Top-tier Unruly Master

Ding Fan caught sight of Zhang Hao's performance and couldn't help but feel curious. In Ding Fan's eyes, Zhang Hao's results were indeed impressive, but clearly posed no threat to him. Ding Fan just needed a little fame from this Great Alchemy Competition.

After all, only then might he find Zhou Ruoran and others. As for the champion reward of the Great Alchemy Competition, though Ding Fan desired it, he believed that what's meant for him would eventually be his, and what isn't, no matter how much he schemed, would never be. Such is destiny.

Ding Fan wasn't one to believe in fate, just unwilling to force matters. Ding Fan also sensed that Zhang Hao likely resorted to cheating. But this was the Great Alchemy Competition, without sufficient evidence, even the judges couldn't do anything about Zhang Hao.

For someone to manage to cheat in a competition like this, Ding Fan had to think more deeply, clearly, Zhang Hao had some backing. There must be someone influential behind him, holding an important position in this competition.

Otherwise, even cheating wouldn't be this blatant. After all, crafting a pill recipe of Grade Eight Alchemist level was no small feat. Ordinary cultivators couldn't possibly enlist the help of a Grade Eight Alchemist. Grade Eight Alchemists were figures on par with Elder Wang.

Obviously, they're not people just anyone could mobilize. Although Ding Fan wasn't clear on all the details, he could still deduce this much from the information.

This year's Great Alchemy Competition clearly had some ulterior motives at play, which had nothing to do with Ding Fan. For him, the goal was merely to gain fame or probe into the activities of the Wild Wolf Gang. So far, he hadn't detected any actions from them.

But Ding Fan wasn't worried; the fox will reveal its tail eventually. All Ding Fan needed to do was remain unchanged and watchfully adapt.

It wasn't long before it was Ding Fan's turn. This was already the last group of alchemists, but the enthusiasm of the outside audience remained high. Clearly, everyone was eagerly awaiting Ding Fan's appearance. Meanwhile, in a tea house outside the venue, two women and two men were sitting together watching the Great Alchemy Competition.

This group of four had already caught the attention of those in the teahouse who would occasionally glance over. Specifically, everyone's gaze often fell on one female among the four young people. This woman was breathtakingly beautiful, more stunning than anyone present had ever seen. Her hair flowed like silk, her skin as soft as porcelain, with features so delicate, she seemed like a fairy from a painting, making it impossible for anyone to look away.

She was simply too mesmerizing! Many people in the teahouse, who previously had been intensely interested in the competition, found their attention increasingly drawn to the young woman among the four, after they appeared in the teahouse.

In the inn, whether male or female cultivators, upon seeing this young woman, were astounded by her beauty. She left men dumbfounded and women feeling inadequate. Her beauty was just too overwhelming.

Everyone in the teahouse, regardless of gender, was captivated by this young woman. Even the most thrilling Great Alchemy Competition took place every few years, but missing a beauty like this, who knows when they might see one again? To many, nothing mattered anymore but this beauty.

Who else but Zhou Ruoran could be this beauty! Her allure was beyond the reach of ordinary female cultivators, like a fairy not of this mortal world. Zhou Ruoran noticed the reactions around her but remained calm. She was used to this, as such situations weren't new to her.

Zhou Ruoran had little interest in others, especially in the Cultivation World, since she hadn't been able to find Ding Fan. Apart from cultivation, nothing else mattered to her. So, Zhou Ruoran paid no mind to the reactions of those around her; she was clearly accustomed to it.

However, Hao Chun, sitting next to her, was annoyed by the surrounding chatter about Zhou Ruoran and scanned the crowd with a gaze filled with killing intent. Hao Chun was also a cultivator of the Emergence Stage and a core disciple of the Great Gate Sect. In terms of cultivation and status, he was not someone easily provoked, so his murderous gaze quickly subdued the crowd, and they stopped staring at Zhou Ruoran incessantly, realizing that the cultivator beside her wasn't one to be trifled with.

For most people, it wasn't their intention to offend Zhou Ruoran. It was just that her beauty was so overwhelming that once they got a glimpse, they couldn't help being spellbound. However, upon sensing Hao Chun's hostile gaze, they regained their wits.

"Junior Sister Zhou, you're naturally charming, radiating brilliance wherever you go!"

At this moment, Hao Chun noticed that Zhou Ren was no longer paying attention to Zhou Ruoran, and with a courteous demeanor, he seized the opportunity to praise Zhou Ruoran warmly.

"Indeed, Senior Sister Zhou's beauty is unmatched, and our Senior Brother is also a young talent. The sight of everyone sitting together is truly beautiful. It's simply enviable to others!"

Xiao Lee, who was beside Hao Chun, obviously seized the opportunity as well, and seemingly sincerely said. Xiao Lee was Hao Chun's backbone, being from the same sect as Hao Chun. He had a knack for reading expressions and was adept at flattery, which is why Hao Chun always liked having him around, feeling quite pleased and comfortable at hearing the "praise" from him when there was nothing to do.

When Zhou Ruoran heard their words, her face remained very calm, clearly not having taken their words to heart. Zhou Ruoran knew a bit about Hao Chun; even if she didn't have Ding Fan as her husband, she still wouldn't choose him. Although he was not old and had some talent in cultivation, his manner was too frivolous, which was not a type she liked. Furthermore, his behavior was somewhat showy, as could be seen from his flatterer companion; clearly, Hao Chun himself was also a person excessively fond of vanity and flamboyance.

"Senior Brother Hao Chun is indeed a charming figure, hehe..."

At this moment, Taozi, who was beside Zhou Ruoran, heard their words and said with a deep playful smile. Although this Great Alchemy Competition was Taozi's intention to join, in her heart she was resolutely on Zhou Ruoran's side. Taozi long knew that Zhou Ruoran wasn't interested in Hao Chun. Furthermore, as far as Taozi was concerned, not to mention her senior sister, even she wouldn't like such an arrogant person, let alone a senior sister who was so talented and beautiful.

Though Taozi was puzzled why Senior Sister Zhou seemed uninterested in male cultivators; she naturally knew that Senior Sister Zhou claimed to have a partner, but Taozi didn't believe it because she had never seen the person Senior Sister Zhou spoke of, nor did she often hear her mention things about her supposed partner. Thus Taozi just assumed it was a device for Senior Sister Zhou to reject others.

Though Hao Chun fell short, many pursued Senior Sister Zhou before, including genuinely talented young men, some of whom even Taozi found intriguing. Yet, Senior Sister Zhou consistently responded she was someone with a husband and turned them all down. Therefore, Taozi believed this was just an excuse Senior Sister Zhou used to decline others.

But Taozi was also puzzled because during quiet late nights, Senior Sister Zhou would often be alone, somberly admiring the moonlight. If Senior Sister Zhou's loneliness was truly the reason, then why would she reject many gifted young men? It was absolutely contradictory, but at those times, Senior Sister Zhou seemed like she was missing someone, and sometimes Taozi would find Senior Sister Zhou shedding tears alone.

If Senior Sister Zhou was truly missing her so-called husband, then why did she rarely mention things about him? Taozi clearly felt puzzled, but being Zhou Ruoran's best friend, she naturally wouldn't pry much into it. Taozi could tell that Zhou Ruoran didn't really want her to know too much about her personal affairs, clearly considering it private.

Thus, Taozi didn't ask more but continued to accompany her senior sister. Sometimes, she even felt a bit heartbroken for Senior Sister Zhou, but felt she couldn't ask much more, hence could only continue to accompany her. After all, Senior Sister Zhou had few friends in the sect. Moreover, Senior Sister Zhou was not only very beautiful, like a goddess, but also very kind, most importantly, she possessed remarkable cultivation talent. She was currently the most talented disciple in the sect and also the Sect Master's most favored disciple.

To Zhou Ruoran, the one she missed was none other than Ding Fan, yet she didn't want to talk about him. After arriving in the Cultivation World for some time, she realized the world was vast, much larger than Earth. Clearly, finding one person was too difficult. Therefore, Zhou Ruoran didn't often bring up Ding Fan. Evidently, the more she mentioned him, the stronger her longing grew.

That feeling was something Zhou Ruoran naturally didn't want to taste; it was simply too painful. Furthermore, Zhou Ruoran knew that no matter how painfully she yearned for Ding Fan, it wasn't a method to find him. Those sentiments were futile, and Zhou Ruoran quickly understood the survival principles in the Cultivation World. Only with substantial prowess could one have any authority in the Cultivation World.

Therefore, Zhou Ruoran realized that if she wanted to find Ding Fan, her first requirement was to have certain abilities herself; at the very least not to falter in terms of strength, and even needed to excel, because only this way could she go further in the sect and possess more power, which was undoubtedly crucial in her search for Ding Fan.

As Zhou Ruoran understood these things, she began to train arduously to find Ding Fan. Although Zhou Ruoran indeed had good cultivation talent, her effort was even more critical. It's worth noting that at merely just over twenty years old, she was already a cultivator at the Emergence Stage, which in the Cultivation World was certainly not weak.

Even though Zhou Ruoran was in a medium-sized sect, her cultivation gained through diligence was impressive. Thus even in a Great Gate Sect, she was considered an exceptional core disciple, not inferior to Hao Chun, perhaps even more outstanding than him.

After all, although Hao Chun was in a Great Gate Sect which clearly had more cultivation resources than average sects, even a mere pill spared him much time that others had to strive for, and his cultivation was mostly amassed through abundant resources. While both he and Zhou Ruoran had reached the Emergence Stage, Hao Chun's real power might not have surpassed Zhou Ruoran's.

Zhou Ruoran attained her current cultivation through relentless effort over days and nights, not merely through the accumulation of medicine pill resources. Hence Zhou Ruoran's strength was accumulated step by step.