Zi Lingling sneered, "I didn't have much interest in this position originally, but since everyone thinks highly of me, if I were to refuse, it would be ungrateful!"
"How about this! I'll make a statement. I will definitely provide everyone with a fair and just competitive environment! Everyone can rest assured, I don't know anyone participating today, so naturally, I won't allow anyone to cheat!"
"Good! I support Miss Zi!"
"I support!"
"I support too!"
"Support!"
"..."
The contestants immediately erupted.
Feng Ruyi's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. He fiercely flicked his sleeves and snorted, "I hope you don't regret your choice!"
After speaking, he stormed off the stage and disappeared from the venue.
Zi Lingling walked up to Su Lie and said, "To provide a fair and just environment for everyone, I'll trouble President Su to summon a few appraisers from Huatian Merchant Guild, how about that?"
Su Lie nodded and said, "President Zi is too polite, I will go and do it now!"
As he spoke, he vanished from his spot.
A moment later, he returned to the venue with three appraisers and introduced them to Zi Lingling, "President Zi, these are Master Chu, Master Ge, and Master Niu. They are all senior appraisers from our Huatian Merchant Guild!"
Zi Lingling nodded in satisfaction.
Senior appraiser was already the highest level for an appraiser.
It was evident that Su Lie had used a lot of connections to support her.
She smiled charmingly and said, "Thank you, President Su, for your support!"
"You're welcome!"
Su Lie smiled and returned to his seat.
"I'll trouble the three masters. After the grand meeting concludes, I will prepare a small gift for each of you," Zi Lingling said with a bow.
Master Chu, Master Ge, and Master Niu quickly returned the bow and said, "Miss Zi is too polite. May I ask what you need us to do?"
Zi Lingling replied, "Then I'll trouble the three masters to join the judging panel and serve as judges!"
"Alright!"
The three agreed and took their seats on the judging panel.
Zi Lingling then approached the original judging panel and said, "Everyone, can you guarantee fairness and justice during the competition?"
Several people quickly nodded, "We guarantee! We guarantee!"
Zi Lingling's aura changed drastically, her pressure comparable to that of a God King, pressing down on them. "It's best if it is so. If I discover any favoritism, you will be expelled from the Alchemist Guild and never be employed again!"
"Yes, yes, yes!" they replied repeatedly.
"Alright! Take your seats on the judging panel!" Zi Lingling waved her hand.
Although these people were selected by Feng Ruyi, they were genuine Royal Alchemists and fully capable of serving as judges.
Therefore, Zi Lingling merely gave them a warning and did not strip them of their judging roles.
Of course, if anyone violated the rules during the competition, then...
Having done all this, Zi Lingling stood on the stage and said with a smile, "There are a total of ninety-nine spots to enter the Danzun Secret Realm. Therefore, the top thirty in the Pill Arts Grand Competition can all enter the secret realm."
"Of the remaining fifty-eight spots, I will keep three, and the other fifty-five spots will be allocated through arena matches the day after tomorrow. Specific matters will be discussed in detail after the Pill Dao Grand Assembly concludes!"
As her voice fell, the venue instantly exploded.
"What? Is this true?"
"Miss Zi... oh no, President Zi is actually willing to allocate such precious spots?"
"That's great! We have a chance too!"
"This pie falling from the sky is a bit too sudden. It feels like a dream!"
"Miss Zi is such a good person. Whoever dares to slander her in the future, I will fight them!"
"Right! Miss Zi is our goddess from now on!"
"..."
Zi Lingling looked at their excited expressions and pressed her hands down, saying, "For the arena matches the day after tomorrow, anyone in Central City can participate, but please assess your own capabilities!"
"Alright! I now declare that the Pill Arts Grand Competition has begun! Next, Elder Nangong will announce the rules!"
Zi Lingling said, and then sat on the judging panel.
She had now become the President of the Alchemist Guild and could no longer participate in the Pill Arts Grand Competition.
Fortunately, her performance yesterday had already left a deep impression on everyone and proven her strength.
Therefore, even though she wasn't participating in the competition, no one questioned her abilities.
Elder Nangong was stunned.
He had originally thought that Zi Lingling would definitely strip him of his hosting role.
After all, it was obvious to everyone that he was Feng Ruyi's man.
However, everything was beyond his expectations.
He then realized that he had underestimated the young girl's vision.
Perhaps, this young girl in front of him was the one truly capable of promoting the Alchemist Guild to greater heights!
"Elder Nangong, please proceed quickly!" Zi Lingling reminded him.
"Yes! President!"
Elder Nangong said the title "President" with genuine conviction.
"Next, I will announce the rules. The grand competition will be divided into three rounds. In the first round, on each participant's table, there will be a box containing medicinal herbs. Participants must select ten herbs they need from it and refine them into pills."
"The time limit is half an hour. Those who successfully refine pills within half an hour will advance. Those who fail to refine or cannot complete it within half an hour will be considered as having failed to advance. Do you understand?"
"We understand!" the participants said in unison.
Elder Nangong nodded and said, "Good! All participants, please activate your identification plates with your soul power to enter the arena!"
As his voice fell, figures vanished from their spots and appeared on the arena.
Of course, as long as a participant activated their identification plate, they would automatically be teleported to their designated position.
Soon, nine hundred and ninety-eight people had entered the arena.
Elder Nangong announced loudly, "Let the timer begin!"
The tables in front of all participants split open simultaneously, and a box slowly rose.
With a uniform click, the boxes were locked onto the desktops.
"Bang!"
All the boxes were opened at the same time, revealing the medicinal herbs inside. Each box contained thirty herbs.
The participants carefully identified the types of herbs and selected the ones they needed.
Zi Lingling closed her eyes, her vast divine sense spreading out, carefully sensing the medicinal materials in each box.
Hmm?
There was a glow flowing on the medicinal materials, with varying degrees of intensity.
This glow was...
The vitality of the herbs?!
Heavens! She could actually sense the vitality of the herbs!
While the vitality of medicinal herbs couldn't entirely determine the quality of the refined pills, it had a significant impact.
Generally speaking, the stronger the vitality of the medicinal herbs, the better the quality of the refined pills.
Conversely, the weaker the vitality of the medicinal herbs, the poorer the quality of the refined pills.