"How is it possible? Senior Brother Yuan lost, and alchemy is his strongest field!"

"What should we do? He even lost in alchemy!"

"How will the next round go? It seems Senior Brother Yuan isn’t very good at artifact refining."

...

The disciples of Jiuhua Sect were discussing, and at this moment, Ling Cang stood up directly on the high platform, flashing to the front of Elder Peng.

"Fellow Daoist Peng, may I take a look at these two bottles of elixirs?"

The white-haired Elder Peng nodded and said, "Fellow Daoist Ling, as a master alchemist yourself, you surely understand by just a glance."

With that, he handed both jade bottles to Ling Cang.

Ling Cang opened the two jade bottles, not pouring out the elixirs, but instead scanning them with his Divine Sense.

Immediately, he silently handed the two jade bottles back to the white-haired Elder Peng.

Then, as he returned to his seat, he shook his head slightly toward Yu Changge and the others.

Ling Cang’s behavior indisputably affirmed that there was nothing wrong with Elder Peng’s announced results.

Instantly, another uproar arose within the Jiuhua Sect’s venue.

Chu Ning looked at Yuan Rongzhang who was on the Alchemy Platform, his expression filled with unwillingness and shame.

In his heart, he also secretly sighed.

This competition must have been a heavy blow to Yuan Rongzhang.

After all, Yuan Rongzhang had always been proud, even when he joined Jiuhua Sect.

He had continuously perfected the Fire Control Technique of the Jiuhua Essence Condensing Pill and produced the pill formula for the Earth Store Soul Spirit Pill.

Only then did he truly yield to himself.

Over the years, Yuan Rongzhang’s alchemy technique had indeed improved rapidly, surpassing He Yanmao.

Among the many Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Alchemy Pavilion, only second to Chu Ning.

And now, in the Daluo Sect, even Ao Xuan, who is most skilled in alchemy, hasn’t made a move yet.

Yet it was this unknown Leng Daichun who surpassed him.

Although the gap wasn’t very large, it is estimated to be a significant shock to Yuan Rongzhang.

Moreover, this resulted in Jiuhua Sect being put in a passive situation.

If Yuan Rongzhang cannot win in artifact refining and magical combat, Jiuhua Sect won’t even need to compete in the last round.

The disciples of Jiuhua Sect were clearly aware, many of them looked anxiously at Yuan Rongzhang. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

At this moment, Yuan Rongzhang and Leng Daichun had already received the Jade Scroll of the Nine Luo Refining Essence Method delivered by a middle-aged scholar using the Exorcism Technique.

Judging from Yuan Rongzhang’s visibly dark expression, everyone could vaguely deduce something.

Artifact refining is indeed not Yuan Rongzhang’s forte.

Thus, losing this upcoming match came as no surprise.

Yuan Rongzhang couldn’t even completely temper the materials needed for essence refining.

After five competitions, Jiuhua Sect only won one match.

This caused the atmosphere on-site to plummet to freezing point.

Although numerous Jiuhua Sect disciples did not speak up, their eyes and facial expressions spoke volumes.

At this moment, quite a few people were already somewhat dejected.

Conversely, on the Daluo Sect’s side, within the lineup of over a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators, there was laughter and chatter.

On the high platform, Ao Langtian’s face was full of smiles.

Even when Yuan Rongzhang and Leng Daichun flew to the competition area, this Golden Core Late Stage cultivator leading the Daluo Sect team cheerfully said:

"Nephew Leng, this is Yuan Daoist’s son, Nephew Yuan from Jiuhua Sect, please be merciful."

Upon hearing Ao Langtian’s words, Yuan Rongzhang, who had just flown onto the competition stage, couldn’t help but twitch slightly.

However, his gaze did not turn to the high platform, instead he stared straight at Leng Daichun opposite him.

His eyes flickered with madness and obsession, as if he was a predator ready to strike.

As soon as the white-haired Elder Peng announced the competition’s start, a long sword appeared in Yuan Rongzhang’s hand.

In the next moment, with a wave, waves of Sword Aura rushed toward Leng Daichun.

Meanwhile, Yuan Rongzhang, enhancing his Defense Shield, held the long sword and flew directly toward Leng Daichun.

Such a style of fighting was completely different from Lu Jiakang’s methodical approach.

On the high platform, watching this unfold, Chu Ning couldn’t help but secretly nod.

In his early and middle stages of Foundation Establishment, he had fought many high-level cultivators, and thus had experience.

With the gap in realm and cultivation, seizing the initiative is crucial.

If there are any follow-up measures, the probability of winning increases.

Otherwise, when suppressed by a higher realm and cultivation, there’s no chance to retaliate.

At this moment, Yuan Rongzhang evidently held this mindset.

What slightly confused Chu Ning was that Leng Daichun’s Fire Control Technique in alchemy and artifact refining seemed well-cultivated.

Yet, he appeared to cultivate both fire and earth dual attributes without using any Magical Artifact or Talisman, activating an Earth Attribute Defense Shield externally.

The dense earthen-colored Spiritual Qi of the shield had strong defensive power, seemingly a Secret Technique.

Yuan Rongzhang’s seemingly fierce killer move was completely blocked by this shield.

His Red Flame Longsword could not penetrate the shield at all.

At this moment, Leng Daichun raised a hand, and a long whip appeared.

With a swing, it was as if a Fire Snake struck against Yuan Rongzhang’s Magical Power Shield.

The Magical Power Shield, evidently consolidated with Talismans around Yuan Rongzhang’s body, shattered instantly.

In shock, Yuan Rongzhang could only retreat in flight.