"The seventh orifice is complete, now working on the eighth. If it weren't for someone as monstrous as Li Hongjiu, Luo Shengsheng would undoubtedly be the most outstanding contender of this generation!"

Elder Jie Lunguang sighed in deep emotion. This event had truly been an eye-opener, as he hadn't expected so many young prodigies to emerge this year.

"The fifth orifice! A disciple from the Golden Appearance Hall has surpassed Sect Leader Gu's daughter!"

Some sect members behind Shi Chun's group began to shout excitedly.

And indeed, it was worth the exclamation. After all, it was four Divine Fires surpassing seven Divine Fires. This was not entirely the same as Li Hongjiu's otherworldly refining technique exceeding Luo Shengsheng's, yet it evoked an even more stirring feeling.

The strength that someone like Mi Liangmeng exhibited could inspire hope—a hope that drives people to persevere.

On the other hand, the strength that Li Hongjiu displayed would plunge people into despair!

"Lianni has reached the fifth orifice too!" Elder Jin Guiqi from Shudao Mountain let out a breath, uncertain whether it was a sigh of relief or resignation.

Gu Yanduo's brows furrowed deeply.

Inside the competition arena, Gu Lianni was truly distracted by the commotion outside the field. After realizing that Mi Liangmeng had surpassed her, she was genuinely anxious this time.

Her rivalry with Luo Shengsheng and Li Hongjiu wasn't just about competing; there was something more beneath it.

Not everyone stronger than her deserved her acknowledgement.

She had no desire for Mi Liangmeng to even glance her way. In her eyes, Mi Liangmeng was unworthy because she only regarded the peak talents like Luo Shengsheng and Li Hongjiu.

Her anxiety stemmed from Shudao Mountain's reputation and her own name. To absorb seven Divine Fires and still lose to someone with only four Divine Fires—if not a failure, it would still be a laughingstock. Talents like Luo Shengsheng would have even less esteem for her. This time, she was truly pushed to the edge.

"Tong Mingshan has started refining the fourth orifice!" Yan Qufeng stroked his beard in approval and specifically reminded Shi Chun, fearing he might miss the detail.

Shi Chun smiled calmly and replied, "Not bad, not bad."

Only someone whose emotions were already deeply subdued could maintain such a tranquil tone. To have zero expectations was to simply enjoy the spectacle and gain new insights.

And he truly did gain insight. Some things could only be fully understood by witnessing them personally; just hearing about them from others would lack the same depth.

When Luo Shengsheng once again became the center of discussion—this time while refining the ninth orifice—the Yanbao Sect began to show some puzzlement, as all eyes turned toward Li Hongjiu, unsure of what he was doing.

Li Hongjiu was seen holding the refined Exquisite Heart in his palm. Although it had clearly cooled, he made no move to submit it for judgment.

Submitting it for review earlier could have secured his status as the first to complete the Nine-Orifice Exquisite Heart. So why did he hesitate, staring directly at Luo Shengsheng instead? Was he planning to wait for Luo Shengsheng to submit his at the same time?

If they submitted together, there was no guarantee he would still claim first place.

If Luo Shengsheng managed to submit his for judgment first, with a successfully refined Nine-Orifice Exquisite Heart, then by submission order alone, Luo Shengsheng would undoubtedly take the victory.

The Yanbao Sect was so anxious they nearly shouted aloud. Elder Qu Wuming's heavy breathing betrayed his frustration, once again experiencing the exasperation his disciple caused him. This pupil always found ways to make people lose their composure. Could he not behave like a normal person just once?

"What is Li Hongjiu doing? He's already finished and won't claim first place—why is he staring at Luo Shengsheng?" Yan Qufeng exclaimed, surprised.

The Daming Pavilion side also looked perplexed, unable to guess his intentions. Surely he wouldn't try to attack Luo Shengsheng despite his impending victory? Only someone insane would do something like that. Unless… Could it be that his refining had actually failed?

That wasn't out of the question, raising suspicions about potential foul play.

The senior figures of the Daming Pavilion exchanged glances, growing increasingly alert.

With anyone else, they wouldn't have reacted this way. But with Li Hongjiu, they treated him like a criminal about to strike.

Shi Chun also sensed something amiss. Unlike others, he wasn't guessing—he had clearly observed it with his superpower. His right eye detected the remnants of skill cycling around Li Hongjiu, indicating that his refining process wasn't truly complete. Shi Chun was genuinely curious to see what this maverick would do next.

Judging by who Li Hongjiu was focused on, nearly everyone present had guessed that it was related to Luo Shengsheng, but none could deduce the exact reason why.

Once Luo Shengsheng exceeded the typical time for refining the ninth orifice—taking longer than for any of the previous ones—some sharp observers began to notice that he, too, was behaving unusually.

"Ah, Li Hongjiu has started refining again!" Elder Pan Gongying exclaimed in astonishment.

A ripple of shock swept through the crowd.

Li Hongjiu, still staring coldly at Luo Shengsheng, allowed blazing flames to roar from his palm once more. The previously refined Exquisite Heart now faced a ferocious re-heating, with the scorching Red Flame Divine Fire blazing to an intensity that suggested his utmost effort.

Seeing this, and recalling Luo Shengsheng's unusual delay, Yanbao Sect Master Qu Wuming's expression turned increasingly suspicious. His eyes locked firmly on Luo Shengsheng's progress.

Gradually, many began to see hints of a deeper pattern at play.

Yan Qufeng, too, caught on, murmuring in a grave tone, "Luo Shengsheng is attempting to refine the True Nine-Orifice Exquisite Heart!"

The bursts of shock and cries of "Refining the True Nine-Orifice Exquisite Heart!" in the crowd left the Mingshan Sect members staring at one another in disbelief.

Shi Chun couldn't resist asking again, "Yan Sect Master, forgive my shallow understanding, but from what I know, there isn't enough time to refine a True Nine-Orifice Exquisite Heart. Even with ten Divine Fires, it's said the process is extremely complex. It's simply impossible to complete within 15 minutes. Can Luo Shengsheng truly achieve this?"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.