Fantasy, starting with a treasure bowl

"Strange! Why is Fellow Daoist Lu here too...!"

Gu Juji's face was full of surprise.

Unlike the others present, he did not initially attend Princess Luochuan's coming-of-age ceremony, but rushed over halfway there.

Therefore, Gu Juji was completely unaware of Lu Feng's amazing performance of defeating all the young masters of aristocratic families.

As for why Gu Juji rushed to Qianqing Palace halfway, it was very simple: he wanted to see Xu Liancheng, the number one medicine king of the four kingdoms of Lingnan, and also to gain some experience in this alchemy competition.

"Brother Ji, it's been a long time! How have you been?"

With a leap, Lu Feng broke free from the crowd and landed steadily beside Gu Juji, grinning broadly.

Although he didn't have much of a relationship with the other party, Gu Juji had helped him a little when he was in the Alchemist Guild and faced difficulties from Song Xin'er and others from the Pill Alliance.

Therefore, when Lu Feng encountered Gu Juji again, he was naturally very polite.

"It's Lu Feng again!"

"Could it be that he also wants to participate in this alchemy competition?"

"Are you kidding me? Let alone within the mere Dongyun Kingdom, even across the entire Lingnan Four Kingdoms, the number of alchemists is extremely limited, practically one in ten thousand! How could this kid possibly be an alchemist?"

"That's absolutely true. Although this young man has considerable Yuan power cultivation, he doesn't possess a trace of soul power aura. In addition, he is still young and has no background whatsoever. He simply doesn't have the conditions or qualifications to become an alchemist..."

Seeing Lu Feng make another move, the crowd outside the hall looked on in surprise, but most of them were not optimistic about him and shook their heads repeatedly.

After all, alchemists are different from martial artists; they are an extremely rare profession. Only one alchemist can be born out of approximately ten thousand martial artists. Moreover, the time, effort, and resources required to cultivate a high-level alchemist are enormous!

"This surge of elemental energy is... at the third level of the Spirit Soul Realm!"

Sensing the powerful and profound aura of Yuan energy emanating from Lu Feng, Gu Juji was about to begin a casual conversation when he was suddenly startled and bowed respectfully, saying, "Fellow Daoist Lu, you are too kind. I, Gu, truly do not deserve such praise!"

Although he was a third-grade alchemist and a steward of the Alchemist Guild, his status and reputation were not low, but compared to Lu Feng in front of him, he was still a nobody.

After all, with Lu Feng's strength and cultivation, he could easily establish a sect and become a powerful figure even within the four kingdoms of Lingnan!

Moreover, Lu Feng himself is not only very young, but his talent and comprehension are also monstrous. If he does not die young, he will most likely be able to reach a higher level and become a legendary Yuanhai Realm expert!

Therefore, compared to the other two, Gu Juji, a mere third-grade alchemist, is nothing special.

...

On the other side, on the high platform of the Hall of Supreme Harmony

"Heh, so this kid finally couldn't hold back and made his move..."

Upon seeing Lu Feng step into the arena, Ren Tianxing, who was watching the alchemy competition, turned his gaze to the former.

He had already witnessed Lu Feng's strength firsthand, but now Ren Tianxing was more curious about the extent of Lu Feng's alchemy skills.

"Tch, it's that kid surnamed Lu again...!"

Their gazes also fell on Lu Feng, who was not far away on the opposite side. Mundo, who was in charge of the referee, also frowned slightly, as if he did not have a good impression of the former.

"Unfortunately, alchemy competitions are different from martial arts contests for marriage. No matter how strong you are, if you know nothing about alchemy, you'll only make a fool of yourself in the end...!"

Mundo still crossed his arms, his tone full of sarcasm.

"Hey Lao Meng, you seem to have quite a problem with this Lu Feng..."

Just then, a soft, gentle laugh came from the side, interrupting Mondo's thoughts.

"As the vice president of the Alchemist Guild, it is unbecoming of a senior to be arguing with a junior like him."

"Besides, this kid named Lu Feng isn't as simple as you think..."

Zhang Miaoling rested her hand on her waist, her lips slightly pursed, seemingly disagreeing with Mundo's assessment and having a different opinion.

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Mondo was also taken aback, then looked at the other person again, "Miaoling, could it be that... this kid surnamed Lu is also an alchemist?!"

"It's not impossible."

Zhang Miaoling smiled faintly and said, "Old Meng, although this boy has deliberately concealed his soul power aura, with our respective soul power levels, we can still detect some of it. Haven't you noticed yet?"

"Hmm, this subtle, wisp-like aura of soul power... just as I expected!"

Similarly, Mondo released a wisp of his soul's perception outwards, and the next moment, his eyebrows twitched slightly, his face filled with sudden realization. "What a cunning kid! He hid it so well that even I was almost fooled...!"

"This aura of soul power is probably no less than that of the 'Four Rising Stars' of the Alchemist Guild. This Lu Feng is quite something; it seems I underestimated him at first..."

Thinking of this, Mundo also took a deep breath, and at the same time became more curious about Lu Feng himself.

Although his first impression of Lu Feng wasn't good, and he had once considered the latter a rival in love, after witnessing Lu Feng's extraordinary talent, Mundo's hostility diminished considerably.

After all, a peerless genius like Lu Feng, who is skilled in both alchemy and martial arts, is extremely rare, not to mention the four kingdoms of Lingnan, but even in most of the Eastern Xuan Region, he is a rare find, a once-in-a-century talent!

...

Meanwhile, in the huge square

"Hey, you sissy, the alchemy competition is in full swing right now, and you still have time to chat idly?"

Just as Lu Feng and Gu Juji were catching up, a grating, mocking voice drifted over from the side.

"Heh, could it be that you've given up on winning because you think you have no hope of winning?"

The newcomer was shirtless, holding a giant cauldron. He was a bald, middle-aged man who was looking at Gu Juji with disdain, his eyes revealing his contempt for the latter. Clearly, he was up to no good.

"you...!"

Faced with the bald middle-aged man's mockery, Gu Juji was furious and speechless for a moment.

Although he was handsome, fair-skinned, and looked like a rabbit figurine, he hated being called a sissy, especially since the person in front of him was his mortal enemy!

The other party's name was Zhang Yu, a native of the Southern Yue Kingdom. Although he was nearly thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old and his Yuan Power cultivation was mediocre, only at the second level of the Meridian Opening Realm, his alchemy skills were quite remarkable, comparable to a quasi-fourth-grade alchemist.

In addition, Zhang Yu himself is one of the four rising stars of the Alchemist Guild, and his alchemy skills and reputation are both superior to Gu Juji's!

Therefore, faced with Zhang Yu's provocation, Gu Juji was both angry and annoyed, but he had no way to deal with him.