Chapter 2044: Choosing a Master

In the end, Wanbao Tower secured a fifty percent share, of which one percent naturally belonged to Tianying Imperial City.

A small imperial city carving out one percent of the Southern Border's profits—this was unprecedented in the history of the Southern Border.

Yet none of these Seven-Star Divine Alchemists raised any objection.

Ye Yuan held too many trump cards!

If they truly broke ties, they would suffer a devastating blow.

The alliance between Ye Yuan and Wanbao Tower was simply unassailable.

As for the remaining matters, they had nothing to do with Ye Yuan. This was a protracted war of attrition that would last several months.

During this time, the Cloud Alchemy Convention was also in full swing.

Half a year passed in the blink of an eye, and the Peak Alchemy Convention finally came to a close. The major powers had all secured their territories and shares.

The seven major powers still led the pack, occupying over seventy percent of the Southern Border's profits.

The remaining thirty percent was divided among the other Seven-Star Divine Alchemists.

However, the landscape of this seventy percent had undergone a drastic change.

The territory of Cloud Alchemy Grand Imperial Capital had shrunk considerably, so it extended its claws toward other powers, hoping to make up for the loss.

The other five sacred lands had also shrunk significantly.

Wanbao Tower had naturally become the biggest winner of this Cloud Alchemy Convention.

More importantly, Tianying Imperial City had emerged as a force to be reckoned with, rising powerfully.

It must be noted that Wanbao Tower held forty percent, Tianying held ten percent, and the remaining fifty percent was to be divided among the six major powers.

Given the dominance of Cloud Alchemy Grand Imperial Capital, it naturally took a larger share, ultimately securing twenty percent.

Thus, the other five powers were left with only thirty percent.

In other words, Tianying Imperial City had become the third largest power after Jinhuan Grand Imperial Capital and Cloud Alchemy Grand Imperial Capital!

Having learned the significance behind the Cloud Alchemy Convention, Ye Yuan also began to entertain ideas.

For Tianying to rise, resources were indispensable.

If Ye Yuan relied solely on his own alchemy, even if he refined pills for a lifetime, the gains would be limited and could never sustain the operation of a sacred land.

This Cloud Alchemy Convention provided him with a tremendous opportunity.

Though it was only ten percent, the benefits involved were simply unimaginable.

With these profits, Tianying's rise was inevitable.

Over these six months, Ye Yuan's fame had been thoroughly established, spreading across the entire Southern Border.

Everyone knew that the Southern Border had produced an extraordinary Grandmaster!

When Zheng Qiyuan heard this news, he sat in his own hall for ten full days and nights without moving an inch.

Ten days later, he walked out of the hall, his hair completely gray.

Then, he issued an order: the Zheng family would relocate northward, withdrawing from the Southern Border!

This news caused a sensation.

When the news reached Tianying Imperial City, the entire city rejoiced.

Their lord had once again surpassed their expectations.

Although they had known before that Ye Yuan was formidable, they had no clear concept of it.

But now, Ye Yuan had defeated ninety-nine percent of the Seven-Star Divine Alchemists at the Cloud Alchemy Convention.

This achievement... was simply too dazzling!

And at this moment, the Cloud Alchemy Convention finally came to an end.

In the end, Yun Yi still took first place.

But the most dazzling figure was not Yun Yi, but Ning Siyu!

Ning Siyu fought her way through every challenge and ultimately achieved fourth place.

The top three were all Dao Realm experts!

Ning Siyu's ranking was not surprising in itself; she had long been recognized as the strongest below the Dao Realm.

Achieving fourth place was well deserved.

What truly stunned everyone was Ning Siyu's final battle. Her opponent was Yang Yi, the grandnephew of the third-ranked Dao Realm expert, Blazing Sun Heavenly Venerable.

In this battle, Ning Siyu displayed alchemy skills beyond imagination, even pushing Yang Yi into a corner at one point.

Throughout the entire pill duel, the two were evenly matched.

This battle amazed everyone!

It must be remembered that Ning Siyu was only at the Initial Realm Great Perfection, while Yang Yi was at the Dao Realm!

For Ning Siyu to possess such strength showed how solid her foundation in the Dao of Alchemy was.

For a time, Grandmaster Ye's prestige rose even higher!

At this point, only two matters remained for the Cloud Alchemy Convention, and they were the two most anticipated events for all participants—the Grandmasters taking disciples and the Grandmasters' lectures on the Dao!

The top twenty of the Six-Star Group and the Five-Star Group were eligible to choose a Grandmaster as their teacher.

Of course, it also depended on whether the Grandmaster would accept them.

At this moment, fourteen Grandmasters sat upright on the high platform, overlooking the square.

Fourteen phantom images were arrayed in the square, representing the fourteen Grandmasters.

"Now, the top twenty of the Five-Star Group, step forward and choose the Grandmaster you admire. I know that many of you are descendants of Heavenly Venerables. But taking a master at this Cloud Alchemy Convention is a great opportunity for you! You may confidently choose your teacher; your elders will not mind! However, remember that you have only one chance to choose," a Heavenly Venerable expert said slowly.

Those Five-Star disciples were filled with excitement. Being able to take a Grandmaster as a teacher was definitely a great opportunity for them.

Even their elders were far inferior to the Grandmasters!

"Alright, those whose names I call, step out in order and choose your Grandmaster! First, Luo Tianqi."

Luo Tianqi was the first-place winner of the Five-Star Group, with extraordinary skills.

In previous conventions, the first-place winner would usually aim for Dan Yu Heavenly Venerable.

Whether he would accept them depended on Dan Yu Heavenly Venerable's mood.

But this time, with the addition of Piao Yu Heavenly Venerable, a Ancestral Realm expert, Dan Yu Heavenly Venerable could no longer hold back.

"Luo Tianqi, I have taken a great liking to you. Come to me, and I will surely focus on cultivating you. In the future, your strength will certainly not be inferior to Yun Yi's," Dan Yu Heavenly Venerable spoke.

He was very confident; after all, he was an Ancestral Realm expert and had personally extended the invitation.

Unless he was a fool, Luo Tianqi should place himself under his tutelage.

Although he had lost this time, the prestige accumulated over hundreds of thousands of years was not to be underestimated.

Over the years, countless alchemy experts had emerged from Cloud Alchemy Grand Imperial Capital.

But this time, he miscalculated.

Luo Tianqi bowed respectfully to Dan Yu Heavenly Venerable and said, "Thank you for your favor, Lord Dan Yu. I am deeply honored! However... I already have a Grandmaster in mind. I am truly sorry."

Dan Yu Heavenly Venerable's expression changed, and he was about to speak when he saw Luo Tianqi, without hesitation and to the astonishment of all the Seven-Star Divine Alchemists, walk directly toward Ye Yuan's phantom image.

He didn't choose Piao Yu?

Seeing it was Ye Yuan, Dan Yu Heavenly Venerable also breathed a sigh of relief.

This competition for talent was also a major affair.

After all, a vast sacred land was not supported by him alone.

As long as he didn't choose Piao Yu Heavenly Venerable, it was fine.

The presiding Heavenly Venerable was also slightly surprised but didn't mind and continued, "Second, Li Qing."

Originally, Dan Yu Heavenly Venerable wouldn't have looked twice at this second-place winner.

But given the special circumstances this time, he still spoke up.

"Li Qing, I can accept you as my disciple!" Dan Yu Heavenly Venerable said.

Li Qing looked apologetic, bowed, and said, "Thank you for your favor, Lord Dan Yu. However... I already have someone in mind."

With that, Li Qing also walked without hesitation toward Ye Yuan.