A sharp tremor ran through Mu Linyue's cauldron.
Buzz-
A low, resonant hum spread outward, far deeper than anything heard before.
And then, a surge of Qi exploded outward.
"..."
Several onlookers straightened instantly.
Their expressions changed.
"That... this aura..."
"Sothing's wrong-"
The lid of the cauldron trembled.
Clang!
The lid lifted.
A wave of dicinal fragrance spread outward.
The surrounding Qi surged toward it instinctively.
"...Could it be... a Grade-4 pill?"
Soone muttered in disbelief. After all, the Qi they sensed was obviously much more powerful than that of a Grade-3 pill.
"Grade-4?! At her age?!"
"She's only eighteen!"
"Damn... a Grade-4 alchemist at eighteen?"
"Isn't that even more monstrous than Huo Shenyu's talent?!"
Looking at how powerful the Qi emitted was, everyone took it as a sign that Mu Linyue had refined a Grade-4 pill.
The reaction wouldn't have been so intense if it were any other participant, but because it was Mu Linyue-soone still in her teens-it beca a major shock.
That would an she had shattered Huo Shenyu's previous record and replaced him as the youngest Grade-4 alchemist.
Excitent erupted among the Desolate Heaven Empire.
"Hmph! Give her a few more years, and she might surpass Huo Shenyu!" "Then let's see who's arrogant!"
For a mont, their earlier despair cracked, replaced by anticipation.
Previously, they had felt humiliated, looked down upon for lacking a genius comparable to Huo Shenyu.
But now?
Everything had changed.
But not everyone was celebrating.
Among the higher-grade alchemists-
Silence!
Their brows furrowed.
Their eyes narrowed.
Because what they sensed... didn't match the conclusion others had reached.
"This... this Qi..."
"It's too dense..."
"Even that Grade-5 pill that Huo Shenyu refined wasn't this powerful-"
A chill crept into their hearts.
An impossible thought surfaced-
Then was imdiately suppressed.
'Impossible...'
"There's no way...'
'She's too young...'
'No one at her age could possibly refine a Grade-5 pill...'
One by one, they dismissed it, unwilling to accept such a terrifying possibility.
It was already shocking enough that Mu Linyue could refine a Grade-4 pill. If it were anything higher...
They didn't even know what to call such talent.
So speculated that it was simply a particularly violent or unstable pill, which explained the overwhelming Qi and fragrance.
Huo Shenyu's expression also changed.
It wasn't that he believed Mu Linyue had refined a Grade-5 pill-but even the thought of her reaching Grade-4 Alchemist at such age filled him with fury.
His gaze locked onto Mu Linyue's cauldron.
Still, he consoled himself.
He would still win this competition and just because she reached grade-4 doesn't automatically an that she would be able to reach Grade-5 faster.
Slowly, the light within the cauldron stabilized.
The aura condensed.
Then Mu Linyue raised her hand.
And from within the cauldron, a pill rose.
Floating gently into the air.
It was flawless.
Soft light pulsed across it, layer upon layer, like breathing.
Mu Linyue caught it lightly.
Then turned and displayed it openly, for everyone to see.
Silence!
The alchemists-
The other cultivators-
Even Huo Zhouchen-
All widened their eyes.
Shock!
Disbelief!
Horror!
anwhile, those unable to discern its grade frowned in confusion.
"What... what is it?"
"Why is everyone reacting like that?"
"I can't tell... what grade that pill is..."
The silence stretched.
No one dared to speak until a trembling voice finally broke it.
"...Top-tier..."
Gulp!
As if he couldn't believe it even while seeing it clearly-
"Top tier Grade-5 pill."
BOOM!
It was as if thunder exploded in every mind.
"What?!"
"How is that possible?!"
"It isn't Grade-4... but Grade-5?!"
Shock spread like wildfire.
Those who couldn't sense it earlier finally understood.
No wonder the high-grade alchemists had looked as if they had seen sothing
impossible.
Because they had.
All eyes turned toward Mu Linyue.
She stood calmly, as if nothing extraordinary had happened.
Then, in a steady voice, she spoke.
"This is a Top-tier Grade-5-Heavenly Verdant Soul Refining Pill."
The pill rested in her palm, radiating a soft yet overwhelming aura, its presence
far surpassing what most had ever witnessed.
"...Top-tier"
"...Grade-5"
So repeated the words unconsciously, as if trying to convince themselves it
was real.
anwhile, Huo Shenyu's expression twisted.
"That's impossible!"
His voice rang out sharply, breaking the silence.
"You're lying!"
All attention snapped toward him.
The accusation hung in the air.
And for a mont, many actually felt his words made sense.
How could soone so young refine a Grade-5 pill? Even Huo Shenyu had only barely reached Low-tier Grade-5.
And he was already considered a once-in-a-generation genius.
Mu Linyue?
Eighteen years old?
Top-tier Grade-5?
It sounded absurd. Unreal.
Right then-
"Pfft-"
A laugh slipped out.
"Hahahahaha!"
Bai Zihan didn't even try to hold it this ti. His laughter rang out clearly, filled
with mockery.
Then he looked directly at Huo Shenyu.
"Oh? Young Master Huo, can't take a loss?"
A grin spread across his face.
"What a sore loser!"
The words struck like a blade.
Huo Shenyu's face flushed with anger.
"You-!"
His aura surged slightly, his voice turning sharp.
"This is impossible! There must be sothing wrong!"
Huo Shenyu frantically tried to find any justification or explanation, but nothing
ca.
He then turned instinctively-
(Father must know!) "Father-"
"Enough!"
Huo Zhouchen's cold voice cut through everything.
"She is-"
But before he could continue-
"Shut up! Didn't you disgrace yourself enough?"
Huo Zhouchen's voice was cold, carrying unmistakable anger. Huo Shenyu froze.
His words died in his throat.
Never in his life had his father scolded him like this.
Huo Zhouchen's gaze fell upon the pill in Mu Linyue's hand.
Others might doubt and be uncertain but how could he-a Grade-7 alchemist-
make a mistake in recognizing a Grade-5 pill's grade?
That pill was undeniably a Top-tier Grade-5 pill. "Tsk! Tsk! Where is your arrogance now? Still think you've won?"
Bai Zihan continued, rubbing salt into the wound.
Huo Shenyu wanted to refute him, but seeing his father's reaction, he knew
that it was real.
So what could he even say now? "Looks like so of you still have your doubts."
Bai Zihan spoke again, smiling faintly. "Then how about this?"
He turned toward Huo Zhouchen.
"Grandmaster Huo, do you also think that Mu Linyue's pill isn't a Top-tier
Grade-5 pill?"
The question was deliberately asked to Huo Zhouchen.
Huo Zhouchen frowned slightly, but he still needed to maintain composure.
His gaze lingered on the pill in Mu Linyue's hand.
Then he spoke.
"It is a Top-tier Grade-5 pill."
Silence!
There was no longer any room for doubt.
Those words ca from a Grade-7 alchemist.
From Huo Zhouchen himself. The authority behind them crushed all disbelief.
And in that instant, the last fragile thread of denial shattered. Bai Zihan's lips curled upward.
Then he slowly turned, his gaze sweeping across the crowd.
Across those who had just praised Huo Shenyu. Across those who had declared the outco prematurely. His voice rang out, clear and unhurried.
"Now then... do you all still believe Huo Shenyu is the winner?"
The sa people who had spoken so confidently just monts ago now stood frozen.
Their faces stiff, burning with embarrassnt.
Their earlier words echoed like ridicule in their minds.
Each sentence now felt like a slap-to themselves.
But the one who suffered the most humiliation was Huo Shenyu.
His fists clenched tightly.
The arrogance he displayed earlier...
The certainty.
The declaration of victory.
All of it now felt like a clown proclaiming himself emperor.
That arrogance had turned into the greatest humiliation.
And Bai Zihan wasn't letting it go.
"Tsk... tsk..."
He clicked his tongue lightly, his expression filled with amusent.
"What happened? You were so certain just now, saying it was aningless to continue and that you were the winner!"
His eyes locked onto Huo Shenyu, filled with mockery.
"Do you still have the sa delusion?"
Huo Shenyu's jaw tightened.
His entire body trembled faintly from rage and humiliation.
When has he ever, in his entire life, been so humiliated?
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