As Xia Yinian was about to say something, suddenly the emcee’s voice came from the podium.

"Please everyone, remain quiet. There are only three minutes left until the competition begins. Those who haven’t arrived yet, please quickly take your seats."

Xia Yinian sat up straight and looked at the podium.

It was then she noticed that quite a few people were already sitting up there.

Scanning around, Xia Yinian didn’t see any trace of her uncle, not even beside Yu Wanqing.

"Uncle is a judge today," Gu Lingqian leaned beside Xia Yinian and said in a low voice.

Xia Yinian widened her eyes, her mouth forming a big "O" shape.

After a moment of surprise, she accepted it; actually, she shouldn’t be surprised that her uncle is a judge.

It’s said that to ensure the fairness of the competition, the International Trade Organization invited two secret judges this year, with five people coming from abroad.

Uncle is the most famous young man in Ye City, and his alchemy skills are profound, so inviting him is perfectly normal.

If it truly is fair, Xia Yinian doesn’t mind; competitions should be about real strength.

"I wonder if Uncle will help me?" Xia Yinian slightly parted her lips with a smile.

Her voice was very soft, only Gu Lingqian could hear it.

"What do you think?" Gu Lingqian met her eyes.

"No," Xia Yinian blinked.

"As long as you know." Gu Lingqian glanced at her, "Do your best, don’t overthink."

"I know." Xia Yinian furrowed her brows, her gaze shifting back to the podium.

I wonder how many points Uncle will give me this time. It should be higher than last time; I’ve worked hard recently.

The emcee announced the official start of the competition, and the twenty judges sitting at the back walked out in order and sat in two rows at the back.

Next came the five special judges invited from abroad, all of whom were fairly famous alchemists.

Looking at the two remaining seats in front, not only Xia Yinian but even the people seated below were anxious.

Just now, the Seventh Young Master appeared briefly, then vanished; many people connected him to the secret judges’ seats.

As they say, ’no one visits the temple without a reason,’ the Seventh Young Master being such a busy person surely isn’t accompanying Lady Qing here; if he’s not a judge, he’s certainly some special guest.

"Finally, let’s welcome the two specially invited secret judges with a warm round of applause!" The emcee’s excited voice rang out.

Amid the enthusiastic applause, two men of the same height walked out side by side.

"It’s the Seventh Young Master," someone couldn’t help but say.

"I didn’t expect even the Seventh Young Master to be a judge this year," another person remarked.

"The Seventh Young Master is so handsome! Truly handsome!" Some women seemed to have already forgotten they came to compete.

Earlier, Gu Beicheng passed by the front, but since he wasn’t on stage, those in the back couldn’t see clearly.

Now that Gu Beicheng was walking the stage, under the bright lights, everyone could see clearly.

"Who is the man beside the Seventh Young Master?"

There aren’t many men who can walk alongside the Seventh Young Master without being completely overshadowed.

Thus, the man obscured by Gu Beicheng was also within everyone’s curiosity range.

Just who is this man?

Xia Yinian slightly furrowed her eyebrows, and after appreciating her uncle for a while, her attention also shifted to the man walking alongside him.

Before she could clearly see the man’s face, she felt a sense of familiarity.

Who, indeed, is he?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com