Chapter 804: Xu Shao, Just Refine the Pills; What Are You Trying to Do by Deploying the Spirit Array?

"Next group!"

As the appointed time arrived, the staff member's voice echoed without emotion.

The alchemists within the Ling Zhen stepped out, some appearing cheerful, others dejected.

The score ranking board updated with the judges' evaluations, new names flickering into view and drawing everyone's attention.

After four groups had competed, all one hundred spots on the leaderboard were filled. The alchemists who were displaced felt disheartened and discouraged.

Those who had slipped into the lower ranks, entering the danger zone, were equally tense.

Regardless, the first round of the Lian Dan Grand Assembly would proceed as planned.

Amid the anxious gazes of the audience and the waiting participants, Xu Xiaoshou took a step forward.

2381—that was his number.

It was his turn to compete in the fifth group.

"Look!"

"Yu Chuchu, the prized disciple of Dong Ling, president of the Alchemists' Association, is entering the stage."

"I wonder what rank she'll achieve? I think she'll be in the top three. After all, she's the daughter of the Wang Cheng Alchemists' Association headquarters president, and Miss Yu's skills are extraordinary."

"I doubt it! There are too many geniuses across the Five Domains. Right now, only seven people on the leaderboard have scores above ninety points."

"I think if Yu Chuchu can score above ninety, that would be impressive. Look at Zhu Yan from the first group—he's also a sixth-grade alchemist and only got eighty-six points."

"You're right."

The audience discussed animatedly.

Among the alchemists in this final group, Yu Chuchu was undoubtedly the most prominent.

The young woman moved with graceful steps, drawing nearly everyone's gaze.

Even the veteran presidents on the judges' panel turned their attention to her.

However, unlike what most of the audience noticed, although Yu Chuchu was a sixth-grade alchemist, the judges merely glanced at her and moved on.

They were already familiar with her.

In unison, they shifted their focus to the significantly taller young man beside her.

"Is he the one who developed the Chi Jin Liquid... Xu Shao?" Lu Chenghui turned to Dong Ling and asked.

Dong Ling nodded. "That's him."

"Hmph!" President Lu snorted coldly. "Just a tenth-grade alchemist. I'd like to see what he can achieve. Could he possibly be the next Qiu Jiangzhi?"

Shi Ti glanced over. "Who knows? Perhaps he's hiding even more..."

His words carried an implied meaning.

But no one on the judges' panel picked up on the subtext.

It's like distinguishing a mule from a horse—you have to take it out for a test run... Shi Ti thought to himself.

He suspected that if this person was indeed Xu Xiaoshou, then with that young man's alchemy style, most people here might be in for a surprise.

And if something like the exploding Dan Ta incident happened...

Without a doubt, even without checking the origin of the alchemist's badge, Shi Ti could confirm whether his suspicions were correct.

"Xiao Wanfeng!"

In the arena, Xu Xiaoshou called out and motioned for the young attendant behind him to follow as he stepped into the Ling Zhen.

"Xu Shao, is this really acceptable..."

As they were about to enter, Xiao Wanfeng hesitated.

He looked around at the tens of thousands of spectators and felt that being the only alchemy attendant on stage made him stand out too much.

More importantly, he knew nothing about medicinal herbs or their properties.

If Xu Shao asked him to hand over a spiritual herb, he wouldn't even know which one was which!

"What is there to fear?"

Xu Xiaoshou turned back with a smile. "Life's three great illusions: She's looking at me, There's still time, and I can turn the tables. Don't think too highly of yourself. Perhaps in others' eyes, you're just a minor extra going through the motions."

Xiao Wanfeng was stunned.

He hadn't expected Xu Shao to say something so profound.

Considering it, it seemed perfectly accurate.

"So... I'm just going through the motions?"

Xiao Wanfeng hesitated but followed along.

The two advanced together, stepping into the same Ling Zhen amid the mocking and amused stares of the onlookers...

This sent the audience into an uproar.

The veteran presidents on the judges' panel were equally astonished.

The same Ling Zhen?

"What?"

"Did they go to the wrong one?"

"Why are those two in the same Ling Zhen? I know the one in front is Xu Shao, but who's the guy behind him? How did he get into Xu Shao's Ling Zhen? Where's his number plate?"

"Ha! You outsiders must be clueless! That's the attendant from Tian Shang First Tower, named Xiao Wanfeng. He's the champion of the Tian Luo War, but today he's probably just an alchemy attendant."

"The Tian Luo War champion... as an alchemy attendant???"

"Come on, let me tell you the story. I love sharing tales like this..."

Not only were the spectators outside baffled, but the judges on the field also turned to look at Dong Ling at the same time.

The veteran presidents said nothing, but their questioning expressions were clear.

Dong Ling rubbed his forehead, looking exasperated. "That's just Xu Shao's usual style. Everyone, don't make a big deal out of it."

"Absurd!"

President Lu slammed the table and stood up. "A mere tenth-grade alchemist bringing an alchemy attendant? What is this nonsense? Is the Lian Dan Grand Assembly a joke? How can we allow such arrogance?!"

The other veteran presidents were furious, stroking their beards in indignation.

In the alchemy world, they valued merit over status, and everyone was equal.

Yet here was Xu Shao introducing his clan's frivolous habits into the competition?

How could they tolerate this?

President Lu pointed toward the stage, ready to scold, but Dong Ling didn't stop him.

At that moment, Shi Ti casually interjected.

"Half-saint successor."

President Lu's words died on his lips. He twitched at the corner of his mouth and began reconsidering whether his status allowed him to criticize a half-saint successor.

Quickly, he shifted his attack. "President Dong Ling, aren't you going to stop this kind of behavior?"

His tone carried a hint of shock.

The old fox was clever, not wanting to be the one sticking his neck out, so he pushed the responsibility onto Dong Ling.

"The rules don't state it's either allowed or forbidden. Let him be—it's just this once." Dong Ling wasn't fooled.

He had nearly clashed with this Xu Shao at the Ling Que Trade Fair before. How could he not know that this was a tough nut to crack?

He was clearly trying to steal the spotlight and overshadow everyone else. Why rush in and give him the stage?

A half-saint force producing such a successor—who knew if it was a blessing or a curse...

Since the officials didn't object to Xu Shao's actions, in the eyes of others, it was tacit approval.

Some in the audience even cursed out loud.

Meanwhile, once inside the Ling Zhen, Xiao Wanfeng naturally took out the ring's table and chairs, set them up, and Xu Shao sat comfortably in the golden chair, crossing his legs and resting them on the golden table, unfazed by the outside world.

The young attendant beside him began preparing tea, going through the motions like Guan Gong patrolling the city and Han Xin counting soldiers—the entire process was smooth, just like a professional attendant.

"Have they gone mad?"

The other alchemists nearby were stunned by this spectacle.

Whether from outside the city or inside, it seemed no one had ever witnessed someone setting up such a display while performing alchemy.

"Am I the one out of touch, or is there something wrong with him?"

The alchemists around, who had noticed this scene, exchanged glances and concluded through their eye contact: "It's not us—it's him who has issues."

Crack!

A short distance away, in the Ling Zhen to Xu Xiaoshou's left, Yu Chuchu gritted her teeth so hard they nearly shattered.

The pill formulas and herbs hadn't even arrived yet, and here she was watching Xiao Wanfeng, a genius with innate sword intent, act like a common servant doing menial tasks. It made her blood boil.

"He has no regard for human rights at all!"

Yu Chuchu's fists clenched, her eyes narrowing into slits.

From their earlier interactions, while her impression of Xu Shao wasn't great, she could somewhat understand his way of speaking.

But now, inside the Ling Zhen, with Xiao Wanfeng performing these lowly tasks under the eyes of thousands, it felt like a blatant insult to human dignity in her view.

Anyone else might have been acceptable, but Xiao Wanfeng was a genius! A genius shouldn't be treated this way!

In her anger, Yu Chuchu even considered storming out of her Ling Zhen to confront Xu Shao directly and drag Xiao Wanfeng away, telling him, "You're actually very talented—you shouldn't waste your time on these dirty chores."

"Quiet!"

Dong Ling's voice suddenly boomed from the judges' panel, suppressing all the unrest in the arena.

Yu Chuchu looked up.

Her master, Dong Ling, on the judges' panel, met her gaze, and their eyes briefly connected.

Yu Chuchu understood.

The Lian Dan Grand Assembly had its own rules.

Xu Shao was Xu Shao. As a half-saint successor, if he wanted to act superior, that was his business. If he failed to produce a pill, public opinion would handle him.

But if she charged into someone else's Ling Zhen to cause a scene, that would be unwise.

"What a detestable person..."

Yu Chuchu understood the logic, but her opinion of Xu Shao had plummeted to its lowest, most negative point.

"As expected, nothing."

Once inside the Ling Zhen, even with this setup, Xu Xiaoshou checked his information panel and saw no response.

He had figured that, just like the Feng Yun Contest in Tian Sang Ling Palace, the Ling Zhen blocked external information.

"What a bothersome thing..."

Xu Xiaoshou disliked Ling Zhen setups.

Outside, there were clearly tens of thousands of people, and he could have gained so much passive value, yet here he was, stuck in this confined space.

Xiao Wanfeng finished brewing the tea, and Xu Xiaoshou began to sip it leisurely.

The young attendant, having completed his task, looked around at the environment, feeling as if he were in another world.

A sea of people.

Under the watchful eyes of thousands.

At sixteen years old, before meeting Xu Shao, Xiao Wanfeng felt his life was like that of most commoners—treading carefully, living in fear, and humbly getting by.

But since joining Tian Shang First Tower, he could fight innate experts in the Tian Luo arena with his hidden sword style, and now he was brought to this refined Lian Dan Grand Assembly to do something as crude as setting up tea.

It was like the noisy chaos outside the Ling Zhen contrasting with the quiet serenity of sipping tea inside—like two worlds clashing, leaving Xiao Wanfeng with a sense of incongruity and emotion.

"Deep in thought?"

With the arena maintaining order, Xu Xiaoshou knew his actions had caused a big stir outside.

Yet Dong Ling had actually suppressed it for him!

Seizing this moment, seeing Xiao Wanfeng lost in contemplation, Xu Xiaoshou thought of something and asked with a smile, "In a place like this, doing something like this—do you feel a bit embarrassed?"

Xiao Wanfeng was taken aback, not expecting Xu Shao to be so direct.

Xu Xiaoshou nodded toward where Yu Chuchu was and said with a laugh, "Look over there—Miss Chu Chu looks like she wants to kill me."

He glanced around the arena. "The whole place is in an uproar; no one agrees with what I'm doing. Their eyes are full of disdain—they think I'm too showy and improper."

"What about you?"

His gaze finally returned to the young attendant. "What's your take on it? Embarrassed?"

Xiao Wanfeng paused for a moment. "A little."

Xu Xiaoshou raised an eyebrow.

The young attendant furrowed his brow and continued, "But it doesn't matter."

"How so?"

Xiao Wanfeng's eyes were clear as he pondered. "I've always felt that Xu Shao isn't the type of person to act like this. Back at Tian Shang First Tower, you didn't treat Xiao Xin and the others that way. Instead, you were very courteous—no superior-subordinate dynamic, more like... brothers! And the same with me."

"But outside, it's completely different. You put on airs, and others might not see through it, but I can tell it's all an act."

"As for why you're doing it, I have no idea."

Xu Xiaoshou was surprised.

This young kid... he's sharp!

Indeed, someone who could grasp that unique hidden sword technique couldn't be foolish.

As an insider, he could see right through Xu Xiaoshou's facade, yet in reality, he played along perfectly.

If Xu Xiaoshou hadn't asked, he wouldn't have known Xiao Wanfeng's true thoughts.

Curious, he asked, "So, what do you think I'm doing this for?"

Xiao Wanfeng shook his head. "I don't know. Xu Shao has his secrets, Tian Shang First Tower has its secrets, and I have mine."

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled.

Xiao Wanfeng smiled back.

Everyone has secrets.

An unspoken understanding.

After a moment of silence, the noise outside and the quiet inside formed a stark contrast once more, and even Xu Xiaoshou felt a touch of emotion.

Gazing at the indignant scene around him, he suddenly recalled his own experiences when he first arrived at Tian Sang Ling Palace.

At that time, he hadn't been as open-minded as Xiao Wanfeng.

At least...

"Xiao Wanfeng, let me ask you—if a powerful person, possibly evil, suddenly appeared before you and inflicted unbearable pain, what would you think?"

Xiao Wanfeng sensed that Xu Shao had slipped into some emotional state.

Xu Shao only used "I" when he was unaware or when he was with Xiao Xin and the others, not in public.

In front of people, he usually referred to himself as "I, this young master."

"I'd hate him," Xiao Wanfeng replied.

"And if, after the pain, you gained great power?"

"Uh..." Xiao Wanfeng hesitated for a bit. "I'd still hate him."

"What if he forcibly took you as his disciple, and you couldn't beat him, so you had to agree?"

"Then I'd agree."

"And then he treated you well?"

"Er!"

Xiao Wanfeng was stumped.

This was getting messy—abusing someone and then being kind afterward. Could the past be forgiven?

No!

But that "treated you well"...

How long would that last?

Xiao Wanfeng didn't voice the question. His eyes fixed on Xu Shao, vaguely feeling that Xu Shao's secret was about to surface, yet it was blocked by an invisible barrier, impossible to pierce.

"There's no standard answer..." the young attendant sighed.

"There isn't," Xu Xiaoshou agreed.

"So, what's Xu Shao's answer?"

"My answer..."

Xu Xiaoshou laughed.

He thought back to when he asked Ba Zun An the same question—it was so similar.

And because he saw certain traits in Xiao Wanfeng that mirrored his own, he began to feel that this young man might not just be a passing figure in his life.

"How long will you stay at Tian Shang First Tower?" Xu Xiaoshou countered.

Xiao Wanfeng was startled. "I don't know. I haven't thought about it."

Xu Xiaoshou steered back to the previous question, drawing from his dream of Sang Lao, and gave his own response:

"No one is the so-called protagonist of fate. Everyone is just a passerby in someone else's eyes."

"It's worth considering things from others' perspectives. In certain situations, when someone wants to explain themselves to you, that's when you gain value. Before that, you're forever just a stranger."

"A chance encounter, a traveler in a foreign land—no one will take you seriously."

Pausing, Xu Xiaoshou laughed again and looked around at the people:

"But people, little by little, without realizing it, end up becoming the very type they once despised."

"For example, me..."

"At this moment, I don't care at all about everyone's views or criticisms. In my eyes, they're just a pile of trash!"

Xu Xiaoshou stood up with a smile and, under the gaze of thousands, suddenly walked out of the Ling Zhen.

In the past, I hated how players manipulated pieces without a care.

Now, I can understand it, and I have the means, so when similar situations arise, I just want to break it all right then!

As soon as he stepped out of the Ling Zhen:

"Receiving attention, passive value: 9999."

"Receiving suspicion, passive value: 9999."

"Receiving disdain, passive value: 6862."

Amazing!

Passive value soaring.

It skyrocketed by the tens of thousands as Xu Xiaoshou, under the guise of "Xu Shao," broke the rules, and inwardly, he was thrilled.

At the same time, a jarring, standout message popped up in his information panel:

"Receiving wariness, passive value: 1."

The moment Xu Xiaoshou exited the Ling Zhen, Shi Ti on the judges' panel suddenly stood up and shouted in alarm for some reason: "Xu... Shao! If you're here to do alchemy, then do it! What are you doing leaving the Ling Zhen?!"