A collective gasp spread through the crowd of students upon hearing Xiao Yan's wager.

  Good heavens! Han Xian was eyeing Xiao Yan's pill recipes, yet Xiao Yan was targeting the entire Medie Gang!

  Among the numerous fas within the Inner Academy, who wasn't coveting the Medie Gang? Even Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing had attempted to form alliances with them, only to be unequivocally rejected by Han Xian.

  After all, alchemists were proud and aloof by nature, so it was only natural that they wouldn't agree to such propositions. Thus, until now, no one had been able to absorb the Medie Gang.

  "Si's a bet, both sides should have something to gain," Xiao Yan said with a smile. "What you've proposed is merely what I deserve. Even if we don't wager, there's nothing you do to stop me. As for ten thousand Fire Energy, I have no worries about earning that."

  In truth, Xiao Yan was already secretly delighted. He khat he couldn't keep refining pills endlessly, for alchemy ed his mental energy. Even if his Dou Qi was suffit, after refining pills he would feel exhausted and just want to lie down instead of cultivating.

  Therefore, he uood that he couldn't always rely on alchemy to earn Fire Energy. If he could bring the Medie Gang, this money-making mae, under his wing and absorb it, he wouldn't have to worry about running out of Fire Energy.

  "Gang Leader, accept the bet!"

  "Yeah! We believe in you, Gang Leader! You will definitely win!"

  "Exactly! He's just relying on pill recipes. In terms of true strength, Gang Leader Han will definitely defeat him!"

  When Han Xian heard the fervent shouts from his gang members, his fidence surged. His eyes fshed with determination as he decred in a deep voice, "Very well! Then we'll use the same pill recipe, and after the pills are pleted, we'll see whose pill quality is superior!"

  Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "Alright, but whose pill recipe will we use?"

  Han Xian said calmly, "Whichever pill recipe we use from either of us would likely cause suspi from the other party. Therefore, I suggest we use a pill recipe from the Inner Academy's colle. It just so happens that I'm acquainted with Elder Hao, who is in charge of the Pill Recipe Repository. This time, we borroill recipe from him and invite him to serve as our judge and notary. What do you think?"

  "Fine by me," Xiao Yan replied casually.

  "Then, three days from now, at the Northern Pza, we'll determihe victor through alchemy!"

  …

  Three days passed in a fsh. Finally, uhe eager anticipation of many, the day of the alchemy duel between Xiao Yan and Han Xian arrived.

  Many students had gathered at the designated pza early, especially the alchemists of the Inner Academy, who had arrived even earlier.

  No alchemist would miss such a pinnacle showdown. Otherwise, it would be a lifelret!

  Outside the pza, people were packed so tightly that not even water could trickle through. Even in the distant sky, several Dou King elders with Dou Qi wings had e to watch. One could imagihe immense sensation this alchemy duel had caused.

  "Who do you think will win?"

  "Definitely Han Xian! Do you think he just became a 4th-tier alchemist? He was already a 4th-tier alchemist three years ago. Now, after three more years, he should at least be at the middle or even high grade of the 4th tier."

  "That's true. I've seen the spirit liquid that Xiao Yan refihe quality was actually average; it's just that the pill recipe was excellent, so the efficacy was good. I think his skill is probably at the low-grade 4th-tier at best."

  Amidst the chatter in the pza, the first to appear was Elder Hao, who residing over the bet. He had prepared the medial ingredients and pill recipes for both parties. The two sets of ingredients were meticulously selected; whether in age, appearance, or potency, they were nearly identical, leaving no room for discrepancy.

  Uhe watchful eyes of everyone, Han Xian arrived on time, escorted by a group from the Medie Gang. His demeanor was outstanding as his robe fluttered, and the 4th-tier badge on his alchemist robe articurly eye-catg.

  "Hey, look! Xiao Yan is here!"

  In trast, there were only two people standing oher side of the pza on Xiao Yan's side.

  The two were engrossed in pleasant versation as they sloeared in everyone's sight.

  Xiao Yan's demeanor at this moment was entirely different from Han Xian's. His face was full of smiles, and his words elicited charming ughter from Xun Er.

  "This Xiao Yan is actually still flirting! Is he not nervous at all?"

  "Who knows? Maybe he thinks his alchemy skills are unrivaled uhe heavens."

  Elder Hao, seeing that both Xiao Yan and Han Xian had arrived, coughed lightly twice, and the entire venue instantly fell silent.

  His voice, infused with powerful Dou Qi, suppressed all other sounds. His gaze swept across the crowd before he leisurely took out an a-looking, slightly yellowed scroll from his ste ring. With a faint smile, he said, "I have always beeremely ied in alchemy, but due to the stri requirements to bee an alchemist, I had to give up with regret. Today, I'm quite pleased to oversee this rare alchemy petition in the Inner Academy and es fairness. However, you all know of my reputation, so please cast aside any doubts about the impartiality of this petition."

  Elder Hao's words were met with waves of approval from the crowd below. Clearly, his reputation for fairness was well-known within the Inner Academy.

  "Today's petition topic ersonally selected by me. Until now, her Xiao Yan nor Han Xian knows what they will be refining." The responses from below made the smile on Elder Hao's face grow a bit wider. He lightly tapped the scroll with his palm, then turo Xiao Yan and Han Xian, smiling as he said, "I'll say this in advahis topic is rather challenging. I wonder if you two dare to accept it?"

  "Of course," Han Xian said proudly.

  Xiao Yan shrugged nontly, "Doesn't matter to me. The result will be the same."

  "Very well. This is the pill recipe for the Low Tier 5 Dragon Strength Pill. Its effect is to temporarily increase physical strength and is suitable for those at the Dou King realm."

  "I've prepared two sets of medial ingredients for each of you, identical in age and quality," Elder Hao said as he hahe pill recipes to the two.

  Even Xiao Yan's eyes fshed with excitement upon hearing it was a tier 5 pill recipe. A tier 5 pill recipe was extremely precious even for him. After all, it was suitable for elite Dou Kings!

  "Tier 5?!"

  "Wow, the academy really went all out this time!"

  "Betweewo of them, there are four sets of tier 5 medial ingredients, and they even provided a tier 5 pill recipe. This is quite the iment. If this were outside, it would be worth as much as a Dou King Pill."

  "Is this old fellow here to ensure fairness or to cause trouble? Making two juniors refiier 5 pill?" Some of the elders who had e to watch couldn't help but mutter upon hearing the difficulty of the topic.

  After reading the pill recipe's introdu, Han Xian furrowed his brows but then cupped his fists toward Elder Hao and said, "Since Elder Hao thinks so highly of us, I will definitely give it my all."

  Elder Hao hen turo look at Xiao Yan. "What about you?"

  "Me?" Xiao Yan replied nontly, "I start anytime. If he has no objes, theher do I."

  With both sides having no objes, Elder Hao announced, "Sihere are no issues, let's not dey. The alchemy duel between Han Xian and Xiao Yan begins now."

  Han Xian was full of vigor and fideer receiving the medial ingredients. He took a deep breath, and his entire being became sharp and imposing. He stared at Xiao Yan and said, "Now, let's begin the refi."

  "Hmm? 'Let's'? You go ahead first." Xiao Yan yawned and said, "I know you're very fident in your alchemy skills. If we refi the same time, I'm afraid you might even struggle to trol your fme. To avoid you making excuses ter, I'll let you start first. I'll begin after you successfully refihe Dragon Strength Pill."

  Xiao Yan didn't want to refine pills at the same time as Han Xian. If his Heavenly Fme influenced Han Xian's fme, and Han Xian ter accused him of interferend refused to accept the result, wouldn't that be unjust?

  "You!" Han Xia deeply insulted by Xiao Yan's words, his face flushing red with anger. He had absolute fiden his alchemy skills and had always been sidered the most talented alchemist in the Inner Academy, even expected to bee an elder in the Alchemy Department iure!

  How could he not be furious?

  The spectators felt that Xiao Yan's words were tant. Although many aowledged his formidable cultivation talent and impressive feats, such as leading the freshmen to defeat numerous senior students and maintaining a close retionship with Zi Yan, the top ranker orong Ranking, eveh-tier alchemist elders of the Alchemy Department didn't dare uimate Han Xian's alchemy skills. Yet now, Xiao Yan actually didn't put Han Xian in his eyes at all?

  Han Xian took a deep breath, quickly suppressing his anger and regaining his posure. He said seriously, "Fihen I'll respectfully ply! I will make you admit defeat wholeheartedly!"

  It had to be said that Han Xian was indeed worthy of being a genius who had reached the 4th tier in his early twenties. He mao calm his anger in such a short time.

  Xiao Yaly nodded. No wohe Medie Gang was thriving under his leadership.

  Han Xian snorted coldly as he saw Xiao Yan really step off the pza and sit aside. With a wave of his hand, a golden-yellow medial cauldron appeared. Sunlight reflected off its surface, emitting dazzling brilliahat forced people to avert their gaze.

  But that wasn't all. In the moment, a golden fme emerged from his palm. Although this fme was far inferior to a Heavenly Fme, it was the highest-grade fme Xiao Yan had seen apart from Heavenly Fmes. It was even slightly strohan the Beast Fme of the Rank 6 Amethyst Winged Lion King.

  Han Xian couldn't help but feel proud wheiced Xiao Yan's slightly surprised expression. He decred loudly, "This fme of mine is called the 'Illusiolden Fme'. It remains in the shell of a Rank 7 Illusionary Fire Scorpio after its hatg breaks out."

  "Rank 7!!"

  "Damn! Han Xian actually possesses such a beast fme!"

  Not only did the students below react with shock, but even Elder Hao and some elders showed signs of astonishment upon hearing the name. Rank 7! That was equivalent to ae Dou Aor! Who would have thought that this fmboyantly brilliant golden fme had su in?

  But then, remembering that this freak Xiao Yan even possessed a Heavenly Fme, Elder Hao and the others could only shake their heads helplessly. No wonder Xiao Ya him go first.

  When the Heavenly Fme appears, all other fmes submit. Even a Rank 7 Beast Fme was no exception.

  "Ha!" Han Xian spped the Illusioldeo the medial cauldron and began adding the ingredients. His movements were swift and fluid, indeed showg some skill.