As Year You Yu's applause faded, four old men emerged from the crowd.
These four were none other than the remaining four vice presidents of the Alchemist Guild in Linxian City, and also four Grandmaster-level alchemists.
Previously, they had all been on Lu Bingcheng's side, but not willingly. They were coerced by Lu Bingcheng through threats to their families' safety.
Just the day before yesterday, after the competition between Zi Linling and Lu Zuichang began, Year You Yu and Feng Mo seized the opportunity to rescue their families and told them that if Zi Linling won, the Lu family grandfather and grandson would be overthrown.
What they needed to do was to elect Zi Linling as the new president.
The four had long harbored deep resentment towards Lu Bingcheng and his grandson, but with their families' lives in Lu Bingcheng's hands, they were forced to aid the wicked.
Now that their families were safe, they also hoped for the Alchemist Guild to return to its proper course, so they could refine pills with peace of mind, without constant anxiety.
Therefore, once the threat was removed, they agreed to the plan proposed by Year You Yu and Feng Mo.
But their condition was that Zi Linling had to win this competition; otherwise, they would not openly oppose the Lu family grandfather and grandson.
Now, not only had Zi Linling won, but she had won spectacularly.
Spirit Replenishment!
Spirit Ascension!
Emperor-grade elixirs!
This was no longer just a prodigy, but a heaven-defying existence among prodigies.
An Emperor-grade alchemist at thirteen or fourteen years old was extremely rare, even across the entire Divine Bestowal Continent. Otherwise, the president of the vast Alchemist Guild of Linxian City would not merely be a quasi-Emperor-grade alchemist.
"You!!!"
Lu Bingcheng's face turned green with rage as he watched the three men step forward.
"Lu Bingcheng, you are autocratic and disregard human life, turning the entire Alchemist Guild of Linxian City into a mess. You are no longer fit to be the president of the Alchemist Guild of Linxian City."
"Exactly! You are selfish, eliminate dissent, and even used the lives of our families to threaten us into supporting you. How can such a despicable and shameless person continue to hold the position of president?"
"Lu Bingcheng, you should step down from the position of president of the Alchemist Guild of Linxian City."
"Indeed! A person like you, who lacks the virtue for the position, is no longer fit to occupy it."
The four spoke one after another, clearly stating their stance.
Their words also stunned the surrounding onlookers.
Subsequently, a hint of disdain appeared in people's eyes as they looked at Lu Bingcheng.
"Hahaha! You've colluded together, all for the sake of seizing the position of president of the Alchemist Guild of Linxian City, haven't you?"
Lu Bingcheng's angry gaze swept across the faces of the few men before he continued mockingly, "But I'm very curious, even if you depose me, who among you can stably sit in this position?"
Sowing discord!
Blatant sowing of discord!
Feng Mo said calmly, "Lu Bingcheng, at this point, what's the point of sowing discord?
To tell you the truth, Miss Zi is more suitable for this position than you are!"
Year You Yu echoed, "Exactly, exactly!"
"I agree!"
"I have no objections!"
"I don't have any objections either!"
"I also agree!"
The four vice presidents expressed their positions.
They had all witnessed Zi Linling's alchemy talent. They also believed that Zi Linling's alchemy skills were superior.
Therefore, they were willing to do them this favor.
"Her?"
Lu Bingcheng's eyes turned savage, "A stinking brat who hasn't even lost her baby teeth, why should she?"
He had been entangled by Xuanyuan Zhe on the arena earlier and naturally did not witness Zi Linling's stunning performance.
Therefore, in his eyes, Zi Linling was merely a little girl who had by chance broken through to Grandmaster-level alchemist.
Of course, when Zi Linling produced the Emperor-grade Zi Kui Po'e Pill, he was indeed shocked.
But upon reflection, he simply could not believe that the pill was refined by Zi Linling.
"Why her? Because she refined an Emperor-grade elixir!" Year You Yu was the first to answer.
"Emperor-grade elixir?"
Lu Bingcheng scoffed, "How can you be so sure that the pill was refined by herself?"
Year You Yu argued, "Of course I can be sure. Not only can I be sure, but they can also be sure!"
As he spoke, he gestured towards the onlookers who had watched the lightning tribulation.
"That's right! We personally watched her refine the elixir during the lightning tribulation!"
"Exactly, we personally saw her refine an Emperor-grade elixir!"
"..."
The onlookers eagerly testified for Zi Linling.
Zi Linling's alchemy performance had been exceptionally stunning, truly opening their eyes.
Feng Mo said calmly, "Lu Bingcheng, there's no need to doubt. We all personally witnessed the birth of that Emperor-grade elixir!
Furthermore, the elixir was initially only a flawed quasi-Emperor-grade elixir. The reason for its flaws, do I need to repeat?"
A hint of unnaturalness crossed Lu Bingcheng's face.
He naturally knew that the quasi-Emperor-grade elixir had flaws due to the Spirit Burst Talisman and the Spirit Gathering Array.
But he was unwilling to give up!
"You also said that the elixir was merely a flawed quasi-Emperor-grade elixir. How could it possibly become an Emperor-grade elixir?"
Feng Mo smiled, "Why not? Lu Bingchang, as a quasi-Emperor-grade alchemist, you must have heard of Spirit Replenishment and Spirit Ascension, right?"
"Spirit Replenishment? Spirit Ascension?"
Lu Bingcheng looked at Zi Linling in disbelief and said, "Impossible! Impossible! She's only thirteen or fourteen years old, how could she?"
Feng Mo smiled, "But the fact is, we all saw it with our own eyes!"
"No~!"
Lu Bingcheng's roar echoed across the arena.
He could not achieve Spirit Replenishment or Spirit Ascension himself. Why could a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl do it?
He had been stuck at the quasi-Emperor-grade alchemist level for decades without breaking through. Why could a stinking little girl do it?
"This is impossible! This is impossible! This is impossible..."
Lu Bingcheng's unwilling roars grew louder and louder.
A magnificent alchemy competition drew to a close in the eyes of the crowd.
But this did not prevent it from becoming a topic of enthusiastic discussion.
Amidst these discussions, a name shrouded in brilliant halo gradually rose, spreading in all directions from Linxian City as its center.
The protagonist of this matter, however, was currently sitting helplessly in the council hall of the Alchemist Guild.
"I really cannot be the president!" Zi Linling said with a wry smile.
She needed to find Ye Lingyuan, to find her father Zi Guochang, to find the inheritors of the Nine Great Guardians. It was impossible for her to stay idly in Linxian City and be the president of the Alchemist Guild.
"That's not up to you!"
Year You Yu glared and objected.
"If you don't do it, who will?" Feng Mo also implored earnestly.
The other four vice presidents remained silent, but their imposing gazes were somewhat unbearable even for Zi Linling.
Having an Emperor-grade alchemist in charge was a privilege that only the Central City, where the Grand Alchemist Guild was located, enjoyed!