Invincible Soul Emperor-Chapter 213: Taking the Championship

However, at that moment, upon hearing the words "Fen Tian Earth Fire," Cheng Zhibin collapsed to the ground. He muttered to himself, "Fen Tian Earth Fire! That... that bastard. To think he possesses such a heaven-defying fortune!"

Princess Cai Yunji’s beautiful eyes went wide as she stared at Ye Qingchen in disbelief. Although the Fen Tian Earth Fire was only at the Earth Fire level, it was the first time someone possessing it had appeared in the remote Northern Desolate Country.

Even the high and mighty Emperor Cai Wentao revealed a flicker of surprise, but it was fleeting, quickly replaced by a knowing smile.

With the boost from the Fen Tian Earth Fire, Ye Qingchen’s alchemy efficiency skyrocketed. The Bone Tempering Pill had already taken form; he only needed to increase the heat to completely refine the impurities within and succeed in solidifying the pill.

Thanks to the Fen Tian Earth Fire, the temperature inside the Alchemy Furnace soared. In just two minutes, he had refined all the impurities that would normally have taken a full hour.

Another minute passed, and a rich pill fragrance wafted out, making everyone present feel refreshed and clear-minded.

"He did it! Qingchen actually did it!" Vice Pavilion Master Liu, who had been fraught with worry, now danced with excitement upon smelling the pill fragrance, completely disregarding his dignified image.

Qin Yue also clapped her hands repeatedly, not even noticing that her delicate palms had turned red.

At last, the spectating crowd finally processed what had happened. Ye Qingchen’s Bone Tempering Pill was a success! This young man had actually refined the most difficult Fourth-grade Spirit Pill. More terrifying still, he was only a third-grade Alchemist, and he had succeeded on his very first attempt.

Ye Qingchen let out a soft breath, opened the Alchemy Furnace, and retrieved the finished Bone Tempering Pill. Looking at the crystal-clear pill in his hand, a smile touched his lips. His hard work had finally paid off.

Just then, the bell signaling the end of the competition rang softly. Holding the Bone Tempering Pill he had refined, Ye Qingchen walked toward the judges’ platform.

"Stop right there, Ye Qingchen!" Having recovered from his breakdown, Cheng Zhibin scrambled to his feet and shrieked hysterically, "The competition is over! Your result is invalid!"

Cheng Zhibin was terrified. The final scene of Ye Qingchen unleashing the Fen Tian Earth Fire had been far too shocking. Although he didn’t know the quality of the Bone Tempering Pill Ye Qingchen had produced, he knew that getting the result nullified was the surest way to secure his own championship.

Ye Qingchen frowned at his words and turned to look at Princess Cai Yunji.

Princess Cai Yunji nodded and said, "Your Spirit Pill emerged from the furnace before the bell rang. Your result is valid, of course. You should submit it quickly."

Ye Qingchen nodded and continued walking toward the judges’ platform.

"Your Highness, but he—"

Cheng Zhibin tried to say more, but under Princess Cai Yunji’s cold gaze, he reluctantly fell silent.

Now, everyone held their breath, waiting for the final results to be announced.

A moment later, the chief judge respectfully handed a list to Princess Cai Yunji.

"I will now announce the results of the second round of the Alchemy Dao competition." As Cai Yunji began to speak, all eyes were fixed on her, everyone’s heart pounding in anticipation of the final ranking.

Although Ye Qingchen had managed to refine a Bone Tempering Pill, so had Cheng Zhibin. Furthermore, Cheng Zhibin’s pill had reached a high grade, and he had finished significantly earlier than Ye Qingchen. Therefore, whether Ye Qingchen could take first place was still very much in question.

"The champion of the second round is... Ye Qingchen of the Qingyun Sect! The Spirit Pill he refined is the Fourth-grade Bone Tempering Pill, with a quality of supreme grade!"

The moment Cai Yunji’s words fell, an overwhelming wave of gasps erupted from the venue. A third-grade Alchemist, refining the difficult Bone Tempering Pill for the first time, had actually produced one of the highest possible quality—supreme grade! It was simply inconceivable!

The champion of the first round was Ye Qingchen, and the champion of the second round was also Ye Qingchen. That meant the overall champion was, naturally, Ye Qingchen.

From nurturing the Ironwood Flower in the first round to refining the Fourth-grade Bone Tempering Pill in the second, Ye Qingchen had created one miracle after another! If his victory in the first round could be attributed to luck, the second round was a competition of true alchemy skill. Yet, at the realm of a third-grade Alchemist, Ye Qingchen had still surpassed every single fourth-grade Alchemist present!

Even Li Zongrui forgot his conflict with Ye Qingchen for a moment, cheering and clapping for him excitedly.

With the results announced, Cheng Zhibin was ultimately named the runner-up of the youth division. Utterly dejected, he returned to the Heavenly Profound Sect’s resting area.

"Master, I have failed the trust of the Heavenly Profound Sect. I await my punishment!" Cheng Zhibin fell to his knees before Xiong Bin, his voice thick with tears. He was a fourth-grade Alchemist, yet he had lost to a third-grade one, becoming a mere stepping stone on Ye Qingchen’s path to success. This was a truth Cheng Zhibin simply could not accept.

Xiong Hai helped Cheng Zhibin up and patted his shoulder, while Xiong Bin offered words of comfort, "It’s just the youth division. The masters’ tournament and the mixed tournament are still to come. As long as we win those, our Heavenly Profound Sect can still crush the Qingyun Sect and emerge as the ultimate champion."

Cai Yunji also walked over to Ye Qingchen and offered a faint smile. "Congratulations. I didn’t expect you to actually be able to refine the Bone Tempering Pill."

She recalled how she had initially thought Ye Qingchen was arrogant and presumptuous. Realizing he was genuinely skilled, she began to see him in a new light.

Ye Qingchen also smiled and replied, "It was just a fluke."

"A fluke, hmm..." Cai Yunji gave a noncommittal smile. Once could be a fluke, but could it be a fluke twice?

With the announcement of the results, the day’s competition officially concluded, and the crowd of spectators gradually dispersed. To avoid being swarmed by well-wishers, Qin Zhantian had already left early with Qin Yue.

At this time, Emperor Cai Wentao personally approached the Qingyun Sect’s resting area. Pavilion Master Zhang and Vice Pavilion Master Liu hurried forward to greet him.

Emperor Cai Wentao exuded an aura of effortless authority. Although the Qingyun Sect’s status meant its disciples did not have to kneel before him, some of the less resolute disciples couldn’t stop themselves from falling to their knees anyway.

Cai Wentao’s gaze fell on Ye Qingchen, who stood neither humble nor arrogant, simply offering a fist-and-palm salute just as Pavilion Master Zhang and Vice Pavilion Master Liu had done.

The Emperor nodded and said to Pavilion Master Zhang, "Pavilion Master Zhang, congratulations to the Qingyun Sect for acquiring such an outstanding disciple. I believe that with Ye Qingchen here, it is only a matter of time before your Qingyun Sect achieves even greater glory. Advancing to a two-star sect may be just around the corner!"

After speaking, Emperor Cai Wentao departed, surrounded by his entourage.

However, the Emperor’s words left the Qingyun Sect disciples buzzing with excitement.

"A two-star sect..." Li Zongrui muttered to himself. At this moment, he finally understood why his father, Li Qingfeng, valued Ye Qingchen so highly