Chapter 647 - 641: Flame Showdown

After sending Feng Miaoke away, Shen Haoran and Long Aotian walked into the Medicine Hall. Along the way, with a celebrity-level figure like Long Aotian by his side, Shen Haoran attracted the attention of countless Martial Artists. He could only shake his head helplessly at this, pulling Long Aotian quickly into the Medicine Hall.

The third round of the assessment finally arrived. As noon approached, Shen Haoran and the others were summoned to the Central Square, where the test would be held.

Yao Wuchen appeared once again. He gazed at the crowd gathered in the square and began to announce the rules for the third round. "An Alchemist’s greatest asset is their Alchemy skill. Therefore, the third round is the most important test, and it is also the final one. You will need to use your full strength to refine the Elixir you are most proud of. In the end, a panel of specialized Elders will evaluate your work. The final victor will be awarded the title of Pill Emperor in this competition!"

After speaking, Yao Wuchen waved his hand. The ground in the Central Square began to tremble violently. A moment later, hundreds of stone platforms abruptly rose, floating slowly in mid-air. These were the stations where the Alchemists would perform their Alchemy. Each platform was separated by several dozen meters, ensuring that the Alchemists would not disturb one another.

However, the stone platforms were divided into three tiers. The lowest tier was for contestants from the ordinary branch halls, while the middle tier was for those from the twenty major branch halls. As for the four platforms at the very top, they were prepared for this competition’s four seed contestants: Feng Miaoke, Long Aotian, Yan Jue, and Bai Shaohong. The crowd gazed at the four highest platforms, their eyes filled with envy. Those platforms represented a special honor bestowed by the Medicine Hall—a symbol of supreme glory. To be able to stand on the highest level, one had to be a rare genius of the Demon Race, the kind seen only once a century.

"Contestants, please take your positions!" Yao Wuchen shouted in a booming voice. Immediately, the hundreds of people below leaped into the air, landing on their assigned stone platforms.

Shen Haoran’s platform seemed to have been ostracized to the very outskirts, in a spot even worse than those for the disciples from ordinary branch halls. He didn’t know if the Medicine Hall had arranged this intentionally or not, but Shen Haoran had no issue with it. With no one else near his platform, he was actually quite happy to have the peace and quiet.

Once everyone was in position, four bestial roars suddenly echoed from the sky. Immediately after, Feng Miaoke and the other three made their grand entrance as the final act. Four majestic Divine Beasts circled in the sky for a moment before landing on the four highest stone platforms, their figures slowly materializing before the crowd’s eyes.

Feng Miaoke was still dressed in her fiery red Alchemist robes. The tight-fitting garment perfectly accentuated her sultry figure, and combined with her gorgeous face, she instantly made every male Martial Artist in the audience swoon. Nearby, though Yan Jue was just a little girl, her playful and adorable appearance also drew countless screams. Long Aotian, dressed in green robes, looked like a handsome scholar and immediately captivated countless female Martial Artists. Last but not least, Bai Shaohong held his own; the air of a profligate young master from a wealthy family made him an idol to many Martial Artists as well.

The appearance of the four instantly sent the entire arena into a frenzy, one even more intense than when Yao Wuchen had appeared. These four were the idols of the younger generation, the very benchmark for all young Martial Artists of the Demon Race.

The four of them greatly enjoyed the cheers and screams from below, while the other Alchemists on the lower platforms gazed up at them with envy. Shen Haoran, however, felt nothing at all. He had no interest in fame and fortune. He much preferred to get rich quietly and was rather averse to being thrust into the spotlight like this.

But even if Shen Haoran paid no mind to others, there were certainly others who paid mind to him. From the highest platform, Feng Miaoke looked down at Shen Haoran, her eyes filled with provocation. Her gaze seemed to say: ’See this? This is me, the center of attention. And you? You’re only fit to hide in a corner and gaze up at my glory. In this competition, *I* am the focal point, *I* am the center!’

Shen Haoran felt Feng Miaoke’s gaze, but he simply ignored it. Instead, he turned to nod at Long Aotian and Yan Jue before finally resting his eyes on the Saint Child of Holy Light City, who was on a platform above his. Seeing the Saint Child of Holy Light City up close made Shen Haoran’s suspicion even stronger. He was now fifty percent certain that this Saint Child was inextricably linked to those people in black robes.

As if sensing his gaze, the Saint Child of Holy Light City turned his head and offered Shen Haoran a small smile. He appeared amiable and approachable, but to Shen Haoran, that smile looked like one of both celebration and contempt.

Feng Miaoke saw that Shen Haoran was not only ignoring her but was now exchanging glances with the Saint Child of Holy Light City. She grew even more furious, but given the circumstances, there was nothing she could do to him.

’Hmph, I’ll show you the consequences of offending me soon enough!’ Feng Miaoke vowed inwardly.

"Let the assessment begin!" Just then, Yao Wuchen’s voice rang out. Instantly, the Alchemists on the platforms gestured, and a wide variety of Pill Furnaces appeared before them. Immediately after, flames of all colors flared to life, causing the ambient temperature to rise by several degrees.

On the highest platforms, Long Aotian and the others also summoned their Pill Furnaces and ignited the flames in their hands. As their flames flared up, the flames of the many Alchemists below all trembled. The fire flickered, as if bowing in worship.

"The flame in Long Aotian’s hand was extracted from the body of a Tier Eight Spirit Beast, the Deep Sea Fury Flood Dragon. It’s truly a first-rate flame! Yan Jue’s flame was obtained from a Ten Thousand Year Profound Turtle, and the black flame in Bai Shaohong’s hand was taken from a Tier Eight Spirit Beast, the Dark Demon Flame Tiger. The flames of these three have completely surpassed the realm of the ordinary. They can be considered Spirit Flames!" Vice Hall Master Ji Wuqing of the Medicine Hall remarked with a smile as he observed the flames in the hands of Long Aotian’s group.

"Indeed, their flames are extraordinary, but they can’t compare to the one in Feng Miaoke’s hand. That’s the legendary Vermilion Bird’s Heaven-Burning Flame! I heard it was extracted by the Vermilion Bird Race from within their own Vermilion Bird Bloodline. The Vermilion Bird’s Heaven-Burning Flame can be compared to the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian—it’s a Celestial Fire!" another Vice Hall Master exclaimed in awe.

The moment he finished speaking, the surrounding temperature soared once again. All the Alchemists’ flames began to tremble violently, as if encountering something that struck fear into them. Everyone’s gaze shifted to Feng Miaoke’s platform. A ball of crimson flame now swirled in her hand, slowly coalescing into the form of a Vermilion Bird. The searing heat distorted the very space around her, and its crimson glow made Feng Miaoke look like a goddess.

"Truly worthy of the name Vermilion Bird’s Heaven-Burning Flame! So domineering!" the surrounding Martial Artists exclaimed in awe at the sight of the crimson flame in Feng Miaoke’s hand. But before the echo of their voices faded, they watched as the once-proud Vermilion Bird’s Heaven-Burning Flame seemed to suffer a heavy blow. It was instantly extinguished, dissolving into countless sparks. At the same time, the flames held by every other Alchemist at the scene suddenly flared up. The towering columns of fire all bent toward a single location as if bowing to welcome their emperor, a picture of absolute reverence. No matter how their Alchemists tried to control them, the flames would not budge an inch...