The commentator's voice boomed across the coliseum, drawing everyone's attention back from the intensity of the last battles. "The next stage will now begin—Alchemy Refinement!"
A ripple of murmurs rolled through the spectators, but silence quickly followed as the commentator raised his hand. "Each participant must now refine a Qi Restoration Pill within the allotted time. However—" he paused, voice lowering with suspense, "—the spiritual essence of one key ingredient has been slightly altered. Your skill, perception, and adaptability will be tested."
With a flick of his wrist, the stage changed. The entire arena shimmered, its ground splitting and reforming into smooth stone tiles, each embedded with a cauldron surrounded by spiritual light. Next to every cauldron was a set of ingredients on a floating tray. Every station was labeled not with names, but glowing numbers, corresponding to the jade tokens drawn by participants earlier.
Yue Ling, standing on her platform, narrowed her eyes.
"I really need to change this disguise," she muttered to herself, observing how her flick of a finger earlier had sent several opponents flying. "It's making me too godlike."
She looked around and noticed people were still whispering about her performance.
"Who is Number 149?" "Is that even human?" "No one can touch her. I can't wait to see those freak twins from Ring Five fight with her ."
Just then, a powerful ripple of qi surged through the sky. All heads turned upward.
Only one person in the arena broke into a radiant smile—Princess Mei.
She flew up, eyes glistening. "Mother!" she called, her voice echoing.
Descending in graceful elegance was Empress Qingtan, radiating divine pressure and beauty. As she touched down, Princess Mei threw herself into her embrace like a child reunited with a long-lost parent.
"Mother, was it because you were coming that you ignored my messages?"
The Empress smiled, but the warmth didn't reach her eyes. Only if Princess Mei knew how furious her mother had been earlier—breaking things in her chamber, frightening her maids into silence, and even leaving the emperor speechless. Empress Qingtan, though usually serene, was known to be capable of wiping out an entire clan when enraged.
Her storm of emotion had led her to personally visit the Snake Tribe to verify the truth behind her daughter's message. And now, here she was.
"Return to your station. I'll take you to see your grandfather after the competition," she said softly.
Princess Mei bowed and returned.
At that moment, old man Hu flicked his sleeve, transforming the seating arrangement. A throne appeared at the highest level—prepared for the Empress. All elders now sat below her in a lower tier, in deference.
Then, something unexpected happened. The Empress waved her hand again, and another throne materialized beside hers—even higher.
Gasps rose from the spectators.
She walked toward an elderly figure who had just arrived—Grandfather Yue.
Just as the old man was about to greet her, the Empress quickly bowed deeply.
Yue Ling, watching from her station, froze. Her mind whirled. Who exactly is Princess Mei that even the Empress bows to her grandfather?
The entire crowd dropped to their knees, heads bowed low.
Only Princess Mei and Yue Ling remained standing. The former bowed slightly, while the latter kept her head held high, mind filled with questions.
The Empress took Grandfather Yue's hand and led him to the higher throne, where he sat with pride.
Everyone expected the Empress to take the upper seat—but she humbly sat beside him, lower.
Then, she turned and said gently, "You may all rise."
As the crowd obeyed, her eyes wandered across the participants—until they landed on one person still standing tall, not even bowing.
Number 149.
Her daughter's disguise didn't fool her.
But it wasn't just the posture—it was the eyes.
Those familiar, defiant eyes that mirrored someone she once knew.
Leaning toward Grandfather Yue, she whispered with a mysterious smile curling at the corners of her mouth:
"Father… is that Ye'er's child in disguise?"
Whispers didn't cease. Now, more names were being murmured through the seated crowd as the alchemy challenge prepared to begin.
"Number 215… isn't that Elder Jinfeng's grandson, Yize?"
"He doesn't have a beast yet, but they say he's a prodigy with insane soul perception."
"No one dares to provoke him."
"And those twins from Ring Five… Number 159 and 300. Jia and Chen."
"They're like yin and yang, dangerous if separated, lethal when together."
"Their coordination is too terrifying."
"Who got placed in Ring Two again?"
"Bao. Number 065. They say he's another one with monstrous potential."
As the commentator floated back into the air, holding a list, he raised his voice once more.