The Sword God of the Universe

Chapter 553: Chapter 553: Entering the Top Three

In fact, before the judges opened the Fang Chi Jade Box, they were already almost certain of the outcome of this group.

Opening the Fang Chi Jade Box to determine the value was just a procedure.

The judge from the Fang Family didn’t even look at the elixir refined by Fang Chi. He knew that the value of the elixir Fang Chi had refined could not possibly exceed the value of these seven Purple Qi Pills.

The results of the competition between contestant number seven Jing Yan and contestant number eight Fang Chi then came out.

”Contestant number seven is the winner, contestant number eight is eliminated!” the white-robed elder announced the result of this group in a deep voice.

Hearing this result, Jing Yan just smiled. Because this was entirely within his expectations.

”No! No!” Fang Chi found it hard to accept, and he roared loudly.

He had also participated in the Alchemy Grand Ceremony with great expectations from his family. Fang Chi was the most outstanding Pill Master in the Fang Family in nearly a hundred years. The family believed that Fang Chi would have no problem entering the top ten of the new Pill King List. And Fang Chi himself believed he could enter the top five. But unexpectedly, he couldn’t even make it into the top ten.

”Silence!” The white-robed elder shouted again, staring at Fang Chi.

Fang Chi’s eyes reddened, but in the end, he didn’t dare to cause trouble in the Alchemy Hall of Pill Spirit City and calmed down.

After two hours, the results of all ten groups were out.

The ten Pill Masters who defeated their opponents entered the top ten of the new Pill King List. The defeated Pill Masters were eliminated, ranking from eleventh to twentieth.

The ten Pill Masters were again divided into five groups for the next round of competition. Of course, they drew lots again, and this time the numbers drawn were from one to ten, with number one facing number two, number three facing number four, and so on.

In the second round, Jing Yan’s opponent was an Independent Alchemist. Although this Pill Master didn’t have a very strong background, his abilities in Alchemy Dao were indeed outstanding. However, he ultimately could not compare to Jing Yan.

In the second round, Jing Yan once again won and entered the top five.

The competition in the third round was about advancing from five to three, and one Pill Master would have a bye. As for who would have a bye, it depended on the outcome of this lot drawing.

Jing Yan drew number four in the third round, meaning he needed to compete against number three in Alchemy.

Number five was drawn by Wan Lai, which meant he didn’t need to compete this round and directly advanced, securing one of the top three spots.

After another two hours of competition, Jing Yan defeated his third-round opponent and smoothly advanced to the next round, securing one of the top three spots.

The final results came out, and the top three were Jing Yan, Wan Lai, and a Pill Master named Ma Rong. This Ma Rong was from Pill Country and, although he wasn’t a member of an Alchemy Dao Family, his name was extremely well-known within Pill Country.

Because not only was he extremely accomplished himself, but he also had a master known across the Continent. His master was none other than the judge Sun Qi. Therefore, Ma Rong could be considered Hu Donghe’s grand-disciple.

It was said that Hu Donghe had personally given guidance to Ma Rong.

After the top three Pill Masters were decided, it was no longer a single-elimination round, but the three would compete against each other. The order of competition, as usual, was decided by drawing lots.

This time, they were drawing for numbers one to three. Whoever drew number one would face number two first, and the winner would face number three. If they defeated number three, they would be ranked first. The remaining two Pill Masters would also compete once more to determine second and third place.

The gap in rewards between the top three was also huge. The first-place winner would receive a Creation Pill, Source Power, and five thousand Top-grade Spirit Stones, all of which the three contenders were eager to fight for.

The result of the draw came out quickly, and Jing Yan drew number three. So for the next two hours, Jing Yan could rest while Ma Rong and Wan Lai would compete against each other first.

”Ma Rong’s mastery in Alchemy Dao is very profound, probably not inferior to Wan Lai!”

”Yes, it’s really hard to predict the outcome of the two’s competition.”

”Brother Sun, who do you think is stronger?”

As Ma Rong and Wan Lai had both begun their Alchemy, the judges whispered among themselves, one of them looking to Sun Qi to ask.

Sun Qi, being Ma Rong’s master, would certainly know Ma Rong’s abilities best.

”Ma Rong indeed has excellent talent and should be able to become a High-level Alchemist within ten years,” Sun Qi said, stroking his beard.

Although Ma Rong was his disciple, Sun Qi didn’t want to over-praise him, and his statement was relatively objective.

”And Alchemist Wan Lai is also quite formidable. To be honest, I also don’t know who might have the edge!” Sun Qi added.

Several judges laughed lightly upon hearing this. What Sun Qi said was basically the same as saying nothing.

Jing Yan was also watching the actions of Ma Rong and Wan Lai. Deep down, Jing Yan actually hoped that Ma Rong would defeat Wan Lai. Because Wan Lai gave him an unpleasant feeling; during the finals, Wan Lai had looked at Jing Yan with cold eyes more than once. Wan Lai seemed quite amiable on the surface, but his true nature was hard to pin down. Jing Yan felt that Wan Lai was the kind of person with deep schemes.

And Ma Rong seemed much more agreeable.

Just before the last round of draws, Ma Rong had politely greeted Jing Yan. Jing Yan could tell that Ma Rong had a more gentle nature. So, comparatively, he hoped Ma Rong would defeat Wan Lai.

However, Jing Yan wasn’t really sure who was stronger. Objectively speaking, their abilities should be quite comparable, and who would defeat whom ultimately depended on their individual performances.

If nothing unexpected occurred, then the value of the elixirs they refined probably wouldn’t differ by much.

As they waited, two hours passed, and the elixirs refined by Ma Rong and Wan Lai were presented to the judges by the white-robed elder.

Soon, the judges began to argue, seemingly in heated discussion.

Without much thought, one could guess why the judges were debating; it was probably because the value of the elixirs refined by the two was not much different, and they couldn’t immediately determine whose elixir was worth more.

After a long argument, they still couldn’t reach a consensus.

”Master, please make a decision!” Sun Qi turned around and bowed to Hu Donghe, asking for a verdict.

With differing opinions among the judges, the only option was to ask Hu Donghe to step in. Certainly, no one would question Hu Donghe’s judgment.

Although Ma Rong was Hu Donghe’s grand-disciple, Hu Donghe’s prestige assured he wouldn’t show favoritism.

”Let me take a look!” Hu Donghe nodded and came over.

”The value of the elixirs refined by both is indeed not much different. However, if these elixirs were to be auctioned off, the elixirs refined by Alchemist Wan Lai are more likely to fetch a higher price. Therefore, in this round, Alchemist Wan Lai defeats Alchemist Ma Rong,” Hu Donghe concluded after assessing the elixirs and announced the result.

Upon hearing this result, Wan Lai’s lips slightly curled up.

”Alchemist Ma Rong, thank you for your concession,” Wan Lai bowed to Ma Rong.

”Hehe, Alchemist Wan Lai, you flatter me; indeed, your abilities are stronger than mine,” Ma Rong maintained his humility and bowed to Wan Lai in return.