The scale of this Bounty Arena had expanded like an inflated balloon, growing step by step. At first, the Pure Fire Hall had only intended to host an event that came around once every ten years.
Then, with the participation of the three great seniors, it became a once-in-three-hundred-years affair. And because of those three great seniors' performances—and above all, Jiang Chen's stunning display—the arena's prestige was elevated yet again, nearly reaching the level of a once-in-a-millennium event.
Setting everything else aside, the Xiaoyu Heavenly Sword Sect's problem that had persisted for eight hundred years without anyone solving it had been cracked by Jiang Chen.
This undoubtedly set Pill Fire City abuzz.
Despite the fact that none of the Emperor-tier powers in Pill Fire City had bothered to send representatives to the Pure Fire Hall's Bounty Arena, the truth was that the Pure Fire Hall reported every detail of the arena to the major lower-tier powers each day.
Every performance by the arena's champion fighters was relayed faithfully and in full.
As for Jiang Chen's identity, High Vice Hall Master Gao of the Pure Fire Hall had not leaked it—owing to an oath he had sworn. But regarding Jiang Chen's performance, Vice Hall Master Gao had painted it up in vivid detail.
Once the Xiaoyu Heavenly Sword Sect's task was resolved, Vice Hall Master Gao immediately dispatched the news to all the great Emperor-tier powers.
In an instant, the unfamiliar name "Shao Yuan" became a quiet focal point behind the scenes of Pill Fire City's Emperor-tier powers.
Countless people in Pill Fire City clicked their tongues in wonder—just who was this Shao Yuan? How could he have solved a task that had stumped everyone for eight hundred years?
Of course, those who had not participated in the Bounty Arena did not know the specifics of the Xiaoyu Heavenly Sword Sect's task.
Even those who had participated and knew what it entailed were not permitted to disclose it.
But even without knowing the task's contents, a mission that had gone unsolved for eight hundred years had to be an exceedingly difficult one to complete.
And so, the name "Shao Yuan" became, with irresistible force, the center of attention in Pill Fire City.
Pill Fire City was a pragmatic place. Because of Shao Yuan's meteoric rise, many powers almost immediately began extending olive branches to Jiang Chen, eager to recruit him.
But unsurprisingly, every single one of them returned empty-handed.
Meanwhile, many other powers reached out to the Pure Fire Hall, hoping to use their connection to win Jiang Chen over. The Pure Fire Hall told them all, without exception, not to harbor such wild fantasies—this Shao Yuan would never join any Pill Fire City power.
Pill King Qingfeng had sought Jiang Chen out the very moment the Bounty Arena ended, questioning him about the Xiaoyu Heavenly Sword Sect's pill formula bounty.
After receiving Jiang Chen's confirmation, Pill King Qingfeng fell silent for a long time, a wry smile on his face.
Thinking back to how he had once looked down on this young man, dismissing his participation in the alchemy division's champion selection as a desecration of the dao of alchemy—the memory made Pill King Qingfeng blush with shame.
"Brother Shao, this old man is ashamed. Today I finally learned that beyond the sky there is a higher sky, and beyond people there are greater people. I have always been full of myself, proud that I ranked among the top thirty-six on Pill Fire City's Millennium Hall of Fame. Compared to your strength and magnanimity, I am utterly worthless."
Pill King Qingfeng's temperament was peculiar, but he possessed one virtue: he was genuinely deferential to anyone stronger than himself, and he could always acknowledge and correct his mistakes.
"Pill King Qingfeng flatters me. In truth, the reason this young one was able to complete that task was that my master once mentioned certain pill formula issues to me. This particular formula was one my esteemed teacher once derived together with me—we studied it in great detail."
That was the best explanation Jiang Chen could offer.
After all, while coincidence might seem far-fetched, it was the most convincing excuse. He was still young; if he spun too many outlandish tales, people would simply disbelieve him. Saying he happened to have studied it before would be easier for others to accept.
Just like the powerful Pill Kings of the Glass King City, Pill King Qingfeng was filled with admiration for the master Jiang Chen spoke of.
At that moment, the Peerless Great Emperor walked over as well, chuckling as he spoke. "Little brother, I hear you've been crowned the top champion of this Bounty Arena."
Jiang Chen smiled. "I was just lucky—happened to stumble into good fortune."
"Once might be luck. Twice could still be luck. But three or four times—'luck' alone can no longer explain it," the Peerless Great Emperor said with a grin.
"Well said. If it were merely luck, you couldn't have claimed the top spot in the alchemy division selection, nor could you have topped the comprehensive division selection. The results you achieved are absolutely not due to luck, but to genuine foundational strength and real ability." Pill King Qingfeng's tone was entirely earnest.
Grand Master Wang Xuetong sidled over. "Brother Shao, I—old Wang—practically want to take you as my master. Sigh, I have so many bewilderments in the dao of formations. Brother Shao, if you've got time, the two of us should really have a friendly exchange—maybe we could strike a spark or two?"
The Peerless Great Emperor cursed with a laugh. "Old fool, you can forget about that. I've already booked Brother Shao's time first."
Wang Xuetong protested in misery. "Peerless Great Emperor, you can't be so overbearing! Boo hoo—old Wang, if I can't sort out these formation puzzles, I'll eventually burst from frustration!"
"Stop whining in front of this old man. It's useless," the Peerless Great Emperor said cheerfully, well aware that Wang Xuetong was putting on an act.