Miss Loser is too enchanting
Chapter 323: Is Baili Xie Crooked? (3)_1

Chapter 323: Chapter 323: Is Baili Xie Crooked? (3)_1

The second day’s second round of competition involved the refinement of an eighth-grade elixir. The elixir they were tasked with producing was a rare one, unfamiliar to most—and many had never even heard of it! Fortunately, the formula was provided, and they were given an hour to study it.

This round tested not only one’s ability to produce an eighth-grade elixir but also one’s learning capability! Those with strong learning capabilities would surely receive a greater supply of materials from the alchemists later on.

Shayan looked at the formula and smirked proudly. He had refined this elixir a few times before, so he went straight to work on it.

Dugu Qianye also busied herself with the formula. She knew of this elixir but had not paid much attention to it since it was seldom used. After half an hour, she too began the alchemy process.

This round was a cutthroat elimination from thirty to ten; everyone remaining was highly skilled, so she couldn’t afford to be careless.

On the viewing platform, several families continued to observe the contestants below. If someone exceptionally talented emerged, they were ready to offer more lucrative terms than the Alchemist Guild to recruit them into their own families or factions.

And yet, some attendees were not there for this reason.

"Third Uncle, do you think we can find someone capable of refining the Fire Dragon Pill this time? Are any of the alchemists below up to the task?" In a quiet corner of the stands, a group of people sat in silence, not swayed by the contestants’ successes or failures like the others around them, but rather observing the crowd below with a scrutinous gaze.

"I don’t know," responded Dugu Yilan indifferently.

"That Shayan seems fairly capable. I wonder if he could do it," Dugu Qianqian ventured again.

"Regardless, we have to try. The Family Head has been in a coma for so many years. If we don’t find a cure soon, we will fall into the clutches of the Ouyang Clan..." Dugu Yilan said, his expression grave.

With the Family Head comatose, the clan had fragmented. The second branch was causing a stir with their desire to seize power, while the third and fourth branches clamored for independence. As for the fifth branch, they had already moved out. And his most beloved younger brother was still suffering there, doomed to torment without end. As for his fifth sister...

In short, the family was in complete disarray!

To compound their woes, another Hidden World Family, the Ouyang Clan, was eyeing them like a tiger stalking its prey!

If Dugu Qianye knew the identity of these people, she would have been thoroughly shocked. But as she was unaware, she continued below, focusing on refining today’s elixir.

"By the way, what’s with that wager I’ve heard so much about today?" Upon hearing Shayan’s name, Dugu Yilan suddenly recalled the buzz among the attendees when he entered about that extravagant bet, in which that Shayan was one of the principal actors.

"It’s a bet between Shayan and someone named Baili Xie. If Shayan wins, Baili Xie has to follow him—and there’s a rumor Shayan likes toying with men. But if Baili Xie wins, Shayan owes her a billion Purple Crystal Coins and must crawl around on the ground three times and bark like a dog in front of everyone," recounted Dugu Qianqian, sharing what she had heard.

"Baili Xie?" Dugu Yilan uttered Dugu Qianye’s name, glanced at the person below who was methodically practicing alchemy, and said, "Perhaps he really could win, you never know."

"I heard that Baili Xie isn’t even a hundred years old; how could he possibly defeat Shayan? Could his rank be higher than Shayan’s? That’s impossible!" Another person, Dugu Qianqi, expressed his disbelief.

"Anything is possible," Dugu Yilan said, and with a thought added, "I’ve noticed that both Ouyang and the Nangong Clan have arrived. Don’t go out alone if it’s not necessary."

"Ouyang and Nangong are here?" Dugu Qianqian covered her mouth and exclaimed in a low voice, "Why have they come?"

"Nangong is probably here for an antidote as well, and Ouyang, well, their aim is likely to thwart us. In any case, just don’t go out alone," Dugu Yilan said.

"Understood, Third Uncle," Dugu Qianqian and Dugu Qianqi responded.

Having finished their conversation, everyone fell silent again and continued to watch the competition. Meanwhile, Dugu Yilan’s gaze settled on Dugu Qianye. Observing her techniques and seamless alchemy process, his confidence in his thoughts grew stronger—Baili Xie’s rank was definitely higher than Shayan’s! Today, she would undoubtedly advance.

As he had anticipated, Dugu Qianye advanced steadily to the top ten and would participate in the next round of competition tomorrow. He planned to find time to talk with her.

The third round of the competition had the stands packed today. When the contestants entered the arena, a wave of enthusiastic applause erupted from the crowd. The applause only subsided when the referee took his seat in the judging area and the host came forward to resume the proceedings.

A supporting staff took a look around the arena today and saw representatives from all the major families and powers had arrived—first-tier, second-tier, third-tier, the Refiners Guild, Beast Trainer Guild, and Spiritual Master Association, all sent numerous representatives. Kingdoms from the West Continent had dispatched envoys, and even people from the Hidden World Families had made an appearance! This was the first time such a diverse coalition of powers from the Yuling Continent had gathered together!

"Welcome everyone to the Alchemist competition. Today we will have the ’top ten to top five’ round. There is a change in the rules for today’s competition. We will grade the results in two parts: one is the assessment by our judges, and the other is a public auction of the elixirs crafted today. The bidding price will determine the points—the highest will receive ten points, and the lowest will get one. The top five total scores will advance to the final semifinals!"

"Wow—" As soon as the host finished speaking, the audience erupted, surprised that they would be able to participate in an auction too! Some people had come here just to seek some rare elixirs, and though they couldn’t compete with the first- and second-tier families in terms of power, they still hoped for a chance. Now with the public auction, it all came down to financial capabilities!

"So who gets the money from the auction?" An audience member’s question amused everyone present.

The host laughed too and said, "If it uses materials provided by the Alchemist Guild, then the Alchemist Guild and the alchemist will split the proceeds half and half. If it’s an alchemist from the West Continent, then half would go to the West Continent; if it’s from the East Continent, then it goes to the East Continent. But if they used their own materials, then all proceeds go to them."

"What about the Green Emperor Xiahou?" someone asked.

"Then it all goes to him!" the host said with a laugh, "Now, I ask all the contestants to prepare. The elixir you will be crafting today is of the eighth grade, and the type is unrestricted. Rankings will be determined by scarcity, difficulty of crafting, duration of crafting, and auction price. To your left, you have the materials prepared by the Alchemist Guild which you may use, or you can use your own. The competition begins now."

After the host finished, all the contestants went over to the material rack to take a look and chose some materials that they did not have. Dugu Qianye went there, symbolically taking two types of materials.