in the conference.
The atmosphere was electrifying, with countless pairs of eyes fixed on the center of the square. There, a massive black rock gate stood, the space within it distorted—this was the exit of the Alchemy Realm. Soon, the participants who had passed the second trial would emerge from here.
On a high platform in the square, Little Healer Immortal and her companions were intently watching the spatial gate, their faces showing a tinge of anxiousness. Though she had great faith in Xiao Yan’s abilities, she was well aware of the fierce competition inside the Alchemy Realm.
“Heh, don’t worry too much. Participants have been using the spatial stones to exit one after another. If Xiao Yan comes out, he will surely find us,” Ye Zhong, noticing their concern, tried to reassure them with a smile. He then added awkwardly, “Moreover, with Xiao Yan’s cleverness, passing the second trial shouldn’t be a problem.”
Despite Ye Zhong’s comforting words, Little Healer Immortal could only shake her head helplessly. Just as she was about to speak, her beautiful eyes suddenly turned to the spatial gate, where a surge of intense spatial fluctuations began to spread.
“The spatial gate is opening!” At the sight of the spatial distortion, the boundless sea of people erupted in a thunderous cheer. Numerous eager eyes shifted and focused on the gate. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the spatial gate’s fluctuations grew stronger. Finally, one by one, figures began to step out, landing on the ground amidst the cheers.
For these successful participants, the spectators burst into deafening applause. Those who had reached this point were undoubtedly among the best alchemists on the continent. Even if they chose to abandon the contest now, they would still be highly sought after by various forces.
As more and more figures emerged from the spatial gate, the cheers grew louder. The enormous square trembled slightly under the overwhelming sound waves.
*Boom!*
The spatial gate fluctuated once more, and a stunningly graceful figure slowly stepped out, bathed in the warm sunlight. The cheers soared even higher. Cao Ying’s name was well-known, and everyone knew she was a strong contender for the championship.
Compared to Cao Ying, Song Qing, who followed behind her, seemed rather dim. Even though he was called a genius, he could not match her splendor.
After Cao Ying, more and more figures emerged, but despite their efforts, Little Healer Immortal and her companions could not find Xiao Yan. Little Healer Immortal’s face grew somber, and her hands unconsciously clenched. If Xiao Yan met with any mishap in the Alchemy Realm, it was unimaginable what her rage might drive her to do.
Seeing the increasing coldness on Little Healer Immortal’s face, Ye Zhong did not dare to say anything further. His own heart was beginning to feel uneasy. Within the Alchemy Realm, the greatest threat was not the beasts, but the other participants. To increase their chances of success, some stronger individuals might even resort to eliminating potential threats.
While the rest of the square resounded with roars, this small area was unusually quiet. Even the usually calm Heavenly Fire Venerable’s brow was slightly furrowed, and his relaxed stance was now tense.
Just as Little Healer Immortal and the others’ spirits were sinking, the spatial gate once again rippled. A slender figure slowly appeared, stepping out and landing on the ground.
“It’s Big Brother Xiao Yan!” Xin Lan’s face lit up with joy, and she shouted eagerly.
Hearing this, Little Healer Immortal and her companions perked up, and their eyes rapidly turned to the figure. Sure enough, they saw the very familiar form, and they all breathed a sigh of relief.
“Hehe, I knew Xiao Yan would pass the second trial,” Ye Zhong, relieved, chuckled.
As the group let out a collective breath, Xiao Yan, who had just exited the spatial gate, turned to them and gave a reassuring nod.
“That guy,” Little Healer Immortal murmured, shaking her head at Xiao Yan’s calm demeanor.
In the center of the grand square, Xiao Yan felt momentarily disoriented by the loud cheers around him. Inside the Alchemy Realm, the silence had felt off, and now he realized it was because it lacked the bustle of people.
Standing in the square, Xiao Yan scanned the surroundings, his gaze pausing at the still-emerging crowd from the spatial gate. Surprised, he noted the number of people, possibly in the thousands. He hadn’t expected so many to remain after the two rounds of trials. The gathering of so many alchemists far surpassed the Alchemy Conference back in the Jia Ma Empire, both in quantity and quality. Any one of these participants could easily win the previous championships.
His gaze finally settled on the highest seats in the square, where a few figures emanated a sense of overwhelming power, even making Xiao Yan feel a bit oppressed.
“Is that the three heads of the Dan Tower…?” Xiao Yan’s gaze swept over the three figures, pausing when he noticed the qipao-clad woman, who was fixing her eyes on him.
Though he had never seen this mysterious woman before, her position clearly indicated her importance. He dared not meet her gaze for long, quickly looking away.
“Is that Xiao Yan? Medicine Elder’s disciple?” On the high stage, the qipao-clad beauty watched Xiao Yan and spoke softly.
“Haha, yes, that’s Xiao Yan…” Xuan Kongzi nodded with a smile, his gaze lingering on Xiao Yan. Suddenly, a hint of surprise flashed across his face. “Did you notice? This boy’s soul fluctuation is quite unusual. It seems he has likely touched the Spiritual Realm…”
“Indeed, it has the appearance of the Spiritual Realm…” The dark-skinned elder next to her nodded, a hint of astonishment on his face. “Medicine Elder’s discernment is truly sharp, enviable indeed…”
“If he really advanced to the Spiritual Realm, it would be a challenge for Cao Ying and Dan Chen to defeat him,” the qipao-clad woman smiled.
Xuan Kongzi nodded. The last time he saw Xiao Yan, he did not have this feeling. Clearly, the change was related to this visit to the Alchemy Realm.
“Ah, is it truly so difficult to win against that old man even once…?”
As the spatial gate’s ripples calmed down and the twisted spatial disturbance dissipated, the gate returned to its tranquil state. With the closing of the gate, the number of participants in the square increased, a sight that startled Xiao Yan. These people, from every corner of Dou Qi Continent, were exceptional alchemists. To win the championship, one must climb over the heads of others, step by step, until reaching the pinnacle!
When the spatial gate closed, the formerly noisy square fell into a momentary hush. Everyone knew that the real highlight of the Alchemy Conference was about to begin!
On the high stage, Xuan Kongzi’s gaze swept over the crowd. A gentle cough caught everyone’s attention, and all eyes turned to him.
“First of all, congratulations to those standing here. You have passed the second round of trials. However, you should know that the next round is the most crucial part of the Alchemy Conference. The one who stands at the end of this round will be the champion of this year’s Alchemy Conference!”
“The platforms in the sky are your stages. May you shine brightly and create the most brilliant moments of your lives there!”
“Glory will be born among you!”
His short speech ignited the enthusiasm of the crowd, and the Alchemy Conference officially began!
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