Chapter 182: Chapter 182: Who Said You Won?

A gentle breeze blew, kicking up a faint cloud of smoke and dust from where Shen Haoran stood. Across the surrounding clearing, clusters of black flames burned feebly.

No one could believe the scene before them. Shen Haoran’s Three Pure Spirit Pill had been on the verge of completion, yet this had happened!

Elder Song was also stunned by the sudden turn of events. His entire Heart Spirit had been focused on Shen Haoran’s Pill Furnace. He wanted to see if Shen Haoran could truly succeed in refining this Three Pure Spirit Pill. By the time he sensed the surge of Powerful Qi, it was too late!

Elder Song looked around. When he saw Shen Haoran lying in a pool of blood, fury surged within him, and a formidable aura erupted from his body!

"Li Chang’an!" Elder Song roared. A terrifying pressure, comparable to that of a Spirit Emperor Powerhouse, descended directly upon Elder Li!

This pressure from Elder Song was different from a mere aura. It was a suppression originating from the very depths of one’s soul! The terrifying pressure instantly caused Elder Li, a cultivator at the Spirit Aspect Realm, to spit out a mouthful of blood and collapse to his knees, his face deathly pale!

Alchemists despised those who resorted to underhanded tactics more than anything, and the straightforward Elder Song was no exception! Over the past few days, Shen Haoran had taught Elder Song a great deal, and the elder had grown fond of him. Seeing the badly injured Shen Haoran, killing intent surged in Elder Song’s heart!

Sensing the killing intent radiating from Elder Song, beads of sweat formed on Elder Li’s forehead. He then shot a pleading look toward Guan Zhi.

Seeing this, Guan Zhi stepped in front of Elder Song and cupped his hands. "Elder Song, Shen Haoran’s Pill Furnace has exploded. The elixir he was refining is likely ruined. Isn’t it time to announce the results?"

With Guan Zhi blocking Elder Song, Elder Li was able to catch his breath. He bit his tongue hard, forcing himself to snap out of Elder Song’s terrifying soul pressure. He then stood up, and with a flash, his figure vanished from the spot!

Looking at Guan Zhi blocking his path, Elder Song’s eyes narrowed. A dangerous glint flashed within them, making Guan Zhi’s hair stand on end. Cold sweat instantly soaked his clothes!

"Hmph, you think he can escape?" Elder Song’s faint voice sounded in Guan Zhi’s ear, making his Heart Spirit tremble.

"What are you talking about, Elder Song? This junior doesn’t understand!" Guan Zhi lowered his head, biting his lip, trying to distance himself from the matter!

"Heaven is watching what you do. To resort to any means necessary for success... I despair for the Alchemy Realm to have someone like you in it!" Elder Song stood with his hands behind his back, a faint pressure enveloping Guan Zhi.

Feeling the pressure from Elder Song, Guan Zhi fought back the fear deep in his soul and said, "The result is all that matters. As long as I win, that’s enough. Please announce the results, Elder Song. So many people are watching. You wouldn’t show favoritism to Shen Haoran, would you?"

As soon as Guan Zhi finished speaking, the surrounding crowd cast disdainful glances at him. They had originally thought Shen Haoran was unbearably arrogant, so they had come today to support Guan Zhi and see him teach Shen Haoran a harsh lesson. But now, seeing such a despicable and shameless Guan Zhi, who was even using the crowd to threaten Elder Song’s reputation, they couldn’t help but feel disgusted with him. ’Were we blind before? How could we have ever sided with him?’

Feeling the crowd’s disdainful gazes, Guan Zhi’s face turned beet red. But things had already come to this. He couldn’t care about any of that now. ’All that matters is winning against Shen Haoran!’

Hearing this, Elder Song’s brows furrowed tightly. ’The situation does look like Guan Zhi has won. Shen Haoran’s Pill Furnace exploded, so the elixir must have failed to form. There isn’t even a failed product left. Still, I will not let this despicable villain win the competition!’

"Hmph. This competition is a draw! You didn’t even refine an Elixir, yet you still expect to win?" Elder Song said sarcastically.

"Haha!" Hearing this, the crowd burst into laughter. It was true; what Guan Zhi had refined could only be called a Pill, not even the prototype of an Elixir!

Listening to the crowd’s laughter, Guan Zhi’s face flushed crimson. He had never suffered such great humiliation. The sound of their laughter was like a fierce slap across his face.

"Elder Song, you said that if both contestants fail, the winner would be determined by the quality of the failed product. Shen Haoran doesn’t even have a failed product, so naturally, I am the winner of this competition!" Guan Zhi said, taking a deep breath and looking at Elder Song with a venomous glare.

Hearing this, the crowd fell silent. What Guan Zhi said was right. Shen Haoran really didn’t have a failed product. Guan Zhi had truly won the competition!

Seeing the speechless crowd, a cold sneer appeared on Guan Zhi’s lips. "I only care about the result, and the result is that I’ve won!"

"Who says?" Just as the crowd fell silent, a weak voice called out. Hearing it, everyone turned their eyes in its direction.

Not far away, Shen Haoran was unsteadily getting to his feet. He was covered in blood, his body riddled with wounds from the Pill Furnace fragments. His face was pale, and he looked utterly wretched. However, a sharp glint shone in Shen Haoran’s eyes, astonishing the crowd.

"Hmph, I didn’t expect you to be able to stand up. But it’s useless. I’ve definitely won this competition!" Guan Zhi said, his face contorted in a ferocious expression as he looked at Shen Haoran.

"Is that so?" Shen Haoran’s lips curled into a grin. He snapped his fingers, and a ball of black flame slowly descended from the sky!

Seeing the ball of black flame, everyone fixed their gaze on it, but they couldn’t see anything wrapped within the dark fire!

Elder Song’s face, however, lit up with joy. ’This kid... he still had a trick up his sleeve!’

Guan Zhi stared at the ball of black flame, his heart suddenly tightening as a sense of unease washed over him.

BANG!

With a muffled sound, the black flame landed in Shen Haoran’s hand and burst open. In that instant, a rich Pill Fragrance spread out, so dense that the crowd could practically see it with their naked eyes!

WHOA!

For a moment, the crowd was in an uproar. Staring at the pure white elixir in Shen Haoran’s hand, they were too shocked to speak!

"This... this is impossible! Your Pill Furnace was shattered! How could you have succeeded in your refinement? This has to be a fake!" Guan Zhi couldn’t believe it, roaring in a hoarse whisper.

Seeing Guan Zhi’s reaction, Shen Haoran snorted coldly. ’Thankfully, I reacted quickly. The moment that blast of Powerful Qi hit the Pill Furnace, I used the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian to wrap up the elixir prototype and toss it into the air. Otherwise, all my effort would have been for nothing! That’s also why I’m covered in wounds. The Fire Spirit Black Obsidian was used to protect the elixir, so I ended up getting cut by the Pill Furnace fragments! If not for my formidable physique, an explosion at such close range could have seriously injured me!’

At this thought, killing intent flared in Shen Haoran’s heart. ’Elder Li... Li Chang’an? I will remember this.’

Seeing the elixir in Shen Haoran’s hand, Elder Song strode forward, picked it up, and examined it carefully. When he saw the faint patterns on the elixir’s surface, he cried out in astonishment!

"Pill Patterns!" Shen Haoran’s refinement had actually produced Pill Patterns!

When Guan Zhi saw those Pill Patterns, his face instantly turned ashen. ’Pill Patterns... He produced Pill Patterns on a Fifth Grade Elixir. I’ve really failed... completely and utterly defeated.’