Ten Thousand Dragons Technique

Chapter 417: Lin Xuan Dares to Take the Test?

The surrounding Alchemy Masters stared at Lin Xuan, their expressions exceedingly peculiar. They couldn’t believe this young man actually wanted to take the test. Could he possibly succeed?

"Succeed at what?" Master Luo rolled his eyes. "He may have an Anomalous Fire, but he’s too weak to control it. He won’t be able to display any of its power."

Master Zheng snorted coldly. "He’s just a clown. If he goes up there, he’ll only disgrace and humiliate himself."

Master Zhou shook his head. "This young man truly doesn’t know his own limits."

"Lin Xuan, just quit bragging and don’t actually go up there. Wouldn’t you just be embarrassing yourself?" Bing Qing said from behind.

So many Alchemy Masters had already failed; how could Lin Xuan possibly succeed? Those were all fourth-grade Alchemy Masters who possessed top-grade Spiritual Fires. They had achieved complete mastery over their flames, yet they had all been defeated. They were no match for the Nine Nether Fire at all. In the entire Great Xia Country, it was likely that no one besides the Pill King could stand against the Nine Nether Fire. Lin Xuan was just a young man, and no matter how strong he was, he was only a third-grade Alchemy Master. He was far inferior to these seasoned masters, so how could he possibly withstand the Nine Nether Fire? If he went up there, he would probably be defeated in an instant.

The Master of the Pill Tower also began to hesitate. He had been looking forward to this, but after witnessing the performance of the other Alchemy Masters, he started to wonder if he had overestimated them. He felt that perhaps he had overestimated Lin Xuan as well. So, he asked tentatively, "Young Master Lin, you can still give up. There’s no need to force yourself."

"Give up? Why should I? Why would I give up on such a simple test?" Lin Xuan shrugged and walked toward the sea of flames ahead.

Sigh. The Master of the Pill Tower let out a faint sigh. He decided that if Lin Xuan was in danger, he would immediately control the Array and stop the attack. In any case, he wouldn’t let Lin Xuan get hurt.

Behind him, Bing Qing’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. You’re really going? You actually dare to go? Aren’t you being way too bold?

The surrounding Alchemy Masters shook their heads one by one.

"Foolish!"

"Idiot!"

"I don’t know whether to call him courageous or just ignorant and fearless."

"I think he’s just brainless and doesn’t know his place."

They had personally experienced how terrifying the Nine Nether Fire was. If they weren’t its match, how could this kid possibly be? A mere boy, a third-grade Alchemy Master, dares to challenge the Nine Nether Fire? What is he thinking?

"Young Master Lin, come back!" Bing Qing shouted from behind him. "It’s one thing for you to compete with the younger generation; after all, you’re a young prodigy. But the gap between you and these veteran Alchemy Masters is immense, as wide as the heavens and the earth. It’s perfectly normal to lose to them, and no one will laugh at you. Just come back!"

"Don’t worry, I won’t lose," Lin Xuan stated confidently.

Bing Qing stamped her foot in frustration. "Fine! I’m done with you!"

The other Alchemy Masters sneered, eager to see how Lin Xuan could possibly win.

Feeling their gloating gazes, Lin Xuan frowned slightly. These people are supposed to be masters? They don’t have an ounce of a master’s demeanor. They actually want to see me make a fool of myself and become a laughingstock. Lin Xuan snorted coldly. He decided he would show them a little something that would make their jaws drop.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped into the Array.

He was in! He actually went in! Bing Qing’s heart leaped into her throat.

"What an idiot!" Master Song sneered. "Just watch. In one second, that kid will be frozen into a block of ice."

Master Luo shook his head. "If the Master of the Pill Tower hadn’t pulled some strings for him, that kid wouldn’t even be qualified to take this test."

Master Zheng sighed and shook his head. "Lin Xuan is certainly a genius among the younger generation, but in the face of true fire, he’s completely helpless."

Master Zhou also shook his head and sighed. "Young people who are too arrogant are bound to suffer a great loss."

In their eyes, Lin Xuan’s defeat was certain, and it would be a miserable one.

Lin Xuan arrived within the sea of flames and felt an icy power surge toward him. This power felt very similar to that of the Black Water Profound Snake—frigid to the extreme, as if it could freeze everything solid. Lin Xuan extended his hand and made a fist. A ball of blue flame flew out from his palm, transforming into a star as small as a firefly, spinning rapidly above his hand.

By now, Lin Xuan’s control over the Nine Heavens Mystic Fire had become quite adept. Although his proficiency was still a level below the complete mastery the other Alchemy Masters had achieved, his Nine Heavens Mystic Fire was of a much higher grade. The flames they wielded were merely top-grade Spiritual Fires, whereas Lin Xuan’s was a true Anomalous Fire. Therefore, even though Lin Xuan was only adept, the power he could unleash far exceeded that of the other Alchemy Masters. However, the others were unaware of this. When they saw the tiny, firefly-like speck of light, their eyes widened before they burst into hearty laughter.

"This is supposed to be a flame?" Master Song laughed so hard that tears almost streamed from his eyes.

Master Luo shook his head. "So this is an Anomalous Fire? What a disappointment."

Master Zheng also shook his head and sighed. "Judging by how he’s wielding it, he must have only just begun learning."

"What can that tiny flame even do?" Master Zhou said, shaking his head. "It’s too weak. I can’t even feel its aura from here."

Master Song sneered. "An Anomalous Fire is truly wasted in his hands!"

So the kid was just bluffing after all. And he had the nerve to claim he was adept. What a joke! He’s clearly just a beginner, a million miles away from being proficient. The other Alchemy Masters also shook their heads and sighed, all thinking Lin Xuan was an incredible braggart.

It’s over. The kid’s bluff has been called, and now he’s going to be humiliated. Bing Qing shook her head and sighed. If Lin Xuan had just stayed back, he could have saved face. But now? His reputation would be in tatters. In the future, Lin Xuan would probably become a joke in the Alchemy Realm. Knowing this would happen, why did he insist on taking the test? One could only say that Lin Xuan was too arrogant; for an outcome like this, he had no one to blame but himself.

The Master of the Pill Tower frowned. That’s not right. I remember seeing Lin Xuan use his Anomalous Fire during the alchemy conference, and its power was quite impressive. It can’t be this weak. The boy must be hiding his strength, right? But still, that’s far too audacious. To dare to hide his strength in front of the Nine Nether Fire... isn’t that just courting death?

Hearing the crowd’s mockery, Lin Xuan simply let the corner of his mouth curve into a smile. The next moment, he channeled his Nine Heavens Mystic Fire once more. The flame in his palm rapidly expanded, growing from the size of a firefly to that of a walnut. This star-like flame was dazzling, as mysterious and profound as a star from the night sky.

Within the sea of fire, the great white phosphorus serpent formed by the Nine Nether Fire sensed this power. It let out a roar and charged forward.

"Haha, the boy provoked the white phosphorus serpent! He’s doomed!" one master exclaimed.

"That’s for sure," Master Song added. "That’s a Flame Demon Beast formed from the Nine Nether Fire. My Tiger Python Fire couldn’t even stand up to it, let alone this kid’s flame."

"Just watch, he’ll be killed in an instant."

"He’ll be flash-frozen into a block of ice."

"He might even be disintegrated into dust!"

The men sneered relentlessly.

However, the scene they expected never happened. The great white phosphorus serpent charged right up to Lin Xuan. With a flick of his wrist, Lin Xuan sent the star of Nine Heavens Mystic Fire flying. It landed on the serpent’s body. The serpent’s entire body shuddered.

The next moment, it turned and fled. It moved as if it were running for its life, its speed reaching an impossible velocity.

What?

How is this possible?

The smiles on the surrounding Alchemy Masters’ faces froze solid. Their eyes bulged, their faces a mask of utter disbelief.