C146 Flame Tree and Silver Flower Don't Night(1)

“Smack...”

Ma Tengyue was about to speak when Ma Tenglong slapped him on the head, scolding, “Shut up!”

The interruption of the alchemist's fire dragon wasn’t directly caused by Ma Tengyue’s words, but he was certainly involved. The alchemist had been meticulously controlling the fire dragon, and Ma Tengyue's sudden shout startled him, causing a lapse in concentration. Ultimately, it was Ma Tengyue's fault, and Ma Tenglong was understandably upset.

After shoving Ma Tengyue aside, Ma Tenglong, not overly angry, raised his voice, “Even with my foolish brother’s interruption, our alchemist’s fire control remains exquisite. I’m sure everyone can see that. I believe the outcome of this round is clear to all!”

From the stands, Ouyang Zhenshan nodded, stroking his beard, “Yes, Tenglong is right. This round...”

“Hold on... My side isn’t finished yet. Aren’t you being a bit hasty, Principal Ouyang?” Liang Ruoxuan interjected.

“Hmph... Liang Ruoxuan, you’ve done well enough already. Why keep pushing yourself? Do you really want the fire poison to take hold and collapse right here?” Ma Tenglong scoffed.

“Fire poison? Ha! You don’t know that my brother Zhengyang already cured me of that, do you? Let me show you what I can really do!” Liang Ruoxuan laughed, skillfully manipulating the fire with gestures, her soul energy enveloping the entire cauldron.

This time, there were no blazing flames or twinkling stars, and not even a spark erupted from the cauldron.

"Hah... boasting like that, I thought it was real! And calling him Mr. Zhengyang, aren't you just making a fool of my brother?" Ma Tengyue mocked, only to be shoved aside by an exasperated Ma Tenglong.

Then, everyone witnessed a scene they would never forget.

A tiny flame gradually appeared above the cauldron. To be precise, it wasn't a flame but a small, fiery red sprout. The sprout took root in the cauldron, slowly breaking through the surface, and then it unfurled two leaves.

The two-leafed sprout continued to grow taller, with more branches and leaves emerging, eventually forming a small tree. The branches, twigs, leaves, and even the texture of the bark became distinct, and everyone forgot about the redness of the flame, as if they were watching a lush tree grow.

Amidst their awe, the small tree kept growing. Though only as tall as a person, it seemed like a towering giant in their eyes. Suddenly, it was as if a breeze swept through, causing the leaves to sway.

Tiny sparks drifted from the tree, accompanied by a sound like melodious chimes... The chimes grew more urgent, and the entire tree began to sway.

Sparks filled the sky, eventually covering the entire area above the cauldron. As the sparks danced, the tree slowly disintegrated, as if it had transformed itself into a rain of fire.

In the end, the tree vanished, and the fiery rain gently fell into the cauldron, disappearing without a trace...

The vast Martial Plaza was now eerily quiet, so silent you could hear a pin drop. Many people even forgot to breathe.

After a long moment, an elderly man snapped back to reality, exclaiming in shock, "A night of fireworks and brilliance!"

This display of fire control was the pinnacle technique of the renowned alchemist Liang Fengyue. No one else had ever been known to perform it.

Now, this ultimate fire control technique had reappeared, executed by none other than a young girl of about fifteen or sixteen. It was truly astounding.

Even the alchemists from the Ma family were dumbfounded. This level of fire control left their own techniques in the dust.

"Are you okay?" While everyone marveled at the spectacle, Woo Zhengyang didn't forget to check on Liang Ruoxuan.

Liang Ruoxuan's mastery of fire control had exceeded Woo Zhengyang's expectations. Even with his own considerable soul energy, he wasn't sure he could achieve such perfection.

Over the past couple of weeks, it was clear that Liang Ruoxuan had been giving her all to prepare for the Pill King Competition. It was this kind of determination that allowed her to achieve what most people couldn't.

However, Liang Ruoxuan was not in great shape at the moment. She was drenched in sweat, her face paler than when she had been poisoned, and she was unsteady on her feet after her performance. Woo Zhengyang and Uncle Hai gently supported her.

"I'm fine," Liang Ruoxuan said softly, looking at Ouyang Zhenshan. She had pushed herself so hard to protect her family's Pill King Pavilion and to reclaim the Pill King Note. Naturally, she was deeply concerned about the outcome of the competition.

The dazzling display had left the opposing alchemists feeling inadequate. Even though Ouyang Zhenshan might have favored the Ma family, he couldn't deny the truth in front of so many witnesses. He had no choice but to declare the Liang family the winner of the first round.

Once she was sure of her victory, Liang Ruoxuan finally felt at ease and sat down to recover. But she had barely settled when Ouyang Zhenshan announced the start of the second part of the competition: the potion refining contest.