Top-tier Unruly Master

At this moment, Hao Chun was watching the entire process of Ding Lin in the Great Alchemy Competition, feeling a deep sense of contempt for him. Naturally, Hao Chun had heard numerous rumors about Ding Fan, but to him, they were utterly insignificant. After all, in Hao Chun's mind, no young cultivator of his generation could match his own excellence.

In Hao Chun's view, whether in cultivation or status within the sect, he wasn't someone an average young cultivator could compare to. Therefore, when Hao Chun heard some rumors about Ding Lin, he dismissed them with a sneer, clearly not believing that the other party actually had such abilities, and assumed it must be an intentional exaggeration by others.

At this moment, seeing Ding Fan's performance in this Great Alchemy Competition further confirmed his thoughts: the other was indeed a person with an undeserved reputation.

"How could such an alchemist be Senior Sister Zhou's husband? It's utterly ridiculous. He simply cannot compare with me, Senior Brother Hao Chun!"

At this moment, Xiao Lee, who was following Hao Chun, seized the opportunity and spoke up.

Hao Chun, hearing Xiao Lee's words, couldn't help but feel very pleased inside. However, he noticed that Zhou Ruoran did not look very happy, so he immediately said:

"It's not Junior Sister Zhou's fault. It's known that such swindlers love to deceive people, and it's not uncommon for people to fall for such tricks, so Junior Sister Zhou, you don't need to feel bad."

Zhou Ruoran, upon hearing these words, felt indignant inside, and though she wanted to be rude to Hao Chun, in the end, she only managed to say a few words.

"Just wait and see."

Zhou Ruoran said this quite calmly. Although she was increasingly disgusted with Hao Chun, she couldn't say much more because her mentor highly valued the other party's background. If she truly fell out with him, it would put her mentor in a difficult position.

Feeling gratitude towards her mentor, Zhou Ruoran clearly didn't want to trouble her teacher. However, she had her plans. She knew that Ding Fan was already gaining some fame, and as long as he performed well in this Great Alchemy Competition, he would inevitably gain significant recognition from many Great Gate Sects. Zhou Ruoran understood that if her mentor knew her husband was Ding Fan, there would be no opposition, especially since Ding Fan's demonstrated strength should not be underestimated. Even Hao Chun wouldn't be able to compare to Ding Fan in her mentor's eyes.

Besides, Zhou Ruoran didn't know that Ding Fan was already more famous than the name Ding Lin. Previously, there was a rumor that several Great Gate Sects were eradicated overnight, allegedly by Ding Fan. Although Ding Fan wasn't responsible, it was clear his reputation was already established.

At this moment, Taozi noticed Zhou Ruoran's unhappy expression, immediately went over to her, tightly holding Zhou Ruoran's arm, and said with confidence:

"Ranran, I believe in you! Since Ding Lin is your husband, he must not be inferior. He's surely stronger than some people!"

Zhou Ruoran looked at Taozi, her eyes filled with gratitude, and said nothing more but continued holding Taozi's hand tightly.

Upon hearing Taozi's words, Hao Chun felt deeply scornful but said nothing. Since the other party thought so highly of this so-called Ding Lin, they would wait and see, for the second round of the Great Alchemy Competition was over, and Ding Lin's results would soon be announced. By then, no matter what else they said, it would be futile.

After all, facts speak louder than words!

With that, Hao Chun watched the stage of the Great Alchemy Competition with keen interest, eagerly anticipating Ding Lin's results...

At this moment, within another private room, Gao Lian witnessed Ding Fan's scene and couldn't help but feel extremely pleased. Initially, he was uncertain about his suspicions because Ding Fan's performance in the first round was too stunning. Thus, Gao Lian believed Ding Fan had cheated to achieve such results.

Although Gao Lian thought this, he was still a bit unconvinced. But after seeing Ding Fan's performance in this round, Gao Lian was sure that Ding Fan did indeed cheat in the first round to get such great results.

Without a chance to cheat in the second round of the Great Alchemy Competition, the true colors were revealed. Thinking of this, Gao Lian felt immensely pleased and eagerly awaited Ding Lin's results in the second round. By that time, Gao Lian really looked forward to greeting He Qianyao, eager to see her interesting reaction.

...

Meanwhile, another private room housed Zhang Hao, who couldn't help but feel pleased after watching Ding Fan in the Great Alchemy Competition. Originally, he was worried about Ding Lin having a strong alchemy skill and feared even if he cheated, his results might not surpass Ding Lin's. But now, it seemed Zhang Hao had no worries.

Considering Ding Fan took three incense sticks' worth of time to refine only one pill, and even completed it, Zhang Hao found it laughable—it was too incredible! Even an alchemist with poor talent should know this Great Alchemy Competition judged based on who collected the most and correct spiritual materials.

With the answers beforehand, Zhang Hao only pretended to refine pills during the competition. However, Ding Fan did not even understand this; he only refined one type of pill and completed it, which was simply too ridiculous!

It's important to know that even all the competing alchemists couldn't achieve what Ding Fan did. For a moment, Zhang Hao even began to suspect that the so-called alchemic genius Ding Lin must have cheated in the first round of the Great Alchemy Competition to have performed so brilliantly...

However, these things were clearly unrelated to Zhang Hao. He wasn't particularly concerned, as long as he could secure first place in the Great Alchemy Competition. To Zhang Hao, as long as he could complete Sun Long's task, and subsequently enter the City Lord Mansion of Dancheng, it would be enough.

After all, this was a very important opportunity for Zhang Hao.

...

At this time, the Great Alchemy Competition's tenth group had already concluded. Elder Wang in the Judge Area witnessed Ding Fan's performance in this competition and felt deeply puzzled in his heart. He clearly knew that Ding Lin's fame wasn't due to cheating. To know Ding Fan's alchemy level, even he wouldn't dare claim to surpass it.

But now Elder Wang was deeply bewildered about why Ding Fan seemed so relaxed in this second round of the Great Alchemy Competition, as if he had given up on the competition. To know that even he himself would seize the time to attempt refining some medicine pills when faced with the competition's given ingredients. After all, it was only by doing so that one could write out the correct pill recipe.

Although Elder Wang had no confidence in fully writing out the pill recipe for the medicine, writing out a dozen correct spiritual materials was not a problem. And Elder Wang believed it was naturally not a problem for Ding Lin either, but this time Ding Lin only refined one pill, what was going on?

For a moment, not only Elder Wang was full of doubts about Ding Lin, clearly at this moment the other elder judges also found themselves filled with questions about Ding Lin. Evidently, among the alchemists in the tenth group, the one who garnered the most attention was Ding Lin. The judges were most concerned about Ding Lin.

Moreover, the elder judges clearly understood that Ding Lin not only performed stunningly in the first round of the Great Alchemy Competition, but also was highly valued by Elder Wang. To know that Elder Wang praised Ding Lin greatly during the City Lord meeting, he clearly placed great importance on Ding Lin.

However, Ding Lin's current performance was astonishing. Everyone knew that Elder Wang was not one to joke around, and since he valued Ding Lin, Ding Lin must have an extraordinary alchemy level. But now Ding Fan's performance was simply too casual, almost as if he had given up on the competition.

At this moment, the numerous elder judges couldn't help but look at Elder Wang, noticing that Elder Wang's expression was clearly not good, yet he didn't say much, and the Great Alchemy Competition continued as usual.

Soon, the pill recipes written by the alchemists in the tenth group were handed directly to the elder judges. At this moment, the elder judges clearly wanted most to see the pill recipe from that Ding Lin. But when the elder judges saw the recipe submitted by Ding Fan, they were completely dumbfounded!

"This, this... unbelievable!"

"Too unbelievable..."

...

For a moment, the elder judges who saw the pill recipe submitted by Ding Fan were completely dumbfounded. Ding Fan's recipe not only clearly listed more than a dozen spiritual materials, but also noted the quantities of the materials, and finally outlined the refinement method. Most importantly, he even added a sentence at the end:

"This Grade Nine Medicine Pill is a gift for Elder Wang!"

And at the side of Ding Fan's pill recipe, there indeed lay a pill with a somewhat deep blue hue. At a glance, it was clear this pill was not ordinary.

At this moment, the numerous elder judges were already standing up, their eyes locked on Ding Fan's pill recipe and the pill, feeling as though their minds couldn't process it. Not only did he write a completely correct recipe, but he even refined a Grade Nine Medicine Pill. They all knew this Grade Nine Medicine Pill was truly a supreme quality medicine pill!

At this moment, the elder judges were too shocked to speak, it had completely surpassed their understanding. It was hard to believe that he not only wrote a completely accurate recipe, but also refined a supreme quality medicine pill to gift to Elder Wang. This was unbelievably extraordinary!

To think everyone initially suspected that he had given up on the competition, since he only refined one type of pill. But now, everyone understood that the single pill he refined was this Grade Nine Medicine Pill!

Clearly, in his eyes, he must have already known the recipe by heart, and instead of just writing it down, he went ahead and refined a supreme quality medicine pill. As the elder judges recalled Ding Lin's seemingly nonchalant alchemy before, who could have imagined that he was refining a supreme quality medicine pill. This was simply shocking!

At this moment, Elder Wang, seeing everyone's reactions, couldn't help but walk directly to Ding Fan's pill recipe and, upon seeing it, was stunned. He clearly hadn't expected Ding Fan to write such a detailed recipe and even refine a supreme quality medicine pill as a gift for him.

Elder Wang immediately put down Ding Fan's pill recipe and burst into hearty laughter:

"Hahahahaha..."