Chapter 412 - 418: Song Wanning Must Have Failed

It wasn’t that everyone was deliberately picking on Song Wanning. It was just that the worst Pill Furnace on the stage was a Fourth-rank Pill Furnace. But Song Wanning’s?

It couldn’t even be considered first-rank.

Wasn’t she just embarrassing herself by bringing that out?

Let’s hope she doesn’t use her Alchemy Furnace as an excuse to save face later.

In the crowd, Qin Ming and Feng Xue saw this, and their expressions shifted slightly.

"I should have asked Wan Ning beforehand. It’s all my fault. Wan Ning only ascended recently, so how could she possibly have a good Pill Furnace?"

"If I had thought of this earlier, she wouldn’t be getting ridiculed like this!"

Qin Ming’s expression was grim, his heart filled with guilt.

’No matter how incredible my junior martial niece is, she just ascended. As her martial uncle, I should have thought of all this for her!’

Feng Xue’s expression was also grim. "I heard the Qiong Lai auction house down the mountain had a top-tier Pill Furnace. If I’d known, I would have gone and won it for her!"

While the two were filled with guilt, Yue Lin and the others nearby were completely calm.

"Seniors, don’t worry. Senior Sister Song has her own plans!"

"That’s right! You shouldn’t underestimate Senior Sister Song!"

They had already witnessed Song Wanning’s Alchemy in the Secret Realm.

These people were no match for Song Wanning.

They exchanged a look, the words "I’m here for the show" practically written on their faces.

In the time it took for that brief interruption, the competition on the stage had already begun.

To screen for talent, this competition started directly with the refinement of Fifth-grade Spirit Pills.

The winner would be determined mainly by the quantity and grade of the pills produced.

Once the competition began, no one had the time to mock Song Wanning anymore; everyone poured all their energy into Alchemy.

From the very start, Song Wanning had completely ignored their taunts.

’No explanation was more effective than letting them see for themselves.’

She methodically began to process the medicinal herbs, then started refining the Elixir Pills step by step according to the recipe.

At first, many disciples in the audience were making fun of Song Wanning. After all, no matter what a genius she was, she had only just ascended. ’Where could she have found the time to study Alchemy?’

’Her Alchemy must be terrible.’

But as time slowly passed, the way everyone looked at Song Wanning began to change.

Her movements were not only clean and efficient but also incredibly fast.

While the other alchemists wore serious expressions, their every move painstakingly cautious...

...Song Wanning’s fluid and natural movements were like a graceful, mesmerizing dance.

Before they knew it, they were utterly captivated.

On the high platform, Luo Hantian had clearly noticed this as well, and his eyes lit up.

’Song Wanning’s Alchemy skill must be incredibly high!’

Meanwhile, on the high platform, the Fourth Elder of the Ancient Cold Sect was also staring at Song Wanning without blinking, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

As one of the Ancient Cold Sect’s Alchemy Grandmasters, she could tell at a glance that Song Wanning’s Alchemy had reached an ethereal state.

It was as if she were completely immersed in cultivation; she was enjoying the process of Alchemy, her entire being sinking into it.

’Elixir Pills refined like this, in terms of both efficacy and grade, would undoubtedly be of the absolute highest quality!’

"Sect Master, why did this girl have to take a master so early!"

Her face was full of regret. ’With such an outstanding junior, if she were to dedicate herself to Alchemy, the Ancient Cold Sect would soon have its youngest Alchemy Grandmaster!’

"If she became my disciple, I would teach her everything I know!"

The Fourth Elder coveted such talent. After all, Leng Qingzhu was completely clueless about Alchemy and could offer no help to Song Wanning’s skill.

Luo Hantian just smiled at her words and didn’t reply.

’If Song Wanning didn’t already have a master, would it even be the Fourth Elder’s turn?’

’He would have snatched her up for himself long ago!’

"These disciples in the Sect are so stupid," the Fourth Elder complained. "I don’t know where they get the audacity to look down on Ascenders."

She was clearly very dissatisfied with these people.

"Song Wanning managed to ascend early from the harsh environment of the Lower World, and with such skill, no less! That just proves she’s a true prodigy!"

"A bunch of shortsighted fools. They have every advantage—timing, location, support—and still they can’t measure up. I have no idea what they’re so smug about."

Wherever there are people, there is conflict, and this is even truer in the Cultivation World.

It’s just that these disciples were a bit foolish.

Hearing this, Luo Hantian’s eyelid twitched, and he glanced at the Fourth Elder.

Seeing her huffing indignantly, he couldn’t help but crack a smile.

’Getting protective so soon?’

’Song Wanning doesn’t even know her!’

CLANG—

With a muffled bang, the lid of Song Wanning’s Pill Furnace flew off and landed on the table beside her.

From within the Pill Furnace, a delicate medicinal aroma drifted out in wisps of white smoke.

The disciples standing closer took a deep breath of the aroma and immediately felt the Spiritual Power in their bodies surge wildly.

They swallowed hard, looking at Song Wanning in shock.

’It’s only been the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn, and she’s already finished?’

Song Wanning glanced down at the Elixir Pills in her furnace, her expression calm, showing not a hint of surprise.

She turned, walked to the side, and casually sat down in a chair to wait for the others to finish.

Her gaze swept quickly across the other contestants, and she got a rough idea of who her real competition might be.

That male cultivator in red robes indeed had some skill; no wonder he had been so arrogant earlier.

But...

The corner of Song Wanning’s mouth curled into a smirk that she quickly concealed.

"Whoa, did Song Wanning succeed or fail?"

"She must have failed. Look at her expression—it’s not like she’s pleasantly surprised or anything."

"I think she failed, too. After all, even the highly skilled Junior Li is still going, and she’s already done. There’s no way she’s better than him, right?"

"Tsk, tsk. To look so calm after failing... I have to admit, I’m not that composed!"

Many disciples were focused on Song Wanning. She had simply finished so quickly that it was hard to believe she had actually succeeded.

Even some of those who had bet on her to win were now wavering, regretting their initial naivete.

They had actually believed Song Wanning could work another miracle, only for her to lose in the very first round.

At least her furnace hadn’t exploded; that was already a decent outcome.

Time flew by, and the contestants finished their refinement one after another. Apart from two whose furnaces exploded, the rest all safely removed the lids of their furnaces.

But with varying results came varying expressions.

The red-robed male cultivator looked the most pleased, unable to hide the smug look on his face.

He made no attempt to hide his arrogant smile as he glanced over at Song Wanning.

’I saw it,’ he thought. ’Song Wanning failed a long time ago.’

’Now she’s just sitting over there acting all mysterious. Does she really think she’s one of Heaven’s chosen?’

"Now, please take out your Elixir Pills and place them on the trays to the side."

"We will now ask the Fourth Elder to inspect the Elixir Pills and announce the results of the first round."

The Deacon Elder called out, and everyone quickly took out their Elixir Pills.

The smile on the red-robed male cultivator’s face quickly froze.

He had just realized that Song Wanning had actually produced Elixir Pills.