Chapter 94: Pyrite''s Promise

I won?

First place?

It felt like the entire arena had their gaze on me. Heart hammering in my ribcage, I did my best to look confident and reassured. I couldn''t lose face in front of all these people.

It didn''t work.

"HELL YEAH!"

I pumped my fist, raising it in the air.

The crowd''s cheers amplified, and I felt a rush of exhilaration. The anxiety that had gripped me moments before melted away, replaced by an intoxicating sense of triumph. The weight on my shoulders lifted, leaving me feeling almost weightless. This feeling, this rush—it was addictive.

I caught sight of Duan Jian, his face twisted in disbelief and anger. His fists were clenched, and his eyes burned with frustration. Before I could even think of what to say, he stormed towards the judges.

"On what basis was I eliminated?" he demanded, his voice tight with barely restrained fury. "I demand that the results be checked by an unbiased party!"

The crowd became dead silent, and I felt goosebumps creeping down my skin as his words echoed through the Marble Jade arena. All of the judges glared at him, including Ma Hualong. Elder Mingmei stepped forward, her gaze icy. Despite being a head shorter, her presence commanded respect. "Are you insinuating that we were biased in our judgment, Duan Jian?"

He faltered for a moment, but he seemed to make his mind up and double down. However, the sheer pressure of everyone''s gaze on him served to temper his rage. "I am merely stating that my Qi Replenishment Pill was of high quality. It deserves to be reconsidered."

Elder Mingmei''s expression hardened further. "All ten of the chosen contestants boasted high-quality alchemical products that adhered to the Gauntlet''s restrictions. Your Qi Replenishment Pill, however, barely utilized pyrite. It was an afterthought, not a core component."

Elder Wei Lian stepped forward, his voice cold and precise. "Furthermore, your pill was not up to par with those among the top ten. It lacked the innovative use of pyrite that we sought in this challenge."

Duan Jian''s face reddened, but he refused to back down. "This doesn''t mean I am less of an alchemist than they are. Pyrite is a useless ingredient—one that only lowly blacksmiths," he pointed a derisive finger at Tao Ren, "would use in their career."

Was he angered about being eliminated? Or because he got eliminated in the same round as Tao Ren?

A few sounds of agreement came from the stands, the tension palpable. Even among the eliminated contestants, some nodded their heads, although didn''t verbalize their agreement. The judges looked among each other, and all collectively sighed.

Elder Wei Lian picked up a chunk of unused pyrite from Duan Jian''s station and held it up. "Pyrite is only useless in the eyes of useless alchemists," he stated coldly.

With a speed belying his age, he traced symbols onto the surface of the table, two distinct circles, glowing with rich qi. Alchemical arrays, just like Jingyu Lian''s...but they were far more complex.

As the symbols glowed brighter, the chunk of pyrite in Elder Wei Lian''s hand began to change. Before our eyes, it started to crystallize, the transformation almost mesmerizing.

I could feel my heart pounding, my breath caught in my throat. The level of skill and control he demonstrated was beyond anything I had ever seen. This was the pinnacle of alchemical mastery.

Elder Wei Lian continued without touching the pyrite, his arrays doing all the work. When the transformation was complete, he held up a perfectly crystallized piece of pyrite, its facets catching the light in a dazzling display.

"Observe," he said, his voice calm but carrying the weight of authority. "On top of its properties shown so far, pyrite also boasts protective properties, ones that can be drawn out in several ways. The way I showed you is just one of them."

He then crushed the crystal in his hand, and it disintegrated into a fine powder. With a smooth motion, he let the powder fall onto his skin, where it seemed to dissolve and form a thin, shimmering layer. The layer moved and swirled like oil on water, a mesmerizing sight.

"This powder, when applied to the skin, creates a protective barrier," Elder Wei Lian explained. "It can deflect attacks from cultivators." To demonstrate, he struck his arm with a qi-infused finger. The shimmering layer glowed and absorbed the impact, dispersing the energy harmlessly.

"The perceived uselessness of an ingredient lies not in the material itself, but in the eyes of the alchemist who uses it," he said, his gaze sweeping across the area and finally resting on Duan Jian. "An alchemist''s true power is in their ability to see potential where others see none."

Duan Jian''s face drained of color. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Thoroughly cowed, he lowered his head, unable to meet anyone''s eyes.

As I watched Elder Wei Lian''s demonstration, a realization dawned on me. Despite my victory, there was still so much to learn about alchemy. To them, we must''ve looked like bumbling, clumsy fools. I had only begun to scratch the surface.

"That''s right!"

A faint voice from the stands shouted out. I looked over to see someone shoving their way out of the stands and into the arena. The height from the stands and where we competed was not insignificant, as an older gentleman fell out and landed on the floor. Landing on one knee, the old man grunted in pain.

"Damn it all, my body doesn''t work like it used to..." He muttered, dusting his robes off nonchalantly, as though he hadn''t trespassed onto the premises.

The two quickly made their way out of the arena, and I stood quietly there in the empty lounge. I didn''t know what was going on in the background, and I had no real desire to find out. Her business was hers, after all.

"Eyes on the prize, Kai," I muttered to myself like a mantra. "Eyes on the prize."

Regardless the idea, that I won solely due to Elder Wei Lian''s machinations left a bitter taste in my mouth. I wanted to win against Jingyu Lian at her best, to face her fairly, at her best.

If I didn''t win on my own terms, could I really call it a victory?

As I stepped out of the arena, lost in thought, a familiar voice called out to me. "Kai! Congratulations on your victory!"

It was Feng Wu, his face beaming with pride. He clapped me on the shoulder, his grip firm and reassuring. "I knew you had it in you. First place! That''s no small feat. From Kowtow Kai to this... It''s really been a marvel to see you grow."

I managed a smile, but it felt strained. I couldn''t even point out his use of my demeaning nickname. "Thanks, Feng Wu. It''s just... I can''t help but feel like something''s off."

Feng Wu''s brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

I hesitated, unsure if I should voice my concerns. But Feng Wu was my friend and mentor. If anyone could offer insight, it was him. "It''s about Elder Wei Lian and Jingyu Lian. Did you see how harsh he was on her? It seemed... personal."

He nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I noticed that too. It''s unusual for a judge to be so critical, especially towards someone from their own clan."

"Exactly," I said, my words tumbling out in a rush. "And then there''s the fact that he seemed so interested in my Essence Extraction skill. What if... what if he deliberately pushed Jingyu Lian down to ensure my victory? What agenda does he have?"

Feng Wu was silent for a moment, considering my words. "It''s a possibility," he admitted. "But Kai, even if that were the case, it doesn''t diminish your achievement. Your elixir was exceptional. You earned your place."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I know. But it doesn''t feel right. I want to win on my own merits, not because someone else was unfairly judged."

Feng Wu smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "And that''s what makes you a true alchemist, Kai. Your integrity. But listen, even if Elder Wei Lian had ulterior motives, he''s just one judge. The others recognized your skill too. Don''t let this overshadow your success."

His words were a balm to my troubled thoughts. He was right. I couldn''t let suspicions and what-ifs distract me from what lay ahead. The Gauntlet was far from over, and I needed to stay focused.

"You''re right," I said, my resolve strengthening. "I can''t change what happened. All I can do is keep pushing forward, keep improving."

Feng Wu nodded, his smile widening. "That''s the spirit. Now, about that reward from the vault. Any ideas?"

I felt a grin tugging at my lips. "A few. But I need to think it over."

"Well, you have two days," Feng Wu said. "Use them wisely. And remember, I''m here if you need any advice or just want to talk."

I nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude for his support. "Thanks, Feng Wu. I will."

As we walked away from the arena, my mind was already racing with possibilities. The vault was a treasure trove of alchemical resources. With the right choice, I could solidify my position, far after the competition is over. Maybe it was time for me to collect some pills that''ll raise my cultivation.

But more than that, I was determined to prove myself, to show that my victory was earned through skill and knowledge, not favoritism or politics. The next round, with its focus on alchemical history, was the perfect opportunity.

I would dive into the archives, study the ancient texts and scrolls, and uncover the secrets of our craft''s past. I would show the judges, the audience, and most importantly, myself, that I was a true alchemist, worthy of the title.

The Gauntlet had challenged me in ways I never expected, pushing me to my limits and beyond. But with each obstacle, each trial, I felt myself growing, evolving. And I knew, deep in my bones, that this was just the beginning.

The Interface sparked to life with two distinct notifications.

Your understanding of the dao has deepened.

Your Mind has reached Mortal Realm - Rank 5

Quest: Mind Refinement (Breakthrough)

- Revise one-hundred alchemical recipes and improve upon the processes within your Memory Palace. (0/100)

The world of alchemy was about to see what I was truly made of.