"I really don't understand what you've been doing lately! You can't even handle a single Alchemist? If you can't manage this Alchemist, it doesn't seem like you're my son!"

At this moment, Sun Long spoke with great displeasure on his face, clearly very dissatisfied with his son's behavior. Following Sun Hua's pointed direction, Sun Long looked over and saw a certain Alchemist. Upon a closer look, it was apparent that Sun Hua was pointing at the Alchemist who had just refined a Supreme Quality Medicine Pill.

Sun Long's face instantly turned very grim; he obviously hadn't expected his son to set his sights on the individual. In a flash of rage, Sun Long bellowed!

"Are you fucking insane? Of all people to provoke, why him! Do you know that kid has already refined a Supreme Quality Medicine Pill? Even the City Lord highly values him now! Are you trying to get yourself killed? Or do you want to get your old man killed as well!"

Looking at his father's livid face, Sun Hua was utterly dumbfounded, clearly not anticipating that even the City Lord had taken an interest in the fellow. If he had known this would happen, he would have acted sooner. But now, the person already had a protector, even causing his father to be this angry at him. Clearly, targeting that person wasn't going to be easy.

For a moment, Sun Hua felt completely stifled; he had not expected his father to react so sharply. However, he hadn't heard the conversations of the people when he entered the room. Otherwise, he would understand the difficulty of the matter, clearly an unattainable feat.

"You brat, pay more attention from now on! Also, tone it down! I think you've been too arrogant lately. You should know that kid has refined a Supreme Quality Medicine Pill; he's not someone to be trifled with. Be careful!"

Sun Long said to Sun Hua with a strict tone, indicating that he didn't want his son to provoke the other party recklessly. After all, that person had already become significant due to refining the Supreme Quality Medicine Pill and had garnered attention from important people like the City Lord and Elder Wang. Such a character couldn't be taken lightly, and given that his refinement abilities were so advanced for his age, he was undoubtedly not ordinary!

Hearing his father's words, Sun Hua felt aggrieved. He certainly hadn't expected his father's attitude to be this resolute, yet the resentment in his heart couldn't be dispelled. After all, that person competed with him for the Alchemy Cauldron, which was clearly a provocation. Sun Hua somehow felt that the other party's ability to refine such a Pill might have something to do with that Alchemy Cauldron. If that were true, Sun Hua's heart was set on obtaining the Cauldron!

"However, I will deal with that kid, just not recklessly. We will plan this out thoroughly! Don't act on your own!"

Sun Long spoke with a very serious expression.

Hearing his father's words, Sun Hua was taken aback; his father intended to handle that kid! This was excellent news! His father was not only powerful, but also surrounded by formidable experts, any one of whom was terrifying enough by themselves. Clearly, handling that kid would be a piece of cake!

With his father's assurance, Sun Hua felt a great relief, clearly in excellent spirits. Immediately, he said to Sun Long:

"Father, when the time comes to handle him, let me know. You should be aware that the Alchemy Cauldron he has isn't simple!"

Upon hearing Sun Hua's words, Sun Long was momentarily surprised, his mind now contemplative, pondering whether the refinement of the Supreme Quality Medicine Pill was connected to the Alchemy Cauldron. Sun Long had noted his son's words. Initially, he only wanted the person to be disqualified without disturbing his plans. But hearing his son's reminder, a hint of greed rose within him. Clearly, he no longer intended for disqualification to be the end...

Seeing his father deep in thought, Sun Hua felt immense satisfaction, certain that his father had taken his words to heart. Thus, boy, just you wait...

…

In another room of the Great Alchemy Competition, it was evident that this room wasn't so luxurious but was very spacious and clean. At this moment, quite a few Alchemists who had participated in the competition were already seated there. They peered through the room's floor-to-ceiling glass and witnessed the sight of Ding Fan at the Great Alchemy Competition, leaving each one of them in utter shock!

"Damn! Is this for real? It's actually a Grade Nine Medicine Pill!"

"That's a Supreme Quality Medicine Pill! My God! That's been my ultimate pursuit in life, and a boy so young has already achieved it. Isn't that a bit too much?"

"Simply a genius! Absolutely a genius!"

"Could there be some trickery involved?"

Suddenly, a Cultivator furrowed his brow, evidently unable to believe that such a young Alchemist could refine a Grade Nine Medicine Pill; it seemed impossible.

"What trickery could there be? Elder Wang holds great importance in this young boy, and no trickery could escape his gaze. Are you kidding?"

"Yeah, exactly, it seems he's genuinely a true genius! Absolutely a genius!"

"It's really infuriating when you compare people! I couldn't even understand the Pill Recipe, yet the other party actually refined a Grade Nine Medicine Pill. It's downright ironic!"

"Exactly, it's not just you and me—most Alchemists couldn't comprehend that Pill Recipe. Only a few managed to refine Pills, and even then, most were below third grade. The highest was only a Fifth Grade Medicine Pill!"

"But look at him, immediately producing a Supreme Quality Medicine Pill! It's making us feel like we can't compete at all!"

"Sigh..."

…

For a moment, the room full of Alchemists clearly felt deeply affected by the matter of Ding Fan refining a Supreme Quality Medicine Pill. Everyone now understood how vast the gap was between themselves and a genius!

At this moment, the most frustrated person in the room was Gao Lian. Clearly, without Ding Fan, he would have been the first in the first round of the competition with the Fifth Grade Medicine Pill he refined. But with Ding Fan's arrival, his brilliance was instantly overshadowed. In the radiant glow of Ding Fan, Gao Lian felt like just a grain of sand in a vast desert.

Always proud and arrogant, Gao Lian prided himself on being exceptionally talented in Alchemy. In the entire Donglai Continent, or even the entire Cultivation World, he believed no one his age could refine Medicine Pills better than he could.

But reality was so harsh. Not only was Ding Fan younger than him, but the Medicine Pills refined by Ding Fan and himself were worlds apart!

This disparity left Gao Lian disheartened, doubting if he had chosen the wrong path in life, wondering if he was not suited to continue down the road of an Alchemist. He finally realized how wide the gap was between himself and a true genius.

Gao Lian did not know that Ding Fan was merely an exception. In fact, as an Alchemist, he was already quite outstanding in the Alchemist Guild, but now Gao Lian saw Ding Fan as just the tip of the iceberg of Alchemic Genius, bringing a deep sense of defeat to his heart.

Especially since Ding Fan was someone around He Qianyao. Clearly, he still held a grudge against He Qianyao, vividly remembering past events, and clearly had a heart set on revenge! But at this moment, seeing Ding Fan's display, he couldn't muster any thought of revenge.

Gao Lian felt that not to mention revenge; he couldn't even summon any enthusiasm for the significant Great Alchemy Competition right now.

At this time in the Great Alchemy Competition, an Elder had already stood in front of Ding Fan, his face showing a very kind smile. Who else could it be but Elder Wang!

Elder Wang looked up and down at Ding Fan, his heart filled with satisfaction, and couldn't help but say:

"Good! Good! As expected, a genius! I was indeed right about you before!"

Ding Fan found the Elder's gaze a bit uncomfortable. Being scrutinized like this would make anyone feel uneasy. Ding Fan knew the identity of the Elder. He had seen him before in the Judge Area, clearly understanding that this Elder had significant influence in the Great Alchemy Competition.

Ding Fan also felt grateful to the Elder. If it hadn't been for the Elder stopping those young Cultivators from the City Lord Mansion earlier, he probably would have missed participating in the Great Alchemy Competition.

Immediately, Ding Fan sincerely thanked the Elder:

"Thank you, Elder, for just now!"

Upon hearing Ding Fan's words, Elder Wang was momentarily taken aback, having already forgotten the earlier incident, thinking only about the Grade Nine Medicine Pill. Upon hearing Ding Fan's gratitude, he remembered again and responded with a solicitous tone:

"It was their fault earlier, I hope you won't mind, young one! What is your honorable name?"

Hearing Elder Wang's words, everyone was shocked!

"What? Young brother!"

"Isn't that ridiculous? Elder Wang is a Grade Eight Alchemy Master, and he calls such a young lad 'young brother'? That's a bit exaggerated, isn't it?"

"Oh my God! It's clear from Elder Wang's attitude! He's a genius! Even Elder Wang deeply respects him!"

"..."

For a moment, everyone witnessing this between Elder Wang and Ding Fan was stunned. Everyone knew that as a Grade Eight Alchemy Master, Elder Wang seldom appeared in public, and those seeking him to refine Medicine Pills were big figures or his friends, rarely anyone below the Dividing Spirit stage.

Elder Wang was known for being sparing with his words, seldom speaking much, and certainly never being so solicitous to anyone.

Yet now, Elder Wang was chatting energetically with a young lad, even asking his name so attentively!

Everyone's eyes nearly fell out of their sockets, utterly astonished!

At this moment, the outside audience was utterly shocked, while the Cultivators drinking tea in the pavilion were so stunned that their cups had slipped from their hands, spilling tea onto their shoes, yet they stared dumbfounded at the scene between Ding Fan and Elder Wang, unable to believe that this Elder was the Grade Eight Alchemy Master Elder Wang they knew!

Who had ever seen Elder Wang like this!

This was simply too exaggerated! Even the staff serving tea in the teahouse had unknowingly spilled tea onto the table, causing it to flow onto the floor…