“Elder Yin, the probability of these cauldron explosions is simply too high.” Pei Changjing had lost his previous drowsiness, looking at those deeply frustrated young Alchemists. “One or two could still be attributed to a lack of skill, but three or five exploding in succession… I’ve lived for so many years, and this is the first time I’ve seen such a thing.”

Yin Zheng set down his teacup, his brows slightly furrowed. Almost simultaneously, the two turned their gazes toward Elder Sun.

Although Elder Sun had not opened his eyes, he seemed to feel the weight of their stares and slowly lifted his eyelids.

“If both of you Alchemists feel something is amiss, then perhaps it is better to temporarily suspend this Alchemy Conference. This old man will immediately order the disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall to enter the grounds and conduct a thorough investigation. If someone is truly playing tricks in the shadows…”

“Hey, don’t do that.” Pei Changjing raised a hand to interrupt him, breaking into a wicked smile. “Elder Sun, think about it. This Alchemy Conference is only held once a century. What is its purpose? Isn’t it to sift the gold from the sand and filter out those promising seedlings who can truly shoulder a burden? If someone is causing trouble, naturally we must investigate, but if we make all the contestants stop and wait for a result because of it, we would only be playing right into the villain’s hands.”

He pointed toward the contestants in the arena who were still burying their heads in Alchemy. “Look at those kids. Even with their Spiritual Fire being tampered with, they gritted their teeth and endured it. Those who can successfully perform Alchemy in adversity are the truly good materials. As for those who shatter at the first touch…” He smiled, leaving the sentence unfinished, but his meaning couldn’t have been any clearer.

Yin Zheng did not respond to his remark and turned to Elder Sun instead: “Elder Pei’s words are not entirely without reason; it is indeed unwise to rashly suspend the conference. However, Elder Sun, the nature of this matter is extremely vile. The Alchemy Conference is a centuries-old tradition in the Cangwu Realm. Every sect sends their best seedlings here in pursuit of fairness. If someone employs such underhanded tactics right under the watchful eyes of the public, they are slapping the faces of all the sects and the Alchemy Sect.”

A layer of coldness surfaced in his usually mild gaze: “Once we drag out the rat hiding in the dark, no matter what their background is, I ask that you show no mercy.”

Elder Sun slowly nodded. “Alchemist Yin, rest assured. The Law Enforcement Hall might not be large, but we are not to be trifled with. No matter who it is, if they dare to stir up trouble on Yunze Market’s turf, this old man will definitely teach them the meaning of rules.”

“Good.” Pei Changjing reached out, lifted his teacup, and offered a toast to the two. “Then it’s settled. Elder Sun’s people will investigate as they must, while we old fellows will sit right here at the judges’ seats and watch carefully, to see exactly which ‘deity’ dares to make waves right under our noses.”

The three exchanged a look and each took a sip of tea.

Lai Li’an found Ruan Se at the end of the corridor outside the venue.

The young girl sat alone on the stone steps, her back resting against a pillar, looking pale.

Hearing footsteps, Ruan Se opened her eyes. Upon seeing who had come, she hurriedly got up and cupped her hands to bow.

“Alright, alright, stay seated.” Lai Li’an pressed a hand downward. “Your Spiritual Power has almost hit rock bottom, and you still care about these empty formalities?”

Ruan Se did not refuse and sat back down against the pillar. She was actually in decent spirits, her eyes even holding a hint of radiance.

“Do you know that the move you just pulled off completely dumbfounded the old guys in the judges’ seats?” Lai Li’an crouched down beside her and remarked casually.

“Senior overpraises me. I was just applying what I had just learned; I was merely lucky not to embarrass Senior. If Senior were the one refining, I’m afraid even the poorest-quality Cold Marrow Grass could be refined into the highest quality.”

Lai Li’an coughed, thinking to himself.

But on the surface he remained placid and nodded. “Alright, stop being modest. In your current state, are you still going to be okay for the upcoming matches?”

Hearing this, Ruan Se was slightly taken aback.

“There are none left for today.” She looked up at Lai Li’an. “All of today’s rounds have ended. Now we just have to wait for tomorrow’s finals, Senior…” She tilted her head slightly, a rare hint of teasing surfacing in her eyes. “As a judge, do you really not even know the competition’s format?”

Lai Li’an’s expression stiffened for a moment. Why would he care about such things? He was only here to reap the benefits.

“This Venerable…” He tried to concoct some excuse like “this Venerable attends to myriad affairs daily and cannot be bothered to remember such trivial matters,” but before he could even open his mouth, a very soft chuckle suddenly came from opposite him.

Ruan Se laughed. Her veil fluttered slightly from the soft sound, and her eyes curved into two shallow crescents.

However, the smile only lasted for a fleeting moment before Ruan Se immediately pressed the corners of her lips back down, restoring her customary cold and detached expression.

Lai Li’an saw it clearly and thought to himself that this girl actually looked quite pretty when she smiled. But he didn’t dare say it aloud; the lesson he had learned last time in the Alchemy Room after blurting out “Why are you so beautiful?” was still vivid in his mind.

Ruan Se straightened her expression, stood upright, and bowed solemnly to Lai Li’an: “Senior, I must thank you for today’s matter. If Senior had not demonstrated ‘Using Herbs to Control Herbs’ to me a month ago with the refining method of the Eternal Spring Life-Prolonging Pill, it would have been absolutely impossible for me to stabilize that furnace of Cold Dew Pill today when my Spiritual Power was exhausted. I will forever engrave Senior’s teachings in my heart.”

Lai Li’an was left a bit at a loss for words by her solemn gratitude. His initial thought of trying to win back some face also vanished. He fell silent for a moment before saying, “This Venerable merely demonstrated it in passing; what you managed to comprehend is your own capability. If it were anyone else, they might not have been able to apply it immediately even after watching it ten times. Yet you dared to try it right there and then, and even succeeded. This Venerable will accept half of this thanks; the remaining half, you earned yourself.”

Ruan Se lowered her eyelashes and did not say anything more.

She held onto the corridor pillar to steady herself, patted the dust off her skirt, and then retrieved a small bone whistle from her waist, bringing it to her lips and blowing a note.

A clear, resonant cry echoed from afar as a White Crane flapped its wings and took flight, tracing a snow-white arc in the air before landing in front of Ruan Se.

“Senior, this junior will take her leave first.” Ruan Se leaped onto the crane’s back, her cyan skirt fluttering gently in the wind. She turned her head and glanced at Lai Li’an, “In tomorrow’s finals, I will not let Senior down.”

The White Crane flapped its wings and took flight, vanishing into the distance in the blink of an eye.

The smile on Lai Li’an’s face slowly faded, replaced by a look of sheer despair.

“It flew away again.”

That meant he had to walk back on foot again. He would have to traverse those outrageously long stairs all over again.

And climb back up tomorrow…

“Can’t I just sleep here today?” He looked around at the rock-hard floor tiles.

He suspected that if he actually spent the night lying here, the disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall would immediately drag him out like a beggar.

“Sigh.” Lai Li’an looked up at the sky and let out a helpless sigh. “At my age, I’m still getting bullied.”

When he said this, he completely forgot that he wasn’t actually that old.

But no one heard him, so he could say whatever he pleased.

Lai Li’an was just about to set off in delight when, out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly noticed another person in a distant corner.

The person sat alone on the ground with a rusty, dilapidated bronze cauldron placed before him. The embers inside had yet to die out, casting a flickering glow across his face.