Chapter 121: Chapter 121: The Elder Council Intervenes in the Investigation
"Damn it, he got away." Chen Nan gave chase but still lost him.
Just then, Yan Fuzhen arrived with his people. The plaza was massive, split into 12 areas. His Guiding Token had placed him in a different area from Ning Xuan. The moment he left the Secret Realm, he had rushed toward Ning Xuan’s group, afraid someone might target her. But he hadn’t expected to be a step too late.
"What happened?" Yan Fuzhen asked grimly.
"Someone tried to make a move on the Contractor. I don’t know who it was, but they escaped." Chen Nan nervously scanned the surrounding crowd, seeing everyone as a potential threat.
Ning Xuan’s gaze was fixed on the center of the plaza, where twenty or thirty platforms had been set up. The platforms had been empty, but a male Spirit Controller was now placing an Alchemy Furnace and other auxiliary equipment on one and beginning his alchemy. A dozen or so people stood vigilantly at his side, protecting him from any disturbance.
Seeing this, the other Alchemists also scrambled to occupy the platforms. In a matter of moments, all the Alchemy Platforms were claimed.
Ning Xuan turned to Yan Fuzhen and asked in confusion, "We can still perform alchemy after leaving the Secret Realm?"
"Yes. As long as the officials haven’t declared the end of the competition, you can still perform alchemy," Yan Fuzhen replied. "However, in previous years, the officials would announce the competition’s end soon after everyone left the Secret Realm. This year is a bit unusual."
Yan Fuzhen had just tried to send a message out, but the transmission failed.
He surveyed the area and saw a translucent barrier rising around the plaza, dividing the space into independent cages. The vast plaza was split into 12 areas, and the fluctuations of an Array hung in the air. Fortunately, he had rushed over just in time; otherwise, he would have been separated into a different area from Ning Xuan.
In the Alchemist Association’s conference hall, the atmosphere was tense enough to cut with a knife. The heads of various departments were railing at the Alchemist Competition’s organizing committee. "What the hell is going on inside the Lingxiao Secret Realm? No one has a definitive answer yet! You can’t just lock everyone up because something went wrong in the Secret Realm! Do you have any idea how many complaint calls I’ve received in this short time?"
"You’ve detained everyone. What if someone is injured and in urgent need of medical attention? If their treatment is delayed, can you bear that responsibility?" the Director of the Inspection Department said angrily.
"Director Ou, there’s no need to be angry. You’ve only just started receiving complaint calls. For the past month, our organizing committee has been receiving threats and verbal abuse every single day. Our main gate has even been smashed three times. I’m sure you’ve all heard that the monitoring equipment pre-installed inside the Secret Realm, which was supposed to be for the live Star Network broadcast, has malfunctioned. As a result, we’ve completely lost control over the situation inside."
"However, based on the clues we currently have, the situation inside the Secret Realm is dire. Many disciples from major families have Life Plates kept with their clans, and many of those plates have shattered. We have confirmed 267 deaths so far. Based on the 1-to-7 death ratio of noble to commoner disciples from previous years, we estimate the total death toll is at least over one thousand," the President of the Alchemist Competition organizing committee, who was also the President of the Alchemist Association, Xie Guwei, spoke with a heavy expression.
"What? How could that be?" someone exclaimed in disbelief.
The total number of Alchemists who qualified to enter the Lingxiao Secret Realm through the preliminary selection was two thousand and eighteen. Each Alchemist could bring two companions, meaning a total of six thousand and fifty-four people entered the Lingxiao Secret Realm this time.
"We have just re-tallied the numbers. A total of four thousand five hundred and twelve people have returned via their Guiding Tokens. Half of them have excessively high Mutated Values and are on the verge of losing control. We have already dispatched Purification Masters, so their treatment will not be delayed."
"The situation in the Secret Realm was reported to the Elder Council long ago. Detaining all survivors for their full cooperation with the investigation was the Elder Council’s decision. I ask for your cooperation," a middle-aged woman in a magnificent robe sitting next to Xie Guwei said.
She was the President of the Purification Master Association, Lin Yuzhi, who was also Lin Mo’s mother.
Back in the Alchemist Association’s central plaza, Ning Xuan looked at the occupied Alchemy Platforms, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "I can just set up a table here and do my alchemy, right?"
Yan Fuzhen chuckled. "Platform Three and Platform Seven are both occupied by our people. Which spot do you prefer?" ’As a thoughtful and meticulous chief steward, how could I not arrange for such a small detail?’
Ning Xuan smiled in surprise and walked toward Platform 3.
At that moment, a member of the organizing committee walked onto the speech platform in the center of the plaza. "Everyone, please be quiet. There is no need to panic. There have been some unexpected developments in this year’s competition. The organizing committee is actively coordinating with all parties and will be closing off the plaza for three hours. During these three hours, there will be a continuous live broadcast on the Star Network. All Alchemists may use this time to perform alchemy. The finished medicines will be counted toward your final score."
"Those with high Mutated Values who require treatment, please gather over here. We have requested Purification Masters to come and treat everyone. The Purification Masters will not communicate with the patients in any way. The entire treatment process will be broadcast live and open to public supervision."
"Additionally, the Elder Council has sent people to investigate the situation within the Secret Realm. Please cooperate fully. The investigation process will also be broadcast live and open to public supervision." After he finished speaking, soldiers, standing tall and fully armed, appeared at the entrances and exits of each area in the plaza.
A team of women in red robes walked into the plaza from outside. They were all Purification Masters with a Spiritual Power Level of B or higher, who had specifically cultivated the Purification Technique. The organizing committee designated an area for them to use as a treatment center.
Many people bowed respectfully upon seeing the team of Purification Masters. Spirit Controllers with high Mutated Degrees were brought over by their companions, and the treatments began in an orderly fashion.
As for Ning Xuan’s companions, she had already treated them before they left the Secret Realm. Their Mutated Degrees were all very low, so they didn’t require further treatment.
Ning Xuan stroked the Green Gold Stone Alchemy Platform and placed the Panlong Purple Pattern Refining Furnace on it. She then took out the Separator, High-speed Crusher, Constant Temperature Box, and other equipment one by one.
’The Guiding Key to the Chaotic Divine Domain is so rare and precious. How could I possibly miss this chance?’
To increase her chances of winning the champion’s prize, she decided she had to successfully create the Mixed Element Elixir of Eternal Life within these three hours.
The Mixed Element Elixir of Eternal Life was a Star-rank Medicine, and the number of Primordial Fruits was limited. To avoid any waste, Ning Xuan first refined several types of Half-Star Rank Potions made with more common ingredients to increase her proficiency.
Next, Ning Xuan refined a few bottles of Concentrating Soul and Gathering Spirit Potion, adding Purple Marrow Star Pattern Grass during the process. She performed her alchemy with the same practiced ease as if she were in her own laboratory. She didn’t know it yet, but the video of her alchemy, broadcast live across the Star Network, was already being frantically shared and would soon attract countless viewers.
