"You look like you've seen better days," Bai Hua remarked.

I scoffed at him. I certainly have.

But who could blame me? The Million Books Pavilion was huge! There was no doubt in my mind that the building lived up to its epithet.

Zhi Ruo seemed happy to have a fellow scholarly mind with him. Even though we were technically competitors, he seemed happy to share his knowledge. Either that or he was so sure of his abilities that showing his treasure trove didn't seem like a threat in the slightest.

That was how I spent my night in the largest library in the city, reading and learning with Zhi Ruo. I spent most of my night just reading about aspects of alchemy I hadn't seen in the Verdant Lotus sect's archives. There were no heaven-defying scriptures in there, but all knowledge was good knowledge, in my humble opinion!

I rubbed the back of my neck where a crick had formed from hours spent hunched over books. "I've certainly had more restful nights," I admitted, gazing back at the towering silhouette of the Million Books Pavilion. "But the wealth of knowledge in there is worth every second of lost sleep."

Bai Hua nodded, understandingly. "Knowledge is a treasure, especially for aspiring alchemists. Speaking of treasures, your Spirit Beasts, that serpent and butterfly.. they're quite extraordinary. Do you possess some unique beast-taming skill? Perhaps a fruit borne from the Heavenly Interface?"

I shook my head, a smile forming as I thought of my companions. I trusted them to Feng Wu's care for the night, not that they needed much. Although I worried for Windy's voracious appetite, I knew there were plenty of feeding options in the city. And Wind Serpents only needed to eat once every few days. "Nothing of the sort. Our bond isn't born from skills or techniques. It's simply because they recognize my aura and potential! They chose to stay with me, not because of some control I exert over them."

Bai Hua laughed before narrowing his eyes thoughtfully. "Intriguing. Such relationships are rare. They speak of a deeper connection, perhaps aligned with your destiny or fate. I had thought it was something from the Heavenly Interface, much like my own abilities."

I nodded my head at that. That was fair. Even for me, the Heavenly Interface was responsible for most of my growth. It gave me skills that accelerated my growth, like Accelerated Reading, and ones that fit the direction I wanted to pursue, like the Crimson Lotus Purification Technique. I worked hard, but the system was the one responsible for rewarding my effort.

"Yours is from the Heavenly Interface?"

Bai Hua’s expression turned solemn. "I believe so, at least a good part of it. Without its aid, even with my expertise, I doubt I would have ventured into this competition. It’s helped me realize and harness my potential in ways I never imagined."

"How so?"

Bai Hua smirked before covering his face with his sleeve in a conspiring manner. "You'll see in the first round, hohoho!"

As we walked together towards the Marble Jade Arena, I thought back on how many of the competitors benefited from the Heavenly Interface. Likely all of them, but I doubt they experienced it in the same way I did. I wonder what triggering factor there was in place that gave people more from the Interface. I mean, I didn't see Lan-Yin—despite her hard work at the tea shop, gain any skills like mine. Was it due to one's ambition? Some underlying ancestry? Did it pick at random?

If it was at random, it meant a variety of people would benefit from the Interface. Even shady figures like Elder Jun or Xu Ziqing, or annoying ones like Duan Jian.

The Interface was a fickle thing, indeed.

As we neared the Marble Jade Arena, the sheer scale of the crowd outside the main entrance was staggering. People from all walks of life, from the curious townsfolk to the wealthy nobles, thronged the area, all clamoring for a glimpse of the first round’s commencement. The buzz of excited chatter and the occasional shout filled the air, creating a palpable sense of anticipation.

But with so many people, there was bound to be conflict.

A low groan rumbled through the line as we passed through. "Look at this mess!" a portly woman in a thick cerulean robe complained, shivering slightly. "We've been here for hours and haven't budged an inch!"

"Patience, esteemed Madam Li," piped a nervous voice from behind her. "The Grand Alchemy Gauntlet only happens every five years. It's bound to draw a crowd."

"Patience be hanged!" A burly man with a thick, braided beard slammed his meaty fist into his palm. "I could have concocted three batches of my Ironscale Tincture in the time we've been standing here!"

Just then, a young man, shoved his way in front of the burly man. "Coming through, coming through! Make way for a disciple of the illustrious Howling Crane Sect!"

The burly man’s eyes narrowed. "Howling Crane Sect? More like a flock of twittering sparrows, if you ask me. What's the point of you nitwits coming to watch the Gauntlet? You wouldn't know true alchemy if it bit you in the—"

"ENOUGH!" A voice boomed, silencing the line. An imposing woman with a fierce expression and yellow robes adorned with the tell-tale symbol of an official. "Do you fools have no respect for decorum? This is a competition for the most skilled alchemists, not a marketplace squabble!"

She glared at the young man who cut in line. "And you, boy! The line starts back there. Unless your Howling Crane Sect teaches nothing but barnyard manners, you'll rejoin like everyone else."

The young man puffed out his chest, indignation coloring his face. "But…but I am Wu Long, most esteemed disciple of Master Wei! Surely you wouldn't dare—"

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

The woman snorted. "Wu Long? Cutting in line and spouting nonsense. Your mother must be truly desperate to have saddled a disrespectful brat like you with such a dignified name!"

The line erupted in stifled snickers. Wu Long’s face contorted with rage. "You… you take that back, you old shrew!" He lunged for the woman, his fists clenched.

The conflict continued to escalate and remained audible despite us walking further away.

Bai Hua commented. "It seems the Gauntlet has garnered more attention than usual this year..."

I nodded, taking in the spectacle. "More like a grand festival. But we should head to the competitors' entrance."

Turning away from the teeming masses, we made our way to a less conspicuous entrance marked for participants. The contrast was stark, with only a handful of individuals presenting their tokens to the guards and slipping through the doors.

After showing our tokens, we entered a spacious antechamber, distinct from the main arena yet buzzing with its own undercurrent of energy. It was the same place where the sponsored participants registered.

Here, the air was thick with the concentrated tension of the contestants, each lost in their thoughts or quietly discussing what the first round would potentially be about. It was clear cliques had already formed or been formed prior to the contest.

Even through the thick walls of the antechamber, the muffled roar of the crowd from the arena reached us, a constant reminder of the grand stage upon which we were about to perform. It felt like standing at the edge of a vast, unseen ocean, its waves crashing just beyond sight.

"Nervous?" Bai Hua asked.

"Of course not!" I put up my chin, just like that fellow from the Howling Crane sect did. "I'm as cool as a cucumber, in fact."

"HEY! YOU TWO!"

Tao Ren waved at us, beckoning us to the pillar he was standing by.

"You both ready?"

"As I can be," I said, rubbing my eyes. Perhaps I should've drank some of the Ambrosia of Radiant Dawn to get me nice and energized. Although perhaps I shouldn't be so reliant on potions to keep me up, I'd be finding the consequences if I drank it too often.

I scanned over the rest of the contestants. I saw Jingyu Lian leaning across a pillar at the furthest corner of the room, alone by herself. It seemed she was the 'frigid beauty' type. She had her eyes closed and arms crossed.

Zhi Ruo was absent, although I do remember him still being awake and waving me farewell when I left early in the morning to return to the Jade Harmony Inn. Perhaps he overslept? That'd be quite unfortunate.

"Zhi Ruo isn't here yet?" I asked Tao Ren.

"Maybe he decided to meditate or do some last-minute prep," Bai Hua suggested.

I chuckled despite my worry. Just then, a commotion at the entrance drew our attention. A figure, disheveled and panting, burst into the antechamber. It was Zhi Ruo, hair a mess, his eyes bloodshot.

He gasped, clutching his side. "I...overslept. Ran all the way from the Pavilion..."

Murmurs spread throughout the contestants, shaking their heads. Jingyu Lian cracked one eye open to gauge Zhi Ruo, although she closed it as soon as her gaze met mine.

"We were getting worried," I said, trying to hide my grin. "Looks like someone was reading a bit too late..."

The librarian groaned, running a hand through his unruly hair. "I completely lost track of time," He shook his head sheepishly. "But no excuses! I'm here now, ready to compete."

Tao Ren thumped him on the back, nearly sending the man tumbling over. "Welcome to the Gauntlet, sleepyhead. Just make sure you and Kai don't doze off when the round starts!"

The tension in the room began to spike as an official walked onto a small platform at the front of the antechamber. With a booming voice, he announced, "Honored competitors, the first round is about to commence! Prepare yourselves, for the challenge awaits! Please form a line! Single file, please!"

A hush fell over the gathered alchemists. We exchanged nervous glances. "Well," Bai Hua said, his usual cheer replaced by a determined focus, "it seems our theorizing time is over. What do you think, Kai? Does anything about that cryptic clue make sense yet?"

I chewed my lip, trying to make sense of Ma Hualong's words as we gathered into a loosely formed line. "Seeking ingredients...forging a path...Do you have any memories of the past Gauntlet? What they did?"

"Not me, but my father says it changes each time. Keeps things interesting, I suppose. Last Gauntlet, they had a round where they poisoned the contestants – a mild one, thankfully – and they had to find the ingredients for an antidote within the arena before they succumbed to it."

"WHAT?!"

"Well, the poison was pretty mild, it just kept them in a state of paralysis. They wouldn't want to kill the contestants."

"Oh," I sighed in relief. I wasn't enthused about putting my life on the line for the contest, regardless of how much I wanted to win. "Okay, that's less terrifying. Still, makes me wonder…maybe this round is like an obstacle course? A hidden flag, somewhere tricky to reach? Like in the dark, if the abyss is anything to go by..."

"That's a good guess, but I-"

As we followed the line, the antechamber gave way to the vastness of the Marble Jade Arena, which had undergone a dramatic transformation. A sandy expanse stretched before us, bordered by a serene beach on our side and crystal-clear water on the other, mimicking a natural coastal landscape. Scattered across the sand were simplified alchemical stations, each isolated yet part of a larger, intricate setup. It felt like I entered a different dimension; one where the province was still in the midst of summer rather than the approaching winter.

The area was positively teeming with ingredients, ones that all seemed to share common properties...that related to the sea.

Ingredients, flags, abyss...

And just like that, everything clicked.

The previously empty stands now buzzed with life, filled with thousands of spectators. Their collective voices merged into a thunderous roar, echoing the pounding waves of the artificial ocean, their excitement palpable and contagious. The atmosphere was electric, charged with anticipation for the spectacle about to unfold.

"Let's welcome the contestants!" Ma Hualong shouted from his place in the stands. "With a big round of applause!"

The crowd erupted in applause as we stepped onto the field, the air thick with anticipation and the salty tang of the simulated sea breeze. The setup was grand, each station stocked with an array of exotic ingredients and basic alchemical tools.

Ma Hualong's voice boomed over the arena, resonating with a clarity that cut through the noise, "Welcome, esteemed contestants and honored guests! Today marks the commencement of a challenge that will not only test our competitors' alchemical prowess but their ingenuity and resolve."

He continued, outlining the specifics of the challenge, "Before you lies a body of water, deep and daunting. Below its surface, flags are placed at various depths, each representing the continuation of your journey in this gauntlet. Your task is to concoct an alchemical solution that enables you to reach these depths and retrieve a flag."

The rules were straightforward but daunting, and only confirmed what I had thought.

We must use the ingredients available in our surroundings to create an alchemical product that aids in underwater travel and deep diving.

Each contestant must secure their own flag to advance by diving into the water, and they can't take a person's flag after they had gotten out.

Only twenty of the hundred participants will move to the next round, based on the order of flag retrieval.

Ma Hualong added a crucial detail, "To ensure fairness and safety, several invigilators will monitor the competition. Any attempt at sabotage or obstruction among contestants will result in immediate disqualification. Remember, this is a test of individual merit and creativity."

"A worthy challenge! Wouldn't you say, friends?!" Tao Ren boasted.

The revelation of the challenge's nature sent a murmur through the contestants. Some looked excited, others apprehensive. The depth of the water and the need for a creative alchemical approach to navigate it added layers of complexity to the task.

But for me, I was already planning ahead my moves.

I scanned the area, my mind racing. They'd given us the obvious ingredients for Breath Gel – Tidecaller Vine, Horsetail Pine... but clearly, there weren’t enough for everyone. Which meant the organizers were forcing us to think beyond the standard recipe. There had to be more, less common ingredients hidden within the environment they created here.

A thrill of excitement coursed through me. This was the kind of challenge that separated rote memorization from true alchemy, where ingenuity and adaptation were key! A fitting challenge for the alchemy god, Kai Liu!

While I strategized, a wave of chatter rippled through the crowd above. Ma Hualong's announcement had ignited their interest.

"Did you hear that? Underwater potions!" A merchant in vibrant silks exclaimed to his companions. "This is going to be fascinating!"

"Hah! Those pampered young alchemists won't last a minute!" A geezer with sun-leathered skin scoffed. "How many of those upstarts can even swim?"

The crowd's energy was contagious. I spotted flashes of silver as bets were exchanged, adding another layer of tension to the atmosphere. People were wagering on their favorites, their voices a mix of arrogance and hopeful speculation.

As I tuned back into my friends, Bai Hua and Tao Ren mirrored the crowd's excitement... but with a focused intensity. Zhi Ruo scratched his head, muttering frantically to himself.

"Water...need something...pressure..."

"Well, Kai," Bai Hua said thoughtfully, "it seems our theories weren't entirely off the mark. We'll indeed be looking for the flag in a tricky place!"

Ma Hualong continued, his voice now taking on a note of finality, "And now, to add a twist to our tale, the top ten from the preliminaries will receive a head start!" He gestured grandly towards the side of the arena. "Those in the top ten, step forward!"

The crowd cheered as Zhi Ruo and Jingyu Lian, along with eight others, moved towards the collection of ingredients. The librarian, slightly disheveled from his earlier rush, adjusted his stance, his eyes darting nervously across the selection of resources.

"Contestants will have five minutes to gather their ingredients before the rest of you may begin," Ma Hualong declared. "Your time starts...now!"