The faces of those present were a canvas of emotions, displaying anger, jealousy, and reluctance.

“Pavilion Master Bi, congratulations!” Many pavilion masters stepped forward, cupping their fists together. With Azure Billow City having made it this far, it seemed likely that they would be among the top five—an unprecedented achievement. In all the years since Bi Gongyu had become pavilion master, the highest ranking Azure Billow City had ever achieved was twenty-seventh.

“Haha, you people are too polite. The performance of your cities isn’t that bad either!” Bi Gongyu’s voice boomed as he cast a disdainful glance at Yun Lan’s party. After all, they had often ridiculed him in recent years due to Azure Billow City’s poor rankings.

When the top five rankings were finally revealed, Zen City’s pavilion master exclaimed, “That’s impossible!”

His eyes were fixed on the list, filled with disbelief and doubt.

“Zen City is ranked third? What’s going on?” The crowd erupted into an uproar—many had been optimistic that Qin Letian would take first place this year.

“Balance City...is ranked second!” The news that Zen City had placed third was shocking enough—after all, Zuo Hong, who had ranked third last year, was more or less on par with Qin Letian, and their rankings could have easily switched depending on their performance. But what came next was beyond comprehension. No one could believe that Ji Yang, widely acknowledged strongest alchemy genius of the Great Yan Dynasty, was ranked second!

Zuo Hong smiled wryly and raised his head to look at the top of the list.

“Azure Billow City is first?!” Many people’s eyes widened in disbelief as they looked at the top of the list. “Azure Billow City’s Liu Wuxie, 45 points.”

Xiao Mingyi was bleeding in his heart while Wen Song jumped like he had seen a ghost. Shangguan Cai and Li An looked at each other before they turned to the three judges, seeking an explanation. They suspected that there was an issue with this year’s judging.

After all, Ji Yang and Qin Letian also received 45 points, but it was weird for them to be ranked second and third while Liu Wuxie was ranked first. The other pavilion masters communicated privately because this year’s identification round surprised everyone.

They wouldn’t have been surprised if Azure Billow City’s ranking had merely increased, but to leap from last place to first was nothing short of astonishing, something that no one could accept.

Meanwhile, Bi Gongyu was overcome with emotion at the unexpected turn of events. When the list was revealed, he and Lei Tao embraced in celebration—it had been many years since Azure Billow City had experienced such joy.

The chaos lasted for ten-odd minutes before it finally settled down. Shangguan Cai and Li An communicated among themselves briefly and headed to the three judges. The observation area became quiet as everyone returned to their seats. The forty alchemists present wore a range of expressions, some excited, others disappointed.

“Master Mao, what’s going on?” Shangguan Cai asked calmly, showing more restraint in his words than Nangong Qi.

Bi Gongyu, Yun Lan, and everyone else stood by the side because they were also curious. They couldn’t figure out how someone who hadn’t read the Hundred Herbs Classic and Shennong’s Herbs Classic would receive a full score; it was beyond their comprehension.

The three judges had anticipated that their decision would be questioned. They produced the papers written by Liu Wuxie, Ji Yang, and Qin Letian and laid them out on the table for the thirty-five pavilion masters to examine.

“These are the correct answers. You may all take a look,” Sang Yan said, placing the answer sheets on the table for everyone to compare with the three papers. The answers couldn’t have been leaked in advance—the box containing the herbs had been sealed, and even the three judges had placed restrictions on each other to eliminate any possibility of cheating.

Shangguan Cai took Ji Yang’s paper and compared it with the answers. The answers were satisfactory, and he couldn’t find a problem. When he picked up Qin Letian’s papers, the answers were similar to Ji Yang, but it was somewhat lacking in terms of description. The age and effect of some herbs weren’t detailed enough.

Lastly, Shangguan Cai picked up Liu Wuxie’s paper, and the thirty-five pavilion masters went through it together.

“Ingenious answer! Not only is the age written, but the effects are also detailed!” Ke Wen exclaimed. The answers were so detailed that he knew why everyone else lost, even if he couldn’t answer them in such detail. The papers written by Ji Yang and Qin Letian were satisfactory, but Liu Wuxie’s answers were eye-catching. Not only were the effects of the herbs recorded but some details were handled flawlessly.

“Houttuynia has yin attributes with a growth cycle of three years. It can be used to refine the Breeze Wind Pill and Energy Recovering Pill...” Behind each herb, Liu Wuxie further noted the characteristics of each herb, including its growth environment, growth cycle, and effects.

“Aquatic River Vine has a one-year and three-months growth cycle. It can refine the Great Integration Pill and Energy Consolidating Pill...” Che Jiajun read out the herbs one by one. Unlike Liu Wuxie’s papers, Ji Yang and Qin Letian’s were garbage. The difference between them was like heaven and earth.

“He’s given 45 points because the limit is 45 points. If possible, I don’t mind giving him 100 points,” Sang Yan said with a wry smile because anyone could tell who was better. The thirty-five pavilion masters could naturally tell who was better as well.

“To be completely proficient in herbs at eighteen...he’s a genius! Our Great Yan Dynasty will have a new rising genius!” Although Wang Hong didn’t want to admit it, he had to acknowledge that Ji Yang and Qin Letian weren’t wronged. On the contrary, they were fortunate that the identification round only had 45 points, or their faces would become uglier.

Placing the papers down, the thirty-five pavilion masters returned to their position and acknowledged Liu Wuxie’s ranking. The top five were determined: Liu Wuxie was ranked first, Ji Yang second, Qin Letian third, Zuo Hong fourth, and Gu Yongshuang fifth.

“Xiao Mingyi, it’s time to fulfill your promise!” Liu Wuxie declared. He had never intended to let Xiao Mingyi off the hook. As he spoke, hundreds of eyes turned to Xiao Mingyi, filled with a mixture of sympathy and disdain.

“You wouldn’t dare!” Xiao Mingyi protested. Being forced to kneel in public would be more humiliating than being killed. He may have lost to Liu Wuxie in the herb identification competition, but he was confident in his strength and felt inferior to no one except the most exceptional geniuses.

Jeers erupted from the crowd as Xiao Mingyi tried to back out of the bet. Yun Lan and Xiao Mingyi were master and disciple, but they couldn’t handle losing gracefully. The jeering made Xiao Mingyi’s face turn red with shame—he wished he could disappear into a hole in the ground.

“Liu Wuxie, you’ve already won. So why do you have to push it?” Du Mingze interjected, hoping that Liu Wuxie could let this matter go.

“Are you trying to intercede on his behalf?” Liu Wuxie asked Du Mingze with a smile. The three judges couldn’t intervene in the matter—after all, it was Xiao Mingyi who had initiated the bet, so it wouldn’t be easy for him to back out now.

“That’s right.” Du Mingze didn’t want to get involved initially, but he felt compelled to speak up due to his close relationship with Xiao Mingyi.

Liu Wuxie threw back his head and laughed. “Ha ha ha!” The sound of his laughter stunned everyone, and they wondered if Du Mingze had made a mistake by trying to intercede for Xiao Mingyi. “Who do you think you are to plead for him?” Liu Wuxie continued, his words dripping with scorn.

Liu Wuxie’s mockery was a public humiliation for Du Mingze. Everyone was surprised by this sudden display of ruthlessness from Liu Wuxie, who had been quiet and composed throughout the competition, even in the face of Yun Lan’s overbearing attitude.

Du Mingze trembled with rage as murderous intent flashed across his face. At that moment, he wished he could step forward and kill Liu Wuxie. “Very well,” he said through gritted teeth. “You’re the first person to ever speak to me like that. Let’s see how you plan to make him kneel.”

Du Mingze positioned himself protectively in front of Xiao Mingyi, with Xue Chou and Wen Song standing at his side. If Liu Wuxie insisted on forcing Xiao Mingyi to kneel, he would have to get past them first.

Bi Gongyu couldn’t intervene—if he did, Yun Lan and Nangong Qi would surely step in as well. And no one else came forward to support Liu Wuxie, either. After all, by taking first place in the identification round, Liu Wuxie had offended many people. It was common for geniuses to attract envy and resentment.

“You want to stop me?” Liu Wuxie asked as he slowly advanced towards them. As he drew closer, the aura emanating from him grew stronger and more intense. Though he was only at the third level of the Xiantian Realm, his aura was no less powerful than someone at the fifth level.

“Big Brother Zuo Hong, should we help Young Master Liu?” Gu Yongshuang suddenly spoke out, wanting to help Liu Wuxie. It seemed unfair for four people to gang up on him alone.

“No need!” Zuo Hong replied, shaking his head. The events of the previous day were still fresh in his mind—it wouldn’t be easy for these four people to stop Liu Wuxie.

The other alchemists wore a gloating expression, wishing for both sides to suffer heavy injuries. If that happened, they might have a chance to climb up the ranking tomorrow.

“Brat, what does it matter if you won? Do you really think I’ll kneel for you? You must be dreaming!” Xiao Mingyi’s arrogance and shamelessness caused many to shake their heads in disappointment. It was clear that his path as a cultivator had come to an end. True cultivators must not only focus on their cultivation but also on the state of their hearts. How could one hope to progress if they neglected this crucial aspect of their development?

“No one can stop me from doing what I want. You four are nothing but trash—do you really think you can stand in my way?” Liu Wuxie’s murderous intent exploded and suddenly disappeared. He strode the Seven Dipper Steps and appeared before Du Mingze in the next second.

“Get lost!” Liu Wuxie’s roar was comparable to rumbling lightning. Before Du Mingze could even respond, he was sent flying by Liu Wuxie with a slap. Du Mingze’s cultivation was only in the fifth level of the Xiantian Realm, while Liu Wuxie even took experts’ lives in the Spirit Cleansing Realm. So how could a fly in the Xiantian Realm possibly stop his footsteps?

Du Mingze flew through the air like a broken kite, tracing an arc before crashing to the ground and shattering the wooden boards beneath him. Blood spurted from his mouth as half his face swelled up, as Liu Wuxie had shown no mercy, using ninety percent of his strength in that single slap.

This scene made Wen Song tremble as he quickly ran away, frightened out of his wits. After all, it was too exaggerated for someone in the fifth level of the Xiantian Realm to be sent flying with one slap.

“His movement technique is bizarre, and I actually failed to track him.” Ke Wen’s face was full of disbelief. He was an expert in the Marrow Cleansing Realm, but even he couldn’t keep track of Liu Wuxie’s movements, not to mention someone in the Xiantian Realm.

All thirty-five pavilion masters, the three judges, and spectators in the observation area looked at Liu Wuxie like they were looking at a monster.

As Du Mingze crawled back to his feet, his face and clothes were covered in blood, making him look sinister.

“How dare you! I’ll kill you!” Du Mingze retrieved a sword from his interspatial pouch. He didn’t hesitate to dash toward Liu Wuxie, his sword aura rumbling like a tidal wave.

“Wuxie, watch out!” Bi Gongyu warned and dashed out. But it was too late because Yun Lan was long prepared for it and stepped forward, obstructing Bi Gongyu.

“Kill me?” A contemptuous laughter came from Liu Wuxie as he drew the blade he carried on his back. As he turned into an afterimage, no one noticed how he disappeared.

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