61. Refining Equipment Competition

  "Those of you who have been called to the stage, please take the finished products you've forged and head to the rear garden for a short rest. After the competition officially ends, the banquet hall will be set up with wine and food to treat all of you masters. At that time, please don't be polite, drink to your heart's content."

  Fu Chun's voice was calm and polite, as if inviting, but everyone present understood the meaning behind his words. It was clear that more than a hundred people who had just been called out by their badge numbers were all eliminated, with no chance of participating in the final Refining Equipment Competition on the mainland two years later.

  All the eliminated masters showed more or less obvious disappointment on their faces. Those with dignity and not calculating gains and losses took back their own forged artifacts, bowed to Fu Chun and congratulated the remaining dozen or so people before following the maid to the backyard; Some were proud and unwilling to admit defeat, took back their artifacts, hummed coldly and left the Erzhong Hall directly; The rest of a small part insisted on breaking the sand pot and asking Fu Chun for an explanation.

  Fu Chun only felt that these people were really lacking in self-awareness, they were all masters of forging, and whether the forged artifacts were good or not, just needed to compare with the more than ten "Nine Dragon Needles" left on the red platform, but now they couldn't see it, and didn't know if they really couldn't see it or refused to give up.

  Alas, under the watchful eyes of all, it is necessary to demonstrate the fairness and severity of the judgment results. I don't dare to lose my temper, so I had to call two servants to bring the sample device up and place it in the center of the red platform. And then I said: "The departure and stay of you all are not decided by me alone, nor is it empty talk. It's based on this 'Nine Dragon Needle' sample device on the platform to make judgments. This device was personally forged by Master Wan Jia, and anyone whose product quality has eight similarities with the sample device can stay behind. You can verify for yourself whether you are truly qualified to stay."

  As soon as this was said, most people shut their mouths in embarrassment and left quietly, but one or two refused to give up and actually brought out the instruments they had forged themselves for comparison. The result was naturally a crushing defeat.

  Finally, after more than a hundred losers left, there were still sixteen people on the field, with eight from the Body Refining Sect and eight from the Dao Refining Sect. Among these sixteen people, only one was a woman, Xiao Yao, who was also a Dao Refining cultivator. At this moment, many cultivators couldn't help but glance at her, curiously sizing her up.

  On the left side of the spectator's platform, at the very front, sat two young female cultivators, both with their faces covered by veils. One wore a purple robe and the other a pink blouse; one had a slender figure and the other was shy and hung her head. Just then, the purple-robed female cultivator softly laughed and said: "Elder sister Qianbi's friend is indeed deeply hidden and not revealing themselves, able to stay in the arena with Mr. Zhuge, also a talented person. However, elder sister is also too unkind, knowing such a friend yet hiding and not introducing them to my sisters."

  "My sister was wrong to blame me, I didn't hide anything. I only found out today that Xiao Yao is good at refining equipment. That day she just said she knew some basics, so I didn't ask further... The woman in pink clothes, although looking embarrassed and lowering her head, was actually quite disdainful in her heart: Why do you want to introduce me? You used to look down on people with an arrogant attitude, now you still dare to try to buy people's hearts. Even if she knew, she would never tell you. And besides..."

  The woman in pink secretly raised her eyes and glanced at the only point of "red" in the field. Her friend seemed gentle on the surface, but that proud air was flowing in her blood, even deeply ingrained in her bones, more arrogant than anyone else! She believed that with Xiao Yao's temperament, she would never rely on any family or sect!

  This time, those who came to participate in the preliminary round can be said to be renowned alchemists on Meishan Fudao, and after a round of screening, more than 100 people were eliminated, leaving only the best of the best. Wherever there are capable people, they are always welcomed and respected, this point is eternal and unchanged. Moreover, regardless of which two alchemists will stand out in the end, these sixteen people present will all become sought-after targets for Meishan Fudao's various factions and families in the future, it can be said that one competition will make them famous.

  As a result, the families and sects of those powerful masters who stayed on the field were secretly delighted, feeling that they had made the right bet. Although they didn't show any expression on their faces, they felt proud when facing congratulations from others. On the other hand, the cultivators who hadn't taken sides yet became the target of all families and sects, with everyone's eyes gleaming as they waited for the competition to end so that they could rush forward and strike up a conversation first.

  However, things did not go as they had wished. Fu Chun eliminated over a hundred people and then stopped the assessment, saying to the remaining sixteen: "Please follow me to the Xunxi Small Villa, where the final evaluation will be held at the Qianhe Pavilion."

  As soon as this was said, the viewing platform erupted in a commotion. The Huajian Pavilion was a three-story high small building; if they were to go there, it would mean that most of the people present could no longer continue watching the game.

  At this time, the white-haired old man who had been retreating to the rear stepped forward and said: "Everyone, please calm down a bit. In order not to affect the appraiser's appraisal and ensure the fairness of the competition, we can only arrange it this way. Although you cannot enter the Huacheng Pavilion directly to watch the game, we will transmit the image through the transmission symbol to the front yard, and everyone will still be able to know the final result in the first time."

  The crowd dispersed after listening, and then quieted down.

  Fu Chun led sixteen people to Chunxi Xiao Yuan, this small courtyard is the most quiet and elegant in the entire Qizong Tang, the scenery is also the best, usually only used to entertain high-ranking guests or famous instrument masters.

  As the crowd entered the Huajian Pavilion, they found that there were already people waiting for them inside. They were Wan Jialingjun and the old blind man who had disappeared earlier.

  Wan Jialing was, after all, the most renowned master of alchemy in the entire Tianxuan Continent. Among the sixteen people present, many looked up to him with great admiration and reverence, especially Zhuge, who had been his nominal disciple for some time but had yet to see his master's true appearance. He was so excited that he almost knelt down to pay homage.

  After exchanging greetings, Wan Jiaxuan smiled and looked at everyone, saying: "Fellow Taoists don't have to be polite, please take a seat."

  Inside the Qian Pavilion, chairs had already been prepared, and hot tea had also been poured on the tables. The sixteen people took their seats one after another, with Wan Jia and the blind old man sitting in the eight immortal chairs at the very front.

  Before long, someone brought up the sixteen "Nine Dragon Needles" and placed them on a round table in the middle of the crowd. After everyone retreated and the door was closed, Wan Jia said: "First of all, congratulations to all fellow Taoists present for passing the first round of appraisal. Being able to sit here at least shows that you have made some achievements in refining instruments. As for who will ultimately win, it will be judged by me, Fu Chun, and Ji Luan."

  The blind old man was called Ji Luan, and it was unclear what his background was. Xiao Yao thought to herself, but her eyes inadvertently caught a glimpse of the surprise and excitement that flashed across Fu Chun's face, although he tried his best to cover it up, but the slightly clenched sleeve mouth still revealed his concerns.

  Xiao Yao looked at the blind old man again, and with this glance, she felt that the old man's face seemed to have turned slightly towards her, giving her a strange illusion that he was also "sizing" her up!

  This person is absolutely not simple!

  Author's note: Worked overtime today, didn't get home until 8 pm. Due to a certain turtle's slow typing speed, I wasn't planning on updating, but thinking about the three-day hiatus earlier, I felt guilty and bit my teeth to write this, although it's a bit rushed, it's better than nothing, cough, cough, escaping again with titanium alloy pot