Afterward, many people focused their attention again on the loudmouthed fellow—some with fierce, hostile looks, some amused as if watching a show, and some even began actively trying to befriend him.
Evan Yang ignored all of this, squeezing through the crowd with Brandon Tu and heading straight for the center of the pill-refining arena. The place was already packed—were all these people alchemists? That was what made Evan curious.
Rockwell Nance quickly arrived as well, taking his prepared seat. Once the city lord appeared, everyone quieted down. Evan looked around carefully and found the place was overflowing with people; if any accident happened, escaping from here would be nearly impossible.
Facing this scene, Rockwell Nance secretly laughed to himself—this was exactly the effect he wanted. When his eyes met Evan's, he gave a strange look, his mouth curling into a mocking crescent smile.
Once the arena quieted down, everyone waited for the city lord to make arrangements. But many noticed Rockwell Nance's glance toward Evan, and curiosity drew their eyes to the little beggar. Some even began whispering, "Could this little beggar really be a Human-Rank alchemy genius?"
"Isn't it obvious? Didn't you see even the city lord's eyes shining differently?"
"What's so great about him? I'm definitely going to challenge him later."
"No need for you to do it—I'll go myself."
These muttered comments startled Evan, who thought to himself, "This Rockwell Nance—a single look from him is enough to make everyone speculate. With all his earlier manipulation, these people will probably gang up on me."
"I refuse to believe a whole crowd can't beat you!" Rockwell Nance, of course, noticed the mood in the arena and felt even more secretly pleased. As for Brynn Bishop, he was just as eager, thinking that once he stepped on Evan's wave of public attention, it would mark the beginning of his own rise.
Evan swept his gaze across the crowd, and to his surprise, he spotted something unexpected.
"What's wrong?" Brandon Tu asked curiously, noticing Evan's startled look.
"I just saw someone I know." Evan muttered as he looked in a certain direction. That person gazed back at him, eyes bright, as if she had a thousand questions she wanted to ask.
That person was none other than Tara Chu, the one Evan had 'rescued' in a daze. She was just curious and came to watch, never expecting that the rumored little beggar was the same boy she had met before. She'd heard she was carried out by Evan, then sent home for treatment while half-conscious. Even now, though she was awake, there was still a blank spot in her memory. Unable to rest without answers, she had come here. The moment she saw Evan, she was shocked to realize he was an alchemist.
The two stared at each other, drawing everyone's attention to Tara Chu. "Is she his lover?" people began to speculate wildly.
Public opinion is powerful. As soon as those words spread, Evan blushed—not from embarrassment over their gossip, but because he remembered the Foundation-Building Pill incident. He couldn't help recalling certain moments, especially Tara Chu's pitiful yet frenzied state at the time.
As for Tara Chu, she reacted like any young lady would—her reputation mattered. Hearing the rumors, her face showed a mix of anger and embarrassment, making it hard to tell which emotion was stronger.
Was this their private world? Rockwell Nance felt the time was right—he couldn't let this scene drag on any longer. He lightly coughed a few times, pulling everyone's attention back.
"I didn't expect so many people today. I suppose I need to announce a new rule." Rockwell Nance stood up and said.
"A new rule?" His words immediately piqued everyone's curiosity. Only Brynn Bishop wore a knowing smile.
Seeing everyone's reaction, Rockwell Nance smiled and said, "Since there are so many people this time, we'll split into two groups. The first group is for those with Human-Rank Alchemist Tokens, and the second group is for those without."
"What?" His words immediately made many people unhappy, and some started to stir up trouble. Seeing the unrest, Rockwell Nance snorted, "That's the rule!"
With that snort, Rockwell Nance unleashed his aura, forcing those without tokens to sigh and step aside to join the second group.
"Those with tokens stand to my left, those without to my right, and everyone else who isn't participating stand in the middle," Rockwell Nance instructed the alchemists in the center of the arena.
Soon, the sound of shuffling feet echoed as token-holders and non-token-holders lined up on either side. In the middle, a few non-participants remained—including Evan, who was now a bit troubled. He asked Brandon Tu, "City lord Tu, why are the tokens yellow?"
Brandon Tu, who was wondering if Evan had a token, became curious and asked, "You don't have a token?"
"Just tell me, what's with the yellow tokens?" Evan actually had a token, but his was black—not yellow.
Seeing Evan ask, Brandon Tu explained without holding back, "If you're an alchemist and can refine Human-Rank pills, you can go to a first-tier city where there's an official certification process for alchemists across the continent. They'll issue a token like the ones these people have—on the back, it should say 'Human-Rank Alchemist.'"
"Aren't you worried about forgery? Or someone stealing a token from another?" Evan asked, wanting to be sure.
"That's impossible. Each token is bound to its owner's divine sense. If the owner wills it, the token shatters instantly, or if the owner dies, the token disappears as well." Brandon Tu didn't know why Evan was asking such questions.
Evan thought for a moment and asked, "Are there any other token colors?"
"Other colors? Besides yellow, there's also black. That kind is a certification token valid not just in the Eastern Continent, but across other continents as well," Brandon Tu replied after thinking it over.
"So that's how it works." Evan finally understood the black token, and realized that Elder Lee was no ordinary alchemist—he had actually earned a black token. Luckily, Elder Lee was still alive; otherwise, the token would be useless.
The scene had already changed: the two groups had split, with only a dozen token-holders and over a hundred non-token-holders. Rockwell Nance glanced around, then focused on Evan standing motionless in the middle, wondering, "Does this kid not have a token? Or is he forfeiting?"
On the other side, Brynn Bishop was also curious. If Evan forfeited, then Brynn's use of the Treasureforge First Furnace would be meaningless. So Brynn asked Rockwell Nance, "City Lord Nance, could this little beggar join our group?"
Everyone's attention turned to Brynn Bishop's words, and speculation began—were these two about to face off?
Rockwell Nance was happy to oblige. He smiled and said, "What does our young friend think?"
"Are you saying I don't have a token?" Evan secretly chuckled at the crowd's looks. Just as everyone wondered if he'd accept, Evan did something no one expected—he revealed a token, same size but different color, and a completely different concept.
Brandon Tu was the first to notice, unable to believe his eyes. "Kid, you—"
"Isn't it cool?" Evan chuckled. His laughter nearly floored the crowd.
The first to lose his composure was Nangong Yan. "Could he be some hidden genius?"
Brynn Bishop couldn't believe his eyes, repeatedly convincing himself, "Impossible. There's no way he could have such a token."
"City Lord, I'll join their group then." Evan Yang cheerfully put away his token and joined Brynn's group, immediately causing the others in that group to step back in fear. Only Brynn stared at Evan, unwilling to accept it, and said, "Little beggar, don't think I'll lose to you just because you have a black token!" He said this partly because he himself was capable of earning a black token, but hadn't bothered to get certified yet. He never expected Evan to steal the spotlight today.
Nangong Yan was a sly old fox—if he couldn't use you, he'd destroy you. He smiled and said, "No wonder you dared to speak so arrogantly, you have the black token certification."
His words were full of hidden meaning, instantly stirring up jealousy among everyone in Brynn's group.
"That's ruthless," Evan thought coldly, but he just smiled and said aloud, "So, when do we start?"
"Everyone else, please leave the arena. Only this group will compete. In front of me are furnaces and medicinal herbs—you may pick freely, or use your own furnace and herbs. The result will be judged by the quality of Qi-Gathering Pills you refine. As always, one supreme-grade pill equals ten high-grade, one high-grade equals ten mid-grade, and one mid-grade equals ten low-grade." Rockwell Nance, seeing Evan's arrogance, was quite displeased, but remembering that Brynn would soon use the Treasureforge First Furnace to secure victory, he smiled again as he spoke.
Soon, the rest of the crowd withdrew to the sidelines, watching the dozen or so alchemists prepare to refine pills.
Brynn and Evan stared at each other, while the others quickly moved forward to select their herbs and furnaces.
"Little beggar, aren't you going to pick a furnace?" Brynn had lost once before and didn't want to lose face again, so he forced a smile, barely hiding his irritation.
"No rush. But you—why not choose some good herbs?" Evan replied with a cold laugh.
"Hmph, fine, I'll pick." Brynn remembered how Evan had previously won by carefully selecting herbs and using ordinary methods, which left him feeling annoyed.
When it was Evan and Brynn's turn to pick herbs and furnaces, Brynn quickly chose the herbs he wanted from the pile, then stepped aside without picking a furnace. Just as everyone wondered why, Brynn took out a small cauldron—golden in color, shaped like an ordinary furnace, but radiating a clear spiritual aura that made people crave it.
"Is the Treasureforge First Furnace really here?" someone exclaimed.
"What? Is that really the legendary Treasureforge First Furnace?"
"Yes, it's said to have vanished a hundred years ago. Who would've thought it would turn up with such a young alchemist!"
The commotion reached an unprecedented level, and everyone forgot about Evan's actions, who was still focused on picking herbs.
When someone asked Brynn if this was the First Furnace, he neither confirmed nor denied it, just smiled and stared at Evan's back as if trying to burn him with his gaze.
Time ticked by. Evan was still choosing ingredients, which made Rockwell Nance laugh and say, "Young man, are you finished picking your herbs yet?"
"Almost done." Evan selected a few herbs, casually picked a sturdy-looking furnace, and walked to his designated spot with a smile.
"Alright, then the next hour is yours." Rockwell Nance was eager to crush this upstart.
Brynn glanced at Evan and sneered, "Kid, are you really going to use that broken furnace?"
"It's good enough," Evan replied, smiling as he looked at the furnace in his hands.
"So arrogant," someone mocked.
Brynn didn't even need to retort—many people began hyping up the Treasureforge First Furnace, looking down on Evan's ordinary cauldron. Some wondered how Evan got his black token, while others eagerly anticipated the pill duel between Evan and Brynn.