Top-tier Unruly Master

For a moment, the crowd began to talk incessantly, evidently filled with doubt regarding Zhang Hao's performance. After all, Zhang Hao's performance in the first round of the Great Alchemy Competition was quite ordinary, with the refined pill being merely a third-grade medicine pill. Such a result was clearly not outstanding in the competition, but this time, he unexpectedly listed twelve kinds of spiritual materials!

How could anyone not be shocked by such a remarkable result? Naturally, people started to suspect that Zhang Hao must have cheated. Moreover, since it took so long for the judges to announce the results, the crowd's suspicions only increased.

However, at this moment, Zhang Hao couldn't care less about the audience's discussions. He had already secured first place, and that was enough for him. Even if the crowd knew he cheated, it didn't matter because they had no evidence. Thus, the Great Alchemy Competition would recognize his achievements. Zhang Hao was confident that no one could uncover any proof against him.

He had memorized the pill recipe long ago, and the paper with the competition's questions and answers given to him by the Vice City Lord had been disposed of. It was impossible for others to find any incriminating evidence against him. Even if the Great Gate Sect suspected him, Zhang Hao didn't care since the Vice City Lord had already vouched for him.

As long as he could enter the City Lord Mansion of Dancheng, everything he had done would be worthwhile. Zhang Hao knew that without collaborating with Sun Long, it would be difficult to advance to the third round of the Great Alchemy Competition due to his own capabilities. Thus, even if he didn't collaborate with Sun Long, this journey in the competition would be fruitless, and he would have no choice but to cooperate with him to ensure entry into the City Lord Mansion. He wouldn't have to refine pills in that small pill pharmacy anymore.

This would undoubtedly grant him considerable resources. For a cultivator, cultivation resources are crucial, and more so for an alchemist. To achieve greater progress in alchemy and improve his alchemy level, resources are even more important.

In the VIP room, Sun Long heard the judges announce Zhang Hao's results and felt a sense of relief. Despite being aware of the crowd's reactions outside, he didn't seem overly concerned. The key was that Zhang Hao's competition results were announced. After contemplating the audience's discussions for a while, Sun Long instructed a few soldiers from the City Lord Mansion.

Sun Long didn't want the crowd to continue discussing the issue because public opinion could be more fearsome than reality. If too many people debated the topic, it might influence the judges or affect the City Lord. Sun Long naturally wanted to avoid any adverse outcomes. Therefore, he ordered his men to steer public opinion in a more favorable direction, given the large audience of several tens of thousands.

Coercive measures were not an option, as the audience had the right to discuss the matter. Thus, Sun Long could only use more covert tactics. He understood that even if things changed, there was nothing to fear. At that moment, he was still the Vice City Lord.

Even if the City Lord were to express dissatisfaction, Sun Long had amassed significant connections over the years, making his voice influential in the City Lord Mansion. Hence, he wasn't overly worried about Zhang Hao.

Sun Long had already considered the worst-case scenario and made the best preparations. As the current Vice City Lord, he would have to attend crucial meetings that required decisions during the Great Alchemy Competition and held a certain degree of influence. Moreover, the connections he had established in the City Lord Mansion over the years would definitely support him. Without evidence, convicting Zhang Hao would be impossible.

In the private room, other alchemists who had finished the competition were shocked by Zhang Hao's results, especially Elder Herr. He hadn't expected that without Ding Lin appearing, someone had already surpassed his results, which was quite unexpected.

For Elder Herr, Zhang Hao's results were surprising. The potential threat in this Great Alchemy Competition was naturally Ding Lin, but no one anticipated another contender. Soon, Elder Herr recollected his past impressions of Zhang Hao and found none.

For a moment, Elder Herr was filled with doubt about Zhang Hao's results. Considering Zhang Hao's average performance in the first round of the competition, how could he perform so spectacularly in the second round? Grasping the inconsistency in performance was unreasonable for an alchemist of Elder Herr's rank.

It was evident that Zhang Hao must have cheated, causing Elder Herr's brows to furrow. If Zhang Hao indeed cheated, he would become a powerful competitor, even without genuine skill. Despite that, Elder Herr still viewed him as a formidable rival and a wildcard with unpredictable implications.

Elder Herr's goal in this Great Alchemy Competition was the Champion Reward, and he was determined to obtain it.

Yet, Zhang Hao's presence was clearly unfavorable to Elder Herr. Elder Herr could not remain as composed and indifferent as Ding Fan.

Meanwhile, Ding Fan, in the VIP room, had already refined several pills, all of which were of extraordinary quality. Most were Supreme Quality Medicine Pills. If others discovered that Ding Fan's pill refinements were consistently Supreme Quality, they would undoubtedly be astounded.

Obviously, an alchemist who can reach Ding Fan's level in alchemy is truly impressive! Not to mention Elder Wang, even Master Nanyang may not be able to reach Ding Fan's level.

Ding Fan completed the refinement of several medicine pills, but he still has many spiritual materials left. Clearly, he can refine medicine pills anytime and they're quite powerful, with some pills having even been lost in the Cultivation World.

However, Ding Fan knows the pill recipes in his heart, as his alchemy knowledge comes from ancient books that recorded numerous pill recipes. Clearly, some recipes are already lost in the Cultivation World, but those lost pills are far more effective than ordinary pills!

Ding Fan refined many medicine pills to replenish Divine Vigor, along with healing pills and those used for cultivation breakthroughs. He only refined a variety of pills, but each type was only about three or four pills.

After all, Ding Fan is still in the middle of the Great Alchemy Competition and is about to perform, so time is limited. Yet, within just a few hours, Ding Fan refined nearly twenty Supreme Quality Medicine Pills, which, if told, would shock the entire Alchemist Realm.

Ding Fan's pill refinement is almost like mass production.

For an ordinary alchemist, refining a Supreme Quality Medicine Pill is extremely difficult, taking three to five days normally. Moreover, other alchemists couldn't even refine one Supreme Quality Medicine Pill at once, thus wasting spiritual materials.

Therefore, previously, for alchemists to refine a Supreme Quality Medicine Pill, it not only required a long time but also a large quantity of spiritual materials. Because the success rate heavily relied on luck. The alchemists capable of refining Supreme Quality Medicine Pills are rare in the Cultivation World.

Furthermore, precious spiritual materials are needed, as refining Supreme Quality Medicine Pills implies expensive spiritual materials. Otherwise, there's no need for refinement, considering the fees of having a High Level Alchemist refine a Supreme Quality Medicine Pill.

But due to the precious nature of spiritual materials, the quantity was naturally limited. Refining a Supreme Quality Medicine Pill before was exceedingly difficult. Fortunately, Ding Fan has now revealed the preservation method of the alchemy cauldron, ensuring that if the refinement isn't successful, the materials aren't wasted.

Thus, the success rate of refining Supreme Quality Medicine Pills has been significantly improved as compared to before. Definitely, the alchemists who felt this way are of Elder Wang's rank; for ordinary alchemists, refining medicine pills isn't achievable.

Even for High Level Alchemists, the success rate of refining Supreme Quality Medicine Pills has improved a lot. However, it still requires a lot of time; refining one in a day is almost miraculous luck. Ding Fan's ability to refine a Supreme Quality Medicine Pill every half hour is simply incredible!

In the first round of the Great Alchemy Competition, Ding Fan refined a Supreme Quality Medicine Pill in less than half an hour, making many spectators, including some alchemists, acknowledge Ding Fan's extraordinary alchemy skill, though most believe it was merely due to Ding Lin's exceptionally good fortune at the time.

As luck can strike anytime, but actually for Ding Fan, it wasn't a matter of luck; it was just his normal level. Of course, if Ding Fan explained it this way, nobody would believe it unless they witnessed Ding Fan's pill refinement process.

To Ding Fan, whether others believe or not is irrelevant; what he values is that his pill creations aid in his cultivation. Refining Supreme Quality Medicine Pills provides substantial advantages, whether in cultivation resources or necessities.

These Supreme Quality Medicine Pills are still very valuable in the Cultivation World. Ding Fan has been informed by the maid that it's almost his turn to appear for the competition, so he stopped refining pills. Although each type was around only three to five pills, the effectiveness of Ding Fan's Supreme Quality Medicine Pills is exceptionally good.

A single Supreme Quality Medicine Pill from Ding Fan can surpass ordinary pills by hundreds of times. Clearly, Ding Fan's pills are precious for their quality rather than quantity.