Devouring Soul Emperor

The Celestial Martial City Pill Battle Conference.

It was a grand event for all the young alchemists of the entire Northern Domain.

It didn't just capture the attention of countless people within Celestial Martial City; many disciples from the various sects were also drawn in, making special trips just to watch.

Even some people from the nearby Blood-soaked Land rushed over, eager to witness the grand occasion.

In the very center of Celestial Martial City was an immense plaza.

And the Pill Battle Conference was to be held right here.

In the middle of the vast plaza, a single, perfectly round boulder had been placed, forming a massive, natural high stage.

The boulder was cut to a perfectly smooth finish. Its surface was a uniform milky white, making it look like a colossal piece of fine jade.

"Chu Qingyun, look at that boulder! Someone brought it over and set it down yesterday. I heard it's a single, solid piece cut from the Hengduan Mountain Range by a Martial Emperor Level expert!"

The area was a sea of people. Mu Xiaoxiao, brimming with excitement, pointed at the high stage and spoke to Chu Qingyun.

Chu Qingyun, however, noticed that the top of the stage was divided into sections, likely designated spots for each of the competitors.

All around the stage, tiered, staircase-like viewing stands had already been erected.

The Celestial Martial City Pill Battle Conference was, after all, an event for the younger generation of alchemists from the sects to make a name for themselves, so the organizers had naturally made flawless arrangements for this.

It was safe to say that whoever won the championship at this Pill Battle Conference would find it impossible to keep a low profile ever again.

Of course, the entire venue appeared crowded and chaotic.

In reality, however, it was extremely orderly. Many things had been arranged long in advance.

For instance, ordinary people from Celestial Martial City could only sit in the surrounding tiered stands and watch from a distance. Getting closer for a better look was not an option.

The seats closer to the stage were all reserved for the disciples of the major sects.

Only those holding a Sect Token from one of the Fifteen Major Sects of the Northern Domain could enter the inner circle to watch.

Furthermore, at an event like this, anyone who dared to cause trouble or create a disturbance would be thrown out immediately. There would be no exceptions.

"Chu Qingyun, this is as far as I can take you. Good luck!" Mu Xiaoxiao said from outside the inner circle, a hint of disappointment in her voice.

Neither she nor Dai had a Sect Token, so according to the rules, they could only watch from the outer area.

"Don't worry. After this is over, I'll definitely be able to get you into a sect."

Chu Qingyun smiled and patted her shoulder. He then handed the participant's credential he'd received from Master Kang to the two guards and entered the inner circle.

Following their directions, Chu Qingyun made his way toward the waiting area for competitors.

"Sigh... I hope he gets a good rank," Mu Xiaoxiao murmured, watching Chu Qingyun's retreating figure.

"Big Brother will definitely win. He's really strong," Dai suddenly chimed in, his voice deep and rumbling.

Mu Xiaoxiao couldn't help but laugh at his words. "This isn't a fight, it's a competition of Refining Elixirs. His opponents are the strongest young alchemists in the entire Northern Domain. But... that guy is always so hard to read..."

"Enough talk. Let's go grab a good seat!"

After Chu Qingyun disappeared around a corner, Mu Xiaoxiao led Dai up to the nearest viewing stand.

Just as Chu Qingyun was approaching the competitor waiting area, a group from the Saint Extreme Sect happened to be crossing through the outer circle and entering from the side.

They were all new recruits to the sect; there were no Martial King Realm Inner Sect Disciples among them.

The one leading the group with an arrogant air was none other than Zhou Wushang, the very same person Chu Qingyun had harshly taught a lesson just a few days prior.

Because of the Qianshui Dynasty's great influence, coupled with the fact that his uncle, Zhou Jianxiong, was one of the Inner Sect Disciples present and that Elder Huang also had close ties with them, he was in a privileged position.

Thus, Zhou Wushang naturally walked at the head of the group of new disciples.

The moment he saw Chu Qingyun, Zhou Wushang's face twitched, and he felt a phantom pain in his cheek.

With the help of elixirs, his injuries were mostly healed, but the swelling on his face hadn't completely subsided, leaving it looking somewhat asymmetrical.

"Hmph. Chu Qingyun, you actually dare to show your face at the conference."

"Just you wait. The chosen geniuses of the sects will make a frog in a well like you understand just how pathetic you are!"

"Just wait for your utter humiliation! You can crawl right back to whatever hole you came from!"

Zhou Wushang snarled, his eyes full of venom as he stared at Chu Qingyun.

However, from the moment he started talking to the moment he finished, Chu Qingyun paid him no mind whatsoever. He didn't even slow his pace as he walked right past him.

It was as if Zhou Wushang and his group were completely invisible, as if they didn't exist at all.

"You..."

Chu Qingyun's reaction made Zhou Wushang grit his teeth in fury. This was more infuriating and contemptuous than any verbal comeback or sarcastic retort could ever be.

'He's saying I'm not even worth his time.'

"Uh, who's that moron? He tried to pick a fight and just got ignored."

"No idea. Never seen him before."

"I think he's from the Saint Extreme Sect, a newcomer from the Qianshui Dynasty. I heard that a couple of days ago, someone broke his legs in the middle of the street and forced him to kneel. His face was beaten into a swollen pulp."

"Hey, it's true! Look at his face, it's still asymmetrical!"

Disciples from the surrounding sects all stared at Zhou Wushang, whispering amongst themselves.

Some who had just arrived from their sects didn't recognize him. Others, however, had heard about or even witnessed the incident a few days ago, and the story was already spreading like a joke.

Zhou Wushang was about to explode with rage, but he could only slink away and hide in a corner.

He had tried to use the incident a few days ago to ruin Chu Qingyun's reputation. He never expected that, in the end, he would be the one whose reputation was in tatters.

As for those following behind Zhou Wushang, they all hung their heads, terrified of anyone recognizing their faces...

After arriving at the waiting area for competitors, Chu Qingyun stood there and waited in silence.

Just then, a few more people arrived. There were men and women, each with a steady composure and bright eyes. They all seemed to be in high spirits and were undoubtedly the chosen geniuses—the favored sons and daughters—of their respective sects.

Just then, a person next to Chu Qingyun sidled up to him and said with a broad smile, "This junior brother looks unfamiliar. I wonder which sect secretly nurtured a genius like you?"

"Uh, I haven't joined a sect yet. I'm from the Great Xia Dynasty," Chu Qingyun answered.

Great Xia Dynasty?

The person thought for a moment, then shook his head. The smile on his face vanished instantly, and he simply walked away.

In the Land of Hundred Dynasties, the Ten Great Dynasties were quite famous and held some prestige among the sects. After them, there were other dynasties widely recognized for their power, which many people knew of, such as the Dark Moon Dynasty.

The Great Xia Dynasty, however, was considered a minor, third-rate dynasty in the Land of Hundred Dynasties. Very few people from there ever made it to the sects' territories each year, and most of those who did joined the weakest of the sects. As a result, it had no reputation to speak of, and the vast majority of people had never even heard of it.

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