The Steward Demonic Emperor

Proofreader: Papatonks

[What do you mean ‘do your best’?]

Flames burned hotter in many eyes and in even more hands, revealing a very grave face. Zhuo Fan had solved their problem, but the meaning was very much eluding still.

Taking the words at face value, it meant just what Zhuo Fan said, to show just what they were made of by refining their very peak.

[But this is the second round.]

What would await them in the finals? If they went all out now, what would be tested then? Having gone through a weird requirement already, they reckoned going ahead with a few hidden cards was best.

Of course, that didn’t mean making a weaker pill than before, or it wouldn’t be their ‘best’.

The candidates nodded and went in with some restraints, though making sure to do better than before. Besides, only great alchemists like them would know the truth, while outsiders were none the wiser to the deception.

Baili Jingwei eyed them with a smile, “You’d best not play smart with me. While there are three rounds, but to select a true alchemist, there’s no need for all of them.”

“Uh, what do you mean, sir?”

The candidates jerked, having been found out.

Baili Jingwei had a wicked smirk, “Sword King Feiyun is a busy man and doesn’t have the time to waste on your drawn-out refining. Maybe in the last round he’ll find you an eyesore. So the second round is your time to show your best. Miss it and it’ll be too late for regrets.”

“An imperial capital alchemist is judged by aesthetics?” The candidates were shocked.

Then their skills would not be worth a lick in the last round, only judged by their fine traces or appalling visage.

Baili Jingwei shook his head, “That isn’t to say it will happen, but what if when you meet with the Sword King he’ll judge your speech? Ha-ha-ha, who can say?”

With dark looks on their faces, the candidates sighed, feeling weirded out by these peculiarities in a competition.

[You’re here looking for alchemists, not a pretty boy. What does skin have to do with any of this?]

Shangguan Feiyun was pissed, his face twitching.

“Blast it! Is he making a mockery out of me? What of my name?”

Shangguan Feiyun cursed, “The rotten punk is using my manor to say what he likes. When word gets out they’ll say I’m a queer with some depraved kink. How am I supposed to look people in the eye?”

Danqing Shen chuckled, “Brother Feiyun, isn’t Baili Jingwei after Shangguan clan spies? With so many people, while the most will be swayed in not going through with this, only the spy will go all out.”

“How is this supposed to single them out? How to judge?” Shangguan Feiyun glared at the smiling guy.

Danqing Shen paused, then shook his head, “I don’t know, but he must have a plan. We’re best off watching with calmness.”

“Fine, I’ll wait. If in the end I don’t see a single spy, he’ll have to answer to me!” Huffing, Shangguan Feiyun spat.

Danqing Shen chuckled, looking at Zhuo Fan in front with a hard gaze.

[Boy, why are you here? Are you in on this as well…]

Hu~

While most candidates were in a quandary, the top three were refining like always.

They didn’t give a damn about Baili Jingwei’s ridiculous speech. All they had to do was do their best to showcase their skills and ignore everything.

They had that much confidence in their skills that none could match.

If there was one restriction across the whole wide world, that would be strength. No matter where you were, all was based on strength.

“Kid, a Yuan Qi flame still?”

“Yeah.”

“You sure are something to bring a Yuan Qi flame to such height.” Meng Feitian and his junior brother were amazed with Zhuo Fan.

Zhuo Fan shrugged, “It’s only good control.”

“Tch, can control ignore the other flames’ interference? We’ve been alchemists for too long to fall for you cheap tricks.”

The old men weren’t duped like those amateurs. But they didn’t push Zhuo Fan for his secret either. They knew alchemy had a rule, not to ask. “Kid, we’re both peak 9th grade alchemists with a rare 10th grade sometimes refined. This time, I’m ready to challenge a 10th pill. What about you? You’re not that weak so what are you going to make? 8th or 9th grade?”

“With your cultivation and speed, you can’t be just an average 7th grade alchemist, but a rare 8th grade Radiant Stage alchemist. He-he-he, truly outstanding. Kid, such a talent is amazing.”

Zhuo Fan eyed them in silence.

[The guy on stage clearly cherishes talent. Shangguan Yulin will be exposed soon. To make sure he’ll go easy on me, I’ll need to dazzle him. No choice but to show my hand.]

Zhuo Fan’s eyes shone and smiled, “Seniors, I plan on making an 11th grade!”

The two staggered at the sudden response, then gave him a mean look.

“Kid, we know you’ve got talent and even thought about guiding you. Yet you mock us!” Meng Feitian glared.

Xue Dingxian cursed, “We’re really giving our all to challenge the 10th grade and you’re saying you’ll go for 11th? If that ain’t mockery I don’t know what is. Humph, rotten punk, we respect your talent and you grow cocky with your seniors. Even with such a talent, your petty mind will hold you back!”

“Uhm, seniors, you got it all wrong. That’s not it at all.”

“Zip it. You’re telling me you’re going to make an 11th grade pill?”

Smiling, Meng Feitian was fuming, “8th grade is the limit for a Radiant Stage talent like you. 9th grade is impossible. If you were at our stage, maybe you might have a modicum chance of making an 11th grade. But certainly not now.”

“Yes, impossible. You’re clearly mocking us.” Xue Dingxian stood with Meng Feitian.

Zhuo Fan shrugged, flinging spirit stones around to set up a bizarre array.

The elders were taken aback, “What are you up to now? This is alchemy, not arrays!”

Baili Jingwei noticed the ruckus in front and looked curious.

“Family skill, pill array!”

With a mysterious smile, Zhuo Fan went through the gestures, “I’m making an 11th grade pill without an array, it’s a pain, ha-ha-ha…”

Roar!

Finishing one gesture, he pointed down and a draconic roar echoed out. Zhuo Fan made another sign and the Yuan Qi flame blended with the array. What followed were constant roars as nine fire dragons took to the skies.

The still stumped amateurs were looking shocked, lost for words.

[What is that? Isn’t it supposed to be alchemy?]

Baili Jingwei was intrigued, eyes shining.

Zhuo Fan looked coldly at the crowd and Baili Jingwei as he made another sign.

It was time to reveal his worth, and to do that, a dazzling skill was required to knock them all off their feet.

[So much so the host will feel pain just thinking of killing a genius like me.]

Zhuo Fan shouted, “Nine dragons unite, pill amplification!”

Roar~

The nine fire dragons clashed like how he did back in Tianyu. The medicine inside them combined with every clash…