Chapter 110: A New Champion, A New Threat

Chapter 110: A New Champion, A New Threat

With a quick flick of my wrist, I sent a golden needle towards the fallen vial. The glass shattered, releasing Ghost Willow extract into the air. I covered my mouth and nose, but Kai, paralyzed and unable to react in time, inhaled the potent toxin.

His bloodshot eyes widened in desperation as he struggled against the effects of the Ghost Willow. His breath came in ragged gasps, and I could see the intense effort he was putting into staying conscious. My heart hammered a rhythm of guilt and admiration. He had his reasons for wanting this, I knew. Reasons as strong as my own.

Then, with a final shudder, Kai's eyes rolled back. His body went limp, collapsing like a puppet with its strings cut. A wave of respect, bitter and pure, washed over me. He was a warrior, this boy I'd foolishly underestimated. He'd saved my pride, ensured a fair fight... but I couldn't return the favor. Not today. Too much hung in the balance.

Ma Hualong's voice thundered through the arena, shattering the tense silence. "Jingyu Lian, victor of the Grand Alchemy Gauntlet!"

The crowd's roar was a distant hum in my ears as I stood there, still trapped in the concoction Kai had made, with all but one limb free to move. My hair was a wild tangle, my lungs burned, my body ached. This victory had been ripped from the jaws of defeat, ugly and hard-won. But it was mine.

My gaze fell to Kai, a storm of emotions raging within. We had both given our all. Only one of us could stand at the end, and that one was me.

The weight of it settled heavily on my shoulders, a hollow victory. This was what I'd sacrificed for, fought tooth and nail to achieve. Yet, the taste in my mouth was ash, not honey.

Several invigilators converged on me, pouring a solvent over my bindings, their touch brisk and impersonal.

They moved with a practiced efficiency, their faces impassive. One of them turned to me, offering a hand to guide me to the medical wing.

I shook my head, denying their help. "I'm fine," I said, my voice steady despite the exhaustion clawing at me. "Take care of him first."

They nodded and carried Kai off the arena floor. I stood there for a moment, watching them go, before turning my gaze to the stands. My father was there, his expression unreadable. The memory of our conversation before the final round flashed through my mind, his insistence that I cheat to secure victory.CHeCk for new stories on no/v/el/bin(.)c0m

A wave of defiance surged through me, a mix of pride and bitterness.

'I proved myself today,' I thought fiercely. 'Not just to the sect, but to you.'

I squared my shoulders, lifting my chin like a banner. The crowd's cheers washed over me, a distant tide. As I made my way out, Elder Wei Lian materialized from the throng, a serpent in silken robes.

"Congratulations, Jingyu," he purred, the venom barely masked. "Fortune, it seems, favored you today."

My gaze locked with his, a silent duel of wills. "Thank you, Uncle," I returned, my voice glacial. "Let this victory solidify my claim to the Alchemy Pavilion."

A flicker of anger crossed his face, swiftly concealed. "We shall see," he replied, each word a carefully placed stone in a wall of doubt.

This was merely a battle won, not the war. Many trials lay ahead, but today had proven one thing: I would face him on my terms, unyielding and unbroken.

As I trudged to the medical hall, one of the invigilators accompanied me. My legs felt like lead, my body battered from the grueling round. The man opened the door for me, revealing the other contestants.

Tian Zhu lay unconscious on a bed, his face bruised and swollen. Fang Xiang sat upright, unable to see with his puffy eyes. Kai Liu was being attended to by a physician, battered and unconscious. Across the room, Zhi Ruo was awake and animated, discussing something with the healer tending to him.

The invigilator guided me to a corner of the room, where a screen provided a modicum of privacy. I changed into a fresh set of clothes, each movement sending jolts of pain through my weary body. Once dressed, I downed multiple potions, their bitter taste a small price to pay for relief. The physician attending to me was efficient, her touch gentle yet firm.

"Minor injuries," she diagnosed, her voice calm. "But you're running low on qi. You should rest before the formal announcement."

I nodded, grateful for the care but eager to be alone with my thoughts. Silence settled over the room, a heavy blanket that muffled the outside world's noise. I glanced at Zhi Ruo, who had settled at his bedside with a look of calm on his face.

Always, it had been so easy to step over the fallen, the loser, to see them as mere stepping stones on my path to greatness. But seeing him and Kai Liu... this was different.

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"Jingyu Lian, by the authority vested in me by the Alchemy Association, I hereby crown you as the Grand Alchemy Gauntlet Champion. As the victor, you have earned the right to be mentored by the legends of the Alchemy Association."

He placed a hand on my shoulder, a symbolic gesture of recognition. I swallowed hard. This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance, not only to progress my skills but also to forge connections with the most powerful people in the province. It was a path to solidifying my future and the future of the Whispering Wind Sect's Alchemy Pavilion.

But as the cheers gradually subsided, an unexpected figure stepped forward, causing a ripple of murmurs to spread through the audience. Ma Hualong's face twisted in confusion and a hint of anger.

A man clad in black and blue robes, recognizable as the Silent Moon sect, approached with a confident stride. Four men flanked him, their gazes indifferent. But they emitted a certain pressure. One that I only felt from the likes of our Sect Leader.

What was going on?

The man pardoned himself for the intrusion, bowing slightly before addressing the crowd. "I apologize for the interruption, but I couldn't miss the opportunity to personally congratulate Jingyu Lian on her astounding victory."

Ma Hualong's face flushed with anger, his voice sharp. "Elder Jun, you cannot—"

He raised a hand, cutting him off. "Ah, but I am no longer 'Elder' Jun," he corrected with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I am the Sect Leader of the Silent Moon Sect."

Gasps echoed through the arena as Elder Jun's words sunk in. He extended his hand, revealing a storage ring that glinted in the light. "As the new Sect Leader, I wish to present Jingyu Lian with a gift, a token of our appreciation and admiration for her skills."

With a flick of his wrist, piles of rare ingredients and artifacts poured out, forming a small mountain of treasures at my feet. I narrowed my eyes.

This wasn't just a congratulatory gesture; it was a blatant display of the Silent Moon Sect's wealth and power.

The audience was in awe, whispers of amazement and envy buzzing around me. This 'gift' was a statement, a reminder of their influence.

Elder Jun's smile remained fixed as he continued, "I hope this suffices to show our admiration for your talents, Jingyu Lian."

Ma Hualong's face twisted with barely suppressed rage, but Elder Jun pivoted smoothly, not allowing him the chance to interrupt. "What a fortunate coincidence it is," he said, his voice carrying effortlessly over the hushed crowd, "that the final results of the Gauntlet coincide with my appointment as Sect Leader. It feels like the stars themselves have aligned."

He gestured to the men standing beside him, their expressions unreadable. "Allow me to introduce the newly instated elders of the Silent Moon Sect. This is Elder Cheng, Elder Wei, Elder Xun, and Elder Fang."

I scanned their faces, trying to place their names, but they were unfamiliar. Each of them exuded an aura of power and authority, their presence almost overwhelming.

As I turned to look at the crowd, I caught sight of my father. His face had gone deathly pale, as if he had seen a ghost. His eyes were wide with a mixture of shock and something else I couldn't quite identify—fear?

"Elder Jun," I began, choosing my words carefully, "I am honored by your generous gift. The Silent Moon Sect’s recognition is... unexpected but appreciated."

His smile remained fixed, but there was a predatory gleam in his eyes. "We believe in recognizing true potential. The future of the alchemical arts depends on talents like yours."

As he spoke, I couldn't shake the feeling that this 'gift' was more than it seemed—a calculated move in a larger game. My father's pallor, the unfamiliar elders, and Sect Leader Jun... it all pointed to something much bigger and more dangerous.

The tension in the air was palpable as Ma Hualong stepped forward, clearly struggling to maintain his composure. "This ceremony is about the achievements of our contestants," he said, his voice tight. "Let us not overshadow their hard work with politics."

Elder Jun’s eyes flickered with amusement, but he nodded. "Of course, Ma Hualong. Today is indeed about celebrating talent and perseverance. Let us honor Jingyu Lian and all the participants."

As the crowd resumed their applause, I glanced once more at my father. His fear mirrored my own growing dread.

This victory, it seemed, was only the beginning of a much more treacherous journey.