Chapter 381: Chapter 381: The Final Showdown

The night shrouded over Black Cauldron City, it was already late into the night, but the square of Black Cauldron City was still bustling with voices and full of commotion.

The three martial champions were still in the middle of their guarding stage.

However, whether it was Su Xiaotong or Zhao Shenkong, or even Fang Lin, none of them could possibly be defeated anymore.

Guo Zhen challenged Su Xiaotong after his defeat, only to suffer another massive blow after losing to him.

The entire Meng Kingdom was completely defeated and everyone was dejected and dispirited, lacking any fighting spirit.

The situation of Yun Country was slightly better, at least they still had Zhao Shenkong to put on a show.

As for the Qian Country, the atmosphere was very high. Except for the Li Family who were extremely annoyed, everyone else was overjoyed.

Among the three martial champions, two of them were from Qian Country.

During this Pill Refiner Conference, Qian country greatly distinguished itself, thus suppressing the arrogance of Yun Country and Meng Kingdom.

All the news within Black Cauldron City would be conveyed as quickly as possible to Qian, Yun, and Meng, allowing everyone in the three countries to stay well informed.

When the Pill Refining Circle in Qian Country learned that Fang Lin and Su Xiaotong had each claimed a martial champion position, the whole of Qian Country was excited. Many pill refiners of Qian Country felt a sense of elation and relief.

For many years, Yun Country had always been pressuring Qian Country. Every time a pill refiner from the Yun Country met one from the Qian Country, they always acted arrogantly, making things unbearable for the pill refiners from Qian Country.

Now, this humiliation of being looked down upon by Yun country has finally come to an end. After this Pill Refiner Conference, the pride of Yun Country pill refiners will be lost, and instead, it is the Pill Refiners of Qian Country who can hold their heads high.

As for Yun Country and Meng Kingdom, their situations were completely different.

Especially Meng Kingdom, as news spread that Guo Zhen was defeated by Fang Lin, and lost his position as martial champion, the entire Meng Kingdom was shrouded in an atmosphere of grief.

Guo Zhen was the hope of the people of the Meng Kingdom, and they were counting on him to claim one of the martial champion spots, to compete with Zhao Shenkong.

Now, rather than competing with Zhao Shenkong, they would be happy if they could just maintain the little dignity they had left.

Over at Yun Country, the jollification that usually followed the end of a Pill Refiner Conference was absent. This was because although Yun Country still showed a very strong side this time, the result was not as satisfactory as expected.

Even though Zhao Shenkong secured his position as one of the martial champions, the other two positions are taken by those from Qian Country. Especially Fang Lin, who had completely stolen all the thunder from Zhao Shenkong.

But compared to Meng Kingdom, Yun Country was in a much better state, at least they did not lose face too badly.

When the eastern sky gradually brightened, the crowd realized with a start that the night had just passed.

At this time, the three martial champions remained in the same state, all enduring five rounds of challenges, all being victorious, and maintaining their final positions.

To this point, the Pill Refiner Conference was essentially over but the most eye-catching performance had not yet begun.

Since there were three martial champions, it was necessary to establish a ranking between them, to see among the three, who was the strongest one.

This was the climax of each Pill Refiner Conference—the competition of the strongest martial champion!

This year was different from the previous years because there was an additional opportunity to study in Xuan Country’s Pill Alliance for one year. And this opportunity was naturally to fall on the strongest martial champion.

Therefore, the three of them had to compete for this opportunity to travel to Xuan Country’s Pill Alliance.

Whether it was Zhao Shenkong or Su Xiaotong, they were both eager for that opportunity. After all, Xuan Country provided a broader world where they could come into contact with a higher level of Alchemy Tao and learn more knowledge of Alchemy Tao.

A year of study could be enough to make them undergo a complete transformation.

Therefore, they must compete for this opportunity. Even if Su Xiaotong and Fang Lin were both from Qian Country, they were going to strive with all their might against each other.

At this moment, the three of them stood on the stage, drawing the eyes of all the people. Most people were looking at Fang Lin.

Who could have thought that Fang Lin, who was not favored by everyone in the beginning, managed to become one of the three martial champions? If he were to wrestle the title of the strongest martial champion, after this year’s Pill Refiner Conference, Fang Lin would rise rapidly, becoming an incredibly dazzling black horse.

Zhuge Cang appeared with Lu and Chen. He said to the three of Fang Lin: “Now that you three have secured your positions as martial champions, take a half-day’s rest. Then, compete for the position of the strongest martial champion. The strongest will have the opportunity to study in Xuan Country for a year.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole place stirred up. Both Su Xiaotong and Zhao Shenkong had a look of longing in their eyes, with determination on their faces.

On the other hand, Fang Lin looked rather leisurely as if he had no interest in the opportunity to go to Xuan to study.

Right after the announcement, the three sat cross-legged on the stage, with eyes closed and in meditation, recovering their energy.

Everyone knew that after half a day, a truly fierce competition would take place.

The biggest point of concern was whether Fang Lin could continue in his winning streak and defeat the two powerful contestants, Su Xiaotong and Zhao Shenkong.

Some people even set up a gambling stall right there in the square, enticing bets from the crowd.

“I’m betting Fang Lin will be the strongest!”

“I bet on Su Xiaotong!”

“Humph! Zhao Shenkong is the strongest!”

The betting stalls were extremely bustling, with people betting various items such as herbs, treasures, Essence Pills, and more, causing people to be dazzled.

However, most people were betting on Zhao Shenkong. Even though Fang Lin’s performance was incredibly brilliant, regardless of how they viewed it, they still felt that Zhao Shenkong had higher hopes of winning since Zhao Shenkong’s Hundred Refining Body and the title of the most promising talent in the Lower Three Kingdoms were very convincing.

Of course, there were also several people who were optimistic about Fang Lin and Su Xiaotong, but they were far fewer than those who were optimistic about Zhao Shenkong.

At this moment, the person with the most relaxed attitude was probably Fang Lin.

He even had the leisure to leave the stage and wander around the betting stalls, with an envious expression on his face.

If he could, he would really like to bet on himself.

Half a day passed quickly, and Zhuge Cang appeared again, looking at the three of them: “The final duel has been discussed amongst us. The three of you, proceed to the Pill Pole Tower.”

When his words came out, Fang Lin and the other two were puzzled, but the pill refiners in Black Cauldron City were all in a stir.

“Going to Pill Pole Tower? Could it be that they want the three to challenge the secret realm?”

“It’s very likely. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be going to Pill Pole Tower at this point.”

“Things are going to get exciting now”

Although the three of Fang Lin didn’t quite understand, since Zhuge Cang had said so, they immediately headed towards the Pill Pole Tower.

Naturally, the crowd also hurriedly followed suit, and before long, a large gathering accumulated at the foot of the Pill Pole Tower.

The Pill Pole Tower stood tall in the center of Black Cauldron City, with seven layers in total. It looked very ordinary, just like a normal tower.

At the base of the Pill Pole Tower was an altar, old and simple, as if it had existed for an eternity.