With the appearance of the Imperial Artifact Skyfire Furnace, everyone's gaze turned fiery.
Lu Zuichang savored the feeling of being the center of attention, his entire demeanor becoming somewhat arrogant.
He arrogantly addressed Zi Linling, "Bitch... have you ever seen an Imperial Artifact?"
The sarcasm was thick in his voice.
In his eyes, Zi Linling was a country bumpkin who had never seen such things.
Zi Linling looked at Lu Zuichang with a peculiar expression and shook her head.
In her opinion, Lu Zuichang was practically begging to be hit.
She almost felt a pang of pity for the pathetic child, reluctant to slap his face.
However, this gesture was interpreted by Lu Zuichang as confirmation that Zi Linling indeed had no experience with Imperial Artifacts.
Lu Zuichang grew even more smug and sneered, "I knew you were an unsophisticated bumpkin..."
Before he could finish the word "kin," his eyes widened.
Because, Zi Linling unhurriedly took out the Nine Extremes Qiankun Cauldron, and with a half-smile, asked, "Does your face still hurt?"
These simple words carried a double meaning.
They not only exposed Lu Zuichang's embarrassment, alluding to the fact that his face had just been slapped, but also slapped him in the face again.
See! I haven't seen Imperial Artifacts because I use divine artifacts.
The moment the Nine Extremes Qiankun Cauldron appeared, the Imperial Artifact Skyfire Furnace trembled and retreated to the corner of the arena.
It wasn't being cowardly; it simply couldn't withstand the pressure of a divine artifact.
Lu Zuichang's eyeballs nearly fell out.
"Nine Extremes Qiankun Cauldron?!"
Beneath his shock, a trace of greed flickered in his eyes.
"How do you have the Nine Extremes Qiankun Cauldron?"
Zi Linling retorted, "Why can't I have the Nine Extremes Qiankun Cauldron?"
"Impossible!"
Lu Zuichang said jealously, "The Nine Extremes Qiankun Cauldron is a divine artifact. How could it possibly be in the hands of a bumpkin like you from a lower continent!"
Zi Linling dismissed him with a wave of her hand, "Because I have good character! When one has good character, divine artifacts will appear on their own. Someone like you, who only thinks with his lower half, is naturally not favored by divine artifacts."
"You!"
Flames rose in Lu Zuichang's eyes.
Just then, Lu Bingcheng's voice transmission entered his mind.
"Zuichang, calm down! If you win, this brat will be yours to deal with, let alone her divine artifact.
He's merely keeping it for you temporarily. Just control your emotions and perform at your highest level!"
An old fox is indeed an old fox.
Although Lu Bingcheng's eyes also held greed, he managed to retain his reason.
His words awakened Lu Zuichang from his daze.
Upon hearing Lu Bingcheng's advice, the anger in Lu Zuichang's eyes slowly subsided.
The success or failure of alchemy depends first and foremost on one's state of mind.
His anger and excitement just now were major taboos for alchemy.
Fortunately, he hadn't started refining yet, or he would have been utterly defeated.
"I understand, Grandfather!"
Lu Zuichang took a deep breath, adjusting his state.
Refine the pill first, then get revenge!
Seeing Lu Zuichang suddenly calm down, a hint of confusion appeared in Zi Linling's eyes.
However, when she saw Lu Bingcheng on the judge's bench with a satisfied smile, she immediately understood.
She cursed "old fox" under her breath and nonchalantly sat down.
Lu Bingcheng cleared his throat and announced, "For today's competition, you may choose your own pills and prepare your own ingredients. The one with the higher quality pill after it's produced will win! Do either of you have any objections?"
Lu Zuichang glanced provocatively at Zi Linling and shook his head, "I have no objections!"
Zi Linling casually replied, "No objections."
She wasn't afraid of the Lu family grandfather and grandson cheating.
In the face of absolute strength, all schemes and tricks were in vain.
Lu Bingcheng nodded and said, "Since you both have no objections, the competition begins. Oh, and the time limit for the competition is three days."
After he finished, he returned to his seat and closed his eyes to rest.
Lu Zuichang arrogantly addressed Zi Linling, "They say a clever cook can't cook without rice. Have you prepared your herbs?"
As he spoke, he took out a large pile of medicinal herbs from his spatial storage bag.
From the appearance of these herbs, it was evident that they were not only complete in their medicinal properties but also full of vitality.
"Despicable!"
Nian Youyu cursed under his breath.
How could he not see that these herbs were the finest from the Alchemist Guild's herb repository?
Feng Mo's brow also furrowed.
He knew very well that on the day the competition was set, Lu Zuichang had emptied the guild's repository of premium herbs.
Zi Linling didn't even lift her eyelids, lazily saying, "Does your face still hurt?"
"You!"
Lu Zuichang's recently calmed anger began to reignite at these words.
"Calm down! Maintain your state of mind!" Lu Bingcheng's voice transmission sounded in time.
Lu Zuichang snorted and adjusted his mindset again.
Zi Linling smiled, "Long-mouthed donkey, I'm just curious, why do you like sticking your face out to get slapped so much? Even if your face doesn't hurt, I feel sorry for you!"
"Bitch..."
"Endure it!"
Just as Lu Zuichang was about to retort, he heard Lu Bingcheng's reprimand, "If you win the competition, you can avenge any grievance! But with your current state of mind, can you win?"
Lu Zuichang replied, "Grandfather, I want to be calm, but this bitch's mouth is too venomous, it makes me so angry!"
Lu Bingcheng said, "Fool! If you can't stand to hear it, then don't listen! Seal your six senses, and then you won't hear it."
Lu Zuichang glared fiercely at Zi Linling and replied, "I understand, Grandfather!"
But before he could do as Lu Bingcheng instructed, Zi Linling's voice reached him again.
"Long-mouthed donkey, just by your name, I suspect you're not your parents' biological child.
You must have been unloved by your maternal grandparents and paternal uncles since childhood, deficient in calcium when eating, and lacking love when growing up, right?
Looking at your pathetic appearance, I really don't have the heart to bully you further! But why do you always peel off your skin and put it in your pocket?
People like you, if you're not bullied, you act cheap, and if you are bullied, you become even cheaper. What do you want me to do with you?"
"Pfft!"
Lu Zuichang spat out a mouthful of blood.
Of course, it was from anger.
"Bitch!"
Zi Linling rolled her eyes, "Isn't that your exclusive title? After all, you called yourself a bitch before!"
"Pfft!"
Lu Zuichang spat out another mouthful of old blood.
"Quickly seal your six senses!" Lu Bingcheng transmitted urgently.
If Lu Zuichang were to refine pills in this state, he would only lose.
Zi Linling said disdainfully, "Long-mouthed donkey, although you have no character, don't solve your physiological problems anywhere in public!"
"Pfft!"
Zuichang spat out another mouthful of blood, nearly fainting.
He wished he could cut Zi Linling to death, but his remaining reason led him to make another decision – seal his six senses and adjust his state of mind!