Lan Siran enjoyed the gazes of everyone around her, proudly raising her head as she walked away, leaving Gao Yue looking bewildered.
Gao Yue found it hard to understand: "Fellow Cultivator Tian, I recognize every single word she said, but why, when put together, do I not understand what she meant?"
He didn't even know this Lan Siran, so why would she inexplicably run over and say those things?
Tian Ning guessed wildly: "Maybe that's just a quirk of Pill Cultivators expressing friendliness?"
Gao Yue still didn't understand: "She looks only nine years old, so young and already with quirks? What will she be like when she's older! How terrible her temper must be?"
Lan Siran, who hadn't walked far away: "..."
Are they sick?
If not for that suddenly appearing Gao Yue stealing her moment of glory, Meng Xian's attention should have been on her the whole time!
But it didn't matter, Lan Siran was supremely confident. Next was her area of expertise, and she would definitely win over Meng Xian, becoming the unforgettable White Moonlight in his heart!
Tian Ning and Gao Yue couldn't reach a conclusion; the second round of the competition was about to begin.
Thousands of Pill Cultivators refining pills in a single arena was quite a sight. To maintain order, an Elder stepped forward this time, having everyone go to their designated spots before announcing the rules.
The second round was free alchemy; within one hour, everyone could choose what pill to refine. After one hour, those who failed alchemy would leave the Competition Arena.
After this competition, the Elders would select the top twenty to advance to the third round.
The entire competition was recorded by a Record Stone; cheating by using pre-prepared pills was strictly prohibited!
Although they could freely choose what pills to refine, most people felt troubled! If they chose easy-to-refine Low-Grade Pills, their ranking would be low, and they might not even make it into the top twenty; but if they chose more difficult ones... wouldn't failure be even worse?
Lan Siran had been well-prepared for today's competition.
In full view of everyone, she took out the top-grade Pill Furnace her grandfather had specially passed down to her. Almost the instant the furnace appeared, gasps erupted from the audience!
"It's the Lan Yun Treasure Cauldron!"
"Sect Leader Lan actually passed the top-grade Pill Furnace to her... she's only nine years old!!"
"It's said that Lan Siran is a once-in-a-thousand-years alchemy genius, and Sect Leader Lan must have his reasons for passing the family treasure to her!"
...
She didn't even need to look; Lan Siran knew everyone was watching her, and she believed Meng Xian would be too!
The more such glorious moments she had, the more Points she would get, and the more Items she could buy to conquer Meng Xian.
Unbeknownst to her, Meng Xian's eyes were constantly glancing at Tian Ning.
This carefree person, a Sword Cultivator coming to the Alchemy Competition was one thing, but to be involved with that unlucky Small Sect of Lingyun Sect... It must be remembered that... Lingyun Sect was annihilated by Demonic Cultivators in a past life. Meng Xian hadn't witnessed it firsthand, but it was said the Scene was extremely tragic. Those Demonic Cultivators were extremely cruel, not sparing even infants in cradles; they even brazenly hung the heads of everyone from Lingyun Sect at the main gate to flaunt their victory...
Meng Xian didn't want Tian Ning to be involved in any trouble with the people from Lingyun Sect.
After all... she was the first woman who helped him without ulterior motives.
Tian Ning was completely unaware of these thoughts. Her biggest problem now was that the space was too small.
Just as everyone was marveling at Lan Siran's possession of the Lan Yun Treasure Cauldron, she abruptly raised her hand: "Excuse me, could I get a larger space?"
"My Pill Furnace is a bit large; it won't fit here."
The Disciple in charge of the competition looked around Tian Ning; she was surrounded by Pill Cultivators competing, and there was no way to make so many people give up their spots for her. He could only say, "Why don't you squeeze in a bit? If that's really not possible, you'll have to go to the back."
That Disciple was well-intentioned.
How large could a Pill Furnace possibly be?
Tian Ning's position was good, in the center of the competition. If she performed steadily, she might even be noticed by the Elders, but if she went to the back, it would be harder to attract attention.
"Thank you! I'll go to the back."
Tian Ning didn't care whether or not she would be noticed by the Alchemy Elders. She looked at the remaining space in the back; it was large enough to fit her Large Stove.
So, before Lan Siran could fully enjoy the praise she was receiving, Tian Ning took out her Large Stove from her Dimensional Pouch, shocking everyone!
The stove was so unexpected that the audience's gazes were immediately drawn to it.
"My God! This isn't an Alchemy Competition. Who's so inconsiderate as to put a cooking stove there? Surely they won't use it for alchemy, right?"
It turned out he was right.
"I saw it; it was that Cultivator who took it out..."
"What impoverished Cultivator is this? They can't even afford a Pill Furnace?"
"Just look at the tattered clothes she's wearing. She's probably from Lingyun Sect!"
...
Lan Siran didn't get the number of Points she had planned for. She didn't understand why someone kept stealing her spotlight today, and she glared at Tian Ning with a slight dissatisfaction.
It's just a poor beggar-like person; what's there to care about?
Just seeking attention!
Lan Siran suppressed her dissatisfaction, took out the prepared Spirit Plants, and began refining pills. She had deliberately chosen the extremely difficult-to-refine Pulse-Restoring Pill; for this, she had even asked her grandfather for the Blazing Flame Fruit for a long time.
She believed that when the audience saw the Materials she had taken out, they would refocus their attention on her!
After all, a clown can only amuse for a while...
However, the next second, she heard someone in the audience exclaim, "She... she's about to Breakthrough!!"
Lan Siran: "???"
Now, not only the spectators watching, but also the Pill Cultivators participating in the competition turned to look.
The young woman in pink clothes who had taken out the cooking stove had Spiritual Energy gathering around her, and all the Spiritual Energy in the Competition Arena was flowing towards her, clearly about to Breakthrough, and it was a Breakthrough from Great Perfection of Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment!
"No way, she just took out a cooking stove, and she's Breakthroughing?" A Cultivator who had noticed Tian Ning earlier was dumbfounded.
These days, Breakthroughs are done like this?
"What family's Genius is this? So strong, are they letting other people live?"
"Don't guess blindly; I think this girl probably deliberately suppressed her cultivation base, wanted to attract attention, and deliberately waited until today's competition to do this!" A Cultivator felt incredibly clever, having guessed the truth, and immediately said, "Look at the clothes and stove she's wearing; she's definitely scheming and deep! She must think this way is different from others and will leave a deep impression on the Elders!"
"What's the use of doing all this messy stuff? The Elders are looking at alchemy skills!"
"That's right! The competition is only an hour; it won't be paused for her Breakthrough! Doing this, she probably won't have time to refine a batch of pills!"
Some agreed, and some didn't: "Don't talk nonsense; when one Breakthroughs is not something one can decide themselves?"
"I saw her just now; she was genuinely surprised, it's impossible that it was deliberate."
...
Tian Ning was indeed very confused.
She knew about her Advancement, so... this Central Continent competition arena also has a System!
"