Hearing the Supreme Emperor's questioning, the Jiang family elders attending the meeting immediately trembled.
He had no idea about this matter from beginning to end.
Because the Jiang Family Head was unwilling to attend this banquet today, he sent him here.
He also thought it was just a matter of attending a reception, but he didn't expect to be so aggressively challenged.
Thinking of this, he could only swallow his saliva and submissively kneel on the ground to beg the Supreme Emperor for forgiveness.
"Forget it, this has nothing to do with you, you may rise."
Seeing that his admonition had yielded results, the Supreme Emperor then magnanimously waved his hand, signaling him to rise.
"Not bad, first suppress, then forgive him. What a clever tactic. Perhaps this is the way to manage subordinates."
Immediately, the Supreme Emperor turned to look at the many Alchemists present.
"So I have called over all the Alchemists most likely to win this time, even the three highly skilled disciples from Wan Yao Valley have come here as well."
Wan Yao Valley?
Hearing this familiar place name, Qin Xuan immediately turned around and saw two young men standing nearby, bowing to the Supreme Emperor.
Qin Xuan did not see Yao Ling.
It seems Yao Ling is not participating this time; only his two Senior Brothers are.
Fifth-Rank Alchemist robes.
Seeing that both of them were wearing Fifth-Rank Alchemist robes, Qin Xuan also sighed inwardly.
To be honest, if he hadn't intervened, Ge Dan's side would have had no chance of winning against them.
The strength of this Wan Yao Valley is simply too formidable; the Alchemists they casually cultivate are already Fifth-Rank.
Not to mention the existence of Yao Ling, that Prodigy.
As a half-destined body, Yao Ling is bound to become a Seven-Rank Alchemist sooner or later.
If this continues, Ge Dan's side has no chance of winning.
"However, Ge Dan mentioned to me before that there is a Seven-Rank Pill Formula in Wan Yao Valley. If we can get our hands on that Seven-Rank Pill Formula, it would be a huge gain."
The value of a Seven-Rank Pill Formula is self-evident; Qin Xuan understood it clearly without needing further reminders.
"Alright, so you all should understand what I'm going to say this time, right? That's right, I hope everyone will strive hard this time and not let my Great Liang lose face."
Qin Xuan suddenly understood. No wonder the Supreme Emperor himself had to appear this time; this matter indeed had too great an impact.
If Alchemists from other countries truly swept them, it would be a complete loss of face.
"I don't demand that you all necessarily take first place; I only ask that you secure any one of the top three spots, at least so my Great Liang doesn't lose too much face."
Hearing this, everyone present exchanged glances, somewhat at a loss. They had originally intended to strive for glory for Great Liang.
Unexpectedly, this Supreme Emperor actually no longer believed they could achieve first place.
"May I ask, Your Majesty, which talents will the other countries send this time?"
Someone's mind stirred, and they immediately guessed something.
To make this Supreme Emperor of Great Liang so nervous, the other side must have truly sent formidable opponents this time.
"Great Liang, Great Qi, and Chu Country—all three countries have Six-Rank Alchemists among the young talents they are sending."
Hearing this, everyone present was instantly dumbfounded.
Six-Rank Alchemist!
"What kind of joke is this? Great Liang, Great Qi, Chu Country, did they not read the rules?"
"This time, all Great Masters allowed to participate must be under thirty years old. For them to send such a group of people, it doesn't comply with the rules, does it?"
Although it was called the Alchemist Grand Competition, in reality, to encourage more young talents, this Alchemist Grand Competition had restrictions.
Only those under thirty years old could participate in this Alchemist Grand Competition, but unexpectedly, the other countries actually sent Six-Rank Alchemists.
"That's right, since they can send a group of Six-Rank Great Masters, we naturally can too. Why not let our Alchemist Guild president participate?"
Someone below spoke loudly, and hearing this, the Supreme Emperor helplessly shook his head.
"All the Alchemists they are sending this time are under thirty years old; they fully meet the requirements."
Everyone present was instantly stunned. They slowly stopped, looking at the Supreme Emperor with some disbelief.
"If I'm not mistaken, Great Qi, Great Liang, and Chu Country each only have one Six-Rank Alchemist under thirty, right? Could it be..."
Someone spoke hesitantly, and the Supreme Emperor above nodded.
"That's right, they have indeed sent their country's only Six-Rank Alchemist under thirty years old, precisely to compete with my Great Liang for first place this time."
At this point, the Supreme Emperor was clearly angered.
It was evident that the other three countries used this method simply to make Great Liang lose face.
"Sending their country's strongest combat power to participate in another country's Grand Competition, as for their own country, in their eyes, it's already a sure thing, completely nothing to worry about."
Arrogant, truly arrogant.
Qin Xuan also secretly complained. He didn't expect the people of these three countries to be so arrogant, truly thinking they had Great Liang cornered.
"So, no matter what, you all must at least secure a spot in the top three this time, otherwise, we will truly lose all face."
Saying this, the Supreme Emperor bowed to the Alchemists below, with a hint of pleading in his tone.
"So that's how it is."
Han Ye and Qin Xuan pondered. No wonder the Supreme Emperor's attitude was so sincere this time; it turned out there was this underlying purpose.
However, his gaze then slightly narrowed as he looked at the Supreme Emperor, and a bold idea formed in his mind.
"Your Majesty, since these three countries are sending their strongest Alchemists to participate in our country's Alchemist Grand Competition, their domestic strength is naturally not as strong as before."
"Why don't we let our country's Alchemists also go to their countries to participate in their Alchemist Grand Competitions? Wouldn't that be more fair, a tit-for-tat?"
That's right, in Qin Xuan's view, this plan was certainly feasible. Since they were so shameless, wanting to force Great Liang to lose face, why not use this tactic to disgust their opponents?
Since the other party sent their strongest young Alchemists, their domestic strength was far from what it was before.
As long as Great Liang's Alchemists could shine in other countries, wouldn't that also indirectly slap the faces of the other countries?
This was Qin Xuan's plan.
Hearing this, everyone present immediately exchanged glances, somewhat at a loss.
Initially, when they heard that the other side was sending people to participate in the Alchemist Grand Competition here, they panicked a bit and never thought of the tactic of exchanging locations.
Now that they thought about it, since the other party came to raid Great Liang's home base, Great Liang could completely send people to raid theirs.
Since they were willing to send their strongest Alchemists here, they naturally had to pay a price.
"This is indeed a good idea, but who is willing to go to the other three countries, and who is willing to stay in Great Liang?"
Hearing this, everyone exchanged glances and fell silent.
It was clear that if they had to choose, all the Alchemists present would undoubtedly want to go to the other countries.
After all, this time, there would be three Six-Rank Alchemists from the other three countries coming to Great Liang.
Under such immense competitive pressure, they had no confidence whatsoever.
And going to the other three countries, even if they couldn't necessarily get first place, they could at least contend for a decent ranking, making themselves look better.
