The square remained quiet for a long time before gradually recovering. Master Mo, who had gained renown in the Gamma Empire decades before the ancient river era, carried considerable weight in his judgment—so while a few people might have questioned him, most did not perceive him as merely being arbitrary or biased. Yan Li's face turned ashen. Master Mo's praise was, in effect, an indirect affirmation that Xiao Yan's three-pattern Qingling Pills were flawless—an outcome that left Yan Li utterly defeated this time. Grasping his breath, he waved his sleeve, summoning the medicinal cauldron from the stone platform into his storage amulet. Under the unyielding gaze of countless onlookers, he turned without hesitation and hurried toward the exit. The cold disapproval radiating from the eyes of the three Fahu priests on the dais had already made him realize: if he did not act swiftly and leave now, once the three priests finished attending to this matter, it would surely be his turn to face misfortune. On the raised platform, Fang Ma held his hands in his sleeves, calmly observing Yan Li hurrying out toward the outer area. He couldn't help but let out a cold laugh. "Now you've decided to leave? Isn't that a bit late?" "Do we need to follow him? After all, we're not really needed here," Hai Bo Dong asked with a smile. "No," Fang Ma shook his head slightly and spoke with quiet confidence. "I've already instructed Otto to imprint a soul seal onto Yan Li's medicinal preparations during the inspection—once that's done, he won't be able to escape." "The Cloud Empire's Pharmaceutical Guild is going to suffer a major loss this time. A master of fourth rank in pharmaceutical arts isn't something that comes easily to cultivate," Jia La said, smiling warmly, with a hint of satisfaction. "Since they've come, such preparations are naturally expected." Smiling slightly, Fangma turned his gaze toward the center of the arena, cleared his throat, and once all eyes were fixed upon him, spoke with a warm smile, "Since the inspection is now complete, I hereby announce the champion of this season's competition..." Reaching out from his sleeve, he pointed decisively at the young man standing alone in the center—slender in build, slightly pale—"That is, Rock Hawk!" As soon as his words fell, a thunderous wave of excitement erupted from the audience. Countless spectators, flushed with emotion, rose from their seats, waving whatever they held, and the entire square soon became a vibrant sea of noise and enthusiasm. It's no surprise that the audience has become so excited and passionate. Unlike past gatherings, where the championship was contested solely among domestic alchemists, thus failing to spark a strong sense of collective pride, this year's competition has ignited a fierce sentiment among the Gamla nationals. In particular, Yan Li—unexpectedly rising as a surprise contender and nearly securing the title—has fully awakened the long-standing resistance among the Gamla people against foreign, especially rival nation, alchemists claiming victory at their home events. After all, their pride is built upon the very foundation of Gamla's honor being challenged and humbled. And as Xiao Yan was about to claim the championship, he suddenly emerged once more, forcibly taking back the title that had just been about to be carried overseas. For the spectators around, this move was like a sudden surge of hope at a moment of despair—thus, the passionate and heartfelt excitement displayed by the Camellia nationals in the stadium was entirely understandable. Naturally, Xiao Yan, who had defeated Yan Li and secured the championship in accordance with the people's will, gained immense attention and admiration. From today on, the name of Yan Xiao would resonate throughout the entire empire! In a certain sense, Xiao Yan's unexpected reputation is largely due to Yan Li—without his sudden emergence, even if Xiao Yan had secured the championship title, he would have remained in people's minds merely as an ordinary champion. Every eight years, the grand assembly lasts neither a long nor a short time; for the average human lifespan, experiencing it seven or eight times is quite normal. Thus, the difference between having Yan Li and not having him carries a profoundly distinct significance. Yan Li's participation and eventual defeat have elevated Xiao Yan's standing. Although Xiao Yan might not have been overly concerned about this recognition, at least, when people later spoke of the Pharmaceutical Conclave, the image of the young prodigy, Rock Xiao, who had once rallied the crowd with determination, would immediately come to mind—spoken with a touch of reverence. "Looking at Xiao Yan, who was calmly gathering the remaining herbs on the stone platform, untouched by the countless eyes of awe, admiration, and even some affection, Lan Jie couldn't help but laugh heartily. "Yes," Lan Yan nodded slightly, her beautiful eyes fixed on the young man—though slender in build, he carried a graceful, well-proportioned presence—her composed, delicate features subtly glowing with a warm smile, "he truly stands out!" "Far more than that," Lan Jie said, stirring her lips, "from today on, even the slightly stronger factions will surely begin extending invitations to this young prodigy. The praise from Mo Elder has truly reached many hearts." "What he said is true. While we can't be certain about Rock Xiao's future, the fact that he has already crafted a Three-Trace Qingling Pill at his age—something even the ancient Guo He Elder could not have achieved at that stage—is no small feat." "Nalan Yanran spoke softly, her eyes gleaming, and suddenly smiled warmly, saying, "If we can have him join Yunlan Sect, I believe his future achievements will surpass those of the Gu He Elder." "Huh? Are you already planning to recruit someone for Yunlan Sect now?" "Heard this, Nalan Jie rolled his eyes and said, 'Don't even think I didn't warn you. This young man seems to have a rather ambiguous relationship with Yafei of the Mitel family. That girl is indeed a woman who can make any man willing to sacrifice his life for her—what a troublemaker! You want to draw Rock Xiao over to your side through her, it seems quite difficult. And don't forget Rock Xiao's attitude toward you...' Hearing Nalan Jie's words, Nalan Yan slightly furrowed her delicate brows, a touch of concern and confusion in her expression. 'Ah, I don't know what's going on. It feels as though he holds a certain prejudice against me. Whenever I approach him, he simply treats me with cold indifference—while he can easily chat with warmth when Yafei or Tianye are present. But as soon as I come near, he instantly turns into a block of ice...' Nalan Yan was truly troubled. In terms of status, she was far above both Yafei and Tianye, and in terms of beauty, she was confident she didn't fall short of either. Yet, Rock Xiao remained utterly indifferent to her. Of course, among those who "Thinking of this, a strange expression appeared on Nalan Yanyan's delicate face—indeed, it was quite a blow to her, a true heiress of the family. 'Did I ever offend him?' she sighed, shaking her head. 'Well, these matters are best handled by the monastic elders or my teachers. As for this person—if he truly feels offended by you, he should just say so.' 'I don't understand why he treats you so specially. But going forward, when you interact with him, try to keep your posture humble. Don't come across as someone imposing your status as the junior chief of Yunlan Sect. Men who are capable and assertive often tend to keep their distance from women like you.' Nalan Jie shook her head. 'When have I ever used my status as junior chief to press him?' Nalan Yanyan asked, her tone tinged with slight hurt, as if since their first meeting at the Nalan family, she had always maintained a respectful and courteous demeanor toward him. "How can I know..." With a sigh of resignation, Lan Jie let the matter drop and turned his gaze toward the young man receiving thunderous applause from the crowd. Raising his gaze, Xiao Yan glanced at Liu Ling who was standing not far away. At that moment, Liu Ling was also intently watching him, and upon seeing Xiao Yan make eye contact, he paused slightly before offering a somewhat awkward, yet勉强 deemed friendly, smile, and performed a stiff bow. For a person accustomed to high spirits and pride, such a gesture toward a peer was surely a clear sign of genuine recognition of Xiao Yan's strength. "This loss truly wasn't undeserved. After returning, I'll focus on dedicated training under my teacher. To be honest, I've been overly confident in the past. I hope to have the chance to face Rock Xiao again in the future." As he slowly approached Xiao Yan, Liu Ling spoke softly. Having gone through this grand event, his demeanor seemed to have grown more composed. "There should be plenty of opportunities. The atmosphere here is quite noisy, so I'll be leaving now. I'll see you again soon." Smiling slightly, Xiao Yan glanced over the arena, which had just witnessed an exhilarating competition, then waved a greeting to the princess and the two of them. He then turned and walked steadily toward the plaza. With the finals now concluded, staying here to receive endless applause had become unnecessary—he was eager to find Fang Ma and obtain the recipe for the championship reward, the "Rongling Pills." "Ah, let's go as well," Li Ling said, shaking her head with a sigh, and turning to the princess. She then followed slowly, stepping in the same direction.