Chapter 38: Qiuqiu is about to rise! (Seeking investment, seeking followers)

The final match of the Alchemy Competition took place in a single round.

The three alchemists advancing to the finals would perform their concoctions on the same platform, and the champion, runner-up, and second runner-up would be determined by a comprehensive evaluation of the quality of the energy potions they concocted and the difficulty of the concoction process.

On the platform, Zhou Qiyi was in the middle, with Lin Su and Tang Hao on either side.

As the hourglasses beside the three alchemist tables turned over simultaneously, the alchemists began concocting their energy potions.

At this moment, Lin Su was at ease, having completely mastered the concoction of that high-difficulty base energy potion, which would substantially increase his score in the difficulty evaluation. Even if the energy potions concocted by the others were of comparable quality to his own, he would still emerge as the winner.

To be on the safe side, all his attention was focused on his own concoction, without time to care about the other two beside him.

Next to Lin Su, Zhou Qiyi also wore a particularly serious expression.

This was his final battle in the Alchemy Competition.

He was already twenty-one years old; by the next Alchemy Competition, he would be over the age limit for participation.

His teacher's words echoed slowly in his heart, and Zhou Qiyi's eyes filled with determination.

In that case, he would display the full extent of his strength in this competition!

In the semi-finals, although the energy potion he concocted had reached the perfect grade, it was not the base energy potion he was most skilled at.

Because of his own pet beast's cultivation needs, there was one base energy potion he had concocted most frequently, and the grade he could achieve accordingly increased.

Therefore, he could concoct even better energy potions.

This was also his choice for the finals.

Thinking this, Zhou Qiyi started his operation without hesitation.

Different from the other two, Tang Hao took a deep breath at this moment, silently telling himself:

I must concoct a perfect grade energy potion.

He operated mechanically, proceeding step by step, like a machine.

To concoct a perfect grade.

To win.

To take the championship.

Words like these echoed repeatedly in his mind, as if they were a curse he couldn't break free from.

...

From outside the competition area, Mu Yuxing silently watched the three alchemists in the middle of their concoctions, his primary focus on Lin Su, occasionally glancing at Zhou Qiyi beside him.

As for Tang Hao, Mu Yuxing only spared him an initial glance at the beginning and barely paid attention to him after that.

Soon, Mu Yuxing's brows furrowed ever so slightly.

As the concoction process advanced methodically, experienced alchemists could already tell which base energy potions the three contestants had chosen to concoct.

Zhou Qiyi had chosen a base energy potion of medium difficulty, and by the looks of his practiced movements, he must have concocted it many times before.

As this was the final, it was normal for alchemists to bring out the energy potions they were most skilled at.

On the other hand, there was Lin Su...

Mu Yuxing's gaze locked on Lin Su, watching his step-by-step movements slowly align with a certain energy potion in his memory, his eyebrows slowly knitting together.

Was that... Phoenix Refining Energy Liquid?

This was among the most difficult of the base energy potions, having a certain effect on refining the fire attribute control of fire attribute pet beasts. Long-term use might even allow a pet beast to evolve on its own, making it a relatively precious existence among base energy potions.

Why would Lin Su choose this type of energy potion?

According to his understanding of Lin Su, Lin Su should not be able to concoct a perfect quality Phoenix Refining Energy Liquid.

At this point, he couldn't very well shout out to stop it; he only had the option to trust in Lin Su.

But... looking at those fluid movements, it seemed... the situation wasn't as bad as he had imagined?

Right, this young man had always been quite steady in his impression; if he brought out this kind of energy potion, he must be confident about it.

Having thought this, Mu Yuxing felt a renewed confidence in Lin Su.

The concoction in the competition area was still ongoing, and Zhou Qiyi was the first to finish.

The type of energy potion he chose was one he was immensely familiar with; he had finished the concoction neatly and briskly without any wasted time.

Perhaps due to a restored mindset, his condition was very good too. The energy potion in the crystal bottle shone with a golden light in his hands, its purity obviously a notch higher than the one he concocted in the semi-finals.

Satisfaction showed on Zhou Qiyi's face; he had outperformed himself.

It also meant no regrets at the Alchemy Competition.

After placing the crystal bottle down gently, Zhou Qiyi finally had the leisure to pay attention to his opponents.

He should have been the first to finish.

He wondered how that young man named Lin Su had fared?

With that thought, Zhou Qiyi subconsciously turned his head towards Lin Su's direction.

After just a few glances, Zhou Qiyi was slightly shocked.

Could that be... Phoenix Refining Energy Liquid?

Lin Su was actually able to concoct this type of energy potion to the perfect grade?

If that were truly the case, even if his own quality was slightly superior, he wouldn't be a match for Lin Su.

Shaking his head in resignation, Zhou Qiyi didn't disturb the other's concoction and turned to look towards Tang Hao on the other side.

Although Tang Hao didn't pose much of a threat to him, since they had advanced to the finals together, he still felt the need to pay some attention.

However, upon looking over, Zhou Qiyi's face immediately showed a bit of surprise.

What's happened to him?

...

Tang Hao's hands began to shake uncontrollably.

He was nearing the end of his concoction, but it seemed like the next step no longer had the strength to continue.

As the brilliant golden light appeared beside him, entering his field of vision through the corner of his eyes, Tang Hao's mentality completely crumbled.