Rise of The Abandoned Husband (Liam Knight) novel Chapter 161

161 Chapter 161 The True Elixir’s Dawn

The crack of my palm against Elias’s face echoed through the competition hall. His head snapped to the side, a red handprint blooming on his check. Gasps rippled through the crowd as I lowered my hand, my eyes never leaving his stunned face.

“That,” I said calmly, “was for your pathetic attempts at sabotage.”

Elias touched his check, his eyes blazing with humiliation and rage. “You’ll regret this,”

he hissed.

Desmond Davenport leapt to his feet, pointing at me with undisguised fury. “This is unacceptable! Competitor Knight has violated the rules of conduct! I demand his immediate disqualification!”

Before I could respond, voices erupted from the audience.

“After what his student did? That’s rich!”

“We all saw Elias trying to sabotage him!”

“The blue flame alchemist deserves his chance!”

The crowd’s reaction surprised me. People I’d never met were defending me, challenging Davenport’s authority. The old man’s face reddened as he realized he couldn’t simply dismiss me without consequences.

The head judge cleared his throat nervously. “In light of… previous incidents during the preparation phase, we will allow the competition to continue.” He shot Desmond a meaningful look. “All competitors will present their creations as planned.”

Desmond sank back into his seat, lips pressed into a thin line.

“Very well,” the head judge continued, composing himself. “Elias Ainsworth, please. present your creation to the panel.”

Elias stepped forward, his arrogant smirk returning despite the red mark on his face. He produced a jade box and opened it with flourish, revealing a single golden pill that gleamed under the hall’s lights.

“Distinguished judges, honored guests,” he began, his voice projecting confidence. “I present my Life Extension Pill, a formula I’ve personally enhanced from my master’s

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161 Chapter 101 The True Elixir’s Dawn

original creation.”

He handed the pill to the judges, who passed it around, examining its texture and aroma with expert eyes.

*The common Life Extension Pill adds five years to one’s lifespan, Elias continued.

“Mine guarantees eight years minimum, with proper cultivation possibly extending the effect to a full decade

Murmurs of appreciation spread through the audience. I had to admit, it was

impressive work–for someone his age.

“Furthermore, Elias added with a pointed look in my direction, “my creation required no theatrical displays or unorthodox techniques. Just pure, traditional alchemy at its

finest.

The crowd applauded as the judges nodded appreciatively. Desmond was practically beaming with pride.

“An excellent showing, the head judge announced. “Now, Liam Knight, please present. your creation.”

I stepped forward, feeling hundreds of eyes tracking my movement. After my display of the Blue Spirit Fire, expectations were sky–high. I reached into my pocket and pulled. out a simple cloth pouch.

“My submission,” I stated, emptying the contents onto the judging table.

Eight small, ordinary–looking brown pellets rolled across the surface. They looked crude and unrefined, with rough edges and an uneven texture. A faint, unpleasant odor wafted from them.

Confused murmurs rippled through the crowd. After the spectacular blue flame, this was what I had to offer?

Elias burst into laughter. “Is this a joke? They look like something a first–year apprentice would make–and discard as failures!”

The judges leaned forward, their expressions ranging from disappointment to confusion as they inspected my offering.

“They smell…” one judge began diplomatically.

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101 Chapter 101 The Tron Elvis Dawn

“Like horse dung,” another finished bluntly

Desmond’s lips curled into a triumphant smile. “Well, I believe we’ve seen enough. The winner is cle-”

“I haven’t finished my presentation, I interrupted, my voice cutting through the hall.

Desmond’s smile faltered. “There’s nothing more to see. These… pills… clearly demonstrate your level of skill.

I fixed him with a steady gaze. “According to competition rules, I have five minutes to present my creation. I’ve used less than one.”

The head judge nodded reluctantly. “He’s correct. Continue, Competitor Knight.”

1 I gestured to the pellets. “These aren’t my submission. They’re merely a demonstration of how easily appearances can deceive.”

With a swift motion, I swept the pellets off the table and into my hand, then closed my fist. When I opened it again, they had crumbled to dust.

“My actual submission,” I said, reaching into my inner pocket, “is this.”

I placed a single pill on the table. Unlike the dull brown pellets, this one was a deep, mesmerizing purple–almost translucent, with swirls of darker color moving within it like galaxies in miniature.

The hall fell silent as the judges leaned forward, their expertise recognizing something extraordinary even if they couldn’t identify it.

“What is this pill?” the head judge asked, his tone cautious but curious.

“I call it the True Elixir,” I replied simply.

Desmond scoffed. “A fancy name and pretty appearance mean nothing if you can’t explain its properties or prove its efficacy.”

I nodded. “You’re absolutely right, Judge Davenport. Allow me to elaborate.”

Instead of picking up the pill, I pointed to the sky visible through the hall’s dome ceiling. “In ancient texts, the rarest and most powerful creations were said to stir the very heavens themselves. The formation of Pill Clouds was the ultimate validation of an alchemist’s work.”

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161 Chapter 161 The Trun Elbits Devi

Elias rolled his eyes. “Pill Clouds? Those are just myths from children’s stories”

Several judges shook their heads, and one elderly judge with spectacles chuckled. “Young man, I’ve been an alchemist for sixty years. No one has witnessed Pill Clouds in at least three generations.

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