The Extreme Alchemist of the Mighty Cauldron

No one expected that the first person to fall would not be the frail-looking Fang Lin, but instead a young woman from the Li Family.

The young woman looked to be about the same age as Fang Lin. Due to her tender years, her strength stood as the lowest among them.

At this moment, unable to withstand the pressure, the young Li woman was the first to collapse to the ground. A flash of light, and there she was, outside of the array.

The Li girl looked pale and dazed. Glancing back to see Fang Lin still enduring while she herself had been the first to fail, she felt as if she had been dealt a heavy blow, wishing to crawl into a hole and disappear.

Li Zhendong’s expression slightly soured. Nobody had expected that the first one to succumb would be from the Li Family. Although the Li Family members were numerous and powerful with still four persons remaining within the Formation, it was still somewhat embarrassing.

“Seems like we have underestimated Fang Lin. Who would have thought that he could persist for so long.” Yang Jianye said with a chuckle, seeming somewhat surprised.

Han Luoyun remained confident and unruffled, not showing any worries. He even directed a casual glance at Li Zhendong, his eyes carrying a touch of mockery and disdain.

Stung by Han Luoyun’s gaze, Li Zhendong was seething with annoyance, as were the Li family members behind him.

“Humph! Let him gloat for a while longer, I don’t believe that Fang Lin will be able to last till the end!” Li Zhendong muttered to himself.

The Li girl who had failed first quietly returned to the Li Family’s side, head hung low, not daring to meet anyone’s gaze.

No one in the Li Family paid her any attention. In fact, quite a few harboured dissatisfaction towards her.

Looking back into the array, Fang Lin still appeared in critical condition. His body shook like a sieve and his face was utterly devoid of color, hinting at any moment he might violently fall to the ground.

As for the others, they were not faring particularly well either. While they could still endure, they had to exert all their strength to resist the pressure. They could not afford any slack.

Their expressions and reactions revealed their individual relative strengths.

Among the three princes, the fifth prince, Yang Fengchi, bore the most serious expression while the other two were slightly more relaxed.

As for the remaining four members of the Li Family, the three men managed to remain composed, but the single woman among them had started to break into sweat.

Of course, by appearances, Fang Lin was faring the worst. He appeared to be on the brink of collapse, merely gritting his teeth and holding on.

“Sect Master Han, I never expected our Pill Refiner could endure for so long. However, if he continues like this he might harm his body. It wouldn’t be good if he were to damage his Root Bone and ruin his future because of a single contest.” Li Zhendong remarked.

Han Luoyun didn’t even bother looking at Li Zhendong as he nonchalantly replied, “I have faith in Fang Lin. I just wonder if the Head of the Li Family has the same confidence in his clan members.”

Li Zhendong merely snorted in response, choosing to remain silent. Of course, he had faith in his family members.

“Quick, look! Fang Lin seems to be unable to hold on.” Someone exclaimed. Everyone immediately turned their eyes on Fang Lin only to see him stumble, backpedalling a few steps, appearing as though he was about to fall flat on his back.

The Li family members were all excited, as though they had already witnessed Fang Lin fall flat on his face. They could barely hold back their laughter and ridicule.

Unexpectedly, after stumbling backward a few steps, Fang Lin remained standing firm. Although still shaking, there he was, not yet fallen.

Everyone was wide-eyed, their faces a picture of shock. Especially the Li family members who looked gobsmacked.

What just happened? Wasn’t he just about to fall? How did he manage to steady himself?

Li Zhendong’s expression spasmed. Just moments ago, he had been certain Fang Lin was about to fall, but who would have thought that this stubborn fellow would manage to steady himself once more?

Yang Jianye was equally shocked. He glanced at Han Luoyun, who was leisurely sipping his tea. Feeling even more surprised, he said nothing.

Although Fang Lin had not fallen, the situation seemed grim for the fifth prince, Yang Fengchi. His body was doubling up under the immense pressure, his legs shaking uncontrollably.

Resentment and anger flashed across Yang Fengchi’s handsome face. Seeing Fang Lin not too far off, he thought to himself: ‘Could I possibly be inferior to a mere Pill Refiner?’

He was unwilling to concede defeat— he was a prince, after all, whose talent was at least no worse than anyone else’s. If a Pill Refiner could endure, why couldn’t he?

Yang Fengchi gritted his teeth, his forehead veins bulging, his expression somewhat grim. He was determined to weather the pressure in the array and see things through till the end.

However, not long passed before the pressure within the array began to intensify. Sweat started to break on everyone’s brow, and Yang Fengchi, having reached his limit, started to make cracking sounds from within his body.

The sound was that of his bones being crushed under pressure, even his insides were beginning to feel uncomfortable. Unable to keep it in, he vomited a mouthful of fresh blood.

Upon seeing this, Yang Jianye outside the array furrowed his brows and let out a small sigh.

Thud!

Unable to hold on any longer, Yang Fengchi’s body went limp and he fell to the ground unconscious.

With a flash of light, the array transported Yang Fengchi outside, where immediately, members of the royal family supported him and took him away.

“It’s surprising that such a high and mighty prince could not even match a Pill Refiner.” Li Zhendong commented coldly.

In an equally cold tone, Yang Jianye retorted: “At the very least our royal member wasn’t the first to give up.”

At his words, Li Zhendong was left speechless. The Li Family members flushed with embarrassment, especially the girl who had been first to be teleported out, who could not lift her head in shame.

Only seven were left in the array now. Four from the Li Family, two from the royal family, and Fang Lin.

After some time, one of the recently promoted Li girls could no longer endure either, shrieking as she fell to the ground.

The Li Family members’ expressions soured further—not because they lost another member, but because the seemingly frail Fang Lin had continued to persist without falling.

This was infuriating. Fang Lin had been the first to show signs of weakness, but he tenaciously persisted until now, while two members of the Li Family had already fallen.

Comparisons truly were terrifying. Now, in comparison, the Li Family members seemed less competent.

The Li Family members were exceedingly proud. They believed their clan to be the strongest, placing even the royal family beneath them.

Yet today, two Li Family members had successively failed. Although the royal family also had a prince fall, the most unbearable part was that Fang Lin was still standing steadfast within the array.

This was a rather embarrassing blow to the Li Family’s pride. Losing to a member of the royal family was regrettable but somewhat bearable. However, if even Fang Lin surpassed them, it would be nothing short of a total disgrace.

Hum!!!

More than half of an incense stick had burnt down, and yet, within the array, the pressure escalated another notch. It felt like a massive mountain was pressing down on them, enveloping everyone in suffocating pressure.