"Crimson Demon..." I shuddered, thinking about the bookstore from earlier in the afternoon.

"Hm? Did you say something, Kai?"

I shook my head as soon as Feng Wu turned to look at me as we exited the Jade Harmony Inn. "Nothing," I muttered.

He raised an eyebrow, a knowing grin spreading across his face. "You've been awfully quiet ever since we left The Scroll and Tome. Perhaps you found...enlightenment?"

My face flushed hotter than a blacksmith's forge. "Don't be ridiculous! I was merely contemplating the profound impact certain literary works can have on the unsuspecting reader."

"The profound impact of...forbidden knowledge?" Feng Wu finished, a teasing glint in his eye. "Perhaps you've stumbled upon an awakening, my friend?"

"An awakening?" I nearly choked on the words. "More like a descent into madness! Those scandalous texts could give a cultivator Qi Deviation just by gazing upon the first page!"

A burst of laughter escaped Feng Wu's lips. "Oh, Kai, you're truly a sight to behold. Here I thought you were an adventurous spirit, eager to explore the unknown, and yet a few simple books send you into a panic."

"Simple is an understatement," I grumbled, crossing my arms defensively. "Those were weapons of mass distraction, designed to corrupt the minds of the innocent!"

Feng Wu leaned closer, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "It truly is a corrupting influence. I'll make sure to keep watch on you, before you get into the idea of making aphrodisiacs, and other sinister potions of that natu-"

"Feng Wu, I swear, you're courting death," I warned, though I couldn't suppress a reluctant smile. "Trying to induce a heart demon in a fellow cultivator at such a critical moment–you have no shame!"

He threw his head back and laughed, the sound echoing down the bustling street. "Ah, Kai, never change."

My own smile widened as we continued towards the Marble Jade Arena. Feng Wu's teasing may have been relentless, but his lightheartedness was a welcome distraction. The results of the preliminaries would be announced soon, and my fate in the Grand Alchemy Gauntlet hung in the balance.

As we neared the venue, the energy shifted. The playful atmosphere dissipated, replaced by a palpable tension that hung in the air like a storm cloud. Hundreds of contestants milled about outside the arena, their faces etched with a mixture of anticipation and dread.

“LET'S DO THIS!” a booming voice cut through the nervous chatter. I turned to see a towering figure shouldering his way through the crowd, making everyone give him a wide berth. The blacksmith from the preliminaries, with his broad shoulders and a grin that seemed permanently etched onto his face.

Out of all these dignified old men and scholarly-looking folk, he stood out like a crane among chickens. It made me truly curious, what was someone like him doing here?

A flicker of sympathy stirred within me. He might be brimming with confidence, but I couldn't help but notice the subtle disdain from some of the other competitors. Perhaps they saw him as a brute, an outsider crashing their world of meticulous concoctions and complex theory. Yet, there was a part of me that admired his boldness.

"Excuse me," I said, stepping forward, "but I don't believe we've properly met. You're the...?"

He boomed a laugh that startled a nearby group of contestants. "The name's Tao Ren! And who might you be?"

"Kai Liu," I replied, clasping my hands together for an introductory bow. "I must admit, I wasn't expecting to see a blacksmith competing in the Grand Alchemy Gauntlet."

Tao Ren's wide grin faltered for a moment, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. "Blacksmith? How did you figure that out?"

I gestured towards him, taking in the worn leather apron tied around his waist, the heavy hammer strapped to his side, and the impressive musculature that spoke of years spent wielding heavy tools. "The telltale signs, really. The apron, the hammer, the...physique. Reminds me a bit of a friend back home who's a blacksmith himself. You both have a certain, well, blacksmithy vibe."

A grin even wider than the first split across Tao Ren's face. "A blacksmithy vibe, you say? I like the sound of that! Now that's putting it poetically." He clapped me on the back with a force that nearly sent me staggering. "Alright, Kai, you've earned a spot as my honorary observer for the competition. Prepare to witness greatness!"

"Greatness, huh? But I still don't quite understand. What brings you to the Grand Alchemy Gauntlet?"

Tao Ren's grin widened even further, if that were possible. "Well, my old man back home had a hunch this competition might finally light a fire under my backside to take alchemy seriously, wants me to inherit that shop of his. He sent me out here to compete," He winked conspiratorially. "Truth be told, the only fire I'm interested in is the one roaring in my forge."

My eyebrows shot up. "So you're not here for alchemy?"

He chuckled, a hearty, full-bodied sound. "Not exactly. Think of it as a strategic investment. You see, I'm planning on opening up a blacksmithing business soon. And what better way to drum up clientele than by showing everyone I'm not just a brawny fellow who swings a hammer, but a man of refined skill, capable of wielding both fire and potion? At the biggest event in Crescent Bay City, no less?"

He thumped his chest proudly. "Imagine the whispers! 'Tao Ren, the alchemist-blacksmith! His blades are sharper than his mind, and his elixirs rival those of immortals!' Pure marketing genius, wouldn't you say?"

I blinked, struggling to process his logic. While there was a certain...boldness to his plan, the connection between forging and alchemy seemed a bit of a stretch. "Uh, I see what you're going for," I stammered, unsure how to phrase my next question delicately. "But wouldn't it be more effective to, you know, actually focus on your blacksmithing skills if that's your true passion?"

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Tao Ren's grin wavered for a split second, a flicker of doubt clouding his eyes. Then, with a booming laugh that echoed through the crowd, he clapped me on the shoulder once more. "Details, details, my friend! Besides, who says a blacksmith can't be a master of both fire and metal? Just wait and see, Kai Liu. The Grand Alchemy Gauntlet is about to witness the rise of a legend!"

Just as I opened my mouth to reply, a wave of anticipation rippled through the crowd. A hush fell over the gathered contestants as a figure emerged from the grand entrance of the Marble Jade Arena. Ma Hualong strode to the elevated platform at the front of the arena.

In his hands, he carried a scroll so long it nearly reached the ground. With a flourish that belied his age, he unfurled the parchment, his voice resonating across the vast space.

"Contestants of the Grand Alchemy Gauntlet! The hour of reckoning is upon us. Now, the moment has come to reveal those who shall advance! Gather close and listen intently, for your names shall be called. Please head inside once your name is called. Further instructions await you."

My own heart pounded like a war drum against my ribs. This was it. After months of preparation, of pouring over ancient texts and battling burnout, I would finally know my fate.

Tao Ren let out a whoop of excitement, his booming voice cutting through the tense silence.

I couldn't help but chuckle despite the nerves gnawing at me. His boundless enthusiasm was oddly infectious. But as Ma Hualong cleared his throat, preparing to read the first name, a thought struck me. Would I make the cut? Was I destined to become one of the hundred? Or would my journey end here, outside the Marble Jade Arena, a mere footnote?

'No, no...that's ridiculous. Believe in yourself, Kai! No more doubts!'

"At last place we have Tao Ren, of the...Jade Flame Foundry?"

Ma Hualogn leaned in closer, squinting his eyes in disbelief.

"YEAH!!!"

My left eardrum nearly burst from his shout of glee, pushing past the crowd of people to enter the main entrance. He turned to me again, with a large grin showing his molars.

"I'll see you at the top, Kai Liu!"

I watched as the cheery blacksmith was pointed towards the area we were supposed to go, eliciting several whispers from contestants trailing behind him.

"Did you hear that? One-hundredth place? Surely a mistake..."

"...A blacksmith? How undignified. Perhaps he got lucky during the identification section."

"Such uncouth individuals have no business in a competition as esteemed as this..."

The words stung. A wave of anger washed over me, not on my behalf, but for Tao Ren. He might be loud, a bit too confident, but he clearly wasn't as ignorant as these snobbish alchemists assumed. He had heard them, of that I was certain. They were idiots.

I knew better. Blacksmiths, just like any craftsman, possessed specialized knowledge. While they might not have the breadth of alchemical understanding as someone raised in the field, Tao Ren must have scored exceedingly well on the minerals portion of the preliminaries. And judging by his background in alchemy, he wasn't a slouch in any of the other categories.

A snide voice cut through my thoughts. "Well, well, it seems even the preliminaries fail to truly separate the wheat from the chaff. We'll see how long that blacksmithing buffoon lasts in the actual competition."

The speaker, a young man with robes embroidered with intricate cloud patterns signifying his prestige, barely spared me a glance as he passed.

My hands clenched into fists. I wanted to shout, to defend Tao Ren, to argue that his background didn't dictate his potential.

With a sigh, I tucked my own doubts and anger away. It wasn't my place to fight Tao Ren's battles for him. He seemed blissfully unaware of the muttered insults, or perhaps, stubbornly chose to ignore them. It was his journey, and I trusted he had the strength to see it through, regardless of the scorn from those who only measured talent through pedigree and tradition.

The names continued to flow from Ma Hualong's lips, most of which I didn't recognize. The snobby man in the cloud-patterned robe made it as well, coming in at sixtieth place. His name was Duan Jian. He seemed assured by his results, tilting his chin with a smirk as the crowd parted themselves to allow him through.

I could see people already leaving the crowd, muttering and bemoaning the fact there was no chance they made it. It was disheartening, because I saw dozens, many of whom had that dignified aura around them, exiting without much of a fuss.

"At twentieth, Bai Hua of Summer Sun Cosmetics!"

I swept my eyes over the crowd, trying to pick out the perfumer from the crowd. Closer to the front, I could see it; the flamboyant robes of Bai Hua. I grinned. It seemed he made it too.

Many whispered in disbelief at the fact that somebody not from a sponsored family or sect made it in the top twenty. It was unprecedented, even if Bai Hua was technically from a famous family as well. I suppose it mattered since his family wasn't composed of cultivators, but more on the merchant side of things. Beside me, Feng Wu let out a low whistle.

"How rare is that?" I asked, keeping my voice low. "For someone without an alchemist sect or family backing to make it this far."

"Quite rare," he replied, his gaze fixed on the crowd. "I can't recall anyone without proper backing from the previous Gauntlet who managed it in the top eighty, let alone the top twenty. Of course, the format of the preliminaries was vastly different. Perhaps that played a role."

"Ma Hualong seems as surprised as the rest of them," remarked Feng Wu.

As we passed into the top twenty without my name being called, I grew nervous. If Bai Hua's debut at the twentieth spot was unprecedented, then what were the chances I didn't make it? I swallowed nervously.

"I know what you're thinking, Kai," Feng Wu said, without even sparing a glance at me. "Effort does not betray the dedicated person. I've seen your work first-hand. You will make it through the preliminaries, without a doubt."

My shoulders eased with his words. It was a testament to our friendship, the fact he knew the rights words to say even when I didn't say anything.

"At twelfth, Kai Liu of the Verdant Lotus sect!"

And just like that, all my fears and anxieties were washed away.

With a grin spreading across my face, I realized that despite my internal turmoil, there was an undeniable thrill simmering just beneath the surface. I'd always been the underdog. Now, it was time to prove I had teeth.

As I slowly pushed my way through the crowd, countless eyes settled on me - some with curiosity, many with disdain, others with a dismissive indifference that stung even more.

I met each stare with unwavering determination. A wide grin plastered to my face, I held my head high. Let them look. Let them underestimate me. It would only make my eventual triumph all the sweeter.

"Well done, Kai!" Feng Wu's voice cut through my thoughts as I entered the Marble Jade Arena. He clapped me on the shoulder, nudging me towards the Marble Jade Arena.

My own smile widened in response. I couldn't wipe the grin off my face if I tried. In this moment, the doubts and fear seemed to fade, replaced by a fierce determination.

I approached Ma Hualong and the band of officials beside him. He gave me a curt nod and an appraising eye, before motioning towards scholarly-looking official with a small bag.

They unveiled another token, with the number twelve emblazoned on it.

"Please head inside the waiting area for further instruction," The official said with a bowed head.

I said my thanks and moved forward, taking one last look back. Hundreds of contestants remained. To think less than a dozen had a higher score than I did.

The more incredible part was how I doubted my genius. I should've known. I was the chosen one!

I moved deeper into the Marble Jade Arena, the cheers of the remaining contestants fading behind me. The once vast, open space, filled with seated booths for the preliminary round, had been completely transformed. Now, a simple seating area had been set up against one wall, facing what appeared to be a large, raised platform.

Scanning the other competitors already gathered, a familiar face caught my eye. Bai Hua, his flamboyant robes even more conspicuous amidst the more subdued attire of the other alchemists, was engaged in animated conversation with none other than Tao Ren. The blacksmith's boisterous laughter echoed through the space, his grin wide enough to split his face in two.

A flicker of warmth spread through me. These two couldn't be more different, and yet, both had defied expectations to reach this stage. Perhaps there was more to the Gauntlet than pedigree and tradition after all.

A grin spread across my face as I approached the unlikely duo. "Well, well, well, if it isn't the perfumer extraordinaire and the blacksmith," I remarked, a playful glint in my eye.

Bai Hua turned towards me, his smile dazzling. "Kai Liu! I trust the preliminaries treated you well? Your placement is most impressive...for a simple herbalist, of course." His eyes twinkled with a teasing glint.

Tao Ren let out a booming laugh. "Don't listen to him, Kai. This pretty boy might know his perfumes, but he hasn't got an ounce of alchemical sense in his head! You're the real threat here."

"Oh, hush now," Bai Hua retorted, swatting Tao Ren's arm playfully. "Don't fill his head with nonsense. Clearly, I'll be the one to win this contest." He raised his robe to cover his face.

I held up my hands in mock surrender. "Gentlemen, gentlemen, please! I'm but a humble village apothecary. You both outshine me by leagues." My grin broadened. "Even if I scored higher than the both of you."

As our bickering continued, I noticed Duan Jian's scornful gaze on us, not too far from where we were seated. The anger I'd been carefully suppressing flared with renewed intensity. I was tired of being treated like an afterthought, tired of having my knowledge and potential brushed off simply because I didn't come from the right pedigree. Perhaps it was foolish, perhaps it was reckless, but a stubborn defiance surged within me.

My fingers twitched. For a fleeting moment, a different face superimposed itself over Duan Jian's – the visage of Elder Jun, the Silent Moon elder I had dared to defy. The all-too-recent memory of that chilling brush with true power sent a shiver down my spine. The stakes had been so much higher back then, with not just my own life, but the safety of my village and sect brothers hanging in the balance.

Yet, another part of me, a bolder voice fueled by resentment, refused to yield.

If I were afraid of risk, I never would've left the confines of Gentle Wind Village. And after everything I'd faced with the Silent Moon sect, his posturing felt almost petty. Duan Jian might throw obstacles in my path, but I doubted he had the inclination to truly destroy me.

A mischievous smirk tugged at my lips. "After all," I continued, my voice carrying across the space, "Perhaps those concerned with separating wheat from chaff should first ensure they can tell the difference themselves."