Time passed quietly amidst the subtle glow of the alchemical furnace and the flow of spiritual energy. Outside the venue, the sky gradually darkened, but the atmosphere inside grew increasingly tense.Another three hours went by, when a low sigh suddenly emanated from the arena. A middle-aged alchemist looked at the failed dregs in his medicinal cauldron, shaking his head helplessly. His second batch had also failed to condense successfully.Immediately after, another contestant stopped, his face filled with unwillingness and regret. At this point, less than four hours remained until the end of the competition, and there wasn't enough time to start another batch. This meant he had completely lost any chance of reaching the finals.The remaining six contestants quickened their pace, successively entering the final pill-forming stage.The white-haired elder was the first to draw on spiritual energy. As his hands formed seals, a faint red glow emanated from his alchemical cauldron. He enveloped the cauldron with fire-element spiritual energy, precisely controlling the final temperature with steady and experienced movements.Dongfang Xi was not to be outdone. Spiritual energy flickered at her fingertips, and she accelerated the pill formation with her family's secret fire control technique, a determined smile gracing her lips.The audience below held their breath, their gazes shifting ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ between the contestants, even their breathing grew lighter.As time progressed, the first contestant to complete the pill formation finally appeared—it was the white-haired elder.When a jade celestial core pill, radiating a lustrous glow, flew out of the cauldron, a low murmur of admiration swept through the hall. The elder let out a long breath, a relieved smile appearing on his face.Dongfang Xi followed closely. Her pill's color was slightly inferior to the elder's, but it was perfectly condensed and highly complete.As she placed the pill into a jade bottle, she deliberately glanced in Dongfang Mingyue's direction, her eyes full of triumph.The third, the fourth... More and more contestants completed their refining. The numbers on the electronic timer kept ticking down, with only five minutes left until the end of the competition.At this point, only two previously failed contestants, and Dongfang Mingyue, remained unfinished in the arena.“It seems Dongfang Mingyue won't make it?” someone whispered, a hint of regret in their voice. “What a pity, she was doing so well later on.”Xiaoyu clutched her sleeve, her palms slick with cold sweat, too nervous to even blink.Just then, a clear 'buzz' echoed from Dongfang Mingyue's alchemical cauldron, clearer than any previous sound.Immediately after, a pill, entirely emerald green and resembling carved jade, slowly rose from the cauldron's mouth. Its surface shimmered with a delicate spiritual energy halo—it was a jade celestial core pill!Dongfang Mingyue, quick-witted, steadily caught it in a white jade bottle, her movements swift and decisive.Just seconds after she tightly sealed the bottle, the electronic timer emitted a long 'beep,' officially marking the end of the competition.The contestant who failed to finish looked at his alchemical cauldron, revealing a helpless expression of disappointment, yet he continued refining at Gu Chaoxian's prompting. “It's rare to have a chance to practice a new pill recipe, don't waste the ingredients.”Gu Chaoxian's gentle voice alleviated their disappointment.After the competition, staff members collected the finished pills from the six contestants one by one and delivered them to the judges' panel.Gu Chaoxian and the other judges sat together, carefully evaluating the pills from various aspects such as color, luster, and spiritual energy fluctuations, occasionally exchanging low whispers, their scoring pens scribbling on paper.Soon, the electronic scoreboard in the center of the venue lit up, and the contestants' scores were successively displayed. The white-haired elder ranked first with 78 points, followed by several contestants with scores ranging from 62 to 75 points.When Dongfang Xi's score appeared, a gasp of surprise rippled through the audience—85 points! This was currently the highest score! Dongfang Xi's smile deepened; she had already secured her spot in the finals.Everyone's gaze was fixed on the last empty spot on the scoreboard—Dongfang Mingyue's score.Xiaoyu's heart was in her throat, and Min Wenbing and the others stared intently at the screen, even forgetting to breathe.The next second, the number slowly emerged: 83 points!Although it was two points lower than Dongfang Xi's, it still firmly placed her in second position!The audience erupted instantly, a cacophony of discussions rising and falling.“To get 83 points after being two hours late, Dongfang Mingyue's strength is too formidable!”“I thought she was going to fail because of her poor condition earlier, but I didn't expect her to turn it around!”Some were curious about the reason for her initial abnormal state, but all were ultimately impressed by her subsequent stable performance.Dongfang Mingyue looked at the score on the scoreboard, her tense shoulders finally relaxing. She turned to look at Xiaoyu below the stage; they exchanged a smile, and all their worries and tension dissipated.Despite the turbulent start, she had, after all, successfully made it into the final round.Seeing the numbers on the scoreboard, Dongfang Xi's face instantly darkened. She had never expected that even with a two-hour delay, Dongfang Mingyue not only completed the pill formation but also scored only two points lower than her.If Dongfang Mingyue hadn't made mistakes in the early stages, she would likely have, as in the past, steadily surpassed her. This feeling of unwillingness and jealousy pricked at her heart like needles, leaving her with no mood to celebrate.“All contestants' scores have been fully tallied,” Gu Chaoxian walked onto the stage, his voice amplified by the array, echoing throughout the venue. “Now, I announce the four alchemists who have advanced to the Starry Sky Cup finals are—Dongfang Xi, Dongfang Mingyue, Ren Changhe, and Fu Ze!”As his voice faded, a round of enthusiastic and lasting applause erupted.According to the competition rules, the finished pills would be returned to the contestants—this was both a reward for their ten hours of diligent alchemy and a display of the Alchemist Association's immense wealth.Dongfang Mingyue took the jade bottle handed to her by a staff member, feeling a cool sensation at her fingertips. She gently caressed the bottle, her taut nerves finally relaxing. As soon as she stepped off the stage, Xiaoyu hurried over, her eyes sparkling, her voice filled with excitement: “Miss! You're amazing! To still get second place after being two hours late, that's incredible!”Dongfang Mingyue smiled and reached out to ruffle Xiaoyu's hair. However, just thinking about last night's dream, her initial joy suddenly turned heavy, and she sighed inwardly, her smile appearing somewhat forced.The group quickly left the venue and boarded the private aircraft waiting outside.The aircraft slowly ascended, heading towards the hotel. Two escort aircraft followed closely behind, maintaining a safe distance. Not far to the side, an inconspicuous small aircraft quietly trailed, carrying He Wu and Nie Yunxing from the covert team, responsible for perimeter security.Outside the window, snowflakes fluttered down, striking the windshield and being quickly swept away by the automatic cleaning device, leaving streaks of water.The streets below gradually became deserted, with few pedestrians. Even the shops that usually remained lit were mostly closed, an unusual quietness pervading the area.“Strange, even if Frost Flower Star is cold at night, it shouldn't be this quiet,” Xiaoyu murmured, frowning as she peered out the window. “Usually at this hour, there are at least some late-night food stalls open.”Dongfang Mingyue also leaned closer to the window for a look, a vague sense of unease rising in her heart.Just then, the aircraft's communicator suddenly rang, Min Wenbing's voice carrying a hint of gravity: “Miss Mingyue, wait a moment! Something's not right, tell the aircraft to slow down first!”No sooner had he spoken than the two escort aircraft behind rapidly accelerated, approaching the main aircraft. The small aircraft on the side immediately changed its course. He Wu and Nie Yunxing piloted their aircraft, quickly joining the other escorts, forming a tight protective circle around the main aircraft.Dongfang Mingyue's heart gradually quickened. She looked down again—the street below was utterly still, not even the sound of the wind could be heard. It was as quiet as a static painting, strikingly different from the occasional sounds of cars and people normally heard, exuding an indescribable eeriness.“Buzz!” Suddenly, the aircraft vibrated violently, as if hitting an invisible barrier.Dongfang Mingyue instinctively grabbed the handrail, her gaze sharply darting out the window—only to see the streets and houses below cracking like shattered glass, then completely dissipating, replaced by a vast, gray void.Immediately after, ripples spread through the surrounding space, and a translucent sky curtain slowly rose, enveloping all the aircraft, forming a giant cage.“This is—a Sky Curtain Barrier!” Min Wenbing's voice, filled with shock, reached everyone through the communicator.Inside the aircraft, Dongfang Mingyue's face changed instantly. Xiaoyu tightly clutched her arm, her eyes filled with tension and fear.He Wu and Nie Yunxing immediately piloted their aircraft, attempting to break through, but no matter how they crashed, they couldn't penetrate the rippling sky curtain, only circling in place.Everyone understood that they had fallen into a meticulously laid trap.The enemy's target was Dongfang Mingyue.

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