At this moment, He Qianyao saw Ding Fan stop in his tracks and couldn't help but feel a slight jolt in her heart. She was undoubtedly very worried, thinking perhaps Ding Fan could go no further. For a moment, He Qianyao's heart also paused because of Ding Fan's halt. After all, Ding Fan had already climbed to such a height, and there were only ten steps left to the top of that high platform. It would be a pity if Ding Fan stopped here!

He Qianyao watched Ding Fan's back, uncertain of what she should silently say to herself. If Ding Fan really stopped here, though it would be somewhat unfortunate, this achievement was still quite good. Moreover, Ding Fan was merely a cultivator in the Nascent Soul Early Stage. Obviously, Ding Fan's cultivation level was slightly inferior compared to those elder alchemists participating in the competition. Even if Ding Fan stopped here, it would be quite normal.

At this moment, Elder Wang saw Ding Fan's actions and a bright flash appeared in his eyes. This was the most crucial moment for Ding Lin. Whether Ding Lin could complete this platform, and whether the white-clothed elder could surpass Ding Fan, depended on this moment.

Elder Wan couldn't help but feel a bit anxious for Ding Fan. While secretly cheering for Ding Fan, he also worried that Ding Fan couldn't complete the high platform. After all, the pressure of the last ten steps was immense, clearly not something a cultivator at the Nascent Soul Early Stage like Ding Fan could accomplish.

However, Ding Lin always enjoyed creating miracles. Elder Wang felt a strange sensation in his heart, thinking perhaps Ding Fan might create another miracle this time. Although Elder Wang's eyes had aged, they sparkled brilliantly, clearly full of anticipation for Ding Fan's upcoming performance.

Meanwhile, Sun Long saw Ding Fan's situation and couldn't help feeling quite smug. It was evident that Ding Fan stopping here suggested he might not be able to climb further. Even if he did, his speed wouldn't surpass Zhang Hao's. Although Zhang Hao also struggled a bit when he climbed to this height, he had wasted some time.

But Zhang Hao still managed to maintain some speed, at least without pausing like Ding Fan. Sun Long couldn't help feeling speechless about Zhang Hao, considering that Zhang Hao was using the Magic Artifact Sun Long had prepared for him, yet still climbed with such difficulty. Truly a waste!

Nonetheless, Zhang Hao completed this third round of the Great Alchemy Competition in just the time of three sticks of incense, even if the Medicine Pill he refined was merely Fourth Grade, causing Sun Long to cough up blood once more. Still, Zhang Hao was currently the only alchemist to complete this round of the competition, and although the process was unsatisfactory, the outcome was quite good.

In Sun Long's eyes, it would be a miracle if Ding Lin managed to climb the high platform, let alone complete the third round of the competition. Clearly, it was impossible!

...

At this moment, Ding Fan stood motionless, quickly thinking of countermeasures. He knew that using sheer force to climb the last ten steps of the platform was impossible. A special method was needed. For a while, Ding Fan kept trying various methods, but as he sought a method, the white-clothed elder had already reached him.

Indeed, the white-clothed elder had caught up with Ding Fan.

However, when the white-clothed elder stepped onto the tenth step from the top, a previously light step suddenly felt heavy. Compared to earlier, the pressure was much greater. The white-clothed elder immediately sensed the puzzlement that Ding Fan faced.

Seeing this, Ding Fan glanced at him, realizing the other's situation was not much better than his own. But just as Ding Fan thought the elder would stop like he did, the elder took a step onto the tenth step from the top.

Witnessing this, Ding Fan smiled wryly. Clearly, the high platform tested an alchemist's overall quality, a large part of which was cultivation level. Ding Fan knew the elder's advantage was his stronger cultivation. The fact he could step onto this staircase was obviously linked to his cultivation level.

Though the white-clothed elder stepped on the staircase, it was extremely difficult. Sweat poured down his forehead, as that small step cost him dearly. Yet when he saw Ding Fan still stationary after all this effort, he couldn't help but feel a strange happiness. Evidently, this was the joy of surpassing a rival.

"Haha!"

At this moment, the white-clothed elder turned back with difficulty, his expression distorted from the exertion, yet he forced a smile towards Ding Fan.

Seeing the elder's strained smile, Ding Fan responded with a calm smile himself, appearing much more relaxed than the elder. His easy demeanor shocked the elder, even more so when Ding Fan casually stepped onto the staircase, putting them on the same level in an instant.

The elder's forced smile froze as he watched Ding Fan. He couldn't believe that Ding Fan had stepped onto the staircase as well, and with such ease! How was this possible!

After all, Ding Fan was merely a cultivator at the Nascent Soul Early Stage. How could he so easily step onto the staircase? Though just a single step, the elder clearly knew the difficulty. He had exhausted his strength to climb it, knowing his cultivation was at the peak of the Nascent Soul Late Stage, just a step away from the next level.

The elder understood that to ascend the high platform, one needed to be at or above the Nascent Soul Late Stage. Otherwise, an alchemist could not withstand the pressure. Even he, at the peak of the Nascent Soul Late Stage, felt enormous resistance climbing just a single step.

It was evidently impossible for a nascent soul early stage Cultivator to ascend this tier staircase, as the pressure from the stairs was incredibly overwhelming, especially the last ten steps. The white-clad Elder clearly felt that each of these last ten steps was increasingly difficult, making it obvious that reaching the top of this high platform was no easy feat.

The white-clad Elder also recalled the situation of Zhang Hao's previous attempt. In the Elder's heart, it could be concluded that the opponent must have used some special means, perhaps even cheated, to ascend the platform so smoothly. After all, Zhang Hao's cultivation was not even at the nascent soul early stage. Evidently, for someone with such cultivation, climbing more than twenty steps would have already been an extraordinary performance, making it fundamentally impossible to ascend to the top of the platform.

Clearly, there were many discrepancies!

However, upon witnessing Ding Fan's action at this moment, the white-clad Elder didn't dare to make any reckless assumptions about Ding Fan. After all, his alchemy skills had already been shown in the first and second rounds of the Great Alchemy Competition. Evidently, he was a real alchemy master, and his talent was beyond question. Even the Elder himself was highly impressed by him, especially by his method of refining Supreme Quality Medicine Pills, which made the white-clad Elder feel inferior.

Nonetheless, the white-clad Elder never imagined that such a young person, with such incredible talent in alchemy, would also be so remarkable in cultivation!

This was completely beyond the white-clad Elder's expectations. Yet, the fact that the opponent had advanced to this point clearly suggested that he had reached the limit. However, the opponent could still effortlessly step onto the stairs, which was a bit too exaggerated! It was simply unbelievable! How did he do it?

For a moment, not only was the white-clad Elder utterly dumbfounded, but the outside audience was also completely ignited upon witnessing Ding Fan's feat. Ding Lin indeed gave everyone a huge surprise again!

"Damn! Brother Dalin is amazing!"

"To have stepped onto that tier, that's just incredible! Brother Dalin, I love you!"

"As expected of my legend, my Brother Dalin!"

...

The audience, nearly 300,000 strong, was in a state of complete cheer and excitement, evidently not expecting Ding Lin to be so formidable! The crowd was in shock, as Ding Lin had given everyone a colossal surprise!

At this moment, He Qianyao, upon seeing Ding Fan's feat, felt a sudden brightness in her heart. Her eyes, bright as autumn waters, looked expectantly at Ding Fan on the platform.

What shocked the crowd was not just this. If it was only this, would it still be Ding Fan!

At this moment, Ding Fan not only effortlessly ascended the tenth from last tier but immediately followed onto the second, third, fourth steps…

In no time, Ding Fan turned back and gave a composed smile to the white-clad Elder. By then, Ding Fan was already five or six steps ahead, yet he continued ascending with even more speed than before!

This was just unbelievable!

The white-clad Elder was completely taken aback, obviously not expecting Ding Fan to effortlessly ascend the last ten steps. It seemed too incredible! In no time, before the white-clad Elder could step onto the second tier, Ding Fan had already reached the final step, stepping onto it as if it were nothing.

The sight left the white-clad Elder utterly stunned. It was simply too insane; it seemed as if Ding Lin, during these last ten steps, felt no pressure from the platform, moving effortlessly as if climbing a simple flight of stairs. Ding Fan seemed on the verge of breaking into a run. The heart of the white-clad Elder was deeply shocked at this moment.

The white-clad Elder was already speechless, feeling as if his brain were insufficient to comprehend everything, which seemed too unreal. A nascent soul early stage Cultivator actually ascended the highest platform's final step.

It was simply unbelievable!

How on earth did the opponent do it? At this moment, the white-clad Elder even felt an unexplainable sense of despair. The previous pride and confidence had completely vanished, leaving nothing but despair...