Chapter 363: Two Competitions


    Everyone present could tell that Li Jianlong was annotating the botanical illustration much faster than Fang Lin.


    While Fang Lin was only on the second page, Li Jianlong had already reached the third,pletely leading ahead of Fang Lin.


    Many people looked surprised. Li Jianlong had always been inconspicuous among the group of ten from Qian Country, so not many people had paid him much attention.


    But it looked now like he’d been intentionally ying dumb before, failing to show his true abilities.


    Fang Lin proceeded at a normal pace, nonchntly annotating the botanical illustration. He even had the leisure to lift his head and nce at Li Jianlong.


    Li Jianlong, however, waspletely focused,pelling all his attention onto the picture album with an incredibly concentrated gaze.


    Seeing this, Fang Lin curled his mouth and picked up his speed too.


    But even with increased speed, Li Jianlong’s progress still led Fang Lin.


    “Fang Lin seems to be at a disadvantage.”


    “True, he can’t keep up with this progress. It’s a sorry state.”


    “Who would expect that Qian Country hides its talents so well.”


    Everyone was astounded. Based on the current situation, Fang Lin seemed to be at a disadvantage. The situation was against him.


    However, people noticed that Fang Lin’s expression betrayed no sign of worry or panic, but showed calm andposed demeanor, which surprised them.


    At this time, anotherpetition drew more attention.


    Zhao Shenkong from Yun Country wanted topete with Guo Zhen from Meng Kingdom.


    This was going to be a fierce battle between titans, attracting the attention of more than half of the spectators. Attention to thepetition between Fang Lin and Li Jianlong faltered.


    After all, Zhao Shenkong and Guo Zhen were the main characters of this Pill refining conference. Theirpetition would bear significant implications.


    Basically, it would determine which country had the most outstanding pill refiner.


    It was hard to imagine these two engaging in apetition this early. As a rule, top talents always avoid early confrontations.


    Because no one can be certain of winning. If they were to lose now, not only would they lose face, they essentially would have lost the upper hand in the fiercepetition of Alchemy Tao.


    But for whatever reason, these two ended uppeting against each other.


    Zhao Shenkong and Guo Zhen stood face to face, one looking haughty, the other cold. Both were intently staring at each other.


    “Are you sure you want to battle with me?” Zhao Shenkong addressed, his voice calm, with a slightly superior tone.


    Guo Zhen’s lips curled into an eerie smile, “Are you chickening out?”


    These words stirred the crowd from Yun Country, all moring outrageously.


    “Too arrogant!”


    “Prince Shenkong, teach him a harsh lesson!”


    “Let these country bumpkins from Meng Kingdom see our might!”


    People from Meng were also just as assertive, shouting against Yun country, the scene getting heated.


    However, people from Qian Country were standing aside, watching the drama unfold, fully aware that they had no dog in this fight.


    Zhao Shenkong gave Guo Zhen a deep look, said, “If you insist on overestimating your abilities, then I’ll oblige.”


    Guo Zhenughed loudly: “The victor isn’t yet decided.”


    All of a sudden, the aura surrounding both men intensified, one was domineering and aggressive, and the other was chill and eerie.


    Between them, two mes appeared out of nowhere.


    Soul Commanding Pill Fire!


    Many spectators eximed in surprise, stepping back a bit to avoid getting affected.


    Thepetition between Zhao Shenkong and Guo Zhen was about controlling fire, showcasing their individual Soul Commanding Pill Fires.


    Zhao Shenkong’s Soul Commanding Pill Fire was gold, and within the leaping mes, a bird could vaguely be seen spreading its wings, ready to take flight.


    Given the golden bird figure, the fire likely originated from a Demon Beast, though it was particrly potent, beyond usual Demon Beast fire.


    Guo Zhen’s fire was an eerie deep purple, almost ck from a distance.


    This deep purple fire had a cold feel, as if devoid of warmth.


    “Why do I feel that Guo Zhen’s fire is so cold?”


    “This doesn’t seem like beast fire.”


    “A natural Fire in the world!”


    Quite a few people eximed in surprise, those without Soul Commanding Pill Fire were particrly envious.


    Whether Guo Zhen’s deep-purple me or Zhao Shenkong’s golden me, both were excellent Soul Commanding Pill Fires, and very rare to find.


    The two distinct mes fluttered in front of them. Guo Zhen made his move. The deep-purple me suddenly turned into a sword, swiftly thrusting towards Zhao Shenkong.


    Zhao Shenkong smirked, his golden me transformed into an impervious shield.


    Boom!!!


    The two forces collided causing the deep purple me to scatter, and the golden me to waver violently.


    However, at this moment, the scattered deep-purple me morphed into purple fire snakes, attacking Zhao Shenkong from all directions.


    This scene made many people from Yun country cry out in rm, while the people from Meng country cheered loudly.


    Guo Zhen’s move impressed many people. His control over his Soul Commanding Pill Fire was remarkable and deemed extraordinary.


    A hint of surprise appeared in Zhao Shenkong’s eyes, but there wasn’t a trace of panic. The golden me simrly spread out, transformed into golden birds, and shattered the purple fire snakes one by one.


    “How powerful!”


    “Both have exceptional control over the mes!”


    “This is a rare duel!”


    All the genius pill refiners from the three countries, and the pill refiners from ck Cauldron City, were left in awe. This level of duel certainly lived up to their spotlight status in their respective countries.


    Byparison, thepetition between Fang Lin and Li Jianlong seemed quite dull, both in style and standards, and surely didn’t match that between Zhao Shenkong and Guo Zhen.


    However, Fang Lin and Li Jianlong remained unaffected by Zhao Shenkong’s and Guo Zhen’spetition. On the contrary, they became even more absorbed in their ownpetition amid the tumultuous atmosphere.


    Li Jianlong nced up and was taken aback. He realized that Fang Lin had caught up with him unwittingly.


    “Damn it!” Li Jianlong cursed inwardly, speeding up once again, almost reaching his limit.


    In this way, he once again overtook Fang Lin.


    But after a while, when Li Jianlong checked on Fang Lin again, he was startled to see that Fang Lin had caught up yet again.


    “How is this possible?” Li Jianlong became a bit flustered. Moments earlier, he was ahead by two to three pages. How could Fang Lin catch up in such a short time?


    “No! I can’t lose! Absolutely not!” Li Jianlong roared inwardly, his face twisted in fury.