The man, Raymond, nodded at Severin after sensing the latter's gaze. The other person, a woman, exuded grace and charm. Clad in a flowing white dress that resembled the petals of a white lotus, the faint scent of orchidaceous fragrance was perceivable even from afar.
Severin speculated that the woman was Celeste, and the spectators soon confirmed his suspicions. After Raymond and Celeste made their appearance, a wave of exclamations echoed across the entire open area in front of the Alchemy Tower.
"Isn't that Raymond?! He's the fourth core disciple!"
"And that's Celeste, the fifth core disciple!"
"Wasn't Raymond in seclusion on Phecda Isle? Why has he joined us here today?"
"Who would've thought that today's contest would draw the attention of two core disciples who rarely make an appearance outside of their islands?"
As the disciples on the scene discussed the unexpected arrival of Raymond and Celeste, a perplexed expression unfurled across Emery's face. Though she had no idea why they were there, their presence piled up the pressure for her.
Following Emery's decision to challenge Severin, she had trained hard under Daniella's guidance and successfully crafted a sixth-grade pill. Even a pill as challenging as the Crystal Spring Pill would allow her to boast a 20 percent success rate. However, her confidence took a slight hit when Celeste arrived.
Her smile then faded as she shifted her gaze away from Severin. Her tone became more reserved as she said, "Emery was a little shaken when you surpassed her in the rankings."
Daniella subtly implied that Severin's achievement had affected Emery emotionally. Her swift change in demeanor caused Severin's smile to tense up. Deep down, his impression toward her had turned cold. After looking at Emery's confidence and then at Severin's unemotive expression, she stood up and declared, "Since both sides have agreed to this contest, then let them have at it."
Ferland smiled and stroked his goatee as he announced, "I hereby declare the start of this contest! Whoever produces the highest-quality pill is the winner!"
The rules of the contest were straightforward—it was a measure of their proficiency in crafting pills. At Ferland's conclusion, Severin and Emery descended to the ground and retrieved their cauldron.
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