On the competition field, Hua Yingjie and Zhou Xiaoqian also looked anxious, while Zhou Xiaoqian’s gaze was fixed on Zhao Youfa opposite her, yet another person from the Medical Immortal Workshop.

With one minute left before the competition started and staff ready to seal the field, a figure scrambled into the arena.

"Don’t run, I’m going to bury you."

Another woman covered in dirt, wielding a shovel, followed in after him.

"Big sister, we’re already at the competition field, you’re still chasing?"

Tang Ming sat on the ground, panting, angrily pointing around.

"Oh no, I’ve been discovered."

Zhang Baobao finally noticed the surroundings, hurriedly put away the shovel, and ran out.

Everyone who saw this scene was dumbfounded. What was going on?

"Oh my Baobao!"

Standing by the table, Zhang Chuming covered his face in agony; this Zhang Baobao was really something else.

"Zhang Chuming."

Tang Ming walked to the table, gritting his teeth as he glared at Zhang Chuming.

"Cough, cough, brother, let me apologize on behalf of Baobao first. I didn’t tell her to do that."

Zhang Chuming looked helplessly at Tang Ming.

"Cut the crap, I’ve never been this angry before. This time, I’m going to make sure you lose miserably."

Tang Ming shouted angrily; that crazy woman Zhang Baobao made a move against him because of the guy in front of him.

"Uh... fine, let’s settle this with our skills then. Honestly, she didn’t have to do that; I actually have plenty of strength."

Zhang Chuming sighed helplessly.

"Prepare for the competition."

Tang Ming wiped the dirt off himself, deciding to deal with Zhang Chuming as quickly as possible.

On the other side, Zhou Xiaoqian smiled at Zhao Youfa: "I don’t know if it’s my bad luck or yours, but how come I always run into people from the Medical Immortal Workshop?"

"Hmph."

Zhao Youcai snorted coldly, refusing to communicate with Zhou Xiaoqian.

"How about you just forfeit? Otherwise, you’ll end up worse than Liu Guang did. You should’ve noticed that everyone who crosses paths with me ends up worse off. Liu Guang was already bleeding; with you, I’m guessing you’d spill your guts..."

Mid-sentence, Zhou Xiaoqian suddenly looked at the staff wearing gas masks: "Supervisor, can I get a gas mask?"

"Sure, one has already been prepared for you."

The staff nodded and handed Zhou Xiaoqian a gas mask.

"Oh dear! Given the circumstances, this might end in a mess, the Medical Immortal Workshop is really pitiful, dying from diarrhea, how tragic."

While putting on the mask, Zhou Xiaoqian lamented.

"Cough, cough, Zhao Youfa, are you sure you don’t want to forfeit?"

The staff member coughed dryly, looking uncertainly at Zhao Youfa.

"I, I..."

Zhao Youfa’s expression was uncertain. Although he wanted to teach Zhou Xiaoqian a lesson, thinking about the miserable fate of Lv Dai and the other two, he really didn’t dare.

Losing isn’t humiliating, but soiling oneself on the spot is. The three of them had been so traumatized that they’d almost gone mad, possibly never recovering, maybe even ending up depressed and suicidal—far worse than just losing the match.

"I forfeit."

Just as the competition was about to start, Zhao Youfa, with a pale face, bit his lip and raised his hand.

"Huh? You’re giving up just like that? Are you sure?"

Overjoyed inside, Zhou Xiaoqian feigned regret as she removed her mask: "I was hoping to see how you’d end up."

"I forfeit, I withdraw."

Zhao Youfa roared and turned to leave.

Originally, he planned to really compete against Zhou Xiaoqian, but facing her, especially seeing both her and the staff wearing gas masks, his mental defenses collapsed. There was no courage to experience the miserable fates of Lv Dai and the others.

Thus, Zhou Xiaoqian won through psychological tactics, becoming the first winner in the fifty-to-twenty-five competition before the game even started.

"How the hell is this even possible?"

Outside the wire mesh, Meng Xianjun and the others were fuming; Zhou Xiaoqian actually made it into the top twenty-five, it was too outrageous.

As the competition began, unexpectedly, the intensity at Tang Ming and Zhang Chuming’s position erupted.

Tang Ming and Zhang Chuming both were supported by their respective Gang Qi, their hands moving like lightning to grab the herbs they wanted from the table, while simultaneously furiously attacking each other, sabotaging each other’s methods.

"Exhilarating, I never thought I’d encounter such a worthy opponent even before the finals."

As he moved, Zhang Chuming excitedly watched Tang Ming; he hadn’t truly unleashed his strength along the way here.

"You bastard, with such strength, there’s no need for those despicable tricks, but unfortunately, you’re still not my match."

Tang Ming swiftly grabbed various herbs, occasionally using some as hidden weapons to shoot at Zhang Chuming.

"Not necessarily."

Feeling Tang Ming’s threat, Zhang Chuming suddenly slammed his palm onto the table in front of him, flipping and mingling the hundreds of herbs on it.

"Interesting."

Tang Ming waved his hands, using Qi to make the herbs float in the air, then picked out what he needed from the mass.

Zhang Chuming used the same technique, a testament to their ability to identify herbs, eye power, and speed and precision of hand movements.

The staff standing aside was utterly bewildered; time seemed to stand still, with so many herbs floating in front of them without falling—it was too unscientific.

"It can be done like this? Awesome!"

As the battle erupted, everyone around got excited, the audience began enthusiastically applauding. Who would’ve thought such a dull herb-mixing contest could be so thrilling?

The battle between Tang Ming and Zhang Chuming inspired other opponents at their tables to realize they could also win by disrupting the other side’s herb-mixing methods.

Suddenly, battles erupted at every table, not as intense as Tang Ming and Zhang Chuming’s, but no longer as tranquil and harmonious as before. The entire scene turned chaotic, like a massive brawl.

"Oh my gosh! Lucky I won without fighting, otherwise in a scene like this, there’s nothing I could do."

In the promotion zone, Zhou Xiaoqian stood bewildered, watching the now tumultuous competition field—so fierce.

In this situation, it was very disadvantageous for ordinary contestants; in front of those who understood cultivation and martial arts, their speed and eye power were much weaker.

Soon, outcomes were determined at each table, almost completing ahead of time. Only the initial bursting point between Tang Ming and Zhang Chuming persisted.

Simple herb-mixing posed no challenge for them, but now evenly matched, the battle slowed their herb-mixing speed, making their herb-snatching and counter-sabotage more thrilling.

In the last minute before the competition ended, only their duel remained, becoming the focal point for everyone.