Chapter 939: Chapter 727: Advancing Before Hua Ni’s Eyes
Ice Sculpture Royal Capital, Warm Snow Cup tournament scene.
“It succeeded!”
“The Ice Sculpture Guard has been defeated!”
“Phew, finally someone passed.”
The cheers in the field interrupted the Dragon-man youth’s recollection. He focused his gaze and saw the scene of the Ice Sculpture Guard’s defeat.
The consecutive failures had made the competition quite oppressive.
The appearance of the first qualifying alchemy team prompted all the other competing mages to breathe a collective sigh of relief, adding much confidence.
The Dragon-man youth looked closely and recognized the identity of the winner.
“It’s the current Bloodline City Lord.”
This City Lord, in order to compete, came to the Royal Capital six months early, delegating the management of Bloodline City to his deputy. He devoted all his efforts and time to preparing for this year’s Warm Snow Cup.
This behavior made him quite unfit as a City Lord. However, as an Alchemist, he was obviously excellent, showing strong capability and ambition.
The City Lord’s intentions were clear – to compete for the top three spots in this year’s Warm Snow Cup, win rewards, and build his own Mage Tower!
“No wonder he’s a Golden Level Alchemy Mage.”
“The magic circuit he crafted is superb, taking into account every possible scenario in battle.”
“The other two Silver Levels are truly lucky, advancing smoothly with the Bloodline City Lord.”
“His skill in designing magic circuits is truly exceptional. If I were to do it, the circuits would occupy at least five times as much space within the puppet. To achieve so many effects with just over twenty versions of magic circuits, how did he manage it?”
The Alchemy Mages discussed heatedly.
The design of the magic circuit is a fundamental skill for Alchemy Mages.
As a seasoned Alchemy Mage, the Bloodline City Lord possessed not only solid basic skills but also excellence.
It was precisely his design of such an outstanding magic circuit that allowed the Alchemy Puppet to have sufficient space to equip arms, thereby defeating the Ice Sculpture Guard and advancing.
It can be said that the Bloodline City Lord used his powerful abilities to openly pass through the second round.
Soon after, another team successfully advanced.
“It’s Snow Ball.”
The survivors paid a lot of attention to her.
The Dragon-man youth was interested in the fact that Snow Ball was part of the duelists. Cang Xu was more focused on her background. Snow Ball was excellent herself, and her grandfather was none other than the Tower Master of Snow Cake, a powerful elder within the Alchemy Guild, possessing his own Mage Tower.
A Mage Tower significantly enhances a mage’s abilities. A mage with a Mage Tower is undoubtedly top-tier. Be it wealth or combat power, they are not to be underestimated.
Snow Ball and the Bloodline City Lord, both Golden Level Alchemists, had very different alchemical approaches.
The Alchemy Puppet she designed was quite unique, resembling a snowman a child might build — chubby and incredibly crude, with defense layering far outweighing attack.
During its battle with the Ice Sculpture Guard, this Alchemy Puppet was almost entirely on the receiving end.
However, it also continuously absorbed the striking force from the outside world during the hits, converting it into internal energy. Once the energy accumulated to its peak, it violently exploded.
The Ice Sculpture Guard was destroyed, and what remained in the field was a small snowman. According to the Alchemy Guild’s rules, Snow Ball’s group was soon declared to have advanced.
“Is there such a method?” The audience was amazed.
Snow Ball’s approach undoubtedly provided significant inspiration to the audience. Many benefited, generating new ideas. However, it was already too late.
The second test was difficult to change last minute, requiring too many preparations.
The Dragon-man youth analyzed secretly: “Snow Ball herself is a duelist, with a strong background, seeking excitement, frequently dueling in the dueling field. Therefore, her combat abilities are exceptional as well.”
“By combining strategy and alchemical design, performing steadily, she was able to advance.”
It wasn’t until the twelfth round that Zi Di’s group finally appeared.
Cang Xu and Zi Di walked together, but neither of them were the focus of the audience. Most of them directed their gaze at the third person.
A Golden Level Alchemy Mage – Cai Jing!
“Even an elder of the Alchemy Guild is personally competing.”
“How does he qualify for this?”
“Did you not examine the regulations closely? As long as one is an elder of the Alchemy Guild, they can directly participate in the exhibit of alchemical achievements in the Warm Snow Cup. He can personally compete in any of the first-round tests.”
Essentially, the first round of the Warm Snow Cup’s assessment aimed to eliminate those who were not up to par and to sift out the true alchemical elites. If an elder couldn’t even be acknowledged, just how incompetent would the Alchemy Guild be?
“Master Cai Jing could clearly participate directly in the exhibit, yet insists on taking part in the current assessment…”
“Damn, having money truly is an advantage, being able to cling to such a strong patron.”
“Humph, it’s uncertain what price they paid.”
“Speaking of which, although Cai Jing became an elder of the Alchemy Guild, he has a long dark history of his own. In his early days, he committed a lot of forgery for profit, disrupting the alchemy market across the country.”
Some knowledgeable Alchemy Mages cast their gaze upon Hua Ni.
Hua Ni squinted her eyes, staring intently at Cai Jing.
She had made all these arrangements with the intent to eliminate Yao Ma (Zi Di), but Cai Jing’s direct participation guarded Yao Ma instead!
Cai Jing had only recently joined the guild, newly appointed as an elder, and here he was, opposing Elder Hua Ni!
How bold is he?
Initially, Hua Ni thought Cai Jing was unaware of the situation, unable to distinguish priorities. Thus, she personally contacted Cai Jing, only to be flatly rejected by him.
At that time, Hua Ni was extremely aggravated!
Yet, in accordance with the regulations, Hua Ni found it difficult to attack. She and Cai Jing were both at the elder level, and even if she wanted to suppress and exclude the latter, it was not something that could be achieved overnight.
In short, Hua Ni was extremely angry but temporarily helpless.
She could only mark Cai Jing down in her memory.
Of course, this included Cang Xu as well.
After signing up and confirming the grouping, regardless of the Alchemy Guild, the Lijian family, or the Jingxiang family, each sent people to secretly contact Cang Xu, attempting to sway him. Yet, Cang Xu skillfully delayed each one, eventually outright refusing them all.
This undoubtedly played all three families for fools!
The assessment began.
Zi Di and Cang Xu acted hastily. Soon, they exposed their weaknesses in alchemy, causing many alchemists present to frown slightly. At this level, even being an assistant seemed a bit unqualified.
But Cai Jing is truly reliable!
He had long reached the Golden Level, and although his reputation as a master of counterfeiting wasn’t great, it proved he was quite skilled. He was able to meet the standards of the Prosperity and Hybrid Master’s inheritance as a mage, finally unlocking the secret door and obtaining the Grafted Magic Plants inside, something many Golden Level alchemists could not achieve.
It’s important to know that the Prosperity and Hybrid Master was a Druid, and his inheritance was originally meant for Druids.
Why did the Alchemy Guild appoint Cai Jing to continue exploring the Prosperity and Hybrid Master’s legacy? Is it just because he was familiar? Certainly not! His alchemy strength in the field of Magic Plants was almost “peerless.” But in the vast Alchemy Guild, it’s indeed challenging to find someone who can match him.
Those who could match or even surpass Cai Jing often held high positions of power, with more important matters to attend to.
In short, Cai Jing played a leading role, exerting a significant influence that ensured the alchemy went very smoothly.
Zi Di’s group produced an Ice Statue Ghost. It was the form Zi Di was most familiar with, also very common, fitting the standards well.
During the battle, the Ice Statue Ghost performed excellently. Not only was it agile, but it also took the initiative to attack, even sporting a wide range of expressions.
When injured in battle, the Ice Statue Ghost cried out in pain like a living person, leaving many onlookers dumbfounded. They mistakenly thought Cai Jing had extra energy to add such features.
This was thinking too much.
Cai Jing was very proficient in constructing Mini Magic Arrays. His main technique for cultivating Magic Plants was to engrave various Mini Magic Arrays on the surfaces and within the magical plants, allowing him to command the plants, enhance their power, or make up for their flaws and weaknesses.
The Dragon-man youth had dueled him and personally verified his strength. Like the explosive pepper, after engraving a Mini Magic Array, it could develop a human face on the surface of the pepper.
The principle was to imbue the object with spirit through the Magic Array.
Thus, the Ice Statue Ghost appeared lifelike.
As for the Ice Sculptured Guards, everyone had the same model—Human Race soldiers, right knife and left shield, balanced in all aspects, with no obvious weaknesses or strengths. The biggest drawback was their inability to fly.
The Ice Statue Ghost darted and flew through the air, gaining the upper hand shortly after the battle began.
This advantage persisted until it eventually turned into a winning position.
Thus, Zi Di’s team advanced smoothly.
“Passed!” The Dragon-man youth, seeing this, released his apprehension, exhaling a relieved sigh.
Confronting the returning Zi Di, he just slightly nodded and then turned away, leaving directly.
According to the plan, there’s something he must immediately do next.
“Passed the second test, indeed! Quite the persuasion to get Cai Jing involved.” Elder Jiu Jin secretly breathed a sigh of relief, compelled by leverage the survivors held over him to plan for them.
Jiu Jin looked at Cai Jing with a hint of pity: “Cai Jing’s future darkens. This time, he personally stepped in and helped Yao Ma. How is this any different from slapping Elder Hua Ni in the face?”
“In the future, he’ll inevitably be targeted by Hua Ni!”
While Jiu Jin was still lamenting, someone unexpectedly came over with Hua Ni’s appointment order.
The general content was: Considering Elder Jiu Jin’s contributions in organizing the Warm Snow Cup, Hua Ni “rewarded” him by promoting him and transferring him to Gray Stone City to become the head of the alchemy branch there.
Elder Jiu Jin was stunned, doubting his ears.
Gray Stone City was very barren, desolate and devoid of birds; although he would be the head of the alchemy branch there, it clearly couldn’t compare to the comfort of being an elder in the Royal Capital. This wasn’t a reward; it was more like an exile!
Unable to believe it, Elder Jiu Jin, disregarding the many people present, ran directly to the jury to inquire with Hua Ni.
Hua Ni looked at him icily, filled with the shame and annoyance brought by Cai Jing’s advancement, no longer putting on an act. She directly stated: “Jiu Jin, I’m letting you off the hook for your dealings with the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps purely out of past affection.”
Jiu Jin instantly felt as if plunged into an ice cave.
“Hahaha, if Elder Jiu Jin doesn’t want to transfer, why not join me in exploring more of the Prosperity and Hybrid Master’s legacy?” Cai Jing, after stepping down, didn’t return to where he sat but moved near the jury.
Cai Jing looked at Hua Ni, then swept his gaze around, and brought forth a flower pot. In the pot, there was a Golden Level Grafted Magic Plant.
This action of his immediately drew everyone’s attention.
Cai Jing publicly announced that the pot of Grafted Magic Plants in his hands was an item he obtained by newly uncovering the secret door of the Prosperity and Hybrid Master’s legacy.
As expected, his words sparked an uproar among the crowd.
Some insiders immediately understood the source of Cai Jing’s confidence in opposing Hua Ni—he made a significant achievement!
This enormous feat was enough to allow the newly appointed elder to firmly establish himself within the guild.
Cai Jing looked at Jiu Jin and continued, “I must thank you, Elder Jiu Jin. It was your inspiration that allowed this discovery. So, you deserve credit here as well.”
Jiu Jin was very surprised. Cai Jing and he had no close relations; why would he publicly protect him by lying?
However, as Cai Jing secretly communicated with him, Jiu Jin quickly realized—all of this was orchestrated by the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps!
Elder Jiu Jin was filled with both shock and delight.
Just as Cang Xu had anticipated, Hua Ni had learned from the Lijian family that Jiu Jin had already been coerced by the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps and was thus unreliable. Rather than directly replacing Jiu Jin, she deliberately had him leak information, setting traps on the list to ensnare the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps.
On the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps’ side, they had, under Cang Xu’s guidance, seen through the trap but hadn’t informed Jiu Jin in advance, advising him that the survivors had already recruited Cai Jing and had plans for him. This was meant to mislead Hua Ni and other enemies in return.
Hua Ni sat on the jury, her face ashen, and anyone could see how awful her mood was!
Cai Jing’s assistance to Zi Di in advancing was a direct affront to her.
In her shame and anger, she sought to take out her frustration on Elder Jiu Jin at the moment.
Yet she failed to vent, and instead, Cai Jing swung the situation back.
Cai Jing was willing to share a portion of this credit with Jiu Jin. What reason did Hua Ni have to transfer and secretly demote him?
“What happened? Why did the excavation of the Grafting Town legacy suddenly make such significant progress?”
Cai Jing had maintained attention to this guild task as well on other days.
This was because recently, many had requested her involvement, many guild members wanting to squeeze in, and others more extreme, wanting to directly usurp Master Da Bei’s position and take over this lucrative role.
The reports from Da Bei had always stated zero progress.
Is this what zero progress looks like?!
Hua Ni didn’t doubt that Cai Jing was lying.
Because it was too easy to verify this. Only a fool would act so brazenly.
The other elders on the jury exchanged glances.
The development of the situation had repeatedly surprised them.
Hua Ni was caught unprepared, losing significant face. Cai Jing’s side was clearly well-prepared.
As people spectated, someone also glanced at Master Da Bei on the field, their gaze filled with blame, anger, and some with a hint of schadenfreude.