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  As it turned out, Xiao Feng had underestimated the significance of a duel between alchemists, especially one with such steep stakes. Yet, to convert the central foyer of the Alchemy Division into the location for his duel with Alchemist Zhi had to be going at least a little overboard, right?

  When he had first stepped into the Alchemy Division, all he had was awe for the Verdant Harmony Tree, the silver-trunked sentinel whose canopy enveloped the octagonal central foyer in its entirety, with its leaves glittering with a sheen akin to that of gemstones and its dark-wood branches looking sturdier than any metal. That awe hadn’t faded, but Xiao Feng hadn’t imagined that just a few months later, he would be duelling under the canopy of the mighty tree for his very right to stay in the Alchemy Division.

  Wooden benches had been arranged in four layers of concentric circles for viewers, while two pill furnaces rested at the heart of the smallest circle, placed on top of a raised stone platform to make sure that all in attendance had line of sight over the duel. As Xiao Feng stepped into the central foyer with Lianhua by his side, he instantly knew that his presence had not gone unnoticed.

  It was impossible to ignore the attention of dozens of alchemists at once, as they directed their gazes towards him, some even craning their necks to do so and it was no coincidence that their whispers were now loud enough to be called a cacophony.

  But since Xiao Feng had no need to be nervous, he instead focused his attention on the raised stone dais. Only one person was seated cross-legged on the raised stone platform, facing the audience yet seated before neither of the two pill furnaces that had already been arranged for them.

  Where Grand Alchemist Xin Wu had come across as a recalcitrant man who had reached the top of his field after years of hard work and no longer had any patience for administrative chores or political nuance, it only took one look at Grand Alchemist Ming to tell how different she was.

  She was tall for a woman, a fact that was evident even when she was seated cross-legged, her back held perfectly straight and her silver-streaked hair pulled back into a severe bun that was held in place by a jade hairpin. By appearance, she looked like a mortal woman in her late fifties, still holding on to a spark of youth that kept her cheeks from fully sagging, only conceding a little ground and the lines running across her forehead were limited to a select few that had slipped through the cracks. When it came to her azure eyes though, none of that weariness could be found— her gaze was sharp, piercing and most of all, brimming with vitality.

  The grace with which she wore the standard issue green hanfu with a not so standard embroidered gold patch that depicted a lidded cauldron placed a little above chest level that represented her status as a Grand Alchemist, the slight upturn to her chin as she regarded the attending alchemists and the calm confidence reflected upon her features and demeanor as she sat in the center of attention all spoke of an authority that could only be described as imperious.

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  She belonged in the room and she was well aware of it— Xiao Feng now understood why Lianhua had warned him to be careful.

  He walked through one of many gaps between wooden benches that led straight to the heart of the arrangement, with Lianhua by his side. She followed him until they reached the innermost concentric circle of benches and the whispers surrounding them reached a crescendo. Which was hardly surprising, given that earlier on in the day, Lianhua had sought out the alchemist willing to take bets on what was seen as a completely one sided duel and bet a whopping fifteen hundred gold taels on Xiao Feng winning the duel.

  It was her bet that had caused a frenzy in the alchemy division and it had caused the alchemist in question to be mobbed, as the odds of five to one meant that he could take bets up to seventy five hundred taels, a limit that was hit within an hour as around a hundred alchemists participated, with many complaining that they weren’t allowed to bet as much as they wanted to.

  Given that Lianhua was the daughter of a Grand Alchemist, no one was concerned about her finances or the dearth of them, so it was likely that none of them suspected that nine hundred of the taels that Lianhua bet was on Xiao Feng’s behalf.

  Once they reached the innermost circle, Lianhua nodded at him before stepping away and walking over to one of the benches. There was nothing else that needed to be said between them, for she had been training him for months now.

  Alchemist Zhi, who had clearly been waiting for this moment, sprang up the moment Lianhua separated from him and walked over towards Xiao Feng.

  His characteristic azure hair peppered with streaks of jade green had been freshly washed, combed and tied into a neat ponytail, his robes were well-pressed and a cocky smile rested on his visage as he approached him.

  “So, you decided to show up after all,” Alchemist Zhi said, his words spoken softly, yet still loud enough not to escape the sharp hearing of alchemists that were present to witness the duel. “Do not worry, recruit. No one will look down upon you once you fail— it is, after all, the expected outcome. But to show up at all is an impressive feat, this must be what they call the martial spirit,” He declared, his tone still soft yet that did little to hide the mockery behind his words.

  Xiao Feng ignored him.

  “I hope you have enjoyed your time in the Alchemy Division,” Alchemist Zhi continued, his tone feigning earnestness and doing a pretty good job at it. “It is your last day today, after all.”

  “Are you done?” Xiao Feng asked, in a decidedly unimpressed tone. “If so, let our skill decide the outcome of this duel and not our tongues— but then again, I suppose if your pill refinement was as sharp as your tongue, you would not have to challenge recruits to feel better about yourself.”

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