The Female CEO's Personal Bodyguard

Chapter 1509: Chapter 1509: Is He Actually Faster Than Me?

If Carson Flores had persistently claimed that Archie Cooke said those words, people might have doubted him. But Carson’s sudden change in tone made everyone oddly inclined to believe him.

After all, the Twin Dragon Sect had always been notoriously arrogant in their conduct.

The sect’s strength was undeniable, especially in alchemy, where they dominated.

With that impression in mind, everyone instinctively felt that Archie making such audacious remarks was entirely plausible. They weren’t aware that Carson had beaten Archie to a pulp before, so Carson’s seemingly reluctant shift in narrative led them to believe he might have been threatened.

The looks that people cast toward Archie became subtly different from before.

Archie noticed these changes in their gazes and felt deeply frustrated. Carson, this guy—wasn’t he making enemies for him and the Twin Dragon Sect completely out of thin air?

Archie wanted to explain further, but after reconsidering, he realized that multiple explanations would only make him seem weak.

Forget it, let them believe whatever they want.

After all, the Twin Dragon Sect feared no one!

Archie remained silent. Only after the attention shifted away from him did he lower his voice and say, ”Your trick of praising me to death is pretty slick.”

Carson blinked. ”I’m just stating the truth.”

Still pretending, even now!

Unable to suppress his anger, Archie gritted his teeth and said quietly, ”I admit I lost to you in the previous duel. Now, let’s compete again in alchemy!”

Carson chuckled. ”We’re already in the same group competing. Does it really need to be said explicitly?”

Archie was speechless again, remaining silent for two seconds before muttering, ”Good luck. I hope you make it to the top thirty-two.”

Carson stared into Archie’s eyes and smiled faintly. ”You’re waiting for a chance to personally defeat me, aren’t you?”

Archie hadn’t expected Carson to bluntly expose his thoughts. He responded in a low voice, ”I just want to challenge you again, that’s all.”

Carson smiled. ”I’ll do my best.”

Archie opened his mouth but closed it again, unsure of what to say.

Every word Carson said seemed earnest and straightforward, yet each one felt like it carried a concealed jab to his heart.

Such seemingly mundane dialogues left him feeling vexed.

Forget it, let it go—for now, advancing in the competition was most important!

Archie calmed his mind and stopped talking.

Soon after, the second group’s match began.

Archie focused his thoughts and started refining elixirs. It wasn’t long before he successfully produced the first pill.

The quality was clearly upper grade!

Satisfied, Archie exhaled in relief. After glancing at the name of the second pill displayed on the board, his gaze instinctively swept toward his right front.

Carson was concentrated on his alchemy, wholly absorbed without any distractions.

Archie’s lips curled slightly, but just as he prepared to retract his gaze, his eyes caught sight of the tray to Carson’s left—and froze.

On the porcelain plate sat a single red pill, quiet and unassuming. Yet the vivid crimson seemed like a sharp edge stabbing into Archie’s vision.

Archie’s eyebrows twitched imperceptibly, his heart surging with an unprecedented mix of astonishment and disbelief.

Carson had already completed his first pill and was working on the second?

His speed was faster than Archie’s?

The red pill had an even, lustrous appearance. Judging by its exterior alone, the quality was undoubtedly high and surely met the competition’s standards.

Archie’s expression darkened, a wary glint flickering in his eyes.

Though the grading of the first pill wasn’t particularly high, it was still an authentic Immortal Pill—a feat impossible for ordinary alchemists to achieve.

This guy actually possessed legitimate alchemy skills, and quite impressive ones at that!

Archie’s pride surged as he took a deep breath and redirected his focus, quickly proceeding to refine the second pill.

I was worried you’d be too weak, making victory feel hollow. But now, this is perfect—I’ll earn my triumph openly and formally, showing you that there’s always someone better out there. No matter how skilled you are in alchemy, in front of me, Archie Cooke, you’re nothing!

Archie accelerated his pace and soon had his second pill successfully completed.

Out of habit, his eyes flicked toward Carson’s position. Sure enough, as expected, there were already two pills sitting neatly on Carson’s tray.

Archie’s face darkened as he hastily moved on to refine the third pill.

...

”Time’s up!”

Archie stopped his work and looked ahead.

Carson’s expression carried a trace of regret as he extinguished his pill furnace, wisps of blue smoke rising from it.

He was just fifteen minutes shy of completing that batch. If not for the time limit, he would have successfully refined it. But rules were rules—a second too late was still a failure.

Archie’s gaze landed on the porcelain plate before Carson. Five pills of varying colors lay silently side by side.

Looking down at his own tray, Archie saw the same—five pills, with their quality roughly comparable.

His gaze swept across the other competitors, and his expression eased slightly. However, when he glanced back at Carson, there was a definite tinge of gloom in his eyes.

Both he and Carson would undoubtedly advance to the top eight, but when it came to speed, Carson clearly outmatched him.

Carson’s sixth pill was already more than halfway done, likely needing only fifteen minutes or so to finish. Whereas Archie’s sixth pill had just begun, requiring at least thirty minutes to complete!

With both of them producing pills of nearly identical quality, Archie had undeniably been outpaced.

He had been thoroughly crushed by Carson Flores!